How to Be an Exceptional Writing Pro in 7 Steps

What’s on the iPod: I’ve Been Waiting for This by Butch Walker

Good week so far. I had a lunch meeting with a potential client on Monday, a bit of work to do on a current project, and some out-of-town guests here last night for dinner. I spent a lovely weekend at my son’s house in Northwestern Connecticut, and we couldn’t have timed that trip any better. The leaves were peak and stunning. What a ride!

At my lunch meeting, I had the chance to catch up with my potential client, who knew me from my senior editor days. He told me about the changes in his company, the opportunities, and then we talked shop. That’s the part I like best — the professional persona relaxes just a little so you can connect on a more human level.

We talked about various clients and writers and situations. The underlying theme to all of it was how exceptional writing is valued, and how a professional demeanor is absolutely required.

And yet some of our stories were about those writers or clients who were anything but professional or exceptional — proof positive that you don’t want to be remembered for the wrong reasons, and proof of just how long those wrong reasons can stick with you — some of our stories reached back decades.

It had me thinking about what makes up an exceptional writing professional. There are plenty of competent, good writers out there, and there are probably just as many good business people who aren’t stellar writers. If you can combine both the skills and the business acumen, oh my. You’re not going to be without work very often.

So what does it take to be an exceptional writing professional? Here are things I think are important:

Skills. The basics are fine, but you should always be stretching beyond yourself to learn more. But if basics are all you have right now, make sure they are perfect. Still, you should go where you’re not comfortable — learn how to write press releases, learn about those industries that support your main client focus, improve your grammar and spelling, learn how to shift from print to web (or vice versa)…. there are countless skills you can learn or improve upon. Don’t ever settle, and don’t ever convince yourself that you’re the best. Someone somewhere is just dying to prove you’re wrong.


Discernment. A solid professional needs to know how to understand people and situations clearly and with a certain level of smarts. Is that job that pays $350 a month for 20 blog posts a good fit? Not if you can do math. What does your potential client do? You should know that before meeting with them or communicating with them. You don’t have to learn everything there is to know about them, but you should understand their business model, their customer, and their products.

A champion attitude. When I work with a client, I’m their champion. I support them in their goals. I’m there to solve problems, to deliver beyond expectations, and to make sure they’re saying what they want to say in the best possible way. The goal is to help them across the finish line.


Professional demeanor. How you conduct yourself is as important as the skills you bring to the job. If you were to meet a client in person, you wouldn’t show up in sweatpants and a dirty t-shirt (tell me you wouldn’t). Even if you’re not meeting them in person, your clients deserve a professional attitude. Repeat back your project parameters. Use contracts to cement the terms. Meet deadlines. Make suggestions where you see fit. Become that client’s partner for these projects.


Lack of ego. Freelance writing for businesses is not like writing for magazines or anywhere where you’ll be bylined. Clients own their ideas and need you to help them realize it. The words you put on paper? They’re not yours. Clients will change them and you need to be okay with that.


Detachment. Hiring you or not hiring you is a business decision. You can’t take it personally. Likewise, feedback given to you from a client shouldn’t be taken as a personal attack. It’s not (well, most times it’s not). Your job as an exceptional writing professional is to encourage feedback and make your client comfortable with the process. Discuss the feedback. Make suggestions where you see fit, and don’t defend yourself or your work. Remember, no ego. If it means thinking of those words as your clients’ words, do so.

Exceptional listening skills. Funny how this little trait comes up so often (Cathy Miller mentioned it in Monday’s post comments). If you can listen, you will go far. Let clients talk – don’t try so hard to impress them. Listen to what they’re saying and what they’re not saying. Hear what they need and deliver it.