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Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Changes Coming Soon...
In the next couple of weeks I will be creating a separate web site with information on making a living as a writer. This blog will then shift to becoming a showcase for my own writings on metaphysical subjects and excerpts from my books. I decided that this would consolidate a lot of writing I've been placing in various locations across the net. For those following the current material in this blog, the only change will be a different web address. It will however, contain bonus pages with an article archive writers can turn to for reference. Thanks to everyone who have been following and I look forward to sharing these changes with you.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Reaching Your Audience In 3 Easy Steps
How can you reach and transform your audience with your writing? Are you writing as an amateur, or as a professional? Learn three simple steps that will improve your writing and help you to move your audience.
Amateur writers write for the sake of writing. While this may provide them personal pleasure, it takes more than that to make a living as a writer.
So what is key to great writing, and how can it change your presentations? You should have one main goal in mind with everything you write: to transform your audience. Great writers strive to help their audience see things from a different perspective, to act differently, and change the way they interact with the world.
Anyone can make complete sentences, but if you want to actually have impact through your writing, you must learn to write for transformation. That's the difference between being merely informative and being compelling and persuasive. The three basic steps to transformational writing are: 1) write for a specific audience, 2) use the right venue, and 3) choose and execute the right type of transformation.
1. Specific Audience
If you want to reach your audience, you must understand them, get out of your own perspective, and write to their perspective. One of the first things I do with every piece I write is identify my target audience, things such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, location, income level, purchasing habits, hobbies, talents, interests, etc.
When I know who I'm talking to, I'm prepared to custom tailor the message to resonate with them specifically. For example, words such as revolutionary, cutting-edge, fresh, or in vogue will more likely resonate with an 18-25 age group, whereas a 60-70 age group will probably have negative reactions to them, who prefer things that are proven, safe, and sensible.
2. The Right Venue
By venue I mean the medium used to convey your message, including such things as magazines, newspapers, journals, books, radio and TV ads, blogs, websites, etc. The venue you choose is, in large part, determined by your audience.
For example, if I'm writing a lengthy article on monetary policy intended for scholars and economists, the best venue is probably a scholarly journal. Few people can stand to read long blocks of meaningful text on a computer screen, I probably won't have enough space to make my case in most magazines, etc. On the other hand, if my content is concise, simple, and intended for a broad audience, perhaps a newspaper article makes sense.
All of us are exposed to written communications that we skim or ignore, yet if that same message is presented in a venue more palatable to us, we're much more likely to spend time reading it. Writing for transformation requires utilizing the best venue for our subject matter and audience.
3. The Right Transformation
The three types of transformations are: know, feel, and do. A know transformation seeks to give the readers new information, or old information arranged in a different way, to help them learn and know things they didn't know before in such a way that it changes their life and perspective.
A feel transformation obviously seeks to evoke strong emotion in the audience, while a do is designed to get an audience to take very specific, immediate, and tangible action.
Amateurs look at this list and try to do all three; professionals focus on one and nail it, because doing so affects the others. How do you want people's lives to change because they read your message? What do you want to see occur in them? Do you primarily want them to know, feel, or do something? Pick one. Yes, just one, and execute it well, and the others will take care of themselves.
If you want your message to actually have impact, you must learn to write for transformation. Know who you're writing to, use the right venue to reach them, and choose the right transformation and execute it well. After all, transformational writing is the only writing worth reading.
Amateur writers write for the sake of writing. While this may provide them personal pleasure, it takes more than that to make a living as a writer.
So what is key to great writing, and how can it change your presentations? You should have one main goal in mind with everything you write: to transform your audience. Great writers strive to help their audience see things from a different perspective, to act differently, and change the way they interact with the world.
Anyone can make complete sentences, but if you want to actually have impact through your writing, you must learn to write for transformation. That's the difference between being merely informative and being compelling and persuasive. The three basic steps to transformational writing are: 1) write for a specific audience, 2) use the right venue, and 3) choose and execute the right type of transformation.
1. Specific Audience
If you want to reach your audience, you must understand them, get out of your own perspective, and write to their perspective. One of the first things I do with every piece I write is identify my target audience, things such as age, gender, race/ethnicity, location, income level, purchasing habits, hobbies, talents, interests, etc.
When I know who I'm talking to, I'm prepared to custom tailor the message to resonate with them specifically. For example, words such as revolutionary, cutting-edge, fresh, or in vogue will more likely resonate with an 18-25 age group, whereas a 60-70 age group will probably have negative reactions to them, who prefer things that are proven, safe, and sensible.
2. The Right Venue
By venue I mean the medium used to convey your message, including such things as magazines, newspapers, journals, books, radio and TV ads, blogs, websites, etc. The venue you choose is, in large part, determined by your audience.
For example, if I'm writing a lengthy article on monetary policy intended for scholars and economists, the best venue is probably a scholarly journal. Few people can stand to read long blocks of meaningful text on a computer screen, I probably won't have enough space to make my case in most magazines, etc. On the other hand, if my content is concise, simple, and intended for a broad audience, perhaps a newspaper article makes sense.
All of us are exposed to written communications that we skim or ignore, yet if that same message is presented in a venue more palatable to us, we're much more likely to spend time reading it. Writing for transformation requires utilizing the best venue for our subject matter and audience.
3. The Right Transformation
The three types of transformations are: know, feel, and do. A know transformation seeks to give the readers new information, or old information arranged in a different way, to help them learn and know things they didn't know before in such a way that it changes their life and perspective.
A feel transformation obviously seeks to evoke strong emotion in the audience, while a do is designed to get an audience to take very specific, immediate, and tangible action.
Amateurs look at this list and try to do all three; professionals focus on one and nail it, because doing so affects the others. How do you want people's lives to change because they read your message? What do you want to see occur in them? Do you primarily want them to know, feel, or do something? Pick one. Yes, just one, and execute it well, and the others will take care of themselves.
If you want your message to actually have impact, you must learn to write for transformation. Know who you're writing to, use the right venue to reach them, and choose the right transformation and execute it well. After all, transformational writing is the only writing worth reading.
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Why Should You Be Writing For The Internet?
| By: Deanna Mascle I have been writing professionally for more than two decades. I have worked as a professional writer and editor for newspapers, books and magazines for local, regional, and international audiences. My primary financial support has always been either professional writing (or editing) or the teaching of writing. In fact, my initial foray into writing for the Internet was not intended to be a profitable venture but rather a way to express myself when I made the transition to teaching writing full-time. I knew that after decades of writing daily that I would need that outlet. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that my hobby could actually earn more than my professional ventures? That is why I encourage my students and my writer friends to explore Internet writing for fun and profit. There are three good reasons for writers to spend at least a sizable chunk of their writing time writing for the Internet. First, and foremost, if you are a writer then you need an audience. If you are reading this article then you know there is a huge audience accessing their reading material via the Internet. Unlike the reading audience of traditional printed materials, the Internet-reading audience is growing exponentially. More and more people are forgoing traditional newspapers, magazines, and books to subscribe to ezines, web pages, blogs, and RSS feeds. If you can find your audience on the Internet, then that is a very good reason to write for the web. Another good reason for writers to transition to the web is that is where the money is today. While money can be made through the traditional avenues of publishing books, selling articles, or working as a writer for hire it is getting more and more difficult for established, proven writers to make a living and extremely difficult for newcomers to break in at a livable wage. However writers can start up their own business fast and cheap or work for hire to learn the ropes and build up their nest egg. Trying to do either of those things in the traditional publishing world will not find success. Finally, or third, there is a niche for everyone on the Internet. Most traditional publishing methods are limited to a specific region due to the cost of printing and distribution. However neither is a consideration on the Internet, so writers can reach audiences around the globe. This means that what may seem a rather small niche (of say people who collect dachsund sweaters) may well find their audience is hundreds, thousands, or even millions. That means there is a need for articles and publications for these folks. As an avid dachsund sweater collector yourself you are an ideal writer for any publications currently serving this niche and if there aren't any then you have a wide-open field to start your own. These three simple reasons should be enough for any writer to consider writing for the web. The Internet is a great place to break in and get started as a professional writer and the Internet is an even better place for the established pro to profit. Article source: Why Should You Be Writing For The Internet? About: Deanna Mascle shares more writing advice with her blog and newsletter Word Craft Online at http://WordCraftOnline.com |
Friday, September 4, 2009
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Home Business Idea: Personal Memoir Consultant
We all have a unique life story that could be made into a memoir. Writing a personal account of one's life gives future generations the opportunity to get to know the author and what they learned. It provides a tangible record after death which keeps memories alive for surviving loved ones. The process of writing a memoir can be deeply therapeutic as it helps one to reflect on the meaning of life's journey.
Most people never complete a memoir because they lack the skill, time and patience necessary for such a project. This is where the memoir consultant can provide assistance. Helping people transform their memories into a book is both a lucrative business and a fulfilling career.
Landing a job ghostwriting a celebrity memoir would be difficult without the right connections. But what is often overlooked is the huge and untapped market of ordinary people who would like to see their story in print. There are people willing to pay for assistance in this sometimes intimidating task.
This is actually how I got my first paying job as a writer. Just by chance, a family friend asked for some advice on getting a book published. He knew I worked at a typesetting/printing company and that I had an interest in publishing. This was 1988, when desktop publishing was still in its infancy.
The friend had obtained a very rough draft of a memoir of a man who died before completing it. The widow had asked about the possibility of getting the unfinished work published. After reading the diary-like draft, I gave some advice on what needed to be done. An offer was then made for me to turn the little stack of papers into a finished product. The contract made me responsible for every step of the process - from writing to selling the printed copies.
That was my entry into the world of publishing. The advance money provided was enough to buy my first real computer, along with professional desktop publishing software. It took some work, but through trial and error the book was completed and I am still selling copies of it today under my own imprint.
This is a relatively easy business for anyone with adequate writing skills. There are little to no start-up costs. And given the fact that virtually everyone is a potential client, it shouldn't be hard to land your first job. I did it without even trying!
Marketing this service through the internet can easily be done by starting a blog on memoir writing. The readers would all be potential clients. Google Adwords provides an easy way to drive traffic to a website advertising your services. There are also plenty of potential clients in your own town or even in your circle of acquaintances.
A second source of income could be earned by teaching classes, either on the internet or in person, on hot to write a memoir. There would be no need to hard-sell your services, simply advertise the class as being taught by you, a professional memoir consultant or ghostwriter. Not only will it give you credibility as an expert in the field, it will also provide a steady stream of leads as many of your students will find they need assistance in completing their memoir.
The appearance of POD publishing is a great development for memoir writers. As few as one copy can be printed, eliminating the need for a large investment. Since POD wasn't available when I took my first job, I had to deal with a local printer and low press run. Offset printing might be cost effective if the client already has some renown beyond family and friends. Examples might include, local political leaders, ministers, experts in a narrow field - basically anyone whose fame is limited to a particular locale, industry or group.
The business could specialize in only certain services. One option could be to market it solely as a ghostwriting service. Those who have graphic design skills might make additional money by offering full layout and cover design. Finding the right printing company and negotiating the best price makes one a broker who could charge a fee from the client and also get a commission from the printer. Anyone with marketing and sales skills can assume the role of publisher and earn a percentage of the profits.
Not only will this business earn a lot of money with little investment, it's also fulfilling to help someone through the process. For the fiction writer it offers a chance to improve skills and get ideas for character development. Talented writers will enjoy the challenge of creating a unique and fascinating story out of the lives of ordinary people. Helping someone give life to a lasting document of their journey is a rewarding experience and a great way to make money as a writer.
Most people never complete a memoir because they lack the skill, time and patience necessary for such a project. This is where the memoir consultant can provide assistance. Helping people transform their memories into a book is both a lucrative business and a fulfilling career.
Landing a job ghostwriting a celebrity memoir would be difficult without the right connections. But what is often overlooked is the huge and untapped market of ordinary people who would like to see their story in print. There are people willing to pay for assistance in this sometimes intimidating task.
This is actually how I got my first paying job as a writer. Just by chance, a family friend asked for some advice on getting a book published. He knew I worked at a typesetting/printing company and that I had an interest in publishing. This was 1988, when desktop publishing was still in its infancy.
The friend had obtained a very rough draft of a memoir of a man who died before completing it. The widow had asked about the possibility of getting the unfinished work published. After reading the diary-like draft, I gave some advice on what needed to be done. An offer was then made for me to turn the little stack of papers into a finished product. The contract made me responsible for every step of the process - from writing to selling the printed copies.
That was my entry into the world of publishing. The advance money provided was enough to buy my first real computer, along with professional desktop publishing software. It took some work, but through trial and error the book was completed and I am still selling copies of it today under my own imprint.
This is a relatively easy business for anyone with adequate writing skills. There are little to no start-up costs. And given the fact that virtually everyone is a potential client, it shouldn't be hard to land your first job. I did it without even trying!
Marketing this service through the internet can easily be done by starting a blog on memoir writing. The readers would all be potential clients. Google Adwords provides an easy way to drive traffic to a website advertising your services. There are also plenty of potential clients in your own town or even in your circle of acquaintances.
A second source of income could be earned by teaching classes, either on the internet or in person, on hot to write a memoir. There would be no need to hard-sell your services, simply advertise the class as being taught by you, a professional memoir consultant or ghostwriter. Not only will it give you credibility as an expert in the field, it will also provide a steady stream of leads as many of your students will find they need assistance in completing their memoir.
The appearance of POD publishing is a great development for memoir writers. As few as one copy can be printed, eliminating the need for a large investment. Since POD wasn't available when I took my first job, I had to deal with a local printer and low press run. Offset printing might be cost effective if the client already has some renown beyond family and friends. Examples might include, local political leaders, ministers, experts in a narrow field - basically anyone whose fame is limited to a particular locale, industry or group.
The business could specialize in only certain services. One option could be to market it solely as a ghostwriting service. Those who have graphic design skills might make additional money by offering full layout and cover design. Finding the right printing company and negotiating the best price makes one a broker who could charge a fee from the client and also get a commission from the printer. Anyone with marketing and sales skills can assume the role of publisher and earn a percentage of the profits.
Not only will this business earn a lot of money with little investment, it's also fulfilling to help someone through the process. For the fiction writer it offers a chance to improve skills and get ideas for character development. Talented writers will enjoy the challenge of creating a unique and fascinating story out of the lives of ordinary people. Helping someone give life to a lasting document of their journey is a rewarding experience and a great way to make money as a writer.
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