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Word Wise Blog: Content Writing Made Easy
Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content , with 750K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.
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Feb 07, 2026
What makes a speech persuasive
Writers can learn an important lesson from public speakers.
A persuasive speech explains “why.”
People act when you give them a good reason, whether it’s to deliver a minority’s rights, resist a dictator’s advances, or embrace a nation’s recovery from financial crisis...
Feb 06, 2026
Writing By The Book - daily encouragement for writers
Writers need encouragement.
And we need tools to equip us.
That's the basic premise behind Writing By The Book ...
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Feb 05, 2026
How one blogger writes 5 blog posts a week
Author and speaker Michael Hyatt uses a simple blog writing template to churn out quality posts five days a week.
He fell into blogging by accident - literally. He broke his leg and during his recovery, he started a blog which eventually shifted his then-editorial career in a whole new direction.
Michael will be the first to tell you that regular, frequent posting is one key to building a blog. Yet how do bloggers consistently produce quality posts with ...
Continue reading "How one blogger writes 5 blog posts a week"
Feb 04, 2026
Are you making these 5 deadly mistakes in your nonprofit writing?
Most nonprofit fundraising mistakes aren’t about “bad writing.” They’re about missing how donors think and feel in your writing.
I admit it: Upbeat writing is tough when it’s a challenge to meet payroll. You may be desperate enough to reach into your donors’ mailboxes and shake them, hoping their pockets will spill out enough coins to pay the electric bill.
Yet even in down times, you can ...
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Feb 03, 2026
How to write a content story to make a point
“Let me illustrate …”
When you know how to write a story, you up your writing game.
I’m not talking about writing a novel, short story, or other form of fiction.
I'm talking about using itty-bitty stories in content and copy.
It’s standard operating procedure for writers to use a story as ...
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Feb 02, 2026
How to read a grant application so you can write a first-class proposal
A successful grant proposal starts with the grant application.
As in reading the application carefully before you write one word.
I know, I know. A grant proposal can be a lengthy project with lots of elements and you want to get at them right away. Surely the funder is simply waiting to hear about your project and its worthiness.
And you’ve got it down on paper before the deadline, right? It’s tempting to read the grant application quickly and then jump into writing ASAP.
But a bit of well-placed time can ...
Continue reading "How to read a grant application so you can write a first-class proposal"
Feb 01, 2026
Does your prospect know she needs a freelance writer?
Do prospects know how they can benefit from a freelance copywriter?
Many times, no. And it’s your job to tell them.
Let's look at an example ...
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Jan 31, 2026
Before you start writing your book, do this
If you’ve ever had an inkling to write a book, then those thoughts have crossed your mind.
Especially these days, when writing a book has become more accessible than ever before, thanks to the internet and self-publishing software.
But should you write one?
Answer that question by asking another one ...
Continue reading "Before you start writing your book, do this"
Jan 30, 2026
How to drill down your main idea before you write
The writing process is easier when you whittle down your main idea -- the single most important thing you want your content to tell readers -- BEFORE you begin to write.
It's a simple process, actually. You start with a pool of ideas ...
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Jan 29, 2026
Top tip for writing a bang-up cover letter
Your cover letter has just one job.
That job remains the same no matter what content accompanies your cover letter: your resume, a grant application, a sales presentation ...
You may be tempted to treat your cover letter as an afterthought, especially if you’ve already invested plenty of time in the other parts that accompany it. Don't succumb to this temptation. Here's why ...
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Jan 28, 2026
How to never run out of ideas again
“Ideas are all around you.”
My first writing instructor drilled that principle into my head. Yet I felt deficient rather than encouraged. If ideas were all around me, why couldn’t I grasp them?
Perhaps you’re among the majority of writers (old and new) who struggle to generate ideas. Envy bubbles up at the select few — they overflow with fresh angles on worn topics.
As a content writer, I wanted to know their secret for how to get ideas...
Jan 27, 2026
What are writing clips and how do I get them?
“Do you have any writing samples?”
If you haven’t heard this question, you will.
If you’re a freelancer … you need writing samples to show prospective clients that you can write.
If you’re a small business owner or ministry leader … you need to take a look at a potential writer’s clips to decide if this person is a good fit for you.
And here’s a surprise ...
Continue reading "What are writing clips and how do I get them?"
Jan 26, 2026
Easy, no-cost graphics for writers: a quick tutorial
I’m a content writer, not a designer. Yet I know my projects need both graphics and copywriting to be effective in today’s visual content landscape. Writing and design go hand-in-hand, much like peanut butter and jelly, to deliver a complete message.
But my clients – ministries, nonprofits, and small businesses – can’t afford a designer for every project. If you are a freelance writer, solopreneur, or if you’re just starting out in the online world, you get this.
The good news is this ...
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Jan 25, 2026
Eat humble pie ... and gain more than you ever expected
It was time to load the website copy I’d written for a client. I was on my first conference call with a website developer who was training me to navigate the back end of the new website.
And I was nervous. Posts versus pages … categories and tags and keywords … featured images, menus, widgets …. I’d written plenty of website content for clients but loading it in the back end was new to me...
Continue reading "Eat humble pie ... and gain more than you ever expected"
Jan 24, 2026
Get more from your byline
A byline in a newspaper or magazine gives credit to the writer of the article. It literally means “second line.” That’s why a byline is placed just below the article title.
Bylines were rare until the mid-1800s...
Jan 23, 2026
In less than 15 minutes, find your "why"
Use this free online course, Why Build Your Blog, and in less than 15 minutes understand six great reasons to build your blog ...
and you'll have identified YOUR unique "why" for building your blog.
Plus, the course is FREE.
Your blog is an incredible way to build your online audience, extend your reach, and build ...
Jan 22, 2026
Avoid oblivion. Steer clear of these 5 email marketing mistakes
One of the biggest email marketing mistakes you can make is to not send email.
But I assume that you already know that.
So you’ve avoided one of the biggest email marketing mistakes already – you’ve started an email list. And maybe you’ve even started sending emails to that list.
But all that digital goodness has a few pitfalls. If you’re not careful, you’ll make the most common email marketing mistakes without even knowing it.
I did. In the process, I sabotaged my own ...
Continue reading "Avoid oblivion. Steer clear of these 5 email marketing mistakes"
Jan 21, 2026
50 copywriting terms every writer needs to know
Headlines, hooks, CTAs, AIDA, PAS — copywriting terms can sound like a foreign language.
But learning these basic copywriting terms isn’t about memorization. It’s about thinking like a copywriter.
Once you understand the language, you’ll write faster, communicate more clearly, and start making intentional choices instead of guessing ...
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Jan 20, 2026
What are contextual links -- and why do you need them on your site?
An entire post about creating contextual links? Yep. You click on them all the time. Why not learn how to create them?
Contextual links are a specific type of link. Links, as you know, are those connectors that ...
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Jan 19, 2026
How to write a How-To article (that actually gets read start to finish)
If you’re a writer, you need to know how to write a how to article.
A how-to article is a durable short content form because it provides step-by-step instructions to help your reader complete a task.
Personally, it’s one of my faves to write because it is so logical and sequential. First, do this. Then ...
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Jan 18, 2026
The perfect example of social proof
An expert is an authority or specialist in a particular field, whether it’s a geriatric upper extremities orthopedic surgeon or a teenager who has reached the highest level of a video game.
The expert’s comments are powerful social proof to use in persuasive writing because he knows the topic thoroughly, knows the issues associated with the topic, and has earned ...
Jan 17, 2026
One simple (and no-cost) way to use social media for good
A Brigham Young University study of 308,849 participants concluded that people with strong social connections have a 50% greater chance of living longer.
That explains why we’re attracted to social media. People hunger for interaction.
A well-written social media post can help build strong, positive social connections that ...
Continue reading "One simple (and no-cost) way to use social media for good"
Jan 16, 2026
If you're overwhelmed, but want 2026 to be different ...
t's easy to get busy, distracted, and overwhelmed. You beat yourself up and then focus on what you don’t do.
Just Take A Step points out what you can do. Each of the eight chapters of this ...
Continue reading "If you're overwhelmed, but want 2026 to be different ..."
Jan 15, 2026
The 4 business letter layouts you need to know
A letter writing format is a standard layout – a widely-accepted way to organize a letter.
Business letters (including cover letters, appeal letters, acceptance letters, and resignation letters) follow one of four basic formats...
Continue reading "The 4 business letter layouts you need to know"
Jan 14, 2026
The ONE sentence you need to attract more readers
“So … what do you write?” If you’re like me, you’ve bumbled and mumbled more than a dozen answers to that question.
Which means you need a core message. Unless …
You want to sound like every other writer ...
You want writing to be harder than it needs to be...
You want your writing to be vague...
Continue reading "The ONE sentence you need to attract more readers"
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