By Cheslea Dinterman, ACN Board Member
If you’re anything like me, you’re locked in to the Winter Olympics. There’s just something about getting incredibly invested in a sport you didn’t know anything about a couple of months ago.
This year, my sport of choice has been figure skating. I’m enthralled by what these athletes can do. On ice. With blades strapped to their feet. The best of the best make it look effortless. In fact, that’s kind of the whole point.
Being a good writer is similar. Readers shouldn’t have to think too hard to make sense of the words on the page. Here are a few of the tools I keep in my back pocket that I hope make things look easy.
1. Good Relationships
Strong relationships across the industry have been vital in helping me succeed. Whether it’s the PR rep I know I can call for a source in a pinch or a colleague who is willing to explain a complex topic for the third time, my professional relationships have helped me time and time again. It’s one of the reasons I keep showing up to events like Ag Media Summit and ACN Regional Meetings, even when my naturally introverted self would sometimes rather stay at home.
2. Curiosity
When people ask what the best part of my job is, I always tell them I love not having to be an expert. Instead, I get to talk to experts and share their knowledge with my readers. My desire to be a lifelong learner has served me in my career.
When in doubt, I always go back to the basics in interviews. The who, what, where and when are important building blocks to the why of the story. I strongly believe my natural curiosity keeps me from assuming any basics and helps me get better interviews.
3. A Good Attitude
This job can be challenging. It can be hard to feel grateful when the field day is happening in 90-degree weather, and there’s no shade in sight. And in the office, staring at a blank Google Doc and waiting for the words to start flowing is an essential part of my process.
Even on my worst days, it’s not lost on me how incredibly lucky I am to have this job. Every day, I wake up and try to help farmers. Every day, I get to learn something new. I think that excitement makes me a better writer.
-Dinterman is the Agronomy and Livestock Editor for Successful Farming