Write a paragraph about something you did today. Make it at least 4 sentences.
Now take out the first sentence and the last sentence. How necessary is the middle? Do those sentences say enough to stand on their own?
Think about the construction of the paragraph. Why you chose to put one sentence first, then the next and the next. If you're writing something short and news-like you may need to edit out the middle sentences. If you're writing something more descriptive you may want to keep them in if they add more atmosphere and detail needed to the story.
Showing posts with label web writing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label web writing. Show all posts
Would You Like Coffee With That?
Do you want a hot mug of coffee or do you want a mug of hot coffee? Do you watch your word placement as you write and edit? Make sure you are describing a hot coffee and not a hot mug.
Something like "I'm an antique lover." Works in conversation, spoken words have tone to show their meaning and feedback to help any confusion. When writing calling someone an antique lover could be misunderstood. Do you love antiques or are you the antique? This really makes a bigger difference when you are trying to describe an idea of sequence of events to someone else. It is also one of the things I was told I do a lot when I was writing in college.
Something like "I'm an antique lover." Works in conversation, spoken words have tone to show their meaning and feedback to help any confusion. When writing calling someone an antique lover could be misunderstood. Do you love antiques or are you the antique? This really makes a bigger difference when you are trying to describe an idea of sequence of events to someone else. It is also one of the things I was told I do a lot when I was writing in college.
Focus and Angles
Being a writer is about using focus and angles. You keep your focus but you use up all the angles you can find.
For instance, take a topic like Christmas. How over done is that? Could you find something new to say about Christmas (a new angle) without forgetting who you are writing for and what you are writing about (your focus). Christmas would be a tough one but every year the magazines have flocks of articles for Christmas topics. Sure, many are the same old themes about not breaking your diet, coping with the stress of shopping, bills and family, etc. If you could come up with something new to pitch to the women's magazines your chances of making a sale increase if you have a new angle and have not lost focus on your market.
I don't seem to have trouble with angles. I enjoy being contrary, turning tables and looking at things in a new way. Focus, is where my trouble starts. I get looking at angles, some of them are way out there, and focus just gets lost in the brainstorm.
I like to think there are other writers out there with the opposite problem. They have all the focus keeping them grounded but they just can't think of all the angles. While they are still working on angles I might have a chance to slip my angle in first and see my name on another cheque. My name looks so wonderful on cheques, I really should get more of them.
For instance, take a topic like Christmas. How over done is that? Could you find something new to say about Christmas (a new angle) without forgetting who you are writing for and what you are writing about (your focus). Christmas would be a tough one but every year the magazines have flocks of articles for Christmas topics. Sure, many are the same old themes about not breaking your diet, coping with the stress of shopping, bills and family, etc. If you could come up with something new to pitch to the women's magazines your chances of making a sale increase if you have a new angle and have not lost focus on your market.
I don't seem to have trouble with angles. I enjoy being contrary, turning tables and looking at things in a new way. Focus, is where my trouble starts. I get looking at angles, some of them are way out there, and focus just gets lost in the brainstorm.
I like to think there are other writers out there with the opposite problem. They have all the focus keeping them grounded but they just can't think of all the angles. While they are still working on angles I might have a chance to slip my angle in first and see my name on another cheque. My name looks so wonderful on cheques, I really should get more of them.
You Too Can Write Earth Shaking Headlines
I've always found headlines fun, a kind of challenge but a freedom to be a bit daring, wild and just plain contrary. You can pick something a bit misleading, something humourous, something argumentative or whatever appeals to you at the time.
The point is to catch the reader's attention and draw them into the article. By hook or by crook, you want to make them look.
Make sure your headlines are not redundant. Don't use words which will be skimmed over. Choose words which aren't already flooding the magazine. Words which the reader isn't glossing over due to repetition in the theme, content or other articles in the magazine/ publication. Make your headline unique, fresh and unexpected.
Keep it short. Most publications don't have space for your best creative headlines. If you keep it brief you won't be sad when the editor chops it down to size. Ideally, a headline fits in one line of column text. If you know the standards for the publication you're writing for measure your headline against the space available.
As always, keep in mind the tone and style of the publication. Don't submit something sexy if they avoid that style. Don't submit something really cutsey if the publication is serious. You may think that's limiting and takes away from all the fun of writing headlines. But, it doesn't. It just makes it that much more challenging. Have fun!
The point is to catch the reader's attention and draw them into the article. By hook or by crook, you want to make them look.
Make sure your headlines are not redundant. Don't use words which will be skimmed over. Choose words which aren't already flooding the magazine. Words which the reader isn't glossing over due to repetition in the theme, content or other articles in the magazine/ publication. Make your headline unique, fresh and unexpected.
Keep it short. Most publications don't have space for your best creative headlines. If you keep it brief you won't be sad when the editor chops it down to size. Ideally, a headline fits in one line of column text. If you know the standards for the publication you're writing for measure your headline against the space available.
As always, keep in mind the tone and style of the publication. Don't submit something sexy if they avoid that style. Don't submit something really cutsey if the publication is serious. You may think that's limiting and takes away from all the fun of writing headlines. But, it doesn't. It just makes it that much more challenging. Have fun!
The Stashing of Ideas
Do you wake up in the morning with the plot for the world's greatest novel formulating in your brain? Not every morning, but about once a week I do. Often when I'm in the middle of something else: driving, showering, putting away groceries, watching TV, talking on the phone, making dinner, plotting my greatest ever Canadian World Domination... I get the best ideas but have no paper handy to jot them down. I forget a lot of great ideas before I can write them down.
Sometimes I can rip something out of a magazine or the newspaper or the back of the box, etc. That way I can remember what I was thinking at the time. I keep a notebook in my purse, it takes up more than it's share of space but gives me a chance to keep some of my ideas. Not so handy while driving but, like using a cell phone, I can usually find a place to pull over to use it.
A lot of ideas are stashed in folders inside a file cabinet under my desk. They aren't well organized but they are there and I have some hope of tracking them down. It's great to know I have some kind of backup.
I write non-fiction so articles along my topic area are great as sources of quotes, research and people to contact. I'd like to write mysteries, maybe horror but it wouldn't be icky stuff. I thought about writing romances because they would be easy, they seem to be a formula more than a story. Put it on the list for someday. Everything I find to inspire me in those genres has a folder too.
For now I'm working with non-fiction and I do love it. For me its a combination of teaching the world and learning more myself. Each time I research one idea I find another dozen from there. Life is great.
Sometimes I can rip something out of a magazine or the newspaper or the back of the box, etc. That way I can remember what I was thinking at the time. I keep a notebook in my purse, it takes up more than it's share of space but gives me a chance to keep some of my ideas. Not so handy while driving but, like using a cell phone, I can usually find a place to pull over to use it.
A lot of ideas are stashed in folders inside a file cabinet under my desk. They aren't well organized but they are there and I have some hope of tracking them down. It's great to know I have some kind of backup.
I write non-fiction so articles along my topic area are great as sources of quotes, research and people to contact. I'd like to write mysteries, maybe horror but it wouldn't be icky stuff. I thought about writing romances because they would be easy, they seem to be a formula more than a story. Put it on the list for someday. Everything I find to inspire me in those genres has a folder too.
For now I'm working with non-fiction and I do love it. For me its a combination of teaching the world and learning more myself. Each time I research one idea I find another dozen from there. Life is great.
Publishable and Practical
You've got the greatest idea! It's sure to be a billion dollar blockbuster, rivaling Stephen King and that other writer whose name you can't quite remember though it's on the tip of your tongue.
But, is your idea a good one, really? Some of our ideas seem really super charged at the time, when we have that first burst of passion as the idea evolves. But, not every idea is going to be publishable and practical.
Here are guidelines from Cheryl Sloan Wray and her book 'Writing for Magazines'. (Paraphrased by me).
1. Are you really passionate/ interested enough to spend the necessary time developing, researching and writing this idea?
2. Can you narrow the focus? Some ideas need to be broken into smaller chunks to suit the market/ publisher you are aiming for.
3. If your idea is already narrow, or would appeal to a small, exclusive percentage of the reading public, can you bulk it up? Can you add more points, bring in another slant or find more sources?
4. Can you market this idea to several publications? You want to have a selection of publishers to choose from so you aren't twiddling your thumbs if the first of them aren't keen on it.
5. Imagine yourself as the reader of the publications you have chosen. Are you sure their readers will be interested in your idea? If not find other publications to appeal to, or slant your idea in a different, more appealing direction.
6. Describe your idea in 15 words or less. Then, in another 15 words, tell why readers will be interested in your idea/ topic.
7. Will this idea be expensive to research or take up a lot of time to develop? Is it going to cost you more than it will bring in for you? You can't forget your bottom line after all.
The last point is the best I think. How many of you keep track of your expenses? Do you know if you actually clear more than you spent on each article/ manuscript? Don't skip your time either. Time is money and that includes you!
Hope this helps bring you some clarity, focus and profit from your greatest ideas. Keep them churning!
But, is your idea a good one, really? Some of our ideas seem really super charged at the time, when we have that first burst of passion as the idea evolves. But, not every idea is going to be publishable and practical.
Here are guidelines from Cheryl Sloan Wray and her book 'Writing for Magazines'. (Paraphrased by me).
1. Are you really passionate/ interested enough to spend the necessary time developing, researching and writing this idea?
2. Can you narrow the focus? Some ideas need to be broken into smaller chunks to suit the market/ publisher you are aiming for.
3. If your idea is already narrow, or would appeal to a small, exclusive percentage of the reading public, can you bulk it up? Can you add more points, bring in another slant or find more sources?
4. Can you market this idea to several publications? You want to have a selection of publishers to choose from so you aren't twiddling your thumbs if the first of them aren't keen on it.
5. Imagine yourself as the reader of the publications you have chosen. Are you sure their readers will be interested in your idea? If not find other publications to appeal to, or slant your idea in a different, more appealing direction.
6. Describe your idea in 15 words or less. Then, in another 15 words, tell why readers will be interested in your idea/ topic.
7. Will this idea be expensive to research or take up a lot of time to develop? Is it going to cost you more than it will bring in for you? You can't forget your bottom line after all.
The last point is the best I think. How many of you keep track of your expenses? Do you know if you actually clear more than you spent on each article/ manuscript? Don't skip your time either. Time is money and that includes you!
Hope this helps bring you some clarity, focus and profit from your greatest ideas. Keep them churning!
Query Letters
We're writers, we know the words, so why is it so tough to write a query letter? Why do we second guess every word on that page? Why do we agonize over the punctuation, the grammar and the spelling? Why do we "just die" when we realize a typo was missed in our proofreading of that all important query letter?
Because we are bundles of self conflicted maniacs. Geez... I thought you had that figured out by now. Anyway, I thought it was time I wrote something about query letters. We know how important they are, giving prospective editors and publishers (clients) that vital first impression. Plus, of course, the actual idea you're pitching them.
A query letter is a proposal, describing an article or book you would like to write for a particular publication or publisher. Queries should be kept short, a readable length, one page. A couple of paragraphs to sell the story, a line or two to actually ask for the sale and another paragraph to describe your qualifications.
If you get no reply after a month send a follow up letter. Of course, you kindly ask if they read your first query and remind them of the particulars. You know yourself how hard it is to catch up with an idea you brushed against a month ago. Keep that in mind as you write your follow up. Make a copy (or keep a copy) of your letter. You'll sound foolish if you finally hear from the editor only you don't remember what you queried about, exactly.
The basic elements of a query letter:
Start with something to catch their interest and make them read on. An anecdote, statistic or something you can enclose in the envelope along with the letter. Chances are you won't have anything to send other than your words but if you can come up with something more go for it.
In a paragraph or two explain your idea, why you want to write about it, why their publication would be interested in publishing your article. Gear your idea to the market you have chosen. Of course, you have already spent time picking out your target market. Make sure you also get the editor's name right (and spelling counts!) and the name of the publication. This would also be an important part of researching your market.
Draw them in with your special angle, slant or hook on the topic. It's likely true that everything has already been written about at least once. So you need something new to say about it or say the old stuff in a new way. Show them how your slant is new and interesting. Let them know if you can include photographs or other illustrations to go along with your article.
If you have clips (copies of previously published articles) offer to send them. Remember, you're selling yourself too. Add any other credentials that would help. Are you an expert in the field or have some related experience?
How many words will your planned article be? The editor will know how much space they can offer and you'll have to work with that. But, start by giving them an idea of what you plan, how much content you can provide. Tell the editor what format you will be using- plain text email, Word document, double spaced, etc. Maybe these seem trivial things at the beginning but to someone working on filling space and keeping a layout they matter and make life easier.
If your query isn't being emailed or faxed you need to send a SASE (self addressed, stamped envelope) for return mail. This is part courtesy and part hoping making a reply easier will make it happen sooner. We always have our wishful thinking, they can't take that away from us. Also, make sure the editor accepts email queries, some people still don't like or use email. Email queries should also have an email signature which sticks to the rules of email etiquette: not more than 4 lines or approximately 60 spaces wide. Please, don't send an email where your return address shows up as "CutsiePie69". Unless you're writing about online chat or some such thing you want to project a professional image. That means no smilies too.
In the end sell yourself and don't be too modest. What makes you the right writer for this job? How can you (especially) bring this story to life for their readers. Enclose your writer's resume if you have one and it seems relevant enough.
Don't forget the letter writing basics. Add your return address and the date to your letter. Start and finish your letter with salutations, something suitable, not too personal. Don't forget to proofread and proofread without using spellcheck on your computer. Be meticulous, even down right nitpicky, check your spelling, punctuation, grammar and the typo factor. Don't ever send a query letter you haven't checked more than a few times and don't ever write one when you're too tired (or just not in the mood) to check it as well as you know you need to.
Because we are bundles of self conflicted maniacs. Geez... I thought you had that figured out by now. Anyway, I thought it was time I wrote something about query letters. We know how important they are, giving prospective editors and publishers (clients) that vital first impression. Plus, of course, the actual idea you're pitching them.
A query letter is a proposal, describing an article or book you would like to write for a particular publication or publisher. Queries should be kept short, a readable length, one page. A couple of paragraphs to sell the story, a line or two to actually ask for the sale and another paragraph to describe your qualifications.
If you get no reply after a month send a follow up letter. Of course, you kindly ask if they read your first query and remind them of the particulars. You know yourself how hard it is to catch up with an idea you brushed against a month ago. Keep that in mind as you write your follow up. Make a copy (or keep a copy) of your letter. You'll sound foolish if you finally hear from the editor only you don't remember what you queried about, exactly.
The basic elements of a query letter:
Start with something to catch their interest and make them read on. An anecdote, statistic or something you can enclose in the envelope along with the letter. Chances are you won't have anything to send other than your words but if you can come up with something more go for it.
In a paragraph or two explain your idea, why you want to write about it, why their publication would be interested in publishing your article. Gear your idea to the market you have chosen. Of course, you have already spent time picking out your target market. Make sure you also get the editor's name right (and spelling counts!) and the name of the publication. This would also be an important part of researching your market.
Draw them in with your special angle, slant or hook on the topic. It's likely true that everything has already been written about at least once. So you need something new to say about it or say the old stuff in a new way. Show them how your slant is new and interesting. Let them know if you can include photographs or other illustrations to go along with your article.
If you have clips (copies of previously published articles) offer to send them. Remember, you're selling yourself too. Add any other credentials that would help. Are you an expert in the field or have some related experience?
How many words will your planned article be? The editor will know how much space they can offer and you'll have to work with that. But, start by giving them an idea of what you plan, how much content you can provide. Tell the editor what format you will be using- plain text email, Word document, double spaced, etc. Maybe these seem trivial things at the beginning but to someone working on filling space and keeping a layout they matter and make life easier.
If your query isn't being emailed or faxed you need to send a SASE (self addressed, stamped envelope) for return mail. This is part courtesy and part hoping making a reply easier will make it happen sooner. We always have our wishful thinking, they can't take that away from us. Also, make sure the editor accepts email queries, some people still don't like or use email. Email queries should also have an email signature which sticks to the rules of email etiquette: not more than 4 lines or approximately 60 spaces wide. Please, don't send an email where your return address shows up as "CutsiePie69". Unless you're writing about online chat or some such thing you want to project a professional image. That means no smilies too.
In the end sell yourself and don't be too modest. What makes you the right writer for this job? How can you (especially) bring this story to life for their readers. Enclose your writer's resume if you have one and it seems relevant enough.
Don't forget the letter writing basics. Add your return address and the date to your letter. Start and finish your letter with salutations, something suitable, not too personal. Don't forget to proofread and proofread without using spellcheck on your computer. Be meticulous, even down right nitpicky, check your spelling, punctuation, grammar and the typo factor. Don't ever send a query letter you haven't checked more than a few times and don't ever write one when you're too tired (or just not in the mood) to check it as well as you know you need to.
Short for Impact
The best quotes are those that dazzle and enlighten with one sentence. That quick one two punch that leaves you thinking. Quotes wandering along into two, three or more sentences loose their power. You have to read them and think as you're reading. It spoils the effect.
Condensing your sentences, your whole essay, story, whatever you're working on, will also give it more power. Short sentences get noticed. Long winding sentences wandering around to make their point tend to blend into the wood work and take longer to be absorbed. See the difference?
When you're writing an article draw the reader in using content and focus. Content being the subject. Focus is making the subject clear and important or interesting enough to be read. You can get someone to read about bug spray if you write it right. Tell them something new. Don't muddle the idea. Use short sentences like a trail of bread crumbs. Keep your wordage uncomplicated too. Don't load them down with dictionary words they'll have to stop and think about.
Later, when they're into your subject and you've given them questions they want answered, you can bring on the longer sentences and the more detailed information. First the focus and then the heavy duty content. At the end you give them closure of some kind.
Not so different from a quote. Think about that next time you're writing. What was the last really great quote you read and why did you like it? Maybe your eye was drawn to it because it was one simple sentence. Possibly one word had some personal appeal to you or perked your curiousity, so you read it. When you rewrite see if you can shorten a few sentences, yank their chains and make them stand up and take notice. Check for extra words just hanging around not adding to the focus or the content. If you want to be read think about what gets read.
Condensing your sentences, your whole essay, story, whatever you're working on, will also give it more power. Short sentences get noticed. Long winding sentences wandering around to make their point tend to blend into the wood work and take longer to be absorbed. See the difference?
When you're writing an article draw the reader in using content and focus. Content being the subject. Focus is making the subject clear and important or interesting enough to be read. You can get someone to read about bug spray if you write it right. Tell them something new. Don't muddle the idea. Use short sentences like a trail of bread crumbs. Keep your wordage uncomplicated too. Don't load them down with dictionary words they'll have to stop and think about.
Later, when they're into your subject and you've given them questions they want answered, you can bring on the longer sentences and the more detailed information. First the focus and then the heavy duty content. At the end you give them closure of some kind.
Not so different from a quote. Think about that next time you're writing. What was the last really great quote you read and why did you like it? Maybe your eye was drawn to it because it was one simple sentence. Possibly one word had some personal appeal to you or perked your curiousity, so you read it. When you rewrite see if you can shorten a few sentences, yank their chains and make them stand up and take notice. Check for extra words just hanging around not adding to the focus or the content. If you want to be read think about what gets read.
Spelling Style
Spelling is tricky all on it's own. When you throw in different languages and cultures it gets down right complicated.
First, consider English and American spelling. Then throw in Canadian spelling, which is some combination of the two. Same for other countries in the commonwealth.
Have you seen words spelt with an s instead of a z? You would if you were English or from South Africa. Do you see words with a u in them or without a u in them? You would see them with added u if you were English or Canadian.
Which is right? How do you know which spelling to use? Will people think you just don't know how to spell? Possibly.
But the world is a big place, if you were writing locally you would spell for your readers. But, when you are writing on the Internet, your readers come from all over the world. Which spelling should you choose?
First, talk to your publisher or editor. Find out what they use for a standard. They call those style guides. It's a good idea for publications to have one. Not just for different spelling issues. If you're more or less on your own as for style, go with what comes naturally to you. It's hard to remember to spell a different way. Likely you'll miss a few anyway. You may hear from the odd reader who thinks you don't know how to spell. But, that just gives you something to chat about in your reply to them.
Is spelling an art or a science? I think I'll leave that as thought fodder for you.
First, consider English and American spelling. Then throw in Canadian spelling, which is some combination of the two. Same for other countries in the commonwealth.
Have you seen words spelt with an s instead of a z? You would if you were English or from South Africa. Do you see words with a u in them or without a u in them? You would see them with added u if you were English or Canadian.
Which is right? How do you know which spelling to use? Will people think you just don't know how to spell? Possibly.
But the world is a big place, if you were writing locally you would spell for your readers. But, when you are writing on the Internet, your readers come from all over the world. Which spelling should you choose?
First, talk to your publisher or editor. Find out what they use for a standard. They call those style guides. It's a good idea for publications to have one. Not just for different spelling issues. If you're more or less on your own as for style, go with what comes naturally to you. It's hard to remember to spell a different way. Likely you'll miss a few anyway. You may hear from the odd reader who thinks you don't know how to spell. But, that just gives you something to chat about in your reply to them.
Is spelling an art or a science? I think I'll leave that as thought fodder for you.
Members of the Media
In the columnist message boards at BackWash, someone said "Don't you just love the media." They meant it sarcastically in reference to how an interview was handled. But, what they didn't consider is that WE ARE the media.
I think a lot of writers take shots at 'the media' and forget to count themselves among them. Do you? Have you thought of yourself as a writer or publisher or member of the media in general today?
Well you are. Each time you put something out there for the masses to read you become the media. We may not all carry cards saying we are writers or publishers or editors, etc. But, that doesn't mean we aren't just one more member of the media.
Anyway, the discussion in the boards was about how someone was credited in an article. That is something to consider as you write an article using sources for information such as quotes or statistics. Always make sure you know how your contact sources want to be credited and then do your best to see that it comes out that way in print.
On the other hand, when you are the contact, make sure you tell the writer how you want to be credited. Make sure they have your URL along with your other information. Make sure they know it's important for your website to be included as part of identifying you as a source of information for the article.
If it comes out in print you can't do much to change it. You can get them to add it to a future issue but that's not very useful without the rest of the content of the article. However, if it's on the web you can get them to update the HTML or text quite easily, it just takes a moment of their time. So there is one more benefit to writing for online publications.
Well, members of the media, that's it for this week.
I think a lot of writers take shots at 'the media' and forget to count themselves among them. Do you? Have you thought of yourself as a writer or publisher or member of the media in general today?
Well you are. Each time you put something out there for the masses to read you become the media. We may not all carry cards saying we are writers or publishers or editors, etc. But, that doesn't mean we aren't just one more member of the media.
Anyway, the discussion in the boards was about how someone was credited in an article. That is something to consider as you write an article using sources for information such as quotes or statistics. Always make sure you know how your contact sources want to be credited and then do your best to see that it comes out that way in print.
On the other hand, when you are the contact, make sure you tell the writer how you want to be credited. Make sure they have your URL along with your other information. Make sure they know it's important for your website to be included as part of identifying you as a source of information for the article.
If it comes out in print you can't do much to change it. You can get them to add it to a future issue but that's not very useful without the rest of the content of the article. However, if it's on the web you can get them to update the HTML or text quite easily, it just takes a moment of their time. So there is one more benefit to writing for online publications.
Well, members of the media, that's it for this week.
Writing your Bio/ Profile
Now and then you'll have to write a biography to go along wth an article, book, or something else you publish. It's tough to figure out what you want to say about yourself in just a few lines. Of course, you consider what you want to share with the faceless masses as well as what information will show you in the best light. You want to make yourself look like an authority on the subject of your article.
The following is something I almost deleted without re-reading tonight. It's in the stacks of ancient webmail from the years I wrote a newsletter about ASCII art for a website called WZ.com. The site is long gone and I don't think anyone will mind sharing the information which was once shared with me. Thanks to Sissi, wherever you are. Hope you're writing and doing great.
Not only do we want to know who you are, your visitors do, too. They'll be looking for the person behind their interests. A bio that's interesting and catchy will help you to develop loyalty and a personal touch with your subscribers.
To help you develop your bio, I've included a short list of questions, in interview format, below. Answer the ones you think are appropriate, and make sure you include some info on the different Realms you cover.
Oh, and be sure to compile all of the answers to the questions into one flowing bio rather than submitting nine separate answers to me.
Pay special attention to question #9 --
1. You're about to be interviewed by Charlie Rose. In ten seconds or less, how does he introduce you?
2. When did you get interested in your topic? How long ago, how old were you?
3. Was there something going on that led you to it, or were you naturally attracted to it for some reason?
4. What about it grabbed you? What do you find most interesting or appealing about it?
5. What's your favorite story about your hobby or interest?
6. What unusual things have you done in pursuit of it?
7. How have these things led to your becoming an expert in your area of interest?
8. How has it affected your life, or the lives of others?
9. How will being a WZ-ard help you share this with others? How do you hope to affect the lives of your subscribers?
Sissi concluded by telling everyone not to forget to add links to their newsletters. You should do the same, include any relevant URLs you'd like to promote to your readers.
The following is something I almost deleted without re-reading tonight. It's in the stacks of ancient webmail from the years I wrote a newsletter about ASCII art for a website called WZ.com. The site is long gone and I don't think anyone will mind sharing the information which was once shared with me. Thanks to Sissi, wherever you are. Hope you're writing and doing great.
Not only do we want to know who you are, your visitors do, too. They'll be looking for the person behind their interests. A bio that's interesting and catchy will help you to develop loyalty and a personal touch with your subscribers.
To help you develop your bio, I've included a short list of questions, in interview format, below. Answer the ones you think are appropriate, and make sure you include some info on the different Realms you cover.
Oh, and be sure to compile all of the answers to the questions into one flowing bio rather than submitting nine separate answers to me.
Pay special attention to question #9 --
1. You're about to be interviewed by Charlie Rose. In ten seconds or less, how does he introduce you?
2. When did you get interested in your topic? How long ago, how old were you?
3. Was there something going on that led you to it, or were you naturally attracted to it for some reason?
4. What about it grabbed you? What do you find most interesting or appealing about it?
5. What's your favorite story about your hobby or interest?
6. What unusual things have you done in pursuit of it?
7. How have these things led to your becoming an expert in your area of interest?
8. How has it affected your life, or the lives of others?
9. How will being a WZ-ard help you share this with others? How do you hope to affect the lives of your subscribers?
Sissi concluded by telling everyone not to forget to add links to their newsletters. You should do the same, include any relevant URLs you'd like to promote to your readers.
Using Catchy Phrases
Hitting their sweet spots has never been more important than for someone writing on the Net. What is a sweet spot? To take it out of writing context, think of yourself driving over a bumpy train track but steering your car to the side, to a spot where it's not bumpy. That, sweet spot, is the easy on your car and yourself.
In writing the sweet spot, as I think of it, is hitting just the right word or phrase. Something that your reader is looking for and has a personal 'thing' for. For instance, to appeal to women you can use words like 'diva, goddess, grrl'. Phrases like 'adventure living, backpacking, Earthy' appeal to nature lovers. There are better choices but those are the current pickings of my brain. Hope you get the idea.
Anyway, those catchy phrases and words are even more important online because people will be searching for them. Your article will be picked over by search spiders and those catchy, sweet spots will be caught in their web and added to a mind boggling list. You may not be first on the search list but you will appear somewhere. That's why those sweet spots should be considered, not just in titles, subtitles and descriptions but throughout the article or essay. Don't go crazy over it. Too much is not a good thing. But keep them in mind and don't think it's too cliché to use the odd cliché if it's an effective sweet spot.
Consider some of your own sweet spot words and phrases. Which appeal to you especially? Why?
One way to find sweet spots for a certain group of people is to join one of their online discussions, chats or boards and keep track of what comes up frequently. Let me know if you come up with more sneaky ideas.
In writing the sweet spot, as I think of it, is hitting just the right word or phrase. Something that your reader is looking for and has a personal 'thing' for. For instance, to appeal to women you can use words like 'diva, goddess, grrl'. Phrases like 'adventure living, backpacking, Earthy' appeal to nature lovers. There are better choices but those are the current pickings of my brain. Hope you get the idea.
Anyway, those catchy phrases and words are even more important online because people will be searching for them. Your article will be picked over by search spiders and those catchy, sweet spots will be caught in their web and added to a mind boggling list. You may not be first on the search list but you will appear somewhere. That's why those sweet spots should be considered, not just in titles, subtitles and descriptions but throughout the article or essay. Don't go crazy over it. Too much is not a good thing. But keep them in mind and don't think it's too cliché to use the odd cliché if it's an effective sweet spot.
Consider some of your own sweet spot words and phrases. Which appeal to you especially? Why?
One way to find sweet spots for a certain group of people is to join one of their online discussions, chats or boards and keep track of what comes up frequently. Let me know if you come up with more sneaky ideas.
Mistaken Words
What are your words? The ones you always have to look up and check spelling or meanings? Looking at a book with "the most common mistakes in English usage" I found a couple of my own.
Accept and except.
These even sound about the same. Do you know which is which? When do you accept and when do you except?
Lay and lie.
For me it's really the word lay. A chicken lays eggs. Do people lay down or lie down?
Then, there are common mistakes I see myself. Not my own mistakes but those of others.
They're and there.
They're going to the park on the way there.
Your and you're.
You're going too fast your speed is too high.
Where and were.
Where were you?
A lot and alot.
Alot is not a word. It should always be a lot.
Do you know which is the principle and which is the Principal?
When is it better to further your efforts to go farther?
No doubt those aren't glowing examples of grammar but sometimes knowing how words fit in helps you remember which one you need at the time.
Other confused words are anything with double "0's". Choose chose, too to, loose lose and so on.
But my personal worst mistake is its and it's. I still can not keep them straight. Sometimes I get lazy and just type 'its' regardless of correctness.
I can stick up for my laziness by saying that's how language is built, it evolves from laziness and a need for better understanding in communication. But, I know in the case of 'its' I'm just being lazy when I should, or at least could, be checking my handy dandy dictionary.
Accept and except.
These even sound about the same. Do you know which is which? When do you accept and when do you except?
Lay and lie.
For me it's really the word lay. A chicken lays eggs. Do people lay down or lie down?
Then, there are common mistakes I see myself. Not my own mistakes but those of others.
They're and there.
They're going to the park on the way there.
Your and you're.
You're going too fast your speed is too high.
Where and were.
Where were you?
A lot and alot.
Alot is not a word. It should always be a lot.
Do you know which is the principle and which is the Principal?
When is it better to further your efforts to go farther?
No doubt those aren't glowing examples of grammar but sometimes knowing how words fit in helps you remember which one you need at the time.
Other confused words are anything with double "0's". Choose chose, too to, loose lose and so on.
But my personal worst mistake is its and it's. I still can not keep them straight. Sometimes I get lazy and just type 'its' regardless of correctness.
I can stick up for my laziness by saying that's how language is built, it evolves from laziness and a need for better understanding in communication. But, I know in the case of 'its' I'm just being lazy when I should, or at least could, be checking my handy dandy dictionary.
Cutesy Words
I do not like cutsey words. "Peeps" "sumpin" and "wassup" make me cringe. Perhaps I'm just showing my age, or being too particular and unbending. Whatever the case, I don't like them and I can't see myself changing on this.
It's interesting to think, the way the English language evolves, some of these so called words could become standard English, over time. Hopefully a lot of time so that I'll be into my next life and never see it happen.
What do you think about the use of cutsey words? Is it acceptable to use them in an article? I guess it really depends on the editor who will be choosing to pay for the article or not. Of course, a big guideline to language is the publication itself. What do the other writers write like?
Still you have to think of the readers when you submit an article. It's the readers and the advertisers who make the style guides in the end. These days the advertisers probably have more sway than the readers even.
Anyway, you can be sure that if I ever type something cutsey like sumpin, I will have been taken over by aliens or something even worse.
It's interesting to think, the way the English language evolves, some of these so called words could become standard English, over time. Hopefully a lot of time so that I'll be into my next life and never see it happen.
What do you think about the use of cutsey words? Is it acceptable to use them in an article? I guess it really depends on the editor who will be choosing to pay for the article or not. Of course, a big guideline to language is the publication itself. What do the other writers write like?
Still you have to think of the readers when you submit an article. It's the readers and the advertisers who make the style guides in the end. These days the advertisers probably have more sway than the readers even.
Anyway, you can be sure that if I ever type something cutsey like sumpin, I will have been taken over by aliens or something even worse.
Proofreading is Boring
Proofreading is boring. If you're a new writer I may as well give you the bad news now. It doesn't get better with age. It's boring even though I've been writing online for six years. It was boring when I began. Well, maybe not that first week when everything was new and wondrous.
Ugh! Why can't we just get it right the first time? Is it some kind of brain blockage? Are our fingers not nimble enough? Do the words change so quickly that we can't catch them fast enough? Is grammar really all it's cracked up to be? I go with the nimble finger theory.
My fingers are complete klutzes. So often they aim for two keys at once. They miss the letter completely. Worst of all is when they think I mean 'whole' when I really meant to say 'hole'. What's wrong with fingers these days? I'd send them to school but I know they did that, I was right there with them, sort of watching over their shoulder. It didn't seem to help. In fact, I remember crying over my fingers during a typing test in grade nine. We failed that course. It was the only one I didn't pass that year. I blame my fingers.
There was that time when I had typed a whole essay for English class and my dratted fingers hit some strange key that deleted the whole thing. It wasn't the delete key because that always gives you the chance to change your mind. I would have changed my mind, trust me! What can you do? We only get 10 fingers, no replacements, no warrantees. Basically, you're stuck with the fingers you've got.
So, proofread. Proofread till it hurts. Yes, it's boring but you look like a fool if you can't type. You see, everyone assumes the fingers are innocent and it's YOU who can't handle grammar or spelling. Yes, there's the rub. No one ever assumes your fingers are the saboteurs.
Ugh! Why can't we just get it right the first time? Is it some kind of brain blockage? Are our fingers not nimble enough? Do the words change so quickly that we can't catch them fast enough? Is grammar really all it's cracked up to be? I go with the nimble finger theory.
My fingers are complete klutzes. So often they aim for two keys at once. They miss the letter completely. Worst of all is when they think I mean 'whole' when I really meant to say 'hole'. What's wrong with fingers these days? I'd send them to school but I know they did that, I was right there with them, sort of watching over their shoulder. It didn't seem to help. In fact, I remember crying over my fingers during a typing test in grade nine. We failed that course. It was the only one I didn't pass that year. I blame my fingers.
There was that time when I had typed a whole essay for English class and my dratted fingers hit some strange key that deleted the whole thing. It wasn't the delete key because that always gives you the chance to change your mind. I would have changed my mind, trust me! What can you do? We only get 10 fingers, no replacements, no warrantees. Basically, you're stuck with the fingers you've got.
So, proofread. Proofread till it hurts. Yes, it's boring but you look like a fool if you can't type. You see, everyone assumes the fingers are innocent and it's YOU who can't handle grammar or spelling. Yes, there's the rub. No one ever assumes your fingers are the saboteurs.
Sales Technique for Writing
I've never liked being a salesperson, yet as a writer we are in fact, salespeople. You can't get around it. We sell ourselves as credible sources for information. But, we also sell our ideas and our writing itself. If you've ever thought "Why should anyone read my stuff?" You can understand the relationship between sales and writing (even before publishing comes into it). We want readers to buy into our writing, to be believe what we write, take it seriously. So, we have to sell it.
The following comes from: How Stuff Works - http://money.howstuffworks.com/sales-technique1.htm
"The foundations of most modern sales techniques lie in five stages of action. These began in the 1950's and include:
Attention: You have to get the attention of your prospect through some advertising or prospecting method.
Interest: Build their interest by using an emotional appeal such as how good they will look to their boss when they make this deal that will save the company thousands of dollars!
Desire: Build their desire for your product by showing them its features and letting them sample or test-drive it.
Conviction: Increase their desire for your product by statistically proving the worth of your product. Compare it to its competitors. Use testimonials from happy customers.
Action: Encourage the prospect to act. This is your closing. Ask for the order. If they object, address their objections. There are then many variations of closing techniques that can help get the business. "
It's not too hard to see how that applies to our writing. Think of copywriting, fiction writing or even writing an instruction manual. The first thing you need to do is pull them in, catch their attention. You do this by surprising them, perking their curiousity, giving them what they want or showing them you have what they need. Whichever works for the writing you are doing. In website reviews a catchy headline is everything. If it's a book you need a great opening line. Magazine articles use headlines and highlighted phrases in the article.
Interest, desire and conviction sort of roll into one theme, keeping your readers reading. How do you pull them through your writing? Some may only read the catchy beginning and then skim to the end for the conclusion. Keeping their interest through the middle is the real trick. This is where your writing style comes in. Don't let them stop reading, keep providing content they need, want and must have. Keep the writing lively rather than droning on.
Then, as with any good sales pitch, you want them to take action. If you are writing fiction you want them to leave the world you created feeling they have left something of themselves behind when they read that last word. If you are writing copy for sales you want them to understand how important the product is. If you are explaining how something works you want them to feel confident enough to proceed and use the product. Even if your only purpose is simple entertainment, you want them to buy that from you. In order for it to be bought, you have to sell it.
The following comes from: How Stuff Works - http://money.howstuffworks.com/sales-technique1.htm
"The foundations of most modern sales techniques lie in five stages of action. These began in the 1950's and include:
Attention: You have to get the attention of your prospect through some advertising or prospecting method.
Interest: Build their interest by using an emotional appeal such as how good they will look to their boss when they make this deal that will save the company thousands of dollars!
Desire: Build their desire for your product by showing them its features and letting them sample or test-drive it.
Conviction: Increase their desire for your product by statistically proving the worth of your product. Compare it to its competitors. Use testimonials from happy customers.
Action: Encourage the prospect to act. This is your closing. Ask for the order. If they object, address their objections. There are then many variations of closing techniques that can help get the business. "
It's not too hard to see how that applies to our writing. Think of copywriting, fiction writing or even writing an instruction manual. The first thing you need to do is pull them in, catch their attention. You do this by surprising them, perking their curiousity, giving them what they want or showing them you have what they need. Whichever works for the writing you are doing. In website reviews a catchy headline is everything. If it's a book you need a great opening line. Magazine articles use headlines and highlighted phrases in the article.
Interest, desire and conviction sort of roll into one theme, keeping your readers reading. How do you pull them through your writing? Some may only read the catchy beginning and then skim to the end for the conclusion. Keeping their interest through the middle is the real trick. This is where your writing style comes in. Don't let them stop reading, keep providing content they need, want and must have. Keep the writing lively rather than droning on.
Then, as with any good sales pitch, you want them to take action. If you are writing fiction you want them to leave the world you created feeling they have left something of themselves behind when they read that last word. If you are writing copy for sales you want them to understand how important the product is. If you are explaining how something works you want them to feel confident enough to proceed and use the product. Even if your only purpose is simple entertainment, you want them to buy that from you. In order for it to be bought, you have to sell it.
Cranking It Out
Here's something I found among a list of jobs for writers:
We are looking for writers to work on the following project:
- Author many short (100-200) word articles on a variety of keywords (keyword list will be provided).
- Author site map for your work.
- Ensure the content achieves an 8-12% keyword density rating.
- Ability to crank out at least 50 such articles a week
Qualifications:
- Use Dreamweaver or Frontpage
- Know how to FTP content to a site
- Previous web writing experience (send URLs)
Compensation:
- Paid on a per article basis.
Is this the job for you? You can find it on Craigslist.org if you want to. It sounds like they want someone to write spam, to me. I guess I still have a bit too much pride in my writing to consider it something I'd "crank out".
I'm not being stuffy, just thinking of the work and creativity and craft involved in creating a readable article and then comparing that to something you'd crank out 50 times a week.
Could you do it? Even if you would take the job, could you write 50 short articles about random topics each week? I guess if it really didn't matter how interesting or unique they were, you could. Of course, you have to consider how dense the keywords are. That seems to be the only content that matters.
Kind of sad if web writing comes to this, cranking out keywords for search engines to latch onto.
The funny thing is that search engines don't all use spiders any more. Some have real people who aren't impressed with a lot of half assed articles full of keywords. Even if those sites get listed and show up at the top of the search that's no guarantee of getting clicks. Not real clicks that stick around and actually look at the site. After all, getting clicks isn't enough. If people come to the site, find nothing and leave. You're not ahead of the game.
So, it's paying work for some writer. Not me though. Not that I couldn't use the money. I just don't want to be known for cranking out articles when I could be creating something unique, with real value.
We are looking for writers to work on the following project:
- Author many short (100-200) word articles on a variety of keywords (keyword list will be provided).
- Author site map for your work.
- Ensure the content achieves an 8-12% keyword density rating.
- Ability to crank out at least 50 such articles a week
Qualifications:
- Use Dreamweaver or Frontpage
- Know how to FTP content to a site
- Previous web writing experience (send URLs)
Compensation:
- Paid on a per article basis.
Is this the job for you? You can find it on Craigslist.org if you want to. It sounds like they want someone to write spam, to me. I guess I still have a bit too much pride in my writing to consider it something I'd "crank out".
I'm not being stuffy, just thinking of the work and creativity and craft involved in creating a readable article and then comparing that to something you'd crank out 50 times a week.
Could you do it? Even if you would take the job, could you write 50 short articles about random topics each week? I guess if it really didn't matter how interesting or unique they were, you could. Of course, you have to consider how dense the keywords are. That seems to be the only content that matters.
Kind of sad if web writing comes to this, cranking out keywords for search engines to latch onto.
The funny thing is that search engines don't all use spiders any more. Some have real people who aren't impressed with a lot of half assed articles full of keywords. Even if those sites get listed and show up at the top of the search that's no guarantee of getting clicks. Not real clicks that stick around and actually look at the site. After all, getting clicks isn't enough. If people come to the site, find nothing and leave. You're not ahead of the game.
So, it's paying work for some writer. Not me though. Not that I couldn't use the money. I just don't want to be known for cranking out articles when I could be creating something unique, with real value.
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