The Secret to Captivating Content? More Cowbell!
In April of 2000, Saturday Night Live aired one of the few truly classic sketches outside of the 1970s and 80s. The sketch is a spoof of a VH1 “Behind the Music” episode featuring Blue Öyster Cult and the recording of (Don’t Fear) The Reaper ( watch it here ). The sketch stars host Christopher Walken as famed producer “THE Bruce Dickinson,” with Will Farrell on cowbell along with a faux Blue Öyster Cult. The whole joke centers around the fact that (Don’t Fear) The Reaper has a cowbell percussion..
Copyblogger (13 hours ago)
Introducing the Thesis Affiliate Program
Last week’s post about the new Thesis WordPress theme from Chris Pearson resulted in a ton of happy new Thesis community members. This week, we want to invite you to join us as promotional partners as well, with the brand new DIY Themes affiliate program . When you join the program, you’ll receive 33% of all sales you generate. This includes the personal and developer memberships to Thesis (currently priced at $87 and $164, respectively), plus all the new designs, add-ons, and other new products we’ve g..
Copyblogger (23 hours ago)
Writers - Want To Earn More Money?
Want to earn more money for your freelance writing? Of course you do. Peter Bowerman who, among other things, writes The Well-Fed Writer Blog has a great post with some very simple and easy to implement suggestions in a post called: Repeat After Me: “I Will Ask for More Money Next Time…” And he's absolutely right. Simply asking for more often gets more. Like Peter, I've got stories… like the time instead of quoting a fee I asked “what's your budget for this project?” It was exactly dou..
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer's Resource (1 day ago)
Freelance Writing Jobs - 75 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs
Well! This morning we have 75 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs . That's more than double the number we had Monday . It will be interesting to see what Friday and next week bring. Write well and often, Two newsletters: Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings. Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written. Image from http://www.sxc.hu Tags: finding-work , Freelance Writing Jobs , getting writing jobs , gigs , home-business , ..
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer's Resource (1 day ago)
The Deceptively Simple Steps to Persuasive Writing That Works
A few weeks ago, I wrote about some ways you can keep your reader's attention . But I didn't mention one of the most important techniques–one that requires no particular writing ability, no creativity to think of a great hook, and no hours of research to find the most compelling facts to tell your story. This easy technique is infinitely versatile. I use it in nearly every piece I write. But it's so deceptively simple, you might not be taking full advantage of it. My super (simple) secret weapon is the ..
Copyblogger (1 day ago)
What's In Your Summer Reading Pile?
Summer. The time, and freedom, to read. Bliss. Karen Putz mentioned the other day that On Writing was in her summer reading pile. That got me thinking about the anticipated delight of a summer reading pile, the unread books that are still on mine - and that it might be good to share what we're reading this summer. (Or winter, for those of you in the southern hemisphere. Cold days and chilly nights are surely ideal for reading too?) The holidays are often a time when we turn to fiction readin..
Confident Writing (1 day ago)
Ask Anne: How Do You Switch Between Projects?
Dear Anne , I have two major writing projects going at the same time. The deadlines are different - on the first I have a weekly meeting with the client to go over what I've written and the other is much more casual, but I do want to get it done. I'm having trouble keeping track of and switching between the two projects. For example, today I had to postpone the weekly meeting because I hadn't gotten the work done. I'd been so focused on the other client's project I simply spaced the first one out. How do you ..
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer's Resource (2 days ago)
Do You Approve of Ghostwriters?
I seem to be referring to Joe Wikert's blog a lot - but he keeps pointing to things I wouldn't find on my own, like: The Life of a Ghostwriter . That post in turn points to an article in the New York Times by fellow ghostwriter Christine Larson called: Expressing Passions (Just Not Your Own) The article, which is definitely worth a read if you're at all interested in ghostwriting, talks, among other things, about how some of her friends and acquaintances seem to disapprove of the fact she earns her living gho..
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer's Resource (2 days ago)
Two TeleClasses You Don’t Want to Miss (And There’s No Charge)
I've got two teleclasses for you to check out, and neither one will cost you a dime. The first involves online video marketing and how it relates to copywriting, and the second is all about copy. First up, as promised Dave Kaminski and I will be doing a live call this Thursday evening at 7:30 Central (8:30 Eastern, 5:30 Pacific). Dave is the founder of Web Video University, and the topic is Web Video Marketing: Trends, Techniques, and Copywriting Tips . Check out the event page here , and you might consider p..
Copyblogger (2 days ago)
The Benefits of Using a Pseudonym
The Benefits of Using a Pseudonym The name which you attach to your blog posts carries more weight than a lot of people realize. As your blog grows, so does your profile, which means that future blogs you own and posts you write will probably get more exposure because you are known within your niche. Of course, many bloggers do not want to use their full name on their blogs. I personally use my real name on all my posts however many guest posters at BloggingTips have chosen to just use their…
Blogging Tips (2 days ago)
Cut Your Words to Set Your Writing Free
Have you ever noticed how cutting your word count can free up your writing? There are a number of reasons why this might be. A tight word count: Asks you to concentrate on the essential Provides a creative challenge to your unconscious mind (which it loves to respond to) Encourages you to play and experiment with different style and form Improves your editing skills Gives you permission to let go of the unimportant There are some great examples of tight word count = creative results in the blogosp..
Confident Writing (2 days ago)
How to Write Ideas that Lift Themselves Off the Page — Every Time!
Even the Humblest Star Still Shines A writer makes meaning by giving thoughts structure and expression. Whether we write to inform, entertain, or inspire, we hope our message will leave the page or the screen to be received in a reader’s mind. It’s no easy thing to connect simple words in ways [...]
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog (2 days ago)
Traditonal Publishing v. Self-Publishing
Writer Mark Hurst, author of Bit Literacy which as he puts it, he ended up self-publishing, has a post over at Good Experience called Secrets of book publishing I wish I had known . I found the post through Joe Wikert's Publishing 2020 blog in an article called: An Author Shares His Secrets . It's worth reading both. Mark is horribly unhappy with traditional publishing, and he spells out his reasons clearly. He's also got some book marketing tips. While Joe doesn't exactly say that Mark is wrong, in fact he p..
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer's Resource (3 days ago)
The Art of Winning the Online Marketing Game
The best book I’ve ever read about marketing isn't about marketing. It's about baseball. The book’s called Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game , by Michael Lewis. If you’re a marketer or advertiser you need to read this book. The premise of the book is that baseball insiders are guilty of a herd mentality that is focused on the wrong things and reaches the wrong conclusions. If you know nothing at all about baseball you will still learn very valuable lessons about business. The book is centered..
Copyblogger (3 days ago)
Freelance Writing Jobs - 36 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs
Hmmm. Only 36 Writing, Blogging, Editing and Translation Jobs today. That's the lowest number of freelance writing, blogging, etc. jobs we've had in a long time. It will be interesting to see what the rest of the week brings. Write well and often, Two newsletters: Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings. Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written. Image from http://www.sxc.hu Tags: finding-work , Freelance Writing Jobs , getting writin..
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer's Resource (3 days ago)
25 Words of Work / Life Wisdom — Pass It On!
Can 25 Words Change the World? Thank you to everyone who participated in the 25 Words of Work / Life Wisdom Writing Project. Every selection was an example of the power of writing. When sat down to bring them all together, I wanted to make this [...]
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog (3 days ago)
Quotes on Writing and Freedom #3: The Permission Slip
Much of this book [On Writing] has been about how you can do it [that is - write] better. The rest of it - and perhaps the best of it - is a permission slip: you can, you should, and if you're brave enough to start: you will. Writing is magic, as much the water of life as any other creative art. The water is free. So drink up. Drink and be filled up. Stephen King, final paragraph of "On Writing" A contribution to the theme of writing with freedom.
Confident Writing (3 days ago)
Ray Bradbury On Writing Videos About Writing
Who can resist Ray Bradbury on writing… I certainly can't. This video is short, and gets chopped off at the end. But, imo, it's more than worth it. There are more Bradbury videos there to chase if you like. Write well and often, and enjoy the heck out of it - I do. Two newsletters: Abundant Freelance Writing - a resource for freelance writers including 3x a week job postings. Writing With Vision - for those who want to get a book written. Image from http://www.sxc.hu Tags: characterization , fiction wri..
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer's Resource (4 days ago)
Links To 5 Blogs By And About Literary Agents
Blogs by writers and by literary agents gives us some almost insider information that wasn't available before blogging. If you're looking for an agent you could do worse than search out their blogs. Here are a few agents and a couple of authors sharing their experiences with agency. THE NEW LITERARY AGENTS - chatty blog from agents who are fairly new to agenting. Guide to Literary Agents - a blog about finding and using agents by the author Chuck Sambuchino. Worth spending some time with. Dystel & Goderi..
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer's Resource (4 days ago)
Writing and Fitness
Contract Worker has a post called 6 Weeks to a Better, Stronger, More Energetic You. Rico is going back to doing push ups - a particular form of exercise I really have no interest in at all, but it did get me thinking about physical fitness. First, I applaud Rico and anyone who is doing anything to improve their physical fitness. We are animals, after all, and we function best when we move a lot. Writers, of course, tend to sit around a lot, at a keyboard, maybe moving their fingers… I know - that's wha..
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer's Resource (5 days ago)
Last Day of the 25 Words of Life / Work Wisdom Project
Start with a Sentence End with a Thought If you have tried to write something in exactly 25 words, you’ll find that the process is about reflection and changing. Today is the last day to add your post to the 25 Words of Life and Wisdom Project. [...]
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog (5 days ago)
Writers - Be SURE You Understand The Contracts You Sign
Publishers Weekly today announced that the Author's Guild is warning Simon and Schuster authors to be extra careful when signing an addendum to their book contract that alters their ebook royalties. According to the article, the addendum may actually change author's rights in favor of the publisher. I don't have a contract with Simon and Schuster so I haven't seen the letter in question. But I know how important it is to understand throughly any contract you sign. Publishers are like any business - charged to..
The Golden Pencil: The Freelance Writer's Resource (6 days ago)
How to Be Interesting
“Be interesting.” It's good advice, but it's nothing new. You've probably known from the beginning that being able to interest readers is a crucial part of growing a popular blog. It's pretty obvious that no one is going to stick around unless they find your blog interesting. But how are you supposed to do it exactly? How can you “be interesting?” Far too much of what we write about attention and interest is abstract. We talk about differentiation, value, and triggers — all usefu..
Copyblogger (6 days ago)
Client Manual For Busy Freelancers
Client Manual For Busy Freelancers Clients have two major attributes. They are either easy to work with, or they can be down right annoying. I believe we would be pushed hard to find a single freelancer who hasn’t in some ways grappled with the thought of dropping a client because he gave them a hard time. While the process seems relative straightforward, it isn’t always so in reality. As freelancers we have to weigh up our options before we react, especially if we deal with a difficult client. In..
Blogging Tips (6 days ago)
A Blogger’s Life: Why Blog and When Do You Stop Blogging?
Dr. Johnson’s Cat asks “So: Why Blog?”, a question that plagues many bloggers, wanna be bloggers, and wish-they-weren’t bloggers. Why do we keep on blogging when the fun drains away. And what keeps bringing us back. Googling the phrase “stop blogging” gets 171,000 hits: Ten Reasons Why I Should Stop Blogging; Should I Stop Blogging? 20 [...]
Lorelle on WordPress (6 days ago)
Conversation Clouds
Intrigued? It's the Wordle version of my contribution the Age of Conversation '08 . I hope it's whet your appetite... the book's due out next month. I can't wait to see the contributions from all these fabulous authors: Adrian Ho , Aki Spicer , Alex Henault , Amy Jussel , Andrew Odom , Andy Nulman , Andy Sernovitz , Andy Whitlock , Angela Maiers , Ann Handley , Anna Farmery , Armando Alves , Arun Rajagopal , Asi Sharabi , Becky Carroll , Becky McCray , Bernie Scheffler , Bill Gammell , Bob LeDrew ..
Confident Writing (6 days ago)
Battle Productivity Brain Drain With an Idea Budget
I recently gave you 10 quick tips for building a business online . One tip in particular resonated with readers: #4 - Work on one idea at a time. Never splatter out with many ideas. It’s overwhelming. Easier said than done. We have too many great ideas, too many things to do, and only two hands and one brain. Which idea is best to follow? This one? That one? All of them? What about time? There's not enough. It all needs to be done now! But where to start? Here? There? You know the feeling… Indecision, an ..
Copyblogger (7 days ago)
Boost Your Blogging Productivity With Post Templates
This is a guest post by Alik Levin. Image by 802 Blog post templates save you time Care about your time? here is how blog post templates can save you few extra minutes. It is GTD in action. The template is almost finished post, half work is already done. Instantly. You can almost see your work done. Saved few minutes? It is a checklist. Your mind gets freed for doing more intellectual work. Mechanical work must not consume time . Checklists are of great help. Saved few minutes? It is guidance. You can boost y..
Daily Blog Tips (7 days ago)
As If, Yeah Right
When we write we are talking to our reader. While your reader is going through your content they will be responding. They might think “Interesting, I didn’t know that”, or they might think “So? What’s in it for me?” and they might think “So what?“. One response I don’t think many marketing copywriters are prepared for is [...]
Chris Garrett on New Media (7 days ago)
The Duke Ellington Guide to Copy That Swings
Don't mean a thing if it ain't got that swing . . . Whenever you study a creative form like copywriting, you spend a lot of time on technique. You think hard about headlines and metaphors and what specific details you'll use. You worry about positioning and persuasive structure . You're trying to keep all the rules and guidelines in your head. But if you want your content to keep bringing them back, it's gotta swing. Duke Ellington was something rare–hugely respected as a master of his art, and insanely..
Copyblogger (8 days ago)
Blogging Freedom Is a Mixed Blessing: Guest Post by Brad Shorr
Blogging is about the freest kind of business writing I can think of, and that's the main reason I enjoy it so much. Freedom, however, can be a mixed blessing. Here's a rundown of what for me are the positive and negative freedoms of writing a business blog. Your list is probably different, but that's one of great attractions of blogging – there's room for everybody, Bad freedoms 1. Freedom to be careless Blogging offers no built-in controls for scrupulous editing, other than those woefully insufficient spe..
Confident Writing (8 days ago)
Wordpress 2.6
Wordpress 2.6 has just been released, and adds Wiki-like tracking of post edits, use of Gears for faster page rendering for admins, theme previews, and more…
Deziner Folio (9 days ago)
Another Nature Walk
Here are few pics from our recent nature photo shoot… [if you have missed them on our flickr footer]
Deziner Folio (9 days ago)
Beauty-Retouching Tutorials
An amazing list of 70 Beauty-Retouching photoshop tutorials put together by Smashing Magazine.
Deziner Folio (9 days ago)
Question: What Will You Not Blog About?
In What Will You Not Blog About? on the Blog Herald, I asked readers to tell me what line they will not cross when it comes to blog content. What will you NOT blog about. The responses have been very interesting. A few bloggers take a no-holds-barred approach, blogging on everything and anything they want. However, [...]
Lorelle on WordPress (9 days ago)
A WordPress Theme for Serious Online Publishers
Once upon a time, there was a young man who wanted to become a web designer. Trained as an engineer, he nonetheless had a great eye, an advanced understanding of SEO-friendly code, and a unique style that set him apart from the crowd. But he was just starting out and needed a break. Thanks to a strange combination of coincidence and connections, the young man got to know a crusty old marketing guy. The marketing guy had no design skills, but he could recognize talent and great design when he saw it. Of course..
Copyblogger (9 days ago)
Five Ways That Strategic Bullet Points Make You a Stronger Blogger
Bullet points make you a stronger blogger? Absolutely, if you’re good a writing them. In fact, being a master at writing killer bullet points is one of the most important copywriting skills around, second only to headline-writing. The goal of strategic bullet points is primarily to keep people reading. You’re highlighting easily-digestible bits of important information, which keeps attention focused and breaks up dense pools of text. The downside is that if you write weak, boring bullet points, you’re g..
Copyblogger (10 days ago)
Quotes on Writing and Freedom #2: Take Yourself Lightly
It is one of the paradoxes of the sustained creative life that the more lightly we take ourselves the more serious work we will probably be able to do. The more we bear down on ourselves, the more constricted we will feel, and the more vulnerable we will be to creative injury Julia Cameron, Walking in This World This seemed like a suitable one for the start of my holiday week. Thanks to Sylvia C for the inspiration.
Confident Writing (10 days ago)
Lively
Google has announced Lively - an avatar and online room/chat combination.
Deziner Folio (11 days ago)
What I Learned From Watching Ferry Boats
I've been clearing out photos recently as I start to get ready for my move. A lot of the photos I've taken over the years are from walks around the west coast of Scotland, which means ferry boats are a recurring theme. Pictures taken from the boat, of the boats in the harbour, of the ferry moving back and forth, back and forth, across a distant sound. I don't know about you but I get a feeling of freedom, of adventure, when I set off on public transport. Not cars but buses, yes, and trains a..
Confident Writing (13 days ago)
Blog Challenge: Describe Your Software - Then and Now
Last week’s blog challenge was Describe Your Computer Setup - Then and Now. This week, I am challenging you to blog about your blog software, then and now. I’ve used just about all types of computer technology, from the early days of data storage on gigantic floppy disks to magnetic cards to “640K is enough for [...]
Lorelle on WordPress (14 days ago)
Group Writing Project: Your Ideal Writing Weekend
I just wanted to let you know about a group writing project that we've launched in connection with our writing workshops in Italy . It's on the theme of your ideal writing weekend. It's partly to give us great ideas and suggestions that we'll use to plan the shape and content of the workshops scheduled for next spring (second half of April / early May). You can find out more about the competition here , but meantime here are the 'rules' (I do hate that word! but it's a competition, so I suppose we do need the..
Confident Writing (14 days ago)
Writing Project: 25 Words of Work / Life Wisdom
Make an Observation When I released my eBook, a dear friend told me what he would like to see is my inspirational writing. He’s a wise man, so I listened. Every day I find some time to go back through years of writing to find what [...]
Liz Strauss at Successful Blog (15 days ago)
What Are You Saying Between the Lines?
All of us have an inner dialog. When you blog, that inner message can be revealed between the lines of your articles, social media messages and forum posts. If you are sitting there doubting what I just said, think about it for a second. That inner voice might be quiet, but it will be there. When someone compliments you, what do you think? Do you say to yourself “You are so right !” or do you think “This is embarrassing, change the subject”. When faces with an opportunity do you think “Go for it!”..
Chris Garrett on New Media (15 days ago)
Do You Think You Can Tell? Powerful Questions That Wake Us Up
Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple. Dr Seuss Sometimes the questions are simple but the answers... unanswerable. Powerful Questions Thanks to those of you contributed to the conversation about powerful questions in poems . A big thanks in particular to Amy Palko at Less Ordinary who took the time to record a voice thread of Tell Me The Truth About Love by W H Auden. I've included the thread here (if you're reading in a feed you'll probably need to pop over here to play it..
Confident Writing (16 days ago)
Quotes on Writing and Freedom #1
If they give you ruled paper, write the other way Juan Ramon Jimenez , quoted at the start of Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451" A contribution to the theme of writing with freedom.
Confident Writing (17 days ago)
Blog Challenge: Describe Your Computer Setup - Then and Now
This week’s blog challenge is to blog about your computer setup as it was “then” in the early days of your computer life, and how it is now, in your modern technology life. What computer tools are you dependent upon for your blog that surround you on your desk? Do you podcast? What do you [...]
Lorelle on WordPress (21 days ago)
American English VS British English
American English VS British English Although the English language originates from England, it is one of the most spoken languages in the world and has spread to all corners of the globe. Countries where English is the first language are predominately those who were colonised by Great Britain at one point. Around 400 million people are native English speakers however in total there are over 1 billion people who can speak the language. Due to this there are lots of different variations of grammar, spelling and ..
Blogging Tips (22 days ago)
Lessons from LTPact 2008: Cloud Servers and Gambling
I spent the past few days in Las Vegas for the Layered Tech LTPact 2008 Conference, an event sponsored by Layered Tech, the second largest web hosting and reseller in the world, among WordPress luminaries and experts and a lot of server geeks and serious online business folks. I got a chance to spend time [...]
Lorelle on WordPress (23 days ago)
When Freelance Writing Becomes A Business
Post from: Blogging Tips When Freelance Writing Becomes A Business For some reasons unbeknown to me, the description freelance writer carries a sour bi-taste for some people. I suppose the actual “freelance” in the description is what makes certain people cringe. This isn’t a problem though until it happens to a potential client. So what can a freelance writer do to have potential clients respect them as a proper business owner? This question needs to be considered in all its importance. I g..
Blogging Tips (27 days ago)
