21 Expert Writing Tips

Great content attracts links, builds credibility, and stimulates social media activity. Too many Internet publishers skimp on content because of costs. They forget that the cheapest way to publish great content is to write it themselves.
Some Internet publishers aren’t great writers though. That doesn’t mean they can’t improve. Sincere writing with a few mistakes trumps grammatically correct fluff any day, though. And by paying attention to these 21 expert writing tips, even struggling website publishers can improve their writing.

1. Use shorter words instead of longer words. Don’t use the word “obtain” when the word “get” is available. Shorter words make your prose easier to understand. Longer words make your writing sound stuff.
2. Stop trying to sound smart. This is similar to the first tip. “At this point in time” is a fancy way of saying “now.” It has the opposite effect of what you intended. Trying to sound smart just makes your prose boring and unclear.
3. Avoid adverbs. Most adverbs don’t add much meaning. Not all adverbs end in “-ly” either. The words “very” and “extremely” add no real meaning to an adjective, so leave them out. Want to describe something that’s “very ugly?” Write “hideous” instead. Is someone in your post “running quickly” to catch the train? Try using the word “sprinting” instead.
4. Avoid the passive voice. Here’s an example of the passive voice: the passive voice should be avoided. Sentences should have a subject that does something to an object. An object that has something done to it by the subject isn’t as direct or as easy to read.
5. Eliminate the phrases “there is” and “there are” from your writing. For example, “There are multiple ways you can improve your writing” reads much better as “You can improve your writing in multiple ways.”
6. Write shorter sentences. Longer sentences are fine sometimes. Amateur writers produce lengthy, convoluted sentences, though. Shorter sentences are more direct.
7. Write shorter paragraphs. Longer paragraphs work great in books. Internet writing is more like newspaper writing, though, and three sentences is long enough for a paragraph on the Internet.
8. Use fewer “to be” verbs and more “action” verbs. Your sentences need to have someone or something doing something to someone or something else. “Gambling is addictive” isn’t nearly as strong a sentence as “Gambling addiction ruins lives.”
9. Use stronger nouns and fewer adjectives. This is a corollary to many of the earlier tips in this article. Don’t use two words when one word is just as clear.
10. Be specific. Vague writing is boring. I see freelancers write long introductory paragraphs about a specific topic, but they start by writing about something so general that it’s almost off-topic. Good writing includes specific facts, dates, and examples. Don’t write that Texas hold’em was invented in the 20th century. Write that poker originated in the early 1900′s and was first played in Las Vegas in 1967.
11. Have an opinion. Don’t be wishy-washy. People want to read your intelligent analysis, so be direct and give it to them. This takes courage.
12. Draft first. Then edit. If you spend your time laboring over every word and every sentence, you’ll take twice as long to write your article, and it will be half as good. Write your first draft fast. Then revise it.
13. Practice. Writing is a skill. The more you write, the more you’ll improve.
14. Read. Don’t just read crappy writers, either. Read poems. Read classic prose stylists like Hemigway and Vonnegut. For a change of pace, try Faulkner. The more you read, the better you’ll write.
15. Read out loud. During the editing process, try reading what you’ve written aloud. You’ll find mistakes and clunky phrases and sentences that you might otherwise miss.
16. Schedule your writing time. Anthony Trollope had the right idea. He wrote every day from 5:30am to 8:30am, and he used a clock to time himself–his goal was to write 250 words every 15 minutes. He became one of the most prolific novelists in history, and he did so while working a full time job at the post office.
17. Provide examples. Don’t just state your opinion. Give examples. An example can make a point in half the number of words (or less) than an explanation.
18. Use great headlines. My partner shared some ideas for headlines with me on Friday. I used one of them for this post. You can find plenty of good advice about writing catchy headlines by doing a quick search in DuckDuckGo.
19. Use lists. They can make it easier to approach a hard subject. Lists are also more likely to be shared via social media channels. Readers enjoy lists.
20. Get feedback. Develop a thick skin and ask people for constructive feedback on your work. They might give you lousy advice about how to improve your writing, but they might provide you with gold, too. Even if they give you lame advice, they still might share your writing with other people, and everyone wants more exposure.
21. Consider your audience. When you approach a topic, think about what you’d like to read if you were researching that topic. Then do the research and write the article you’d want to find.

Those are just the first 21 writing tips I could think of. They’re based on my experiences editing the writing of freelance writers.

9 Expert Tips For Better Writing

One of the things I like best about social media is the way it helps me discover talented writers. They remind me a lot of distance athletes with their deep conversations about seemingly minor details and long periods of time spent practicing alone.
The web also has a downside. There seems to be a growing belief that having mobile access to information negates any need to regularly consume quality writing.
Some writers point to the popularity of the Twilight series and say it’s a sign the general population no longer cares about quality. In my reply I always point to the wise commentary of Juan Williams:
Pandering to base interests is very different from catering to real needs. (Paraphrased from his commentary on the notion that people of color only want to watch MTV.)
It’s possible that you’ll make money by pandering, but there are a lot of people doing the same thing now. Traipse around online for a bit and you’ll find thousands of desperate writers trying to predict the next fetish in hopes of fame and fortune. It’s sad to watch them trying so hard because in the end they’ll have nothing to be truly proud of. I want to write things for which my only explanation for writing is not, “I needed the money.”
Do you? If so, you may find some portion of the following useful. I’ve gathered some of my favorite quotes from brilliant, prolific, and plain crazy writers and share them here with some tips I’ve found incredibly helpful in my own journey as a yearning writer. I hope you enjoy!

1. Write to make a point, not a target word count

Vigorous writing is concise. ~William Strunk Jr.
Nothing makes me grimace quite like hearing somebody say they’ve reached 50,000 words and so have completed their first novel. Remember dully typing toward a minimum word count for an academic paper you had no interest in writing? If you start to get the feeling about something you’re writing, it’s probably time to stop writing and do some more research (or bribe your editor/professor/mother into accepting the shorter piece of work).

2. Help another edit their writing

I try to leave out the parts that people skip. ~Elmore Leonard
I have a short, round-bellied friend who turned me on to this quote. That said, I’ve found that helping another writer edit their work often leaves me with more insight into my own writing than I gave to the other writer! If you can find a trusted friend to trade nascent work with, you will have found a wealth of improvement.

3. Write something every day that you do not intend to share

Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart. ~William Wordsworth
I have a private blog I update daily with rants, outlines, fears, and bits of nothing that stream out of me when I’m struggling to find focus for another piece of writing. You’ll never see it. There’s no value in my sharing it because the moment I know others can see it is the moment I no longer write just for me. I suggest you give this method a try. It doesn’t have to be a blog.  A notebook would work just fine.

4. Outline before drafting & Don’t confuse fiction with dishonest writing

If any man wish to write in a clear style, let him be first clear in his thoughts; and if any would write in a noble style, let him first possess a noble soul. ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
I am still learning to to do the first part. I’ve taken great value from sharing outlines of my intended work with friends who are very logical and excel at criticizing arguments without muddling thoughts. The last part… is something I can only hope for. If I someday hear a reader say, “his writing is imbued with kindness” I think that will do.

5. Don’t get caught up in restating the obvious

The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say. ~Anaïs Nin
As one who writes a lot for the web, I am continually tempted by the low-hanging fruit of trending topics and morning news drivel. Restating the obvious is easy, fun, and very retweetable. But the obvious rarely seems to translate into any sort of real legacy. If I only had a list of all the things my readers already know collectively, it would be so simple to stay fresh!

6. Befriend a dictionary

The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a lightning bug. ~Mark Twain
Imbue, conjure, nefarious… are just a few of the words I have as friends to help me clearly make a point, share an idea, or call something into question. There’s a joy in having the perfect words at one’s disposal that only a dedicated writer can appreciate. A thesaurus can be useful if you’re bored, lazy, or drunk. Nothing trumps having a word come to mind just as you need its help.

7. Keep a little notebook for moments of inspiration

Write down the thoughts of the moment. Those that come unsought for are commonly the most valuable. ~Francis Bacon
I use a moleskine to store my thoughts for later. Having thoughts and personal commentary all in one place has the added benefit of serving as a source of inspiration for later times of drought. Think of it as you would catching raindrops in a canteen. You’ll be glad for the moisture some day.

8. Not having a pen in your hand doesn’t mean you’re not writing

The best time for planning a book is while you’re doing the dishes. ~Agatha Christie
If you walked into my office at random, there’s a very good chance you’d find me sipping a glass of tea while staring off into space. Am I doing nothing? Not in the least. Contrary to my mother’s early suspicions, I’m not addled. I just like to silently try phrases out in my mind before writing them down. Agatha had a point about dishes, too. There’s no such thing as writer’s block. But there are times when washing dishes is a better use of time than staring at an empty screen!

9. Be kind to yourself

Every writer I know has trouble writing. ~Joseph Heller
I hope you are kind to yourself and forgiving when you cannot find the perfect phrase or paint a story just so! Writing, for me, seems a monumental task at times and I am always delighted to find others who understand my situation and reach out to help. There’s a joy in knowing that no matter how lonely a stretch of path may seem we are never entirely alone, no? We always have our writing and with it an entire community of people who care.
If you’re a writer, and you are one even if you simply compose witty text messages, I hope you’ll say hello.

The Absolute Beginners Guide to Writing a Book

There are three kinds of people in this world:

• Those who are going to write a book.
• Those who are not going to write a book.
• Those who are going fail in their attempts to write a book.

I’m an editor and it’s my job to help turn potential failures into potential success stories.
For more than 25 years, I have helped authors through every stage of developing manuscripts on topics as diverse as children’s books to church history to short stories to first-hand accounts of Hurricane Katrina to inspirational self-help books.
In this blog post, I’m going to share what I’ve learned from a quarter century of working with writers.

The Most Common Trait Among Authors

As with most ventures in life, those who complete a manuscript are not necessarily the most talented, the best educated or the most charming. The single most common trait among people who have written a book is they didn’t give up.
If you are a quitter, you should choose something less complicated, frustrating and tedious than writing a book. Sorry.
Do you want to write a book? Great!  Go for it … but don’t give up.

Who Should Write a Book?

Anyone who wants to.  Even you.
No, you don’t have to be a grammar geek. You probably know someone who fancies himself or herself as an editor. Buy them a couple of pocket protectors and a box of red pencils. Then, flatter them with the lie that you respect their opinions. Buy them dinner and convince them that you’ll take their advice, if they’d be so kind to offer it.
You won’t of course. You’ll become so attached to your “baby” that you will treat anyone who would deign to revise your uniquely inspired writing with the same contempt as you would a person who says your mother should grow a mustache.
Learn what you can from their advice and keep going.
“Real” writers will tell you this advice is crazy, but don’t worry about grammar. Writing is an art. I could train a duck to use proper punctuation.
At the beginning, focus on the substance, not the form. Begin to write, then continue.
Note to Those Who Disagree: Write your own dang blog post.

Where Should I Begin?

As with most ventures in life, examine your motives. If you want to write a book to become loved and adored, buy a puppy. If you want to get rich quick, buy a lottery ticket.  If you want to become famous, find a cure for cancer.
If you have a story that burns within your soul that you feel eerily compelled to share with anyone who will listen, write it down. You have the beginnings of a book.

Where Should I Not Begin?

Abandon the absurd folly that you do – or ever will – write as well as your favorite author.  Can you learn from other writers? Sure, but you’ll only be worth reading when people appreciate the way you express yourself.  In that way, you’ll be better than your favorite authors.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary says the word “author” means: “One who originates or creates.”  “Copycat” means: “One who imitates or adopts the behavior or practices of another.”
I love the award-winning writing of Dave Barry. Dave follows the same pattern in his columns so consistently that one wag came up with a fill-in-the-blank “write like Dave Barry” website.
Click Here for The Automated Dave Barry Column Generator.
Being similar to someone else might be flattering, but why read a clone when you can read the original?
Develop your own style. You may write in iambic pentameter or refuse to use capital letters or write the world’s longest single sentence. That’s your business. You’re the artist.  Write any way you’d like. Nobody tells painters what to paint or singers what to sing.  As an amateur, you have the freedom to choose your own way of putting your thoughts into words.
As with most ventures in life, “be yourself.” Be original. Be brave.
What do you have to lose?

What Should I Write About?

Choosing a topic might be your most difficult choice. Whatever you choose:

1. You must have a mastery of your subject matter.
2. You must have a mastery of the points you want to make.
3. You must have a mastery of how you will communicate your message.

Otherwise, readers will think:

• You have no idea what you’re writing about.
• You either the lack the skill, preparation or sense to communicate.
• Your writing isn’t worth their time.

Choosing a topic, however, might be simple because there’s only one thing that you KNOW you MUST put into print.
It doesn’t matter if your book is about the way your grandmother’s house smelled, those mean kids in middle school, how to turn cornbread into gold or Nine Things You Didn’t Know About Drawknives.
Pick something that brings out your passions. Sooner or later, the joy of writing will become a tedious rut. Choose a rut you’ll enjoy being in for the long bumpy ride to your destination.
Then, write.
Write some more.
And don’t give up.

Freelance Writing Jobs for Beginners

Thanks to the internet, freelance writing jobs for beginners are found just about everywhere.
Unfortunately, there is a somewhat popular belief that only experienced freelance writers get to make good money from home. While there is some truth to this, the vast diversity of jobs available today makes finding a gig easier than you may think.
The following steps can help you make money as a writer from the very beginning while also helping you gain valuable experience. After all, why not kill two birds with one stone and hit the ground running?
Thus, this article focuses on helping you start from the bottom and ultimately end up as an experienced writer. By the time you are done, no freelancing gig will be beyond your reach.

1: Create a Blog:

The very first step is to build a personal brand by creating a writing portfolio. This is where owning your own blog comes into play, as it allows you to write any amount of articles — based on any topic and length — while enabling you to have full control over your work.
Don’t just write about any topic under the sun, however, unless you’re a versatile freelance writer with a varied background under your belt. Generally speaking, freelance writing jobs for beginners and veterans alike tend to require specific skills (as opposed to a broad range of knowledge.)
That said, you may be able to write about your passion or be forced to learn a new skill altogether, depending on the work that you will eventually pursue. Thankfully, the internet provides plenty of varied opportunities if you know where to look, therefore you should eventually be able to find exactly what interests you later on.
As you build a well-researched and well-presented portfolio through blog posting, it is crucial that you also connect with fellow bloggers and writers out there. Find blogs that relate to your passion or subject matter by performing searches such as “[keyword] blogs” and “Best [keyword] sites.”
If you are into cooking, for instance, input search terms such as “cooking blogs” or look for how-to articles based on different recipes. Once you have found the websites that interest you, it is very important you do the following steps:

• Make a list of these blogs and bookmark them
• Provide helpful, constructive feedback by commenting on these blogs’ articles
• Contact them over time to say a simple thank you or to help them with anything you believe they may find useful
• Rinse and repeat; turn this into a habit

What’s the point? The above actions, when practiced repeatedly and in good faith, help you get to know fellow bloggers within your community. In time they come to know you as a valuable reader who contributes nothing short of excellent information to their already-great articles. Likewise, you two get to help each other by sharing mutual experiences. I must state the obvious and say that building relationships is priceless; not only in the freelancing community but in every other market in general.
Putting your connections to good use: Over time, offer your expertise to fellow bloggers by politely asking them if you could write an unpaid guest post on their blog. Remember this is all about expanding, which gives you a tremendous amount of credibility and experience.
But wait, you may be asking yourself how all of the above will earn you money. After all, your goal is to find lucrative freelance writing jobs for beginners! I hear you loud and clear. However, your blogging efforts are actually helping you build a solid foundation for future clients. This is very important if you want to succeed as a writer online.

2: Publish Digital Books on Kindle and Other Platforms:

As you’re working on your personal blog and portfolio, you may also wish to look into digital book publishing. Sounds overwhelming? Don’t worry, it’s not. Publishing a digital book on Amazon and Barnes & Noble is almost no different than posting an article on your blog. It merely involves creating an account (which is completely free) and posting away.
Simply fire up Microsoft Word or its equivalent, write about a topic that interests you and save it like you would save any other document. When ready, publish it on the aforementioned places and these will often earn you a few bucks indefinitely in the form of passive income.
While the publishing process itself is simple, however, I encourage you to look into potentially profitable subjects to ensure that your books sell and don’t just disappear in the vast sea of digital books.
Tip: WriterTown.com (this very website) actually provides a free newsletter containing digital book publishing courses. These teach you everything from publishing your first book to finding good topics to write about. Simply sign up by filling out the form available through this link if interested.
Over time your book sales will start growing while you simultaneously continue to expand your blog and establish yourself as a freelance writer.
Are you with me so far? Good.

3: Perform Gigs for Others:

The above suggestions are all fine and dandy, but what if you need money immediately? After all, growing your blog and writing digital books does take a good chunk of your time. Therefore, freelance writing jobs for beginners may also involve completing gigs and tasks for other people.
Websites like Fiverr.com and SEOClerks.com allow you to make a profit by creating gigs about any desired skill. Are you a decent programmer or developer, for example? Offer your service and earn some cash while you continue to establish your name online. Do you travel often? Create a gig offering to spread people’s flyers around certain popular locations.
All in all, anything you can think of can potentially become a profitable gig.

4: Sign Up as a Web Journalist

If handling gigs or publishing books isn’t your cup of tea, consider writing short news for websites like Digital Journal. This source offers freelance writing jobs for beginners by allowing you to publish short news articles based on many different topics.
They tend to pay writers based on the number of impressions your news article accumulates, and you can expect to earn anywhere from $3 to $6 per article, on average.
While this amount does not seem like much, it helps support you financially while you also build a more varied and reputable portfolio for future reference. In other words, you can show future clients your previous news pieces in addition to your own blog articles.

Next Steps: Reaching Out to Paying Clients:

In case you haven’t picked up on the aim of this entire article, your main goal is to establish yourself and grow a reputation as a freelance writer. Your blogging, publishing and networking efforts are the steps that will help launch your writing career.
Please note that at this point you are no longer a beginner, but rather a seasoned freelance writer with plenty of experience and a broad portfolio. Congratulations!
So what happens now, after all this time building your name and expanding yourself? How do you connect with high-paying clients? This is where your past efforts come into play, which ultimately allow you to land the gig of your dreams.
Just like you did before, go back to a search engine near you and search for websites based around your skill set. Ideally, look for established sources that are already popular with a big following — then contact them with a very friendly, personalized email.
This is the time to sell yourself and explain what your awesome expertise has to offer them. Show them what you’ve got and convince them why having you on board can — and will — help them in the long run.
Tip: Not every website clearly mentions that they are looking to hire, but that doesn’t mean they are not willing to give you a chance! This is the beauty of the internet; every website needs great content on a regular basis. This is your time to shine, and I assure you that if you previously played all your cards right, you will pass this test with pretty flying colors.
Other places to obtain high-paying clients also include this website’s newsletter. In addition to providing digital book publishing courses as previously stated, we also send you a weekly email disclosing clients that pay anywhere from $50 to hundreds of dollars per article.
Otherwise, I recently reviewed a great course that teaches writers which clients to pursue and shows a sneaky way to charge whatever you want per article. It’s my personal recommendation.

Conclusion:

This article taught you that freelance writing jobs for beginners are, in a sense, jobs for seasoned writers such as yourself, as making the transition “from new to established” can be quick, smooth and painless.
All that is required is a personal blog and the ability to perform other side-gigs in the meantime. These may include digital book publishing, writing for other websites or performing gigs while you grow your writing portfolio from zero to hero.