I don't know about the rest of you, but I seem to have a massive lack of confidence when it comes to my PR skills and abilities. I feel like I should have taken way more advantage of PR Techniques (the unit) and PR Media during my time...it's kinda like first year. If I knew then what I know now, I would have been a very different student.
What I'm getting at is, I often sit down to a simple task like writing newsletter copy and feel like I can't do it. A slight panic starts to creep up as I stare at the blank screen, cursor winking away and totally not helping. All the theory in the PR discipline isn't going to help me with this either.
The biggest problem for me that to be able to write about something, to give a story some character, pizzazz etc, I need to know what I'm on about! It’s an issue of substance. Anything less and I just seem to write a pile of clichés, or fluff that comes across as just that. I'm sure everyone else finds this too. I guess here is one aspect of PR theory; the importance of research.
On Tuesday my supervisor handed me an A4 page with about 12 dot points and a whole load of scribbles she'd written down in a meeting. The task: to write 400 words for the newsletter about a recent independent review on one of our programs, which helps disabled people live lives of purpose. The review was basically very good, with a few recommendations for improvement. The dot points outlined the key good and bad points about the program.
I sat and looked at it for 30 mins trying to get an angle together. Here's another thing (I'm sorry, this is all over the place) I've found that after doing so many marketing units, my creative skills have taken a dive. When I sit down to write, it's all report language, unless it's for something casual. It's SO annoying. So when I got some content down, it read like a uni assignment, and I really wasn't happy with it.
Anyways, after 4 hours I had something that at least my supervisor thought was good, it just needed 'tightening up'. 4 hours? If I was actually the PR specialist in any organisation there is no way I'd get away with using half a day to write one story for a newsletter! I just couldn't make it work with what I'd been given.
Then the director of Community Affairs, who I'd emailed 3 hours before for some background info, walks in. With the report. With that baby in my hands I completely re-wrote my pathetic attempt at a story. It contained REAL information about how the actual staff felt about the program, the recommendations had more meat, and it outlined the process the review took. I had an angle! I could add human interest to the story.I did in 30 minutes a far better story than I'd done in 4 hours.
So I guess what I'm trying to say is, in the future I'm given a task that I don't have enough info to do properly, I'm going to be pro-active and ask for it! I could have asked for the damn thing hours before. AND I need to be far more confident in my abilities. I think that's a large part of the demon that is writer's block, the niggling idea that you're going to write a pile of rubbish. Does anyone else feel the same? Is this normal? Please enlighten me (and hopefully make me feel better)
Oh and also, I am terribly unproductive in the mornings. Is anyone else the same? I seem to get this massive creative kick at about 2pm, and really start flying along. I guess that’s good if I ever do freelance lol.
4 comments:
I know exactly what you mean Joanna, many times I have sat down to write something with minimal info and just ended up staring at the screen with panic in my chest. The important thing is that you learned how to handle your fear and how to get around the problem by asking for more. Next time you will be able to write a fabulous article in half an hour, no worries.
hello,
first of all, you should consider PR as an interesting subject and not make it a burden.
As you may have noted, many other students have declared how previous modules of PR are helping them now. For example, PR 200 helps you with the basic writing techniques and other PR tools. What i recommend is whenever you feel 'blank' or confused about your abilities and skills, just grab you PR 200 text book and skim through it like a novel. You'll be amazed by the benefit it will bring.
secondly, from what you have said about 'report language' and 'uni assignment', i understand that you are somehow missing this little creative spark in writing. isn't it?
However, you managed to write a beautiful piece of news after that. Maybe you should ask yourself what actually are your motivations ( i assure you am not going into marketing language here). I believe everyone of us panics at times and i think that sometimes those little panic attacks help. What we need most as PR professionals is PLANNING and RESEARCH. "IF YOU FAIL TO PLAN THEN YOU PLAN TO FAIL". isn't this so true?
finally,I am also often unproductive in the morning. however, at times i managed to boost myself up. Some simple tips :
1. Eat an Orange or have a pure Orange juice ( Vit C )
2. Watch an episode of 'the simpsons' before working ( they are witty and so funny that it'll boost you up)
Have fun,
yosh
Thanks guys :) that's awesome advice, and motivating too :D
Hi Joanna,
I have had some very similar experiences when it comes to doubting my skills. When it comes to writing assignments i feel free to express what i think and put a bit of creativity and personality into my work, however as soon as i get a piece of work that will actually be used for the "real world" i tend to freeze up and panic that my style of writing or what i produce won't be up to standard. In my placement, especially with internal stakeholder relations, the communications that we produce are often meant to be humorous and I too am finding that i am producing work that is too formal and "report" like. I have come to the conclusion that these skills will come with confidence and experience. Lets hope anyway:)
Good luck with the rest of your placement
Em
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