Getting Paid to Write with Steve Hall

About Steve Hall

In this interview Steve talks about why motivation is critical to any writing project and what it’s like when you’re writing about the news and not knowing what you’re going to write about much in advance of the actual writing.

We also discuss email productivity and leveraging Gmail for better insights, as well as the benefits of using folders, search and email tracking software to make you email life better.

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This podcast is brought to you by Ulysses, a fully-fledged, beautiful and distraction-free writing app your Mac, iPad and iPhone. When I discovered Ulysses a year ago, I downloaded the free trial, used it for a few hours and then immediately bought it. Its been my main writing app ever since and I know, if you’re someone that’s serious about writing, you’ll fall in love with it too. That’s why I’ve partnered with the awesome people at Ulysses so you can GET THE APP FOR FREE. All you have to do is go to ulyssesapp.com/howweworknow and there you’ll find a special link to download your free extended trial of Ulysses for Mac. No obligation. No hidden fees. No strings attached. In one click you’ll have yourself an awesome writing app that makes you want to write. Sound good? Of course it does! What are you waiting for? Go get it.

Topics We Explored

Why motivation is critical to any writing project.
Working a day job and writing on nights and weekends.
What it’s like when you’re writing about the news and not knowing what you’re going to write about much in advance of the actual writing.
What it’s like writing for a platform like Contently.
The difference between writing for your own newsletter, versus for a brand and/or an affiliate marketing agency.
Content marketing (aka writing content for a specific purpose, with a specific goal or outcome in mind)
Managing your life via email and the benefits of using email tracking software or a software application like Mac Password Manager.

Key Takeaways

When you’re writing an article that’s trying to explain a topic or a news story, imagine that you are writing it to your mother or grandmother. Simplify, simplify, simplify.
When you’re writing just focus on writing a logical story. What is the topic? What is the background? Who are you speaking to?
There has to be structure before you start writing. A simple way to begin to create structure is to ask yourself a few questions. Why am I writing this? Who am I writing it for? What do I want to happen after the person I wrote it for reads it? What do I want them to do?