Everyone’s a Writer… NOT!

Writer Michele Landsberg once complained that people would come up to her and say, “I could be a writer, too”… she likened it to watching surgery on TV and saying, “I could be a brain surgeon.” Her point being: You’re not a writer just because you’re literate.

But you can call yourself a writer - and many do, especially in this day and age of citizen journalism powered by blogging, forums and all things Web.

Writerly snob vs. democratized Web junkie

I am of two minds about this trend enabled by the technological opportunities opened up by the Web, generally referred to as “user-generated content.”

As a professionally trained writer - who waitressed to pay for a journalism degree from Ryerson University and honed the skill over 20 years at newspapers, magazines and websites - I worked hard to become A Writer and jealously guarded that status.

I was educated and trained (by ink-strained, hard-drinking vets of newsrooms) to believe that journalists are the gatekeepers of information who keep society honest and informed… and that’s not something that just anyone can do because they “feel” like it!

On the other hand, there’s a reason I’ve chosen to move my career from traditional media to Web 2.0 communications. I consider myself something of a social activist (OK, maybe the armchair variety) and I love the fact that today anyone anywhere can write about anything and have an unlimited number of readers. Power to the people!

Free-for-all content production

Free, easy, instant publishing and distribution of information via the Web explodes many of the long-held tenets of my profession - but, largely, that’s a good thing.

I cringe when I recall sitting in a boardroom full of editors deciding what our public would see the next day as “news” - decisions driven by our opinions and moods, but which we passed off as “objective” and “authoritative.” (I wonder if they’re still teaching journalism that way today?)

Writing + SEO = the new me

So, I’m going to weigh in with a thumbs-up for citizen journalism, with the caveat that I support Ms. Landsberg’s observation that writing (well) is not as easy as many would surmise. It is a craft and like all skills, it requires formal training and constant and strenuous practice, critique, continuing education, and more practice.

I felt validated recently when one of my clients said he chose my services, over those of other Search Engine Optimization experts, because “it’s rare to find an SEO writer who has also been a newspaper and magazine editor… you understand that good SEO includes good writing as well as good keywords.”