Beth Greenslade's Blog, page 55

How To Approach A Business As A Content Writer

If you are hoping to expand your content writing business and make a good living from being a freelance writer, you need to stop waiting for jobs to come to you. You might have a great website, and you might be able to land good jobs when you apply for them. However, if you don't go out there and shout about your skills, you could be missing a trick.

It doesn't matter what kind of business you are involved with; content marketing can make a difference. The way you word your website, your landing pages, product descriptions, and so on, can make a significant impact on business success when it comes to generating more sales. 

All businesses need good content writers, and it's your job as one to make them realize it.

So if you fancy working for a particular brand, or find a specific industry fascinating, why no get paid to write about it? Don't just wait for those perfect jobs to land in your lap, go out and get them! 

But how do you approach businesses to offer your content writing services? You need to get smart and have a proper strategy in place to ensure that they take you seriously and understand how you will add value. 

Have all the right pieces in place first

Having a slick website, an easily accessible portfolio, and a business blog in place before you start will demonstrate that you take yourself seriously, that you have the experience, and that you mean businesses.

Approach the right person

Make sure you do your research and work out who the best person is to contact in the first instance. If you approach the wrong person in the business, your query may be dismissed or ignored because it's not in that person's remit or just doesn't concern them.

Explain how you can help

Be very clear about why you are getting in touch and how you intend to help them. If you have noticed that the business website isn't clear, tell them (politely), if you can see that they don't do any social media marketing, explain how this could make a difference and why you're the right person to assist them.

Give examples

Talk about how great you are, but don't forget to give examples of previous work that you've had that's relative and how you've helped other businesses grow. If you can't do this, point to published pieces or your blog and find statistics on the importance of excellent content marketing to help prove that you know your stuff.

Show off your credentials

Don't forget to tell them a bit about yourself, your history and experience, any relevant qualifications, and why you'd be the perfect fit for the role (even if it's a role you've created yourself)!

Generate trust

Share positive reviews or testimonials from other clients so they can rest assured that you're a decent writer. You could also offer to send samples and let them know you'd do a certain number of rounds of amends so they'd have a chance to give you feedback. By focusing on what you can offer them and how you can help them, you'll begin to generate trust. It's al about pointing out their problems and then delivering solutions straight away so it feels like an offer they can't refuse.

By following the above tips, you can start to write about what you genuinely care about, build up your portfolio, and make a generous living. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and approach those businesses today!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post How To Approach A Business As A Content Writer appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Lesser-Known Writing Tips That Really Work

Finding useful writing tips can be a great way to ensure that you hone and improve your writing as much as possible. However, there is so much writing advice out there that it is difficult to know what really does work. Here we’ve gathered together some of the best tried and tested writing tips that work, and that you might not have heard of before!

Keep a logbook of your writing and make it super detailed

A logbook where you keep track of your writing endeavors can help shed lots of light on how best to structure your writing time, so you are at your most productive. After each writing session, make a note of:

Where you wrote

What time you wrote

How long you wrote

What you wrote

How you felt

Whether you hit your targets

Look for patterns over a few weeks in terms of your mood, location, timings, and so on, and you’ll be able to figure out what you need to be more productive. 

2. Write one sentence at a time

Sometimes writing can be a massive struggle, and even opening the document we need to get started seems like way too much effort. However, if you tell yourself to take things one sentence at a time, this can be a useful way of making the whole process seem less daunting. Just tell yourself you are going to write one sentence, then write another, and another. You’ll have your finished manuscript in no time, promise!

3. Experiment with different locations to write in

Don’t just assume that your office or your sofa is the best place for you to write. Try writing in all sorts of different locations - your local library, on public transport, in a cafe, on a park bench. You might realize that your setting is holding you back, and you feel so much more inspired elsewhere.

4. Stop writing from beginning to end

Linear writing can be helpful sometimes, but it can also feel challenging if you can’t focus on what happens next in your story. Next time you write, why not try instead to concentrate on a particular scene that you know you want to take place even if it’s not the next thing that happens. You might realize that you write better when you don’t just work from the beginning to the middle to the end.

5. Switch up your media to refresh your imagination

Writing can feel monotonous at times, and lots of writers find that simply by switching up the media that they are working with, they suddenly feel inspired anew and much more creative. So the next time you are suffering from writer’s block, why not give this a try? 

By following the above tips, you should find yourself refreshed, inspired, motivated, and progressing fast.

Do you have any weird and wonderful writing tips that work for you? Please share them with us here!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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How To Write A Gripping Introduction

Whether you are writing a novel, a blog post, or an essay, crafting a gripping introduction is crucial. Your introduction needs to not only grip your readers and make them excited to read what's next but also set the tone, give some background information and explain engagingly and entertainingly what's going to happen next.

Sometimes, starting your writing can be the biggest obstacle you must face, so what are the steps that you can take to ensure you begin on the right foot? 

Study the greats

There is nothing more helpful when it comes to perfecting your intro's than looking at how other people did it. It doesn't matter what kind of content you are trying to produce; you can do your research by hunting out examples of the same type that you know have been successful. Whether that's famous novels or pieces of content that have been liked and shared thousands of times, study how the authors of these pieces have structured their introductions. You can also make notes about the kind of language they have used, and see if you can find any patterns or consistencies that could help inform your work. 

Create curiosity

One of the most crucial aspects of any introduction is to spark your reader's curiosity. If your reader gets to the end of your introduction, and you have failed to do this, they have zero motivation to continue writing. Think about who you are speaking to, what does your reader want to know? What interests them? What excites and inspires them? By understanding your reader better, you are sure to craft your introduction in a way that will encourage them to find out more.

Write in short sentences

Writing in shorter sentences is a good rule in general, but it is even more important to pay attention to when writing an introduction. Short sentences will ensure that you hold your reader's attention and get your points across more succinctly. If your sentences run on for too long, you are likely to be in danger of confusing your reader or losing their interest. 

Use the rule of three

Using three phrases to emphasize your point is a great way to make an impact on your reader, to drive home what you are trying to say, and to keep your introduction lively and engaging. Some examples of how the rule of three is used include: 

"Government of the people, by the people, and for the people."

"Stop, Drop, and roll."

"Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas!"

This repetitive language works because it's poetic and powerful and will work wonders to captivate your reader and motivate them to read on.

By following the above tips, whatever you are writing, you can ensure that you start in the right way and then give your writing the best chance of gaining attention and making sure that your readers read on!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post How To Write A Gripping Introduction appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Rethink Your Writing Goals

We all know how important it is to have goals, but when it comes to setting ones around what we hope to achieve with our writing, it could be that we are approaching them all wrong. Rather than merely setting writing tasks for yourself, such as 'x number chapters by x date' or 'x number of words per day', perhaps instead we should approach our goal-setting differently.

As it's the start of the new year, we are probably in the right frame of mind to reconsider our writing goals to not only make sure that we progress in the right way but that we set goals that truly align with what we desire for ourselves as writers.

So how do we do this?

Ask yourself what you want

You might think that you have a simple answer to asking yourself what you want when it comes to your writing, but actually taking the time to answer this question thoroughly is a good idea. Consider what it is that would make you feel successful, that would make you feel as though your time spent writing was time well spent? Try to be both detailed and specific in your answer, and you'll be able to pull out some much more precisely defined goals once you're done. 

Ask yourself what obstacles will prevent you from getting what you want

If we want to achieve our writing goals, we need to be able to succeed no matter what. There are, unfortunately, plenty of obstacles that might prevent you from doing so. Consider what the ones that are the most likely to get in your way are. By actively seeking to understand where we might come across hurdles, we can better prepare ourselves for them and have solutions ready and waiting to make getting over them as smooth and painless as possible. 

Ask yourself how you need to change to get what you want

Often we set our writing goals without considering what we as writers might need to change about ourselves to achieve them. It's no good setting a goal of finishing your novel by the end of the year if you aren't willing to make the necessary changes to your lifestyle to do this. Writers need to have certain qualities, and if we lack them, we need to work on ourselves to improve. Are you ready to make these changes? Identifying them and understanding what you must do is crucial.

Ask yourself, who can help you get what you want?

It's also a great idea to identify other people who can help you achieve your goals. Having a list of contacts ready and waiting who you know can assist you in particular tasks will mean that when you do need to reach out for help, you won't spend time fretting over who to contact and can keep progressing down the right track without batting an eyelid. 

By asking yourself the above, you will get to the bottom of your genuine hopes, desires, and aspirations as a writer, you will have already preempted the obstacles that might arise to get in your way and you''ll also have identified some comrades to ensure that you have help when you need it. By rethinking our writing goals in this way, we are so much more likely to achieve them! 

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post How To Rethink Your Writing Goals appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How Not To Quit Writing

Writing is tough, we all know that. If you have a clear idea for your story in your head, it doesn't necessarily mean that you can capture it the way you want to when you start writing. This can be frustrating. Progress can become slow, and you may begin to doubt your abilities as a writer.

You might even give up before you've finished.

Unfortunately, it's not that common for would-be writer's to quit because of self-doubt or simply because they feel they don't have the time to commit to writing a novel or just that they are scared of doing so, and what might happen afterward. 

However, the only writers that have ever experienced any success are the ones that didn't quit, and for most of them, they had to overcome many obstacles and struggle over several hurdles before they achieved their writing goals.

Research conducted by Angela Duckworth from the University of Pennsylvania suggests that grit is a critical factor in becoming successful. Grit is all about having resilience. It's about failing, picking yourself back up again, and trying over and over until you get to where you want to be.

At the start of the new year, we often feel full of resilience, and determination to reach our goals. However, as the weeks roll by, the more challenging our obstacles become, or other things get in the way, and the easier it can be for resilience to fade. 

In an interview, Duckworth describes grit as:

"having stamina…sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality: Grit is living life as a marathon, not a sprint."

For many of us, the reality is that if things become difficult or frustrating, or we don't get the results that we want the first time, we can all too quickly quit. For writers, the path to success is longer and harder than most. We don't just have to write; we have to send off proposals, we have to market, we have to cultivate a following, set up a website, start a blog. There are so many potential frustrations, so many enormous challenges, so many situations where we flail or feel incompetent or have to learn how to do something completely new from scratch - it's no wonder we feel like giving up.

However, by sticking to your goals, and keeping steely-eyed, determined and focused on what you want to achieve with your writing, you can have better self-control. Self-control is also key to a writer's success because it is necessary to delay gratification, control one's behavior, to manage impulses. Doing so keeps us focused, prevents distractions from overwhelming us, and helps us to pay attention and to continue to write more and more and over and over until we get it right. 

So in order not to quit writing, you must seek out what motivates you. You must be mindful and focused, composed and confident, able to focus on the process rather than the outcome, ready to remove the fear of failure and regulate your emotions, celebrate small wins and acknowledge your progress and be open to learning and improving and regarding mistakes and failures as opportunities to do so. 

So will you quit writing this year? Or will you stick with it and use grit, self-control, and passion to achieve your goals instead? 

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post How Not To Quit Writing appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Create Characters That Stand Out From The Crowd

Every novelist knows that compelling characters are crucial if you hope to write a successful novel, and one thing that makes any individual in your book compelling is giving them certain characteristics that are unusual, and particular traits, mannerisms, or behaviorisms that make them stand out from the crowd.

So what the things that a writer can do to ensure this happens? Here are some useful tips.

Make every character a hero or a villain.

Don't just focus on your protagonists or even the main characters in your story, if you want your cast of characters to stand out, you need to make each and every one of them a hero or a villain in some way. This doesn't mean every individual needs a starring role, but they should all have qualities that make them heroic or villainous and commit acts that change the course of events in some way.

Give your character's quirks.

Characters with ticks and mannerisms that make them distinctive will appeal to your readers, make them more memorable, and make it easy for your reader to differentiate between them. 

Give each a unique voice.

Pay attention to dialect and ensure that each of your chargers speaks in a way that is particular to them. Doing so again will help readers know who is talking at any given time and eliminate confusion as well as make your characters different from one another.

Ensure readers visualize them differently

Charter descriptions are also essential, and by adding in descriptions of their appearance and making sure that you have a good range of different looking characters in your story, you will help to ensure that they stand out.

Make characters multi-layered.

Characters need to feel real, be three dimensional, and have different layers that are revealed as the story unfolds and your readers get to know them better. 

Ensure characters compliment your plot

Unique characters that have to perform within a dull plot will stand out for all the wrong reasons. Make sure that your amazing, original characters work within your story, so work hard to ensure that your plot is every bit as unique and exciting as them.

Have them do unexpected things

Unique characters don't always act in the way you expect them to. By adding twists and turns into your novel or making your characters change, grow, or even react in a way that might be unexpected can help them stand out. It is, of course, essential to do this with care. If a character suddenly behaves in a way that's 'out of character,' this could jar the readers, and no feel very realistic, so make sure there is a reason that makes sense for them to do so. 

By following the above tips, you can ensure that you create unique, remarkable, memorable characters that your readers are sure to love!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post How To Create Characters That Stand Out From The Crowd appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

Top Tips For Story Development

Having a great idea for a story is one thing. Being able to flesh it out and get it all down on paper is quite another.

One great idea doesn't necessarily make a brilliant story, and the ability to plot, and to start developing that initial spark is an essential skill that all writers need to learn to see if they have a viable plot and to make that plot then a great one.

So what are the steps necessary to develop a winning plot?

Look at examples of great stories

Your fellow writers are your best inspiration. Take a look at some of the most celebrated works of fiction and make notes about how the plot develops and the different layers, twists, and turns that are used to create a compelling and riveting story. The more research you do, the more familiar you will become with the types of things you need to include to grip your reader's attention.

Use a methodical process

Plotting is all about carefully crafting and methodically mapping out your story. Great plots are all about powerful and moving ideas, combined with cleverly provoking reader curiosity and delivering compelling characters who are caught in a fantastic adventure. Using plotting tools to help guide you is a practical way to shape all your ideas, to develop characters, and to create a timeline so that you can see how your story pans out over time. You will also be able to note any points where the plot slower seems to drag and better understand how to ensure that your book remains a page tuner throughout. 

Focus on intriguing characters

A fantastic plot and intriguing characters go hand in hand, and developing your story means developing your characters also. The way your characters change and grow and react and interact with the world around them and the events that take place is essential, and getting this right makes all the difference when it comes to the success of your book. Your characters need histories, they need goals, they need obstacles, and they need relationships with other characters to make them exciting and relatable for your readers

Ask yourself the 5 W's

A plot is essentially made up of the '5 w's' – 'who', 'what', 'why', 'where' and 'when'. Answers these to ensure you stay on track and develop your story further.

Don't forget your subplots

Make sure you take time to flesh out your subplots too. Your more minor subordinate plots should support the main storyline, and enhance and compliment it rather than be a standalone thing.

Get feedback

Before you fully commit to writing your novel, it's always a good idea to get some feedback to make sure you haven't missed out on anything obvious, or there aren't any glaring holes or inconsistencies that you have missed because you are too close to it.

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post Top Tips For Story Development appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

New Year’s Resolutions For Every Writer

All writers know that self-discipline and determination are crucial to success. That's why it is a good idea to set goals and deadlines as well as to understand what motivates and inspires you to keep you on the right track. However, when it comes to specifics, often it can be tough to decide what you should focus on. If you want some good New Years' resolutions to start you off in the right frame of mind in 2020, then look no further. Here are some great options that might work for you!

Be more honest

Honesty in writing helps to give you an authentic voice that's genuinely yours and allows you to tell the stories that you were born to tell. 

Try a new genre

Don't be afraid to experiment with genre. You might not be having success because you aren't willing to try different things, and when you do, you could open yourself up to a whole new world of possibilities. 

Measure activity instead of results

Instead of focusing on your results, this year, why not look at your achievement in terms of how productive you've been. If you put the work in and truly dedicate yourself to the craft, that's what counts.

Push yourself

Don't be afraid to take risks, do things that scare you, and take on new challenges that push you to the limit - it will inspire you and motivate you and make for a great story too.

Learn about marketing

Writer's need to be good salespeople, and they need to understand the techniques that help to sell. This year spend some of your time focusing on the marketing side of things, and you could be rewarded in terms of book sales.

Ban excuses

Write, regardless of how you feel and ban writing excuses and procrastination from your life. This year, writing is your priority. 

Do your research

Becoming a better researcher will make you a better writer. So whatever you are thinking about writing in 2020, make sure that you bother to do your research and use it wisely. 

Start a writing blog and set up your author website

If you are serious about building your readership, then make an effort to get your writing business set up as soon as possible. Now is the time to create a slick author website, and start a regular blog to attract new readers.

Finish that book

Of course, if you are midway through your book, finishing that novel is going to be a top priority. Make sure that you get it done this year!

Get something published

We know being a published novelist is difficult. However, getting SOMETHING published is not so hard. See how it feels to see your name in print and dedicate yourself to finding a publication who'll print your work.

These New Year's resolutions are just some of the promises you can make to yourself to try and make this year your best one yet. However, we all know that making resolutions is one thing, but sticking to them is quite another. So above everything else, try to muster the resolve and determination to achieve your goals - no matter what they are, you'll be so glad when you do.

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

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How To Plan Your Writing Year

Now that the end of the year is upon us, it is a fantastic time to evaluate our successes and failures and decide how we can learn from our mistakes, build upon our achievements and have an even greater writing year next year. 

So what are the things that all writers should consider doing to plan for and prepare for the start of the new writing year? Here are some useful tips:

Set goals

Set clear and specific goals for yourself. Think about the end of next year and where you hope to be by then, what would make you proudest? Once you have decided what your aims are, break them down into small goals and milestones so you can work out how to progress.

Set timelines

Once you know what you have to do to achieve your goals, you need to understand how long it will take you to complete them. Hopefully, by now, you have a good understanding of how prolific a writer you are, and where you are both most efficient and inefficient. Try to use this knowledge to map out a realistic timeline of what needs to be done by when.

Create your schedule

Following on from the above, you then need to map out your weekly writing schedule to ensure that it coincides with what you hope to achieve. The above steps may need tweaking and refining as you understand how much time you have and what your schedule will look like, try to be realistic, and don't be disheartened if you have to adjust your goals. It is better that you set yourself goals you can hope to achieve than setting yourself up for inevitable failure.

Prepare your space

Make sure that you have a great writing space where you can work. By spending some time thinking about where you'll write and making that space as productive as possible to suit your tastes and needs will ensure you set off on the right foot when you begin work in the new year. 

Have a contingency plan

Make sure that you have some give in your plans. You can't expect the entire year to unravel without some kinks, even some massive obstacles getting in your way, so don't have every last minute planned, and give yourself some flex in case someone throws a spanner in the works.

Have resolve

Before the clock strikes twelve on the 31st, make sure you've given yourself a good old talking to. Make sure that you have any measures in place that you know will help you stay motivated and stick to the goals you've laid out for yourself. Start the year as you mean to go on, with total dedication and determination to succeed!

By following the above, you can hope to have the best writing year yet! Good Luck!

Do you use formulas to help you write? Share your experiences below!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post How To Plan Your Writing Year appeared first on Writer's Life.org.

How To Create A Morning Routine That Could Boost Your Writing

Not all of us are morning people. However, if you are the kind of person that likes to be productive from the moment you wake up, then creating a morning writing routine could be a fantastic way to start your day with creativity and positivity and help you become a better, more prolific writer too.

So what is the ideal morning routine for writers? Let’s take a look.

Make sure that there are no distractions

This is best done the night before. Make sure that you have removed as many distractions as possible from the room where you plan to start writing. The clearer your workspace, the more likely you’ll be able to focus and concentrate on what you want to achieve. Getting up early usually means you can have an hour or so to yourself before the rest of your household stirs, which can be a particularly peaceful time, providing you get rid of distractions that might cause you to procrastinate. 

Plan ahead

If you want to get up and start writing, it’s a good idea to have already decided what you want to write about. By planing ahead, be that outlining an article or sketching out the plot for your next chapter, you’ll be ready to start writing straight away. If you are feeling well-rested, then you should be at your most productive and energized, so spending as much of that time as possible actually writing will bring about the most benefits. 

Grab a drink

We know some people couldn’t even abide starting work without their morning cuppa. So do allow yourself time to get a coffee or just rehydrate yourself with a tall glass of water to help you feel refreshed and more able to focus.

Stretch it out

While, after a good night’s rest, we should be ready to take on the world, it can take a while for some of us to get there. Doing some light stretches can help to ease the body out of the sleepy state it’s been in. Just spending five to ten minutes stretching out will clear your head and get you ready to start writing as soon as you sit down to work.

Work on your sleep quality

Of course, you’ve also got to ensure that you do get a good night’s sleep if you can hope to be ready for action when you wake up. So try to get to bed at a reasonable time, and around the same time every night. Limit screen time before you go to bed and try to switch caffeine and alcohol for water and herbal tea well before bedtime to ensure they don’t interfere with the quality of your sleep. 

Prioritize

Remember, your writing should take priority over other more menial tasks that can easily wait until later. If you start to write right away, then you’ll be addressing your most important priority first thing, which will, in turn, make the rest of your day seem like a breeze in comparison!

Do you have a morning writing routine? Share it with us here!

Bethany Cadman - bethanycadman.co.uk

The post How To Create A Morning Routine That Could Boost Your Writing appeared first on Writer's Life.org.