Overcoming burnout: recognizing and dealing with symptoms of burnout
Tips and strategies for writers from around the web for overcoming burnout When you’re excited about a new writing project, you’ll probably have so many great ideas that your fingers can’t type fast enough
Belief-proof your marketing copy with these ten tips
Belief-proof your marketing copy Our high school was putting on the musical, “No, No, Nanette.” While others vied for acting and singing parts, I knew exactly what I wanted: to be the pit orchestra’s only
Improve your writing structure by boosting the muddle in the middle
Improve your writing structure: fixing the muddle in the middle In 2006, I needed to start writing optimized blog posts for a client in the car sales industry. I wanted to write something better than
Use Google Analytics demographic data to market to your audience
Get targeted demographic data for free with Google Analytics Companies can spend thousands and thousands of dollars trying to get a good handle on their target markets and still not feel
Tips for creating content that Google rewards, without phone anxiety.
Creating content that Google rewards – without (too much) phone anxiety In 2014, Google is rewarding quality original copy – and the reality is that, like it or not, one of the best ways to
Extrovert vs. introvert: is being introverted a challenge for writers?
Any time writers get together, it seems that someone brings up the “problem” of being an introvert. After all, they say – quite accurately – writers also need to promote their work, unquestionably an uncomfortable
Managing your local listing in Google
Introduction to Google Local If you provide a service to your local community, then chances are this post is for you. For example, type moving company into Google. What we see in Cleveland will differ
Craft an appealing writing structure with captivating opening lines
Romance your reader with captivating opening lines Studies into speed dating, where people seeking a relationship meet multiple potential partners in a short amount of time, suggest that two people tend to “click” – or
Subject matter experts: tips on finding & choosing expert sources
Subject matter experts: how to find and choose expert sources Talk about a story that gives you the shivers . . . in 2012, Forbes shared the tale of Ryan Holiday, a “self-styled ‘media manipulator’”
Effectively deal with online complaints with this 1-2-3 approach
How to deal effectively with online complaints and criticisms Recently, a woman accused a Starbucks barista of using caramel to create satanic symbols in two cups of coffee that she’d bought: one was a Pentagram
Breaking writing rules: when is it okay, if ever?
Breaking writing rules: is it ever okay? In 11th and 12th grade, 20 or so students from my class were able to take a computer programming class – learning Fortran and Cobol – back when
Ethics in writing: how to balance personal and journalistic ethics.
Ethics in writing: where is the line in the sand? Isaac, a high school senior, was dying of leukemia. He wished, with all of his heart, to survive long enough to graduate. I learned about
Find the courage to write: author Ralph Keyes provides direction and hope
Finding the courage to write “I worry that I’m not good enough,” says Joy Bautista Collado, although she can’t define precisely why. “I need courage.” And, even though other people encourage her to write, she
Over-confidence is one of deadly sins of writing: tips on managing your ego.
Deadly sin of over-confidence: managing your ego Now, I usually don’t brag. I really don’t. But, in this post, I’m going to do so, openly and without shame. Through my entire elementary school career, I
How to critique writing effectively: find tips from professionals.
How to critique writing effectively Last week, our blog post on critiquing focused on: finding the right critique partner(s) for your writing helping you to eliminate feelings of defensiveness to get the most out of
Quality writing critiques are a gift: here’s how to be open to receiving them
How to be open to receiving quality writing critiques In 2008, I had an opportunity to pitch a script for an historical fiction play that highlighted the role that people in northern Ohio played during
Writing mentors: read examples of positive mentoring relationships
Celebrating writing mentors Recently, the head of the Cleveland Job Bank, Kelly Blazek, made the news – at first locally and then nationally and then internationally – for writing harsh responses to younger job seekers.
Break through writer’s block with these helpful writing techniques.
The dreaded writer’s block – and ways to smash through the barriers If you ask 100 people how to define writer’s block and/or what causes the blockage, you’ll get at least 101 answers, ranging from
Editing and proofreading expert K.D. Sullivan shares tips & experiences
The Search Guru chats with K.D. Sullivan, CEO of Untreed Reads Publishing For four years, I edited a full-color print magazine, one that was costly to produce. The tone of the publication was friendly, cheerful,
Finding expert sources can feel challenging, but it doesn’t have to be hard
Catch 22: expert sources or engagement first? At first glance, the formula for creating great content (that can be promoted on social media channels) might look simple and straightforward: Google likes and rewards websites with
Discover the power of storytelling in your blog, marketing copy and more.
The power of storytelling in your online copy When I was young, I wasn’t allowed to play in our front yard. I couldn’t choose when I could – or couldn’t – flush the toilet. I
A defense of jargon in quality content: did we just say that?
Defending jargon as part of quality content (sort of) In 1981, my sister and I went to the movie theater to see Stripes, a film starring Bill Murray and co-starring Harold Ramis. Murray plays a