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by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff
Online article writers serious about their writing must remember the purpose of our content is to provide someone else with the information they need. Even when the writing goes to a client that will not return any page view or click revenue, remember that their audience still needs accurate and relevant info as well. Ultimately, someone will be reading the finished content. Here are five ways online article writers can get and keep clients. Get and Keep Clients by Learning SEO I know I must sound like a broken record to regular readers, I mention SEO so often. There's a reason for that. SEO skills are an absolute must if you are serious about making money as an online article writer. The main purpose clients purchase web content is to draw traffic where it's placed. If your articles do not have proper SEO, clients will look elsewhere to meet their content needs. If you often lose out on higher paying clients, gigs, and assignments, SEO skills may be to blame. If so, get and keep clients by reading up on SEO and implementing it into your work. Get and Keep Clients by Providing Consistent Effort Some online article writers make the mistake of putting less effort into lower-paying gigs than they would with others. This makes no sense. First, this shows a lack of pride in one's own work. Secondly, your name or pen name will be attached to everything you write. Do you really want potential clients to read one of those lesser-effort articles? Would someone want to hire you after reading them? Online article writers are lucky in that many of us enjoy doing this for a living. Plus, we can make money writing articles from anywhere we prefer - even at the beach. However, that doesn't mean that we shouldn't maintain consistency and professionalism. Putting effort into each and every piece of content you produce gives you better odds of being noticed and appreciated by clients. Get and Keep Clients by Making Assignments Unique When a client gives out an assignment, there are times where you may feel the topic is too broad for their audience. To solve this, write on the topic the client has assigned you, but choose a unique slant. Most will likely appreciate the extra effort. For instance, if the client asks you to write about bathrooms for seniors, you could write about eco-friendly bathrooms for seniors. Go for an angle that isn't saturated all over the web. Some clients might need reasoning behind your changes, but in my experience, most understood when I explained about topic saturation. I rarely receive rejections on my work. Sometimes clients will reward the extra effort with extra money or be appreciative enough to buy more content. Even so, don't get upset with those who don't seem appreciative. Just make any revisions and move on. That's another way to keep clients. Get and Keep Clients by Setting Up and Maintaining an Updated Website Setting up and maintaining an updated and professional website is an absolute must for online article writers for hire. A website will give you a place to share writing samples and a background on yourself and your writing skills. Have a contact form on your website as well as an alternate email in case the form experiences a glitch. Potential clients may like something they see on your site and bookmark it for later if they aren't yet ready to purchase content. Keep the website updated with current information so that people will want to continue visiting. Maintain a blog with writing tips and business updates. Get and keep clients by referring them to your website for business, rather than an email address. This is an important way to establish your personal brand as a freelance writer. Network With Fellow Writers Learning and growing is a big part of being successful in an online writing career. Things change so rapidly that it's important to stay connected with other writers to learn and grow together from each other. Just because you've been writing for years does not mean you know everything there is to know. While you may have expertise on one aspect of writing, another writer may be an expert in a different area. Get and keep clients by networking with other writers to share and discuss knowledge. This will keep you up to date in the online writing field. Plus, it can be a great deal of fun. *I originally published this via Yahoo Contributor Network RELATED Web Writing Tips: Legitimate Clients Vs Scams & How to Protect Yourself Web Writing Tips: Make More Money 8 Musts on a Freelance Writer's Website
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![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff Last night, I may have slept in total (not all at once) for just about an hour. Why? Well for one, I’ve been battling a toothache that’s getting better. But that wasn’t what kept me up. My brain wanted to create song lyrics – lots of them. After tossing and turning and trying to fight it, I gave in and did a writer-all-nighter mainly for something other than my web writing. When your brain is running full blast with thoughts, the best thing you can do is get them down. I’ve been a writer for a long time – since I was three years of age, in fact. Trust me; those thoughts will remain until you get them out. And you will feel much better when you get them out. As annoying as this writer’s habit is at times, it can be very beneficial to your career. Not only did I manage to write song lyrics, but I also wrote some other things, got some work done for my day job, did some design work on one of my sites, and more. All of those will be beneficial for my various careers. I also had fun – so much more than I would have had if I had just laid there and let my thoughts and ideas torment me. It may seem like a good idea to try and get some rest – and sometimes it is. But the thing is, if your brain wants to do something else, you may just have to let it. I’ve never been one to stick to strict rules on many things. I’m a go-with-the-flow kind of gal. I tried being a perfectionist once – for years. It was hell. There’s no such thing as perfection. Listen to your ideas. Listen to your intuition. Take risks and just go with what comes. Life’s too short to spend it stressing. You’re welcome. Image Credit: Lyn Lomasi I originally published this elsewhere (no longer published there) ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E Media Staff OK, so those of you who know me real well probably figured this one out a long time ago. But for those who haven’t or just don’t know me, I’m an extreme multitasker. When I say extreme, I really mean it. No exaggeration here. A normal work day for me is something like this: Do a couple hours of work for my F/T job, open a bunch of tabs in FireFox that consist of all my social media outlets and possibly some research and other stuff too, open a bunch of blank docs all at once and write about half of them, possibly eat sometime in between, do 6 more hours of my F/T career, fill up the other half of those blank docs with more awesome writing from my head (hey, writers write), take care of a bunch of kids and pets during that time, and more. Wait, there’s more? Of course there’s more. There’s always more when you’re talking about me and there’s always a way to squeeze something else in. Don’t I ever get overwhelmed? Every now and then I will have a frustrated moment, but generally, no. I thrive on having multiple tasks at once. It’s when I am at my happiest. This is true in all aspects of my life, not just work. If I actually watch TV (rare for me), you can bet I am doing something else too, like writing an article, playing a game with kids, or talking on the phone with a friend – most likely all of the above. When it comes to pretty much everything, I don’t do just one thing. I just don’t. OK, so if someone I care about asks me to, I’ll deal with it. But I don’t prefer it at all. Yup I am an extreme multitasker and I love it. But, give me a little credit for still being able to live while I do all this. My kids and I have many awesome adventures regularly. Also, I did recently just slim down my app notifications by miles. Do you multitask? Why or why not? Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi (Photo is free to use for both commercial and non-commercial purposes with credit to Lyn Lomasi as the photographer and a link back to this page as the source) I originally published this elsewhere (no longer published there) ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer Most who know me will know that I spend a considerable amount of time utilizing social media. I still will. It’s essential to the work I do and is a significant method for keeping in touch with those I care about. However, starting tonight, I’ve decided to go about it in a different way. I’m minimizing my mobile notifications for Facebook and Twitter – specifically, the SMS (text) ones… and yes, I can feel the shock coursing through the veins of anyone who knows me personally, as they read that statement. SMS is Outdated and Unnecessary Why the heck am I getting both text alerts and push notifications for the same exact things on Facebook? I receive several types of push notifications. Two of those include email and Facebook – and I get Facebook alerts in my email too. This means I am getting three notifications for the same updates (email, Facebook app, and SMS). Why? This is a bit excessive. At first, it was a precaution to be sure I don’t miss anything important. However, there hasn’t yet been a time when any of those methods has failed. Besides, with push notifications coming directly from the Facebook app, SMS is actually quite outdated, not to mention unnecessary. Why would I choose text alerts when the push notifications get me directly to the update in the Facebook app? The text notification leads to the mobile web version of Facebook, which is not how I prefer to access Facebook. I prefer the app because the features are better and it loads faster. Text Alerts Are Annoying My poor loved ones have to hear the constant annoyance that is my text alert going off literally every second sometimes. This is ridiculous and I’m putting an end to it. In fact, it’s even starting to annoy me and I’m the one who set it up that way. Yes, some of the notifications are important – some. But as I mentioned above, I’m already getting them via my mobile device in other ways. So the SMS is really just an unnecessary annoyance and distraction. Text messages that happen all the time are not cool and neither are those that wake people up in the middle of the night, unless they are an emergency. I don’t need to receive a text message every time a friend or business updates their status on Facebook or tweets on Twitter. I check those that matter via apps or my laptop anyhow. Seeing them more than once is annoying and takes time away from more important things. My Family Deserves More Attention I am a mother first before anything and these notifications can be a distraction. I’m not the type to ignore my kids. But glancing at my phone less is something they’ll likely appreciate. The same could be said for my lover, friends, and other family. I’m sure everyone in my life wouldbe very happy if there were fewer reasons for me to glance at my phone during fun activities. I still get things done and if you ask any of them, they’ll tell you I’m very loving and attentive. However, it’s just the principle of the matter. I’m Hoping for More Productivity I added so many notifications to increase productivity. Those who know me will also know that I am extremely productive. They’ll probably also be shocked if I can increase that and wonder how I can do that with fewer notifications. If you remember what I said above, you’ll remember that I am getting the same notifications more than once. Therefore, this should actually save me some time. If I’m being honest, I actually don’t look at every notification. However, I do sometimes look at the same ones in more than one place. So taking these away will end that possibility. My Cell Phone Battery Dies Too Quickly More notifications equal less battery juice. The whole point of a cell phone is having it available for use at any time. That becomes less possible if I am on the go and for some reason am unable to charge my phone for a lengthy time period. My cell phone battery often dies quickly because I have so many notifications coming in every direction. Cutting off most of the SMS alerts will help remedy a great deal of that issue. Twitter and Facebook notifications come to my phone so often that if I stop receiving text alerts for even five minutes, I know that my phone is having issues and I need to restart it. It’s cool to have that indicator, but at the same time, that’s just too much. In addition to reasons stated above, I need my cell phone to keep its juice. Certain SMS and Mobile Alerts Are Staying Because some people do rely on me for emergency situations, certain alerts will still come to me via SMS. However, most will not. For instance, Twitter DMs will stay for people I follow back because those people rarely DM me unless it’s important and about work. I need those SMS notifications, as I do not receive push notifications for anything Twitter-related. But Twitter notifications for specific people and companies will likely go away. I really don’t need to know every time every entity I follow posts to Twitter. But I do need to know when someone needs assistance. In short, I’m cutting off many of my mobile notifications for family, life, and business purposes. Therefore, if you notice me slowing down on responding to less important things, that could be part of it. I love all of my friends on both sites. But there’s a point where too much is just…well, too much. **Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there) ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer Because of my career choices (and because it became quite fun), I found myself spending tons of time on Facebook daily. Although I have the application on my phone AND receive text and email notifications, I would always have at least one tab open in FireFox with something from Facebook. But lately that has changed and here’s why. I’m busier with other aspects of my career. I offer a good portion of support surrounding my work via Facebook. There is also much more to it than Facebook support. Once I answer what is necessary there, I simply have to go away to get other things done, such as answering emails, writing articles, writing reports, publishing, editing, and so much more. Sometimes that means I can’t answer my friends right away. But I will always answer eventually. I’m spending more time with family. Summer break is over and my younger kids are back in school (the older ones are in homeschool). That means that when I pick them up from school in the afternoon, once I’m finished with my work, they want my attention. They haven’t seen me all day. Therefore, they want and deserve my attention. I love my family and friends on Facebook too and I do my best to keep up with everyone. But as any parent knows, the kids must come first. I’m a single mommy as well, which adds to their need for me to be there. I’m doing more things that keep me away from Facebook. Blogging is one of the things I like to do that keeps me away from Facebook. You may get an indicator that I’m online and think I’m available to talk. But really, I’m probably in another tab on FireFox posting to my blogs. Or maybe I locked the computer screen instead of turning it off and I’m actually gone walking the dogs on the trail. I’m a busy person, both in work and play. While I do have Facebook installed on my phone, it isn’t always appropriate to check it, depending on what I’m doing. For instance, if I’m cuddling up to someone I love while watching a scary or suspenseful movie, I’m sorry, but I’m not checking Facebook. My phone is probably on silent in the other room with the screen locked and I probably won’t see it for a while. I’ve organized my notifications to prioritize work and family. Another thing I’ve done on Facebook is create lists, as well as organize my notifications in various ways. This means, I look at things related to work and family first. Then, I answer other things, based on time, as well as urgency. Sometimes I even miss things because I get thousands of notifications daily. Also, if you message me and I’m not your friend on Facebook, your messages are likely not going to show up in my regular inbox. They’ll probably be in my “Other’ inbox, which I don’t check as often because honestly, sometimes I forget about it. I have strict filtering activated on Facebook, due to spam issues. I just don’t have the time. I know that many of my Facebook friends are used to me responding as soon as they send messages, tag me, or leave a post on my wall. But the thing is, it has gotten to a point where there are just so many that I can no longer do that every time and still have time for everything else going on in my life. There was a point where I couldn’t stand to leave anything unanswered longer than a couple minutes. Now, it can sometimes take a couple days or more for me to reply to a message. There are just so many of them and so many other things going on in my life that I just don’t have the time anymore to spend so much time on Facebook. Nowadays, aside from career-related support and tasks and conversing with my closest family and friends, I haven’t been doing much on Facebook. Although, I usually do come in at random times and meme-bomb my wall. I’ll look in my favorite lists I’ve created from various pages rather than the regular newsfeed and I’ll post a bunch of memes in a row and then leave. Hey, I can’t help it! They’re funny! Facebook is supposed to be fun! **Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi I originally published this elsewhere (no longer published there) ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff People often ask me how in the heck I get so much done in each day. I'm a single work-at-home mom of four. My careers include writer, online community advocate, website owner and designer, social media manager, and so much more all rolled into one. Did I make you tired yet? It's really all about figuring out how to divide things up, as well as keep the peace. We're all a little crazy in our own ways. But here's how I get things done without losing my remaining marbles. Use more than one computer Sometimes just having split screens isn't quite enough. I often have many things open at once, due to the fact that I do so much at one time. If I'm working on gathering research or data, I may open several tabs in Firefox on one computer and several office documents on the other. Though these could all be on one computer, I find it quicker – and less taxing on each system – to type up my reports or articles on a separate computer than my research. This is so that I don't have to switch between docs and the internet browser. While this is not by far the only way it comes in handy, it sets a good example for the possibilities. I've used as many as four computers at once to get the job done. I most often use two or three. Move at least once per hour At least once per hour I get up and clean something in my home, do a yoga pose or two, meditate, or run around the house and wrestle with the dogs. One thing working at home on a computer all day can do is wreak havoc on your body. But it doesn't have to. That's why I make sure to get up and move around once or more each hour. I also listen to music while I'm working. So if it's the right beat, I will sort of dance in my chair moving to the beat while typing. Yes, I also sing while I write. But that's another topic for another time. Bonus: All of this movement helps focus the mind to get the work done. Because I am the ultimate multitasker, exercise is more likely to get done by squeezing it in this way. It's also been more effective for me than when I did longer workouts. I still take long walks with the dogs at certain times. But this helps keep me active during the rest of the day. Mix business with pleasure Yeah, yeah, I know what they say. But since when have I been one to listen to what “they” say, whoever they may be? I don't follow the crowd. Never have. I'm proud to call many of my readers and fellow writers my friends. They are one of the big reasons I do what I do and they get me through the day. In this accidental strategy, I've also experienced how readers like to relate. They like to know there's a real person behind the content and my personal style of writing gives them what they are seeking. So, not only does having fun with my audience help me get through my day. I believe it also helps me to succeed. They can tell I really do enjoy them and what I am doing. Use Pre-Made Templates I also make myself templates that I use for each venue and/or type of piece I write. Sometimes I forget about a template and go with the flow. But the templates really help me keep organized and get things done quickly. If I make these ahead of time, it helps reduce time, as well as stress. My templates are sometimes simple, including a space to put a title, subheaders, and other text. Other times, they actually include the title, subheader points, and a spot for the text. My template also includes a place for my tags and referral link. You can see examples in Quick Web Writing Tips: Make an Easy Outline to Speed Productivity. Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there) ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff Have you ever been writing a new post and had your mind wander completely? I don’t mean just the usual switch of topics, but maybe something you’d want to write but never considered writing before. You know, those things you’d like to say, but don’t? Following your rabbit hole(s) can lead to productivity for many reasons. When you write what you want, you are enjoying yourself and thus will produce more work faster. I’ve written about this regarding switching topics. It’s the same concept. Going with the flow generally is more effective than trying to force topics that just aren’t happening. Getting those usual “don’t go there” thoughts on paper can be freeing in a way, which helps your mind focus on what needs to be written. The more open and happy your mind is, the more readily you can slam out the work as fast as you are able to. This can be important for those who make a living doing web writing. If you try to force the topics without a clear mind, the quality of your work is likely to suffer. Even if you never end up publishing your “rabbit hole” topics, they can still aid in productivity in this way. The more topics you are willing to write about, the more ideas you will have. This is another way to increase productivity. Some people have trouble coming up with ideas. Following your rabbit holes gives you much more to work with. Are you writing any rabbit hole topics? Why or why not? Do you have similar productivity tips? Let us know in the comment section. Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there) ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff Ever been working on an important project only to have your mind wander elsewhere? Me too. But I'm here to tell you from experience that it doesn't need to mean failure for you. Go with the flow. You heard me right. If your mind wanders in the middle of a project, run with it. Take that inspiration and see where it leads you. I often have at least 20 documents open at once. Sometimes I focus on just one. But more than likely, my overly-creative mind wanders from one topic to the next. Instead of letting my wandering mind be the source for a writer's block, I use it to my advantage and write on each topic as much as my mind allows for. When it switches topics, so do I. Sometimes I focus longer on one particular post and other times, I may jump all over the place. Once a topic is finished, I edit and submit it where intended. This strategy has never failed me, even during intense deadlines. When it gets down to the wire, I do work to keep my mind focused on what's necessary. But I find that doing my best to just go with the flow also leads to doing the best job where productivity is concerned. Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there) RELATED: Online Writing Submission Templates Fail - Save Your Work Offline Too Many Writing Topic Ideas? What to Do With Them Being a Freelancer Isn't Easy But It's Worth It Tips for Easier Writing and Blogging From Your Smart Phone 5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Web Content ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer Try doing a Yahoo search on anything related to freelance writing jobs and you’ll pull up a multitude of opportunities, many of them scams. The simplest way to tell if one’s a scam is that it usually starts with “make easy money” just like any other scam. While it’s true that some aspects of a freelance writing career will become easy to an experienced writer over time, freelance writing as a whole is NOT an easy full time career path. But it’s worth it. As a full time freelance writer, I used to spend countless sleepless nights thinking, researching, and typing out the results endlessly. Wait, “used to”? If I’m no longer a full time freelance writer, what do I know? The thing is, I spent years as a full time freelance writer and I slowed down, not because of the lack of money or interest, but because I wanted to help other freelance writers. That’s right. Now my full time job is helping others do what I did. But I still write almost full time as well. Therefore, I assure you, you can trust my experience. Some people think “Oh, I can write. My poems from high school are great. I should be a writer.” And if that’s you, writing might be a good career choice for you. But just keep in mind that writing for the web and writing a poem here and there are two entirely different things. Freelance writing as a full time career path will involve writing for a considerable amount of time most days. Decide which you REALLY want to do and do that. Writing for the web as a full time freelance writer is hard work. Yes, work. Forget all those scammers out there telling you it’s easy. Yes, it’s easy for them at first because they’re copying and pasting the text that I (or another talented writer) put real time and heart into in order to create it. But it no longer becomes easy for them when we decide to pursue it legally. Ah yes, there’s another thing about freelance writing. You’re not JUST a writer. You’re a writer, researcher, marketer, CEO, manager, self-appointed attorney, and many other things. The first part – the actual writing – may come easy to you sometimes and maybe even most of the time. But there will be days when you may not be able to form a complete sentence no matter how many deadlines you’re facing or how much money is on the line. Even for writers who seem to just sprout creative words in an instant, writing all day every day can become difficult. And you WILL need to write very often (among other things) in order to make the most money at web writing. I know what you’re thinking because it’s me as well. I definitely said it too. You’re saying “but I love writing. I already write all day long, nonstop. I can do this.” If so, then you probably can, just like me. However, keep in mind that even you will likely have days where you just can’t. Also keep in mind that everything you write, though it may come from your heart, is for someone else. And, while you are in charge of yourself, you do still have to actually work. Otherwise, what are you getting paid for? Up until this point, I may have turned some people off already because it sounds like a big complaint. But heck no! I love what I do and wouldn’t trade it for the world. The thing is, if you’re going to be in the business, someone needs to tell you the real facts. Yes, I can spend more time with my kids (human and fur variety). Yes, I make a fairly decent income when I’m consistent with it. But it does take real work and effort and if you can’t commit to that, this is NOT the career for you because if you stop working, the money stops coming. For me, the benefits of staying home with my kids, the satisfaction of knowing my words may help people, being able to finally start saving some money, and some of the other things directly related to being a freelance writer are worth the hard work. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it. Still want to be a freelance writer? If you said yes, I commend you. Feel free to reach out to me on my Facebook page for help getting started: facebook.com/LynLomasi (No, I’m not going to charge you anything for advice, unlike those scammers out there looking for a quick buck. NEVER pay for work. You’re the one working. YOU should be the one getting paid.) **Photo Credit/Copyright: Lyn Lomasi I originally published this here on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there) ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer Let's just cut to the chase. I sing while I write. Wait, what? Usually, when I tell people this -- or they discover it by hanging out with me while I am working -- they wonder how in the heck I can do this. The truth is, I can't answer how, but I can tell you more about it. You see, ever since I was a small child, singing was my first love. Once I learned to write, at the tender age of three (yes, three, ask my mom Jaipi Sixbear), they were a tie. I haven't put down the pen (or keyboard) or microphone (aka thin air sometimes) since. At some point (not really sure when) they just started happening together. I sing many of my waking hours. The most active time is while I am writing. It helps me to concentrate. Friends often ask if I accidentally type song lyrics into my work. It's possible that I have a time or two -- or that I will in the future. But as far as I know, I haven't unless it was my song I was listening to and composing at the time. Please tell me if I do it in something else, however. I don't think the original artists would appreciate me doing that very much. Some of my favorite artists to sing with (at least at the moment -- this will change often with me) include Epica, Kina Grannis, Adele, P!nk, Alanis Morisette, Melissa Etheridge, Mariah Carey, Christina Aguilera, Alicia Keys, and many more. Do you do something seemingly out of the ordinary while writing? Tell us in the comment section. Photo Credit/Copyright: Lyn Lomasi (Yup, that's me) I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there) ![]() by Lyn Lomasi, Staff Writer I’ve often written about how to come up with ideas when you’re struggling to find topics as a writer. However, I am one of those writers who always has too many ideas. I can’t be the only one who has docs, notebooks, and cell phone space full of them. So, how do I deal with all of these ideas? What exactly do I do with them and what can you do with yours? Sort and organize your ideas for ideal use – Many writers write to more than one venue or have somewhat of a designated space or time period for certain topics. It may help to sort your ideas into categories based on topics, venues, styles, in alphabetical order, and more. We each have our own way of doing things. Therefore, only you can decide the exact sorting method that will work best for you specifically. Whatever you choose should make it easier to find and take advantage of all of your ideas. Give away good ideas you’ll never write – We all have those ideas that sit in a notebook or file somewhere that we keep skipping over for various reasons. Some of those ideas are ones that we may come back to eventually, while others are those which we know we will never write. Take the latter ones out of your records completely and compile them to share with fellow writers who need ideas. Most writers are friends with other writers and you may even be able to think of an exact person who’d appreciate at least some of the ideas. Create blank docs with titles ahead of time – This is one of the many things I do to help keep track of ideas, as well as to save time when I am ready to write. I title a blank document using the idea and try to make the title one I can use for a potential article or other piece of writing. I save the documents in the most appropriate folder for that specific idea. This could be a folder of docs designated to a specific client, a specific category of ideas, or for one of my own websites. If I don’t yet know where it might go, I save it under the regular documents folder and move it accordingly after it has been written and published. Use your ideas to create templates/outlines that speed productivity – This is taking the blank doc idea one step further. I have a method I use to speed up my productivity when creating content. I make myself templates or outlines that have all of my ideas listed so that I only have to think of how to explain it in each section and type out just that part when ready to write. To see samples of how I do this and exactly what I mean, go here: www.articlewriterforhire.com/1/post/2011/07/quick-web-writing-tip-make-an-easy-outline-to-speed-productivity.html Stop staring at them and just write! – You knew I was going to say this at some point, right? The most obvious thing to do with all of your ideas is to just start grabbing them and write! It really is just that easy. Do the voices in your head keep switching back and forth from idea to idea? Let them. I have an easy way that I deal with that issue as well: http://www.articlewriterforhire.com/1/post/2014/10/tips-for-writing-multiple-articles-at-once.html What do you do when you’re overwhelmed with ideas? **Photo Credit: Lyn Lomasi I originally published this on BUBBLEWS (no longer published there) by Lyn Lomasi, Write W.A.V.E. Media Staff ![]() Writing content piece after content piece all day can have some writers running out of ideas in no time flat. But it doesn't have to be that way. Forming ideas can be frustrating, but it's actually easier than you think. Stop over-thinking it! I mean it. Just stop. Some of the frustration in idea-forming comes from analyzing and breaking down every single idea until there is nothing left to work with. Every idea does not have to be "the next big thing" in your head before you write about it. If you thought about it, someone else probably did too -- and they may need your info on it. Just write as the ideas come. There is a such thing as editing, which brings us to the next point. Just write. You can edit later once the ideas have been placed on paper. If the writing looks like crap, don't worry about that until you are done getting the ideas down. Write what comes to mind, even if it is a huge, unorganized mess. The bad parts can be edited out. If there are too many ideas going on in one piece of writing, they can be split up into more than one piece of writing. just write and don't worry about all of that until it is time for editing and rewriting. Stop the pressure. Michael Jackson said it best in his song, Scream: "Stop pressurin' me. Just stop pressurin' me. Stop pressurin' me. Make me wanna scream". Stop beating yourself up over forming ideas. Many times, writer's block comes from forcing things too hard. You can't force what isn't there. Just write what is there, even if it isn't related to your current project. You'll soon find when the pressure is gone, the right words will flow. Go have fun! This may seem counter-productive. But if you are just sitting there banging your head on your desk or laptop, you aren't getting anything done anyway. Sometimes getting out and doing something different can relieve some stress and reveal ideas you hadn't thought of. For me, it never fails. As soon as I get into having fun and doing something else, the words come "interrupting" me and I can concentrate on my work once again. Look around you. What have you done lately? Recent trips, events, and neighborhood happenings can be good fodder for your writing. have you taught your dog an amazing trick? Were you at your wit's end with a parental issue, only to find an amazing solution? Do you know how to get a particularly tough stain out of anything? Maybe you invented a fabulous meal that your family is raving about. Share those things with the world. Your ideas do not have to be extremely elaborate. People often search for normal, everyday things on the web. we are all different and what may seem a simple solution could be a lifesaver for someone else. Need a simple way to speed up your writing that you can use each and every time? I did too. That's why I invented my own outline or template, modeled after the style I use most frequently. If you write for several venues, you may need a different basic outline for each.
Design your outline. Think about what you will need within all or most of your submissions and design an inclusive outline. I most often write informative how-to-type articles for various clients, as well as my own venues. I use the below outline most often, so that is the one I chose to use as an example. For most clients, my outline usually needs a title, byline, introduction, 5 steps, and a section at the end linking to three related pieces. Because I write for myself when I'm not writing for clients, I can use that same format for most things, unless I am doing a quick tip or that outline style won't work for the piece. Each time you have an article idea, fill in what you can before writing. This has been even more of a life saver than my outline itself. I fill in the title and each point before I start writing. I generally will go through and do this with all my planned articles for each day before beginning to write. Sometimes an article will start flowing while I'm in the middle of this process because once the main points are filled in, it's very simple to complete the process. So I'll stop and finish that article. Once you try it, I can almost guarantee that you will never write an article the 'regular' way again. Below is a sample outline, followed by that same sample filled in with info needed to begin an article. Sample outline: Title by Lyn Lomasi intro Tip sentence. text Tip sentence. text Tip sentence. text Tip sentence. text Tip sentence. text More from Lyn: link link link (As you can see in the above outline, each area that needs bold or italic text is pre-formatted that way to keep it easy.) Sample outline 2: Guide to writing for the web by Lyn Lomasi intro Gear your text toward people and search. text Gain an audience with niche specialties. text Keep your audience by being truthful. text Use personal experience to gain trust. text Publish often and be consistent. text More from Lyn: link link link (As you can see in this second outline sample, it will be very easy for me to write and fill in the rest of the details because I have my main points. They just need to be explained.) 30 Day Web Writing Boot Camp for Writers & Business Owners - Improve Writing Skills FAST |
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Lyn Lomasi is founder and owner of the Brand Shamans Content Community. Services include ordained soul therapy and healing ministry, business success coaching, business success services, handcrafted healing jewelry, ethereal and anointing oils, altar and spiritual supplies and services, handcrafted healing beauty products, and more!
Lyn is your brand healing, soul healing, marketing & content superhero to the rescue! While rescuing civilians from boring business practices and energy vampires, this awesomely crazy family conquers evil and creates change. They live among tigers, dragons, mermaids, unicorns, and other fantastic energies, teaching others to claim their own power and do the same. By supporting us, you support a dedicated parent, healer, and minority small business that donates to several causes. Profits from our all-inclusive store, Intent-sive Nature support these causes and our beautiful family! HIRE OR SHOP WITH LYN | CONTACT LYN FEATURED CONTRIBUTORS
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