Creating content is not necessarily an art form, but it does require some degree of skill and ability to consistently produce quality content. You cannot simply sit down in front of your computer, and rattle off several hundred words of information without putting some thought and organization into the content creation process.
If you find yourself in a rut because you aren't producing the kind of content you want, examine your content creation process and take the necessary steps to improve.
What's Wrong?
Are you missing deadlines? Letting your workload overwhelm you to the point where you fall behind and have to churn out mediocre content simply to meet demand? Creating content requires an ability to manage your time wisely and effectively, so you can continue to produce exceptional results for both you and your clients.
Another issue that could stand in the way of creating the type of content that meets your standards, and those of your clients' could be that you're inadvertently including sloppy punctuation and grammatical errors in your work. In addition, not adhering to content-specific directions such as adding required keywords and CTAs, for example, can make otherwise good content seem poorly written.
How Can You Fix It?
Advice on how to become a better writer can be found all over the Internet. You can also find tips and tricks on how to make sure your workload, no matter how heavy, always gets completed on time. In some cases, the information could read like a how-to on being productive at home, or improving efficiency away from an office environment. You're likely already aware of these tips, tricks, and techniques, so apply them as often as you can. Rather than repeating advice and telling you things you already know, let's look at a different strategy altogether.
If one of your most common challenges is meeting deadlines, you should examine the volume of your workload. Are you accepting more work than you can complete on time without compromising quality? Are you taking on a manageable volume of work, but putting off getting it done until the last minute? If these are the issues you are facing, here are some ideas that might help:
Completely reduce your workload to a "one at a time" status.
Not only does this give you a manageable number of items to complete, it also puts more pressure on you to complete more work because you don't have a safety net of other assignments waiting in the wings.
Take a break.
Sometimes your biggest challenge might not be anything already mentioned, but rather the fact that you're getting burned out and don't realize it. A short break of a few days or a week can help you recharge and revitalize your passion for writing. When you get back to the drawing board, you'll instantly see an improvement in your content creation efforts.
Request a lighter workload.
If you have a high volume client who routinely gives you a substantial number of assignments, simply ask him or her to cut back on the volume until further notice. If you are one of the client's favorites, he or she will gladly do so simply to keep you as a preferred, high quality writer.
Don't wait until the last minute.
This is an oft-repeated piece of advice, but it does bear repeating (along with apologies for the redundancy). When you take on a content creation task, do it promptly. Waiting until the last minute will only put more pressure on you to get the work done regardless of the quality. When you create content well in advance of deadlines, you have the opportunity to check and recheck your work to make sure it's at a level both you and your clients are pleased with.
Being a writer is easy; being a great writer is a different story. It does come with some challenges, but they are by no means insurmountable. When you examine the true cause behind any supposed "defects" in your process or the content you are producing, you can easily identify areas in need of improvement, and take steps to remain the quality writer you know yourself to be!
