Writing Hacks I Used When I Wrote For The Indian Government
Writing, be it for your book, your brand, or national or international brands, has one thing in common- creativity.
But when you work for the Government of India, the vastness you have always conquered and your creative soul shovels somewhere deep.
I just want to let you know that government clients do not seek your expertise, creativity, or your niche, but rather persistence.
Contrary to the shiny accolades on TV screens and news briefings, a closer look at the government bodies is aloof.
And writing for government organisations? It has its challenges, different from what’s portrayed on the other side.
Persistence will help you land a job or a deal with the Ministries that run the country. A persistent writing style, your opinion about the happening events and the capacity to predict what could amend the mistakes of the past are the qualities when you work for the government of India.
I, as someone who has worked for the Ministry of Labour, the Ministry of Environment, and the Central Pollution Control Board, organised content for India’s G20, if asked about what led me there will sharply reply with – Wisdom, Persistence and Obedience.
Having an opinion on national affairs is the high ceiling you should always aim for.
Presenting to you a few pointers that helped me:
- Obedience– Make sure you learn obedience. Obey your client without many questions. Government organisations do not run on the rules of writing that are displayed in books. They will demand your obedience more than anything. Your writing style should speak what they exactly want you to convey, even if that is not what you would want to do; there is no space for creativity(most of the time).
- Clarity– Your writing style should be clear and concise. When working for government clients, you should develop clarity, be it in your words or your thoughts. You must forget your vocabulary, but always remember to write in the easiest words possible.
- Failures- Mirroring the real world, government clients will also push you to your worst writing. Yet you have to do it. At times, you will feel this is not what you should be writing, and it will be accepted at their end, maybe displayed on the national hoardings as well(which should be your guilty pleasure).
Obedience, Clarity and Failures are the pillars that will smooth your journey when you work for the Indian government/ or if you wish to.