Word Wise Blog: Content Writing Made Easy
Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content and has gained 600K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.
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Dec 20, 2024
101 pieces of writing inspiration for the new year
Writers need encouragement. And we need tools to equip us. Both of those are found in scripture.
That’s the basic premise behind Writing By The Book.
I discovered this principle when I started writing. Biblical truths provide the cornerstone for our lives. I turn to ...
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Dec 19, 2024
8 books for freelance writers
Freelance writers – and those who want to be one – know one of the cardinal rules of the writing business: “To be a writer, read a lot.”
Use this list to gain know-how for building your freelance writing business, whether you’re pursuing the writing life as a copywriter, content writer, blogger, book author, or freelancer for publications...
Dec 18, 2024
My sanity-saving research tip for writers
Research: if you’re a writer, you do it. But sooner or later you’ve got to stop researching … and start writing.
Therein lies the rub for writers.
You conduct research so you can ...
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Dec 17, 2024
5 perusaisve writing techniques to use in ANY piece of writing
Persuasive techniques: at one time, I associated them with fast-talking telemarketers or smarmy used car salesmen. In my mind, “persuasive” and “manipulative” were interchangeable. I didn’t need an unscrupulous gold digger scheming to get me to fork over my hard-earned cash, I reasoned. I could think for myself.
As for the writing world, I was convinced that persuasive techniques were delegated solely to the copywriter’s domain. A copywriter’s job is to write to sell. Copywriters simply use cunning methods that waylay innocent readers into relinquishing their credit card numbers.
Turns out I was wrong. It’s not persuasion itself that’s so greasy. It’s the writer’s underlying motive...
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Dec 16, 2024
4 business plan writing tips
Business plan writing can seem like an overwhelming undertaking. Yet the good news is this: you probably have a good part of your plan written already, and not even know it.
If your organization is new, you have likely thought through many of the elements needed for your business plan.
Putting your plan on paper ...
Dec 15, 2024
Check your site or blog for this glaring error
You’ve seen the dreaded "404 Error: Page Not Found."
The message pops up on your screen telling you that the web server cannot find the online page you’re looking for because …
Maybe the page was movedMaybe the page was deletedMaybe the page is blocked
Bottom line: "Page Not Found" means the link is dead...
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Dec 14, 2024
Face a reader's objections head on ... and persuade him
Therapists draw on the principle of inner dialogue when treating their counseling patients.
They help a patient identify unhealthy self-talk patterns and replace them with healthy, true thoughts. The patient learns a new inner script based on the truth.
The same principle applies to persuasive writing ...
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Dec 13, 2024
1-Year Book Writing Planner for $1 - LIMITED TIME ONLY
Just $1 for a LIMITED TIME: the 1-Year Book Writing Planning Mini-Bundle.
Get that book done in 2025! Use the discount code GETFOR1 at checkout to get your bundle for $1 and get started today ,,,
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Dec 12, 2024
What is a devotional ... and should I learn to write one?
There are lots of different kinds of inspirational writing: sermons, Bible studies, articles, books, blog posts ...
So when it comes to writing a devotional, it’s helpful to have clarity. The word has become a catch-all term among people of faith.
A devotional is a ...
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Dec 11, 2024
Your year-end content writing to-do checklist (free download)
For freelancers, small biz owners, and nonprofits, the end of the year comes quickly. As the calendar winds down, your blood pressure may go up.
And while the year-end appeal season requires monumental effort for nonprofits, the overwhelm is not limited to ministries and charities. The race is on to ...
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Dec 10, 2024
Writing a story? Use this simple 3-part format ...
Using a simple story writing format helped me helped me write more powerful content.
Good writers write stories. That goes for reporters and bloggers and copywriters and content creators. Powerful stories make for powerful content.
“Psychologists refer to stories as ‘psychologically privileged,’ meaning that ...
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Dec 09, 2024
Start and grow your email list: a simple tutorial
You need an email list. That goes for all of us, whether you’re a blogger, freelancer, small biz owner, a nonprofit, ministry, or a large corporation.
The reason you need a list is simple. Email is the most common form of business communication. Nine out of ten of people check their email every day, some up to 15 times a day. A list is a tool that ...
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Dec 08, 2024
What's an RFP ... and why should you know how to write one?
An RFP – a Request for Proposals – is an invitation to a nonprofit to write a grant proposal.
Keep in mind that while you have been invited to apply, so have others. When you write a grant proposal and present the problem your project will solve, you’re submitting an entry into a competition.
How can your ...
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Dec 07, 2024
Why you need to use comparisons when you write
A comparison shows what’s the same and what’s different between two objects.
It's a useful tool for writers because the human brain relies on comparisons to organize information. It’s one way we can process all the stimuli that ...
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Dec 06, 2024
Bestseller! Great gift idea for girls 10-12
In this preteen devotional, girls can find out more about God and how to follow Him.
Each devotional includes an activity that grows the girl's friendship with God: interactive journaling, drawing activities, fun crafts, and more! Fun crafts, cool projects, Bible puzzles, and word searches are just some of the extra perks included in this bestselling ...
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Dec 05, 2024
8 Kinds of illustrations to use in devotionals
All kinds of illustrations are used in devotionals.
A devotional illustration paints a picture in words, making a spiritual truth become concrete for the reader.
They’re effective because you use details: names, smells, feelings, tastes, sights, numbers, facts...
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Dec 04, 2024
Brainstorm a Year’s Worth of Blog Post Ideas in One Sitting
“I’m working on creating my new site. However, I am having a hard time coming up with blog post ideas,” wrote a member of my online writing group. “I’ve always written A+ research papers with little effort. Writing and researching are my strengths. But getting ideas? I got nada.”
Could the group share how to brainstorm ideas?
Yes.
Let’s use this writer’s problem to solve our own. We’ll give her a jumpstart by …
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Dec 03, 2024
How to start an article
Use the article writing format that places the most important information at the top of the piece.
It’s a structure you see all the time in news reports.
Your reader gets a summary of the story at the top with details to follow.
It's called the Inverted Pyramid format. Sometimes, you'll hear it referred to as the Summary News Lead Style or Bottom Line Up Front (BLUF).
I like how the Inverted Pyramid gives you a visual image of how to ...
Dec 02, 2024
Need a fundraising letter quick? Use this simple download
If you’re a copywriter, ministry writer, or content writer (or want to be one), then writing appeal letters can be part of your bread and butter.
Even if you’re a general freelancer, then there’s a good chance you’ve been asked (or will be asked) to write a fundraising letter, whether for a client or for an organization that you support.
Naturally, you want to write a good one...
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Dec 01, 2024
Want to persuade you rreader? Use this simple writing technique
If you want to persuade readers, then repeat yourself.
So concludes a study conducted at Germany’s University of Göttingen. One hundred students were paired with 100 specially-trained partners to interview potential job candidates. After the interviews, the trained partners repeated four pieces of information supporting the candidate opposite the student’s choice.
Repetition made a difference. 70% of the students ...
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Nov 30, 2024
How to write a takeaway
A takeaway is the key point you want readers to remember from your article, book, blog post, or devotional. Another word for a takeaway is “application” or main lesson.
It’s what readers “take away” with them once they’ve finished reading your content. What will they do now as a result of reading your content?
A takeaway can be ...
Nov 29, 2024
Great gift idea for the preteen girls you know
I wrote The Christian Girl's Guide to Friendship when my own daughter was a tween.
Like so many girls, she struggled so hard to navigate friendships and how to learn to be a good friend ...
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Nov 28, 2024
How to write a donor thank you in 3 simple paragraphs
On your list of 743 things to do, crafting a meaningful donor thank you is probably close to #742. Don’t let it be.
Your thank-you package is an unsung way to cultivate friends, not just contributors. It’s an investment in a long-term relationship.
Put another way, it's one of the best ways to “friendraise” when you’re “fundraising.”
But a thank you letter to donors is easy to put together and can ...
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Nov 26, 2024
Use a simple year-end content plan to get it all done
As the calendar winds down, your blood pressure may go up. So much writing to do and so few days and minutes in which to do it, no matter if you're writing content or copy.
The overwhelm is not limited to ministries or freelancers - but if you’re like most nonprofits, you’ll receive 30-50% of your organization’s gifts during the last quarter of the calendar year, when your supporters race to give individual gifts before the tax year ends on December 31.
An intentional year-end plan will help you maximize your writing time at year end. Use this checklist to make sure you’re on track...
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Nov 25, 2024
A no-cost way to build your following - with a special tip
Social media is a no-cost way to build your following.
But here's a tip: the most effective Facebook posts create dialogue with readers.
So ...what makes Facebook posts for nonprofits or small biz different from posts to your own personal page?
People want to know what’s going on in others' lives.
When it comes to your organization, you have the opportunity to build that same kind of connection with readers...
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