Writing Process - Inspired to Write

5 Ways to Self-Edit Your Writing

March 15, 2013 By Julie McElroy 7 Comments

Edit Ruthlessly (Photo credit: Dan Patterson)

Editing is such an important part of writing and one that we often skip. I know I have skipped this at times. For blog posts or smaller projects, it is not feasible to hire an editor unless you are making enough money to support that luxury. Most bloggers are a business of one and self-edit their posts and article writing.

There are a few self-editing steps you can do as the first line of defense that will not cost you anything.

1. Read Writing Aloud

This is something I do often, especially with my paid writing projects. Actually, with my freelance writing projects, I use several of these steps. The last thing you want to do is send a client a writing piece filled with spelling and grammar errors. This may feel funny, but your brain can catch things when reading aloud that it overlooks when reading silently in your head.

2. Use Dragon Naturally Speaking or Speech Software

While the software does have editing features, Dragon Naturally Speaking is more of a dictation tool, but it can be helpful if you get tired of typing. The software will set you back about $50.00 on Amazon.

However, if you are a Mac user, Mac OS 10.8X, or Mountain Lion, offers a read aloud tool that will read any text on the screen when you assign a certain key combination. I LOVE this feature.

–Go to: Applications-> System Preferences-> Speech-> Spoken User Interface

–Under “other spoken items,” check “selected text when the key is pressed” and then select a key combination (I use Option+S).

3. Use ProWriting Aid

I use Pro Writing Aid occasionally for longer pieces or articles. It does more than just spell check and basic grammar mistakes. Here are a few additional writing checks the free software will look for:

Overused words;
Dull paragraph structure;
Repeated words and phrases;
Consistency of spelling, hyphenation, and capitalization;
Clichés and redundancies;
Vague, abstract, and complex words from your writing;
Sentiment, alliteration, and writing time-line.

4. Read Writing Backwards

I have not really used this method, but other writings add it to the self-editing process. Just like reading aloud, the brain will catch writing errors when read in different way. I would love to hear feedback on this method!

5. Have Friend or Family Member Read Your Writing

Sometimes, it is difficult to let someone else critique our writing. For longer or critical pieces of writing, I would recommend this. Find someone who is helpful and offer honest, useful advice. Constructive criticism. This person does not have to be a writer, but should have a firm grasp on spelling and grammar along with a fluency in the native text.

Editing should not be something that you overlook in any piece of writing. For long projects, like books, hire a professional. However, for blog posts and articles, you can apply these self-editing tips. Make it a habit.

Filed Under: Blogging, Writing, Writing Process Tagged With: edit, sefl-edit, writing, Writing and Editing

Developing your Content Strategy for 2013

January 10, 2013 By Celina Conner 10 Comments

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Celina Connor. Please read more about Celina in the bio footer.

While preparing for the beginning of a new year, as a digital marketer and webmaster, you should note and plan for the strategies you will make in the coming year. From presentations and articles we have reviewed, we offer you one great advice: Develop compelling content. If you are successful at this, you can never go wrong. In this article, we will tackle five tips on how to develop your key content strategy in 2013.

5 tips in Developing an Effective Content Strategy:

1. Make a mission statement.

As our business professors say, a company or business without a mission is one that will fail. Your mission speaks largely on your target. Your target will be your inspiration on how you achieve your goals. Therefore, you need to write a mission statement on what you intend to achieve and work on your content marketing activities following this mission.

Make sure to make your statement clear and unambiguous. A pretty neat example is “achieve additional 1000 followers of my blog by Q2 2013 through Facebook and Twitter posts while spending $200 for promotional ads.”

2. Write cornerstone and original pieces of information.

How do you get unique information and not only reuse or recycle what’s found on the web? Other people can always turn to other websites for the same information. So one good strategy to catch is to interview the experts and formulate your questions for them to answer.

Another is to conduct surveys of user groups and make conclusions to form a white paper or report that you can publicize. These are interesting results that people are thirsty of knowing. By providing unique information, you will be regarded as a leading provider of content for your niche.

3. Be inspired.

You have to keep being creative and innovative in making articles. To do this, you have to have an inspiration to keep you going. You can go places and jot ideas down on a notebook. Highlight the things you want to explore more and research about them. Find if they are of any value or interest with a common mass and use this advantage to target a specific market.

4. Answer your customers’ questions.

The end in your mind is always to answer all hanging questions of your customers. When they cannot have the same satisfying and delightful answers to their questions from elsewhere, they would be in the habit of going to your site to dig for that golden information. Make them feel comfortable in posting their concerns and be persistent in getting them the right explanations for each of them.

5. Find a partner.

Partnership is a key tool in increasing your readership. This is not only done by guest blogging but having one great producer of content to become a permanent non-competitive partner working for your site. You can join a group of brands with similar niches and then present great content together. Your group will be known and trusted, and you can manage to create more compelling content for the same customers.

Conclusion

Writing great content may be challenging in most times but it is a strategic that will make you successful in your campaigns for 2013. Apart from the advice listed above, if you cannot come up with a new story, you can always tell one in a different perspective to set yours apart from others in the same industry.

Filed Under: blog tips, Guest Posts, Writing, writing goals Tagged With: content, content strategy, copy writing, seo, writing goals 2013

Excuses Writers Make and How You Can Overcome Them

December 19, 2012 By Jason Miner 10 Comments

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Jason Miner. Please read more about Jason in the bio footer.

One thing writers are good at is making excuses about why they do not write. Some of the excuses are valid at times, but most just stem from an underlying fear of failure we all have. Here are some of the excuses and why they just are not true:

I Am Not a Good Writer

I always hate to hear a writer say this. If you have a passion for writing then you are a good writer. While you may have difficulty with some of the technical aspects of writing, like grammar or dialogue, you can still be a great writer. All you need is practice and time.

Like any art, it takes time to learn the techniques. Great writers are made, not born. Every writer had to learn the basics at some point. Do not give up on writing just because you feel like you do not measure up to other writers. Every writer has a style all their own. Find yours and perfect it and you will be a great writer.

I Do Not Have Time to Write

This is one lie we all fall prey to now and again. Of course you do not have time to write. That is because you have to MAKE time to write. Make it a part of your schedule, just like eating or bathing. If you do not make writing a definite part of your life then you will never find time to write.

Another thing that writers forget is that you do not have to write all day or even for hours. Just a few minutes at a time can allow you to accomplish something. Add that together over days and weeks and you can really get a lot done. Do not treat writing like a homework assignment with a deadline to procrastinate against. Instead, treat it like a flower. You have to water it every day and over time it grows into something beautiful.

If you write a little at a time it can get hard to remember where you left off. One thing I do to overcome that is to create an outline of what I am writing. I chart out the key points that I want to hit. You have to get detailed here because you might have a long period of time before you get back to the next point and you do not want to forget what your idea was.

By writing down your idea as a whole you free up your brain to be creative and pay full attention to what you are writing instead of trying to remember what the next thing you were going to do is. I have avoided a lot of frustration by doing this simple thing.

I Do Not Have Any Idea What to Write

Sometimes it is less about writing a great work and more about writing at all. I find that bloggers and journalists have a hard time with this. They feel like they have written on so much that they can’t come up with any new ideas. People that write book or story series also seem to run into this problem. However, this is not insurmountable. Yes, I believe that you are out of ideas, but that does not mean you can’t pick up some new ones.

One good way to always have ideas on hand is to take notes as you are out and about. I almost never come up with great ideas to write on when I am sitting at my computer. Instead it happens when I am out and about. That is why I have gotten into the habit of carrying a pen and small notebook with me wherever I go.

When a great writing idea strikes me I stop what I am doing and write it down. Make sure you are detailed enough to get the whole idea. You can even list your key points. What you do not want to do (and I am guilty of this) is to write down a single word or phrase and hope you will recall the whole idea later. You will not. I know you are in a hurry, but taking the time to do it right now will save you lots of frustration later on.

Sometimes the old notebook runs low. Then what can a writer do for inspiration? Well, there are a lot of things. The news is a great place to get inspired by real world events. The images and thoughts of the world are within those pages and they can inspire you to new ideas and topics you would not have otherwise thought about. Social media is also a great place to take a peek into reader’s brains. After all, these are the people you are writing for, right? Listen to the way they talk and what they talk about for clues as to what interests them and what your writing could do in their lives.

If you are still stuck out remember there is more than one way to write. If you typically write nonfiction then try your hand at fiction. You may find it freeing and fun. If you write fiction then try poetry. It is a whole new world of experiences and rules to follow. If you do not write nonfiction then try your hand at that. You may get new inspiration in doing research and really digging into real life events.

There are also plays and screen plays, short stories and flash fiction, novels and novellas. There are so many styles of writing out there that at least one of them are bound to be a new experience for you. Get out there and try new things. It may inspire you in your current work or even give you a whole new style that you never knew you would like.

If in doubt, go for new experiences. Visit an ethnic restaurant. Watch a live performance. Go to a new part of town or a drive in the country. Opening your mind to new things can help you to come up with new ideas for your writing and can also bring in fresh new perspectives.

These are just a few of the ways you can overcome excuses in your writing life. Now get out there and write!

Filed Under: Guest Posts, Writing, Writing Process

Getting Back Into the Habit of Writing

November 27, 2012 By Julie McElroy 16 Comments

Stretch those Writing Muscles!

I attended a writing group yesterday and it reminded me of how rusty and out of shape I am. I often equate writing to going to the gym. Once you slack off for a significant amount of time, you get flabby and lazy, and once it becomes a habit, it is more difficult NOT to go.

That is how my writing has been for a few months now. Lacking and sporadic. And each day that passes without me putting words on paper, the more I beat myself up.

At this writer’s meeting, someone else was also struggling with that menacing wall that stands in front of us when we attempt to write. The Block. And the leader of the group said, “Don’t beat yourself up for not writing.” I thought she was talking to me, but she was looking at him. Obviously, it resonated with me.

Slacker. That is the voice inside my head that I hear each day I don’t write. It is not healthy, I know, but she’s right – I am a slacker. But, it is okay to do that sometimes.

Stop Beating Yourself Up For Not Writing!

I think many writers go through this. They come to a point where they just don’t want to write. Or have anything inspiring to write about. Or become indifferent. Life gets in the way and we find excuses to tend to those life things. We get busy and the writing becomes less and less of a priority. And the wall begins to plant its feet with the absences of creative fuel to knock it over.

This last year, not only did the months fly by, but I realized, my writing skills were starting to develop cobwebs. Using the workout analogy, I was getting muscle atrophy in my brain. Yes, I wrote a few freelance articles for others and I also wrote a couple blog posts in my travel blog, but for the most part I was not writing consistently. Loser.

That comment last night really struck me because I think that self-criticism by itself was causing much of my wall to grow to towering heights. To a point I didn’t think I could jump over it. So, I just avoided dealing with it. And my writing suffered. Have you ever felt this way?

But You Have to Write.

Just like complaining that you are not getting in shape as you avoid any form of physical exercise, you can’t complain about your lack of quality writing when you just don’t write. To keep up the habit, you have to do it. You have to write. Pen to paper, fingers to keyboard.

Another lady at this same writing meeting stated that you should write every day, even if it is just a sentence. She told all of us in the group to make it a habit, even when you don’t feel like it. When she mentioned that she has written every day in her life for the last eight years, the negative voice rose up in my mind: you really ARE a slacker. Yet, I knew she was right. Make it a habit.

Sigh. Okay, I am starting to shake off some of the rust. I hope you can be patient. I hope you can continue to read about my writing journey. And I hope to somehow inspire you to do the same.

Filed Under: Finding Inspiration, Inspiration, Productive writing, Writing, Writing Inspiration, Writing Process Tagged With: writing, writing as a habit, writing process

Stay Strong, Keep Writing: An Open Letter to Writers of All Backgrounds

November 15, 2012 By Samantha Gray 8 Comments

Editor’s Note: This is a guest post by Samantha Gray. Please read more about Samantha in the bio footer.

A letter (Photo credit: Muffet)

Dear writer,

As you know, writing isn’t a vocation for the faint of heart. Writing requires tremendous mental acrobatics and emotional strain, not to mention superhuman discipline and focus.

A simple page of well written prose (or poetry or journalism or analysis) could have very well taken the author days to craft, even though it takes a reader a few moments to read. Sometimes it feels like it takes an age and a day to write a decent paragraph or a thoughtful sentence.

Despite the demands of the job, you keep writing. For that I congratulate you and encourage you to continue your craft for as long as you can.

We live in an age where new content is churned out at incalculable speed. Take blogging, for one example. An event occurs—some remarkable gaff on a political campaign or the release of a revolutionary piece of technology—and immediately thousands of bloggers and journalists endeavor to write about it, each one jostling to put their own profound spin on it.

More books are published in a month than you could ever hope to read in your entire life, such is the rate of writing produced by authors new and established. More writers exist now than ever before, making it that much harder to make a career out of the craft.

I think the influx of writers in the digital age is something to be celebrated. No longer is the title of “writer” reserved for scholars with a PhD in Literature, or for those select few journalists known for their work at major publications. The fact that so many people want to become writers reassures me that writing is anything but a dying art—though old-fashioned types might try to convince you otherwise with the decline of book sales and independent newspapers.

No, writing has become a less intimidating vocation for those brave enough to try it. It’s been (thankfully) humanized through the successes of countless authors who have risen to prominence despite lacking a stereotypical background of a writer. College writing courses can help a great deal, but they don’t make the writer. Hard work, imagination, and dedication are the true strengths of a great writer.

You probably approached writing much the same way as I did. A perpetual bookworm, you probably approached writing with apprehension and trepidation, doubtful that you could ever write anything worthy of reading. But you kept at it, whatever you chose as your medium.

Maybe you started out blogging about current events, maybe you kept your own journal, or maybe you even tackled a novel from the start. You continued to face the blank page, determined to fill it with what was on your mind. You wrote your stories, and in doing so you took the chance that someone would read them.

I’m so glad you did. Keep up the good work, and never stop writing.

Filed Under: Guest Posts, Writing, Writing Inspiration, Writing Process Tagged With: writing, writing motivation

Keeping Up with Your Blog for the Long Haul

August 29, 2012 By Julie McElroy 8 Comments

Keeping Blog Longevity

Blog longevity.

Maintaining a blog for the long haul can be challenging at times. Like the ups and downs of a long-term relationship, there will be times you will want to throw in the towel and walk away. It feels like it is simply not working. Or not worth the effort.

There will be days you just don’t want to write. Sometimes weeks. There will be seasons you just don’t feel motivated. When you have a full-time job, significant life events or other projects consume your time, or life just gets hectic, maintaining a blog can be overwhelming.

I understand this. Some of my readers may have given up on me several times in the last several years. I have droughts. I had one recently. This one was a combination of significant life events combined with a full-time job. The stress zapped any motivation to write right out of my brain.

Yet I never wanted to give up. I knew I would be back. I think most bloggers go through this phase at some point. I can’t be the only one who has neglected my blog (and my readers) on an occasion or two.

Blog Creation Has Changed

When the idea of creating a blog first develops, most people have a ton of momentum to start that new project. Excitement dominates. Ideas are flowing in, bouncing off the walls of the mind. When blogging first started out years ago you could put up a few posts, add some SEO, social marketing, and hope for a flood of visitors to your site.

Several years later, much of that has changed. Not only has the momentum fizzled, but Google has changed the rules. Old-fashioned SEO is no longer effective. Now, quality counts. This is a good thing.

Another factor is the ever-increasing creation of blogs. Blogging is no longer something new and unique. It is a lot more competitive to get readers because there are so many blogs out there.

Maintaining Blog For the Long Haul

NEW YORK - JULY 25: Matilde Hoffman works on h...

Getty Images via @daylife

So what do you do? The good news is that by putting in time and effort to keep your blog going for the long haul, you have a better chance of getting traffic and returning visitors.

Most people give up too easily when they’re first starting out their blogs. They still want to believe that they can just set up a blog and watch groves of visitors come to it. In reality, creating an established blog takes time. And dedication. And work. But it doesn’t have to be hard.

A few things can help.

Creating unique and quality content. This is even more important today if you want to gain favor in the eyes of the search engines and even more importantly, to gain regular readers.

Publish blog posts on a regular basis. This one can be the most challenging, especially if you are the sole content provider for your blog. “Regular” can mean twice a week or daily, just make sure you are consistent.

Treat your blog like a business. Depending on your goals, this is a perspective that will help you take your blog serious, and treat it with the attention it requires.

Come up with a publishing schedule. While I don’t currently do this, it is something I have thought about doing in the future. This keeps you accountable and helps your readers know what to look for.

Take breaks. While it is important to stay consistent on updating your blog regularly, you will get burnt out at some point. Take a few days off and come back with a fresh mind.

Allow guest posts. This is one tactic I have used for a couple years now. This not only provides a different perspective from others, but gives you a break from creating fresh content. Just be sure you have guest post guidelines to keep up with quality content.

Ask readers what they would like to see. Once your blog starts getting stagnant, it may be time to reach out to your readers and ask what they would like to see. This also makes them feel like you are providing content that is relevant to them.

Write an occasional short post or a photo post. Sometimes it is okay to have a short post or photo post if you don’t have much else to write about.

Content curation. This has been a tactic that has become more popular in the last couple years. Essentially, you provide a bunch of links to other related content across the web, compiled into one post.

Assess and revise goals annually. Each year, you should take some time and assess your goals for your blog. You can look at content, monetization, marketing, and social media.

By sacrificing with some hard work in the short-term, you’ll quickly gain a lot of exposure in the long-term. Eventually you’ll have a lot of people coming to your blog because they’ll be able to see the quality of information that you’re offering. By doing it the right way at first, you’ll create a business instead of a get rich quick site.

You’ll be able to form lasting relationships with your customers that will eventually result in repeat business. By working hard and doing the necessary things the right way, your efforts will be rewarded.

Once people find a blog that has high quality content and a personal voice, they’ll be more likely to stick around and read what you have to say.