Keep your writing fresh

I used it the other day.

I promised myself I wouldn’t be one of those editors.

But there I was, talking to a writer and using the “f” word.

“F” as in “fresh.”

For freelancers, “fresh” is our “f” word, that dreaded term that editors rely on when they want writers to come up with a new and different angle on a subject that could be a yawner.

That’s easier said than done, especially if you’re working on a piece on a topic that gets written about a lot, or that you cover a lot.

Here are 5 simple steps to defuse the “f” bomb the next time an editor tosses one your way:

1. Use colorful words. Dress up a story with precisely chosen verbs and descriptors that give it a you-are-there feel. This doesn’t give you permission to use overly flowery prose or unnecessary adverbs and adjectives. Keep your writing tight, and make every word count.

2. Find real-life examples. You might be writing about teething, tennis or tending a backyard garden for the 10th time this year, but finding examples of real people, companies or organizations that have gone through what you’re writing about is one way to put a new spin on an old subject. Since everyone’s experience is unique, telling someone’s story is a good way to put a new face on a familiar story. To do this, however, take careful notes so you have lots of details to draw upon when it comes time to tell the tale.

3. Talk to the experts. Whether it’s cars, fashion or video games, most fields have experts who track what’s new, what’s different and what people are buzzing about.

4. Find the contrarians. Nothing says cutting edge like someone who’s zigging when everyone else is zagging. Most fields have contrarians who can be counted on to express an opinion that deviates from the norm. Finding them could be tricky. But once you do, it could be exactly the opening you need to put a new spin on things.

5. Challenge your assumptions. If you cover a topic on a regular basis, you run the risk of thinking about things in a specific way. So pretend you’ve never written about it before. What questions would you ask yourself about what’s happening? Who would you talk to find out more? Where would you go? What should you read to learn more? Examine how you normally approach a subject and then determine if there could be another way in. Taking a different perspective on things could be exactly what you need to come up with the new – and yes, I’ll say it – fresh approach that your editor will love.

How do you keep things fresh?