Five writing prompts for November
For freelancers and businesses in the creative industries.
Welcome to the second in a series of monthly writing prompts.
I’ve created them with freelancers and business owners in the creative industries in mind, but they could be used by anyone who wants to reflect on how they work best or share more about the work they do.
For anyone who wants to join in, there are no rules! You can use them at any point, for any type of content (whether Instagram stories, blog posts, YouTube videos or emails), as a jumping off point for your content planning or simply as a journaling prompt for personal reflection.
So… it’s November. Not quite sure where this year has gone, but here we are! Thoughts are beginning to turn towards the holidays, and planning for 2023.
For many businesses this can be a busy time of year, with even less time to focus on marketing and content planning than usual. With this in mind, this month’s prompts are focused on re-kindling our creativity, catering for people who are in gift-planning/buying mode, and attracting the people you can best serve through your work.
Also, while I’m mindful of the time of year when putting these prompts together, you could of course use these ideas in any month. Please feel free to use them, build on them, and adapt them in whatever way works best for you. And of course, ignore any and all that don’t resonate.
Here are a few ideas…
What are you excited to create?
I’m a big believer in having a strategy behind the content you create. But I also find that having a super rigid plan can sometimes feel a bit stifling, and it’s always good to leave some room for experimentation and fun.
When I’m feeling stuck, I find this prompt can often feel liberating and can help to get the creative ideas flowing again.
What do you want people to know before you start working together?
How can your clients prepare for working with you, to get the most out of your time together? What do you want them to know and understand? When is the best time to invest in a service like yours?
What are some things that you do not do in your business, and why?
Sharing your approach and why you do (or don’t do) certain things can help potential customers get to know you better, and understand what’s important to you. As well as offering a glimpse of what it’s like to work with you, this can also help position you to attract the type of clients who will resonate with your way of doing things, and get the most out of working together.
Share some foundational elements of good [graphic design/portrait photography/business coaching/website layout, etc]
What timeless principles underpin strong creative work in your field? This type of post can be useful in two ways: it can help potential clients to understand what ‘good’ looks like, while also positioning you as someone who knows their stuff.
Gift guide with a twist
There are lots of gift guides around at this time of year, granted; but, could you put a spin on this to create something that feels fresh? (For example, curating gifts around a specific theme.) Don’t forget to include your own products/offers, too.
Inspired to write something around any of these prompts? Let me know! I’d love to check it out.
Ooh these are such good prompts, thank you Steph. I feel they may inspire a blog post in fact! Always so handy to have questions like these when you want to talk to your audience but you're not sure where to begin.