About Us pages can be a wonderful opportunity to make a company or organization shine but most of them are too often wasted words on a page that no one reads. It doesn’t have to be this way and I’m going to offer a simpler way to help you write a better page.
How to Write a Strong Lead for Your Non-Fiction Article
While there are several angles to consider for a lead, first let’s figure out what to avoid. In general, do not lead with a question because the reader’s attention is immediately turned to thinking of the answer.
How to Write a Marketable Article Based on Hobbies and Human Interest
If you are looking for a new topic to write about, perhaps you should consider writing about universally appealing topics like hobbies or human interest.
How to Write a Marketable Article Based on Timely Events
The first requirement of writing marketable articles is that you must choose a timely topic that creates a lot of interest. No matter how well you write the article, its subject must zero in on the publication’s readership. That is the primary basis on which editors judge quality newsworthy non-fiction content.
How to Write a Poem and Wake Up the World
Poetry is not just about fusing words and rhythm. You need to learn how to use your words to wake up the world. Learn how with these writing tips.
10 Techniques to Write Your Screenplay Faster
Often screenwriters get stuck with the dreaded writer’s block. The truth is writer’s block doesn’t exist. It is an imaginary barrier created by a tired, disorganized thought-process. Consider these top ten tips on how to write a screenplay faster.
How to Write a Better True Story: A Simple Technique in Unity
The action that a writer reveals in his story is only a small part of the action that really took place. His selection shows his skill; almost any event makes a good story if the writer tells the proper parts of it.
The Mechanics of How to Write a Climactic Novel
Are you wanting to write novel that will captivate readers’ attention? In order to do so, there are certain steps you must take, as this article outlines.
How to Write a Great Story of Fiction
As one who writes fiction, you wield the power to make your characters do and say what you want them to do and say, and to create positive and negative situations for them. If you plan your story before you write it, you can create strong characters who react believably.
How to Make Guest Blogging Worth Your Time
I have often heard writers ask if guest blog posting is worth it. Some people will say no, that it’s a waste of time. But I say it’s not – if you use your time wisely. Choose only blogs in your niche that can be profitable for you.
How to Make Your Article SEO-Friendly Before Selling It to an Editor
Tired of getting your magazine submissions rejected, or worse, ignored, with no response? Learn to make every article SEO-friendly and well-researched with quotations and statistics that would pass the scrutiny of even the toughest fact checkers and you are likely to see more of your articles published.
How to Manage Media Relations for Your Clients
Managing the media relations for clients can be challenging, however with these handy tips you will be on your way to producing a high-quality campaign.
Getting the Best Mileage for Your Writing: How to Sell Your Article to Multiple Publications
A little rewiring of the basic components, a new perspective, even reworking your original pitch can propel your story from its humble local beginnings to the national and international stage.
Freelance Writing: How to Handle Clients Who Hate Your Work
Most clients are willing to work with you to remedy problems or inconsistencies, while some clients expect too much and become irate. So how do you handle different clients with different attitudes, moods, and tolerances? Here are a few tips to make clients work with you instead of against you.
Creative Writing: How to Harmonize Your Storytelling Skills
We can appreciate the harmony of color in a painting or a beautiful line in a sculptured figure; we can hear the harmony of sound in music or see the harmony of ideas in a story.
How to Kill a Writing Career
Learning to be a successful writer is kind of like being a gold miner back then. Most writers won’t make a ton of money with their writing. The people who do make the money are the ones who sell the endless ebooks and online courses that tell people how to – wait for it – make money with their writing.
How to Get Higher Rates if You’re a Freelance Writer from a Third-World Country
Apparently, many clients are under the impression that writers from Third-World or developing countries are article-spewing robots who run on gasoline, rather than living, breathing human beings who need to shell out money every day to survive.
Words Work: 7 Ways to Get Results in Business Writing
The effects of poor writing skills on businesses and even to individuals who want to excel in their fields can be painful. Miscommunication between employees and employers, misrepresentation of products or services. Use these seven tips to ensure your business documents get the right results every time.
How to Build Strong Narrative in Your Article
When subjects excite your curiosity, make a note of it. Draw an image of it. Write a blog post about it. Tweet it. Dream about it at night. Before long, you will have your own prized collection of story ideas.
How to Create a Well-Written Short Story that Engages Readers
To succeed in developing a short story, you need to canvas its environment, not just by your choice and arrangement of words, but also by its series of events. The movement of a short story must progress swiftly from one scene to the next; you must write captivating and snappy dialogue; and you must create characters who are complex yet simple so they are self-explanatory to a degree.
What’s Your Story? How to Find Your Unique Writing Voice
As a writer, you have a literary hero, a blogging deity, or an esteemed wordsmith you look up to and whom you get inspiration from. You are also a byproduct of the things you read, see, experience, and feel. But sometimes, we tend to lose our style in this nest of influences and end up being a voice of sorts
How to Generate Interest in Your Non-fiction Story
Non-fiction writers cannot construct action and episodes to bring out a moral, like a fiction writer can. Learn how to generate interest with these tips.
Freelance Writing: How to Generate ‘Reader-Interest’ in Any Story or Article
What interests all people, all the time? It’s seeing themselves in a story or piece of news. Use this to generate reader interest in your writing.
How to Get a Hardship Grant When You’re a Freelance Writer
There is one thing writers can do when they have sudden changes in their life circumstances, whether it’s a magazine shutting down or you loose your main income and your writing income will not support you or your family, you can apply for a grant.
How Not to Fall Prey to Writing Job Scams on CraigsList
Many freelance writers have a love-hate relationship with CraigsList: they love using the free service to find legitimate work, and they hate using it when they inadvertently run into scams. I’ve been using CraigsList to find freelance gigs
How to Approach Book Publishers with Your Copywriting Services
You’ve established yourself with a few authors writing back cover copy, and you’re ready to approach publishers with your writing portfolio. Maybe you’d like to get your foot in the door with a few of the smaller presses so you can work your way up to the big leagues.
Plot Development Tip: How to Arouse Desire in Your Fiction Story
Plot development is a key part of the creative writing process. One way to spark interest from your readers is to arouse desire in your fiction story.
How to Avoid Sexist Language in Article Writing
A responsible writer wants to steer clear from sexist language, particularly in non-fiction and business writing, because it is deemed inappropriate. It can alienate one’s readership. When I write I want to gain readers’ trust so I can build credibility and respect.
Practice Makes Perfect: Hints for Young Writers
Are you an aspiring young writer, but don’t know where to start? Read the advice and insights of one young writer who has already began the process.
Make Your Book a Success: How to Hire and Work with an Editor
It is nearly impossible to market and sell a poorly edited book. Whether you contract with a traditional publisher or self-publish, an experienced editor is the key to your book’s success. If you choose the self-publishing route, it’s important to know what to look for.
5 Home Office Productivity Tips for Freelance Writers
Working out of the home sounds like a dream come true to many people – and to be honest, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. Read these tips on how best to work from home.
How I Broke into Freelance Writing Based on One Idea
Everyone has a story about how they began their freelance writing career. Learn how to do the same from the experiences of one successful writer.
How to Get Your Work Published in Reputable Magazines
Breaking into reputable magazines doesn’t require a secret power or any sort of special list. What it does require is planning, executing and being aware of what your targeted magazine needs are, outside of their printed guidelines. Learn how to break into magazine writing with this article.
Getting the Most Mileage Out of Your Articles
As freelance writers we all know that the more mileage we can get out of an article or story, the better off we will be. It takes time to write an article or story and you want to be able to get the most for the time you’ve spent.
The Golden Opportunity of Advertising Yourself for Free You’re Missing
Did you know each time you pitch, you have a golden opportunity to advertise yourself for free? It’s your bio- your verbal selfie, a few sentences about yourself that accompany your article and give editors and readers a glimpse of the person behind the product.
The Rewrite: Good and Bad Literary Habits of Great Writers
In order to become a better writer, it’s valuable to look the good and bad literary habits of great writers. Learn about the top habits in this article.
Grow Your Writing Business and Increase Your Income with Subcontractors
If your freelancing workload is too heavy, it may be time to hire some subcontractors to help you out. Learn about effectively hiring subcontractors here.
How Freelance Writers Can Generate More Assignments from Past Editors
Connecting with editors from your past leaves the door open for future assignments and referrals to other publications. Learn these top tips on how to reconnect with past editors.
Full-time Freelance Writing for Full-time Moms
Yes, there are only 24 hours in a day, and some days it seems like there are only four hours. But as a mother who is raising two young boys, ages 4 and 2, and managing a full-time freelance writing and PR business, I’m here to tell you that it IS possible to have the best of both worlds – and live to tell about it.
Game Writing, a Popular Niche for Freelance Writers
Game writing is different compared to writing a script for a movie, a television show or even a comic book because the latter mediums are all linear in structure. Writing for a video game involves giving gamers who play the games a variety of choices
Disgusted and Rejected: A Freelance Writer’s Point of View on Unfair Publishing and Payment Practices
Not all editors acknowledge the receipt of a manuscript or query letter. If the writer, after waiting beyond the response time, inquires about his submission, then he risks incurring editorial wrath and his submission is returned, unread. This is an opinion piece on the unfair publishing and payment practices freelance writers often encounter in their efforts to get their work published.
Can You Be a Freelance Food Writer and a Vegetarian?
Are you an aspiring food writer, but fear being vegetarian will hold you back? It definitely can be done, as one writer explains.
Freelancing Full-Time for the First Time: Is a Writing Career in Your Future?
Is a writing career in your future? In my first month as a full-time freelance writer, I’ve learned to strike a balance between writing articles that editors have asked me to write, pitching my work to new publications, and working on my own fiction manuscripts.
Freelance Writing for the Christian Market
Do you write only for secular publications but are looking for new markets to tap into? The more markets you have to write the better your income can be. Writing for the Christian market may be just what you are looking for.
Freelance Writing for Pet Magazines
Writing for a pet publication can a way to add to your portfolio and your pay packet. Learn all about the different publications and how to write for them.
Freelance Writing for Tech Startups
By providing quality content, startup companies get the boost they require to catch up with other existing companies or startups that have had a headstart.
Freelance Writing for Agriculture Trade Publications and Websites
Learn how to write for agriculture and farming trade publications and websites from a freelance writer who has been doing it for more than 12 years.
Freelance Writing for Pregnancy and Baby Magazines
The parenting writing niche is ripe with opportunity. Here are some useful tips to successfully approach pregnancy, baby, and parenting publications.
8 Tips to Maximize Your Freelance Writing Earnings
Want to earn more as a freelancer? Learn about eight proven ways to maximize your freelance writing earnings without sacrificing more time or quality.
How Introverted Freelance Writers Can Ask For Referrals
It’s common knowledge that referrals are an effective way for freelancers to get new business. After all, it’s easier to sell your services to a potential client if they know someone who is already satisfied with your work. Clients who come to us via referrals tend to be easier to close than those we approach through cold emails and job applications.
A Writer’s Viewpoint about Freelance Writing at Elance.com (and where to make more money elsewhere)
In a nutshell, Elance connects freelance writers with employers from all around the world. As a writer, you can bid on different projects. After you’ve submitted your work, your payment is released through a secure payment system called Escrow. Sounds good enough? It’s not.
Freelance Writing Clients: The Good vs. the Bad
I think most freelancers have some conception of what a bad client looks like – those of you who aren’t yet freelancers, imagine one. It probably exists. But what about the good ones?
Finding Your Writing Niche: How I Became an Expert Freelance Science Writer
Before going into freelance writing full time, I spent a number of years as a research biologist. I originally started on that path because brilliant science writers like Stephen Jay Gould and Carl Zimmer had opened up the world of the natural sciences to me with creativity and wit.
To My Editor: “Messing Up My Manuscript May Make Me Mad!”
As a general rule, editors do not and cannot print articles exactly as they are written. The chances are that the proofreader, correcting the proof, may have observed some unnoticed variation from the established publication’s house style. All manuscripts are subject to scrutiny and revision.
Freelance Travel Writing: Finding a Niche Within a Niche
While being a general travel writer can be fun as you get to write, and learn, about a lot of exciting places, the fact is your best work will come from writing about places or areas of the travel industry you know well.
Is Freelance Ghost Blogging A Bad Idea?
In an age where the words authenticity and community are used when talking about blogging, where content marketing has elevated writing to almost mythical status, the very idea of a post written by some outsider and then sold to be used on a blog without attribution seems all wrong.
Freelance Magazine Writing, It’s My Business
Magazines pay freelance writers by the word, by the page, by the article, or not at all. Often they pay more for accompanying photos and graphics. Purchasing a point-and-shoot camera could pay for itself with one published article
A Specialty in Freelance Real Estate Writing
National real estate writing and editing has been my specialty for nearly 10 years, but I have years of experience as a real estate agent and property manager that made a complete package for editors and content managers. I have written an ebook and hundreds of blogs
Freelance Copywriting: Writing the Advertorial
Whether you are a copywriter, an article writer, or a journalist, you can easily grasp the mechanics of writing advertorials for clients. Without realizing it, you might have written advertorials, in some form or to some degree, for clients. Here are some practical tips to understand the components of an advertorial and how to write one.
Making the Grade as a Freelance Educational Writer
Although the nonfiction genres are often popular amongst freelance writers, many don’t consider educational writing as a possibility for generating income. Educational writing takes a special set of skills and some well honed writing techniques, but it can be a lucrative and satisfying field
How to Engage Your Readers with Extraordinary Characters
It isn’t an easy thing, creating characters. It takes patience. You have this story spinning around in your head you want to share; after all, writing a novel is one goal, but getting it published is your ultimate goal.
Finding Plot Ideas for Your Next Fiction or Non-Fiction Story
Learn how you can spot or create plot ideas for your next story by observing what is around you and what you experience in life.
Engage Your Video Game Readers with These Five Article Templates
As tough as it may seem to break into the freelance game journalism industry, an even more daunting task awaits you once you’ve managed to get yourself published: keeping your readers coming back for more.
Editorial Positions and Annual Salaries at Small and Large Newspapers
The editors-in-chief of newspapers in large cities draw salaries from $50,000 to $90,000 a year, and a few are paid twice as much. The average salary of the large city editor-in-chief is not far from $110,000.
Published on Page 1 or 100? Editors & Publishers Discuss the Importance of Article Placement in a Magazine
Recently the editor of a popular magazine accepted one of my stories for publication. She was full of kind words about it and how much she liked it. “In fact, we like your story so much,” she said, “that we want to put it in a more prominent position in our magazine.” After the first… Read more →
How to Conduct a Creative Writing Class for Children
It seemed fitting that I would teach a Creative Writing Class for Children, a summer program that I designed for motivated children ages eight to thirteen, here in a Big Ten university town. Amazingly, the class is quite effective with the huge age range. And much to my surprise, the oldest kids are not necessarily the best writers
Creative Writing: Method and Mood, Sanity and Insanity
Writers produce the best literary work when under the subtle influence of the mood. You can improve your writing skills by observing its method.
Freelance Crowdfunding Success Stories: A new way to develop and launch your writing project
By now, we’ve all heard about Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, and the countless niche Crowdfunding sites that allow regular people with unique ideas, whether they be technologic, social, or artistic, to reach new audiences, raise money, and develop their projects.
Creative Writing Tips: How to Cultivate a Writing Style of Your Own by Jenny Malone
The primary standard of good writing is clearness of expression. The aim of every writer is to convey his thoughts (including concepts, opinions and emotions) to the reader. For this reason, be careful not to use ambiguous words. Use language that is clear, strong and distinct, or else you will fail in fully conveying your meaning
A Freelance Writer’s Point-of-View: Writing for Publications vs. Writing for Corporations
Because I’m always interested in building my skillset and gaining more practice, I’ve been taking on corporate writing jobs in addition to my work that gets featured in a publication. Writing for a company has various
Learn How to Create Quality Website Content by Following Google’s Rules
When it comes to the Panda side of producing Google-happy content, avoid web content that is not original. As a writer, this includes spinning previously published content or duplicating articles that already exist.
How to Create Your Own Freelance Project Contract
The first thing to consider when formulating a contract for a new freelance client is to make sure that the contract can be defended in a court of law. There are six criteria that the contract must meet according to the United States legal system.
A Writing Opportunity: Creating Custom Templates for Clients
For freelance technical writers or writers who have experience with business contracts, creating custom templates for clients could provide a lucrative source of income. Although many websites offer free templates of all kinds, they are generalized, mostly used for common tasks. More sophisticated uses need more specialized templates.
Protecting Your Work the Right Way: Copyright and Usage Rights for Freelance Writers
When you sell your article or other written piece to a publication, it’s important to understand what you’re actually selling. More often than not, you’re not selling the written piece, or manuscript, itself.
Co-Authoring a Book for Fun and Profit
Stephen King did it. So did Anne McCaffrey, Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman. Julia Child did it with two people. They’ve all written books with others. Collaborating with another person can be a great way to help ease a heavy workload
Avoid These 10 Common Freelancing Traps to Run a More Successful Writing Business
The delightful Carol Tice and I conducted a bootcamp titled, Freelance Business Bootcamp, several months ago. In preparing the bootcamp, we put together a list of the top ten ways writers (and many freelancers) tend to get bamboozled, nailed, hammered and generally screwed. These top ten are all too common
How to Conduct an Effective Interview for Your Story
As a freelance writer, it is your job to tell a story that readers are willing to spend a few minutes of their day engaged with. To do that effectively, you’ve got to gather data, do a fair amount of research on your topic, create a few visuals to help enhance your story
Copy Editors: Use These 4 Tips to Communicate with Clients
While client education isn’t technically part of a copy editor’s job, working with clients who have a firm grasp of the scope of work, and the value of that work, tends to translate into projects that don’t raise my blood pressure and that do blossom into repeat assignments
Breaking into the SEO Writing Industry
Many writers have freelance success by finding the right niche. If you haven’t considered your own writing niche yet, one modern industry to consider is SEO writing. Search engine optimization is crucial to any website’s presence, visibility, and outreach
Brevity is the Soul of Wit in Writing Poetry and Short Stories
You will notice that writers and poets of certain literary magazines have the privilege of writing at length. These days editors of literary magazines (both online and offline) reject poems exceeding eight stanzas. Even though the Internet allows poets and writers to write at length, our writing style has become more condensed for the benefit of readers.
How Freelance Writers Can Build an Idea Bank to Write Interesting Articles
When people ask me where I get ideas for such diverse articles, I tell them that I maintain an idea bank. I always have my little note pad on hand as ideas pop into my brain; this often happens at unexpected times and places. When I get home, I transfer these ideas onto color-coded 3 by 5 inch note cards, one for each magazine that I want to write for
How to Choose the Perfect Freelance Copywriting Niche
I’ve worked with hundreds of successful freelance writers over my 16 years as Executive Director of American Writers & Artists Inc. One thing these success stories have in common is this: they decided to focus on a specific industry or niche.
Blogging for Business: How to Use a Blog to Get New Clients
No one can undermine the effectiveness of word of mouth marketing and referrals, but nothing equals the effectiveness of blogging as a way to get new business. A blog can attract the attention of prospective clients, impress upon them that you are an expert in your field
Breaking into New Markets with your Freelance Writing
One of the first articles I had published by a print magazine was a genealogy piece about an unusual quest to find a long lost relative in Ancestry Magazine. Had I known back then that magazines often paid more when photos or other graphics were submitted, I would have been paid even more
Give Your Freelance Career a Boost by Breaking into the Financial Writing Niche
Do you want to know to land high-paying freelance gigs that average $0.10 to $0.20 a word? Consider writing about finance. You can leverage personal trading experience into topical expertise by just knowing how to customize your query
A Writer’s Writing Style: What is it?
A writer’s most prized possession is his or her own unique writing style. Our purpose in writing a story (either fiction or non-fiction) is to trigger certain ideas to emerge in the readers’ minds.
Achieving Success in Journalistic News Writing
What is the difference between journalistic writing and other forms of writing? Journalistic writing is not a special literary gymnastic that requires a special talent and a expansive vocabulary. Some writers speak of it as a special genre of writing, like screenwriting, short story writing, or copywriting. In reality, news writing is the plainest, most reserved form of English composition
4 Ways Self-Publishing on Amazon is a Great Content Marketing and Lead Generation Opportunity
Self-publishing on Amazon is like putting an infinite number of your books in the center of the world’s largest bookstore. Amazon is like a miniature search engine. Except it’s less competitive than Google. It’s become cheaper and easier than ever to start a blog, making it harder to get the attention
Powerful Pointers on Becoming a Better Freelance Writer
To choose freelance writing for a profession, you should have the literary temperament and some ideas of business methods on which to base your hopes. Let your inward impulse for expression help you overcome the many obstacles that will try to stop you.
The Best Times to Apply for Freelance Writing Jobs
When you first start freelancing, it can be hard to get your foot in the door. All the jobs seem to be taken as soon as you hit, apply and you still have to scour the Internet trying to find other opportunities. By learning when sites refresh or when new jobs are posted, you have a better chance of being one of the first applicants, and a better chance of landing the job.
PART 2: CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT SECRETS – 7 STEPS TO DEVELOPING REAL PEOPLE WHO BRING YOUR FICTION TO LIFE
The quality of your characters will form the foundation you desire for a strong story. In this four-part series, we’re looking at ways to develop three-dimensional, dynamic, story driving characters
Children’s Book Publishers – How to Wow Them With a Perfect Query Letter
A query is a business letter asking permission to send the project described. It is either sent without an accompanying manuscript, or with two or three sample chapters (the publisher’s guidelines will state which form the query should take)
What Abraham Lincoln Can Teach Us About Clear, Concise Writing
Abraham Lincoln, America’s iconic 16th President (1861-65), was never known as either a great writer or a great orator. Yet he penned one of the most highly praised and oft-quoted speeches in history.
A CLOSER LOOK AT CROSS-GENRE ADVENTURE WRITING
The action/adventure genre is most often defined by a protagonist that takes on some sort of heroic quest, where they must prove their own worthiness
Comedy Copywriting – Funny Or Not, Here I Come
I enjoy humor-reading it, watching it and writing it. Writing it is the hardest. But that doesn’t stop me from including it when writing copy.
Comedy Writing – I’m Funny You Just Lack a Sense of Humor
In humor writing, the first person that has to think something is funny is you. If you don’t think what you’ve written is funny, probably no one else will either. Still, that’s no guarantee others will enjoy your comedy
Comic Book Scripts – Technical Tricks and Troubleshooting
Do you have a story you want to develop as a comic book script? You might think the writing process would be the same as scripting movies, television, or plays, but the medium has very unique needs
Freelance Writers: Compose a Query Email That Actually Gets a Response in Five Straightforward Steps
Not all emails will generate a response. The majority, in fact, will be politely ignored. Your job is to appeal to the companies who may be interested in what you’ve got to offer before they get bored and trash your email.
Copywriting Choices – Specialist or Non-Specialist?
Property sector copywriting, for instance, is hugely different from writing for the IT or telecomms sectors, whilst financial copywriting requires a totally different grounding from, say, travel copywriting.
Cover Letters for Short Stories
When I first began submitting my short stories for publication, I had no idea that cover letters existed until I’d chosen to submit my story to a publisher whose submission guidelines required that a cover letter accompany every manuscript.