Freelance writers can’t always attend the writer conferences that they might like to, so I’m excited to share highlights from the BlogWorld Conference held in NYC earlier this summer. The three-day conference was a great opportunity to collect tips and advice from experts in the Content Marketing industry and to meet aspiring and seasoned writers. The various topics had a strong emphasis on how to create content, how to build your audience, how to promote your content, and how to write for brands and media companies. Here are some of the most valuable lessons I took away from the writer conference, lessons I think Skywriters will find very helpful.

In Erik Deckers’s session, 10 Professional Writing Secrets to Create Killer Content, two of my favorite take-aways addressed the importance of practicing your writing and making sure you have access to professional editors. Regular writing coupled with guidance from a professional editor helps you hone your craft over time.

Practice makes perfect.

Erik Deckers has been writing for 24 years. He is the co-owner and VP of creative services of Professional Blog Service in Indianapolis. I spoke to him about Skyword and Skywriters, and he offered some advice: “Practice, a lot. A writer writes every day, not only when they are inspired. The more you write the better you get. You have to practice to improve.” Erik offered an approachable way to improving your craft. He advised, “Find the thing you want to fix and practice on a regular basis. This includes emails, tweets, and work. Twitter is good practice because it forces you to learn to be very concise. If you have writer’s block, move to another writing topic that you need to get done and that can wear down your block.”

Good writers need good editors.

As posted in a previous blog, you cannot think of your words as your babies. Editors can help you become a stronger writer by offering suggestions and catching common mistakes.

Erik’s advice rang true for me. Over the past few years, Skyword’s professional editorial team has guided thousands of writers to become stronger at their craft. Every time we check in with Skywriters, they tell us that they are better writers because they have so many topics to write about and such amazing support and coaching from Skyword editors.

Are you looking for ways to improve your writing? Would your writing become stronger with the input and guidance of a professional editor? If you’re not already writing for a Skyword client, check out the opportunities available and start fine-tuning your skills. Watch Skyword’s blog for more tips gleaned from writer conferences.

MaryAnne Flynn loves traveling, city living, and golf. She works as VP of Writer Services at Skyword. You can follow @maryanneflynn on Twitter.