Don't Let What You Don't Know Stop You

Do you ever feel stupid when someone points out a grammar mistake you've made, say on your blog?  Ever feel stupid when you mispell a word or the name of a President or Prime Minister?  Do you feel you rely on Google Search too much as a writer?

Don't let grammar and mispellings stop you from writing.  I have sent in many articles only to have my editors use the harsh words "rejected" due to errors. I'm regularly surprised at errors I make and rules I never knew.

Here's the thing about writers that makes errors okay.  Writers are like meat grinding machines.  That's right, I said meat grinding machines.  I'm picturing the kind of little hand-powered tool my mother used to use to mince either ham or Spam with pickles to make the most delightful little crustless sandwiches for a church function. 

Writers do more than put out writing.  They take something--anything common in life--like ham or Spam--and somehow are able to make it into something more, something new, something spicy.  Writers can make a story or life lesson out of just about anything.  It's how their grinding tool--or rather noggin works.

If you're like me, your noggin is churning all the time, and that is what makes you a writer!  And for that you are forgiven of errors! 

What's Your Tone?

Tone varies from person to person, post to post, article to article.  There is a time and purpose for every tone.

Today, most online articles are written in a conversational tone, which is a giant leap from the "reporting" or "speech giving" tone of yesterday.

Even a conversational tone can vary.  You may chose to "converse" tongue-in-cheek, you may choose to use slang, you may choose to use sarcasm, you may use assertive or powerful words.

Practice a variety of styles and see what works for you. 

If you're trying to brand yourself, you will want to stay with one style.

Writing Online Content

It is imperative content writers learn to write quick and snappy paragraphs.  Most readers today are scanners.  The quicker they can absorb information, the quicker they can move on.

For this reason, many conventional writing rules are broken.  Today's writing requires more paragraph breaks so that paragraphs are short and easily readable.  No long explanations are needed.  Getting to the point quickly is key.

ONLINE CONTENT WRITING TIPS

The most popular ways to write successful content include:

1. Short snappy sentences.
2. Numbered lists.
3. Bolded headings.
4. Modern terminology.
5. Editing out unnecessary wording and explanations.

Adding a closing statement is still suggested.  End your article with a sentence or two that ties it all in together.  This way your reader isn't left hanging.  When you write your next piece of web content, see if you've included most these tips.

Where to Get Your Web Content

One of the places I sell articles, website blurbs, blog content, etc. is through Constant-Content.com.
 
Finding Constant-Content was really a miracle in the making for a writer like me.  It was even an answer to prayer!  One day I did some Google searching for places to sell articles.  I'd been registered with Elance as a writer for some time by then, but wasn't getting work.  During my search, I discovered a few places other places to try and one was Constant-Content.

I tried writing for Constant-Content and had three articles accepted right away.  They have a tough editing process where every article submitted is carefully scrutinized, so you can imagine how I felt getting those three articles pushed through so quickly.  I then sold my first article within the same month of starting to write and submit to them.  How energizing!

Who buys articles, blurbs and blog content from writers?  There are millions of people who need articles for their websites or online magazines.  They may want articles related to what services they offer or sell, fillers, or fresh content to keep their site optimized.

Writing articles is time consuming and it often makes sense for website owners to purchase the rights to use pre-written articles as they wish.    Some of these buyers spell out the details of what they need.  Others scroll through the extensive collection already written and still available.

Articles generally sell between $20 and $60.

  

Create Dynamic Tension in Your Writing

New Tips for Writers:

Every good fiction book needs to include pain and conflict followed by detailed attempts at pain resolution, if the story is to be more than grandma's garden variety brand of story telling.

If your story is to captivate an audience willing enough pay money to buy it, you will need to create something that catches the reader's attention. 

Once you have an idea of the pain or list of pains your character or characters either have or will endure, the story can then become the unfolding account of attempts at resolving the pain resolution.  In fiction, the pain and conflict can be outrageous and fantastic; after all, fiction stories do their best when they transport the reader into a new world.

WRITING IN PAIN AND CONFLICT FOR NON-FICTION BOOKS

Non-fiction books and articles can follow a similar format in order to pack an impactful punch.  A non-fiction book or article can talk to a need (pain), but the pain will be more common to the intended reader (how can you sell books or articles if there aren’t enough readers with a similar problem, right?).  The problem or pain will be one the reader wants an answer for and to which he is willing to fork over cash in order to solve.

Once the pain is identified in the non-fiction book, the writer can proceed with telling the stories of typical conflicts a person may experience while trying to resolve his/her pain.  To pack a wallop, the non-fiction book needs to have at least one but hopefully more good takeaways, otherwise the reader may feel the book was a waste of money and give it a bad review or rating, or non at all.

To write with this dynamic tension concept in mind, include these guidelines:

·              In fiction, focus on what the character in the story wants

·              In non-fiction, focus on what the reader wants or for a memoir type story, the pain of the author

·              Address self-created obstacles and questionings

·              Address obstacles or aids created by the immediate circle of relationships and environment

·              Outline obstacles thrown in by the outside world that the character may have little control over

·              Have your character lose some battles and win others—and in non-fiction, have your reader consider a number of problem-solving options

Writing Tip - Outlining Your Manuscript After It's Written, to Improve Flow

When a writer is compelled to write, she/he will sit down and spew creatively and freely, not worried about sentence structure, punctuation, wordiness and so on.  (Unfortunately, blogging isn't so forgiving and needs editing right away if you are to appear knowledgeable on any level).  

Once a writer has 300 pages or so of wonderful creativity, the problem then becomes how they edit it to ensure it flows and makes sense since no one can read 300 pages in one sitting? Learning to use the Table of Contents feature in MSWord is very helpful for this. I speak here of non-fiction, though fiction would be able to use this as well.  

USING THE TABLE OF CONTENTS FEATURE

Here is how to set up a Table of Contents (TOC).  In my version of Word, I go to Insert, then Reference, Index and Tables, and choose Table of Contents (TOC).

Choose to Show 4-5 levels and choose Show Outlining Toolbar.

Then go to your document and highlight your titles assigning levels.  For instance, Level One might be Part One, or Chapter 1.  After highlighting the title, go to the outlining toolbar and choose Level 1.

Proceed with each sub-title, assigning levels. 

To use a table of contents for editing purposes, I recommend allowing hyperlinks – which means when you Control-click on a heading in your TOC it will take you to that section.

When using this as an unofficial table of contents for editing purposes, you can even add levels that simply explain what the page or chapter is about. 

When you’ve gone through the entire manuscript, then go back to Insert, Reference, TOC and choose Modify.  It will put your TOC all together for you. 

When editing your manuscript, the TOC will help you see the existing order and help you identify if there is flow, identify changes and jump to sections easily.

Unpaid Work of a Writer

It is hard to make an income doing freelance writing.  A lot of work is done on spec.

on spec

Definition (from www.investorwords.com)

Doing a job without any guarantee of being paid, in the hope of winning future business.

My Definition:

Writing to develop ideas and create a product that in the future can be sold.

Writers that write on spec do so because they love to write.  Their writing isn't financially driven alone.  

Where a writer doesn't get paid is in doing research, bidding time, conversing with the client, editing and re-editing time, in the administration of uploading to a potential buyer, etc.  Even once a project is sent in it could be rejected or not picked up. 

There can be other issues too:  One writer had a buyer come back and demand a collection of her rough notes.  There was no agreement suggesting she would have to comply if requested.  The only reason she might comply would be to smooth the waters and keep the customer--and on spec proposition.  

The customer had not suggested he'd pay her for the rough notes or the time it would take to send him the rough notes.  This writer was in a bind.  Worst of all, the writer spent precious time she could have been writing and perhaps earning money elsewhere on worrying and trying to figure out this unpaid problem.  

If I were her I would have asked for additional funding to do this or just moved on and not complied.  Why should writers appease people for free?  Just my thoughts.

A NEW DICTIONARY

On another note, with all the new dictionaries springing up I found this one which I can see meets a niche of its own.  Should be very useful: http://www.investorwords.com

To Write Well You Must READ

To develop as a writer:

Read.  When you read, watch what other publishers have done with punctuation.  There are so many rules around, but today, many are changing the rules.  Many are leaving commas out, for instance.

Read to develop your style.  Read to develop your vocabulary.  The Urban Dictionary may be a valuable resource to use.  Don't depend on Microsoft Word's grammar checker.  It is often incorrect and often isn't up-to-date with new words.

Read to stay current so you can write current.

Read online articles, magazine articles, books, blogs.

Practice writing summaries of what you've read.  Learn the art of highlighting and re-writing--putting things into your words.

Writing You, Your, They, Their - What's Best?

When you're writing articles for web content use, it is suggested you don't write in first person.  That means no "I" stories.  Of course, if your blog is personal in nature you may.

Another tip is to use "we" loosely.  Apparently, once you personalize your piece, you turn a few readers away. 

Generalizing for a wide audience is best. 

Using "you" is good.

It is also best if you don't use the term "one", such as in this sentence:

• When going to the hair stylist, one might decide to bring his own shampoo.

There are ways to work around that.  Use the word "person" or "people", for instance:

• When going to the hair stylist a person may want to bring his own shampoo.
• When going to the hair stylist people may choose to bring their own shampoo.

Change the sentence around even more:

• You may want to bring your own shampoo when you go to the hair stylist.
• When you go to the hair stylist, you may want to bring your own shampoo.
• Clients may want to bring their own shampoo when they go to their hair stylist.

Using He or She

Now, the problem with the sentence above that used "person" also required the term "his" or "her".  (If you say a person, it is never "their".)

You can, however, use "their" or "they" in a similar way as "you", if used correctly.  Example:  Whenever you visit the veterinarian, always thank him; he studied hard to get where he is.  OR  When you visit veterinarians, always thank them; they studied hard to get where they are.