by R.A. Rowell; Co-Owner of Intent-sive Nature & the Brand Shamans network

There are many tricks writers use to defeat writer’s block. Of course, some are better than others. There’s one tip I found that one article writer actually called “the ultimate secret for overcoming writer’s block.” Whether you're an article writer for hire, an author, or just working on some blog posts for fun, this method could work for you. That secret I will share with you now: working from a template or an example similar to what you’re working on.

Sounds pretty simple, doesn’t it? Take a sample of something you’ve worked on before that’s similar to what you’re trying to write. It doesn’t even have to be something you’ve actually published. The example could be something you simply working on before. It could be an article you never finished, or a short story you just never felt was worth publishing. 

The idea is that the example is the same type of thing you’re working on, whether it’s an article, story, or other assignment. Heck, the example doesn’t even have to be something you’ve written. It just has to be along the same lines.

For example, say you’re trying to write a sales pitch. But, you really don’t know where to start or what points to make. Just by having a sales pitch in front of you, even if it’s something you haven’t even written, your mind will automatically process it. If you ask some famous writers, they will even admit that they’ve written pieces that were inspired by a magazine clipper or random brochure that they picked up. Giving your brain something to start with is very important.

The other way to do this is to have writing templates that you work from. If you’ve written a successful article, for example, that you can plug other ideas into, why not work from that? Of course, templates are very, very popular, and you can find templates for just about any type of writing anywhere. With things like sales pitches and articles on similar topics, templates can be very helpful. With stories, people have even done this. Just try not to keep writing the same thing over and over again!

Whatever you decide to use as a writer’s block aid, whether it’s an example or a template, the most effective way to use it is to have it in your direct line of sight as you work. Print it out if you have to, although having it open on your screen in another window is also useful. The idea is to use that visual aid to help spark your brain to create ideas surrounding that template. Of course, you may have to go back and clean it up. But, it’s always better to start with something. Find a good example or template each time you get stuck writing and watch the words flow!

byR.A. Rowell; Co-Owner of Intent-sive Nature & the Brand Shamans network

Writing inspiration can come from the seemingly most random of places. This very article found its inspiration from a Creative Commons photo I used on a previous post. It read: “I’m totally blogging this!” Is this actually something an article writer or blogger will say? Sometimes, yes.

What Makes Something Worthy of Writing?

You can write about just about anything. The trick is making it sound interesting and provide some value to your readers. That’s why there are so many writing niches out there.

Whenever something strikes your fancy to write about, be sure to make a note of it. It could be with a picture, a text message on your phone, or some sort of post-it note. If something catches your attention, someone else will probably like to read about it, too!

What’s the Best Place to Find Writing Motivation?

Once you find writing inspiration, where do you consistently find writing motivation? The best way to stay motivated with your writing is to go with what you can write mostly easily and authoritatively. Then, every so often find a way to challenge yourself in your writing. While it’s good to stick to what you do best for the most part, always find new ways to grow.

The best writing motivation comes from finding new ways to grow as a writer and as a person. If you just keep doing the same thing, your writing becomes too predictable. It’s good to switch things up sometimes. But, in order to keep yourself in a rhythm, stick mostly to your strengths. Still, once in a while you must also address your weaknesses - both as a person and as a writer. That makes you look more human to your readers, which is always a good thing.

What Matters Most in Writing: Have Fun and Make Sure Readers Have Fun, Too!

Most people read to have fun. So, you should have fun, too! This means that you can write some silly articles and blog posts once in awhile. You don’t always have to write the perfect piece. It doesn’t have to have the trendiest topic or perfect SEO.

You don’t always have to rely strictly on keyword research and niche considerations when you’re writing. These are great for building your foundation. But, you’re allowed to have fun writing sometimes! It’s posted online, so if your article or blog post under-performs, you can always fix it later.

Yeah, all of those other things are important. But, those other things - SEO, especially - should complement what you're doing, not define it. Your passion and your own personality must be the things that come first when you’re writing.

So, if you tell yourself “I’m totally writing it,” then you probably should...

by R.A. Rowell; Co-Owner of Intent-sive Nature & the Brand Shamans network

Like any good copy writing, articles and blog posts should be written in a conversational style. As an article writer or blogger, you want to be personal and treat your reader as if they are a close friend. Of course, that doesn’t mean you should overlook grammar errors in your writing.

One of the worst mistakes that bloggers and article writers make is to allow for common grammar errors to damage their credibility. Some common grammar mistakes in web writing include:

• Ending sentences with prepositions
  
• Improper use of punctuation marks
• Inappropriate, missing, or excessive use of modifiers
• Misusing pronouns and contractions

If you are looking for more backlinks and subscribers to your blog or website, here are five common grammar errors to fix in your writing. Fixing these mistakes will improve your overall writing, as well as your credibility as a professional web writer.

‘Your’ and ‘You’re’

One of the most common grammar errors online is misusing ‘your’ and ‘you’re.’ ‘Your’ is always meant to be used as a possessive pronoun. ‘You’re’ is simply the contraction of ‘you are.’ Yet, you often see things written online like ‘Your a beautiful person,’ or ‘I want to see you’re house.’ Why is it that so many bloggers overlook this obvious grammar error?

Unfortunately, many free grammar check programs won’t catch this mistake. Because of this, many web writers leave this mistake in many of their articles and posts. To many readers, this will make a post look sloppy and hurt the writer’s credibility. Don’t lose respect over such a simple usage mistake, especially one that pops up so constantly.

‘It’s’ and ‘Its’

Another common grammar error is misusing the contraction ‘it’s’ and the possessive pronoun ‘its.’ This is perhaps more common than mixing up ‘your’ and ‘you’re.’ Sometimes, this mistake is not quite as noticeable. That doesn’t mean it should be overlooked, though.

‘It’s’ is a contraction used in place of ‘it is’ or ‘it has’ while ‘its’ is a third-person possessive pronoun. To avoid mixing up these things, read your copy aloud and be aware of how you use ‘its’ or ‘it’s.’ If you can replace an ‘its’ with ‘it is’ or ‘it has’ and it makes sense, you’ll need to fix that usage. Be sure that when you write ‘it’s’ that you are using it as a possessive pronoun. That is a common mistake, but don’t let it hurt your credibility as a writer by showing up too often in your articles.

‘There’ and ‘Their’

While ‘there’ and ‘their’ are both pronouns, their uses are quite different. ‘There’ is used to refer to a place or thing. ‘Their’ is a plural possessive pronoun. Yet, you will often read things that say ‘There business has been very successful…’ or ‘Their is a clear difference between…’ in articles, which simply reads wrong. This simple mistake is committed more frequently than you’d think, too. Don’t be one of the article writers or bloggers who overlooks this mistake.

‘Affect’ and ‘Effect’

These two words are often confused. While misusing these words aren’t as glaring an error as some of the above, it’s still something that should be checked for any time you write an article or blog post. ‘Affect’ is used as a verb, while ‘effect’ is used as a noun. They do mean about the same thing, so it’s easily to switch them up. But you don’t want to have a sentence that reads “Millions of people were effected by the power outage last week’ or ‘The bill could have a negative affect on the education budget.’ This error can lose you some respect with readers.

Misplaced and ‘Dangling’ Modifiers

The other major grammar problem that web writers make is misplaced and ‘dangling’ modifiers. Modifying phrases can change the entire meaning of sentences, and if they are put in the wrong place, they leave sentences to be easily misread.

Misplaced modifiers are phrases or clauses that are meant to modify one word or words, but are placed next to other words, which confuses the entire meaning of the sentence. Dangling modifiers are phrases or clauses not clearly or logically related to the words they are placed next to, or modifies. They are usually at the beginning of a sentence.

After writing your copy, be sure to read it through and make sure that each sentence flows properly, especially those with modifying phrases separated by commas. If it’s not clear what exactly the sentence is saying, then you should rewrite that sentence.

Each time you’re ready to hit submit on your latest article or publish on your latest blog post, be sure to read it over aloud. You don’t want to commit any of these five common grammar mistakes, or accidentally leave something that reads unclear or flat out wrong. Your readers will may never thank you for it out loud, but they will respect you more for correct grammar. If you have been making any of these errors on a regular basis, though, and you make an effort to fix them, people will definitely notice. Tighten up your copy and you’ll reap the rewards.

Need to make sure that your article or blog post is properly copy edited for grammar mistakes and free of typos? Check out the Editing services from Brand Shamans & Intent-sive Nature!

by R.A. Rowell; Co-Owner of Intent-sive Nature & the Brand Shamans network

Some of the best advice I've ever read on outlining came from the book “How to Write a Book for Beginners" by Ryan Stephens. This advice had to do outlining a nonfiction book, but it’s applicable to any kind of nonfiction writing.

Ryan asked his friend about how he outlines his books. He told him it's as simple as this: answer two types of questions. There are the questions people actually ask and the questions they should be asking. In the case of a nonfiction book, you want your chapter titles to be the questions people ask. Then, the subheadings are made from the questions you find people should be asking.

The best part about this advice is that it works for article writing, too. As someone who used to be rather allergic to traditional outlining, I find this simple approach refreshing. But while it looks simple on the surface, how easy is it to know what questions to ask?

What Questions Do People Actually Ask?

Fortunately, good old Google Autocomplete can give us a treasure trove of what people actually search around a given word or phrase. This is a helpful place to begin your research. Or is it?

The funny thing that came to my head as I set to writing on this topic is this: what if the best questions people want to ask aren't even being typed into Google? This is a good thought that I don't think I've ever thought before. It's funny how when you start asking yourself questions how you come up with more questions.

This is how I knew that Ryan's friend was really onto something when he said you should outline using questions. For so long I've often used dry subheaders and even really dry titles just to get the keywords in there. Before reading that Ryan Stephens book I didn't even really consider writing nonfiction books. But the idea dawned on me that I should seriously look into it.

But did I Google it? Nope. I searched Amazon for free Kindle books on writing. That's right. People still look for answers in books. Who would've thought? Believe it or not, though, there isn't a book readily available for every topic. Even if people write a hundred thousand articles on a topic, it doesn't mean there's a good book on it. So, why does it matter if you can't find a book on Amazon for a question you have? To me, it screams opportunity. As a writer, this smells like fresh blood does to a shark.

So, now we've established that people search Amazon sometimes before they even think about Google. That's not a tip you see everyday. But there are a lot of places to look for answers to your questions. You can't possibly check them all.


So, How Do I Find the Right Questions to Ask?

The best way I've been finding questions to ask is not doing keyword research. I certainly still do some initial keyword research, because you can find some good opportunities to target your content that way. But when you set yourself to answer a question, you should never limit yourself. The best way to know what questions to ask is to ask yourself what questions you would ask.

If you have a topic or question in mind, write it down. Then, ask yourself the questions you would ask in order to be satisfied that your question has been sufficiently answered. But, how do you know I'm asking the right questions when outlining my article or book?

I'm loath to say it, but I'll say it anyway because it will help illustrate a point. There's no such thing as a stupid question. Some will rebut that with: until you ask it. Others will follow up with: only if you don't ask it. I'm inclined to agree with the latter rebuttal.

So, What’s the Best Way to Find the Questions People Actually Ask?

It turns out we are not all brilliant masterminds who have billions of unique thoughts everyday. But I do have good news. The genius is in making the connections between thoughts and ideas. Anyone can do this if you work at it. So, yeah, if you're thinking something, it's highly likely someone else has thought the same thing. But, if you're acting on it, then you're doing something creative. That's important.

As someone who usually skips outlining entirely, why do I suddenly seem keen on taking a step back and really ask some hard questions? Because by asking questions, I find myself asking even more of them. Eventually, I'll recognize which ones seem the most important to answer. Then, I set to work.

What people actually ask is what you'd probably be asking yourself anyway. Yes, seeing what people actually ask is important through some research, too. But when you are trying to write something, you turn the idea faucet on and let it flow for a bit. Then, when you’ve come to a point where you need to turn to answers, this is when you know you have a whole bunch of good questions.

So, how do people even look for answers in the first place?

Should I Google It?

Or, in place of Google, insert your favorite search engine. Keep in mind people use Amazon and YouTube to look for answers, too. Google can be a great tool, but that is all that it is. Finding the answer your seeking may in fact be a click away. But it may not be. And even if there are results, will they satisfy you?

In my experience, if it's not a simple question, most of the time you'll find irrelevant results or feel underwhelmed. Don't blame Google. No one has answered it well enough yet anywhere the Google spiders can find. For writers, this is fresh blood!

But not everyone asks Google their burning questions. And  not too many people actually type into Google “should I Google it?” when they’re figuring out how best to find answers. Choosing to use Google is an internal decision. There are so many other search engines out there and while Google is the most-used, not every good question people ask will be easily revealed to you that way.

Should I Look for Answers in a Book?

Turning to books to seek an answer to your question may seem quaint to some people. Actually, if you are even considering this, though,I applaud you. There’s solid reasoning to this decision making process.

By no means is the Google searcher is being lazy or anything. But there are some questions that would seem to require some digging. You can do this through Google, too, of course, but hitting the books means you want more than online articles can give you - no matter how good they are..

And, I hate to break it to you. What you read online is not always accurate. I also hate to break it to you that what you read in a book isn't always accurate. However, books seem to be much more trusted. Why is that?

Yes, it's true that books tend to be more robustly researched, edited, and scrutinized. But, online articles can be too. And since pretty much anyone can self publish not only e-books, but print books too, there isn't too much difference between what you find online or in books, right?

Actually, here's the key difference. Books are longer. Even short ebooks are longer than most articles published on the web. Books require more effort on the part of the writer, and a lot more research. If you’re turning to books to answer your questions, you're no longer just a searcher, but a researcher. Likely, you’ll have visit your local library or buy books to seek answers. If anyone goes to that much effort, it must be important..

This is where we must bridge the gap to what people should be asking.

What Questions SHOULD We Be Asking?

Many questions people are probably only asking internally, but not actually searching. Others have questions that may require more research than many people actually want to do. So, because we writers are wonderful human beings, we go do the hard work so others may benefit.

Or we're self absorbed jerks who want to get paid the big bucks for becoming the top expert on subject X. Either way, same result.

The questions that require digging, the ones not answered well or at all through the results of a Google search, are the ones we should be asking. Those are the ones we should be writing about and answering. Yes, it can be hard work, but the end result is going to be something pretty cool that probably hasn’t been done before.

How Does Listing a Bunch of Questions Help You Outline an Article?

It's quite ironic that when I first began writing this very article that I neglected to even outline it. But as I went along, I realized that I had something pretty profound here. At first, I began to ramble and lose focus. Fortunately, I righted the ship. I started taking a step back and just asking the questions before I just took off being the rambling fool I often am.

Or am I?

Turning the more common questions into chapter titles helps you get into the mindset of your audience. If you’re writing an article, this is how people are going to discover it in search. If you’re writing a book, people will find these in your table of contents, if you choose to make that part of a free book preview (which you should). You also show your audience (and potential publishers) that you have your finger on the pulse of your audience for a certain given topic.

People also like it when you’re asking questions that echo the ones they themselves have been asking. You position yourself as an authority by asking the right questions.

While turning your article or book into an FAQ of sorts isn’t a terrible way to go, you want to get down to creating something more. That’s where the subheaders come in. They’re quite useful in keeping your audience’s attention and allow skimmers to  get some value from your work without reading closely. By turning your subheadings into questions, you force yourself to really answer them.

While asking these questions are really helpful in outlining and focusing yourself on the questions you need to answer, they’re good to keep in the final version as well. Many people, myself included, have long had many subheadings that read as statements or more like commands. While there isn’t anything wrong with this, asking questions instead adds a new dimension to your writing. Not only do people appreciate that you’re asking good questions, but you make your readers ask more questions of themselves.

By asking the right questions that people really ask and those that we should be asking, your writing will be a lot more focused and you’ll find yourself driven towards writing good answers more quickly and more often. The questions people ask and the questions they should be asking can serve as the backbone to any piece of nonfiction writing that you’re doing. Once I started writing this way, I can say I write more quickly and more effectively than ever before.

Plus, I started asking a lot more questions. Is that ever a bad thing?


If you're looking for a way take your article writing to the next level, consult the professional copyediting services of the Brand Shamans!

by Lyn Lomasi; Co-Owner of Intent-sive Nature & the Brand Shamans network

Most web writers will get questioned about their price at least once, but usually quite often. Who doesn't like a bargain? But your writing's worth is dependent upon what you make it. Here's why.

Discounts Are Fine, To A Certain Point

It's fine to have sales or deals for new or regular clients. But you still should keep the worth of your writing in mind. The lower you are willing to go, the less valuable people will see your content as being. Give discounts, but don't go so low that it's not worth both your time, as well as the value the client will get from it.

The Proof Is In Your Work

Quality web writing is getting more difficult to find. More and more people are discovering they can put their words online. This is a good thing, as far as communication. But those looking up specific information need accuracy and quality. This is where you come in as a web writer and prove to your client that your work is worth top dollar. Sometimes it takes that client paying a low quality writer less and finding out the hard way that they should have continued coming to you. I’ve had clients return after doing this more than once. It’s like the old saying goes “You get what you pay for.” Some people charge less than they’re worth, but in many cases, quality writing will cost more because of the time and energy put into creating a quality piece. 

Word Gets Around

Remember that business owners talk to each other often. This includes many topics, but who they hire for writing and other services essential to success is very common. If you charge one client a fee that is significantly less than you usually charge, other business owners will learn this and expect the same deal. The reason for the deal often doesn’t matter. Keep things consistent and accurate where your prices are concerned. You want the word to get around regarding your quality, instead of your low price.

Price According To Actual Value

The lower your price, the less value is likely to be given to your content. Remember that word gets around. So, whatever one business owner feels it’s worth may be what others are saying as well. In order to keep your value high, you need to keep your quality high and price your work accordingly and consistently. Obviously, there is some customizing involved in most web projects, based on topic matter, research, word count, and so on. But try to be as consistent as possible and consider the value of your time, as well as what the client will potentially get from said work.

Your work is worth what you make it worth. So, be sure to price it accordingly, limit the bargaining to a reasonable point, and show your clients what your worth via quality.

Many factors go into determining work and payments from business owners and other clients. These can differ depending on several things. While following this guide may not guarantee that you will receive more work with higher payments, you may see greater opportunities by adhering to the following suggestions. The key is not necessarily to increase every single payment, but to maximize the opportunities available, as well as maximize your long-term benefits from said work.

What types of content are eligible for payment?

All of it! Whether you are soliciting jokes, articles, blog posts, recipes, web page content, product descriptions, photography, or any other creation, it deserves payment if it’s quality material. The key is to submit to the most appropriate venue for best results.

Focus on a specific issue

When you have a tight focus on one topic, readers are more likely to be looking for your content. Think about the things you look for when searching online. For instance, instead of general tips on pet adoption, you may want something geared specifically toward the pet you are considering adopting. “Where to adopt a poodle in Denver” should perform better than “How to adopt a pet,” as an example. Write your articles on specific subjects that will be relevant and useful to readers looking for that topic.

Follow assignment details

If you are hired for an assignment, be sure you follow the exact instructions. That means if the instructions say something different from any advice herein, defer to the assignment. When editors and business owners see that you can follow all assignment details reliably, they may be more likely to offer you future opportunities. Remember that, while you should be creative, the content you’re creating is not for you. It’s for the person you are creating it for. Therefore, it should be the way they want it. It’s good to suggest corrections of facts that might be wrong or improvements that might help the client or their website. But again, if they do not agree, unless you are breaking the law or doing something you are strongly against, just do things the way the client wants.

Do your research

When you need to back up your content with facts, be sure these facts are from reliable sources. Also, make sure to cite those sources properly, according to submission guidelines and any additional assignment guidelines. Using multiple highly-trusted and relevant sources also helps to build credibility. Wherever possible, use sources from your client’s website, in addition to the others. This helps them build more relevant inbound linking. When  client chooses to hire an expert, they expect expert material.

Examine the intended website

If you are submitting to a new client, study the website you are interested in writing for. Think of topics that could work well there but are not yet covered. Having an idea of what could potentially align with a particular property can give you a greater chance at getting accepted. Being unique is key. That means that you don't want to submit something you already see covered on the property. Instead, try submitting something that works well alongside existing content, provides a new angle, or has not been covered at all but could appeal to that property's audience.

Consider the audience behind the topic

Are you writing about parenting? What stages? Think of the age of the kids you're writing about - and then think of what ages the parents are likely to be; they are your most likely audience, and you should cater your content to them. The tone and style used in your article should be something readers can identify with. For instance, if you are writing an article for kids, using complicated business terms is not going to keep them reading. Acceptances of paid submissions are more likely on content that shows attention to detail in this and other areas.

Personalize the experience

When you write an article or blog post, readers should see the real person behind the story (unless your client is not interested in first-person accounts). At the same time, you don't want to ramble about something that has nothing to do with the subject matter. Find that perfect level at which the article provides the information needed with relevant personalization where it fits in with the main point of the article.

For instance, if I'm writing an article about picking the perfect daisies, instead of telling a long story about a time when I picked daisies, I would mention how I determine which daisies to pick. I would do that in a way that readers can tell I am knowledgeable and passionate. But it would also need to be something readers can benefit from to answer their questions. When you can use your own unique experience and style, readers can relate more easily. But at the same time, you don't want to say so much that they get bored and click away.

Focus on evergreen material

Focusing on evergreen material is one way to maximize your earnings, as most business owners can use long-lasting content. Evergreen content is that which will draw a reader's interest for long periods of time, such as unique ways to solve common parenting issues. Evergreen slants can also be applied to trending topics. Some editors may value those topics that have a longer shelf life. This is not to say that other content will not be valued, as articles with a shorter shelf life can be useful as well. They each have their own place and are both great ways to maximize your work in different ways. Getting the most out of paid opportunities often involves taking advantage of more than one way to earn.

Pay attention to spelling, grammar, and style

Category and vertical style guides are used for many assignments that offer pay. For the best chances at getting those assignments accepted, be sure to follow them closely. This also goes for any and all other instructions mentioned within the assignment details. Proofreading, even after using spelling and grammar checkers, has always been a lifesaver for me when writing for any venue. Yes, I am a great editor. But, I am also human, so it’s best to double and triple check. Read silently, out loud, and even have a writing buddy take a gander. Programs can miss little things, such as skipped words or typos that are actual words, but not words you intended to use.

Optimize your content for the Web

Studying The Yahoo! Style Guide is a great way to learn basic html, grammar, editing, formatting, and style as it all pertains to writing for the Web. Most content that is submitted to potential clients must be publish-ready. While some venues may have an editor, never rely on editors to fix poor writing. If your writing needs to be thoroughly edited, it is much better to study up so that your submissions are more likely to get acceptances than rejections. You can then submit at a later date when your skills allow you to submit content that is more in line with the platform's needs.

Good Web content displays certain qualities. Apart from being interesting, it must be easy for a wide audience to read. It also must be easily found by search engines. Keep your articles concise and informative in an easy-to-scan format. Web readers often look for something that answers their question quickly and accurately in an engaging manner. For more on writing for the web, again, The Yahoo Style Guide is an invaluable resource.

Maximizing payments on your content is about taking advantage of the many ways to earn. It's also about covering your bases all-around. A solid article is not just well written, but also speaks to the intended audience, giving them exactly the information they expected and needed in a clean, easy-to-scan format.

by Richard Rowell; Co-owner of Brand Shamans & Write W.A.V.E. Media

So you want to become a better article writer? Here is my simple three-step process to do just that!

1. Read a lot
2. Write a lot
3. Read and write a lot

OK, there you have it. Now go forth into the world and write your heart out!

Right, there’s a bit more to it than that. Isn’t there? Obviously, being highly literate definitely helps anyone. But as an article writer, constantly taking in new ideas is very important. Too often, we as writers just get stuck for what to write. The funny thing is, you never actually run out of things to write about. It’s just that any writer can get stuck on how to write about what they want to write about.

Appease the Skimmers

Especially in the online world, most readers do exactly what we writers don’t want them to do. That is, they skim. So, what do you do to appease the skimmers? People like sub-headings and little blocks of text that drive home important parts. Sometimes when reading an article online, those little blocks of text even allow us to share this bit of wisdom as a 140-character tweet. Then, you can make a button for anyone to share it with the world. It makes you look so smart!

Basically, something like 80 to 90 percent of online readers aren’t going to read every single word you write. It’s not quite that way for ebooks and traditional paperback and hardcover books. But even then, you still have to make your reading easily digestible. Whether it’s a good thing or not, most readers just don’t sit there and digest writing one word at a time. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t.

You’ve probably heard the saying, easy reading is hard writing, or something to that effect. No one is quite certain who said it first, but it’s true. If you’re writing online, it’s even harder. Why’s that? Because it’s harder to stand out among all of the millions of articles being published daily. So what you have to do is please both crowds: the skimmers and the close-readers. Yes, the majority of your readers will probably be skimmers when it comes to search engine traffic. But for the serious, critical members of your audience, your attention to detail will not go unappreciated.

You Can’t Make Everyone Happy. Just Make Sure They Can Learn Something.

While it’s important to find that balance of making your writing easy to skim, but also detailed and engaging enough to be search-engine friendly and useful to anyone who reads it, no matter how closely. Essentially, you want every reader that comes across your writing to take something away from it. This doesn’t mean making everyone happy. Don’t spend every last second furiously checking a thesaurus. And don't get stuck rewording the same sentence a dozen times until it sounds “perfect.” Make your points as well and as concisely as you can and move on to the next topic. Don’t get hung up.

So what if you do get hung up? What if it’s an assignment and it keeps getting sent back for revision? Well, if it’s worth your time, then just make the edits that you can and move on. The worst thing that can happen is to get burnt out on one piece. As a writer, that is very bad. Writers need to write. This is why writer burnout happens.

Some clients, venues, and some readers are simply never going to be satisfied with anything. Once you keep that in mind, you’ll understand which clients and venues are worth working for and which aren’t. Micromanaging as an editor may be fine in some cases, but sometimes you just write what you can. You can’t beat yourself up over any one piece. There will be plenty more to be written.

Learn All You Can, Even If You Don't Think You Need It

You've probably heard of always trying to venture outside of your comfort zone in both reading and writing. It's a good idea. Even reading fiction can give you article ideas! Diversifying your knowledge can only make you a better reader and writer. It can also help you to think of topics that you may never had considered before. Also, by reading all sorts of things, it opens you up to more writing opportunities.

Basically, to become a better writer, you need to read and write a lot. Sometimes you just have to write for the sake of putting thoughts together. It doesn't have to always be an assignment. In fact, reading and writing are like intense exercise for your brain. By exercising your brain more often, not only will you become more literate, but a more intelligent and thoughtful human being, as well.

by Richard Rowell; Co-owner of Brand Shamans & Write W.A.V.E. Media

As a writer, research is an integral part of the creative process. There's always something more to know about any given topic. As a freelancer you can find yourself writing on topics that you may not be an expert in. But even if you are an expert in given fields, research is still important. It's not just for credibility or finding a way to reach a certain word count. Research should always be for your own edification.

Sometimes being an expert on a topic means that you should fall back on research in a different way. Is there a question that you may have asked yourself that you haven't seen answered? If you have the freedom of deciding on the exact topic for an assignment, researching those sorts of questions becomes a great focus point. It's likely that others are asking those questions and if they weren't will be glad you asked it and answered it as best as you could.

Whenever you go about writing something outside of your comfort zone, research can sometimes be difficult. Sometimes the research becomes the most painstaking and stressful part of the writing process. But it need not be. The research should not simply be treated as a necessary evil. You never know what your research could teach you that will become useful information later on in life.

by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer

You're in the midst of a writeup and everything's going great. You just got an amazing quote from the perfect source. But suddenly, you've forgotten the rules surrounding that. Does the period go after the quotation? Or does it belong within? That depends on your sentence. In my years of experience in web writing, this has been a popular question. This tutorial combines my experience along with the time I've spent studying the Yahoo! Style Guide. The following is meant to help readers solve that and other mysteries surrounding punctuation and quotations.

Example of correct placement of a period when quoting a source:

--Tina Baker stated that "fries are better than chips when accompanied by hamburgers".

Because the noted quote was the end of a sentence containing it, the period belongs outside the quote. Had the quote been by itself, the period would have gone inside the quote.Example of correct placement of a period when the quote is a stand-alone sentence.

--Yesterday I spoke with Dr. Allen. His comments: "Looks like we're going to have to do surgery. This a rare occurrence."

Since this quote contains complete stand-alone sentences, the punctuation belongs inside the quotes.


Proper Punctuation When Quoting Exact Text

If there is a string of text that must be typed in an exact way, the punctuation belongs outside the quotation. For instance, if you want to put emphasis on a phrase, you would put any following punctuation after the quote. Some get confused on this because it may not look right to see a period after quotations. However, this is the correct way to construct such a sentence.

Examples of correct placement of punctuation when using exact text:

--To submit that assignment, click on the button labeled "submit".

--To check your daily views, first click on the "content" tab.


When In Doubt With Exact Text, Try Boldface Instead

If you are confused about the exact text and where to put the punctuation, consider using a boldface font instead. If you put emphasis on the text with bold characters, that avoids the need to use quotes.

Examples of using boldface to avoid quotations:

--To submit that assignment, click on the button labeled submit.

--To check your daily views, first click on the content tab.


Exclamation Points and Questions Marks Used With Quotes

When using question marks and exclamation points with quotations, unless that punctuation is a part of the statement being quoted, it belongs outside the quote. If a person exclaims something and you quote that, the exclamation point belongs inside the quotation. But if your sentence including the quote was an exclamation, it belongs outside.

Examples of correct placement of exclamation and question marks in quotes:

--Tommy said he "ran 150 miles today"!

--When Amy saw that yummy taste concoction, she exclaimed "It's all mine!"

--I ran into Brook today and she asked "How do you find the time to write so often?"

--Do you enjoy those sweet pickles - you know, the ones called "bread and butter"?

*I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network