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Freelance Writers Use Paragraph Headers in Your Blog Posts and Articles

January 17, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Freelance writers, sometimes writing long winded blog posts or articles can lose its vitality if you don’t use paragraph headers. Too many rambling paragraphs can be boring, not to mention the strain it puts on the eyes. Using thoughtful headers can add life to your blog posts and articles. And, it will hold a reader’s attention.

If you’re writing a ‘how to’ article or blog post use paragraph headers for each section because it can help move your writing along. For example, if you’re writing an article about ‘How to Lose Weight with Nintendo Wii,’ break up paragraphs with headers such as ‘Physical Benefits of Using Nintendo Wii’ or ‘Top 10 Fitness Games for Nintendo Wii’ and other headers. This way your writing will flow and it will keep the reader interested.

Benefits of adding paragraph headers

Freelance writers, sometimes it’s necessary to use headers if you’re writing a technical article. You don’t want the reader to get lost within the article. Help them move through the article by providing paragraph headers. The information won’t overwhelm, and they’ll be able to read the article with ease.

Another benefit of paragraph headers is that it will keep your writing on track. Sometimes a freelance writer will get lost in thought and ramble on (Led Zeppelin fans will like that one). Paragraph headers keep your writing on track; you won’t leave out important information.

How else can you break up paragraphs?

You can always incorporate a list if it’s important to the blog post or article. Some writers don’t like to incorporate a list within a blog post or article but a reader may find it useful. A reader can ‘zero-in’ on pertinent information — the reader gets in and gets out.

Freelance writers, using paragraph headers can add life to your blog posts and articles. It’s a great way to vary your writing style, and your reader won’t get bored with your writing. If you’re unsure about using paragraph headers, try it out. You can always go back to your old writing style.

Rebecca

How do you break up your paragraphs? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Tips and Tricks, Travel Writing Tagged With: , , ,

Pesky Homophones Can Wreak Havoc on Your Writing

January 7, 2011 by 1 Comment

Even the best freelance writers make spelling mistakes, especially when it comes to words that sound the same but are spelled differently. Yes, homophones can drive you crazy if you let them. You can spend hours proofreading your work but still glance over a spelling error. It happens, don’t sweat it. Find your mistake, correct it, and move onto to another writing project. Make sure you keep a look out for other misspelled words!

Relying on your Word program’s spelling and grammar to catch all of your spelling mistakes isn’t wise. It won’t catch words that sound the same but are spelled differently. You must proofread your work with a ‘fine tooth comb’ to catch those errors.

Words that sound the same but aren’t spelled the same

Ad and add
Allowed and aloud
Arc and ark
Are, our, and hour
Ate and eight
Bail and bale
Be and bee
Bear and bare
Board and bored
Buy and by
Cede and seed
Cereal and serial
Chews and choose
Cite and sight
Click and clique
For, fore, and four
Hail and hale
Heard, herd, and hurd
Its and it’s
Meet and meat
Tail and tale
Their and there (common mistake)
There and their
Weather, wether, and whether
Whine and wine
Write and right
You’re and your (common mistake)

This is just a ‘snapshot’ of words that sound the same but are spelled differently. The only way to ensure you’re using the proper words is to read and re-read your work before you send it off to the editor or post it on your website. Good luck!

Rebecca

How often do you use the wrong spelling of a word when you write? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Tips and Tricks, Travel Writing Tagged With: , , , , ,

Writers Must Have a Marketing Platform for Their Books

December 22, 2010 by 3 Comments

I’m querying literary agents and have found the process to be quite interesting. No two literary agent submission guidelines are alike! It will behoove you to know what your marketing platform is because some literary agencies will ask you to explain your platform in your query letter. For example, one agency I queried is Books & Such Literary Agency. They require you to explain how you’ll market your book. I outlined my marketing platform in my query letter and made it clear that I’m committed to my project. It took me over one year to complete the first draft of my book; I mean business.

Tips to building a marketing platform

  • Get social. Social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, and other sites are good places to start. You can ‘tweet’ blog posts or articles that relate to your book along with helpful tips and tricks. Keep it short and sweet.
  • Conduct a teleseminar or webinar on your topic. Hold a 60 to 90 minute teleseminar or webinar. Please make sure you add value to peoples’ lives and don’t waste their time. Give them good information that will help now and will entice them buy your book.
  • Get on a radio show. The best time to be on the ‘local drive time’ is between 7 am and 9 am; people usually have the radio on while they drive to work. This is a prime opportunity to capture the attention of listeners. Tip: When you submit your press kit to radio stations, make sure your folder is a bold color like red, blue, orange, purple, fuchsia, or bright yellow. This way it will stand out from the crowd.
  • Book signings. Contact your local bookstore (if you self-published your nook) and hold a book signing. The more chances people get to know you the better.
  • Conduct a live seminar or workshop. Contact your local chamber of commerce to see if they can help you with this. This is your chance to get to know your community members. They’ll get to know you and what you’re promoting.
  • Use BlogTalk Radio. Create your own weekly radio show and use your book as your platform. For example, the book I wrote is ‘Teens break the cycle of family alcoholism.’ This is a working title. I’ll use my BlogTalk Radio show to get my message out that the cycle of family alcoholism can be broken. I’ll tell ‘my story’ but will have guests on my show that will assist listeners with their struggle to break the cycle and to understand it. Listeners can in to the show and share their stories. The point of the show will be to help parents and teens break the cycle of family alcoholism and know that they’re not alone.

Writers, start thinking about your marketing platform because a literary agent may ask you for it. If you don’t know how to market your book, you could lose a deal. Sales and marketing is apart of the publishing industry. Most writers don’t think about this because they assume someone else will take care of it. Even if your book is published with a traditional publisher, you’ll be required to contribute to your marketing platform. Start working on your platform now and you’ll be ahead of the game later. Good luck!

Rebecca

What is your marketing platform for your book? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Overcoming Obstacles, Publishing, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Freelance Writers Be Professional within LinkedIn Groups

December 18, 2010 by 2 Comments

Oh boy! Sometimes I question the level of professionalism of freelance writers. I also question how ‘in touch’ with reality some of them are. Perhaps it’s a generational difference but I’m discovering that some writers in writing groups on LinkedIn are bitter and pessimistic. These are people I prefer not to associate with in my lifetime. The point of a group discussion is to learn from one another not attack one another. You may not agree with your fellow freelance writers but you don’t have to rip their heads off!

Freelance writers, groups are meant to be a place where people can bounce ideas off of each other not attack one another. I wonder how freelance writers would treat one another if they had a group meeting every week — that is a face-to-face group meeting. Being online provides the ‘illusion’ of safety or anonymity but you’re still representing yourself and the type of person you are.

I’m professional when I answer a discussion question. I join groups to learn and network; attacking other freelance writers or editors isn’t on my agenda. Some of the responses make the hairs on the back of my neck stand up. Conduct yourself in a manner that doesn’t give others the impression that you’re difficult. Remember, people use LinkedIn groups as a way of networking. Most people don’t want to work with those who are difficult. You never know who you will ‘bump’ into at the next writer’s conference or workshop.

If you join writing groups on LinkedIn, Yahoo!, Google, and other online groups, be professional. In addition to being writers, freelance writers are business owners. You can be polite and courteous and still get your point across. There’s no reason to attack one another. Besides, one day you may come face-to-face with the people you treated poorly. What will you do? You won’t be able to hide behind your computer. Think about that before you give a scathing reply to discussion questions.

Rebecca

How professional do you think others are in writers groups? Share.

Filed Under: Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Networking, Social Media, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , , , ,

Freelancer Writers Don’t Chew Gum and Call Your Clients at the Same Time

December 17, 2010 by 2 Comments

My mom recently received a phone call from a woman who works for TV Guide and she was chewing gum while she tried to sell my mom something. She probably was a twenty-something without any business skills. This made me think about how many freelancer writers call their clients while the kids are screaming or running in and out of the home office. Perhaps you’re a multi-tasking freelance writer who believes doing five things at once is efficient. It’s not professional to call your clients while you’re doing something else or if you’re distracted. This is the fastest way to lose clients and present yourself in an unprofessional light.

Sometimes distractions happen when freelance writers work from home but do your best to make sure they don’t happen all of the time. If you’re a multi-tasker, you may want to rethink this. Sometimes multi-tasking can create more work for you. To avoid major mistakes, do one thing at a time.

Be professional when you contact clients. If you’re too distracted, finished what you’re doing and then pick up the phone or type an email. Don’t call clients with a mouth full of food. Finish your lunch or snack then contact your clients. It’s rude to chew food while you’re speaking to someone. Miss manners would even agree this is a no-no!

Freelance writers, working from home is fantastic as long as you’re focused and professional. You may write in your pajamas and fuzzy slippers but there’s no reason not to be professional. In fact, you may want to dress up or at least dress in business casual clothes to invoke a feeling of professionalism. Whatever you do, please don’t chew gum and call your clients at the same time.

Rebecca

Have you ever committed a communication faux pas? Share.

Filed Under: Clients, Freelance Writers, Freelance Writing, Overcoming Obstacles, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: , ,
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