|
|
|
3 Strange And Twisted Copywriting Tactics!
1. You can build credibility with your prospects by telling them you can't solve all their problems, but you can solve a percentage of them. For example: My product can't eliminate all your problems, but what if it could take away 97.5% percent of...
An SEO Copywriting Makeover – Turning “Not” Into “Hot” Part 2 of 2
by Karon Thackston © 2003 http://www.copywritingcourse.com In part one of this article series, I outlined a recent project I undertook for a Web site that sells gas logs. The site had a lot of potential, but in its current state the sales...
Starting a Freelance Writing Career (or How I Sifted Through the Muck and Found My Way)
So, the decision is final. I am a writer. Actually, I have always been a person who writes, but I have never applied the term to myself in a professional sense. Having pushed aside my financial fears and gained the requisite self-confidence, I...
Writing about 'writing'.
Writing about ‘Writing’! By Liana Metal What am I going to write about? Which topic is the best? Who is going to be interested in my article? You can ask yourself endless questions on ‘what’ is going to be the subject of your article. Don’t...
Zany Ideas That Increase Writing Productivity And Quality
Welcome to the zany ideas of a productive writer. My students keep reminding me of my unusual tools and how helpful they have been for them. I also thank my students for their concept testing and refinement. Now, I feel much more confidant about...
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Generating Innovative Ideas for Writing
There is nothing scarier than staring at a blank piece of paper
with a deadline quickly approaching. Whether you're writing a
column, article, or essay, the following ten techniques will
help you find the topic or angle you are looking for. 1.Read
You can read anything ? a newspaper, book, or milk carton.
Jumping into an environment that already has lots of ideas in it
may lead to new ideas.
2.Surf the Web
Start on your favorite site, and follow random links for a few
minutes until you come to something strange to you. Reading
about something new, unconventional, or out of your comfort zone
will get your brain moving.
3.Seek Help From Coworkers
Two heads are better than one. And three heads are better than
two. Ask some coworkers if you can bounce ideas off them. As you
speak, have them respond with their own ideas. Soon, you will
have several working topics to write about.
4.Exercise to Stimulate Your Brain
Sitting in front of your computer in your boring corporate
office will drive you nuts. Go for a walk or to the gym and get
moving! The oxygen and adrenaline in your system will stimulate
brain and body will inspire you to write.
5.Go Somewhere New
Again, sitting between the familiar four walls of your office is
probably what dried up your ideas in the first place. Go to a
park, a museum, the mall, or the gym. Being in a different
environment will stimulate new ideas.
6.Listen to Music
I don't often recommend listening to music while you're trying
to concentrate. However, immersing yourself in sound will allow
you to free associate. Let your mind wander off. It may wander
into the garden of writing ideas.
7.Flapoodle
This is Doug Hall's (author of Jump Start Your Brain) term for
an exercise you may have heard of. Put your main idea in the
middle of a blank sheet of paper.
Think of three or four
possible topics and branch them off the main idea. Allow each
"branch" of the "tree" to grow its own branches with related
ideas. Soon, you'll have a messy page filled with lots of useful
thoughts.
8.Brainstorm
Get an easel and a group of coworkers together. Shout out ideas
while one person writes them down. Pay no attention to whether
they make sense, are silly, impossible, or totally unrelated.
When the page is full, sort through the ideas, picking out the
ones you like best.
9.Freewrite Until You Get There
This is the fastest way I know to beat writer's block. Get out a
blank pad of paper, put on some classical music, and write. Keep
the pen moving for a set time, say, 10 or 15 minutes and write
down whatever comes to mind. Don't think, look back, correct, or
delete anything; just write. At the end of the session, read
what you wrote, underlining anything that jumps out at you. Use
these words to find a topic.
10.People Watch
Go to the mall, an airport, or other crowded place. Take a seat
and watch people go by. Where is that guy with the green
sneakers going? Where does that couple live and what do they
drive? How about those children running back and forth while
their parents pay no attention? Think up stories for all these
people to get your mind moving. Soon, you'll have several topics
to write about.
Using any or all of these techniques is sure to stimulate your
brain. Keep this list posted somewhere in your office for the
next time you need to invent a topic to write about.
About the Author
Linda Elizabeth Alexander is a business writer and marketing
consultant based in Longmont, Colorado, USA. Improve your
writing skills at work! Subscribe to her FREE ezine. Write to
the Point at lalexander@write2thepointcom.com or visit
http://www.write2thepointcom.com/articles.html.
|
|
|
|
|
| Writing.Com: Writers, Writing, Poetry, Creative Writing, Fiction ... |
| An online community dedicated to fostering writing skills. With a free membership anyone may read, write, rate, and review works. |
| www.writing.com |
|
| Welcome to Writing-World.com! |
| Writing articles and resources. Tips about how to become a better writer, get published and find writing markets. From Moira Allen. |
| www.writing-world.com |
|
| Guide to Grammar and Writing |
| The Guide to Grammar and Writing contains scores of digital handouts on grammar and English usage, over 170 computer-graded quizzes, recommendations on ... |
| grammar.ccc.commnet.edu |
|
| Purdue University's Online Writing Lab - The OWL Family of Sites |
| Writing lab and resources. Email newsletter available. |
| owl.english.purdue.edu |
|
| OWL at Purdue University: General Writing Concerns Handouts |
| This page contains important links to the writing: planning/writing/revising aspects of the OWL website. |
| owl.english.purdue.edu |
|
| Writing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| The original Mesopotamian writing system was initially derived from a system of ... If it is deemed to be a written language, writing in China will predate ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
|
| Writing.org - Advice for Freelance Writers |
| Articles to help you launch a freelance writing career, from a former literary agent and PLAYBOY editor. |
| www.writing.org |
|
| Writing HTML |
| More than just an HTML reference, this is a structured approach for learning how to create web pages, designed by specialists in learning at the Maricopa ... |
| www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu |
|
| National Novel Writing Month - National Novel Writing Month |
| NaNoWriMo is an annual (November) novel writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world. |
| www.nanowrimo.org |
|
| Poynter Online |
| Apply by Dec. 11 Reporting and Writing the Untold Stories Apply by Dec. 11 ... Reporting & Writing for Multi-Platform Newsrooms. Apply by Jan. 10 ... |
| www.poynter.org |
|
| Pages tagged with "writing" on del.icio.us |
| This short online course provides a practical introduction to writing fiction. During the course you will be expected to write two short pieces for ... |
| del.icio.us |
|
| BBC Get Writing |
| The BBC's online resource for writing drama and comedy for television, radio and film. |
| www.bbc.co.uk |
|
| TOC About Writing |
| Menu of articles on writing written by professional SF/F writers. |
| www.sfwa.org |
|
| 11 Rules of Writing -- a concise guide to important grammar ... |
| A concise guide to some of the most frequently violated rules of writing, punctuation, and grammar. |
| www.junketstudies.com |
|
| NAEP Writing Subject Area |
| NAEP assesses student performance in writing periodically in grades 4, 8, and 12 for the nation, and in grades 4 and 8 for the states. |
| nces.ed.gov |
|
| Writing: See what people are saying right now on Technorati |
| See all blog posts tagged with writing on Technorati. |
| www.technorati.com |
|
| IPL Teenspace: A+ Research & Writing |
| Includes step-by-step instructions on researching and writing, how to find information online and offline, as well as links to useful resources. |
| www.ipl.org |
|
| Dictionary.com: Writing Resources |
| Free online English dictionary and reference guide. List of sites writers can use. |
| dictionary.reference.com |
|
| WritingFix: Home of Interactive Writing Prompts and 6 Trait ... |
| Daily and interactive writing prompts. |
| www.writingfix.com |
|
| Advice on Academic Writing |
| Includes articles on critical reading, planning, researching, style and editing, grammar and punctuation. |
| www.utoronto.ca |
|
|