Once you find a talented freelance content writer, hold onto them as if they were the last one on the planet. The good ones are either booked solid for months or have moved on to more gainful endeavors. Even if you can keep a talented content writer, they may not remain a content writer forever. Just like everything else in life, if someone is good at something, other opportunities will open for them to expand and broaden their horizons.

Woes of the Site Owner

Unfortunately, as a site owner, you have little to no control over when your writer needs to take leave. It often happens at the worst possible times. You may be in the middle of a huge marketing or branding campaign that just took off, or you might have a large boost in readership in your blog and require a steady in-flow of content for the next few weeks.

The last and worst possible thing you could hear at this precise moment is, "I’m leaving for greener pastures." So, what do you do?

8 Things to Do Instead of Panicking

1. Take Affirmative Action

As the Master and Commander of your ship, it’s time to take charge. Whatever you do, do not panic. Panic, at this point, would not only be counterproductive, it would make things much worse. It is not the end of the world until the deadline, which means there is still time before the iceberg hits the ship.

If you find yourself in panic mode, take a deep breath and get a hold of yourself. Remember that you are in control and that there are steps you can take to address the situation.

2. Hot Off the Press

New content writers are entering the internet every day, and the demand for their services is still higher than the supply.

Stop worrying about finding a content writer and go get one. However, be careful about how you go about it. Weeding out the bad writers from the good ones is a delicate process.

3. You May Already Have a Replacement

Don’t have time to engage with someone you can’t risk trusting? Have you spoken to your team, family, or a friend in the writing business lately? You may be surprised at how many people you know who write, dream of writing, or are already pursuing it.

By reaching out to those you know, you can get an inside look into the personality of a new writer and determine if they are someone you can rely on for steady content. This information can come directly from the horse’s mouth.

4. Go Social

Another digital option is social media marketing. LinkedIn is a great platform for Business to Customer or Business to Business marketing, as well as building brand recognition. With the help of a good content writer and six social media websites, you can create more buzz about your website than with two dozen magazine ads. LinkedIn is particularly useful as it has a wealth of content writers.

Overall, there are various methods available to promote your website. It’s important to consider your target audience and choose the methods that will be most effective for reaching them.

5. Be My Guest

Guest posting is a useful approach that can be utilized from time to time. You can put out a call for guest posts and usually, the guest blogger just wants a link in the content and a couple of links in their bio.

Some guest bloggers may even get paid for their submissions, but regardless, you get good content at half the time it takes to find a long-term replacement for your writer.

6. Editors Are Worth Their Weight in Gold

Editors are incredibly valuable for ecommerce websites and blogs. They can help increase your ROI by ensuring that your readers see what they need to see at the right time. Additionally, editors can edit the work of your content writers and even replace them temporarily if needed.

However, it’s important not to take advantage of an editor’s writing skills too often. Remember to respect their time and expertise and use them wisely. Overall, an editor is worth their weight in gold for any business looking to improve their content and increase their success.

7. Draw Ideas from the Web

The internet is a wondrous place, filled with all kinds of information on just about every subject you could possibly imagine, including your ecommerce endeavors. If your content writer disappears, there is plenty of material on the internet to pursue and draw ideas from.

However, don’t fall into the trap of copying content at liberty. Original content is still gold even in desperate times.

8. Unleash the Writer in You

Have you ever attempted to write your own content? As the one who knows the kind of content you desire, it may be worth a shot. Although it may not be the best content in the world, I can assure you that it will not be the worst either. In fact, you may even write better than some freelance content writers as nobody understands your readers’ preferences better than you do.

Take the opportunity to create your own content and express your thoughts in writing. You may be surprised at how much you enjoy it and how well it resonates with your audience. So, why not give it a try?

The End Result

The end result of all this is actually much simpler than the 8 reasons not to panic and how to help yourself. If you panic, nothing gets done. So, if you need a content writer, don’t rush into anything. Take your time and find the one that is right for you. In the meantime, follow these simple tips to get through the rough patch and always keep your chin up.

Make sure to fix any grammar and spelling errors and break the text into easy-to-read paragraphs.

The post 8 Proactive Steps to Take When Your Writer Quits appeared first on Hongkiat.

Editors make necessary changes to a writer’s work to ensure they follow certain house styles of the establishment or blog they represent. This gives all text published at the site the same consistency and palatability that ensures readers keep coming back for more.

But if the editor can do it, so can you… right? You have the same command of grammar and syntax; you are the expert on the topic you wrote, and it’s going to be your name on the post anyway. And we’re pretty sure the editor is also ‘only human’. So why go through the hassle and slow down the publishing process? Why not just self-edit?

Here are some myth-busting truths about self-editing in freelance writing.

Self-editing freelance writer

There are rumors of a new kind of content writer. They say that this new and improved content writer can edit their own content. After all, an editor does not need another editor, so why could there not be a self-editing content writer. When you get right down to it, no one knows the material better than the writer, correct?

The idea of a self-editing freelance content writer would be a great asset for any website or blog. It will cut down on the need for an extra man/woman on the team, the editor.

Transferable mistakes will be greatly reduced, there would be no slowdowns caused by a conflict of opinions and we’d get more content published in more regular intervals.

Why can’t it work?

On paper, it looks like a workable idea, but in reality, it’s a dud. I know many content writers who try to self-edit to the best of their abilities, myself included. Unfortunately, I do not personally know of many who can do it with a high level of consistency.

During a career span of just over 33 years, I have learned a few things about editing. The gist of it: I have seen enough to know that I would not want the job. Here’s why:

Seeing is believing

Our brains can trick us into believing there are words on the page that are not really there. We become so intent on the writing that when we read through it in our first edit, our brain fills in the gaps where the missing words are without us realizing it. Mistakes escape through the filters, points go haywire, and structure loses structure.

The trick to getting around this is to put the writing down for several hours. By doing this, we begin to distance ourselves from the writing. The longer the cooling period, the more we forget.

By the end of the waiting period, we will be reading the piece as a reader, not the writer. And that’s where we find all the weird mistakes we miss out during our self-imposed edits. Don’t take my word for it, try it for yourself.

Jack of all trades

We may be the experts of the topic we wrote about however that probably means we lack in other aspects such as the intricate preferences of the readers of the site. To conquer that, you need a lot of data, a lot of experience with a niche group, or psychic powers. Editors usually have one of the three.

They know where to focus, what to take out, what to put in, and how to enhance a particular post for their readers. It’s their job to know.

For us, all we have to do is be an expert in our topics. When guest blogging, we don’t even have to worry about SEO, CRO, link building, inserting backlinks, when to publish the post for maximum exposure, social marketing, and dozens of other considerations to maximize our content successfully. Now, aren’t you glad that there are editors on the Web?

Remember that editors have to be natural management specialists, often managing numerous guest bloggers, teams of content writers, and marketers with their eager, often manic campaigns. They need to know which strategy works for which niche market, and how to advise their writers. Speaking of which…

Writers know thyself

Even more important than intimate knowledge of the blog or website’s inner workings is the self-editing content writer’s knowledge himself or herself. The reason the world has so few true self-editing writers is that there are not that many people who can be brutally honest with themselves.

A handful of those are their own worst critic, essentially crippling themselves before any of their work sees light. That’s not good either.

To self-edit, the Writer must know how to be brutally honest, how to put the integrity of the written piece before the writer, and sometimes, how to walk away from good material. To write what you consider being the purest, most perfect paragraph, only to find during the editing process that it does not contribute enough to the post to be kept in, means you have to make a tough decision.

Can you… Cut it?

The true editor would make the cut without the slightest hesitation and only after considering all other alternatives. For obvious reasons, an editor who is not you will do a better job in being completely objective with the material. It’s almost entirely easier to let someone else do the dirty job.

Still want to self-edit?

After all that is said and done, there is one last thing to add. The content editor can do a job that is only as good as the writer can. In other words, if the raw material was weak to begin with, there is only so much the editor can do before he or she has to give up. After all, even with really good, flawless content, there is still a lot to do in post-editing to ensure that the writer gets all the limelight he or she deserves.

So take this relationship as more of a symbiotic one, one where you the writer has to depend on the editor, and the editor on your dedication to the craft to produce a true piece of writing that readers will love and benefit from.

The post The Truths About Self-Editing in Freelance Writing appeared first on Hongkiat.

The following content, written under the stress of submitting it on time, is dedicated to all freelance content writers who know what it feels like to be ‘Out Of Time’ yet still turn in quality content on a regular basis.

Here are a few tips I’ve picked up along the path of my career. I may have learned them the hard way, but it makes it that much sweeter knowing that someone else won’t have to.

The One/two punch time eater

The biggest one/two punch that slows us down and helps us to lose track of time is social media and email. I’ve set my ticker to beep at me every 3 hours and I dedicate 15 minutes to take care of both.

Before I did that, I was checking my email 3-4 times every hour. If there was a social email in it, I would go straight to the website to deal with that. Once I started adhering to the new 3-hour schedule, my productivity increased dramatically. I might go every 4 hours just to see what happens.

Tools to help you further

Sometimes, setting limits may not be enough when it comes to the topic of social media and email. Don’t worry though as there are tools that are designed to help you take care of it.

Google Mail Pop-up: Gmail gives you a pop-up that you can designate to appear anywhere on your screen. It shows regardless of what tab or screen you are in at the moment. This way, you get to pick to stop and deal with it or to let it fade back into the background to deal with later. If you do not use Google for your email client, you may still be able to utilize something just like it.

HootSuite: HootSuite is, without a doubt, my favorite time saving tool. The last thing that I do every night before bedtime is to post to my social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter, and especially LinkedIn. Once I have written what I want to post, I schedule it to hit all 3 accounts the first thing the next morning, even though I’m still snug in bed.

The office time planner

I have worked many jobs in my life, but until I seriously dedicated my life to freelance writing, I never had to actually plan my day down to the details. Trust me, and if you don’t plan your day, you may find yourself running around in circles by the end of it.

Notifications can only go so far to make you move, and scratch that item off your to-do list, but you will have to decide when to do what before which deadline.

Work like the rest of the planet

Speaking of handling deadlines, I have not tried this yet because I am afraid that if I do, my business will come crumbling down. However, my wife thinks it is a wonderful idea to set and work office hours.

Trying to work 9 to 5 might be too much for me to handle. However, I may be able to work from 5 to 9. Yeah, 5 am to about 9 pm just might give me enough time to do everything.

The point is, set office hours and adhere to the schedule like your life depends upon it. You (and your spouse) will be happier if you do.

Work smarter

We, as time-challenged freelance content writers, have to be extremely careful about what jobs we accept and what jobs we need to let pass. I used to grab everything that came across my desk.

Now, I gauge how much time it will take, and what it pays and compare that number to what I already have in the works minus how much time I don’t have to work on it.

This simple, yet effective formula was easy to set up in both Excel and Formula in Open Office. I type in the projected numbers and see what will pay the most in the long haul. Of course, sometimes I just go on instinct – which I usually regret.

Leave it at the beep

I never realized how much my phone rings until I stopped answering it in order to save time. I am not overly anxious to give my money to a survey taker, but if you think about it, every time we answer the phone, we may as well light a two-dollar bill on fire.

Now, if you need to speak to me, your VM message had better be amazingly convincing. I am listening (sort of), and if it’s important enough, I will pick it up before you hang it up. If you do call though, please have the common courtesy to leave a message instead of asking me to please pick up. It’s not going to happen.

Technology saves time and makes money

That said, if you are pressed for time and are fighting to gain back every minute lost, invest in technology. For every device that you have tied to your freelance account, you can add twenty minutes back into the schedule.

If I’m enjoying my morning constitutional, I’m also answering my emails. If I walk down to the corner for an errand, or just to get away from the computer for a minute, you can bet I’m checking on my social media contacts. Every little minute counts particularly in the peak season, so let technology help you out.

Final thoughts

There is really only one way to handle the problem of time. Don’t. When you have done everything that you can think of and a few things that you can’t think of in order to control time and swing it back into your favor, it is time to stop worrying about time.

If it is out of your control, stop stressing over it and just do what you can do. Do no more and no less.

The post Guide to Better Time Management For Freelancers appeared first on Hongkiat.

We all love to work with professionals and if you want to be a pro writer, you too need to exhibit the professionalism required of you. Missing deadlines is the best and easiest way to convince them that you might not be taking things as seriously as they’d like you to.

Also note that your deadline is probably just one of a string of deadlines our client has to make sure is on time. If your writing causes a delay, the domino effect will ensure that everyone else’s deadlines will be sorely affected as well. Don’t be the bad guy; be the professional writer with these few simple steps.

1. Get and stay organized

Perhaps the biggest secret to achieving deadlines is being organized. Being organized helps projects flow smoothly and progress quickly. The organized writer is ready to start quickly and dive into the work without stopping to find something important to work.

Part of being organized is knowing where everything is e.g., the calendar, the files, the memos and reminders, the equipment, etc.

The other part is to have a process or system set up to answer your most immediate requests, e.g., when I write, I have a dictionary and a thesaurus ready and open in tabs.

Everything you need (even a quick, energizing snack or drink) should be within arm’s reach to prevent you from becoming distracted on an unnecessary break (disclaimer: I still need to grab toilet breaks).

2. Check your writing speed limits

Those who have ever been on a swim team in school know that the speed from which you leave the starting block is half the race. Just as the title, opening sentence, first paragraph, and first subtitle are the most important part of a post or article, your first efforts in a writing project will often dictate the pace of the rest of the project.

However, each writer works at their personal pace, and for some, content and speed mix like they are oil and water. If you are fine with sprinting, a good start is half a race won, but if you are like me, a marathon runner, not a sprinter, then you should know when to reject a project with a ridiculous deadline.

3. Eliminate distractions

Aside from answering nature’s call, all other forms of distractions can be detrimental to the writing process. Thus, before you begin your important project, eliminate all of the minor distractions that always crop up during a deadline race.

Image source: Vecteezy

Inform your family that you are only to be disturbed during dire emergencies that involve spurting blood or the dead rising (flesh-eating zombies count). Put your phone on silent, disable your notifications, hold all incoming mail, lock yourself away from the rest of the family – you get the idea.

4. Develop a system that works for you

Every professional freelancer has a system or process that they adhere to because it works for them. This process is a little different for everyone. Speak to some content writers about their system, do some research, or go the old-fashioned way, through trial and error.

My system goes something like this, depending upon the type of project I take on:

• Evaluate the project and make note of the clients particular needs
• Highlight important points in an outline of the project
• Research each point thoroughly and determine the order
• Re-write title and subtitles
• Pre-write filler for each subtitle using bullet lists and infographics where necessary
• Edit the pre-write
• Write the project injecting SEO/CRO
• Edit the Write cutting at least 20%

When you can find your own process, you will be able to time yourself properly and get a proper estimate of the kind of timeframe you can work in.

5. Courage under fire

Many a deadline has been needlessly missed because a less-than-professional writer would not go to the client when they realized the deadline is a sure loss. Honesty is definitely the best policy in this situation. If you realize that you are going to miss a deadline, go to the client, advertiser, or sponsor as soon as possible.

It is always better to tell the client before the deadline is missed than to be worried about losing the account. The client may have a plan B that could very well save the day and minimize the impact of the missed deadline, and as for you, well, you might still be able to salvage this relationship.

6. When all hell breaks loose

If you ever find yourself in the frying pan, and every available option is a flame hotter and bigger than the last, then you are reduced to three possible options:

Image source: Vecteezy

Give a more feasible date

So we have established that clients with ridiculous deadlines should be avoided like the plague, but sometimes turning down a client isn’t something you can do.

When faced with this situation, assess the project and present the client with a more realistic date; you might be surprised with the kind of extensions that can suddenly turn up in the schedule.

If, in the end, the client still doesn’t (or can’t) budge, politely decline the job offer, citing your reasons clearly, then send the client on their way.

Pace yourself!

Let’s say, the good news is you have a really cool client who won’t let anyone else but you handle the project (even after Step 5 above), but the bad news is that you are not getting an extension. Step 1, negotiate for higher pay. Step 2, try to not write for 15, 20 hours straight, no matter how young you think you are, at heart.

Set realistic goals for yourself. Write only so many words in one sitting or set the number of hours you are willing to endure in front of your computer at one time. If you hit your deadline, you did great. If not, you gave it your best.

And finally, reach out

There is no shame in reaching out for help if you see that you will not make an important deadline. Even if you need a fellow writer or an editor, you can save valuable time and split the pay based on the workload.

The point is that if you stand to lose credibility in the eyes of your client (more importantly, a new one who is testing you out), ask for help to maintain that perfect streak of delivered jobs.

The post How to Better Handle Writing Deadlines appeared first on Hongkiat.

This is a commitment that is, by far, harder to stay true to than just about any other form of writing. If you are ready to make that kind of commitment, here are 6 steps that you may want to keep in mind in order to stay true to a craft that will pay fantastic dividends to those who truly love to write for the public.

1. Write it, hold it, re-write it.

The first words that you lay down should come straight from the heart. Your emotional attachment to any particular topic should flow from you, staining the page with honest, unbiased, and completely original content. The truest form of self-expression always comes from the heart.

Unfortunately, heartfelt expression is almost always the worst kind of writing. Unless you are writing poetry, your true voice always comes from the rewrites. Once you have laid it all on the line in content writing, walk away.

The idea is to put distance between your heart and what you are really trying to tell your reader. Give it a day, and then come back to it fresh. Cut at least 20% or more of the sap during the rewrite. What you are left with will be a more concise form of what you were trying to convey. The rewrite is where your true voice lies.

2. Editor, enemy, friend.

If you are unable to separate heartfelt writing from true voice, and you are lucky enough to have an editor, he or she will do it for you. A good editor is someone who knows how to write from the heart, trim the fat, and leave a lean form of true self-expression while following the ultimate goal of reader value.

What they do to your writing may piss you off – at first – but once you realize that self indulgent writing is not the goal, you will also realize just how valuable it is to have the editor’s objective foresight on your side.

They usually know how to salvage what you are really trying to say and please the reader at the same time, making you both happy.

3. Freelance, creative, freelance.

Content writing is a lot like truck driving. It is fun at first, but after a while, it is really easy to fall asleep behind the wheel. If you are a busy freelance content writer, one who is constantly writing to pay the bills and support a family, it may behoove you to pull into a truck stop from time to time.

Take a day or two every couple of weeks to write a poem, short story, or update your journal. Write in a way that open expression and heart-felt sentiment mean much more than it does in content writing.

Creative writing for yourself; writing that does not need to be edited or scrutinized in any way is always refreshing for the hardworking content writer that spends more time in fact than fantasy and truth than whim.

4. Verify, verify, verify.

Writing from the heart is great, especially when you have a good editor or already know how to trim the fat, so to speak. The trick is to always make sure that your heartfelt writing and more down-to-earth rewriting sticks to the facts as they pertain to the reader.

A rant that flows off-topic and delves into the world of conjecture is always damaging to your credibility as a content writer.

Verify what you write, and then verify the source you get your information from with another trusted source. Honesty in writing is just as important as true voice and self-expression of the facts. The rule is, be you, but be true.

5. Deadline, lifeline, deadline.

Deadline writing is a common occurrence for the freelance content writer. Every site owner I have ever written copy for has had a ridiculous deadline that just had to be met at all costs.

If copywriting is your writing forte, yet you find yourself struggling to meet deadlines, look for a few clients that just want content, to break the stressful monotony that comes with deadline writing.

In the end, you will be happy for the freedom and thankful for the time spent not having to worry as much about maintaining your sparkling reputation.

6. Location, location, location.

In real estate, location is everything. In content writing, the place that you give to your readers should be the best place for them to be to get the most from what you are trying to say. In other words, leave your reader on real estate that is a beachfront property and not the land of nod.

Informative, original content is far more valuable than a fact-filled post that does not open doors of opinion. Writing thoughtfully and exploring a variety of avenues and options (all based on fact) is better than giving one fact and leaving the reader to guess at where you were leading them.

In the end, draw your logical conclusion and then let the reader decide for themselves where they stand.

The post 6 Steps to Staying on Course For Freelance Writers appeared first on Hongkiat.

Then it hits us. We realize we’ve lost the passion and terror engulfs us. The first time it happens is like waking up from a dream of falling off a building – only to realize that you’re not dreaming. You experience a few seconds of abstract terror followed by a deep sense of sudden loss.

I once read about a writer who lost limbs in a war compare it to what it feels like the first few years after that loss: “I would wake up, ready to take on the day only to see the wheelchair and remember that I have no legs. Losing my passion for writing is a lot like that.” Once you realize you are without it, you cannot help but feel a sense of longing.

Personally, it felt a little bit like when I lost my father at 11 years old. Not the pain of a lost loved one. Just the pain of losing something so familiar, something I was so used to having. It felt like a hole in the middle of my chest that couldn’t be filled. I swore that once I got it back, I would never lose it again. Now, when I get so weary that I want to stop, I do.

See The Signs

The one redeeming feature about losing the writer’s passion is that you can see it coming a mile away if you know what to look for. Here’s how to recognize these signs.

1. When Research Becomes a Chore

Research for the true writer is more interesting than it is work. We develop a process where we can enjoy the journey from point A to point J. Each step is familiar, painless and gets us closer to our objective – writing. Every step of the research usually holds some benefit for us.

One example is my research computer, which is not the computer that I write with. It has a comic page that I must go through to get to my search engine. On this page is a weather app, a dictionary Word of the Day, and a new Calvin and Hobbes Comic daily strip

When I get to the point that I skip the comics or just bypass my entire process altogether, I check myself as it’s a sure sign that I’m no longer enjoying that process‘¦ or what I do.

2. Snapping at your Editors (Never a good idea)

I’m one of those lucky writers that have an editor as a partner in our freelance writing company. This means that everything I write through our company is edited by one of the best. I also have an editor in one of my ‘outside of the company’ jobs. She is also among the best in her profession.

The moment one of them asks me what is wrong with my attitude or takes offense at something I’ve said, I know that I’m in trouble. I love to be edited because it makes me look good. When I start taking offense at their help, it means I don’t want to put in the work. It means I’m no longer having any fun.

3. What Happened to your Deadline Demon?

A friend of mine, who was once a client, paid me the very high compliment of calling me the Deadline Demon. I never ever miss a deadline. I’m almost always way ahead of schedule. I make sure that if something was to happen and I could not write for up to a week, I could still come in under deadline.

When I suddenly have to write all night long and just barely make my deadlines, I am in trouble of losing my passion and I check myself at that moment. If I forget a deadline and barely make it, I recognize that for what it is: a huge sign that I’m tired and I’m in danger of starting down that road again.

4. Getting Easily Distracted

When I start catching myself spending more time in my email, Skype chat, or surfing the World Wide Web for no reason other than to avoid work, I know I’m in trouble. It’s a quiet process that sneaks up on you. One day, you are fine and productive, two days later, you find yourself two days behind schedule and filling out a form for a foolish website application you don’t want just because you’re bored.

When boredom sets in, how far are you from the point of no return? The writing passion is what keeps us writing. The ability to take a boring subject and turn it into something that people want to read is supposed to be fun. When it stops being fun, it’s time to recharge your batteries.

How to Turn This Around

At some point, you have to recognize the signs of writer’s fatigue and make a change. When you have worked for so many days in a row that you cannot remember the last time you had any time to devote to your family, friends, or other interests, it may be time to recharge

Writer’s fatigue is the first step to losing the ability to enjoy a passion that you were born with. Here are a few things you can do to get turn things around.

1. Step Away

Take a day off whether you can afford it or not. Most of the time, with bills mounting or deadlines looming, you cannot take a day off at that moment, but you can schedule a day off in the near future and then do everything you have to do to make it happen.

When that day comes, do not shirk it off and work. Force yourself to spend the day away from work and (this is important) with the people that make you happy.

2. Revisit Your Creative Side

Write for yourself. If you like creative writing, do that. If you enjoy poetry, create a new form. Enter a contest and write up your submission. Even if you don’t win, the fun is in the creation.

There are numerous website writing groups that you can join that have contests. There are also writing groups that love to read new fiction or collaborate on projects. The point is to write something for yourself that changes your perspective and is not work-related.

3. Retrace the Steps that Led you to Freelancing

Take stock of your decision to become a freelance writer. From experience, I can tell you that our reasons for doing what we do are very compelling. In my case, it was this or work for a living and I would rather do this. Remember all the reasons you do what you do. Write and you will find that motivating force that drove you here in the first place.

Once you remember why you love your job so much, it’s easier to keep your passion, even under the worst of client projects. When I see my stepson dragging his tired ass home from his roofing job, I count my blessings and get back to work.

The post 4 Signs You Are Losing Your Writing Passion (& How To Get It Back) appeared first on Hongkiat.

He got chastised by at least a dozen of these writers armed to the teeth with college degrees. How dare he think that he was even smart enough to go to college, much less learn the ‘incredibly complex’ and ‘difficult’ world of freelance writing. One hour in, and they weren’t letting go, so I had to jump in.

Enough is enough

I told this guy the truth in the open forum for the entire world to see that:

• Yes, you can learn to write without going to college
• Yes, you can learn to freelance without a business degree
• You can earn a very good living in freelance writing without the benefit of a college degree
• You can work from home as a freelance writer, buck-assed naked if you so desire
• You can learn to be a freelance writer without spending a single dime on incredibly expensive college courses

I also sent the young man my regular email and website URL and told him I would teach him the basics of freelancing, and help him find a school to hone his writing skills.

In return, I got ejected from the group. The reason? They thought I was a hypocrite since I went to college to learn how to write, and I would just be wasting the poor guy’s time.

Actually…

You can imagine their shock when I told them that yes, I went to college just as I had listed on my social website profile, but not for journalism, as they had assumed. I majored in Medical Administration. I also showed them proof that I was being paid to write before I started college at age 21. I taught myself to write. And that was the last straw.

Not only did his group kick me out, a few other writing groups I was in (I think it was four of them) kicked me out too. I started my own writing group but no one signed up.

You can do anything

But the point of this sad story is that if you want to be a freelance content writer, you can be. All it really takes is dedication and a heartfelt commitment to the craft. By the way, the young man (Ben) has been following my lead for more than 6 months and it is already paying off.

He has two clients, is still learning to write, and I throw him work when I bite off more than I can chew. I’m glad to report that he is a very good writer now and is very well liked by the people for whom he works.

Resources for learning How to Write

If you Google “Learn Freelance Writing,” you will get hundreds of thousands of results. There are a lot of people who know how it is done and are willing to help. Learning to write… now that is a horse of a different color. Part of freelance writing or writing in general, is in knowing how to perform deep research. Just because you may not have plans to go to college, it doesn’t mean you can’t benefit from their free online courses (expect to do a lot of reading):

The Open University

With well over 600 topics to choose from in free online courses, this site has numerous writing courses open to the public. Search for gems such as Writing What You Know, or the ever-popular What Is Good Writing to get started.

Yale University

Literature and poetry are not only fun; they are essential if you want diversity in writing. The site offers free courses in both subjects.

MIT

Believe it or not, MIT offers courses in both humanistic and writing. Yes, it is free. You will not believe what you find at the end of this rainbow (I almost passed out from sheer joy). Christmas in August. Writing in Cyberspace is especially enlightening!

University of Massachusetts Boston

You do not want to miss the free courses on Critical Reading and Writing, and Critical and Creative Thinking.

The Purdue OWL

This list would not be complete without the Purdue Onling Writing Lab (OWL), one of the best resources for any higher education need, without the higher education price. The Writing Process is far more than it appears to be, and their resource list is amazing.

To be a writer

Never let anyone tell you what you can or cannot do. Those yahoos on that website are miserable now and will still be miserable tomorrow. Meanwhile, Ben will soon be making more money than they do simply because he believed in himself and conquered his fear of failure (which was the only thing holding him back from his dream).

If you want to be a writer, nothing can stop you. In fact, you can find a lot of help from Google and a lot of these fine online courses for free. Don’t stop learning. There is nothing that you cannot do if you put your mind to it.

More

Here are more articles on learning something new, you might like:

• Top 10 Websites To Learn Coding (Interactively) Online
• Learning Programming: 10 Misconceptions That Are Not True
• Ultimate Guide To Setting Up Your First Online Shop
• Develop Your Windows 8 App – Resources, Tools And Tips

The post Tips and Resources to Becoming A Better Writer appeared first on Hongkiat.

Creative license and style dictate that we write in a sometimes less-than-perfect but completely understandable format to reach the targeted audience, an audience that may not have a perfect grasp on the English language (but frankly, who does?).

It is the abuse of this privilege that cannot go unnoticed or unrealized. It is the reason editors often have their hands full. Let’s take a look at tthe top 3 mistakes committed in writing, and how you can avoid making them.

Recommended Reading: Popular (But Bad) Writing Advice You Should Ignore

Freedom in writing comes with a cost

As professional content writers, it is our job to recognize our audience and adjust our writing accordingly to gain their confidence and trust… and not make a complete mess of our submissions.

There are various reasons on why these mistakes occur: the writer may be writing in the same way that he or she thinks (which is almost always a mistake). It could also be that they are tired, distracted, or plainly in the wrong profession. Sometimes, it’s because the writer is trying to purposely stretch the word count.

These leads to three of the worst offenses many writers make against a language that already has enough problems of its own:

1. Using too many words,
2. Being unclear with dangling or squinting modifiers, and
3. Redundancy (repeating what has been said).

Having problems writing?

The human brain is naturally wired to think in words. With the exception of a small (but, according to studies, growing) percentage of the population, people see or hear the words they speak and write milliseconds before they speak or write them. In autism, this ability is often magnified and focused on a specific, such as numbers.

The problem with this is most of us think in less-than-accurate English or whatever language your speak. We think the way we heard others speak, when the language part of our brain was still in the developmental stage. The professional freelance writer keeps this in check by altering the way he or she thinks during the writing, and then again during the editing process.

Read Also: The Myth-Busting Truth About Self-Editing In Freelance Writing

Tired brain, distracted brain

It is pretty common knowledge that when we are tired, we care far less about whatever we are doing… including writing. A tired brain cannot completely focus on the task at hand and mistakes slip through the weary cracks in our thought process. It’s also impossible to write under certain distracting circumstances although we often have no choice.

I once wrote out of an apartment next to a busy elevated train platform, which led to constantly having to rewrite, as my brain tried to block out the commotion and vibrating furnishings. When you are tired or distracted, it is more difficult to change the way you think or find the errors in your writing.

Read Also: Freelancers: 5 Signs When You Should Take A Break

A thief in the night

There are writers who purposely make these common mistakes in order to extend the word count of the article or post. These unscrupulous wordsmiths either cannot see that it is the same as stealing, or simply do not care. As long as they can get away with it, they take advantage of clients who don’t know any better. They may as well just pickpocket the client or take their money at gunpoint.

Read Also: Freelancers: How To Work Better With Your Clients

How to fix them

But you are not like them. You want to be a good writer, which means you want to know how to avoid making thse mistakes. Here’s what you can do.

Read Also: Useful Tips And Guidelines To Freelance Writing

First of all, if you write sentences that are too long and have unnecessary words, try writing out the full paragraph as you would normally write it, making sure to get your point across completely. Now go back and rewrite it in as few words as possible while still making a clear point.

Once you have done this for a few weeks, it will come naturally and you will no longer need the rewrites.

Stop dangling modifiers

Dangling and squinting modifiers are the perfect example of us writing the way we think. We’re not hardwired to think like a dictionary. While we’re born with natural speech and language software built into our brain, we think the way we were brought up to think.

Although we may speak without trouble using this software, forming sentences is a whole other ballgame.

Let’s have a look from the two examples below:

The Dangler

“Long nose protruding like a spear, Bronx wondered how his editor could drink from the glass.” – The writer knows what is meant by this sentence because he came up with the idea. The reader, on the other hand, wonders if Bronx’s elongated nose will require surgery to fix. Unless they surmise what the writer meant to say, they’ll also wonder why the editor would have trouble drinking from a glass.

“With the editor’s nose protruding like a spear, Bronx wondered how she could drink from the glass.” – Still as long, but clearer. At least, now we know the problem is with the editor’s nose.

“Bronx wondered if the editor’s long nose prevented drinking from a glass.” – At 5 words shorter than the original sentence, this is just as clear.

The Squinter

“The teacher said after the bell rang that Mark could stay and finish the exam.” – Hold up, hold up. When did the teacher tell Mark he could finish the test? Did she wait until Mark was halfway out the door, or did she tell him before the bell rang that he must stay and finished the exam if it was not done yet?

“The teacher told Mark to finish the exam after the bell rang.” – Is Mark not allowed to finish the test before the bell rings?

“The bell rang, but the teacher told Mark he could stay and finish the exam.” – Why didn’t you just say so in the first place?

Stop being redundant in writing

If it can be said only once, just say it once. There is no need to use two sentences to say the same thing. All of us do this ocassionally – most of the time, it’s easy to catch and correct. Below are some examples:

• That way is the right direction. That is the right direction.
• That insect is a weird looking bug. That is a weird-looking bug.

Conclusion

Many writers make these mistakes on purpose to extend the word count of an article or post for which they are being paid. This is just poor practice by design. While an editor can catch most of these, they really shouldn’t have to. It is far easier for the writer themselves to eliminate these mistakes from their writing altogether. It is a simple matter of taking one’s time and thinking the words out before writing them down.

The post 3 Common Writing Mistakes And How to Avoid Them appeared first on Hongkiat.

I had made friends with a guy at a writing seminar, and for a few days a week, with my crumpled leather notebook in tow, I hung out and talked with him over coffee at Cuppachino’s coffee shop near the Boston College campus. A nice guy, he shared about the books he had written and was writing at the moment. This went on until one day when he decided to introduce himself (and I) as writers to another patron at the same coffee shop.

The man immediately called my friend out. “I am a writer,” he said, and then pointing at me, he added, “He is obviously a writer, but you, my friend, are no writer and it is annoying that you would pass yourself off as one.” As my friend began stammering and stuttering as if mortally wounded, the man apologized sincerely and left. Needless to say, we stopped meeting after that incident.

Recommended Reading: Bloggers: 23 Ways To Counter Writer’s Block

Cause For Confrontation

To be fair, there was more to the conversation, and well, the man simply called it as he saw it. In retrospect, I couldn’t put my finger on what had bothered me about this ‘Writing’ friend until this incident. He was no writer (however, he was a pretty darn good liar). And this other fellow had caught every observable trait.

“First of all, you do not have the language skills for it, " he had said. "I have seen you in here at least 10 times and not once have you carried a notebook or even written anything on a napkin. I have never once seen you yawn, much less look tired while we both have terrible bags under our eyes."

"You also talk too much and I am sorry to say that you just do not have the kind of passion that it takes to be a writer and believe me, if you did… it would show.”

Read Also: Freelancers: 5 Ways To Lose Your Clients

The Content and Inspiration Paradox

Now a content writer is often asked to write the same material over and over, either on purpose or incidentally from client to client. This is where, many writers would attest, the writing passion is really tested.

Essentially there are only two differences between us and a sculptor or a dancer or pianist. First, we create art with words (it’s harder than it looks), and secondly, we rarely have fans to cheer us on. As artists and content writers, we have to find ways to inspire ourselves (occasionally the editor or a random reader will drop in a nice note), and we keep pushing ourselves, until one day, we just can’t.

If you write for a living, one day, you may feel compelled to throw up our hands in exasperation and proclaim to the world, "I just can’t do it anymore". That’s when you have to remind yourself one very important thing.

Writers Help People

Regardless of the topic, as content writers and bloggers, our words eventually reach out and help someone. Our reviews help others make good decisions about purchasing a product, a service, a trip to a foreign land etc. We show people how to write blogs and articles, what typography to use, how to build and optimize websites and sometimes inspire them to create something new.

Read Also: 3 Skills You Need To Succeed In Freelance Writing

When I finally realized that my words were getting through to people, helping them, even if only inspiring them, it made all the difference in the world.

Just knowing that someone’s life will be a little easier or that I made someone smile ignites my original writing passion again. In the end, it is why we are here, alive, and part of society. We write and that’s how we contribute to our fellow man (and woman).

So When You Run Out Of Ideas…

When I begin to falter in faith or inspiration, there are three things I would do to regain my composure. They may work for you, or they may not; it takes a bit of trial and error to find out.

It’s Not About You

When I falter, I stop. I no longer allow myself to worry about poor me because in the end… it is not about me. I shift the focus of my writing towards those for whom I am writing, the reader. I make it about others, and about what I can do to help them. Believe me, our inspiration returns when it is no longer about us.

Write From The Heart

Rather than worry about why you are running out of ideas, begin writing from the heart because that is what you should be doing anyway (rather than worrying about yourself). Create something honest, and original and you might end up with something new, and if you are lucky, something beautiful.

Teach

Everyone has the knowledge to share. When I feel less than inspired, I remind myself to act like a teacher, one who passes knowledge from one mind to another. Like the old adage: Give a man a fish and feed him for a day, teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime. It is hard not to be inspired with that kind of responsibility and the joy of knowing that someone will benefit from what we write, possibly for a lifetime.

For more ideas: 20 Things To Replenish Your Idea Vault (When You Run Out Of Ideas)

The post How To Escape From Writer’s Block appeared first on Hongkiat.

• Propriety Information Agreement
• Secrecy Agreement
• Confidential Disclosure Agreement
• Confidentiality Agreement

They all serve as an agreement between the freelancer — writer, designer, developer, copywriter etc — and the client they intend to work for in order to protect information the client deems confidential. If you are unfamiliar with NDA, this post will be helpful in helping you make good decisions before you sign one.

The short of it is always read the NDA carefully and thoroughly, and make sure you understand every aspect. As they say in boxing, protect yourself at all times.

Recommended Reading: 8 Contract Clauses You Should Never Freelance Without

The Need For NDAs

There are numerous reasons a client may want you to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement. It is meant to protect information about the client and about how they conduct business. This could be a concept, an idea, content or information, an invention, or even a process by which the client operates their business.

An example of this is an e-commerce website that has found a formula for success that puts them ahead of their competition. The thing to remember is that most of them are legitimate contracts protecting legitimate confidential information that could be damaging or costly to the client.

Drawing from past experience, I once wrote an eBook for a client under the protection of an NDA. It was for an invention (we will call it a widget since the NDA did not specify a "release of" date). One week before the e-book’s scheduled release, another contractor leaked the news and delayed the project.

Someone else picked up the idea and beat the company to the market.

The Scary Side of NDA

Once you have signed a non-disclosure agreement, you are bound by that legal agreement not to disclose any information covered in the document. You cannot speak about it to anyone, including your family, friends, and especially on social media. Trade secrets and the satisfaction of patent laws are the most common forms of confidential information.

If you betray any part of the NDA, even accidentally, you could very well find yourself facing charges in a court of law. At this point, an expensive lawyer is a necessity.

Heavy fines and even time behind bars is a very real possibility for betraying trade secrets. That is why it is so very important to know what it is you are agreeing to before you sign.

NDA includes those that Work for You

If you use subcontractors for any part of the work you perform for your client, and those contractors have access to the information in the NDA, you must inform the client of this so that they can include these subcontractors in the agreement.

An example of this would be the content writer that uses another company to edit, add SEO, or keyword research. If the services involve touching information protected under the NDA, they have to be made aware of the NDA and to treat the data accordingly.

What To Look For in an NDA

In my 33 years, I have worked for many companies both off and online that required an NDA. I have also walked away from many. If the agreement does not meet certain criteria, I refer the client somewhere else or simply decline. Here is what I look for when presented with an NDA.

#1

An NDA that makes no provisions on my behalf is one that I decline. For example, one where the content writer is not liable for damages caused by the client producing dangerous or faulty claims of products.

#2

An agreement that stipulates I must deny working on a project is not one with which I want to associate. I have seen a few that stated I would have to deny any affiliation, which makes no sense to me.

#3

I do not work for clients who refuse to allow me to use them in my resume without speaking about the project. In one NDA, I was not allowed to use the websites name in any self promotion, including my resume. The content, which had no provisional rights clause and remained under my ownership but was sealed by an NDA, won awards including money that took a lawyer to recover (one-third of which went to the lawyer).

#4

I have declined work on an NDA that stated I had to deny the existence of the NDA. In one case, my lawyer was needed during a lawsuit against the client who tried to deny responsibility based on the foolish belief that a court of law could not over-ride the NDA. You cannot deny the existence of it in court. Foolish client vs smart, lawyered up freelancer; guess who won.

#5

I avidly avoid NDAs that are not negotiable in any aspect of the contract. As a freelancer, you have the right to negotiate an NDA as long as you are not trying to change the information you are being asked to protect. Other points of the contract are negotiable, including the timeframe it can be enforced.

Set Your Personal Limits

The first few times I was presented with a Non Disclosure Agreement, I consulted a lawyer friend who reviewed and explained them to me. Once I finally set down what I would consider, namely the stipulations above, I stopped stressing over them. Once you have seen a few, you should be better able to tell which you are most comfortable with.

One last thing, I have found that very often, the clients who use an NDA pay better than those who do not.

The post Deciphering The Code of NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreements) appeared first on Hongkiat.

You will need 2 things:

1. iPad with Xcode installed, and
2. Mac updated to run macOS Sierra build version 10.12.1.16B2657

Once you have both devices ready, head over to the Touch Bar Demo App’s Github page and download the application to your Mac. When the download is complete, extract the downloaded ZIP file and place it into your Applications folder.

As the iPad does not support the Touch Bar natively, you’re going to have to rely on Xcode to install the application.

Your next move is to install the Touch Bar onto your iPad. Open the TouchBar.xcodeproj folder on your Mac, connect your iOS device to your Mac, and select the TouchBarClient target and the iPad.

If done correctly, your iPad will now have a Touch Bar application. Launching it will bring you to a mostly blank screen with the Touch Bar located at the bottom of the screen.

You can now use the Touch Bar on your iPad and see the changes on your Mac (check it out in this video right here).

The post Want to try out macOS Touch Bar from an iPad? Here’s how. appeared first on Hongkiat.

With some major Google Panda updates, some of you may find it even more difficult to nail the right methods. There is nothing more powerful than or as riveting as an article or blog post with the perfect format and SEO formulas. Let’s explore the 6 steps for the right SEO formula.

Recommended Reading: 20 Free SEO Tools Every Blogger Should Know

Step 1: The Perfect Articles Or Posts Keyword

If you have been writing since the 1990s, you will still remember what it was like to write content around keyword density. It can be a hard habit to break. The Panda algorithm took keyword stuffing out of the equation a couple of years ago and I still catch myself worrying over how to stuff keywords and have to stop and remind myself not to do so.

Too many keywords can kill an article quicker than a bullet. Step One is easy. Stop worrying about keyword density and write original, free-flowing content.

Step 2: The Title

Keyword optimization still exists. The Panda is a wise old bear indeed. He knew that doing away with keyword density would alleviate the unoriginal content problem.

Read Also: Bloggers: 10 SEO Mistakes You Should Avoid

He also knew that keywords are the easiest way for a search engine to connect traffic to the websites they seek. Place your researched keyword in the title as close to the beginning as possible to help the search engines find your website or blog.

Step 3: Images Are Worth Much More Than A Thousand Words

The images tags are how a server reads and understands what a website’s images are all about. Servers do not see the images. All they can do is read the descriptions that are placed in the tags.

The wise placement of a keyword in your image alt tag is another way the search engines can find your content and bring you the traffic your perfect articles or blog posts deserve.

Step 4: Optimize H1

Your Header 1 is an excellent place to put a keyword simply because it is the one subtitle on the page that you know Google’s spider will crawl. It is also possible that it will crawl and index your H2 and H3 subtitles but it will definitely crawl your H1, so do not miss the opportunity to get your perfect articles or blog posts noticed.

Placing keywords in these areas takes a little planning. Think it through beforehand for the perfect content, header, and keyword optimization.

Step 5: The Ice Cream Sprinkles Dilemma

We learned quickly when we were children about the ice cream sprinkle effect on our cones and sundaes. Too many sprinkles are pretty, but they detract from the taste of the ice cream flavor. If we put too few sprinkles on our ice cream, we barely notice them at all and it defeats the purpose. We became sprinkle experts in a hurry. Thus it is… with keywords.

Too few keywords may as well be none and too many will cause Google to pass you by, which defeats the purpose. You have to get a feel for the perfect amount of keywords without worrying about saturation. That is like telling someone that the ship is sinking but not to worry about it because there are not enough lifeboats anyway. How can you not worry about something for which there is no clear answer?

Place a keyword in your title, a keyword in your H1 subtitle, a keyword in your perfect article’s or blog post’s first and last sentence, and of course, your images alt text. Once you have these 5 keywords in place, one in each paragraph or in every other paragraph are more than enough and not too many. As long as your five bases are covered, write naturally.

Step 6: Content Is King

We have learned about formatting and optimizing the perfect articles. The question is… are they really perfect? The answer lies in your content.

Read Also: How To Run Blogs That I.N.S.P.I.R.E

Once you have formatted and optimized your work, go back, read everything very slowly, and then ask yourself these 5 questions.

1. Is it interesting?
2. Is it informative?
3. Does it answer all the questions that it raises?
4. Does it have anything of value for the reader?
5. Is it original?

If you can honestly say yes to all of the 5 questions above then congratulations are in order. You may have just recreated the SEO formula for the blog posts every single time.

Practice Makes Perfect

You may not be Stephen King, but you will be your client’s favorite content writer and well on your way to securing a reputation as a dynamite article and blog writer. So what are you waiting for? The perfect articles or blog posts takes practice.

The post Bloggers: 6 Steps For The Perfect SEO Formula appeared first on Hongkiat.

Moreover, social media has sparked a huge trend in today’s world. An unbelievable number of people have joined these platforms. They’re doing this to be part of the trend, voice their opinions, and make their mark on the world.

Advertising’s Growing Influence on Social Media

As of October 2012, Facebook had amassed over 1 billion active users. Despite this massive audience, businesses initially found it challenging to effectively use Facebook (and other social media platforms) for advertising.

At first, it was a great puzzle, even though Facebook offered some guidance in the form of company pages. However, this issue has been largely resolved in recent times. So, the question arises, is social media losing its appeal due to the influx of ads? A good number of users are worried, fearing an advertising overload like what happened with Myspace years ago.

It’s possible that advertisers might become more prominent, employing increasingly sophisticated advertising strategies. Businesses, corporations, and non-profit organizations that previously targeted a broad audience may begin to focus on specific groups. Additionally, there’s a noticeable lack of innovation with new social media platforms often mimicking strategies from established sites like Facebook.

Social Media Advertising Strategies

Advertising on social media is an excellent way to reach a broad audience without spending a fortune. Advertisers can utilize free marketing tools on social media platforms, saving them significant amounts of money each year. Imagine sharing a fun infographic tied to a popular topic on social media. The best part is that you can just relax and watch as users spread it, creating a ripple effect of exposure.

Twitter and Facebook

Advertisers can go beyond just posting content, they can fully engage with audiences on platforms like Facebook and Twitter. Twitter allows advertisers to join in on trending discussions, making it an open platform for them to reach a wide range of users. In essence, social media can be a dream come true for advertisers, achieving widespread reach with less effort and budget compared to other media.

Social Media Groups

Advertisers can take advantage of the specialized audiences found in social media groups. For instance, a group devoted to animal lovers may attract pet-related businesses. Advertisers use the money saved from using social media to pay for targeted ads in these groups.

Moreover, some advertisers strategically place individuals within these groups to blend in and subtly guide conversations towards their products. These individuals post about the products discreetly while also sharing regular, appealing content. This kind of subtle marketing strategy is often unnoticed but quite effective.

Mixing Popular News with Unrelated Ads

There’s also a trend of videos discussing a popular topic but ending with unrelated advertisements. This can be commonly seen in groups that focus on specific interests like survivalism or prepping. Viewers often click on the video for the content, without realizing it’s actually an ad.

Group loyalty sometimes discourages complaints about these tactics. Smart advertisers leverage this to their advantage. For instance, an eCommerce blogger might post a link to a topic page that is relevant but filled with numerous ad links and product offerings. This integration of news and ads is another clever strategy used in social media advertising.

New Heroes Wanted in the Social Media Landscape

Over the past decade, we’ve seen an explosion of new social media platforms, turning the internet into a playground full of exciting opportunities. However, most of these new platforms are mere copies of the existing ones, with only a handful like Pinterest providing a fresh perspective.

Thanks to WordPress’s recent addition of forum-building software, nearly anyone can create their own personal social space for themselves and their friends. It’s a fantastic tool if you’re part of a community, and many businesses are even offering this service to their dedicated customers.

Wrapping Up

So, is the sparkle of social media fading? It’s not quite there yet. But there’s a real risk if the platforms don’t keep innovating and making things interesting for the users. This becomes particularly significant if advertisers start to dominate these spaces even more than they currently do.

The post Are Advertisers Causing Social Media To Lose Its Luster? appeared first on Hongkiat.

It may not be a writer’s block. What may be happening is a lot like erectile dysfunction. The problem is not in your head, but a symptom of some other sickness such as stress. In most cases, It’s not that you can’t make an idea or two work for your project. The problem is something else that exhibits as writer’s block or a limp brain. Any number of chemical imbalances can cause a limp brain.

The question is, how do you overcome it to get some ideas laid and get paid? Here are 6 of my tricks of the trade to help you out.

Clear your Mind

I always thought clearing my mind meant meditating and focusing on nothing, like a monk trying to find inner harmony. The truth is if you want to clear your mind of all the trash, go in the opposite direction. Exercise is the fastest way to get there.

If you don’t smoke, run. Run until the burn has come and gone, and there’s little left of your reserves except what your will power can scrape off the bottom of your soul’s shoes.

If you don’t run, grab a stationary bike and pedal as hard as you can instead. As you come upon your third wind, there will be a moment of clarity that you’ll remember for the rest of your life. (Do run this plan by your physician first before diving right in.)

As soon as you’ve experienced this life-altering state, hitch-hike back to your computer. You are ready, grasshopper.

Finding what is not there

If exercise is not your thing and you prefer sitting in your reclining chair, don’t sweat it. There are other ways to generate an original idea. For instance, check out a popular, mainstream news website and perform a search for the topic you’re supposed to write. Take notes and draw a line connecting the posts that are related, noting why.

Next, look into social media and see what topics are trending and what’s being said. Compare this to the news website results. Now for the most essential part of this exercise… ignore it.

Throw all that work away. Look at the overall popularity of topics and comments and figure out what’s not been said. There’s something in the last 24 hours that’s been neglected, and it is your job to the point that out. The ideas are out there waiting for you!

Free Writing Exercise

My favorite idea-generating exercise is free writing. Take the topic you are struggling with and write it in bold letters across the top of five blank pieces of paper. Underline it and close your eyes for a moment, thinking about nothing but the topic.

Now forget it and just start writing. Start with random words in no particular order. In about a minute, you will begin to write sentences. They may be unrelated, but they are sentences, and that indicates progress.

Keep writing, regardless of what is happening around you. Within a few minutes, your subconscious mind will start giving you words related to the topic. When you get to page five, stop and read the last two pages. You’ll be amazed at what you find.

In essence, you are allowing your subconscious mind to take control of your hand and feed you the ideas buried under the surface. That chemical imbalance can’t stop your mind from coming up with ideas. It only prevents you from recognizing them through the clutter.

Where is Your Inspiration?

If you need to be inspired, turn to the person you’re in love with. If you’re not in a relationship right now, that’s okay. The fact is all of us have something that inspires us to be better than we think we are. Believe it or not, around these sources of inspiration — be they people, places or things — we’re at our best.

For me, an inspirational book or movie can bring out a man in me that wants to succeed. Do you know that point in a film where the good guy has taken a severe beating for an hour and fifteen minutes and then catches in his hand, the fist that is flying in for the kill shot? “My turn,” our hero says, and we’re ready to jump out of our seats and roar, “YEAH! Now somebody’s going to PAY!”

By the time the end credits roll, I’m passionately ready to write — or rumble. The movie “Remember the Titans” is pretty uplifting for me.

Being Insanely Inane

Being ridiculous in content writing is not a wise thing to do except in the inspiration creation phase. If you can’t find an original idea in your brain, get ridiculous. Write the wildest and most inane prose that comes into your head that relates to the topic.

This form of freewriting will surprise you. Once you have enough material, go through it and see just how much of that nonsense applies, if written in a different voice. Some of my best stuff came from being ridiculous and then editing the crazy out and turning it into something that makes sense.

Keeping Those Eyes Closed

Ironically enough, it was my wife who pointed out my greatest weakness when it comes to being blocked. She had recognized the trend years before but figured I would catch on myself.

“When was the last time you had more than a couple of hours of uninterrupted sleep?” she asked. Then it dawned on me. I had been writing for 14 hours, and this was my MO(Modus Operandi).

“You work all night and all the next morning, only taking a break here and there, and then wonder why your brain is shutting down? You do this at least once a week and have been for years. You are 53 years old, for goodness sake. You need to sleep, and not that half-sleep, jump up in two-hours, energy drink induced semi-coma that you put yourself into, either. Get yourself some real sleep.”

Cramming 48 hours’ worth of work into a 24-hour writing marathon will lead to some road closed signs along the way. If you’ve already gone through menopause or “manopause,” you’re particularly susceptible to some-timers disease, where you forget to think sometimes. Sleep for a solid eight hours and call me in the morning.

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Many websites incorporate their own search engines. Some are simple, but many, like LinkedIn’s learning search engine, are pretty sophisticated. Of the numerous search engines (including locals), Google is perhaps the most sophisticated.

The successful freelance writer knows how to use search engines to find pertinent and true information about the topics they choose or are hired to cover. Google’s advanced search is one of the most comprehensive and thorough search engine devices on the planet. Knowing how to utilize the advanced Google search is a major plus for the content writer or anyone looking for specific information.

A Social Disease

You do not have to be sick in the head to know that social media holds the key to today’s most talked-about topics. Social networks may not be the place to find perfect information on anything… but they are the best place to find out what is being said about any topic on the planet.

Knowing what social media, or the trillions of people that use them, think about any topic always makes for great material for the content writer. Even better, however, is in knowing what people are not saying. That is why the good researcher knows what to look for, and recognize what is not there.

New News Vs. Old News

The most interesting articles, posts, and copy are those that go the extra mile when it comes to any given topic. New content writers know enough to look up the latest information about their subject and write about it, but it is usually the practiced writer that looks up older posts and outdated news along with it.

This allows the writer to pose more interesting material, show contrasting ideas and growth, and use quotes both old and new to indicate a change in subject and popular opinion shifts.

As an example, the Empire State Building was completed in 1931 and was at that time the tallest building on the planet. While this is interesting, it is even more compelling to learn that the Chrysler Building, completed a year earlier, was the tallest building (for one year), and it was not believed a building could go any higher. The pyramid shape of the Empire State Building, the first to use it, is how this was accomplished.

Without looking at older posts on the matter, a researcher would not find this in articles about the Empire State Building. It shows not only a shift in beliefs less than a year apart but also how it was accomplished.

Quibbling in Quotes

You may fool all the people sometimes; you can even fool some of the people all the time, but you can’t fool everyone all the time. [Sic] This quote, attributed to Abraham Lincoln. Or P.T. Barnum, depending upon where you find the information, also applies to freelance content writing.

It is the perfect example of solid research and why it is so important to do so with every post you write. Among others, you provide these three services.

1. Find a direct quote, not someone’s paraphrasing of it. This is what the [sic] indicates.

2. Show the varying beliefs of to whom it is attributed. Many feel P.T. Barnum said it about his world-famous sideshows when someone said they were faked. His “freaks of nature” were real people. The original quote, however, is not found in copies of Abraham Lincoln’s Prohibitionist’s speech; rather, witnesses were found (the early 1900s of a speech in the 1880s) that heard the president say it during the speech.

3. Gives the reader food for thought.

The “Times Three” Rule of Research

Another glaring example of why in-depth research is so vital to content writing is that people can verify, and many will verify what you say in an article or post. For this reason, many seasoned writers use the “Times Three” rule of research.

Simply put, find three trusted sources that verify the same content as fact, fiction, or fancy. If you still have the information wrong, you have those sources to point to as your well. Most people will not dig that deep to prove you wrong, especially when you present a link to your strongest source.

Never use Wikipedia as a source of verified information.

The Secret to Wikipedia use for Content Writing

Wikipedia is a true American source as it is “of the people, by the people, and for the people.” This means that anyone can write a Wikipedia article. The information is not that deeply researched in many of them, and the standards for writing one (or rewriting) is not hard to reach.

There is a secret, however, that many writers know to be very useful. At the bottom of most Wiki articles are links to resources that are extremely useful as a starting point in research.

The Bottom Line in Research

The old writing rule that applies to research is still viable. Always look for and present the who, what, where, when, why, and how, and you will always find interesting and informative things to say about any given topic.

When you combine this with old and new information comparison, true direct quotes, popular topics with content not yet touched on in social media, and provide your sources, you have a winning post or article that is well-researched and provides value for the reader.

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