Tricks to Using LinkedIn and Quora to Research Topics and Articles

By My Web Writers

LinkedIn and Quora can be used for much more than meets the eye. Most think of LinkedIn as a professional website for job hunting, and some see Quora as a question-and-answer site with no more credibility than Wikipedia. If you know a few tricks, however, both can be excellent resources for researching topics and articles. Whether you’re a content writer or researching for a school assignment, turning to these sites can provide some great information, or at least point you in the right direction for other outstanding sources.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn is no doubt a great source for networking and showcasing your list of job skills for potential employers, but it can also be used to research topics and articles. LinkedIn Today is the perfect spot to see what other professionals are sharing. Like the “How to use LinkedIn Today” video says, “There’s too much information out there, and not enough time in the day.”

LinkedIn Today gives you information from industry professionals and experts who have knowledge to share about specific topics. Not only can you search for a specific topic on LinkedIn Today, but can then filter down the results even further based on time posted, industry, or even company.

You can also set up your LinkedIn Today posts to show up on your LinkedIn homepage. You can select specific topics or even people to follow. The articles will be catered to your specifications!

Join a LinkedIn Group and read what others are asking or sharing.  Some of the best, blog post topics can be formed just by looking at forum questions.

Quora

“Anyone can ask, answer, or edit questions on Quora,” is the welcome you get once you’ve logged in to your Quora page.  Get answers from real people from all over the world. The answers might come from doctors, lawyers, writers, etc.

Quora has some great tips on getting started and how to decide which information makes for a good answer. For example, a good answer will often include a link to a research article or website that will provide more detailed information. The best answers are voted to the top of the often long list of answers.

If you can’t find a question that’s already been asked about your topic, ask the question yourself! You’ve got a world of people out there waiting to answer, so why not ask? The answers could open up a world of information you had no idea was out there and can be quoted in your blog post.

While LinkedIn and Quora shouldn’t be your only means of researching, the information found can certainly point you in the right direction. LinkedIn and Quora can offer analysis from industry experts and professionals that you might not otherwise find. ~Natalie

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:

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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

Writers, Don’t Give Up the Day Job Until You Pass Our Spelling Quiz

by My Web Writers

Because most people compose on word processors with squiggly red lines and spell checkers to point out errors, there are few excuses for misspelled words. Most mistakes are chalked up to typos or common homophones that slip through the cracks. Take our spelling quiz to brush up your skills and focus on commonly switched homophones and misspelled words. The first section focuses on words that sound the same but have different meanings. Often writers accidentally use the wrong one. The second section includes words off Dictionary.com’s frequently misspelled word list. Test your spelling knowledge!

Commonly Misused Homophones

Insert the correct word into each blank in the sentence below:

1) The child _______ refused to eat her vegetables. She was ______ going to be in trouble.

a)  Defiantly   b) Definitely

2) The woman relished in the _______ as her shoes were a perfect ______ to her new dress.

a) complement    b) compliment

3) The company was happy to ______ the proposal, _______ they asked for some minor adjustments.

a) accept  b) except

4) The school’s ______  felt her _______  duty was to support the teachers and keep the school running with discipline.

a) principal b) principle

5) The father was concerned with slimming his ______, bu the also didn’t want to _____ food from the table.

a) waist  b) waste

Frequently Misspelled Words

Select the correct spelling below:

6) a state of equality, a scale, a equilibrium:

a) balance b) ballance c) balence

7) Terrible; inspiring awe:

a) awfull b) aweful  c) awful

8) One who robs or steals:

a) burglar  b) burgler

9) Not a professional, a beginner, a hobbyist:

a) amatuer  b) amateur  c) amature

10) A promise or warranty:

a) garantee b) guarantee c) garentee

11) A thousand years:

a) millennium b) millenium c) milennium

12) Something one owns:

a) posession b) possesion  c) possession

13) A place to go out to eat:

a) restarant  b) restaurant  c) restaraunt

14) To suggest or praise:

a) recommend  b) recomend  c) reccommend

15) A machine that cleans your floors; an empty space:

a) vaccuum b) vacuum  c) vacume

Answer key

1.  a, b  2. b, a  3. a, b  4. a, b  5. a, b  6. a  7. c 8. a  9. b  10. b  11. a  12. c 13. b 14. a 15. b

For more help, consult this list of Commonly Missused Words to make sure you’re not just spelling he word correctly, but that you’re using the right word to begin with. You can also continue to test your spelling on your smart device using the A+ Spelling App. My Web Writers also has additional resources for making your copy editing swifter and more accurate. Give your writers our Grammar Test and read our tips for how to Be a Better Editor. ~Kasey

Be a Better Editor- Tips and Tricks for Managing People and Paper

by My Web Writers

In almost every line of work, there are two skill sets that are invaluable to have- knowing how to effectively write and edit and knowing how to effectively manage people. These two skills comprise the majority of a day’s work for most of us in some way or another. They determine how well we communicate with the world around us and how well we communicate with whom we work. If your line of work closely aligns with the work of an editor, then these skills are much more than “nice to haves,” they are the “must have” skills that enable you to successfully do your job. So how can you improve the way you manage both people and paper? Consider these following tips to help you become a better editor:

First, organize yourself.

Both when editing content or managing people, organization is key. But to approach either of these with organization, you must first organize yourself. Both writing and editing is very much centered on the organization of words and sentences. A clear mind and acute attention span will ensure that nothing is overlooked. Similarly when managing people, a clear mind and attention span will ensure all of your bases have been covered and there aren’t any conflicts or concerns you’ve overlooked. To get into this mindset, you must keep an organized schedule and task list for the week. The more you can anticipate and plan for your own projects, the less you’ll be frazzled by the unanticipated projects thrown your way by others. This will allow you to better allocate your time and the time of those you manage.

Slow down.

The old saying “haste makes waste” still holds true. As an editor and a manger, the more you rush through your daily task list, the more likely you are to make a mistake or have an oversight that will cause waste in the long run. It’s worth the few extra minutes it takes to slowly and carefully edit content. This could save much time and hassle correcting an error after it’s already been published.  Prevent tarnish to your reputation. Much the same as editing, it pays to also slow down when managing people. It’s worth the few extra minutes it takes to truly listen to a person’s problem or concern and work to correct it. You will build a stronger, happier work force and also gain some valuable input from those who experience such problems first-hand.

Not everything calls for a red pen.

It’s easy to lock in an editor’s mindset on life and start slashing red lines through everything you deem to be incorrect, but there are many instances in life where right and wrong aren’t applicable. When editing content, a sentence may be grammatically correct, but if it doesn’t state something the way in which you would, this doesn’t necessarily mean it needs to be removed or revised. This same lesson can be applied toward managing people. Every single person is different and with this fact brings differences in the way we react to situations, handle conflicts and communicate with others. One person’s method is not wrong or right, it’s just different. Avoid using this “red pen” mentality when managing people and keep in mind that solutions aren’t always black and white…or red.

Celebrate accomplishments.

A stack of paper and a slew of problems can cause anyone to become run down or irritated. To keep your spirits high and your outlook positive, be sure to celebrate meaningful accomplishments. These little moments of celebration are the mile markers that make work less mundane and more enjoyable. As an editor, you may have a huge project to sift through line by line. Set a page number as a goal to reach and when you do, take a break and do something nice for yourself. Grab a treat, engage a friend in conversation or surf the web for 5 minutes. You’ll approach your work with a clearer mind and a re-energized mindset. When managing people, be sure to celebrate birthdays, promotions, marriages and births. They’re not paper afterall – they’re people. Be sure to take the time to make everyone in your life feel special and appreciated through a little celebration here and there!

The best tips for managing people and paper are almost one in the same. It’s important to approach every situation with organization, a calm mindset and to be open to the possibilities that your right answer may not be the only right answer. All in all a good editor and a good manager are simply good at staying calm and reasonable no matter what problems they face.

~Stephanie

Follow this Basic Style Guide for Writing in APA

by My Web Writers

Image Courtesy of the American Psychological Association- APAstyle.org

APA style is used broadly among academics, students, and researchers working in the social sciences and allows for the proper citation of the findings of others in a recognizable format. APA style breaks papers into manageable sections that help writers to effectively organize their thoughts and allow readers to more easily navigate material. Here are the basics to get you started.

APA papers should…

-          Be typed with 12-point font.

-          Use 8.5 x 11 inch paper with one-inch margins.

-          Contain a running header. The header should include the title of the paper flushed left and the paper number flushed right. The title page should be numbered page 1.

-          Contain four sections: Title Page, Abstract, Main Body, and References.

Title Page

-          The title page should contain the running head. Note that the title should be in all capital letters.

-          The following—title, authors first, last name, and middle initial if applicable, and institution affiliation—should be centered at the upper half of the paper and should appear on separate lines.

-          The title page should be double spaced.

	Running Head: TITLE OF YOUR PAPER                                             1 Title Betty Ann Sue University of the North Pole

Abstract

-          An abstract should be between 150 – 200 words.

-          It should include a summary of the paper’s main research points.

-          Do not indent the abstract.

-          List key words at the bottom of the text by indenting, writing keywords in italics and then listing them.

 Main Body

-          The paper should begin with the title centered below the header.

-          Use headings for each section of the paper.

-          Double space.

In-Text Citations

In-text citations include the author’s last name, year of publication and page number. The year of publication is specifically important to the social science field because it helps readers to quickly identify whether or not research is current. Here are a few samples.

According to Patterson (2001), “The subjects exhibited nervous behavior in unfamiliar environments” (p. 56).

Patterson (2001) found that “the subjects exhibited nervous behavior in unfamiliar environments” (p. 56); this is different from his earlier studies.

He stated, “The subjects exhibited nervous behavior in unfamiliar environments” (Patterson, 2001, p. 56); this is different from his earlier studies.

Reference List

-          The reference list appears on a separate sheet at the end of the paper.

-          The title should be centered and plain text.

-          Citations should be double-spaced with no extra spaces between citations.

-          Entries should be alphabetized by the last name of the first author listed for each resource.

-          Make sure you have an entry for each resource cited in your text.

-          For entries that are more than one line, all the subsequent lines should be indented one-half inch.

-          EasyBib is a free site that generates reference pages in a variety of writing styles. Using this resource may save time when compiling a reference list.

Check out the basic web and book formats below.

The format for citing a web resource is:

Author, A. A., & Author, B. B. (Date of publication). Title of article. Title of Online Periodical, volume number (issue number if available). Retrieved from http://www.includeaddresswithfullurl

The format for citing a book is:

Author, A. A. (Year of publication). Title of work: Capital letter also for subtitle. Location: Publisher.

~Lindsey