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In a great article from AWAI, the author said, “The money is in the details. Every product has a story, history, and a process with which it's created in addition to its inherent features and benefits. And just like with acting, incorporating them will generate a hugely compelling piece.”
So, what exactly does this mean?
Well, think of Anthony Hopkins’ role as Hannibal Lecter. Do you think
Power Words to Make Your Promo Succeed
Guest Post by Will Newman
Let me start by apologizing to you.
I'm going to talk to you about something I talked about a couple of years ago. Not the same words, but the same ideas.
Today we're going to chat about verbs … and how the verbs you use can make or break promotional writing.
Let's start by recalling briefly the 4-Ps:
The secret is out …
If you want to make a VERY good living as a writer, you should become a copywriter. What used to be a “closed profession” is now the biggest opportunity for writers thanks to the $2.3 trillion direct-response industry.
Your first step? Learn how to write the copy companies are hungry for.
Join Rebecca Matter and Katie Yeakle – who train hundreds of copywriters every year – for this FREE webinar and get a crash course in writing copy that sells. In just one hour you’ll learn the secrets behind good copy, tips for connecting with your reader, techniques for improving every piece of copy you write, a checklist you can use to ensure your copy always hits the mark, and a whole lot more.
They’ll even close things out with some tips on how to use your new skills to find paid assignments! They’ve promised to pack a lot of information into a single hour – so make sure come ready to learn.
INSTRUCTORS:
Katie Yeakle has spent over 30 years in the world of direct marketing and publishing in the roles of copy editor, editorial coordinator, product manager, fulfillment supervisor, marketing manager and publisher.
Recognizing the industry-wide need for talented copywriters who can deliver copy that sells, she helped establish American Writers & Artists Inc. (AWAI) with co-founders Paul Hollingshead and Don Mahoney in 1997.
Today, as Executive Director, Katie oversees AWAI’s 70+ programs designed to help people turn their passions into careers.
Rebecca Matter is a copywriter, Founder of Wealthy Web Writer – named one of the 101 Best Websites for Writers by Writer’s Digest, and President of AWAI.
A marketer with over a 15 years of experience in publishing and direct-marketing, Rebecca has spearheaded successful million-dollar campaigns for countless products, both online and off, and has spoken and written on topics ranging from getting and working with clients to successful marketing strategies.
Is it possible to make a great living as a writer – and still have plenty of time for fun and hobbies?
Can you write for a living and support a family, go on vacations, and still enjoy leisurely afternoons by the pool?
The answer is a resounding YES, and Mindy McHorse, professional copywriter and freelancer, will show you how copywriting can make it possible.
Mindy will share the story of how she built up a profitable copywriting business working from home and became a six-figure freelancer in just three years. More importantly, she’ll explain how YOU can pursue a satisfying life as a freelance copywriter in 60 days or less, starting with:
• Where to find the REAL money-making opportunities (not the pennies-per-word clients)
• Which experts to follow (and who to ignore)
• How to choose a writing specialty you’ll enjoy for years to come
• Why freelancing is a stable career move
• Time-management tricks so you can make more money in less time
• Who to reach out to for help along the way
• How to balance your mountains of personal freedom with getting paid projects done
• What qualifications you need to be a freelance copywriter… and what doesn’t matter
• How soon you can expect to start earning money
• What to do first if your serious about launching a career as a paid, freelance copywriter
Mindy will finish with tips on how to fit your fiction or nonfiction writing in on the side, and why learning the craft of copywriting can help you go big and succeed with your most treasured writing goals.
INSTRUCTOR:
Mindy McHorse is a freelance copywriter who serves as the Executive Editor for The Barefoot Writer and runs the pet loss site, HealingFromPetLoss.com. Mindy was the original Reality Blogger for the Wealthy Web Writer and chronicled her real-life journey of going from $24K to six-figures in just one year as a freelance writer.
With three young children, Mindy considers herself a full-time mom who is lucky enough to make an impressive income on the side. She hails from Albuquerque, NM where she writes with a full mountain view and with her three Cavalier King Charles Spaniels always close by.
Are you a Christian? Would you like to get paid well to write for things you’re passionate about? The demand for good writers in the Christian market has never been higher. Contrary to popular belief, it’s easier than ever to find writing gigs that pay very well by tapping into the $1.7 trillion Christian industry. All you need to know is where clients are and how to land them.
Listen to Joshua T. Boswell — a minister, highly-paid writer, devoted husband, and father of 11 children — on this FREE webinar. You’ll learn what the best paying opportunities are for Christian writers, what you can expect to make for each of the projects, where to find the clients, how to land the work, and more!
INSTRUCTOR:
Joshua T. Boswell is a copywriter, author of Secrets of Writing for the Christian Market, creator of Six-Figures in Six Months: Mastering the Art of Self-Marketing as a Copywriter, an ordained minister, and Advisory Board member of AWAI (American Writers & Artists Inc.), the world’s leading trainer of direct-response copywriters.
A marketer with over 19 years of experience in business development and direct marketing, Joshua has written for and spearheaded successful million-dollar campaigns for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, ChildFund International, Sony, Microsoft, GM, and dozens of other organizations. He regularly speaks and writes on topics ranging from landing high-paying writing clients to successful web-marketing strategies.
The saying goes: If you think you can’t, you won’t. If you think you can, YOU WILL.
These words are powerful. Whether you're working at content marketing or you're a freelance writer, or whatever it is you do, your thoughts can control whether or not you are successful.
The guest post below was written for the copywriter, but the message is valid for everyone and every industry.
A Little
Subheads: Now the Rest of the Story
Guest post by Will Newman
[In a prior article on content writing,] we discussed why subheads are important. Today, a quick lesson in how to make them as strong as possible.
There’s not a lot to this – as long as you understand what makes strong, compelling headlines.
First, a “cheat” for writing strong subheads …
One of the core secrets of writing
Guest post by Will Newman
I wouldn’t be a copywriter if it weren’t for the computer.
You might be in the same boat. The computer has allowed me to get around my terrible typing skills. I’m a hunt-and-peck typist. So, sometimes – no, make that frequently – my fingers hit the wrong keys.
Thank goodness Word flags those typos.
The computer has also made editing orders of magnitude easier than
One Easy Way to Learn to Write Good Advertising Copy
Guest Post by Cathy Chapman, Ph.D. It doesn't matter what wonderful service you provide or how amazing your product is, if you don't let people know it's there, no one will buy it. Sure, word of mouth works for some things. For most, however, you need to write something and get it out to people to let them know what you have. The question is, how can someone on a limited budget with beginning skills as a copywriter, someone who writes advertising copy, let people know about their product.
The answer is simple. Copy what others write.No Plagiarizing AllowedWhen I said to copy what others wrote, I don't mean to steal their words and use them in your own advertising copy. I mean for you to take pen and paper in hand, no computers allowed unless you literally cannot use your hands, and copy a sales letter word for word. This is a powerful learning technique used in many circles. When you write with pen and paper, something magical happens in the brain. I can't tell you all the neurochemical responses in that brain of yours, but when you write by hand, there is a complex interaction in the brain that helps you learn faster and easier.
Don't spend your time physically reproducing any sales letter you come across. Use your time wisely and copy, for learning purposes only, the best sales letters you can find. You can do an internet search using the keywords "winning sales letters" and come up with a treasure trove of letters you can begin copying to get the hang of writing a good sales letter.
One of the most successful, if not the most successful letter to introduce a new product was written for a newspaper you may have read or at least have seen the name. That is The Wall Street Journal. This very successful financial newspaper was once only an idea in someone's mind. As time has demonstrated, it was a great idea. The problem was that people had to buy initial subscriptions for it to be successful. This very simple two-page letter has generated an estimated $2 billion in revenue for The Wall Street Journal.
The Step before CopyingThe sales letter that launched The Wall Street Journal is one to use for leaning by copying by hand numerous times. Before you put pen to paper, read it out loud several times. Listen to the cadence of the words. Pay attention to the imagery. Notice the feelings you have as you are reading it. Can you put yourself in the place of each of these young men? Which one would you rather be? Would you want success so much that you would pull out your check book, fill out the form and pop it in the mail? Remember, the internet wasn't even a spark in the mind of anyone at that time. This direct mail piece had to provoke immediate action before the offer was lost under a pile of other advertising.
Once you've read the letter and put yourself in the reader's position, begin copying the words. Feel the cadence as you write. Let the words and the rhythm of them imbed themselves within you from the interaction of what you see with your eyes and reproduce with the movement of hand. This simple task, although it takes time, will move you faster in learning the skill of copywriting.
You can then take what you've learned and write your own powerful sales letter in your own wonderful style that may be the next $2,000,000,000 winner.
Cathy Chapman, PhD, LCSW is a strategic marketer, copywriter and coach for the self-help and alternative health care market. To receive your Special Report "The Bare Necessities for an On-Line Marketing Campaign with Little Cash Outlay... Plus One" go to
http://www.mindbodyhealthwriter.com.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Chapman,_Ph.DArticle Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/6553599~~~~~
RECOMMENDED TOOL: How to Make $250+/Day Writing Simple, 500 Word ArticlesYuwanda Black of Inkwell Editorial is a well-known working freelance writer. She’s been doing this since 2007 and is offering to show you how to make fast money writing articles. And, there’s a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Check it out for yourself: Make Money Writing~~~~~
MORE ON FREELANCE WRITINGGhostwriting – Content RewritingYou Can Write for MoneyShould You Quit Your Day Job to Start Blogging? Read This Before You Decide~~~~~
To keep up with writing and marketing information, along with Free webinars, join us in The Writing World (top right top sidebar).Karen Cioffi
Award-Winning Author, Freelance/Ghostwriter
Author Online Presence Instructor
Create and Build Your Author Online Presence
http://www.karencioffi.com/author-online-presence-ecourse/Karen Cioffi Professional Writing Services
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com/karen-cioffi-writing-services/~~~~~
One Easy Way to Learn to Write Good Advertising Copy
Guest Post by Cathy Chapman, Ph.D. It doesn't matter what wonderful service you provide or how amazing your product is, if you don't let people know it's there, no one will buy it. Sure, word of mouth works for some things. For most, however, you need to write something and get it out to people to let them know what you have. The question is, how can someone on a limited budget with beginning skills as a copywriter, someone who writes advertising copy, let people know about their product.
The answer is simple. Copy what others write.No Plagiarizing AllowedWhen I said to copy what others wrote, I don't mean to steal their words and use them in your own advertising copy. I mean for you to take pen and paper in hand, no computers allowed unless you literally cannot use your hands, and copy a sales letter word for word. This is a powerful learning technique used in many circles. When you write with pen and paper, something magical happens in the brain. I can't tell you all the neurochemical responses in that brain of yours, but when you write by hand, there is a complex interaction in the brain that helps you learn faster and easier.
Don't spend your time physically reproducing any sales letter you come across. Use your time wisely and copy, for learning purposes only, the best sales letters you can find. You can do an internet search using the keywords "winning sales letters" and come up with a treasure trove of letters you can begin copying to get the hang of writing a good sales letter.
One of the most successful, if not the most successful letter to introduce a new product was written for a newspaper you may have read or at least have seen the name. That is The Wall Street Journal. This very successful financial newspaper was once only an idea in someone's mind. As time has demonstrated, it was a great idea. The problem was that people had to buy initial subscriptions for it to be successful. This very simple two-page letter has generated an estimated $2 billion in revenue for The Wall Street Journal.
The Step before CopyingThe sales letter that launched The Wall Street Journal is one to use for leaning by copying by hand numerous times. Before you put pen to paper, read it out loud several times. Listen to the cadence of the words. Pay attention to the imagery. Notice the feelings you have as you are reading it. Can you put yourself in the place of each of these young men? Which one would you rather be? Would you want success so much that you would pull out your check book, fill out the form and pop it in the mail? Remember, the internet wasn't even a spark in the mind of anyone at that time. This direct mail piece had to provoke immediate action before the offer was lost under a pile of other advertising.
Once you've read the letter and put yourself in the reader's position, begin copying the words. Feel the cadence as you write. Let the words and the rhythm of them imbed themselves within you from the interaction of what you see with your eyes and reproduce with the movement of hand. This simple task, although it takes time, will move you faster in learning the skill of copywriting.
You can then take what you've learned and write your own powerful sales letter in your own wonderful style that may be the next $2,000,000,000 winner.
Cathy Chapman, PhD, LCSW is a strategic marketer, copywriter and coach for the self-help and alternative health care market. To receive your Special Report "The Bare Necessities for an On-Line Marketing Campaign with Little Cash Outlay... Plus One" go to
http://www.mindbodyhealthwriter.com.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cathy_Chapman,_Ph.DArticle Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/6553599~~~~~
RECOMMENDED TOOL: How to Make $250+/Day Writing Simple, 500 Word ArticlesYuwanda Black of Inkwell Editorial is a well-known working freelance writer. She’s been doing this since 2007 and is offering to show you how to make fast money writing articles. And, there’s a 60-day money-back guarantee.
Check it out for yourself: Make Money Writing~~~~~
MORE ON FREELANCE WRITINGGhostwriting – Content RewritingYou Can Write for MoneyShould You Quit Your Day Job to Start Blogging? Read This Before You Decide~~~~~
To keep up with writing and marketing information, along with Free webinars, join us in The Writing World (top right top sidebar).Karen Cioffi
Award-Winning Author, Freelance/Ghostwriter
Author Online Presence Instructor
Create and Build Your Author Online Presence
http://www.karencioffi.com/author-online-presence-ecourse/Karen Cioffi Professional Writing Services
http://karencioffifreelancewriter.com/karen-cioffi-writing-services/~~~~~
By: Linda Formichelli,
on 3/14/2012
Blog:
The Renegade Writer
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Lots of writers take on both copywriting assignments and magazine articles. And a pressing question they have is whether it’s okay for them to do copywriting for an article source. In other words, if you interview Jane Smith for an article and she asks you to write some web copy for her…can you do it without breaking some ethical code or getting in trouble with your editor?
Using a client as a source is considered a conflict of interest. However, my advice is, if you ever have a question, is to simply ask your editor.
So here’s how I handled this recently.
I e-mailed my trade magazine editor:
Hi, Matt,
I had a great interview with Jeff Jones of MoneyManagers today!
Jeff had taken a look at my website and let me know he’d be interested in having me write some client success stories for him. I told him that I would need to talk to you because there’s a potential conflict of interest if I write about him for Magazine and then have him as a client as well.
How do you and Big Editor Boss feel about that? I’d love to write for MoneyManagers, but I definitely don’t want to jeopardize my relationship with Magazine, which is one of my favorite magazines to write for! So let me know, and I totally understand if you’d rather not have one of your writers writing for a source.
Thanks so much,
Linda
Here’s the response I got:
Hi Linda,
Thanks for getting in touch about this. No issue whatsoever with you freelancing for Magazine and MoneyManagers. The one caveat is that we want the content you provide us to be exclusive—in other words, we don’t want to see the same content in Magazine also on the MoneyManagers website or on a brochure. If the content is separate and different, I’m fine with it.
Matt
Success! I asked politely and was open to — and prepared for — my editor to say no. And I was pleasantly surprised when he gave me the okay.
So: Don’t be afraid to ask your editor if you’re approached by a source who wants you to write for them.
How about you? Have you ever done copywriting for a source? Did you ask your editor for her okay? How did it work out?
Note: My next Write for Magazines 8-week e-course starts on April 9, and the Basic version is Pay What You Want (minimum $30) — a huge discount from my original $120 price tag! One of my most recent students just landed an assignment from Grit. Check out the e-course page for more testimonials and success stories. [lf]
As most writers know, there isn’t much money in being an author; the money, if you can get a successful freelance writing business going, is in freelance writing work and ghostwriting.
There are so many different freelance writing and ghostwriting jobs you can do. But, to keep your target market focused and to strengthen your area of expertise, you should choose one or two specific types. Offering too many varying services weakens your platform and your authoritative status.
It should be mentioned that you can also learn the copywriting ropes and create a copywriting business or simply include its techniques to enhance your own writing. But for now we’ll stick to freelance writing work, including ghostwriting; although some of the opportunities may require a bit of basic copywriting skills.
Freelance Writing Work You Can Choose From:• Magazine freelancer - writing and submitting articles to paying magazines
• Writing for book publishers who accept freelance writers (you’ll need to query for a position)
• News reporter
• Feature writer for newspapers or magazines
• Getting work from job boards
• Editing and/or proofreading other writers’ work
• Critiquing other writers’ work
• Writing speeches
• Writing content for websites
• Writing content for newsletters
• Writing articles and blog posts
• Writing white papers or reports
• Writing books, e-books, or pamphlets
• Resume writing
• Writing product descriptions or guides
• Writing presentations
• Technical writing
• Educational writing
• Instructional writing
• Research writing
• Legal writing
The list goes on and on.
Aside from the special skills needed for copywriting, all written content has the need for a writer. And, chances are there is someone, somewhere looking for some type of
freelance writing work. It’s a matter of finding the work and attracting clients.
The important thing is to have your freelance writing business visible. I had someone contact me to write a six to ten page report as part of a job application requirement. He was busy over the weekend and wouldn’t have time to do it himself. He found me through a Google search using ‘ghostwriter’ as a keyword. I don’t do rush jobs, so had to decline.
This is another aspect of
freelance writing work that you may want to consider, there are some businesses that offer very quick turn around. People pay more money for a quick turn around.
Yet another point to make is that when someone contacts you for
freelance writing work, and for whatever reason, you can’t do it, try to be helpful in some way; make a lasting impression. I gave the ‘job application guy’ some tips on what to look for in a qualified freelance writer and told him if he needed help down the road to give me a call.
So, you can see that if you’re out there, doing information marketing and building a quality business, it definitely helps in finding clients and garnering
freelance writing work.
I'm putting together an e-book, <
I get a lot of assignments — I have to, as I’m the main breadwinner for my family! Since 1997, I’ve written for more than 130 magazines (the vast majority of them multiple times) and close to 30 corporate clients.
Writers often write to me asking why they aren’t getting assignments, and I know they expect me to say, “Oh, if you just did this in your query letters, the assignments would come rolling in.”
Yes: Query letters are important, and you want yours to be great. But they’re hardly the only marketing tactic that should be in the freelance writer’s toolbox. I think that where many writers go wrong is they limit their marketing to just one or two types.
Here are the various tactics I’ve used to get work:
Direct Mail
Guess how I landed clients ranging from Bay State Gas to Pizzeria Uno to Cheshire Medical Center? Through good old-fashioned direct mail. I send a sales letter, and interested prospects e-mail, call, or mail back my reply card. A direct mail packet is something that a potential client can keep in her files for when she needs a writer — as opposed to an e-mail, which is all too easy to delete. Recently, I got an assignment from a prospect who held on to my packet for more than two years.
How you can do it: Interested in trying copywriting yourself — and in doing a direct mail campaign? I recently wrote a guest post for Copyblogger on how I do it.
Twitter
A few months ago, I got a Twitter follow notice from a regional hospital. I sent a direct message saying, “Hey, I’m a freelance writer who writes on health topics. Do you need any help?” The hospital’s Twitter person sent my note along to their marketing person, who asked me for clips. We then had a phone call, and I’m on line to do some web writing work for this hospital.
In the meantime, the marketing person sent my name along to the hospital system’s web guru, who in turn passed it along to the marketing manager at one of their sister hospitals in Virginia. The marketing manager called me, and I landed an assignment worth $3,000.
How you can do it: Keep an eye on your follow notices so you’ll know if someone in a field you write for starts following you on Twitter, and be proactive by following potential clients as well. Send prospects a quick DM letting them know who you are and asking if you can help them. And be sure to keep your Twitter stream clean and professional. I occasionally post about my toddler, but most of my tweets are business-related — no posts about bodily functions or drunken antics.
Referrals
The hospital gig (which came in a roundabout way through Twitter) isn’t the only work I’ve gotten via referrals. One editor of a custom published magazine loved my work, and shared my info with other editors in the group. I’ve now written for four magazines at this company. This has happened at more than one custom publication!
How you can do it: Do kick-ass work for all your clients. Act like a professional, get your work in on time, and write great articles. Oh, and after you’ve gotten to know an editor, ask her to introduce you to other editors in the group.
The Blog
This blog was voted one of the Top 10 Blogs for Writers by Write to Done. The list of the winning blogs was picked up by Copyblogger, the owner of a consulting company in Chicago saw it
Freelance writing jobs abound for talented writers who are willing to seek them out on the Internet. Writers can sell their talent on the Web instead of just sitting back and waiting for book sales! Some freelance writers use job market websites to earn additional income. However, these websites typically use a bidding system for writing projects, so the pay is typically low because of intense competition between writers. Let's take a look at some good Internet-based, part-time freelance writing job arenas:
Women's Magazines with an Internet PresenceOne handy website, Freelance Writing, provides a
list of women's magazines that accept submissions from freelancers. The list includes a short description of each magazine, including their websites, as well as submission guidelines.
CopywritingThe success of many online businesses depends on creative advertising. Because of this, a talented copywriter can make a decent income. Companies seek talented writers to develop scripts for advertisements, promotional materials, landing pages, and public relations materials. They are also called upon to write short, informative articles. Some Internet copywriters develop original scripts for audio or video advertising campaigns.
Greeting CardsSome greeting card companies accept submissions from freelancers. Blue Mountain Arts, for example, pays freelancers as much as $300 for a short verse. The greeting cards sector is a good niche for poets and for writers with good senses of humor. Freelancers may improve their chances by offering ideas for a specific audience, such as novelty cards for kids.
Here are links to the submissions guidelines for some of the greeting card companies that accept submissions from freelancers:
Electronic NewslettersA variety of companies and organizations send newsletters via email. Basically, these jobs involve writing articles, providing relevant information about the organization or it's industry, and perhaps conducting interviews. Depending on factors such as the importance and size of the organization as well as the frequency of the newsletter, you can make anywhere from $1,500 to $6,000 per newsletter.
BloggingFreelance writers can blog part-time to add to their income. To help make it easier to find these opportunities, there are numerous websites that post blogging jobs. Visit
Problogger's jobs web page and
the Freelance Writing Jobs Network. Both of these useful websites post a wide variety of blogging jobs.
Some blog-based websites hire bloggers onto their staffs.
b5media, based in Toronto, operates a wide variety of blogs. Their bloggers get paid from $100 to $250 per month based on the quality of their blog posts as well as their experience. However, they also can get bon
Writing Copy vs. Writing for Yourself: How Not to Kill Your Creativityby Joy PaleyIf you’re a naturally creative person, freelance writing might seem like a perfect job. It brings flexible hours and a varied work environment. And once you get good at it, you can earn enough to shorten your workday and fit in more time for your creative endeavors. Even writing copy is writing, right? It all flexes a similar part of your brain.
Try sitting down and working on a short story or plot outline for you nascent novel after typing up copy all day, and you might renounce everything I just said, however. Writing copy seems to put your brain into a certain mode, a mode of quickly synthesizing information and rearranging it that’s definitely different than thinking creatively.
When working creatively, you need a relaxed brain that's willing to move spontaneously in new directions when they call. Getting your brain from one mode to the other isn’t easy, but it’s possible. There are some things you can do to keep from simply wanting to turn on the TV and veg out after you’ve spent the day writing what other people want you to write.
One important tactic is to compartmentalize your creative life from your work life. If you keep them separated physically, you’ll be able to more easily separate them mentally. If you spend the day in your home office writing copy, go out when you’re ready to get going on your creative work. Find a café you like or try a cozy cubicle in your local library. You’ll get rid of those visual cues that tell your brain it’s time to switch into efficient work mode.
Another thing to try if you have the time is to do creative work in the morning before you begin your daily grind.
I’ve gotten good at writing copy and can do it if I’m tired, depressed, or whatever. When I’m working on my short stories, it’s different. I need a fresh brain that’s not still subconsciously editing that article I just finished. When my mind is relaxed and fully rested from sleep, it’s easier to slip into that creative flow that when it’s burned out from working all day.
Meditation is another great way to clear your brain and get rid of residual thoughts of work. It doesn’t have to be long, difficult, or complicated; simply sitting for five minutes, focusing on a candle flame, and breathing deeply will quiet down the clutter in your head. Multitasking, a great work skill, can be the death of creativity. After I’ve spent the day shuffling between fifteen tabs on my web browser and quickly skimming information, a short meditation can get me out of multitasking mode.
What’s the common theme of all my suggestions for staying creative when you’re also balancing a life of freelance writing? Identify when and how you are your creative best, and find ways to clear your brain and get it there. The flexibility of a freelance writing career can help accommodate your creative aspirations, if you put a little time and effort into nurturing them yourself.
* * *
Joy Paley is a guest blogger for My Dog Ate My Blog and a writer on online degrees for Guide to Online Schools.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Would you like to participate in Friday "Speak Out!"?
Not many writers think of the practicality of knowing copywrite techniques. I’ve taken the AWAI Copywriting course, I’ve read a number of books on the topic, and I’ve written a number of copywrite ads, product descriptions, product guides, and even white papers.
Copywriting is a skill that all writers and businesses should:
1. Be aware of
2. Learn how to do it
3. Know where to look for qualified copywriters if they don’t have the time or inclination to do it themselves.
Well, for those who opt for numbers 1 and 2, there is a FREE 10 day workshop offered by
Online Copywriting 101 that is designed for website owners, bloggers and anyone else who wants to learn to write online copy like a pro!
Copywriting takes special knowledge and skills, so it really is a good idea to take some basic copywriting classes even if the only copy you plan on writing is for your own website or blog.
These types of opportunities don’t come around everyday – this is a chance to take 10 classes in copywriting for FREE!
Here is the lineup of impressive presenters for the Copywriting Telesummit that's coming in September:Session #1 Wednesday, September 1:Copywriting's First Commandment: Know Thy Target Audience by Karon Thackston
Session #2 Thursday, September 2:Copywriting Basics & Planning: Two Steps Pros Never Skip by Karon Thackston
Session #3 Friday, September 3:Sales Letters 2.0: More Than Long, Scrolling Copy by Michel Fortin
Session #4 Saturday, September 4:Busting the Press Release Writing Myths by Shannon Cherry
S
ession #5 Sunday, September 5:Blogging Basics That Make All the Difference by Lynn Terry
Session #6 Monday, September 6:Article Writing Secrets Your Mother Never Told You About by Jeff Herring
Session #7 Tuesday, September 7:Dissecting, Diagramming and Delivering Exceptional Landing Pages by Brian Massey
Session #8 Wednesday, September 8:Applying the Science of Persuasion to Copywriting by Kevin Hogan
Session #9 Thursday, September 9:The Myths & Musts of Writing Search Engine Optimized (SEO) Copy by Karon Thackston
Session #10 Friday, September 10:Crafting Intriguing Headlines That Pull by Karon Thackston
This is a pretty amazing line up of presenters, and it covers a great deal of information, even SEO.
Don’t procrastinate. Go to Copywriting Online 101 RIGHT NOW and sign up.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Related Articles:Copywriting and Marketing at its Best Inbound Marketing: The New Big Boy on the Block ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Great Writing Tools:Writing for Children One Step at a Time AND Writing, Publishing, and Marketing - You Can Do
Since I have some really fantastic news, I'm adding an extra post to this week's line-up:
It's exciting, and the team at DKV is thrilled to have Kathy on board. Here's the press release issued:
DKV Writing 4 U
http://dkvwriting4u.comMEDIA RELEASEContact: Karen Cioffi
Email:
[email protected]For Immediate ReleaseAuthor, Editor, and Freelance Writer Kathy Stemke Joins the Team at DKV Writing 4 U DKV Writing 4 U is privileged to welcome Kathy Stemke to the team at:
http://dkvwriting4u.comAs a super special way of welcoming Kathy Stemke on board as an editor and freelance writer at DKV Writing 4 U, we are having a SUPER SPECIAL July 1st through July 15th, 2010. Stop by our site for the details to this special and to learn more about Kathy Stemke.
DKV Writing 4 U is a writing service that includes ghostwriting, copywriting, editing, proofreading, critiquing, media releases, and much more.
With experienced and professional writers, we offer quality work at affordable prices. In addition, there is a FREE gift just for visiting. And, if you subscribe to our site, you will receive another FREE e-book about writing and/or marketing.
DKV Writing 4 U strives to help writers on their journey toward publication; businesses increase visibility and opportunities; and for those just starting out, we even help with blog and website creation.
Karen Cioffi is an author, ghostwriter, and freelance writer; co-moderator of a children’s critique group; a reviewer for multiple sites; as well as founder and manager of VBT Writers on the Move.
Learn about the DKV Writing Team at: http://www.dkvwriting4u.com/dkv-writing-team/~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Be sure to stop by DKV Writing 4 U and check out the writing services SPECIAL.
Until next time,
Karen CioffiAuthor, Ghostwriter-for-hire, Freelance writer, Reviewerhttp://karencioffi.comhttp://dkvwriting4u.comhttp://nothingventurednothinggained.org
Our friend, Simon Rose, has been helping my husband revamp and copywrite our Landscape Artisan website. Simon’s rates are extremely reasonable and he is a pleasure to work with. Simon is the author of several fantasy and science fiction novels for the middle grade crowd. He is also a history buff with an excellent sense of humor. When our website is all fixed and changed, I’ll let you know. Right now, we are only happy with the photos in the photo gallery, but feel free to visit anyway. My friend Vicki Plaggemeier was kind enough to write an opening paragraph for us this summer.
From Simon:
I have recently uploaded a video to YouTube, which may be accessed at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TipYYEIgOtE in which I talk about my books, my workshops for adults and schools, plus my various services for writers. The video is also posted on My Space and Facebook.
Thank you,
Simon Rose
This afternoon, I’m going to teach a Social Studies Lesson about voting I found on Scholastic.com. It’s a lesson about having kids persuade adults to vote in a non-partisan way. I created a PowerPoint to go along with the lesson. Feel free to use it if you’re interested in teaching the same [...]
As the new hire, I have been asked if I could write a post about my first few days working at Penguin and, because I haven’t actually signed a contract yet and they might at any moment choose to evict me without notice or pay, I have decided it might be a good career move to agree.
The first thing I could say is that it’s possible that some people here at Penguin headquarters have perhaps not ‘moved on’ from Sam the Copywriter, for whom I am maternity cover. Often when I am talking to one of my colleagues, their attention and their gaze will drift to a point somewhere off in the distance and they will begin to loudly reminisce. ‘Sam always produced such excellent copy. Sam was such good fun. Sam was so very pregnant.’ And when I tell them, for not the first time, that I’m not Sam the Copywriter, only then does their stare focus on the very centre of me and, with a frown and considerable distaste, they say, ‘No. No you’re not.’
Still, it’s work, which is a good thing for a young man to be doing. Yes, I’ll miss the long days spent deciding whether to watch Dragons’ Den on Dave or QI on Dave +1, finally settling on QI only to awaken from an accidental nap to discover with delight that – oh! – Dragons’ Den is on. But the bills don’t pay themselves, I suppose, not in old London town, anyway.
So I have determined to drag myself from bed each morning, take my race number and strap the bedraggled corpse of this septuagenarian company to my back, to have it ride me and my talents to greater success, more product shifted, bigger executive bonuses, &c.
...
I am not being entirely honest here. In fact, I am avoiding seriously describing working as a copywriter at Penguin for three reasons.
The first is that when I have attempted to describe my new job to my friends I tend to have some difficulty in convincing them that it is a job at all, and further difficulty persuading them that it is a job I could possibly deserve.
The second is that, even with incredulity suspended, I can see how it could be deeply annoying for somebody that I actually get paid for this. I come into an office full of lovely and enthusiastic people and get to read some of the finest books ever written (so far my charges have included Of Mice and Men, The Big Sleep, In Cold Blood and Rabbit, Run). Then I write a paragraph or two about them. There are a range of teas and coffees available. If that all gets too tiresome for me, I can choose to go and 'work' in a café-like room with a view over the river.
The third reason is that a lifetime of being a curmudgeon has not really prepared me for describing such a ... delightful set of circumstances. Just what do you say? It's fantastic. Just now I had to check through some covers in the Boys Own Books style. They're beautiful. It's exciting to be around these great, wonderfully designed books. Everyone is very nice. Sam left me half a box of Cornflakes. Life is good.
And I at last have the power to correct a regrettable mistake from the history of this blog. Let it be known that, contrary to what you may have read, Transformers was about the most fun it's possible to have in a cinema. That's right – down the memory hole you go, Sam's opinion.
Alan
Copywriter
..........................................................................
Remember that by posting a comment you are agreeing to the website
Terms of Use. If you consider any content on this site to be inappropriate, please report it to Penguin Books by emailing
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World's longest INSTALLED novel. (Link via Ben Dooley at The Millions.)
I saw Lee Miller's photos at the Monash Gallery of Art recently. Among several that were astounding, the shot of Miller in Hitler's bath, with the dust of Dachau rubbed firmly into the bathmat, was the one I returned to more than twice. Ali Smith discusses Lee Miller's photography and writing in The Guardian this week.
Speaking of light and shade - Grand Text Auto comes recommended by Christy Dena of Cross Media Entertainment, and I am really enjoying this addition to my RSS reader, especially when catching up on things like this.
The State Library of Victoria gets a mention in here, just after a shot of the Sorbonne's library.
Way to go. And yes, the crowd at Curious Expeditions do credit Candida Höfer's magnificent tome for some of these pictures (which is where I've seen them before.) As well as offering a link to a Flickr account. (Link from the ALIA New graduates mailing list.)
I'd like to see Nabs try this.
In the last of the Melbourne Writers' Festival news, David Prater covers his session with John Tranter, and the Speakeasy at AWM Online is going to be a regular reporting spot for writers' festivals down the coast -they did Byron a few weeks back, and now they're doing Brisbane. So do watch that space.
Found 'in an unguarded moment...'
investigating NoveList, a database for selecting books based on readers' preferences which is syndicated to Victorian public libraries and has some intriguing subject headings,
I found that under "Elvis Presley impersonators" there are 21 books listed!!
So for all those fans of the Elvis masqueraders, wherever you may be, here's a taste of what's out there. (Abstracts from NoveList, except where reviews are acknowledged.)
Duff, Gerald
That's all right, Mama: a novel (1995)
Publishers Weekly Review:
'Serious literary fiction about Elvis? You bet! Duff's (Graveyard Working) transcendent prose swings and sways, whoops and moans in pulsating cadences reminiscent of the King. The hilariously pedantic introduction is a setup for the "manuscript" that follows: the wry, gritty and profoundly moving autobiography of Elvis's identical twin brother, who allegedly died at birth. Jesse Garon Presley relates how, from his earliest childhood, half-crazy mother Gladys lavished all her attention and affection on Elvis. Brought up as Elvis's "cousin" (although Mama calls on Jesse to stand in for his twin from time to time), Jesse is left to his own devices-tinkering with cars and, later, hanging out in juke joints in Memphis and nearby Alabama. Jesse tells how it was he, not Elvis, who made the first recording at Sun Studio, and how, much the better dancer, he doubled for the burned-out "Bubba" on the Ed Sullivan Show and in the performance of the title song in Jailhouse Rock. Although he hides from Elvis for years at a time, Jesse can't keep from filling in for him-even as a husband to Priscilla-when asked. The ultimate irony is that, after his famous twin dies, Jesse is still not free to be himself: he ends up as an Elvis impersonator. A rich and well-realized tale, even for readers to whom August 16 (Elvis's death date) is just another day.'
George, Anne
Murder boogies with Elvis (2001)
'Enjoying their golden years, amateur sleuths Mary Alice and Patricia Anne are delighted to be invited to a benefit, but their fun turns deadly when an Elvis impersonator takes a fatal dive into the band and the sisters must find a killer before it is too late.' New York: W. Morrow, 2001, 243 p.
Henderson, William McCranor
Stark raving Elvis (1997)
Byron Bluford is a down-and-out factory worker with a dream--to somehow recapture that one shining moment of his life when he debuted his Elvis impersonation at the high-school talent show
Douglas, Carole Nelson
Cat in a jeweled jumpsuit (1999)
(Sounds like a suitable sequel for "That Darn Cat" - GT).
'Midnight Louie, feline detective, and his human partner, Temple Barr, take on a mysterious case involving death threats, ghosts, and the King himself--Elvis Presley.'
Christie, Amanda (Children's book)
Lucy's angel (2001)
In which one of the protagonists ends up riding around Vegas with an EI.
Levy, Elizabeth, (Children's )
Mystery of too many Elvises, The (2003)
'When they decide to hold an Elvis impersonation act starring Fletcher, Jill's hound dog, for the school pet talent show, Gwen and Jill are shocked when Fletcher goes missing, thus beginning the search to find the culprit.'
Koslowski, Rich
The King (2005)
'A very enigmatic Elvis impersonator takes the Vegas strip--and the world--by storm, but when a former tabloid journalist makes it his personal mission to find out The King's true identity, he discovers much more than he bargained for. Mature.'
Macpherson, Suzanne
She woke up married (2005)
'In Las Vegas to "celebrate" her dreaded thirtieth birthday, Paris James wakes up after an evening of overindulgence to discover herself in bed with--and married to--a sexy Elvis impersonator. Original.'
And that's not all. There's a subject heading in NoveList for 'Barbeque cooking' (of course it's listed near 'Elvis impersonators'. Of course.) Not to mention 'Women restaurateur detectives'...
Cordite editor and poet David Prater has a blog (and has linked to me under the Pynchon Wiki. I feel special.)
A friend has done some work on this, so I'll try to take it in on the weekend, or shortly thereafter.
The US and British Poets Laureate, Donald Hall and Andrew Motion, will read together in the US this month. Link via the Library of Congress' brand new blog.
Ewwwh, I wish this wasn't happening, but apparently it is. (I'm yet to watch Stephen Rea play Leopold Bloom, either.) Surely the whole point of these novels is that a significant amount of what goes on is, essentially, pretty much in your head. My video shop guy could be disappointed - he is already expressing a preference for novels over film, says he's sick of films because? 'they leave nothing up to the imagination'. (This is a man who thinks nothing of acquiring Tarkovsky, Kurosawa, and Tati for the outer eastern suburban cinephile.)
However, the news has reminded me that I have never seen Mangold's well-regarded debut feature, Heavy, starring a young Liv Tyler. The link to the Variety article comes from Ed Champion, who notes wryly that ' it won't be filmed in a basement in Terre Haute' (the quote from Ford is at the end of Rich's article).
I didn't know this - Nielsen BookScan does not record sales of YA literature accurately, so they go massively under-reported, according to the Read Alert blog.
Writer Stephen Elliott spent a month offline and has streamlined his Internet habits - he claims that no only does he now read more books, but that his reading selection is more challenging. Of the initial cold turkey phase, he says:
'I bought an old word processor and left my fancy laptop with a friend.
"How will you exist?" my roommate asked. "You'll have no idea what's going on. You won't be able to find anything."
He was right about not being able to find anything. I rode through the hills west of San Francisco's Mission District on my bicycle one cold night looking for a party. Normally I would have printed a map after searching online for the address. Or when I realized I was lost, I would have called a friend and asked him to Google the address for me. Instead, I went home.
Link via Maud.
And in the same issue of Poets and Writers magazine, Jonathan Lethem's recent proposal that he will give away the film rights to his new book in a competition is analysed by Doug Diesenhaus, who has noted that the requirement that the ancillary rights to the book be ceded to the public domain after five years is something new for Hollywood, to put it mildly.
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You gave me some great ideas about how to separate my "making a living" tasks from my creative and novel writing. I teach college courses online and I write non-fiction which involves research. I find it very difficult to focus on my novel (which is what I want to be at the top of my list of professions, not the bottom). Procrastination on the novel takes over as creativity diminishes. At times I go to a coffee shop to novel write, but I love my home office/studio. Maybe reversing what I do would be better---go elsewhere to teach and research, leaving the comfort of my home office for novel writing. The meditation exercise is a good idea, too.
Thank you.
Carmen
http://positiverandomthoughts.blogspot.com
This is helpful, thank you!