when 1 + 1 = 1

I may be revealing a bit of my word nerd tendencies here, but this article is pretty funny. Since it's gorgeous out and my 3 year-old entertains herself much better outdoors than inside, I'm catching up on blog reading (see previous post) while enjoying the fresh air. My neighbors probably think I'm kooky for laughing to myself, but anyone with a bit of interest in word funnies will enjoy this piece as well.

To pique your interest, let me give a brief overview:

Do you write "a miss" or "amiss?"

Would you choose "a float" or "afloat?"

Is it "intact" or "in tact?"

If you're even remotely curious about the correct way to write these words, check out "Two Words or One? Words You Might Be Misusing." 

on content mills

The other day I was perusing my bookmarked blogs and came across this article by Carol Tice: In Which I Confront Content Mill Owners About Their Rates...In Person. Pretty interesting stuff.

The title caught my eye because the subject of content mills comes up often in writer's discussion forums. For anyone unfamiliar with content mills, the gist is this: they're (online) companies who hire large numbers of writers to churn out articles on an assortment of topics, from business tactics to parenting issues to how to build car engines. The catch is that writers are paid very little while the articles often gain quite a bit of visibility.

There are many arguments against content mills. Many freelancers loathe them because they denounce the freelance profession, driving down rates and producing (sometimes) shoddy content. Others manage to eek out a meager living writing for mills...apparently these folks can research and write uber quickly and don't mind making $3/hour for their efforts.

My personal thoughts are mixed. I have written for mills in the past. I used the experience as a bridge when I didn't have time to market to clients, soon after my second child was born and I was overwhelmed with kidstuff, but I knew I needed to continue writing to keep my skills up. The thought of earning some money was also enticing, even though I knew the compensation was peanuts when compared to working with "real" clients.

I got the hang of the game quickly and chose titles that were similar so I could cross-research to save time. I never felt as if I skimped on quality, writing-wise, but after the editorial review process (this particular mill does employ editors; some do not) there were times my articles seemed to actually lose quality. Since I maintain high standards for my writing, his didn't make me too happy.

After reviewing my end o' the year earnings, I realized I had worked really hard but hadn't made that much money. So I discontinued my relationship with the mill.

And so I see both sides of the argument.Which brings me back to my interest in this article. Check it out. Let me know what you think. Even better, comment on Carol's blog. I'm sure she'd love to continue this discussion!



photo credit: href
="http://www.flickr.com/photos/zen/2424581/">zen via href="http://photopin.com">photopin href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/">cc

15 writing prompts

Writers don't always grab their coffee, sit down at the computer, and start pounding out sentences. Sometimes we grab our coffee, sit at the computer, and stare blankly at the screen for what seems like eternity.

That's called writer's block--and it happens to even the best writers.

Writer's block is incredibly frustrating, and sometimes the only way to pull yourself out of a slump is to just...well, write. Writer's prompts terrific tools for helping the words move from your head to the page. Basically you're given a starting point, so there is no blank page, which is the proverbial wall (i.e., block) that holds us back.

For a few handfuls of writing prompts--15, to be exact--check out this piece on Brownstone Publication's blog.

Happy writing!

3 ways to fix mistakes in your (oops--published!) content

Today I noticed on my Facebook business page that a typo appeared in the “About” section. And it showed up right after I mentioned my editing services. Doh!

That’s not a very good testament for my work. However, I’m human, and humans make mistakes. Still, I know I should have been more careful. I’m kind of embarrassed about this, and I really hope nobody noticed (but I’ll bet somebody, somewhere did).

So what do you do when you find an error in your content after it’s been published? The good news is that it’s not the end of the world, and a few options for damage control are available.

Fix it (asap!) and ignore it.

Sometimes there really isn’t any point in drawing attention to the mistake, especially if it’s a minor one. If you notice a typo or misspelling in one of your blog posts or on your landing page, just get in there as soon as you can and fix it. Then shush—nobody really needs to know.

Making a change is harder if an error occurs in printed materials. Then you can either live with it or order a reprint. First, consider the type of error. If it’s a minor typo that won’t mislead your audience, you may choose to live with it until the piece needs to be updated. If it’s a major goof, however, like a misprint in price, address, or phone number, you may want to go ahead and order a corrected version. 

Admit the mistake and provide a correction.

I’ve seen folks do this often—mostly if a link is broken or information is inaccurate. It happens a lot in ezines, and is usually followed up right away by an email that provides the correct information.

When do you call attention to a mistake? I recommend doing this only if the meaning of the text might be misinterpreted, or as noted above, if a link is broken or a source’s name is misspelled. Admitting an error doesn’t make you look weak or unprofessional. Rather, it shows you’ve taken steps to correct the problem, and that you care enough to do so!

Use your story to help others.

That’s kinda what I’m doing now. I guess the general moral is one I already preach (um, again, please remember that human element!): having another set of eyes read over your words—before hitting “publish”—is the absolute best way to prevent costly mistakes!

Now, where’s my husband? I need him to review this blog post….

write faster, right now!

We've all complained about not having enough hours in a day to accomplish important tasks, right? Well, adding a few hours to each day isn't going to happen, and giving up sleep entirely won't work. Caffeine can help but, well, it'll only take you so far.

The only remaining option is to work more efficiently. This can be hard, but it's often doable.  Here's an article about how to speed up your writing. (Ideal for blog posts!)

How to Write an Article in 20 Minutes

so you want to hire a freelance writer...

Have you ever considered hiring someone to help write content for your marketing or informational materials? Maybe you need fresh copy or a new angle for your website or blog—or maybe you simply don’t have enough time to get it all done yourself. You decide to call in a freelance writer, tell her what you need, and ask for an estimate. She gives you one, and suddenly you feel a little short of breath.

But I don’t even want that much text on my landing page, you think. How can it possibly cost that much?

So you call in a second freelancer, tell him what you want, and ask for an estimate. He gives you one, and now you’re confused.

This actually seems really low, you muse. Does this guy know what he’s doing? Why does he work for so little money?

Welcome to working with freelancers! There is no standard fee, which can be confusing for someone new to this situation. Prices may be all over the map, depending on where you live, the type of project, and how much experience the freelancer has.

You know how much money you have to work with, so of course you need to select someone who fits your budget. But if you find a freelancer you believe is a good fit for the company and the project at hand—and if you feel the price is too high—consider what goes into the content creation process before dismissing him entirely.

Few writers attend a meeting and spout out copy that’s perfect. There’s much more to it than that! Let’s take a quick look at the steps a writer takes to craft copy that gets results:

Researching
Before a professional writer meets with you, she most likely has already done some research. She’ll visit your website and learn about your company and its services or products. She’ll get a feel for how the content is currently presented and ask if you’re happy with the style, flow, and tone.

After she gets the gig, she’ll research your competitors. She’ll see what they’re talking about and how they’re saying it. She’ll learn more about the topic she’s going to be writing about by asking questions and reading existing literature. She’ll make sure she’s got the names of products and employees accurate and she’ll interview your employees, and maybe even a few satisfied customers.

Note the actual writing process hasn’t even begun yet!

Drafting
Now’s the time to start crafting words. She’s got to get her thoughts organized by creating an outline of sorts to follow. And she’s got to look over notes and quotes to make sure she’s telling the story accurately, then turn bits and pieces of this puzzle into something readable. Drafting is actually probably the easiest part of this job! But wait, there's more....

Follow-up
Hmm…the information she needs to obtain from Department Manager XX didn’t come through. He was supposed to return her email yesterday but she hasn’t heard from him, so she has to send a follow-up email or make a phone call. This goes on for a few days until finally they manage to connect. She takes notes on their conversation and adds the new information to the draft.

Editing
Now it’s time to clean up that draft so that there are no typos or misspellings. Everything needs to flow smoothly and make sense to the target audience. Only after editing her work thoroughly should she send it your way for review.

Revising

Few writers hit the nail on the head with their first draft—we expect to make revisions after our clients look everything over and give input. So we review your comments, ask additional questions, and re-word, re-phrase, or add or delete a section here or there. Then we edit again and send it back to you for final approval.

That’s pretty much the process, and it may be repeated once more to get a final draft that everyone is happy with. So as you can see, writing quality content is much more than just writing.

For those of you who have worked with freelancers before (and it doesn’t have to be a freelance writer—designers and photographers are also hired by companies on a regular basis), what did you like about having someone separate from your company or organization handle outsourcing? What didn’t you like? What do you want freelancers to know about working with you?

 image from stockvault.net

don't make these mistakes...

I receive a local publication that's typically packed with good, solid information for business owners. While some of the articles focus on issues specific to the community, many others are useful for any business-type person, regardless of their location.

The October issue of Interbusiness Issues featured an article, The Top 3 Business Writing Mistakes You're Probably Making Right Now, which I think is a very insightful read. If you handle writing duties for your business in any capacity, check out this piece. It's a short read but it's oh-so-practical.

Happy writing!

infographic: write faster blog posts

It's Friday and I'm taking the afternoon off to enjoy a hiking trip--and hopefully lots of fall colors--with my family. So I'll leave you with this infographic which provides useful (and pretty!) tips for anyone looking to speed up their blogging turnaround time. (I'm taking notes, too, by the way!)

Have a great weekend, all!

by j6design. Learn about infographics software.

inspirational tips for writers

A lot of blogs, articles, and novels begin with a quote of sorts: a funny line, an inspirational note, or a thought-provoking line.

A great quote can serve as an inspirational springboard when you aren't quite sure what to write about. Even though I've got a short list of ideas for future posts, some days I'm just not sure I'm ready to write on the topic I had planned...so I turn to a quote to get motivated.

Don't we all get stuck sometimes when we're trying to write? It's not just about getting started, either. Sometimes we begin with gusto but lose steam later. Or maybe we hit a snag as we research, or as we try to create a title, or as we begin to question whether we're making any sense at all.


Today I found a list, 105 Writing Tips from Professional Writers, while searching for quotes and inspiration for today's post. And I found both in this compilation of wise words from respectable persons, from Aristotle to Agatha Christie to Bill Cosby. Their advice includes one or two-liners about writers block, fiction writing, living and learning, and general writing advice.

I'm copying and pasting my favorites now. You might want to take a look and do the same. I guarantee there's something here for every writer, no matter what type of writing you're doing. 

Let's close with these words from Dr. Seuss--this really resonated with me today:

“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. You’re on your own. And you know what you know. You are the guy who’ll decide where to go.”

How about you? Do you have a favorite inspirational quote?

Image from openphoto.net

do you know which words to capitalize in a title?

Great, you may be thinking. Another article about rules! When does it end?

I have to say, though, that these posts are wonderful to share, because you know what they say about rules: eventually they’re meant to be broken. (Or at least challenged.) And who doesn’t love breaking the rules every now and then?

So today’s topic is about which words should be capitalized in a title. First, let’s look briefly at the “traditional” rules. In general, the following should be capitalized in titles:

First words

Last words

Nouns, adjectives, adverbs, verbs, pronouns

These types of words usually remain in lower case:

Prepositions (of, by, for)

Articles (a, an) - unless it’s the first word in the title

Conjunctions (but, and)

A fairly universal exception would be if any of these words mentioned above appear first in the title (or last, although that’s not too common).

E.g., A Guide to Getting Ahead in the Workplace

So what other exceptions might arise? First, discrepancies between style guides (Associated Press vs. Chicago Manual of Style) sometimes occur. Or a company may implement its own style guide to dictate how words should be treated within a title. So how important is it to follow the rules? And how do you know which rules to follow?

Consider how your writing will be published. If you’re writing as a journalist or penning news pieces, Associated Press (AP) is the way to go. Chicago Manual of Style is the standard for publishing (fiction, non-fiction), Modern Language Association (MLA) is for academics, and the American Psychological Association (APA) is honored by social science networks (psychology, education, politics).

What about if you’re writing for your company or organization and there is no style guide? And what if you are an entrepreneur, composing posts for your own blog?

Then you’ve got quite a bit of freedom! If there are no rules set in stone, the main thing to remember is to keep things consistent. For example, you might capitalize only the first word in every title. That’s ok—but remember to do this every time so your titles are uniform. (And yes, I realize I haven’t capitalized any words in my blog titles. I kinda like it that way—like I’m breaking all the rules!)

How about you? What rules do you follow when writing titles? Why?

3 tips for editing your own writing

Most of us know that the best way to make sure your writing is error-free is to have another person read it over. However, there will be times when you don’t have the time—or resources—to enlist another set of eyes. So what do you do then?

It’s not an ideal situation, but you can take steps to ensure your words are edited thoroughly when you’re on your own. Try these tricks:

Enlarge the font

Try bumping up the font a few sizes. You’ll see fewer words on the screen, which eliminates visual clutter. And the type will obviously be larger, which is good for noticing things like extra spaces, duplicated words, and other minor errors.

Read it backward

Ton ekil siht! Boy, that would be tough! But you can start reading the last paragraph, then the next-to-last paragraph, and so on through the document. Working out of order gives your brain a chance to re-focus and catch mistakes that your eyes might otherwise gloss over.

Print it out

Reading on-screen is hard on the eyes, so utilize your printer and read your copy directly from a printed page. This is probably the best way to look for mistakes—aside from having another person help out.

 

What tricks do you use to look for errors and typos in your writing?

comma chameleon

I really, really apologize for the post title. I grew up in the 80s, which explains why—as I was brainstorming titles—this popped into my head. And like the song, I just couldn’t shoo it away. So while it may not be the most descriptive or creative title, I believe it was meant to be—so here it stays. 

Now, on to the useful stuff!

I’ve edited a particular newsletter for several years. As I pull the entire thing together each month, I am reminded that one of the regular submitters is great in just about every respect. He turns in his pieces in on time. His writing is to the point and interesting, and he’ll insert bits of humor here and there. And he’s well informed on the subject matter.

Sounds great, right? Sure it is—almost. But there’s one thing I don’t love about going over his pieces each month: the random assortment of commas sprinkled throughout each manuscript. This fellow clearly has an affinity for commas, because they are everywhere in his writing. 

You’ve probably noticed that, when commas are inserted frequently, they can, in fact, make reading a sentence difficult. And when they are also, inserted improperly, it results in, really difficult reading.

See what I mean?

That’s not the only comma issue I’ve encountered when doing editorial-type jobs. Another common mishap is when these little guys are completely left out of sentences, which can result in misconstrued meanings. Here’s one of my favorite examples:

Let’s eat Grandma! (Yum?)

Let’s eat, Grandma! (Much better.)

Note how the meaning of this sentence is completely changed by the appearance (and lack thereof) of a comma!

The rules of comma use can be tricky, and of course there are many of these rules—too many to be addressed in a single blog post. So today let’s stick with two short n’ sweet additional tips for using commas.

Separate main clauses with coordinating conjunctions.

A little rusty on English terms? That’s ok. Just remember (1) a clause can stand alone (as its own sentence) and (2) coordinating conjunctions (e.g., if, and, but, or) connect words, phrases, and clauses. Check it out:

I wanted to turn on the light, but my roommate said it would make her migraine worse.

You could make two separate sentences here: I wanted to turn on the light and My roommate said it would make her migraine worse. To bring these clauses together in one sentence, you need a coordinating conjunction (but)—and you also need to add the comma before it appears.

Decide when to use serial commas

A serial comma (also called the Oxford comma) precedes the conjunction before the last item in a list of three or more items:

I need to buy milk, bread, and eggs

Truthfully, it really doesn’t matter whether you use a serial comma or not, as long as its use is consistent. Serial commas should be used, however, to help avoid confusion in some sentences:

I want to make these cookies for the bake sale: snicker doodle, chocolate chip, oatmeal, and macadamia.

Without a serial comma the sentence would read:

I want to make these cookies for the bake sale: snicker doodle, chocolate chip, oatmeal and macadamia.

Is the person making four different types cookies or three?

 I think we’ve talked enough about commas for one day. And by the way, thank you, Boy George. 

the ultimate blog challenge

You'd think that--as a writer, and one who focuses on promoting businesses and organizations to boot--I'd be a blogging ninja. My own blog would offer updated content throughout the week and it would all be stuff you'd want to share with your friends, associates, and clients. Wouldn't that be smart?

I can do all that, and I have done all that--for my clients. But like many business owners, I tend to let promoting my own business slide a bit. There are a number of reasons for this:

• I've got three projects due the same day and I'm working (bleary-eyed, on little sleep) to deliver to my clients on time (or better yet, a bit ahead of time!). 

• The kids have a crazy amount of activities this particular week and since my laptop battery is on the fritz (not to mention the gymnastics place doesn't have wi-fi) I can't bring it with me (no outlets in the waiting room...what's up with that?) hence no work.

• I'm in Hawaii on vacation and don't WANT to work. (Yeah, right!)

I realize these are all excuses. They may be justifiable (to an extent) but when it comes down to it, ALL they are is excuses. And that's lame.

So I'm upping the ante. I just signed up for The Ultimate Blog Challenge. It starts in October and is hosted by this notable duo: Michele Scism and Michelle Schaeffer. 

I've followed Michelle Schaeffer's blog for a while now, and she's always got thought-provoking ideas and awesome tips for business owners. M. Scism is new to me, but I like her tips in the free guide I received when I signed up for the Challenge, so I'm sure I'll be following her, too.

Want to invigorate your blog, too? Sign up for the challenge as well and we'll go at this together. Let me know how you're doing and I'll let you know how things are on my end. After all, we're supposed to post every day in October, so there'll be lots of opportunities for updates.

Let's do this thing! 

5 blogs to read today

As some of you may know (but most probably don't), I'm also a musician. I play saxophone, and used to perform quite often in my pre-kid, pre-recession life. I've gigged with a number of bands, including shows with iconic groups The Temptations and Little Anthony and the Imperials, as well as a host of local groups and my own jazz quartet.

One important lesson I learned during my days of intense practicing was that in order to play well, you have to listen to music--a LOT of music. Listen to your favorite artists. Listen to the greats. Listen to everything you can get your hands on. You'll learn so much, like how to phrase and ways to incorporate inflection and emulate tone. And, of course, listening is a very inspiring way to get excited about playing.

I've found that writing is no different. In order to write well, you have to read--a LOT. If you write fiction, read your favorite authors. If you write poetry, absorb as many stanzas as you can. And if you write for your business, read trade journals, newsletters, and blogs. Look at information published by friends and competitors in your area. Note what you like and what you don't about what they say and how they say it.

Reading helps you get a feel for tone (formal, conversational) and flow (sentence length). You may learn a new word or two along the way. And, just like when you read books, you'll soon find a writer whose work you probably enjoy reading.

When you find an inspirational write who provides information you can use, and when the writer happens to be the author of a blog, it's easy to follow him or her regularly and get your (daily, weekly) fix.

I have a lot of blogs on my own RSS feed, but here are 5 of my favorites I'd like to share with you. I check in with these folks almost daily, and thanks to their thoughtful content I obtain a lot of business and writing information and ideas. I'm sure you will, too.

1. Copyblogger

2. ProBlogger

3. Michelle Shaeffer

4. Momeo

5. Write Direction

What blogs do you follow? How have they helped your business?

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net

be a better writer

As a writer, I'm always up for refining my skills. Because of time restraints, however, I don't spend as much time doing this as I'd like. So when I came across this tips chart today, thanks to Copyblogger, you can bet I downloaded it and will print it out to hang above my desk.

Do you write? Doesn't matter what: journals, personal or business blogs, short stories, novels...this will serve as a reminder that the only way to write better is, simply, to WRITE.



Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

great (digital) family read

Today I'm thrilled to share with you one of my client's publications, Midwestern Family magazine. This month MWF decided to try something new: publishing a digital issue. (Print copies can be found at local Barnes & Noble stores or by subscribing via the company website.)

If you live in the Central Illinois area and are looking for ways to keep your family occupied this summer, check out this issue! And if you live too far make a trip, there's still lots of useful info in here. Learn why kids and music seem to click, grab a new recipe to try out, and discover how to entice your little ones into eating their fruits and veggies.

Oh, and by the way, two of these articles are penned by me. But that aside, it's still a great read. Check it out!