Checking And Balancing Your Writing

I wrote something in my newsletter recently about how hard it can be sometimes for a solo entrepreneur - we don't have a Finance Director or a boss to question our decisions and make suggestions.

Image: renjith krishnan / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

The same applies to most writers. We write what we want to, when we want to and then we hit publish. It's rare for me to ask someone for feedback before I publish, and I imagine it's the same for you. As a result, it's too easy to write posts that either don't get the point across effectively, or in the worst case, are written in haste and don't really represent your thinking. The trouble is, once it's published, it's too late.

So I've always applied virtual checks and balances to what I write. Once a post is written, I read it through three other people's eyes, and I'll correct it to the point where I think the post works for each.

My Dad

Sadly long departed, but he still influences my life pretty much every day. He was a consummate business man, and a frustrated writer. I read every post with him in mind, and I can often hear him saying things like "You haven't explained that well, Michael." Or "What are you trying to achieve with this?"

He's my business and clarity compass.

Chris Hinton

Chris is someone who has become a really good mate of mine online. He's a pastor in The Salvation Army, a terrific tech blogger and shares many interests with me. I scan my writing from his point of view. Is it honest? Is it ethical?

Chris is my moral compass.

A Mike's Life Reader

I do have a "typical Mike's life reader" template in my head. You're learning about blogging, you sometimes struggle to find enough time to do what you want to do, but you're determined to carve a career out of this medium, and you're smarter than the average bear. I get you to read a post in my head to see if it's worth your time and if it provides you with either some help, or some pleasure.

You're my value compass.

There are other characters in my armoury, and I haul them out when needed. If it's a challenging post, then I try to think like Nathan, and if it's a business post then Brian comes into my head.

Do you do anything similar? Does this make any sense at all?

And do please check these out:

1/ How to get the creative juices flowing in your blog posts

2/ Switching to a virtual private server

3/ The difference between Web 1.0 and Web 2.0 readers

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