Writing Success

10 More Places to Find Inspiration for Your Next Article

It’s early in the week, so I thought I’d offer up a few more suggestions for great places to look for article ideas. We all get stuck in a rut now and again, so its nice to know you can find inspiration in out of the way places. That is, if you know where those places are.

The next time you’re feeling stuck for an article idea try looking at some of the following.

1. 1. Go to the local park, mall, or (if you’re lucky) boardwalk and start watching the people as they mill around. Your’e bound to see at least one or two interesting events - kids acting silly, people arguing, a physical altercation. Take what you see and hear and find a way to spin it into an article.
2. 2. Talk to your friends and neighbors about events in the local or national news. Find out what their opinions are and listen carefully. You may hear an angle you’ve never thought of.
3. 3. Sit down outside and free associate. Grab a blanket, head towards the park (or your backyard) and let your mind do the talking. You might even take a pen and piece of paper for some good old-fashioned free association doodling. …Continue Reading 10 More Places to Find Inspiration for Your Next Article

Understanding SEO Content Writing

“Content is king.” This is a phrase you’ll hear very often as you work towards building your client base or building your own website. The more quality content you have on your website the more successful it will be. Your chances of success double if you are skilled at proper SEO and keyword writing.

Check out this video by Paul Richlovsky and Daiv Whaley from Fathom SEO. They discuss what SEO writing really is and how you can improve your own content!

10 Places to Find Article Ideas

Struggling to find something to write about so early in the week? Believe it or not, while every writer experiences an occasional bout of writers block, what we fail to realize is that inspiration is often found where we least expect it.

You are not the only writer struggling to find an idea and you will soon find yourself back in a writing frenzy. Until then, consider the following sources and see if you can’t find a way to turn something you find here into an idea for your next article or blog post:

1. 1. Go online and research the current month or day. There are usually a ton of both nationally recognized and obscure holidays comings. Check for awareness campaigns as well.
2. 2. Watch the news. Don’t stick to local stations alone. Watch regional and global news shows as well. You may hear of a story you want to research more. …Continue Reading 10 Places to Find Article Ideas

K.I.S.S: Formatting Paragraphs

When I first started freelancing a I had a really hard time learning to tailor my writing for the web. The format really isn’t very difficult, but if you’re used to writing long paragraphs full of run-on sentences than you might be in for a rude awakening.

In short, the average person browsing the web is looking for a snippet of information. The average web article runs between 400-500 words (blogs are even shorter, most clocking in at around 300 words) and is comprised of a number of short paragraphs. Short paragraphs run 2-3 sentences and only go to 4 or 5 if absolutely necessary (and, honestly, there aren’t many cases where “necessary” comes into play).

…Continue Reading K.I.S.S: Formatting Paragraphs

Finding Content Ideas

Hopefully you haven’t hit a wall with your writing at this point in your career, but there comes a time when every great writer has to sit back and wonder - “Do I have anything left to say?”

Chances are you do have new things to say but haven’t found the proper inspiration, but what does a writer or blogger do in the meantime? Here are a few places you can look for your next blog or article topic idea.

Utilize Keyword Tools

There are a few popular keyword tools available on the net today, including Word Tracker and Google AdSense. Using keyword tools is an excellent idea for those looking to make money from freelance writing. You’ll be able to quickly identify popular keywords and then do a bit of quick research to write an article or blog post catering to your specific niche with the knowledge that you’re using a keyword people are already searching for.

Review Your Current Content

Everything old is new again, right? What I mean is that you may have written something over the past few months that needs updating. Perhaps you wrote a current event piece that needs a follow-up. Maybe you wrote a resource list that needs to be updated with current information. Updating old content will not only keep your blog or website active but show your readers you’re keeping up with current events or your industry.

Visit Your Sister Sites

Most writers and bloggers were avid fans of blogs in the same niche before starting their own blogs. Take a look at some of the things your fellow bloggers and webmasters are writing about. You shouldn’t steal their ideas, but you’ll definitely find an angle or inspiration for an article you hadn’t thought of before.

Trust me when I say a serious writer never really runs out of topics to write about. Sometimes you just need a short break or a shove in the right direction. Be patient, and you’ll be back to your regular writing schedule in no time flat!

Other great freelance writing resources on the web:

• 5 Keys to Effective Content Writing

• SEO Content Writing on the Web

• SEO Content Writer: How To Find One | Oylinki