Category: Writing

Is Proper Grammar Dead?

is-grammar-deadHave you heard the news? Nobody writes anymore! Grammar is going down the tubes! We might as well get rid of commas and apostrophes forever because nobody is going to know how to use them anyway.

Hi, my name is Rebecca, and I am a sensationalist. I would like to state for the record that I think people write more nowadays than they ever have in the past. We used to keep in touch via the phone, and now we keep in touch via email. You know what that means? We have to write!

In my line of work (writing), I tend to get a lot of questions on how important it is to have good grammar in this day and age of constant and instant communication.…

The Power of 30 Minutes

the-power-of-30-minutesSet a timer for 30 minutes, start typing, and don’t stop until the timer goes off.

I could stop writing this post now, and you’d know about 90% of what I’m about to say, but nonetheless, I’d love it if you’d stick with me for 250 more words.

I’ve been focusing a lot lately on how to write well. How to use words to make an impact. In fact, one of my titles was: How to Write Like an Expert.

What I haven’t done is acknowledge the fact that half the battle of putting words into the Internet is making the time to write them in the first place.…

How to Master the Writing Process in 5 Simple Steps

how-to-master-the-writing-process-in-5-simple-stepsThe writing process is an important tool to master.  Having a guide to follow makes writing feel less daunting and more manageable.

Do you have a press release or newsletter you’ve been meaning to write for weeks or perhaps months? Do you blame it on being lazy, but really, you just have no idea where to start (plus, maybe you’re a little bit lazy)?

So where to begin? I’m going to break this down into five steps.

Brainstorming

The first step doesn’t even require you to write! You’re welcome. This step is simply to identify the message you want to get across and the best way to accomplish that.…

The Secret to Writing Online Copy

The-Secret-to-Writing-Online-CopyThink about the last book you read. Unless you’re into picture books, it probably had long blocks of text. Now imagine those same blocks of text on the web. Did you just shudder?

Writing for the web is much different than print. I like to think of it as the difference between what you expect picking up a book vs. a magazine. There’s a reason there is only one New Yorker.

The secret to writing online copy that is commanding and effective is knowing the tricks:

– Split it up. Avoid large blocks of text. Break up your message with lists, bullets, headers, white space, pictures, videos, etc.…

7 Writing Tips to Connect with Your Prospects

7-writing-tips-for-connecting-with-prospectsThis post was originally going to be titled: Writing From Your Reader’s Perspective. But I decided that just didn’t encompass all I was trying to say.

The point is you are writing for potential customers. Whether it’s through a newsletter, blog post, website, or brochure, you are sending your message because you want to connect with your current and potential customers.

That means you need to draw your prospects in, keep them wanting more, and forge a bond. Here are 7 writing tips on how to create connections:

1. Write compelling headlines. The five or so words in your headline are the most important text of your message.…

Writing 101: How to Write Like an Expert

Writing-101-How-to-Write-Effectively Can I let you in on a little secret? In order to be involved in social media, you have to write.  A lot.

I just blew your mind, didn’t I? You had never really stopped to think about it.

You knew you had to be on Twitter (writing tweets), Facebook (writing posts), Blogging (writing blogs), E-mail blasts (writing newsletters), but you never took a step back to realize how much writing was involved.

If you are writing your own social media content, your writing needs to be easy for readers to understand and act on.

How do you make sure to deliver such a lofty goal?…