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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Jan 11, 2025
What's your elevator pitch?
Why do you need an elevator pitch for your book or your biz?
Because you’re selling a solution … not a book or your services or products.
Use your elevator pitch when people ask, “What’s your book/your biz about?” You need to answer that question in less than a minute ...
Jan 10, 2025
What's your content strategy for 2025? Here's how to create one ...
If you’re a writer or freelancer or solopreneur or small biz owner, you need a content strategy.
No, it needn’t be complicated. But you must have one if you want to make the best use of your time and build a following.
Don’t get put off by the marketing experts that summarize a content strategy as “the high-level planning, execution, governance ... (ugh) ...
Continue reading "What's your content strategy for 2025? Here's how to create one ..."
Jan 09, 2025
Grant writing for beginners
Mama said, “Nothing in life is free” – and she was right.
Any person or organization who has received a grant will tell you that winning the award took some work.
But you CAN have success and get funding for your cause - and find encouraging, engaged partners along the way - when you understand the basics...
Jan 08, 2025
Do you need a writer's website 9or an upgrade)? Take the quiz
When I started my freelance journey, the internet was fairly new.
Nevertheless, I was serious about getting work and I pursued multiple ways to help clients to find me. One of those was a writer website.
My website was a calling card. It was one of many ways for prospects and readers to find me online.
Today, things are a bit different ...
Continue reading "Do you need a writer's website 9or an upgrade)? Take the quiz"
Jan 07, 2025
Write your problem statement using this simple template
You’ve got a problem: you need to write a problem statement.
A problem statement is the opening act for a business proposal, a research project, or a grant application.
Its job is to persuade readers that there’s one very specific lack, gap, difficulty, obstacle, hindrance, barrier, or obstruction … and it’s one that can be solved.
Otherwise, you wouldn’t need to write a ...
Continue reading "Write your problem statement using this simple template"
Jan 06, 2025
Top tip on writing your newsletter
“I need a good tip on writing a newsletter.”
I’ve heard this more than once from clients. Is there a magic bullet – the ONE tip – that will make or break your efforts to write a newsletter?
The answer is yes.
My top tip for writing a newsletter is this ...
Jan 05, 2025
Writing a book? Know your why
Once you’ve written a book, you have the chance to explain to readers why you wrote it. You can do so in the preface.
While some writers don’t include a preface with their book, neglecting it can be a missed opportunity. Here is where you – the author – explain your book’s origin by answering questions like …
Jan 04, 2025
A surprisingly effective (but simple) content writing tool
A list is a good content writing tool.
I use lists as a set of bullets on a web page, in a series of subheads in an article, and in a sequence as part of a sentence (like this one).
Lists allow me to organize my content logically...
Continue reading "A surprisingly effective (but simple) content writing tool"
Jan 03, 2025
Plan your 2025 content with this content calendar
What did you publish last week? Last month? And what do you have in your content pipeline?
I created this content calendar template when I couldn’t find one that was simple. I use it every week...
Continue reading "Plan your 2025 content with this content calendar"
Jan 02, 2025
Getting started with strategic planning: a tutorial on the basics
Don’t have a strategic plan? You may not make much progress with your wonderful work.
That’s why strategic planning for nonprofits, small businesses, and solopreneurs makes good business sense.
When you don’t undertake planning, you set yourself up for frustration and even failure. “If you don’t know where you are going,” said legendary pro baseball player and coach Yogi Berra (1925-2015), “you might wind up someplace else.”
Yet the term “strategic planning” can sound intimidating if you’re ...
Continue reading "Getting started with strategic planning: a tutorial on the basics"
Dec 31, 2024
What is a web content writer ... and how can you become one?
Meet Wanda. She’s a web content writer. In fact, there are several Wandas you need to know.
Wanda #1 is a freelance writer who provides online content for a variety of clients.Wanda #2 works as a staff writer to produce her company’s online content.Wanda #3 owns and operates a couple of her own niche websites, for which she provides regular online contentYou see, some Wandas work for themselves, whether it’s part-time as a side hustle or full-time as a freelancer. And some Wandas are employed full-time as part of a company’s marketing or creative team.
But who employs Wanda is not what distinguishes her as a web content writer. Instead, Wanda’s skills ...
Continue reading "What is a web content writer ... and how can you become one?"
Dec 30, 2024
4 elements to include in your strategic plan
A nonprofit strategic plan is an important tool to use to grow your nonprofit – a map that helps you make decisions for your organization.
It answers these 3 key questions:
Where are we now?Where are we going?How will we get there?
Putting it together is not an exact science. You will create one tailored to your work.
Nevertheless, an effective strategic plan contains 4 core elements...
Continue reading "4 elements to include in your strategic plan"
Dec 29, 2024
How to organize your book outline
Thanks to Ezra, we have a ready-made writing outline in the longest book of the Bible: Psalms. You can see five different sections of Psalms, labeled as “Book I, Book II” and so forth in your Bible.
How did this come about? Around 458 BC, Ezra led a group of ...
Dec 28, 2024
One lucrative benefit of reading slowly
Catching the details in a grant announcement can mean writing success … or prevent it.
I nearly kicked myself as I read this email from a funder:
“Our review committee has considered your grant application. Your proposed project is an excellent fit for our areas of interest, but as an ...
Dec 27, 2024
$1 Until Dec 31 ONLY: 1-Year Book Writing Planner Mini-Bundle
The problem with writing your book is getting it on paper. But when you write a little at a time, you can get it done.
This 1-Year Book Writing Planner Mini-Bundle makes it easy to stay on track and see your progress. Plus, it comes with a guide.
Nos, for a limited time at year-end, you can check out the 1-Year Book Writing Planning Mini-bundle for just $1! Use the code GETFOR1 at checkout to get your discount.
And get that book done in 2025 ...
Continue reading "$1 Until Dec 31 ONLY: 1-Year Book Writing Planner Mini-Bundle"
Dec 26, 2024
17 basics for headline writing success
While every writing task is important, copywriting headlines is crucial. A headline is your introduction, first impression, opening line, and sales pitch all rolled into one.
That’s plenty intimidating. But never fear! Here you’ll find plenty of practical information to help you learn to write compelling headlines including …
Copywriting headlines – and doing it well – simply takes a bit of common sense and a decent amount of practice. But first things first.
Dec 25, 2024
Free template: Put your business plan on 1 page
As you consider writing business plan elements and putting your business plan together, where should you begin?
This is a particularly important question if you don’t have a business background or if you’re not completely confident in your writing abilities. The task of creating a business plan can seem overwhelming.
Take heart. Like eating an elephant, writing a business plan can be broken into manageable steps.
You can do it just one bit at a time. And yes, you can get it all on 1 page. But first things first...
Continue reading "Free template: Put your business plan on 1 page"
Dec 24, 2024
How to get a running start writing each day
Do you struggle to get started writing each day?
Here’s what may happen …
You avoid your laptop, but once you finally plant your fanny in the chair and place your hands on the keyboard, you don’t tackle a writing project. Instead, you open your email application. Then you browse news headlines, post on your writing social media site, and take a quick look at ...
Continue reading "How to get a running start writing each day"
Dec 23, 2024
Need a resume? Here are the basics you need to write
For many, writing resumes is a daunting task. But it needn’t be.
A resume is a document that summarizes your background, skills, capabilities, and experience. Together with a cover letter and application, it is one of the items submitted when applying for a job, college, scholarship, or special opportunity.
Its purpose is to capture an employer or gatekeeper’s attention and lead to the next step – in most cases, an interview. That’s why your resume is not just your calling card – it’s a sales document. A clearly written resume paints a picture of who you are and makes you stand ou...
Continue reading "Need a resume? Here are the basics you need to write"
Dec 22, 2024
What do you write after "The End"?
You’ve written “The End.” But your book is not quite finished. What will you include in your book’s back matter?
While front matter is the information that introduces your book, back matter provides additional information related to your book’s topic.
In fact, book creation platform Pressbooks lists ...
Dec 21, 2024
Metaphors: confusing ... or memorable?
33SaveA metaphor describes one thing by comparing it directly to another. It gives your writing clarity by allowing the reader to understand an intangible concept through a familiar, concrete image.
A mixed metaphor gives the reader two images to process. The result can be confusing … or memorable.
For example, let’s say your character is “treading lightly...”
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 ...
Continue reading "101 pieces of writing inspiration for the new year"
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 ...
Continue reading "My sanity-saving research tip for writers"
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...
Continue reading "5 perusaisve writing techniques to use in ANY piece of writing"
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