The title of today’s writing lesson is inspired by the book 10% Happier, which I’ve been listening to lately on audiobook.
Dan Harris (the author) talks about being a fidgety skeptic in regard to meditation...and that got me thinking:
That’s how I feel about a lot of sales-oriented writing.
Fidgety. Skeptical. It just doesn't work for me.
10 Things That Help Me Write
Today’s not so much a writing how-to in the traditional sense; it’s more of a how-I-do.
Cue the Montell Jordan!
Ahem, sorry about that.
Anyway: I wanted to share a few of my favorite things that help me write in hopes that maybe they’ll help you, too. Even if you’re not a writer, some of these items could make a nice addition to your workspace.
How punctuation influences your writing
When we talk about writing, we often think only about words.
But the more I write, the more I realize that punctuation…it’s huge.
It determines how your words are read, understood, and interpreted.
I’m not talking about proper grammar, either. I don’t care so much about that.
This is a conversation about how punctuation influences the style and voice of your writing. Let me illustrate with an example:
Write when you have something to share
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about quality vs. quantity when it comes to writing.
The reason: I did some math recently.
If I’ve been averaging 3,600 words per week for almost four years now, that means I’ve written more than 691,000 words.
Um…that’s a lot of words. It’s kind of hard to wrap my mind around.
How to Improve Boring Writing
Ever feel like what you’re writing is just kind of...bland?
Writing ruts happen to the best of us.
- Maybe it’s because you’ve been writing about the same topic for so long.
- Maybe you’ve become immersed in your niche, and you’ve lost external perspective.
- Maybe you’re just real tired and need a lil’ nappy.
8 Must-Read Books That Will Improve Your Writing Skills
This week, I wanna talk about books on writing.
The business world needs better writers, as indicated by studies that show writing training is a billion-dollar industry and research that shows writing is a skill desired by 73% of hiring managers.
5 Ways to Improve Your Copy on Landing Pages
Landing page, sales page, donation page…these all have a common goal: Get the reader to take some sort of action.
The question is: How do ya get them to do that?
Let’s look at a few proven ways you can fine-tune your copy on these pages to make them more effective (for yourself, or for clients.)
How to Format Your Content Like the Pros
I’ve noticed some commonalities amongst some of the top sites that I write for from time to time.
(I’m talking about the Copyhackers, SumoMe, and Kissmetrics-type blogs.)
Know what it is?
How to Stop Taking Edits Personally
Stop Taking Edits So Personally
Writing is the first hurdle.
Getting your edits done is the second.
You think you’re all done with a project and then…Ha! Nope. You’ve got some re-writing to do.
Read moreHow to Write Compelling Intros
I’ve noticed something.
Short, compelling sentences work as an intro.
They work well.
Why is that?
8 Tools That Take Your Writing From "Meh" To "WHOA"
Let’s face it: Writing is hard.
Lots of people don’t feel confident about their writing abilities—so if you fall into this category, you’re not alone.