Q. I'm staring at a blank screen with an equally blank mind. I need an idea for tomorrow's newsletter. Help!
A. Most of us have too many ideas or too few. I've never met anyone with just the right number. Here's the secret: Once you start writing prolifically, you'll get ideas. Each idea will seem better than the one before. In fact, some ideas will be so good that you may be tempted to stop your current project and start over with the new idea!
Instead, keep a folder on your virtual or actual desktop or write ideas in a notebook. Some ideas age gracefully while others earn a decent burial.
But now let's say you're staring at a blank screen, desperate for an article for tomorrow's newsletter. What can you do? Here are five tips to get started.
1. Begin with your website's keywords. Let's say your site features "time management for stay-at-home-moms." You want to attract visitors who are searching on "parenting," "home" and "mothers." Write your keywords on top of a sheet of paper and free-associate. Busy. Homes. Housework. Hmmmaybe you can write about housework and time management?
2. Look around the room where you are working and choose an interesting object. For example, I see two sleeping cats and, through the window, a plant holder with the remains of my last gardening efforts.
My sad little plant could be a metaphor for some aspect of writing, such as ideas that die unless they're watered, fertilized and loved. Or it could be a reminder to focus on your strengths. Laziness often signals a lack of interest or skill. Let's face it, I'll never grow a nice pot of geraniums like the one my neighbors have.
Sleeping cats? Well, some images work better than others, and I've written a lot about my cats and my dog. Overuse of an image...hmm, there's an idea!
3. Call up a friend and describe what you're offering. Ask your friend, "What seems most unusual, puzzling or surprising about what I just said?"
Let's say you're an office organizer. Your friend says, "I didn't realize that people who cleared clutter often found their sales increasing. Can you convince me?" Given the state of my own office, I'd like to be convinced, too! You've got a winner here.
Heidi Challenger of Boise, Idaho, promises a year's guarantee for each home she sells. See http://www.movinglady.com/relolinks.html to find her site. Now there's a great idea for an article -- or several! What is a home guarantee? And why should we ask for one? Does Heidi have unique assets that allow her to offer a guarantee when other realtors can't? All these questions arise from her online advertisement -- and all could be developed into articles.
4. This one's my favorite. Ask your subscribers to contribute questions. You'll be sure your articles fit their interests. Last week's article on permission marketing came directly from a reader request and this week's article combines two queries. WL Ezine subscribers, take note!
5. Look at your calendar. What's the season? If you're writing for your own ezine, choose the current season or, if you're right on the border, next season. If you're writing for print media, ask the editors for a calendar. You may need to submit in June for a Christmas issue. You can go deeper, choosing month and even holiday within the month. You can get whimsical, writing about the astrological sign that governs this month.
About The Author
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com.
"Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" http://www.cathygoodwin.com
Contact: http://www.cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
Mercedes Benz s500 rentals Salem ..Bookcoaching clients come to me at different stages of writing... Read More
Golden Rules For New Writers - Things you need to... Read More
What do people expect when they join a writing group?The... Read More
I went to school to be a teacher. In fact,... Read More
Complaint letters aren't always fun, but sometimes they need to... Read More
The journey to having my first novel for children published... Read More
"I don't know if I should put 'writer' on my... Read More
How do you choose a name? Do you put down... Read More
The principle for writing good screenplays begins with good idea... Read More
In the business of freelance writing, it's not enough to... Read More
You've decided to write your very own Newsletter to promote... Read More
Prolific authors write; they don't just dream about it. A... Read More
List-making is a favorite journaling technique and is often used... Read More
Do you want to publish something? An article, a non-fiction... Read More
Every part of your book can be a sales tool.... Read More
~TYPES~You Want Us to Write What? Understanding the Task AssignedWhich... Read More
Self-examination sheds light on a writers motives, goals, and aspirations,... Read More
Winning writing contests can provide several advantages to writers. For... Read More
Write Right - You have an all important business letter... Read More
ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number. It is a... Read More
Suspense novels, unlike any other genre, need fast starts. Fans... Read More
IntroductionSometimes it may be beyond a companies or individuals budget... Read More
The Benefits of Co-Publishing There are a number of publishers,... Read More
Mix a martini, don't forget the olives, or pour yourself... Read More
The decision to publish a book is very exciting! It... Read More
Dowagiac cheap limo service ..In the words of Aristotle, "happiness is self contentedness helping... Read More
Human beings seem to be born with a gene for... Read More
If you have an online home based business you know... Read More
Not all writers write good grammar. That's a fact. It's... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?For a theme to work and the... Read More
When I first started tracking the information preferences of people... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It's no use coming up with a... Read More
A writer writes. Bet you've heard that one... Read More
Characters in a good novel really carry the story along... Read More
Q. My writing sounds stiff and stilted. Help!A. Memories of... Read More
If you have been online for any length of time... Read More
Bookcoaching clients come to me at different stages of writing... Read More
Creative Writing Tips ?It should.A theme is a one-line explanation... Read More
In this article you will find tips on: How to... Read More
Rejection. This scary word plagues virtually every writer this side... Read More
I asked several writers how long it took them to... Read More
Some writers complain that writing is arduous work requiring long... Read More
Nothing is more daunting for any writer than having to... Read More
Writer's forums are bustling with debate over whether or not... Read More
This article contains a short guide on how to edit... Read More
How to Come Up with Fresh Story Ideas When Your... Read More
Freelance writer STANLEY BURKHARDT has a passion for animals. He... Read More
With the advent of email communications in the workplace, it's... Read More
The self-indulgent writer listens only to the mumblings of sycophants,... Read More
(This excerpt is taken from my new writing workshop Writing... Read More
Writing |