Writing For Acupuncturists

By Bonnie Koenig

Blogging. Newsletters. Books. Videos.

 

So much to communicate. So much to write. But what if you don't even know how to get started.

 

Do you have to blog if you hate writing? Do you have to do your own newsletter? What are your options?

 

When do you need to write a resume versus a CV? What about video? What the heck is a pitch?

 

While this book is short there's plenty of good information on when you need to utilize each of these types of writing and things to think about before you start.

This is not a how to write book. There are plenty of those. This is a useful little book for how and when to utilize certain types of writing. There's even a section on social media.

 

Bonnie E. Koenig, writing as Bonnie Koenig, LAc  was a licensed acupuncturist for over 20 years. She's worked as a blogger, freelancer, and currently makes her living writing full time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: My Big Fat Orange Cat Publishing
• Release date: Dec 15, 2016
• ISBN: 9781386090045

Book preview

Foreword

Ispend far too much time on social media. That’s one of the drawbacks of writing full time. It’s easy to take breaks and fall into that black hole. Still, it keeps me informed about what acupuncturists are concerned about. There are always questions about websites, questions about blogging, and questions about how to use social media to build up a following.

I’ve been blogging since 2005, at least in my cat’s voice. I’ve lost some blogs due to technical issues. Oh well. That’s life. I’ve also been writing my entire life. I know the answers to many of those questions aren’t one size fits all.

Let’s take newsletters. Some people talk about how important it is to write their own newsletter. They talk about using an authentic voice which connects with their patients. Others want to use their authentic voice, but they don’t have the time or the interest in writing. Arguably, purchasing a newsletter to send out to your patients isn’t using your authentic voice. Although, maybe it is. Maybe your authentic voice is the voice that says I’m smart enough to know that I don’t want to do this.

There are others out there who like writing but aren’t sure what to write. Should they blog or have a newsletter? There isn’t one right answer and the best answer for anyone at any given time may change. The internet is a constantly changing thing. So is marketing. Together the two change faster than anyone can possibly keep up with.

Some people want to write a book. Or perhaps they have even written a book but are wondering what to do next. It may be formatting that holds them back or perhaps it’s not understanding the options out there. Publishing is changing fast, so that’s not a surprise.

When faced with having to write a formal letter, people may suddenly worry that they don’t know how to format it. How do you begin? What do you say? It’s not like writing a casual email or a text message. This needs to look professional.

As the acupuncture profession grows, there is more opportunity to look for a job rather than starting your own business. Job hunting often requires a resume or a CV. Writing one or the other is bad enough. Which is which and why do you use one or the other?

In this book, I’m trying to answer many of those questions. Like all my books, it’s not an in-depth look at each of those issues. It’s an overview, to give people a basic start and hopefully get them started on a path that answers all their questions in way that accounts for their specific needs. The former library worker just can’t get past the idea that it’s my job to offer you options and let you decide what to do rather than just telling you what to do.

That attitude makes writing a book like this difficult. Everyone has different needs. It would have been a large enough job before change started happening so quickly. Now, it is nearly impossible to keep up with the new and different ways people are using the internet to reach out to potential patients and colleagues.

Part One: Decision Making

With certain types of writing, some decisions are made for you. A CV, for instance, is written for someone interested in your professional career.

Marketing materials, like brochures, are generally written for potential patients, except when they aren’t. There are some people who have marketing materials written for other healthcare providers so that those allied health professionals can refer to them. Still, all marketing materials require a certain type of writing and a certain focus.

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