If you're new to online article writing, you may not be aware that the real work begins after you write your article. Article maintenance has many components, not the least of which is editing. You will also need to decide where to place your article and how to categorize it. All these thing will determine the success of your article. Lastly, you must promote your article and link to it from other websites. This is how your article gains popularity on the web. Why do you want your article to be popular? So it will get page views, of course. Unless you have a problem with making money. I didn't think so.

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Laying blame on the editor is a mistake many online article writers make. Regrettably, there are some editors who analyze work unfairly. Still, for the most part, editors are there to alert you to issues with your writing assignments. Even in the case of harsh judgment, if you want to write for a website, you have to learn to please your editor. Writing articles online is no different than any other job. If you don't make the boss happy, you're fired.

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Write, edit, write, edit, rinse and repeat. That's the norm for a writer. Even so, we can still make mistakes or use some constructive feedback. Whenever possible, it's always good to have a second pair of eyes - preferably a fellow writer. I like to call this person a writing buddy. By looking over each other's work, making suggestions, and correcting minor typos, you can help each other improve.

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by Lyn Lomasi, Article Writer for Hire Staff
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Are you a freelance writer with some insight to share? Try reading the Yahoo! Style Guide to see how your experience compares. Maybe you need to brush up on something. Test one of the lessons in the Y! Style Guide and let everyone know how it helped you. Associated Content from Yahoo! (AC) is having a giveaway for registered Contributors. You could be one of 15 people to win a special hardcover edition of the Yahoo! Style Guide, the ultimate writing and editing guide for today's digital world.

How Can I Enter?
Very simple. Check your AC Assignment Desk for the assignment. Read the instructions and then click claim if you're interested. Publish your assignment by Monday August 2, 2010 to be entered. Winners will receive their very own Yahoo! Style Guide (hardcover edition) and will also be featured and promoted in various prominent locations.

Where do I Find More Details?
Full contest details are on the assignment claim form in the Assignment Desk.

I'm Not a Member of AC. What do I do?
Join! It's a great place to publish, network, and learn more about writing for the web. If you'd like to sign up under my referral number, please click here. If you have any questions about AC after signing up, feel free to contact me through the site. I'm a volunteer Community Guide.

Some of the great entries so far:

Writing a Strong Headline - Yahoo Style! by Karen Sanders

How to Write Powerful Headlines for the Web by Linda StCyr

The He, She and They of Article Writing: Are You Pronoun Gender Biased? by Donna Thacker

Quotations and Punctuation in Web Writing - What's Right?
by Lyn Lomasi

Build Writer Confidence - Expert Advice from the Yahoo! Style Guide Word List by Cathy A. Montville

Learning About Commas with "The Yahoo! Style Guide" by Catherine Spencer

Yahoo! Style Guide Helps You Research Your Audience by Emmaleigh R. Hall

Simple Techniques Put the Optimization in SEO by Marie Anne St Jean

A New Spin on Words Tutorial from the Yahoo! Style Guide
by Maxine Nelson

Online Reading Format Fundamentals from the Yahoo! Style Guide by Sylvia Cochran

 
 

Even the best of writers make errors. From typos to grammatical mistakes to run-on sentences, mistakes in writing are common. In internet writing, many writers are editing their own content. This works well most of the time, but we all have our off days. Even a star editor can make a mistake in their own writing. So, how can you solve that? One way is to get a writing buddy.

What is a Writing Buddy?
A writing buddy is another writer whom you trust with your work. This writer also must entrust their work to you. Writing buddies give their final proofread copies to each other to be sure the work is of good quality.

What exactly do writing buddies do?
Writing buddies read over each other's final drafts and make correction suggestions if needed. If both writers also are good editors, there may not be many corrections, but it always is good to have more than one set of eyes looking over a project. It's a great way to ensure quality work is produced as often as possible.

Why Should I Get a Writing Buddy if I Never Make Mistakes?
Everyone makes mistakes. Everyone. No one is perfect. I'm sure that anyone combing this very post will find at least one (if not more than one) suggestion to make. There always is more than one way to look at writing. Also, like I stated, nobody is perfectly accurate all the time. I have gone over pieces of work several times, thinking they were up to par. Then, after they've been published of course, I've found grammatical errors or typos. Having a writing buddy can minimize the chance of inaccuracies.

How Do I Find a Writing Buddy?
If you're a writer, chances are you know at least one other writer. If not, you really should start networking. Having other friends who write can be extremely beneficial in more ways than just the one listed here. I recommend choosing your closest writing friend for this particular project. Be sure that you and this person can fully trust that neither will misuse the other's work in any way. I won't give legal advice on this because I am not a lawyer. Only you can decide how you should handle the legalities. But, I will say that it can be extremely helpful to have a fellow writer give an opinion on work before it is turned in to the client.

How Many Pieces Should My Writing Buddy Check?
All of them, if possible. However, if you are like me, then that may not be possible. I write way to many articles in a day to fairly have a buddy check them all. You and your buddy should decide on a fair number that is feasible for you both. Once you get a balanced writing, reading, and editing  routine down, you may be able to add to that number.

Photo: Wikimedia Commons/Public Domain


 



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