Famous Dead Authors’ Secrets for Writing Success

By Sara, My Web Writers Intern

It has been said that writers are born, not made. Some take that to mean that you are either born with talent, or you may as well not try. That’s probably bunk. If writers are born, they are born out of the sweat and tears of determination and practice. Whether you are drumming up SEO content or working on the next great American novel, writing well and employing the habits of effective writing are essential.

First, it’s important to practice.

Practice keeps you in the habit of writing and thinking about writing. Nineteenth century author C.S. Lewis, most famous for The Chronicles of Narnia, says that “what you want is practice, practice, practice. It doesn’t matter what we write… so long as we write continually as well as we can. I feel that every time I write a page either of prose or of verse, with real effort, even if it’s thrown into the fire the next minute, I am so much further on.”

Another prolific writer, recently deceased Saul Bellow, observed that “somewhere in his journals Dostoyevsky remarks that a writer can begin anywhere, at the most commonplace thing, scratch around in it long enough, pray and dig away long enough, and lo! soon he will hit upon the marvelous.” When you practice the craft of writing and pay diligence to it, you grow. Even if you write tweets for a business firm, you are bound to come up with more unique, interesting, and creative content when you practice. Imagine an athlete who only played her sport at game time — she wouldn’t be good at it and would not be long rewarded for her “efforts.” So practice, practice, practice. Start now. Call it writers’ Spring Training.

Having some “filler” in your drafts is o.k.

It’s certainly tempting for any writer to stop when we have so-called “writer’s block.” Larry Gelbart, though, says “don’t stop.” He wants us to put something there and keep moving. Recently I wrote an article on decade themed parties and decided to employ Gelbart’s advice. I could have stopped and stared at the computer screen when I was stumped on what to write about a 1970s party that wouldn’t be a tired cliché. Instead, I wrote, “too much Footloose not enough Studio 54,” and moved on to the 1980s. Later, while editing and revising, I realized Footloose wasn’t even set in the ’70s, but I understood where my mind was headed. If I had tried to flush that out in the first draft, I’d still be writing it. Listen to Larry. Use filler and keep writing.

Beware of clichés.

“Beware of clichés…. There are clichés of response as well as expression. There are clichés of observation and of thought — even of conception. Many novels, even quite a few adequately written ones, are clichés of form which conform to clichés of expectation.”

-Geoff Dyer

Geoff Dyer is not dead (here is his website), but this advice was too good not to share. Clichés are death to all that is interesting. I can’t say that clichés are never ok, because writing, like most art, only deals in absolutes for the strict business of breaking them. That being said, clichés are never ok. “It goes without saying” that the “early bird catches the worm” and “curiosity killed the cat” so a true “jack of all trades” would never to “keep up with Joneses” by recycling tired clichés.

If it goes without saying, then please, please, just don’t say it.

Ctrl-F and Delete those Adjectives

“Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.”

-Anton Chekhov

Adjectives are not the enemy here (Hint: its clichés). Adjectives can be a crutch, though. I recently read an article about a mama raccoon saving her litter of baby raccoons during a bout of bad weather. It passed through my twitter feed with the phrase, “mother raccoon shields her litter on turnpike from cold,” so of course I read it. I read it and said “awwww… how heartwarming and precious!” If the tweet had falling back on adjective addiction, I probably wouldn’t have clicked on the link following “Heartwarming and precious tale of courage.”

“Don’t say it was delightful; make us say delightful when we’ve read the description. You see, all those words (horrifying, wonderful, hideous, exquisite) are only like saying to your readers, ‘please, will you do the job for me?’”

-C.S. Lewis

Reflect on What You Wrote

In Politics and the English Language, George Orwell claims that a “scrupulous writer” will constantly, even after every sentence (so definitely before sending that tweet), ask him or herself four questions. I leave you with those four questions to take back to your own stack of papers and document files (and practice!):

What am I trying to say?

1. What words will express it?
2. What image or idiom will make it clearer?
3. Is this image fresh enough to have an effect?

Other Articles from My Web Writers:

Tweet for ReTweets- Twitter Tips

My Favorite Writer and Online Marketing Websites and Blogs

What Stephen Covey Knew about Marketing

Tell a Better Story: Tips and Tricks from Mark Twain

Overcoming the Beautiful Little Fool

Party Crashers App Embraces Digital Marketing and the American Dream

Annual Essay Contests You Shouldn’t Miss

Writing To Be Read – How to Catch your Readers’ Attention

by My Web Writers

Web sites, blogs and social media are great platforms to promote your thoughts and writing, but with the massive amounts of content shared every day, how do you get yours to stand out?  For all the time and effort you’ve put into creating this content, it’s understandable to want to speak to an audience – not a wall. While there are countless variables that ultimately affect how your content is found, the following tips will help give you some advantage and can be implemented into your writing right now.

Never overlook the title.

The title to any type of content is a reader’s initial indication of what they’re about to learn. Therefore, a title should be considered as seriously as a first impression for an interview. You want to portray an accurate representation of the content, but also peak readers’ interest enough to want to learn more. Be clear and literal, but add in some creativity so it rolls off the tongue. Take the title of this article for example. The first part, “Writing To Be Read,” is the creative, fun-to-say aspect of the title. But if it was left just as that, reader’s wouldn’t know enough about the purpose of the article to be intrigued to read on. The second part of the title addresses that with adding, “How to catch your readers’ attention.” Two-part titles are a smart technique and provide a great deal of important without appearing like a run-on sentence.

Earn your audience in the first paragraph.

Once readers are intrigued enough by the title to give you some of their time and read on, don’t take this for granted! Your first paragraph is still forming their impression of the article and it’s not too late for them to close the page or click away. Establish the purpose of the writing (what can they expect to learn and why is this something they should want to learn). Also, the first paragraph should include a hook. Common examples include asking a question, telling a story, sharing a statistic or creating an emotional appeal. Take a look at the first paragraph in this article. It begins with a question that grabs a reader’s interest because it pertains to a large category of people who 1. Write and 2. Use the internet. Once you’ve kept a reader through the first paragraph, they’re far more likely to continue reading on.

Label longer writing as subsections.

So now you’re ready to dive into the meat of your content. Great! But keep your audience’s attention span in mind, especially for longer articles. If you have a lot of information to share, consider using subsections and labeling them with a mini-title so readers can easily follow along. Again using this article as an example, without the bolded subsections, it would look like a large block of writing which can be overwhelming and boring to a reader. Almost every piece of writing over a certain length can benefit from subsections. It organizes the content for the reader, allows for easy browsing and referencing and it also helps the writer to stay on topic when the subsections are labeled in advance. Think of it as a “connect the dots” for writing.

Add visual interest.

Pictures and graphics are an initial foot-in-the-door to reach readers. If they see something that catches their eye, they’re far more likely to click on the article and explore. This is yet one more important tactic to writing an article that will be read. If the title doesn’t pull them in, your graphics give you another shot. Ideally any pictures, graphics or video clips you share should be closely related to your content and original. But if you simply can’t find or create your own, stock images can also add this visual interest. Try and stay away from cheesy or overly used stock images. Think outside the box with the various subjects that can represent the content even choosing something more artistic than literal. The more it makes readers curious, the more likely they are to read on for answers.

If at all possible, keep it short.

Less is more in the world of writing. If you can say something simply and clearly, do so. Don’t feel obligated to use superfluous language or abstract analogies to get a point across. If the information you’re providing is valuable and interesting, readers won’t need anything more than the straight facts to stay tuned in. The beginning and end of an article allow more room for some creative fluff to draw readers in, but even this should be kept to a minimum.

Every day, we’re competing against more and more content on the internet. While it’s a wonderful problem to have so much information to share, it can cause a mental overload for the readers. The next time you write, be sure to try some of the tips listed above to help give your content an extra advantage and a better shot at being read.

~Stephanie

Five Suggestions for Writing Smart Content When You’re Not the Expert

By My Web Writers

Most freelance writers have areas of expertise. When they get assignments in those areas, life is good. Words flow easily as the writer transfers his knowledge of a topic through the keyboard into a stellar piece of writing.

But it’s bound to happen: the inevitable assignment on which the writer isn’t an expert. What? You want me write an article on hockey? Me? 

Relax. If you’re a curious person with good research skills, you can still write smart content – even if you’re not an expert.

Research the Topic

The first step to writing content in an area you’re not very knowledgeable about is to do some research. No surprise there, but it still bears repeating. Just like taking your vitamins helps ensure a basic level of good health, doing basic research ensures that you’ll have a basic level of knowledge about the topic at hand. You owe this to those who will be reading your work.

Concentrate your research time on reputable sources. For health-related topics, for example, the Mayo Clinic site and FamilyDoctor.org are good choices. Check out the websites you’re studying to ensure they’re free of bias.

 “Live” in your Topic

Even though you’re not an expert on, say, archery, there are many people who are. Pretend you are a fan of your topic, and brainstorm where you might go online to find like-minded people: archery groups on Facebook, perhaps, or archery forums. Spend some time in these groups. You can ask questions, but you’ll learn a lot by simply reading what experts and fans are saying. What are current topics of interest here? What are fans wondering about and asking?

Another way to learn what’s “hot” on a given topic is to do a Google AdWords search. This tool lets you see how popular various search terms are. Determine some popular search terms related to your topic, and incorporate these into your writing.

Interview an Expert

If you’re not an expert, find someone who is. The internet is your friend here: search for authors, government officials, or bloggers who have written books or articles about the topic you’re researching. Most authors are happy for some publicity, and will be happy to respond to emailed questions. If you have some questions about your topic after researching, chances are your readers will as well. Ask these questions to your expert.

 You Don’t Have to be an Expert

Finally, relax. Chances are, your assignment doesn’t require you to be an expert. If it did, it probably would have gone to a college professor. The average reader is looking for the answers to basic questions, written in an easy-to-understand way. As a writer, that’s what you are an expert at.

Stepping outside your comfort zone is a good thing for you as a writer. It keeps your research skills sharp, and it will keep your writing fresh.  Who knows? You might discover a whole new area of interest!

 And if you’re still feeling insecure after taking all these steps, there are quality content producers who can do a great job for you.

~Susan

 

 

When Bad Jokes Happen to Good People

by My Web Writers

Ralph Waldo Emerson once wrote, “A difference of taste in jokes is a great strain on the affections.” While a bad joke with friends and family can be forgotten, with potential customers you might have just one chance to win them over.  Because senses of humor vary, using humor cautiously is in your best interest. That said, good comedy can evoke emotions that connect people to your purpose.

A Little Goes a Long Way

When writing funny copy, a little humor goes a long way. You know that person in your circle of friends who overuses bad puns, as though by telling every joke, eventually he or she will get a laugh? A little bit goes a long way, especially in marketing copy. Not only do you not want to overload your writing with humor and detract from the credibility of your content, subtle humor often reads better, showing your sophisticated skills.

One way to simplify your humor for a bigger impact is by choosing a consistent style. Consider the Allstate “Mayhem” commercials. The ads each feature actor Dean Winters as different embodiments of “mayhem”–a teen driver, heavy winter snow, termites, and so on.

The phrasing in the commercials features eloquent and funny descriptions of the disasters about to befall drivers or homeowners, but the humor lies most in the deadpan delivery. Further, the consistency of the different ads emphasizes the humor and creates strong branding for the company. In your copy, you can employ these same strategies by devising a unified comedic tone or running gag to use along with your stylesheet.

Consider Negative Reactions

If you consider your customer demographics, hopefully you can avoid a joke that offends unanticipated readers, but you should still consider how your writing might be read as distasteful rather than funny. For example, last year KIA ran a print ad that intended to depict the two sides of their new cars. The ad featured a cartoon strip of a teacher talking to a student and seeing her on one side as a little girl and on the other as a sexualized teenager. The company faced a big backlash because a large number of people thought the ad was inappropriate at best. In this case, failing to consider the implications of the joke forced KIA to deal with an offended public. Especially when joking about gender, race, politics, or religion, think through how others might read your humor, or avoid these jokes altogether.

Keep it Positive

All told, using comedy that is on the light side is most likely to make your readers and potential customers smile. By using jokes that refrain from making fun of a particular person or group of people, you depict your company as friendly and trustworthy rather than gossipy or mean. Upbeat jokes also work well with call-to-action marketing copy, so you can draw the reader in with humor and use active writing to bring in a sale.

Finally, remember to read your humorous copy aloud. Your writing should capture the tone and timing of the joke as though you were telling it to your reader in person.

~Kasey

What Every Writer Should Remember from Freshmen English

By My Web Writers

Photo courtesy of SingleMomFinance.com

If your high school textbooks are gathering dust or long recycled, and you can’t remember how exactly you spent those arduous academic days, it may be time to brush up on a few of the basics from high school English, even if just to see which rules have changed.

In high school, teachers break down the components of a piece of writing so that students will have a vocabulary to help them in the writing and revision process. Seasoned writers can also benefit from evaluating their work with these tools. Let’s take a look at some of these components.

Audience

The audience is the group of people you expect or want to read your work. It is usually good to have an age group, education level, and some demographics in mind. This can be as simple as people who like pie or more specific like women with children in their thirties and forties. Regardless, your language and ideas need to be appropriate for the people you expect to read your work.

Consider what background information may be necessary, what important terms may need defining, and what kind of voice will appeal to your audience. When writing for a medical journal, the language and ideas may be more complex, because the writer assumes that readers have a certain level of familiarity with the discipline. Whereas when explaining a complex medical condition in an article on al site geared toward the general public, more familiar language may be used along with metaphors and similes that make the information accessible to those without a medical education.

If you’re worried about accessing a specific grade-level, Microsoft Word has a handy tool that estimates the grade-level and readability of your writing based on word, sentence, and paragraph complexity.  This can be enabled when you click on File, Options, Proofing, and check Readability Statistics. These statistics appear after you spell check your document.

 Purpose

What is your piece trying to accomplish? After reading, do you want readers to buy a specific brand of shoe, agree with a political argument, or know how to bake a cake? This should be clear to you the writer and should be stated directly or indirectly in your work. In an academic paper, the purpose is often encountered in the thesis statement. A thesis states what the paper plans to prove or explain. It is usually located at the end of the introduction paragraph.

 Organization

Regardless of the kind of writing you are doing, some method of organization is always necessary. Some common structures include, cause and effect, chronological order, and compare and contrast.  A recipe is usually organized with an ingredient list and then the steps are described in chronological order. A blog post about a political issue may compare and contrast the two sides of an issue by spending the first section explaining one side of the issue, it’s pros and cons, and then in the next section considering the other side.

In essays, each paragraph usually proves or addresses an aspect of the argument. One or more paragraphs may represent a point the author is trying to prove. Once that point has been supported, the writer is ready to begin a new paragraph.

 Evidence and Analysis

Any work that is making a claim requires some kind of evidence and analysis. Evidence includes the facts that support an argument. Analysis is the author’s explanation of why the evidence is important or how it relates to the argument. Evidence helps the writer to establish his or her authority and support ideas. Analysis helps the reader to make the same connections between the argument and the evidence that the writer is making.

 Grammar and Spell Check

Grammar and spelling mistakes can be off-putting for readers and threaten a writer’s credibility, especially where there are so many resources at hand to aid in proofreading.  Remember that different styles of writing often have different rules and call for different styles of documentation. Style guides are available on writing center websites for many colleges and universities. Purdue Online Writing Lab has an especially good guide for APA and MLA styles. Remember that Microsoft Word has spelling and grammar check, but doesn’t catch everything and sometimes makes unnecessary changes. So it is always good to proofread again. And of course, never turn in a piece that you haven’t read more than once.

Happy writing.  Class dismissed.

~Lindsey