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The Importance of Proper Copy Editing

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

Most writers are not aware that it takes longer to edit than it does to write. They think editors whip through a dozen pages in minutes, and itís ready to go. Proper copy editing takes a great deal of time and is worth more than copywriting.

A good copywriter will edit the copy over and over because they know that copy editing is the key to their writing, presenting its very best. This is even more so when it is a book or e-book that has been written. Editing is an integral part of your writing.

  • It will fine-tune the copy to ensure it is easy to read and comprehend.
  • It provides a consistent voice throughout the writing.
  • It ensures the information is presented in the best format possible.
  • It fixes punctuation, grammar, etc. so that the writing looks professional.

When it comes to editing, there are several steps, let’s have a look at them.

Step #1 – Time to Get Critical
How well does the writing flow? Whatís the foundation? How well does the writerís idea shape up in Chapter One, and does it continue to flow from there correctly? How well does it conclude? You must analyze the writing and then make the necessary changes.

Step #2 – Edit the Entire Book
Now that you have completed the analysis, you know what needs to be done to fix the weak spots, so thatís where you go next. You should read the content aloud so that you ensure the words make sense when spoken aloud. Itís a good idea to turn to track on so you can see what changes are being made.

Step #3 – Stop Once and Repeat Again
You are going to do this step a few times. Youíll edit, then walk away from your project and come back and edit it again. You will repeat until you have corrected everything that needs to be corrected.

Step #4 – Grammar and Spelling
Now you are going to become concerned with the grammar and spelling, giving the material a once over, and then repeating as often as necessary to catch all the little mistakes.

Step #5 – Inject a Voice
Once the editorial flow is right, you need to start to pay attention to the writing tone and style. Reread it and pay attention that things are being said ìthe right wayî and that the same energy flows from start to finish.

Step #6 – Format the Text
This is very important ñ it includes headings, font, font size, etc. to ensure the writing format is uniform from start to finish.

Step #7 – The Final Review
This is it ñ the last critique. Make sure you have your critical eye working. You should have left the material to sit for a couple of days before you take on this final step. Your objective is perfection!

Tips to Becoming a Professional Writer

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

For you to be a successful professional writer, you must be able to write in a manner that is interesting, informative, and engaging. Just as some people are naturally gifted musicians or artists, some people are naturally talented writers. Others will have to learn how to become good writers by attending classes, workshops, or earning a degree. If you have a desire to be a professional writer, but you aren’t quite sure of your abilities and writing skills, you can always start taking courses to work on your craft.

If you are thinking about launching your professional writing career, you should know there is a lot more to it than just writing. You must be able to make proper use of the English language, including grammar. You will need to keep track of your business expenses and earnings if you are working as a freelancer, and you will need to know how to find writing projects.

Must You Choose a Niche?

Having a niche isn’t essential for being a successful writer in a field; however, it can be beneficial if you are trying to show your expertise in a particular field. If your goal is to write for a newspaper or magazine, you should know it will likely take you longer to get something published if you do not have a degree in journalism or English.

Don’t give up. Try many different freelance jobs until you have a more extensive array of experience. There are several excellent freelance sites that you connect those looking for services with freelancers. Most of the sites have free sign up; however, with the free memberships, there are generally restrictions in the number of jobs you can apply for. Once youíve had a chance to scope out the site, if you like it, I would recommend a paid membership because this will give you availability to apply for a lot more jobs.

Should You Join a Professional Association?

Joining professional writing associations is an excellent way to connect with other professionals and freelance writers. You can also find all kinds of useful advice on their sites. Take advantage of the many discussion boards and forums that are available. Thereís a lot of knowledge you can tap into.

You should also consider subscribing to relevant magazines such as ìThe Writerî that are dedicated to writers and issues commonly dealt with. All of these resources can be very helpful. Keep your eyes open for sites and subscriptions that interest you, and that can help you along the road to becoming a professional writer.

How to Become a More Productive Writer

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

Becoming a writer and becoming a productive writer are two different things. The fact of the matter is that the only writers online that make any money are those that are both fast and good. You can be quick and create a terrible copy that no one wants, and you can be slow and create excellent copy, but you wonít make any money. The magic formula is Write Fast + Write Well = Make Money.

What is your writing job today? A sales page? An article? Whatever you are writing today, you need to make sure that what you write supports the subject at hand. So how to begin?

The first thing you need to know is how many words the copy is going to be. Five hundred words are pretty average on the internet, but it can be shorter or longer.

The next thing you want to do is look at the subject at hand. If itís a topic you are very familiar with, your job just got easier. Start typing yes, that’s right; just start typing for a full five minutes. Don’t look at the screen, don’t worry about spelling, paragraphs, grammar, etc. Just type what comes out of your head. You will be surprised at just how much information is stored up there. This is especially true if youíve been writing online for a long time.

Set a timer, and when it goes off, stop. Now start to put your ideas into form. Organize them, create your paragraphs and headings, bulleted lists, whatever you need to make your article work. You can add more content if necessary, or remove some if you have typed too much. You’ll be surprised at just how much information you can put together if you just let things flow.

Great, but you may not always be familiar with the topic at hand. In those cases, you’re going to have to spend a little time researching. This is where having excellent research skills can come in handy because you want to minimize the amount of time you spend learning about the subject at hand. Do some skim reading, make a few notes, and then start writing.

Itís a good idea to always find out from the client what they will require you to write on before you accept the job because the cost needs to reflect your research time and writing time, and if itís a subject foreign to you, then youíll have difficulty being productive.

That’s it becoming more productive isn’t nearly as tricky as you might have thought. Why not give it a try?

10 Small Changes that Improve Your Writing

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

Writing for passion? Or perhaps for a blog, website, or sales letter? Whichever the case, your writing needs to be compelling enough to grab the reader’s attention while conveying the message in clear terms. This said the following is an overview of 10 small changes that improve your writing

Read more

Reading more is considered as a basic essential when it comes to improving your writing skills. Reading more not only broadens your imagination and stimulate your creativity but also improves your vocabulary and use of proper grammar and syntax

Write daily

The secret to becoming a good writer is practicing. Writing daily helps you to practice the craft while at the same time, broadening your imagination

Write in good plain English

The best writers are those who write in good plain English. As such, your work should not be full of extraneous ideas, pretentious jargon and bloated words that might end up insulting the intelligence of a reader and worst of all, patience

Keep the writing and editing separate 

Separating the writing and editing tasks helps you produce better quality work. Editing while writing not only interrupts the flow of ideas but also takes up plenty of time

Start with the main idea

As a rule, you should start off with the main idea so as to give readers a strong hint of what you are saying before following up with an explanation

Vary your sentence structure, length, and type

Varying sentence length, structure, and even type help you to achieve two important things in writing. For starters, it enables you to emphasize a point while at the same time prevents monotony

Concrete words

The use of concrete words is considered as a mark f quality when it comes to writing. Unlike abstract words, concrete words have a particular meaning and as such, are not considered as being vague. Concrete words can be described as words that can be felt, smelt, heard, or even seen and include words such as dancing, hot, and bed. Abstract words, on the other hand, are vague with a good example being – one of the best, excellent and wonderful

Avoid being too verbose, trim everything down

Avoid being wordy or too verbose in your writing. To achieve this, you have to go through your writing eliminating any unnecessary words

Factor in the reader’s agenda

Who is the target audience? What does a reader expect? By answering these questions, you will be able to factor in a reader’s agenda as part of your work

Make it easy on the eyes

Most readers are intimidated by a massive chunk of text staring right back at them. As such, ensure you incorporate paragraphs of varying length to make your text more appealing

By considering the above mentioned ten small changes to improve your writing, you are assured of significantly improving your writing skills

 

3 Ways to Write Content Quicker

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

Speed is very crucial for any efficient writer. Most writers understand that you need to have the top-notch grammar and well-researched material to produce quality content. These two key points are essential but we forget another equally important factor, speed. Many writers have perfect grammar and are excellent researchers but have varying speeds when producing great content. Your writing speed might be the missing link that will give you an advantage over other writers. 

Here are three ways to write content quicker.

1. Increase your Typing speed.

Typing speed is measured by Words per Minute (wpm). If you want to write content quicker, then you will have to increase your typing speed. The average speed of a professional writer is 50 to 80 words per minute (wpm). Some typists even reach a speed of 120 wpm. Imagine all the content you could write with this speed. Like all skills, this one is also developed by practice. Practice makes perfect. If you have to look at your keyboard as you type to confirm the position of the letters, then you need to practice. There are many typing soft-wares out there that are guaranteed to increase your typing speed. UltraKey and Typesy are good examples.

2. Make short notes

Do your research and then make brief notes. Do not make the mistake of writing content directly from the sources. Read all your reference sources, understand, and write short notes. These quick notes will be your guideline in writing your content. This will make it much faster to produce original content that is free from plagiarism. Making short notes will also ensure that you understand the material well before writing anything

3. Type then Edit

Type all the work then do the formatting and editing later. Most writers make the mistake of typing and editing simultaneously. This will hinder your speed and progress significantly as editing takes time, and it is better if done once. Unfortunately, many writers are perfectionists and claim that they have a type of OCD that can’t let them continue writing the content without correcting errors. Their thought limits them. Write content and ignore all the mistakes and grammatical issues and then edit your content, after all, is done. You will find out that you may reduce the time you use by half, and thus you will write your content quicker.

Remember, taking time to sharpen an ax is better than using that time to cut a tree with a dull ax. 

5 Steps to a Top Notch Article

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

There are all kinds of articles on the web, but a good web article should be between 500 and 800 words, and it should share something ñ give useful tips, provide ëhow toí information, or answer a question. Five steps will ensure you create a top-notch article.

Step #1 Create a Powerful Headline
The first thing you need to create is a headline that stands out and draws potential viewers in. Use clever wordplay, catchy phrases, and make sure your search engine optimize it relating to the article content.

For example, letís say you are writing about diamonds. Which of these headings is most likely to draw in the reader? “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend- Make Sure You Buy Accordingly” or “How to Buy a Diamond Engagement Ring.”

Step #2 Create Your Introduction
The articleís introduction needs to be only a few sentences. It shouldnít be too wordy, but instead, it should clearly define what the article is going to be about.

For example, Buying diamonds can be confusing, even daunting. After all, how can you tell if you are buying a quality diamond?

Step #3 Cover the Key Points
Come up with four or five key points that you are going to cover in the article. These points should be clearly defined with a new paragraph. They can be introduced with a sentence or as a subheading.

For example, “Let’s look at the five C’s of the diamond.”
Clarity
Color
Carat
Cut
Certification

Step #4 Develop the Story
Now you need to write to cover each of your key points. This is where you develop your detail. You can include images if you like; use bulleted lists, paragraphs, etc. Make sure that you cover your point clearly and concisely so that the reader can easily understand.

For example, you are now going to define your five C’s of the diamond in detail. What clarity is, how you know what the clarity of the diamond is, how to read the appraisal, etc. This is where you will provide all of the information so that your reader knows how to buy that diamond.

Step #5 Call to Action
Finally, you need to conclude your article, followed by a call to action. The call to action is what you want your reader to do after they finish reading the article.

For example, a call to action might be “Click here to find out more.” or “Are you ready to save on that diamond ring?”

There you have it, every article should be made up of these five steps.

10 Types of Articles People Love to Share

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

Running a blog profitably can be a challenge if you do not know the kind of articles that your readers find interesting. The secret to keeping the traffic flowing to your website is in understanding the types of articles that people love to read and share.

Below are the ten types of articles people love to share:

Celebrity grapevine

People love to share articles about celebrities. For instance, an article about Kanye West buying an expensive car will be circulated more than an article about the same car being bought by an ordinary person who is barely known.

News update about a tragic event

People love to share updates on tragic circumstances such as terrorists’ attacks at a shopping mall or airport and the casualties involved.

Inspirational stories

Readers, especially ladies, tend to share stories that they find inspiring. This is because they hope their friends will get the same level of inspiration they got from the same article.

Articles about world leaders

An article about a renowned world leader will be shared more, especially if the article illustrates how the leader overcame tough life situations to get to where he/she is today. 

A call for help articles

An article about a person who is in need of help will be shared among many people. Such articles provide information about a person in dire need for help e.g. kidney donation or soliciting for financial support. 

Updates from a comedian

Comedians are known to present information on a lighter note-making people laugh at their jokes. Generally, people are known to share articles that are funny and bring laughter.  

Unique facts

People will share articles about unique facts. Such articles majorly focus on important dates in history. For example, an article about countries that have hosted the World Olympic games will be shared widely. 

Scientific findings

Articles on scientific discoveries frequently provide fascinating information. For instance, a scientific finding on how to reduce body fat and cut weight will be shared more.

Information about a new product in the market

People will share an article about a new product launched in the market, especially if the product is targeting a specific market segment.  

Professional analysis of a policy

An article that professionally analyzes certain policy positions around the world will be shared widely. A good example is an article about the impact of currency devaluation on China’s economy. Policy officers and Economics students will most likely share among themselves.

4 Easy Tips for writing more persuasively

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

Do you want to write a message that commands the readers to take instant action? Are you tired of writing dry, unengaging, and dull texts, blog posts, or letters? Great! You are in the right place. In this article, I am going to teach you the four easy tips that will guide you to write an engaging piece of text.

1. Avoid redundant information 

As you write your article, ensure that you edit your text carefully to avoid having repeated information within your writing. Every word that you include should count. Remember, when some words, clauses, or lines are repeated, chances are, the reader will be pissed off, and this will minimize the possibilities of taking action. 

Moreover, you should ensure that you include only relevant information with specific examples. Information that doesn’t help readers reduces their concentration, and they may not read your text to the end. Consequently, no action will be taken. 

2. Tell stories 

Stories and illustrations explain concepts better than long plain texts. It becomes easier for readers to receive new ideas when they are presented in story form. Do you ever ask yourself why children memorize the stories they were told when they were young but can’t recall what they were taught in school one week ago? It is because of the way the ideas are presented to them.

However, it is not just any story that will trigger your readers to take action. You should try as much as possible to use a compelling story. Indeed, your writing will be very persuasive if you include such a story.

3. Appeal to logic 

Logic is what makes the ideas and facts presented in your writing appeal to your reader’s sense of reason. Using logic in persuasive writing ensures that the reader is not worked up as such. Moreover, it keeps out anger and emotions as you appeal to the readers. You (the writer) will have the grounds to back up your ideas using hard facts. Consequently, your readers will develop a positive attitude toward your writing, and they will be triggered to take action.

Sometimes, you may find yourself writing about controversial issues. The use of critical thinking and logic skills will be the handiest tool to make your writing as persuasive as possible. 

4. use small sentences and paragraphs 

Typically, long sentences and paragraphs make the text boring. Therefore, if you want your writing to be as persuasive as possible, you should ensure that these two aspects are addressed. Be brief and straight to the point. Try to highlight the key issues. As a result, the readers will be motivated to read from the start to the end and take action afterward.

Final verdict 

The primary objective for writing a persuasive text is to convince the reader that what you are writing about is perfect for them, and they should take action. The four tips discussed in this article will help you in your writing. Try them!

The Importance of a Sales Letter Layout

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

Writing sales copy is beyond content; it is also about presentation. If you selected a brochure on a table and all you saw was one colossal paragraph, you would return it right away without reading it much. In this multimedia age, people look forward to being fed information in a way that is so easily understood that it has almost been ìpre-chewedî for them. That means they do not want a copy that is too complex to interpret, hard to read, or makes them tired after theyíre through reading it.

Here is some accessible presentation expertise that you should use in all your sales copy to assist your copy in jumping out of the page, capture the readerís attention, all the while they are being fed the essential benefits of your product or service.

Your web page or paper is your canvas. You donít want to fill every inch of your canvas with words. Leave some white space for the reader to appreciate. This serves two functions. One, it is more visually appealing. Two, it is less tiring on the eyes. If you have minimal white space, what eventually happens is that your copy looks muddled and too complex to wade through. This may seem insignificant, but it is one of the most significant pieces of information on good web page design and copywriting.

In this era of multitasking and digitized communications, having to go through a ton of copy to pass a message across is just too much work for many people, especially those who are busy. You don’t know when the visitor is genuinely checking your website. They might be at work on their lunch break.

They might have come across it from a search engine, or they even have friends who tell them about it on a social networking site. Odds are, they arenít going to want to give you more than three minutesí top to make a good impression. If that impression is one of clutter and disorganization, you will have lost a visitor potentially before theyíve even read a single word.

If you want to add white spaces without ruining your copy, there are several ways to do it. The most obvious is to write copy that sells the benefits in bulleted lists. By what youíve just learned within this article, you would have got a better understanding of the layouts of a sales copy.

How to Become a Better Writer

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

If you want to become a better writer, there’s some great news; the more you write, the better you will become, so just keep writing. Of course, there are always things you can do to improve your writing. Letís have a look at some ways to do that.

  1. Become a blogger – Blogging is an easy way to become better at what you do and gain more experience, while for the most part working in a relatively relaxed writing environment. Besides, blogging is also a great way to make a living if you become good at it.
  2. Limit your words – Writers tend to ramble on. The best way to keep your writing clear and concise is to limit how many words your content will hold. By doing so, you force yourself to think about what you are writing.
  3. Outline – When you are writing an e-book, print book, report, or an academic paper, creating an outline is an excellent place to start. By creating an outline, you can create your structure for your writing.
  4. Live passionately – If you are passionate about living, you’ll also be excited when you write. You live once; take it in, wrap yourself in life, and live as a writer, this attitude will come through.
  5. Write-Stop-Edit – You should do your writing, and then take a break before you start your edit so that you are looking at it with fresh eyes. If you write and edit right away, your brain is smart and will often see whatís not there because it knows it should be there.
  6. Daily new word – Every day, you set out to learn a new word. Why? Because it expands your vocabulary and allows you to keep learning. Trust me; it will be reflected in your writing.
  7. Write & write some more – This is particularly helpful when you are writing longer content. Do your writing, stop, and come back and expand the content youíve written to ensure all necessary points are covered. A little break gives your brain a time out, and when you return, you will have thought of additional content that should be added.
  8. Write with no distractions – Nothing will cause your writing to be poor than distractions. You need to have a quiet place where you can let your thoughts flow, and the results will be good quality writing thatís desirable.

There you have it, eight great tips on how to become a better writer. Why not give them a try today?

How to Complete Copywriting Fast

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

The rate you charge your client is entirely up to you, but remember, the faster you are, the more you make an hour. Of course, being fast must also produce quality copywriting. If you wish, you could write faster, and you are going to want to read this article.

You may be surprised to learn that those copywriters who are working from home are generally not very efficient at expediting client jobs, and here’s why:

#1 They use a laptop
Laptops are certainly convenient, but when you are sitting at a laptop, all day long working, it doesn’t work if they are not designed for production or speed. The keys are far too small, the touchpads are a pain, and the screen is too small. If you are serious about working as a full-time copywriter from home, get rid of the laptop, and invest in a good old fashion desktop computer!

#2 Improper File Saving
You may be surprised to learn that most copywriters have no idea the correct way to save files. They keep slogging away overwriting the original file. Then something goes wrong. The data gets corrupt, the client wants something from the previous file, or you accidentally delete the file. If you worked in a corporate environment, proper file backup would be part of the protocol. What you should be doing is saving the file over and over again ñ every 5 or 10 minutes with a new name, every time you make a major change, etc. Implement a smart file saving protocol, and it will save you tons of time at some point, plus it will help you stand out against the competition.

#3 Poorly Organized Files and Documents
Many copywriters have an inferior way of keeping their client’s documents and files sorted and easily achievable. Many donít use templates, they don’t create a folder, their email is unorganized, etc. and what happens is time is wasted looking for things. If you were to add up the time you spend looking for things, you would likely be shocked. So get organized!

#4 Forgotten Passwords
You know how it is. Everywhere you go, it seems you have to create a password, and so you do. Then later, you get back to the site, and you canít remember what the password was. Itís annoying, frustrating, and a waste of time. But it doesnít have to be. Either use a password saving system or track them in excel or some other form where you can quickly find them.

Try these four tips, and youíll find yourself working faster and more efficiently.

 

Tips on Writing Effective Web Copy

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

Is your web copy working for you, or could it do a better job? Be honest. Are you getting the traffic conversion rate you were looking for, or is it lacking? These tips on writing compelling web copy could turn things around for you, so make sure you read them all.

One of the most common things youíll find if you start looking at websites, is that they come in all different sizes, designs, shapes, colors, and fonts. So what does that say? Well, it says that there isnít one way that works. However, if you look a little closer, you will see that there are some common elements on those that are successful. So let’s have a look.

  1. A welcoming approach you want your visitors to feel welcome when they land on your home page. Be upfront; say, “Welcome to….”
  2. Establish credibility your page(s) need to establish that you are an excellent resource for the products/services that you offer. Tell them what it is you do and what you offer. “Your source for….”
  3. Help your visitor get orientated, tell your visitor about your site, what they can find where, and always remember to answer the #1 question going through their head, “What’s in it for me?”
  4. Easy navigation nothing will have a visitor hitting the back button faster than a navigation system that is hard to follow or understand. So make sure when you are creating your website to keep it easy.
  5. Your contact information needs to be readily available. If you don’t share your contact information, there may be legal ramifications, but it is also difficult for visitors to build any trust if they donít know who you are or how to contact you.
  6. The easy process for contact makes it easy for the visitor to email you or access live help. Yes, they can phone, but many people prefer email.
  7. Privacy statement makes sure that your visitors know what your privacy statement is. You can use a standardized one if there is nothing complicated about what you do. There are also programs available online that for a fee will help you create your privacy statement. People want to know that you are not selling their information and so you need to tell them what your policies are.
  8. Copyright too often, this is completely forgotten. But to protect yourself, it should be on your home page. “Copyright (c) [insert year] [Insert Name of Your Business]. All Rights Reserved.”

There you have it. If you are creating web copy for a client, make sure that you utilize these simple tips to develop copy thatís more appealing and engaging.

How to Become an Excellent Writer

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

Provocative thoughts, evocative images racing through your mind, tension where there is no pretention, that’s the secret to good writing.  If you feel like you are in a rut, then don’t be afraid to break out and become that excellent writer you want to be.

The first thing to do is take away what Mark Twain said, We will sum it up, but in essence when you catch yourself using adjectives, get rid of most of them because they will weaken what you are trying to strengthen.

John Gardner said, “The abstract is seldom as effective as the concrete. She was distressed’ is not as good as, even, ‘She looked away.'”

So one of the best ways to turn yourself into an excellent writer is to avoid the use of fancy words. Instead, choose to write clearly and concisely, with no unnecessary words, and no unnecessary sentences. Write so that your reader can easily comprehend your message and so that you are engaging your reader. In other words, drop the ‘fluff.’

Look for clutter within your writing and get rid of it. Watch for the overuse of certain words and toss them out. Look closely at each sentence you have written and then simplify it.

George Orwell had some great advice to live by as a writer. Orwell said, “Never use a metaphor, simile, or another figure of speech which you are used to seeing in print. Never use a long word where a short word will do. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out. Never use the passive where you can use the active.”

Try to use short words whenever possible, and avoid long words whenever possible. Keep your writing at a grade 7 to 8 level for the best understanding. The more comfortable your writing is to read, the more likely the reader is to stick with what you have written, and to follow you with future writings.

If you plan to be a professional writer, youíll want to evaluate both your talent and your temperament. Remember, when something you have written is rejected, itís the writing the publisher is rejecting, not you. So donít become offended, donít feel stupid, and donít feel incompetent because if you do, you will never make it as a professional writer.

You should also not think that your work is worthless or of no value. It’s incredible how opinions change from one editor to the next. If one editor says no, then take it to another editor.

How to Find Your Way to a Successful Writing Career

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

In the last decade, there has been plenty of changes in how we conduct our writing business.  Experiment with your writing in all its forms, short, long, and in-between — writer what you want to write and take it to the limit. Now you have to admit, that sounds like it could be fun!

Too often, writers are so uptight about getting it right that they spend the day in and day out studying the market, taking notes, determining whatís selling, who is doing the buying before long they have forgotten why they chose writing as a career. Writers spend a great deal of time worrying about what to write and who their big audience will be.

Itís time to look outside the box, even if you do it just for a little while. If you were to play, what would it look like to you? If you usually write long, then try to write short. If youíve never played with poetry, then now is a good time to do just that. If you are a genre writer, it’s time to try a different genre than the one you are comfortable with. Whatís the worst thing that can happen if you play?

Perhaps you have had an idea brewing around in the back of your mind for a while now. You know that idea that you just have not yet put to paper, yet it awakens you, itís there while you are out for a walk, it is ready to be awoken. Take a month or two and let it out ñ have some fun with it.

After you’ve taken on this exercise in play, you can begin to think more about how to expand your horizons as a writer in a market that likely looks much different than when you first started writing. While things are certainly different in todayís day and age, you can still have a successful writing career that is rewarding and pays well. You need to decide which direction you wish to follow with your writing career today.

Take a chance and explore the many different writing career opportunities that the modern world has to offer. Whether you are looking for writing opportunities online such as writing articles, e-books, content for websites, or writing for the new book formats like Kindle, itís exciting and refreshing. Take advantage of it all and grow your writing career. The latest success is just around the corner.

Is Your Writing Good Enough to Get Published?

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

There are all kinds of published authors. When we hear the word author, it conjures up visions of big thick juicy books that we can’t put down or dry boring textbooks that put us to sleep. However, every writer is an author, whether they are good or bad remains to be seen. There are many writers, but not all of them find their works printed.

That printing can be in the form of a printed book, a news article, a magazine article, an article published online, an e-book, etc. When your writing is exciting, engaging, and quality, you will find you have readers find you, read what you have written, and even share your essays.

Today, more than any other time in history, it is easy to become a published writer. No longer do you have to seek out a publishing company that’s willing to risk-taking on a new author, and remember every year they see thousands of manuscripts but print only a select number. Today, you can publish your books, thanks to several services offered online.

The same applies to journalist content in magazines and newspapers. Today you no longer have to wait for that exciting opportunity. You can start publishing your writings today at a number on online publications, article banks, and magazines.

But that doesn’t mean you are successful because almost all of these types of publishing come with no revenue to you. Even publishing your book does not mean you are going to make all kinds of money. There’s a misconception that if you publish it and it will sell. Nothing could be further from the truth.

The truth is that anyone can publish, even those who are not great writers. It also means that great writers can publish, but without the right marketing, they may never sell a single book. So keep this in mind.

Before jumping into any self-publishing contract, read the details thoroughly, and make sure it is what you think it is. One way to self publish that costs you virtually nothing is through Amazon Kindle. It’s a great place to start to become recognized as a credible author.

When you are working to become published, remember that your grammar is nearly as crucial as your writing. Your writing submission will be looked at for content, spelling, grammar, use of the English language, etc.

Is your writing good enough to get published? There’s only one way to find out. If writing is your passion, why not try to get published and go from there?

3 Top Tips for Freelance Writers

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

If you want to be a highly in-demand freelance writer, there are some guidelines that you should follow to popularize yourself to potential clients and readers. As such, this article highlights a few surefire ideas to boost your freelance writing career. Read on to discover the 3 top tips for writers.

1. Don’t Overdwell on Writing Mechanics

As you may have already noticed, most well-liked writers do not have the formidable linguistic grasp of a language professor. A significant number of famous freelance writers do not even have college degrees. The secret of highly rated freelancers in writing lies in churning out engaging content that entertains their readers. However, this does not give you the license to turn out a lackluster copy full of glaring grammatical errors and typos. Don’t overthink the intricate writing mechanisms that are taught in university language classes. Instead, focus on the people who will savor the content – give them exactly what they want, and the few slip-ups you make will get lost in the excitement your content elicits. 

2. Readers Identify with Distinct Personalities

If readers find you engaging or exciting, then they will faithfully read the whole of your write-ups. While observing fundamental language rules helps you pass the necessary tests of competent freelancing, you should never overlook the central concept that readers would like to feel entertained in the end. If you doubt this, consider what the average TV celebrity famous. It is unique in them. As such, you ought to establish an exciting personality that gives your audience all the fun and entertainment they want. 

3. Readers Like Rumors and Secrets

The most widely read blogs are those that report shocking facts and secrets. Even though this does not mean that you should circulate inaccurate information about people or things, make sure that your content always has something new for the reader. Note that you can be rightfully sued if you deliberately publish seditious or libelous misinformation that portrays others in an unfavorable light. Nobody will think much about your work as a freelancer if you only include obvious details. Instead of creating fallacious claims that do not have any merit or accuracy, do a lot of research to ensure that you have a new grasp of people and things that go beyond the scope of the average reader. As a result, you need to understand the knowledge depth of your readers. Your content should always be tailored to suit the unique audience for which you write.

How Training Can Help You Become a Better Copywriter

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

One of the best resources available to you to become a better copywriter is to take some writer training. Tons of it available online, so you should have no problem matching up your budget, and the type of writing training you are looking for, with available writing training.

Copywriters deal with direct response writing where an offer is presented and people immediately respond. This can be done via radio, television, newspapers, magazines, and other newsprint. These days the most popular venue is the internet, where there is a high demand for good copywriters.

If you arenít sure whether copywriting is your niche, there’s plenty of information on copywriting available online, at your local library, and your local bookstore. You should have no difficulty finding reliable information.

There are also tons of free resources online that can help you build your copywriting skills. You can learn as you want and improve your current skill level. If you are serious, you can even register and take a copywriting course.

You must realize that this is an industry that is continually changing, so while your learning curve will peak, it will also require an ongoing commitment from you to stay on top of trends that are working and being used throughout the industry. This is especially true if you are working on the internet, which is a very volatile industry that is continuously changing.

If you have formal training that will undoubtedly be beneficial; however, itís still an excellent idea to take a course or two that are designed specifically for copywriting or marketing. You can find these courses offered through several venues, and for the most part, they are relatively affordable, so you donít have to worry about having a massive budget to reap the benefits.

Of course, you can also invest in books on copywriting. Many of these books provide excellent information that is very useful and can help you improve your skills. If you donít want to buy books then why not visit your local library. Whatís great about that is if you find a great book you can decide to buy it at a later date.

Copywriting is a great career choice. It is enjoyable, rewarding, and always changing. It can also be very lucrative if you are good at what you do. So don’t hesitate to get that extra training to make you a better copywriter.

Writing for Success – Be a Winning Author

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

If your passion is writing, I’ve got some excellent news for you, and writing for success is something you can achieve if you put your mind to it. Of course, let’s not kid ourselves; there’s a little bit more to it. Let’s look at how to write for success.

Quality
Expectations for writers are high ñ if you are going to be a successful writer; your writing quality must reflect that. Your writing needs to be easy to understand and written with clarity. If you are writing in English, then make sure that you write English correctly.

Don’t try to oversell what you are writing, and don’t choose the most important words to look impressive. Instead, try to choose words that your reader will understand. Use smaller words, and aim for a Flesch Kincaid Grade Level of between 7 and 8. This means a seventh and eighth grader would understand what you wrote.

Your writing needs to be passionate and articulate. Your message needs to be clear and concise so that your reader has no problem understanding what it is you are writing about. If you are a passionate writer, you will also engage your reader at a much deeper level.

What Type of Writing

There are all kinds of writers ñ there are fiction writers and factual writers. Within these categories are dozens of sub-categories. As a writer and author, you can’t be excellent in all areas. Find your niche and go for it. You may have one or more niches. Let’s say you are a fiction writer that likes to write suspense and mystery, then that’s where you should focus. Or perhaps you’re an IT technological writer then focus there. You get the idea.

Grammar

You can be a great writer, but unless you are using proper spelling and grammar. If you are a fantastic writer, but the weakest link is your spelling and grammar, then hire an editor to proof your writing, and make sure it’s up to speed.

Put it all Together

You need to pull your good writing together with proper spelling and grammar. Make sure to read what you’ve written, not once but several times. How often depends on whether you’ve written a 500-word article or a 50,000-word book. You get the idea.

If you’ve written a book and hiring an editor isn’t in your budget, have a friend, family or co-workers read your writing. But editors don’t cost as much as you might think.

There you have it, some simple steps to help you write for success and become a winning author.

Being a Successful Freelance Writer

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

If you love to write and would like to make a career of it, we have some excellent news for you! You can become a successful freelance writer in just a short time. Freelance work is undoubtedly the way of today. It has benefits for everyone involved.

Employers who need freelance writing services for a short period avoid the hassles of hiring and laying off. Freelance writers control their schedules ñ when they are available, the type of work they choose to take on, and what rates they will charge, which can vary depending on the project.

The first step to becoming a successful freelance writer is to become established. If you have been writing before this, you will already have built credibility. You can show potential clients your level of skill by referring to past work, whether it’s writing a book, writing for a magazine, or writing for a newspaper, among many other types of writing.

However, if you have not previously worked as a writer, you have a somewhat long road to real success and an adequate income. Start by creating a website for your freelance business so that you begin to build a presence on the internet. Of course, that’s just the start, and explaining how to get your site to place well is an article for another day, but there is plenty of online help.

Remember to include your website as a clickable link in all your email and correspondence, which will help to bring traffic to your website to learn more about what you do. Take advantage of social media, including Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn, which can help you to get your name out there and network with businesses, other writers, and other freelancers in general. LinkedIn focuses on business. Facebook allows you to set up a page for free and take advantage of this, create your page, and get busy promoting. Exchange likes with others and builds a network of relevant, potential clients.

Great, we’ve touched on several key areas to become a successful freelance writer, but you might be wondering about the writing part of the equation. A good writer can articulate well and engage the reader, and they are fluent in the language they are writing in. Remember, spelling and grammar are essential too. So if you can write, it won’t be long before you are making it work. 

6 Tips for Writing Better Headlines

Written by Olga on . Posted in Writing.

Are your headlines performing better as you’d like? Do you want to write more effective headlines? If you are a content manager, the best way of promoting your content is by writing titles that drive traffic. Create headlines that capture attention and convince people to click through to your content. A short, catchy headline or Meta description promises the reader they will find useful information. In this guide, you will discover six tips for writing better headlines.

1. Start with Numbers

Headlines that contain numbers often perform better than those without. Numbers represent facts, and that’s what users are mostly looking for. Including numbers in a marketing copy will often stop wandering eyes, even when those numerals are inserted within a mass of words. Numbers also tend to stand out in a reader’s peripheral vision. 

2. Simplicity Is Best

Long and complicated headlines are usually hard to promote through social media. This is because you only have a couple of seconds to attract a user, so it’s better to use a short, promising headline instead. For instance, a list-type article promises to be quick and easy to read, and that’s important in today’s busy world. If you are using numbers, make sure you use a numeral rather than spell out the number. This is because numerals stand out better in headlines and take up less space.

3. Highlight Value

Why should people read your post? The benefit should be simple, direct and clearly defined in the headline. For example, “how-to” titles always work well because the user can see the benefit instantly to be gained by reading the article. So, your headline should promise something and, if possible incorporate drama, excitement, or humor. But don’t lose credibility because readers distrust outrageous claims.

4. Use Trigger words

Headlines that start with questions usually arouse curiosity, which is a powerful emotion. Using words like HOW, WHY, WHERE, and WHAT in your headlines will always attract the attention of your readers. These elements will give you a sharp and striking headline. Instead of sticking to the same boring title, mix it up a little. This lets a reader know that they can find useful information in your post. Trigger words tell a user that your post is not just a regular post, but a treasure trove of information. So when you use them in your headlines, readers will know they will be able to find exactly what they’re looking for. 

5. Avoid Positive Superlatives

We are conditioned to always be positive in our communications. This tactic is however not effective in headlines. Besides, the average click-through rate on headlines that contain positive superlatives usually performs worse even when compared with titles that include negative superlatives. This is because the excessive use of superlatives such as the cheapest, best or fastest in marketing has led to them being ignored. Negative terms are more likely to be viewed as authentic and genuine.

6. Add Adjectives and Power Words

Unlike superlatives, adjectives (if used correctly) can grab the attention of your readers. Adjectives such as essential, useful, strange, valuable, effortless, and fun will make your headlines interesting. Titles that contain such words will intrigue your readers urging them to read on. Power words such as new, free, instantly and you will also boost your click-through rates.

Only 20% of people who see your post will read beyond the headline. A great title, therefore, makes the difference between your post being read and shared or ignored. With these 6 tips for writing better headlines, you’ll never go wrong.