Ping! A message lands in my inbox. The subject line announces a new assignment. There’s always a sense of anticipation as I click open an email to discover the details about the article I’m being asked to write. Almost always, I’m immediately hooked. Sometimes it’s the topic itself – curiosity sparked by the challenge of writing about the unfamiliar. Other times it’s a fresh angle on a subject I consider a specialty. Or a chance to get creative and pitch topics of my own.
Finding out about a new assignment is one of my favorite parts of being a freelance writer. Right up until I see the word count. That’s the reality check that makes the assignment feel daunting. (3,000 words about the color blue!?!) Or, on the other hand, the word count can put seemingly impossible constraints on the project. (Only 200 words to capture a wide-ranging interview about the origins of the fashion trends of the 1980s? Ridiculous!)
Can you tell? Word counts are my nemesis.
High word counts make me nervous about falling prey to succumbing to dreaded filler words.
Very.
Really.
Even.
Just. (My favorite!)
Highly.
That. (Frequently unnecessary.)
At the other end of the spectrum, low word counts can be downright cruel. How can you possibly do an interesting topic justice in less than 250 words? Or 500 words? Or 1,000? Slashing a favorite sentence to get the word count down is painful.
Here’s the thing. Word counts are also my friend.
Surprise! As I pursue my freelance writing career, I’ve had an epiphany. As much as I balk at word counts, they’re what make me a better writer.
“Yikes! 3,000 words about the color blue!?,” becomes a challenge. A bigger word budget means diving deeper and telling a more nuanced story. It also forces me to map out the structure from a compelling beginning to set the stage through all the expository details and a solid conclusion that won’t disappoint.
As I write a long-form blog or white paper, I find myself paying extra attention to word choice, sentence lengths, and paragraph form. Just because you have the real estate doesn’t mean a paragraph should have six sentences when it would be just as effective with three.
Low word counts present a different challenge. They become a puzzle to be solved. How can I say something more succinctly but still pack a punch? When you’re limited to 300 words, you become hyper-focused on every… single… word. Honestly, it’s exhilarating when the ruthless editing is finished, and the piece still has flow – and zing!
Nemesis or friend, bring on the word counts. The long and short of it is: I’ll make every word count.
Looking for a writer to help you turn your content marketing strategy into reality? From blogs or an article series through LinkedIn posts or super-short tweets, Write Hand Ann can help you create compelling content that’s just the right length to catch your audience’s attention and generate leads.
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