Content writing has many roles. It persuades, informs, ignites and entertains. However, not every piece of writing can fit the mold, especially online. SEO content writing and creative content writing are sought-after skills in the modern world, but they aren’t the same thing. Some people think that a good writer can easily succeed in either field, but that’s sort of like saying a football player should automatically be good at badminton. Football players are not automatically good at badminton; their shoulders are too broad to swing the tiny rackets.

Being creative can help with SEO article writing, but there are many elements that go into generating SEO content. On the other hand, creative content writing requires a lot of thought and passion. So, what’s the difference between the two? When you do use one and not the other? Each is unique, but we’re here to tell you how both styles can enhance your writing and benefit your company.

 

What is SEO Content Writing?

So what is the definition of SEO content writing? SEO content writing is the art of creating engaging, readable content that ranks highly on search engines. This involves using keywords, headers and bullet points to portray valuable advice that answers search queries.

Optimization is the focus of SEO content writing. Each article, product description or social media post is uniquely written to attract users. Concise wording, careful keyword placement and attractive formatting all must reach a certain standard to start receiving big results.

 

Why Use SEO in Content Writing?

Search engine optimization, or SEO, is a key part of effective digital marketing. When users search the internet, they are looking for resources or services that fulfill their needs. Google does the work to find quality content that can answer their specific search queries.

Complex Google algorithms study website content and determine whether those articles would be a good fit or not. To help users the most, search engines look for high-quality SEO content writing. This kind of content writing is heavily based on keywords, meta content and quality writing. It provides detailed information that is easy to find and straight to the point, making it an ideal resource for curious readers.

SEO content writers have a goal in mind when they write. They don’t use fancy, flowery words or go on long tangents; they intentionally place words and format content to adhere to Google’s algorithm. Of course, quality writing plays a key, but these writers use SEO best practices to create content that shows up on search engines and can be found by potential customers.

 

How is SEO Content Writing Used?

Businesses will use SEO content writing strategically to generate leads and increase traffic on their websites. Because writing this kind of content is a valuable skill, many writers work with companies as SEO content writers. They can find work on their own as freelancers, or join content writing teams to learn a diverse set of marketing and writing skills. When you contract with an SEO content writing company, you immediately have access to this plethora of SEO wordsmiths.

Traditionally, SEO content writing centers around content put up on your own website as well as content you distribute on other websites. The SEO content writing for your own website would include (but is not limited to the following):

• Web pages
• Blog posts
• Product/Category Pages
• Landing Pages

Most businesses at least engage in content writing for SEO by continually adding to their blog. Writing long-form, evergreen, educational blog posts is one of the quickest ways to start ranking for keywords and driving traffic to your site. In a blog setting, you can target many different topics/keywords/queries and continually expand your reach.

For SEO content writing examples centered around distribution on other sites you’ll frequently find the following content types:

• Guest Blog Posts
• Ebooks
• White Papers
• Press Releases

One of the primary goals of this type of SEO content writing is to get your content posted on other industry sites to get a backlink to your website as well as increase the number of shares/readers that engage with your brand. Some types of SEO content writing, like E-books, are meant primarily as a way to bring in leads directly.

 

What Makes Good SEO Content Writing?

As a company or influencer, how do you use SEO content writing to stand out among competitors? Implement these key aspects to distinguish your work and get noticed by readers:

• Be Authoritative. SEO content should always contain something useful to readers, but first, they need to trust your business as an expert in the field. This is done by backing up your data, providing honest opinions without trying to sell something and writing with a confident tone and voice.
• Stay Relevant. You won’t pick up any long-lasting traffic without being relevant. Pick and choose wisely the topics you use and be sure to connect them with your industry or business. Try to keep your content evergreen, meaning that your topic will be relevant for years to come. To find the best content ideas, many businesses gather data on both their target audiences and trending topics.
• Answer Questions. SEO content writing is all about adapting to the needs of readers. Adjust your content to answer search queries, and stick to those questions the whole way through.
• Create Comprehensible Content. Keywords are a vital way to get on Google’s radar, but don’t let them overwhelm the content. Keyword stuffing is never a good idea. Write articles that are engaging, easy to follow and focus on your topic.

There’s a lot more to SEO content writing, but generally, this kind of content is intentional, concise and strategic. Now let’s move on to a different kind of writing.

 

What is Creative Content Writing?

Creative content writing covers a range of writing styles that focus on imagination and originality. The purpose of creative content is to express emotions, thoughts or ideas through description and literary devices. A few common forms of creative writing include poetry, fiction, songs and plays. This kind of content can be fiction or non-fiction, depending on the story the writer creates.

More and more creative writing is being published through blogging platforms and social media. Similarly, more readers are using ebooks versus standard printed books than ever before.

 

Why Engage in Creative Writing?

Although SEO content writing is developed for readers, creative content writing is created simply for the enjoyment of readers. There’s no selling involved, and the writing is more focused on persuasion and rhetoric. Like any good form of entertainment, it is designed and developed to immerse the audience. Creative writing can be made purely for entertainment, or it can enforce a message or ideal. Either way, writers can use their personality to form works of art that tug on the heartstrings of their readers.

Engaging content is something that many people search for. According to WordPress, over 409 million people look at WordPress content every month. As readership grows, so do the blogs. Users are now creating over 70 million new posts each month.

 

What Makes Good Creative Writing?

One of the best parts of creative writing is that there is a lot of freedom in writing than there is for SEO content writing. There are multiple ways to create quality content that touches readers. Some writers chose to use similes, metaphors and symbolism to portray certain ideas while others use imagery and literal writing.

Creative writing may be one of the easiest types of content to start creating. Although more experienced writers tend to write more compelling content, creative writing is mostly based on your own creativity and individuality. That being said, here are a few things that make creative writing exceptional:

• Good Ideas. Although the possibilities seem endless, good ideas can make the difference in creative writing. Be sure that whatever you create focuses on complete ideas and doesn’t leave the readers hanging in the wrong way.
• Story Fluency. No matter what you write about, the sentences and topic need to flow freely. Sentence fluency helps readers stay immersed while reading without getting confused or tripped up with poor writing.
• Compelling Writing. The best content is the type that catches the reader’s attention. Use your personality to enhance what you write, and make it jump out of the page.

There are thousands of directions you can take with your writing, and with enough originality and talent, your story can become popular among readers. If you’re planning on becoming the next J. K. Rowling, creative writing is the way to go.

How Is Creative Writing Used?

The most popular career path for creative content writers is to become a published author. This can take a lot of work, especially if you’ve never published a book before. However, the skills a creative writer gains can be useful in other careers such as journalism and content writing. Talented creative writers can find a place in the SEO content writing world. They can combine creative skills with strategic writing to create powerful content that rises above mediocre work.

 

The Differences Between SEO Content Writing and Creative Content Writing

At first glance, these two styles of writing seem very alike. Although they have similarities, there are some stark differences between the two. Perhaps one of the biggest differences is the reason why content is being written. A writer’s intention can completely change the type of writing.

We can explain this by comparing writing once again to sports. As a football player, your goal is to get a touchdown. This includes tackling, passing and throwing the ball towards the end zone. Ultimately, you want to get enough touchdowns to beat the other team and win the game.

On the other hand, if you’re playing badminton, you’re not going to try to score a touchdown. Your goal is to swing the racket and get the shuttlecock over the net (comment below if you knew what a shuttlecock was). Although both games are exciting and competitive, you have different ways of winning. To go further, football players will be using different strategies than badminton players. Both tactics work effectively in their respective games but aren’t really interchangeable.

 

Why the Differences Matter

The same goes for SEO content writing and creative content writing. SEO writing is mainly focused on marketing to potential leads. How do you reach customers? You use content that is concise, informative and persuasive. You use keywords and metadata to boost your google rankings, and you use every facet of digital advertising to score a marketing touchdown.

Creative content writing is created for different reasons. Creative writers capture the art of writing. They inspire, inform and explore literary devices that have been used for centuries. Creative writing doesn’t put a cap on the descriptions and imagery, and it doesn’t always have a purpose besides entertainment.

So when reading a piece of content, can you tell the difference? Here are three of the biggest differences you can identify when studying the two styles of writing.

1. Word Usage

Every good writer should have a collection of synonyms. When writers don’t know how to use synonyms, their writing can sound dull. But with SEO content writing, masterfully utilizing interchangeable words is vital. It’s not just that you need to be able to vary your sentences and sound professional, but you also have to limit the number of times you use certain words.

To illustrate this point, let’s compare a short story about a loan shark to a 300-word article with the keyword “loan.” The short story could have a sentence that reads, “When Lucy the Loan Shark called about a loan that was past due, she always made sure Loan Me a Dime was playing in the background.” Not the best phrasing, but passable. In the SEO article, that sentence is murder. You’ve exhausted your use of “loan” in just 26 words, and the keyword spacing is ghastly. If you don’t want the client asking for a rewrite, you’ll need to do some serious synonymizing.

2. Point of View

Part of the appeal of creative writing is sharing your own thoughts and opinions. If you have a strong opinion on a controversial topic and want the world to know, you may write a few rage-filled articles sharing your opinion. When writing a technical article that’s meant to drive traffic to a certain site, your aversion to this topic needs to be left out of your work. SEO content writers almost always have to avoid writing negative content, so it’s important that you’re able to set personal biases aside.

If you’re writing specifically for a client’s website or blog, then you’ll need to purposely take the point of view of the client you’re writing for. The ability to mimic a tone and voice and use verbiage and vocabulary the company would use is crucial in creating a congruent brand message throughout. There also is some research required in understanding products, target consumers and even competitors of the client you’re ghostwriting for. SEO content writing requires a lot of research for both topic and style.

3. Specific Styling

A lot of factors play into the style of an SEO article. Different companies want different things, so you have to know what’s acceptable when it comes to format and wording. You might love using italics to stress words, or maybe you feel that a numbered list is the best way to achieve the following:

1. Cleverness
2. Listing
3. Numerical Shenanigans

Unfortunately, these elements have to be avoided in some articles. You may need to use your creative skills to find another way to get your point across. Your client’s style guide always has the final say, so you might have to kill some of your darlings.

 

The Similarities Between SEO Content Writing and Creative Content Writing

Although there may be some stark differences between the styles, combining the skills of SEO content writing and creative content writing can amp your writing to the next level. Are they really so different from each other? Here are three strengths that these two writing styles share.

1. Good Quality Writing

Whether you publish creative writing or SEO content, your writing must be of high quality to receive recognition and admiration from readers. This means grammar and format need to be neat and tidy, with the exception of certain styles of poetry. When readers catch several of your grammar mistakes and struggle to interpret the format, they’ll bounce from your website in less than a minute.

Along with good grammar, readability is important to both styles. How well can a reader follow your writing structure and understand the information you present? Both SEO content writers and creative content writers need to keep in mind the audience they are targeting. If your content contains college-level words and a professional tone, the middle school students you’re catering to won’t be interested in what you say, even if it’s about how to create trending Tik-Tok videos.

Both types of writers should take their target market into consideration while writing. Word choice, certain themes and level of professionalism are all affected by the people receiving the content. Readability may be one of the biggest factors in how people react to your content, especially for SEO content writing.

2. Engaging to Readers

SEO and creative content are aimed at hooking readers. Google tries to evaluate data the same way a reader would, making the need for reader engagement even more important in content. Your search rank is partially dependent on how well visitors are receiving your post. Is it beneficial to them? Do they share it with friends, comment below or link back to it? These are all signs of engagement in the digital world, and engagement means traffic.

For creative content writers, a story needs to be loved by the audience. This requires a lot of hard work, and many writers take extra measures to spread awareness of their content, such as advertising, book signings or social media marketing. If creative writing is posted online, SEO comes into play. You need readers to find your content, and this can be done by optimizing your website and ranking for keywords.

Both styles have a fundamental need for engagement and involvement. The central reason why content is created is so that it can reach potential readers and benefit them. These practices aim to be interesting and appealing.

3. Advocates Writing

In a world where technology is uprooting traditional libraries and videos are being chosen over literature, SEO content writing and creative content writing show the power of words. Each serves its purpose in compelling readers and achieving goals. SEO content writing is a priceless asset to any marketing plan because of the traffic it generates and the power it adds to any website. Even social media uses the power of content marketing to reach users.

Creative content writing has always done its job well. Stories can make readers cry, laugh, think and discover. They can also bring across points and raise questions about current issues. The internet is chock-full of creative writing from people of all backgrounds and talents. And now, more and more creative devices are used in journalism, marketing and lifestyle writing.

 

The Future of SEO Content Writing and Creative Content Writing

We’ve established that SEO content writing and creative content writing are two completely different sports. One is used strategically, the other more creatively. However, this doesn’t mean you can’t use skills from both to create hybrid content that soars over the heads of competitors. The tactics for football and badminton are different, but what if you combined the agility that one gains from swinging a racket with the speed and power of a football player? You’re not necessarily going to play harder, but rather play smarter.

The same goes for content writing. Although each style of writing has its respective place in the world, it’s getting harder and harder to deny the benefits of both. As marketing continues to evolve, writing is becoming more fluid and interesting to read. Creative content writers are starting to optimize their work and use SEO best practices to promote work online. SEO content writers are creating better content by using creative techniques.

 

SEO Content Writing vs. Creative Writing: Use Them Both!

The world is changing, and so is the way we see content. Creative writing and SEO content writing are two very different beasts. Nevertheless, learning how to write both can absolutely make you a more competent writer. Marketing strategy and effective storytelling have never worked hand in hand better than they do today.

Looking for SEO content writers who incorporate creativity and quality into their writing? Check out our content shop and learn more about how we can help you.

We enter our online workplaces for different reasons and with varying skill sets, but every blogger, marketer and website builder has to figure out what techniques will bring in business. When crafting and implementing content marketing campaigns, it becomes quickly apparent that it can be easy to get lost in the sandbox that is the internet.

Thankfully, there are content curation tools that can help you to find relevant, trending, engaging content that you can then curate for your own readers. If you’ve done it correctly, they’ll continue to look to you as a source for relevant, valuable news.

 

What is Content Curation?

Content curation is the process of gathering existing content (whether news, informative, how-to, guides, etc.) that is relevant to a particular topic, industry or area of interest, and then adding value, context and organization specific to the readers you are sharing it with. This form of content creation involves finding content that reflects your brand voice and speaks the right message to your customers.

It’s typically easier than crafting brand new content yourself because the meat of the message is already there and you’re adding enough new content to provide context and messaging to your reader base. Also, because you share it and give credit to the original creator, you can grow your own network of influencers at the same time. It’s a win/win!

The hard part comes down to finding good content to curate. Where do you look? How do you narrow down your search? In this article, we’ll highlight some of the best content curation tools used by content marketers and writers all over the world.

 

10 Super Useful Content Curation Tools

Content curation tools help you to engage, understand and cater to the people you want knocking on your virtual door. When used properly, content curation tools save you billions of hours otherwise spent sifting, sorting and potentially going insane.

Here are 10 of the best content curation tools on the web today.

 

1. Listly

You know what people love? Lists. You know why people love them? There are five main reasons…. jk. But seriously, people are obsessed with lists.

It doesn’t matter why the general public is infatuated with easy-to-read, numeric rankings. You just need to accept that as truth and let Listly lead the way. The function here allows you to sort relevant information into lists on your site, then gives users the opportunity to vote content up or down. Since your goal with your content writing is to engage an audience, a curation tool that allows for active engagement makes a lot of sense.

The response from visitors provides invaluable feedback, helping you pinpoint what content actually speaks to the customers you hope to target. List.ly can be a great tool to provide numerous list ideas to fill your site up with interesting, engaging content very quickly.

 

 

2. Scoop.it

Amateurs and professionals alike use Scoop.it because it curates lighting fast and filters like a champion. While a lot of content curation tools do a fine job of pulling information, you need information and articles based on relevant keywords. So how do you use Scoop.it? Scoop.it finds popular and trending material based on choice words and phrases, giving you necessary control as you curate.

Automation options also make Scoop.it effective and easy to use. If the app is already finding posts for you, why stop it from automatically sending those articles where they need to go?

 

 

3. Feedly

Feedly? More like Feed-ME some more of that useful information! Sorry. Sorry.

This option works great for content managers or content marketers looking to stay current and connected with leading voices. Feedly finds blogs from popular writers and sites, ensuring you have the latest and greatest articles ready to inform your own posts or dispense through an email blast. With this service, you take a lot of guessing out of the content curation business.

 

 

4. Quora

Quora is like a social media feed with content you actually want created by people who actually know what they’re talking about. Crazy, right?

People love Quora because so much information gets delivered so succinctly. Plug in keywords and watch your page fill with excellent insight and relevant posts. Read what you like, save articles for later and come back anytime to see what’s changed. If you want very specific information, Quora provides one of the quickest, easiest ways to get what you need.

Quora is also question-based, meaning you can target specific queries that your read base might be asking. Curating content based on questions being asked is a great way to help provide value to your readers.

 

 

5. BuzzSumo

With BuzzSumo, you have lots of ways to track down content and lots of ways to specify exactly what you want. You can filter articles by the ranking of the influencer who created the piece, by sharing frequency within the last day or year, by the specific type of content you need, etc. When you’re looking for very specific content to curate, BuzzSumo is the way to go.

The option to receive alerts when new content hits the web protects you from getting caught asleep at the wheel while your competitors out-curate you.

 

 

6. Pocket

For some, the more involved content curation tools can feel overwhelming at times. If you just need to flag useful content pieces and don’t want all the bells and whistles, Pocket offers an excellent solution.

This content curation app throws a little button on your browser so you can quickly mark and store articles, videos, pictures and graphs you find interesting or useful. You can later access those items offline, and you also receive alerts notifying you of items that have been frequently “pocketed” by users with similar interests. Not a lot of frills come with Pocket, but it’s very helpful when it comes to content writing and enticingly simple.

 

 

7. Triberr

Searching through the vast internet ocean for relevant content can make a person feel lonely. Fortunately, Triberr infuses the process with a sense of togetherness.

This curation tool makes connecting with other people in your professional world much easier. You join groups and share other people’s content, with the prospect of them returning the favor. Triberr points you toward the top influencers in your field so you can learn more about professional writing and blogging from those who actively make a living at it. As you look to increase clicks and traffic, Triberr directs you to the people and information best equipped to help you.

Curating expert content has a lot of benefits, as you’ll soon find out.

 

 

8. Twitter Lists

The great part about Twitter is that it typically houses the most up-to-date news on the internet. Sports stories, news stories, rumor mills and anything else you can imagine basically first starts on Twitter before someone finds the information to curate it on a news or blogging site. If you want what’s fresh, you’ll utilize Twitter.

That being said, when used improperly, Twitter is a time-suck that can cost you a day and teach you very little. When you sprinkle a little strategy on this tiny bird, it can be incredibly useful when it comes to social media content curation.

Twitter Lists blocks out the noise and allows you to focus on the information you want to see. Thousands of brilliant minds are actively sharing great content on Twitter, and a simple list puts everything you need in a tidy little package. Most people already know how to use Twitter, but this list feature shows how to use it well.

 

 

9. Pinterest

Some people see Pinterest as online scrapbooking. Others see it as an accessible, useful, undeniably fun social media content curation tool.

The size of the platform also ups the appeal of Pinterest, with so many users and so much available media. The creative curation ideas found on Pinterest are seemingly endless, and if you’re not careful you could get lost for hours within its pins.

Pinterest also places an emphasis on visual content curation. With nearly every pin selling itself through great pictures and visuals, the allure is there. For those looking to bring more visuals to their mailings and posts, it’s hard to find a better way to collect what you need.

 

 

10. FlipBoard

News travels way too fast these days. With no time to bounce between different information sites and get relevant media to your followers, FlipBoard is the lifeline you’ve been waiting for.

With FlipBoard, you can put all your favorite news sites into convenient folders and get headlines from around the world wide web delivered right to one place. Cut down on the time you spend searching for the latest trending topics to curate, and you’ll have a much better shot at keeping your content relevant.

 

 

Find Success With Content Curation Tools

If you want people to find your site, you have to rise above the noise created by the rest of the pervasive digital world. No one pretends that’s an easy thing to do, but we can all agree that you have a better shot when using the right content curation tools.

While we feel these are 10 of the best curation tools on the web, there are many more that can help give you the groundwork for your next content writing project. Whatever tool you use, you’re probably grateful you’re not browsing through newspapers to find great content to curate, amiright?

Get started with a few content curation tools from this list, and please share any success stories in the comments below!

Oh, the irony of trying to get inspired so one can write a blog post about writing inspiration. This is my fourth or fifth or 20th pass at this opening paragraph, and I’m still waiting for the perfect sentence to flow through my fingers and onto this page.

Unfortunately, freelance writers who don’t want to die of starvation can’t just sit around and wait to feel inspiration for writing. If you’re struggling with an article, and your motivation seems to be on sabbatical, here are a few tricks I’ve found helpful when trying to jumpstart my brain.

 

How To Find Writing Inspiration

Some of these tricks have to do with writing techniques, while others are completely abstract; but that’s the point. Sometimes, the best writing inspiration tricks are ones that change your mindset completely, allowing you to start with a blank page again. Read on to find some inspiration for writing!

 

1. Do Chores

Let me be very, very clear: I don’t find sweeping to be an inspirational activity. However, part of the problem with trying to write when you’re feeling stagnant is that your mind wanders to other, more interesting things. That’s why doing something that seems truly dreadful – like cleaning grout or organizing the basement – can help drum up the writing inspiration that seemed so elusive earlier. I find cleaning the bathroom to be especially effective; after a modest amount of porcelain scrubbing, I’m ready to write about anything.

 

2. Read About Something Else

If you’re having trouble getting excited about a certain topic, force-feeding yourself information about that subject isn’t likely to breed inspiration. Like any muscle, your brain should be worked in different ways to stay strong and healthy. And since your brain isn’t actually a muscle, I say there’s nothing wrong with reading a trashy novel or watching some mind-numbing reality TV while you take a break from whatever writing is causing so much grief. Videos of cats on Roombas are also acceptable.

 

3. Write About Something Else

Similarly, you might be able to force inspiration’s hand by writing about an unrelated subject. Switching from a technical article about computer software to a short story about dinosaurs competing in a spelling bee should put you in a new headspace that could get you past your writer’s block. Plus, think of all the money you’ll make when that dinosaur book hits the shelves!

 

4. Go For a Walk

Sometimes, gaining writing inspiration is all about getting a new perspective. Whatever helps you add context and new ideas can be a boon to your writing career. If you’re a freelance writer that works from home, then drop the laptop and go take a stroll around the block. Or, even better, head over to the park and people watch for a while. Get out of your own head and into the fresh air. Don’t even get me started on the number of classic novelists that have gained writing inspiration from just being outside…

 

5. Take a Shower

This tip is two-fold. First, you’ve probably spent way too much time trying to get inspiration for writing that you’ve forgotten basic hygiene best-practices and may have needed a reminder to get ready for the day. Second, getting fresh and clean and looking/feeling great can give you a new perspective.

Getting writing inspiration is similar to being wide awake in the middle of the night and not knowing how to turn off your brain. For me, if I get up, go splash cold water all over my face, dry it off and go lay back down it’s like a fresh start at that thing they call sleep… Maybe it will work for your writing, too!

 

6. Visit With a Friend

Hopefully you’ve surrounded yourself with good friends and talking to them is uplifting and not the opposite. If so, then take some time to give one a call, or video-chat. You don’t have to talk about your writing projects at all, but sometimes stepping into someone else’s shoes for a day to see what their day is like and how they approach different things can give you ideas on how you might come at your writing projects a different way.

And, it gives you some much-needed social interaction which freelance writers can be seriously short on these days.

 

7. Fix Bad Work

You know what’s easier than writing a great article? Editing a bad article. Perhaps the hardest part about finding writing inspiration is conquering the blank page. Once you’re 100 words in, even if those words are full of gross typos and weak phrases, there will be sentences that you can build off and change. The idea will start taking shape, more thoughts will pop into your head and you may realize you hate what you’re writing about and become inspired to change the topic entirely.

You can’t really claim to be lacking writing inspiration until you’ve at least tried to write a sentence or two, so stop reading this article and get to work! Just kidding, go ahead and read the last paragraph.

 

Inspiration for Writing Can Come From Anywhere!

If there’s one predictable thing about writing inspiration, it’s that you can’t predict where you’re going to find it. Instead of using a missing muse as an excuse not to write, take action and try to get your brain working on its own. If you have any thoughts about ways to get inspiration for writing, please share them in the comments!

Starting a new paragraph isn’t my favorite thing. I mean, I literally just finished a paragraph, and now I have to start a new one? Aren’t there unions to protect against this kind of thing? Like it or not, writers have to launch into new paragraphs a billion times every day. To make each new section unique and readable, I try to use a variety of sentence intros. When you can come up with engaging words to start a paragraph, the next few sentences are much easier to write. You can actually become a better writer just by focusing on how you start each sentence.

Types of Words To Start Your Paragraph

Consider the three main ways you can start a new paragraph and add interest to your content.

1. Starting With Adverbs

Too many adverbs in a sentence leads to hyperbole problems. “I am perfectly equipped to write this tremendously informative article about elegantly starting sentences.” Gross gross gross stop stop stop.

That said, an “ly” word at the beginning of a new paragraph can create an excellent link from the last idea to the next. “Consequently” leads to a result stemming from information in the previous paragraph; “similarly” allows you to break one idea into two sections; and “conversely” provides a simple step toward a counterpoint.

Quick-hitting adverbs are especially important when you’re diving into a meaty sentence. Instead of opening with a long linking phrase, start succinctly and then get to your point.

 

2. Using Words That Aren’t ‘However’

‘However’ is a very useful word. Some might even say it’s too useful. I would go so far as to say it’s way overused. Fortunately, you have alternatives! Here are a few substitutes:

• Nevertheless
• Nonetheless
• Alternatively
• Conversely
• That said
• Despite this
• At the same time

Not all of these pack the same punch as ‘however,’ but these words can serve as admirable replacements for how to start a paragraph and save you from sounding painfully redundant.

3. Relying On Dependent Clauses

As you start running out of specific words to start a paragraph, dependent clauses can shake things up nicely. Hey, look, I just gave an example of a new paragraph starting with a dependent clause! Solid work, me.

There are plenty of words used to start these clauses, including:

• While
• As
• As far as
• Insomuch
• When
• Because

If you notice yourself consistently starting sentences with the subject and a state of being verb, try getting dependent: “Though I very much love writing, I have been trying to come up with this example sentence for a stupid amount of time.” After a series of sentences starting with “the,” “this” or “these,” readers will welcome a change of pace.

Lots of words cannot be avoided in your writing. Articles, prepositions and pronouns are guaranteed to have their 15 minutes of fame. By switching up your phrasing and opening paragraphs with dependent clauses, you can vary your word choice and skip a lot of redundancy.

Conclusion: How To Start a Paragraph

Finding the right words to start a paragraph can present a serious writing roadblock. Sometimes the best thing to do is pick a word or phrase and see how you can make it work. As long as you’re putting thought into it, your sentences and paragraphs will become stronger. Did I miss any stellar starting words for a paragraph? Jot them down in the comments!

William Archibald Spooner is a very famous man, even though most people don’t recognize his name. While he might not stir anything in your memory, you pay him homage every time you grab a towel, head toward the bathroom and say, “I’m going to go shake a tower.” Thanks to William Archibald Spooner, we have a term to describe this specific sort of word distortion: spoonerism.

Back in the 19th century, no one swapped the opening syllables in words as frequently as ol’ Billy Bald Spoons. (FACT: No one calls him that) While William Archibald Spooner is credited with the term’s invention, we all execute this syllabic exchange with great regularity. Spoken with intent or in error, spoonerisms are as ordinary as white bread. Or bright wed, for those of you playing at home.

 

Spoonerism Definition

What is the definition of spoonerism? A spoonerism (noun) is the transposition of the sounds of words (typically the initial sounds), usually by accident.

 

Why Do Spoonerisms Happen?

Our brains and mouths don’t always work at the same speed, and there’s no proofreading function for the noises we produce. On top of that, wordplay is fun. With these truths in mind, my infallible research identifies three main causes for this linguistic mishap known as the spoonerism.

 

1. Alliterative Exchange

It’s easy to fumble words with similar sounds, as seen with all those effective tongue twisters. If our brains would only swap the opening letter, everything would still be properly spelled and pronounced, and no one would be the wiser. Saying “Cool car” and swapping the Cs means you’ve said, “Cool car.” William Archibald Spooner would not be impressed.

Of course, your mouth doesn’t stop at the first letter. The whole syllable tags along and “Call coor” ends up spilling out of your mouth, making things much more interesting. Who’s Coor? Why must I call him or her? Why haven’t you commented on my cool car?

 

2. Too Fast Too Spoonious

Fast-talking can also cause rampant tongue bumbling in the form of a spoonersim. In the heat of the moment, “victory is mine!” becomes “mictory is vine!” In an attempt to call out “wait for me!” you scream “mate for we!” We all want to react with poise, but the tunnel from our brains to our mouths can’t be graceful 100% of the time. Odds are you’ll exclaim “Beavens to Hetsy!” at least once in your lifetime.

 

3. Just for Laughs

For every accidental spoonerism, there are 50,000 spoken on purpose. I mean, William Archibald Spooner got his very own -ism out of this. People clearly picked up what he was putting down and ran with it.

If you don’t already merge words just for kicks, try it at home and watch the hilarity ensue.

Funny Spoonerism Examples:

• Instead of Disneyland, ask your kids if they want to go to Lisneydand, then watch them laugh until they pass out.
• As you unveil a pot roast, announce to the family that you’ve cooked up a fine rot post. Rot post? That’s just a board full of termites. You can’t have that for dinner!
• Turn daily chores into exciting acts of nonsense, like docking the wog, flopping the moors and susting the dindow wills with a deather fuster. I’m not even going to tell you what those should be, because we’re having too much fun!

Everything above is verifiably hysterical. If you don’t believe me, you should learn to be more trusting. Or should I say, turn to be more lusting? I probably shouldn’t, but it’s too late. Spoonerisms!

 

Spoonerism Examples

Mr. William Archibald Spooner is credited with many muddled phrases, including the following:

• Is it kisstumary to cuss the bride?
• Is the bean dizzy?
• The Lord is a shoving leopard.

My guess is, after a handful of accidental mispronunciations, Spooner took a liking to his word blunders and started sneaking them in knowingly. Because, whether accidentally or on purpose, a dizzy bean is funnier than a busy dean, and it paints quite a picture describing the Lord as a pushy panther.

After Spooner’s passing, the rest of the world quickly caught on to the great fun that results from talking like a person who doesn’t know how to talk. A quick search shows that pop culture packs itself full of spoonerisms through every medium and genre:

• On the TV show Hee Haw, Archie Campbell talked about “Rindercella” and “The Pree Little Thigs.”
• NOFX dropped an album called Punk in Drublic.
• A Washington, D.C., comedy troupe famously made President Reagan into “Resident Pagan.”
• Jim Henson got very creative in The Frog Prince, creating a spooned-up riddle by turning “bake the hall in the candle of her brain” into “break the ball in the handle of her cane.”

From Mr. Spooner’s “well-boiled icicle” (well-oiled bicycle, as it were) to Shel Silverstein’s book Runny Babbit, this opening-syllable dosey doe has become as popular as any form of wordplay. Spoonerisms take the monotony out of our daily conversations and enable us to confuse even ourselves when spoken accidentally. I think we all owe a debt of gratitude to the most popular misspeaker of all time, William Archibald Spooner.

 

The Best Spoonerisms are Fet to be Yound

Do you have any other questions relating to, “What is a spoonerism?” Or do you have a clever, homemade spoonerism? Throw it in the comments below and see if other readers can figure out where the sentence went wrong!

Right now it’s about three in the afternoon. I am still in my pajamas and don’t have any intention of changing into more presentable attire. For some freelance writers, I just listed the quintessential benefit of having a a work from home writing job.

 

Pros and Cons of Work From Home Writing Jobs

Personally, I think the ability to wear sweatpants 24/7 starts out as a plus and eventually turns into a bit of a problem. In any case, it’s important for people to know that there are both good and bad aspects that come with a self-motivated freelance writing schedule. Before you trade your suits for sweats, you should consider the pros and cons of freelance writing jobs from home.

 

What Are the Advantages of Work From Home Writing Jobs?

Here are the top three reasons why most freelance writers love working from home:

1. Flexible Travel

When I worked a 9-to-5 job, finding time to travel was a pretty tedious endeavor. Now, with no set shifts that I need to work around, I can schedule flights on cheaper days and make the most out of my trips. Plus, I can write articles while I’m traveling, so going on vacation doesn’t end up crippling my bank account.

 

2. Preferred Sleep Schedule

In the world of freelance writing and editing, night owls can write late and early birds can get cracking at dawn. This is nice as a general practice, but also really helpful because of the nature of the work. Successful freelance writers know when they do their best writing and when they do their best sleeping, and it’s great to have an accommodating schedule.

 

3. Spontaneous Adventures

You know who can’t drop everything and go to a movie on a Tuesday afternoon? Professionals tied to an office. You know who can? The freelance writer who gets up early to work, thereby freeing up the afternoon so he or she can pay too much for popcorn!

 

What Are the Disadvantages of Work From Home Writing Jobs?

Consider the top three downsides to being a freelance writer that works from home:

1. Schedule Mismanagement

While a flexible writing schedule allows you to set your day as you please, it’s easy to take advantage of your freedom and start coming up with excuses to avoid writing. As a freelance writer, you have to appropriately prioritize your personal and professional to-do lists, otherwise you won’t be able to buy food, clothes or expensive popcorn.

 

2. Self-Motivation Required

There’s no work from home writing job oversight committee to help you stop procrastinating and leaving your work until the eleventh hour, so you have to be self-motivated constantly. If you wait until the last minute and an unforeseen power outage or bear attack keeps you from getting an assignment finished on time, you may strain your relationship with your client or editor who will wonder why you didn’t take your writing assignment seriously and why you were hanging out with bears when you should have been writing.

 

3. Burn Out

I love freelance writing jobs. I also love eating cake. That doesn’t mean that I love doing either of those things at all hours of the day. Freelance writers don’t get employment benefits (paid sick leave/time off, health insurance coverage, retirement plans), so we spend a lot of time working to pay the bills. Writing constantly, much like eating an entire Bundt cake, can be exhausting. If you don’t have a love for and dedication to the craft, you may burn out quickly.

 

What Time Management Tools Can Help People With Freelance Writing Gigs?

I’d be lying if I said that the drawbacks that come with a flexible writing schedule aren’t difficult. Still, I’m a strong advocate of the freelance writing lifestyle, and the benefits of work from home writing jobs can outweigh any negative aspects — if you have the right game plan to manage your time.

10 Time Management Tools for Work From Home Writing Jobs

1. Conquer the Calendar

Be realistic and uncompromising with your schedule. Sure, you may not be showing up to a cubicle-filled office every day to do your work, but that doesn’t mean you can’t carve out certain parts of your day or week to dedicate to work from home writing jobs. The more consistent you are in scheduling, the more productive you will be.

2. Keep a Running “To Do” List

It can be easy to start spinning too many plates when the work is all up to you. Freelance writing jobs from home may require you to work on multiple pieces at a time. Write down what you need to do each day, and what needs to be completed each week. Start working on the things that are lengthiest, most difficult or most confusing first. That way, you’ll be able to work through your issues and questions before the deadlines start looming.

3. Set Attainable Goals

Do you want to write 50,000 words this week? Great — but is it realistic with your timeline? By setting attainable goals, you not only get the satisfaction of checking off a box on your to-do list, but you may also be able to track your own progress, work up to bigger, better things more quickly and stop experiencing that constant feeling of not measuring up.

4. Work in Set Chunks of Time

Rather than telling yourself you’ll work eight hours at some point during the 15 hours you’ll be awake today, set aside specific chunks of time to write, interspersed with the occasional half hour or so to take your dog on a walk or surf Facebook on the couch. By allowing yourself a “reward” break after a two hour crunch of writing articles at your work from home writing job, you’ll likely buckle down and do what you need to during the time your brain has labeled as “clocked in.”

5. Turn Off Distractions

Setting aside time to work is a waste of planning if you don’t also safeguard those hours by turning off distractions. Work time is far more productive if the only thing nagging you is the deadline for a piece of writing. Try turning off the social media notifications on your phone, sending the kids to a friend’s house, or working in a space that doesn’t face the TV. At the very least, keep the remote out of sight and out of reach when writing.

6. Keep a Clean Desk

While most people who do work from home writing jobs are generally the “creative” type, it doesn’t also have to mean that your work area is as cluttered as your stereotypical drawer full of ideas for your next novel. Keeping a clean workspace (even if it is the kitchen counter) can actually help to reduce stress, sharpen focus, and lessen the chances of writer’s block. Take just five minutes before you start working to get your desk in order and you’ll likely find that your time spent writing is much more productive.

7. Get Good At Saying Yes — And No

If you’re lucky enough to get hired by a great content writing company, get good at saying “yes” to new work from home writing job opportunities that you feel qualified for. Chances are, your willingness to help, coupled with a dedication to quality and a timely submission, will likely increase your chances of getting additional opportunities in the future. That’s a great way to beef up your writing schedule without having to spend time chasing after new clients.

However, know your own limits. If you won’t be able to finish a writing assignment in time, don’t take it. If you already have done so, communicate openly with your manager or client about the problem as early as possible, to prevent any issues. Most people appreciate the honesty, and it, too may be rewarded with additional writing opportunities as time goes on.

8. Make a Writing Outline – And Then Dive In!

Have you ever gotten stuck at the top of a page, trying to think of a good title for your blog post? Possibly the hardest thing about freelance writing gigs online is just getting started. Next time you’re bashing your forehead against a chance of writer’s block, try skipping the title. Make a simple outline of ideas that revolve naturally around the blog topic you’ve been given. Then, dive in and let the words flow. Don’t stop and think about word synonyms or clever headings until you’ve written out a solid first draft.

After you’ve let some creativity take over, go back and tweak it until the article is cohesive, well-proofread and meets the client’s guidelines.

9. Give Yourself A Break From Freelance Writing

Take advantage of the best part of work from home writing jobs: taking a break when and where you need to. As long as you are being consistent in your schedule and doing your best to dedicate significant chunks of time to completing the work you know you can finish on time, taking a break is a good thing. In fact, after having a coffee with a friend or reading some of your favorite book, your mind may actually be more refreshed and ready to hit the keyboard once more when you’re ready to write again.

10. Be Consistent

Whether it’s your first time trying out freelance writing jobs from home or you’re a veteran of the world of online content creation, consistency is key. The more you write, the better you will become. The better you become, the more money you’ll be able to make, and the easier it is for a freelancing side hustle to become your full-time career.

Work From Home Writing Jobs Are The Best

While there are definitely pros and cons of freelance writing, we tend to think there are many more pros than cons when you approach it the right way. It also helps when your work from home writing job is with a content writing company that cares about its writers. What useful time management tips for online writing gigs do you have to share with your fellow writers? Fire away in the comments below!

Misspelling words can be embarrassing, especially when you do something comical like swap an O for a U in the word coop. A “chicken coop” is very different from a “chicken coup.” Fortunately, spelling struggles are not a terminal condition. There are a few ways to become a better speller, and the best method is probably to spend all your time writing so that more words are committed to memory. For people who write only casually but would still like to avoid making errors, there is hope.

 

How To Become a Better Speller

How exactly do you learn to spell better? Do you pull out the dictionary and get to work reading cover to cover? While that is one way, it may not be the most entertaining, and you’ll probably burn out quickly and lose the drive to keep going.

In order to preserve your sanity while also expanding your vocabulary (and your ability to write the word correctly), we have some suggestions for you on improving your spelling. You can learn how to become a better speller by applying the following tips:

1. Learn the Exceptions to Language Rules

The English language is, unfortunately, a bit of a disaster. There are so many exceptions to rules that the rules are almost the exceptions. One need look no further than the “I before E, except after C” situation. This is a helpful rule, but as soon as you throw in words like reign, ancient and protein, you’re dealing with three additional and unique exceptions. For people keeping score, that’s Rules: 1, Exceptions: 4.

Coming to terms with the complexity of language can help with your quest to become a better speller in a couple of ways. First, you can blame history, geography, conquests and British rulers for all of your spelling problems. Second, learning about the exceptions will help you to identify and memorize these little outliers. When you know the wonky rules regarding pluralization, you’ll stand a better chance of remembering how to spell words like tomatoes, pianos, monkeys and moose.

 

2. Say It Like It’s Spelled

Consider how the word sounds and try to spell it out. I do this with a lot of words that give me trouble. Now, it’s important that you keep the phonetic pronunciation in your head; as much as I struggle with the word entrepreneur, I don’t go around saying “en-tree-pree-nee-you’re” out loud. I do, however, butcher the word in my brain so I can remember that the letter E appears in every syllable. I also say “oac-cay-sionally” when I’m think-spelling so that I remember to use two Cs and only one S in occasionally.

I cannot stress enough how important it is that you keep these pronunciations internalized. No one wants to hire a writer who talks like a lunatic.

 

3. Turn Off Spell Check and Autocorrect

Writing without spell check can cause some people to panic, so feel free to do some breathing exercises before reading on. I’m not suggesting that you should never employ your digital spelling aids; those things can be very helpful when used properly. Nonetheless, if you do a preliminary pass at whatever you’re writing without assistance, you’ll force yourself to think a little harder about the words you’re typing.

Then, when you go back and turn spell check on, you can see your errors and will hopefully be more conscious of those mistakes going forward. It’s kind of like a small spelling quiz each time you write. You write with the initial intent to spell the words correctly, then when you go over them with spell check, you see the ones you misspelled. As a result, those words are better ingrained in your memory.

If you employ this spelling tip while writing unique articles about different subjects, you then can have a visual cue to fall back on when remembering how to spell words correctly. For instance, if you wrote an article on a dental practice and misspelled the word “veneer,” then the next time you see it, you’ll have context because of the dental article it was in.

 

Learn How To Spell Better Today!

If you want to become a better speller and feel more confident about your writing, start taking specific steps to make that a reality. Got any spelling tactics that you find particularly helpful? Please share them in the comments!

I think it’s pretty funny when people complain about their writing skills as though they can’t be improved upon. If you’re bemoaning the fact that you aren’t a naturally gifted scribe, becoming a better writer is still well within your grasp.

You might not be able to start winning Pulitzers or cranking out novels right away, but you can certainly learn more words, refine your sentence structure and finally figure out how to properly use a semicolon. These are all mainstays of how to become better at writing.

 

How To Become a Better Writer

The truth is, there are lots of different writing techniques to use to help you to become a better writer. The key is to try a lot of these tips and see what works for you. Then, you can put your own spin on them and customize the implementation to help improve your unique writing style. Here are some steps you can try to improve your writing skills and fulfill your dream of becoming a better writer:

1. Write About Everything

This analogy is massively overused, and I’m already disappointed in myself for repeating it, but think about your writing skills as a muscle. If you go to the gym and do only forearm exercises, you’ll end up looking strange and Popeye-ish. Similarly, if you write about only one topic, you’re not going to experience much growth. By branching out and working on topics outside your wheelhouse, you’ll force yourself to acquire new skills and expand your vocabulary.

Write about cars, medicine and travel, or work on a short story in which Batman teaches a bunch of pre-WWI Serbian Nationalists how to promote themselves on social media. Any topic is fair game and can help you build your writing repertoire and improve your writing skills.

 

2. Read Everything

If writing skills are a muscle, then books are the writer’s gym. Literature provides everything you need to develop stronger storytelling, create dynamic characters, learn to spell and improve grammar. There’s a direct correlation between reading avidly and becoming a better writer. You really can’t expect to create a brilliant work of historical Batman fiction if you never read books in that genre.

If you’re of the mindset that reading too much might sully your originality or creativity, you should get over that ASAP. Absorbing other people’s writing should teach and inspire you, and analyzing concepts found in various literary pieces will only help you to further develop your own ideas and improve your writing process.

 

3. Branch Out and Try Different Types of Content Writing

If you only ever write short stories, how will you know if you could’ve written a novel? Or, if you only ever write blogs, how will you ever know if your true passion was to write product copy for super cool products that you then end up going out and buying yourself because you were so convincing? In the same vein as writing about different topics, try writing different content types to help you become a better writer!

There’s so much variety in the world of online content writing. It would be a shame to not try your hand at an ebook, white paper, press release or social media post. Sometimes just changing up the purpose, format and target audience for your content can help you to develop writing skills you didn’t even know you had.

 

4. Never Stop Writing

If you’re serious about becoming a better writer, you’ll happily write even when no one is asking you to. From time to time, I’ll just sit down and start writing to see what kind of nonsense I come up with. I’m only half-ashamed to admit that occasionally I’ll look around the room and pick five or six different objects, then try to cleverly fit those words into a one-page story. If you put some thought into it, you can end up with a creative work of fiction.

If nothing else, you’ll come away with a mediocre tale about the time Count Bookshelf and Lord Paperweight overcame their differences and saved the people of Humidifier.

 

Becoming a Better Writer Is Possible

Becoming a better writer doesn’t happen overnight, but it’s absolutely a feat that can be accomplished by anyone willing to make the effort. If you have any advice you’d like to give other writers who are looking to improve their writing skills and become a better writer, please share in the comments!

Bad news, everyone: Attention spans are officially dead. Time of death is unknown, and no one has the attention span to research and find out. RIP. If you’ve absorbed anything online in the last decade, you know most of what we read and watch targets a demographic with dwindling focus. This trend means only the most gripping content finds an audience, and only those who know how to write a hook can capture readers. Will your catchy phrase actually engage people? The only guarantee is that content writers who don’t use hooks don’t keep readers.

3 Ways To Write a Hook That Hits

Wrangling the attention of an audience that lacks focus is tough. To get the job done, consider one of the following tactics.

1.     Hook With a Quote

“The human mind is a fragile mess, as easy to hook as it is difficult to hold.” – Evan Gaustad, author of this article

For a brief moment, you thought those words were brilliant and coined by a very smart person. But it was just me! That’s a bunch of meaningless drivel, but you were so engaged! You saw the quotation marks and the italics and thought, “There is wisdom in these words. I shall read on.”

Aside from our instinctual fascination with quotes, using the words of a trusted voice lends credence to your work. A good quote supports your argument and usually ensures readers will at least go as far as to see who said the words you’re citing.

2. Hook With a Question

Opening with an inquiry doesn’t pose the same visual hook as a famous quote, but the bait can be just as effective. The hard part is coming up with a question that readers want to see answered. Here are some possible directions:

• Strange question
• Funny question
• Terrifying question

I dislike the last option. It’s what news shows do right before cutting to commercial:

“Are the pans you cook with made out of Ebola? Tune in at 11 to find out.”

This definitely gets people’s attention, but it might also cause grandpa to throw out all his cookware. Take care when posing questions that are frightening or disingenuous.

Tongue-in-cheek questions might serve you better when deciding how to write a hook. Even if your topic is a serious one, you can still approach it from a weird angle:

“Is my mutual fund manager just a thief in a suit?”

The answer, obviously, is no. Still, if the article aims to highlight some people’s concerns about mutual funds, this question is an interesting, quirky place to start. Even if readers know the answer, they’ll still want to see how that answer gets delivered.

3. Hook With a Fact

Did you know the phrase “by hook or by crook” originated in the 14th century? That information has no place in this article, but it is true. Now you’ll keep reading to see what other tidbits I have to offer.

If you start with a true and fascinating fact, most readers will want to know more. For example, I just Googled “interesting facts” and learned that the first oranges were actually green. My mind is blown, and I’ll spend the next few days reading every article ever written about this deceitful fruit.

As much as we have trouble staying focused these days, our attention sharpens when presented with something that piques our interest. Your content marketing also gains credibility when you include statistics and well-researched details.

There are no universal truths for how to write a hook. This gives you license to hook readers by whatever means necessary, but it also means you have to put serious thought into how you go about it. The tactics above provide a jumping off point, but the rest is up to you.

If you want to practice your hook-writing skills, have at it in the comments below!

It takes a lot of guts to write about writing confidence. In my case, it also took a lot of pacing, second-guessing and rewriting. Confidence, in writing and anything else, is an elusive thing that comes mostly from trial and error, perceptible growth, positive feedback and overcaffeination. It’s hard to fake self-assuredness, unless you feel very secure in your ability to lie about how secure you feel. If you want to write professionally, you need to be fully confident that you have the skills to do so.

How To Know You’re Not a Confident Writer

Consider these telltale signs that you’re not confident in your writing:

1. You Don’t Use Your Time Efficiently

When I first started writing SEO articles, I was earning about 62 cents an hour. This was not because I was grossly underpaid, but because I would spend five hours working on a 200-word article. I was so nervous about making mistakes that I spent way too much time reading and rewriting my work. After getting a few more articles under my belt, I began to write faster and more efficiently; that helped me to up my production and start making a living wage. Time is money for freelance writers, so if your writing confidence is low and you spend too much time doubting your work, you’re going to feel it in your wallet.

2. Your Content Is Repetitive

Redundancy is one of the many symptoms of writing sans conviction. When you type out a clear sentence, you shouldn’t need to repeat that information. However, if you’re always questioning the clarity of your writing, you’ll find yourself following up a perfectly fine phrase with another version of the same thing, and all that does is weaken the entire paragraph. It’s the equivalent of telling a good joke and then nervously laughing before your audience has a chance to respond. If you can trust that you got it right the first time, you’ll avoid turning clever phrases into unfunny jokes.

3. Your Writing Opportunities Are Limited

Some people get paid to write because they are experts in a specific field. It’s a little different when your expertise is writing, as you’ll almost certainly have to tackle subjects that are outside your areas of interest. That’s why writers need to trust their wordplay abilities to make up for the knowledge they might be missing. I’ve written scores of blogs about getting out of debt, and if any of my credit card providers knew that, they’d all laugh until they couldn’t breathe. However, I feel confident that those creditors wouldn’t take issue with the actual content of my financial articles; they’d just wonder why I’m so bad at following my own advice.

Without sufficient writing confidence, it’s very hard to make a living in this field. That’s why it’s important to work hard and learn to trust the quality of your content. Got a story about your own confidence building? Share it in the comments!