Content Magician, Freelance web content writers

Use Suspense to Get Your Readers Engaged in Your Story

by Mervyn Love

The element of suspense if something readers love. It may be heavy, and it can also be light, but when you add it into your story, your readers will keep reading until they get to the resolution. And isn’t that what you want?

But my biography, or my non-fiction book on train spotting doesn’t need suspense, surely? Oh, yes it does. But more about that later.

Let’s consider the two most usual types of suspense.

First there is the ’signpost’ suspense. This is where something happens, or is said, or is described that hints at some outcome, pleasant or unpleasant, in the future. Here is an example:

‘I was shown into a dimly lit room. On one wall hung a painting. It was grimed with age, but I could make out the shapes of two people, a man and a woman. The man was holding a short sword in one hand, and as I looked, I felt a strange uneasiness creep over me. Why this was so I couldn’t tell just then, but I wanted to leave that room and never come back.’

The reader will get the message that something about this painting forbodes ill for the future in the story. Notice the phrase ‘just then’, this tells the reader that later he or she did find out. It’s a signpost, a hint of dark things to come. Your readers will keep reading to find out what it’s all about.

Next there is the ‘up to their eyes’ suspense. The Indiana Jones stories, as well as many others, show the hero or heroine ‘up to their eyes’ in some desperate physical situation that is life threatening, or at the very least may seriously damage their health. Impossible car chases and underground passages filled with rats come to mind. If you want to keep your readers frantically turning pages you need to keep them in fraught situations throughout in order to build up the suspense.

Sometimes the suspense is a little less fraught with physical danger. For instance in a romance story you can keep your readers in a state of agitation which hangs on whether the heroine is going to marry the rich squire or turn him down for the penniless farmers son.

What about the biography or non-fiction book? Believe it or not, the same applies to them. For example:

‘When I was 17 I longed to join the Army and fight for my country. So I went down to the recruiting office, lied about my age, and got enlisted. If only I had known what this decision would have made to my life and to that of my parents, I would never have been so rash.’

You can see that readers will want to find out how this decision changed all those lives.

‘One of the most serious forms of blight is orange spot. Many gardeners say it can’t be cured but I’m going to let you into my own secret cure later in this chapter.’

It’s a good idea to plan at what point the suspense occurs and at what point it is resolved. In all probability the object of suspense and it’s resolution in a short story may be the reason for the story in the first place. In a book you may want to have a series of suspenseful situations throughout. Make sure these suspenseful episodes vary in intensity, though, as we don’t want readers in a state of near apoplexy from cover to cover!

*** *** ***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mervyn Love offers writers advice, resources, competition listing, markets and much more on his website. Go here: http://www.writersreign.co.uk Subscribe to his free Article Writing Course here: http://www.writersreign.co.uk/WRac.html

Four Types Of Writers

What’s the difference between a business writer, a blog writer, a web content writer and a copywriter?

I don’t blame others if they think that there is only one type of writers in this world….and if one was a writer, he or she should be able to write just about anything under the sun. The reality is that, writers specialize too - and there are many types of areas that a writer can specialize in. Don’t be surprised if you get your nose smacked out of your skull to find out that there are more than twenty types of writers out there in the market. But I’ll start with the basic four…

The stuffy writers - Writers who write business stuff

Business writers basically write…well, business stuff? The assignments that these type of writers takes on usually relate to a business – whether building one, marketing one, promoting one or writing to advertise one. The writer basically deals with the company’s core products or writes materials that helps build internal unity or get more exposure. Powerpoint presentations are really popular with these types of writers because Powerpoint is, let’s admit is, is easy on the eye, don’t need all that many words, is rather hard to summarize BUT….is regularly needed and edited.

The rant and raving type of writer – The Blogger writer

About ten years ago, when I first started out as a freelance writer, this was unheard of. I mean, come on…who could have imagined hiring someone to write your online journal for you? I can’t quite imagine that – well, except when a ghostwriter is hired to write an autobiography. Blog writers are a bunch of writers who are hired to update a blog, a not-so-new revolutionary method of promoting companies’ blogs in the blogosphere.

Companies often hire individual freelance blog writers to maintain the blogs which may also involve a little bit of research on the writer’s part. The writing often directly promotes the products or services of the company in a friendly and fun way. That, in itself, is a talent not all writers have because a really good blog writer knows how to strike the balance between getting personal, informative without being overly pushy with the sales bit.

Fill in the web writers – content writing for websites

Some are confused about the difference between a web content writer and a blogger. Essentially, blog writers and web content writers write for the internet…that much is true and that is also where the similarity ends. Let’s just say that while blog writers have every reason to get a little ‘friendly’ and ‘chummy’ with their writing style, web content writers have (usually) more rules to observe.

The role of web content writers is to write articles relating to the business, products and services for the website of the company. It’s usually becomes a part of the website – in all fairness, there responsibility and style of a web content writer overlaps with a business writer’s, so, there’s no reason why you can’t hire one person to be both.

The sell sell sell writers – Copywriters

People are often much more impressed with copywriters than they are with business writers because the job of a copywriter is to entice the consumers to part with their money. When a copywriter makes it, this person often earns a higher reward than what a business writer would. They get more recognition too. As fabulous as being a copywriter is, their roles are often amplified with tight deadlines and aggressive bosses so….

In short, when one is hired as a copywriter, his or her role is to write in such a fashion that it elicits response! Lots of it!

How To Keep Your Web Blog Content Going

Consistency is one of the biggest solutions to keeping your readers from coming in, reading a couple of lines, and then running off…worse, AND never coming back again. Many people have been asked the same question about this…how does one keep people coming back to their websites or blogs. Consistent posting of web blog content is the key.

Consistency in topic content and also consistency in regularly posting in your blog.

But consistency is difficult if you don’t have a regular web blog content writer backing you up because everyone’s got their thing to do and if the job of updating the blog readers with fresh web blog content is not given to someone, then the irregularity of your posting could result in irregular visits from your blog visitors as well.

Keep the topic going

While it’s good that we explore things outside of our main topic once in a while, I was awakened by a post by Chris Knight, the regular poster of ezinearticles, about being regular and keeping to your own expertise. To a certain extent, I have to agree. The problem of how to come up with web blog content within the same topic regularly and finding ideas would crop up.

So, in my personal opinion, crawling out of the main web blog content topic CAN be done – but as little as possible, and when you do so, it is of utmost importance that you keep the web blog content topic as close to home as possible.

How many times should I post new web blog content in the blog?

It’s hard to say. Some people keep to posting every day. Some people post once a week. Some a fortnight. But based on my experience as a web blog content provider, it is best if you keep the regularity of your web blog content posting to right about twice a week or three times if you can afford the time.

Otherwise, I don’t think it cost a lot to hire a web blog content writer these days…what with the world’s ailing economy. A lot of people are willing to be hired as a freelance contractual web blog content writer for as little as a couple of hundreds a month just to keep your blog going.

If you asked me, this is a worthwhile investment since it frees up your time to do other important things – like getting your car repaired, reeling in the sales, monitoring the search engine ranking for your blog, etc instead of you, sitting there mulling over your web blog content.

This is, however, an issue that varies from one person to another. Just do it as often and for as much as you can afford to. In today’s economy, busting a budget comes a close second to having hemorrhoids.

*** ***

For web blog content updating services, please take a look at our ‘services‘ page and if you think we fit the bill or want a rough estimate of what your bill would look like if you hired us as your web blog content writer, contact us.

Defying the Odds As a Writer

by Susan Gabriel

There is a statistic I’ve seen in a couple of places that says that 99% of all writers who submit their work never get published. At best, this statistic is discouraging. Yet it floats around out there as if a tool to flog ourselves with mercilessly.

So why would someone do something that has such miserable odds? I wonder that myself, since I’m one of those people plugging away. I have been writing for 14 years. I have gone to what feels like a zillion conferences, taken creative writing courses, and worked out stories in writer’s groups month after month, year after year, for years. I have done this while piecing together part-time jobs and child-support to make ends meet.

In the process, I have written at least four viable manuscripts (two of which my agent is marketing), one now in print, and have a new one I’m working on. This new one will probably be revised a dozen times before I send it to my agent, probably a year or so from now. Folks, this is definitely not a get-rich-quick endeavor.

A whole industry has grown up around people who want to write. They are often called “wannabes” or they want-to-be a writer someday. And they, like me when I started out, are incredibly naïve about what it actually means to be a writer.

On the other end of the spectrum are the “I used to write” camp. These are the people that gave it a go and for whatever reason, usually having to do with paying the bills, gave it up. I don’t blame them one bit. I understand completely. And at the same time, I fight daily to not become a part of this camp.

This is not something you do for fame or fortune. Writing is something you do because you have to do it. You have to do it or else you will explode, implode, or be very unhappy. You have to do it or life as you know it will end. It feels like life or death. Being creative-writing, painting, sculpting, dancing, whatever-is not something that can be chosen lightly. It is a responsibility. And every time we pick up the pen or paint or learn a new dance position we are defying the odds.

*** *** ***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Susan Gabriel is an author of fiction for adults and children. Her latest book, Seeking Sara Summers, is gaining acclaim in diverse circles.
More info at http://www.susangabriel.com
Gabriel works and plays in Colorado.

Writing Content Outside Of The Common Topic

If you keep writing the same topic on your website and producing content after content, article after article….it’s a perceivable fact that one fine day, you will run out of topics to base your web content on. Although the world is consistently evolving and we can always find fresh topics to put into our website content, if you’re churning out the articles day by day, one fine day, you’ll get this feeling…that you’re standing nose-to-nose with a wall.

So, a friend of mine have asked me this some time back: Do we have to write the same kind of content based on the same topic and industry everyday? If gets boring for the web content writer and a bored writer can’t, obviously, do very well at impressing the readers. Hence, it is my personal opinion that it’s perfectly fine to move out of the typical to the atypical once in a while.

For instance, if your blog or website is about handkerchief and scarves, I can’t imagine how many different type of web content you can think of to write about in your website or blog on a long term! Perhaps it would be wiser for the web content writer to move out of the tight corner and write on a broader topic, for instance, embracing the related and sub-related industries like shoes, fashion, celebrities, polls, handbags, etc.

The purpose of moving out of the strict generalization of your blog content or web content, you’re tapping into other markets as well and not narrowing yourself down unnecessarily for all the wrong reasons. Hence, if you feel that you’re bored of writing the same web content over and over…and over and over again, then move out of the topic a little bit. Some writers move out of their own genres and reveal a little about their lives once in a while….the effect? Instead of pushing people away, it had a positive impact, instead.

People started liking the blog or website more because of the tiny wee bit of diversification on web content done. As long as you don’t move too far off the radar, I’m pretty sure, the readers will love you more for the broadening the tight ridge.

Love,

Marsha M

Freelance writer, mother and occasional singer

Malaysia Companies Should Wake-Up To The Search Engine Marketing Wave

Till this very day, I am still surprised with the number of people and companies in my own country’s, Malaysia, ignorance and indifference to the importance of search engine promotion. Malaysia search engine promotion industry is still at an infancy stage whereby the SEO industry and online marketing sector in other countries like Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and Taiwan has grown tremendously over the years…well, after Facebook came about, I guess everyone started realizing just important it is to be ‘present’.

Not only should a Malaysia company focused on search engine promotion be ‘present’ ONE TIME but all the time, as many times as possible! I’ve said many times before and I guess I’ll waste those precious few taps to say it a few times again…it’s all about online activities and communication with the readers. Malaysian companies who are looking for search engine marketing and promotion methods should look beyond the ‘paid advertising’ method because there’s more to online marketing than placement of banners and text links.

I assure you, Malaysian companies, that the banner advertisement is the easier way to doing things but in terms of search engine marketing or a Malaysian company, that’s a short term solution and if you do your math, the ROI isn’t impressive at all.

Focus, instead of bringing in good content through good search engine marketing methods for your Malaysian website selling Malaysian products and services in the International arena. Rope the readers in and do everything you can, within your power, to keep the Malaysian or readers from other countries from clicking away and never coming back.

To me and to a lot of other search engine marketing experts, this is the essence of search engine optimization and building an online presence – regardless of whether you’re a Malaysian company serving only Malaysian companies or individuals or an International brand.

The world is your stage where internet is concerned and when you use the right internet marketing methods and search engine marketing strategy for your Malaysian-based website, you can reach beyond what you dream of.

Right now, the focus of your attention could be merely Malaysian consumers…but think in the long run. What happens when you are looking for foreign investors? What happens when you need help in terms of technology? How are people going to view your Malaysian company with very little internet marketing and search engine optimization done to your website if they see that you’re not innovative and quick enough to catch on the digital wave?

*** *** ***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The author is a Malaysian-based freelance writer, graphic designer and occasional singer who’s been in the internet marketing, content development and search engine optimization field for more than a decade. For more info, visit her website at http://www.marshamaung.com or her blog at http://www.marshamaung.blogspot.com.

TeleSeminar Secret Tip - How to “Write With Your Mouth, Not With Your Hands”

There is no doubt that article marketing is one of the best and most powerful strategies for traffic generation.

The problem is how do you generate enough articles to drive the level of traffic you desire and need? As my friend and colleague Jeff Herring is fond of saying

The greater your article volume the greater all your other numbers will be.” This includes traffic and visitors to your web sites and blogs.

So how do your solve the problem of creating a high article volume, Especially if you do not like to write.

Here’s my solution

My solution is to “write with your mouth and not with your hands.” Ok, Alex, nice play on words, but what does that mean for writing more articles?

As I teach my teleseminar students, you can write several articles when you speak on a teleseminar. In fact, you can write between eight and twelve articles each time you conduct a sixty to seventy minute teleseminar.

Here are the steps:

Step 1 - Choose a specific topic within your niche - Create your Action Guide for the teleseminar, invite your list and community, and then conduct your call. Schedule it for sixty to seventy minutes. You can take one of your articles and grow your teleseminar from there. Remember your article is a great outline for your call and action guide.

Step 2 - Record your teleseminar - You should record all your teleseminars, even if you are just starting out. You never know when you are going to be “on” and say some really great stuff. You want to capture it. Most teleseminars services provide a way to record your teleseminars. You always want to have a back up recording as well.

Step 3 - Have the recording transcribed - You can easily pull 8 to 12 articles from the transcript of an hour long teleseminar. With a good transcript, you can simply copy, tweak and paste.

And that is how you write with your mouth and not with your hands to increase the number of your articles.

*** *** ***

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 

Is Your Website Sticky Enough?

Many moons and circles of the moon around the earth ago, I came upon this term called ‘stickiness’. When you think sticky, you’re probably thinking about either honey or glue…never would I have imagined someone calling a website sticky. Sticky is annoying and if you have super glue on, I don’t think it’s a good kind of sticky we’re talking about.

So, where was I?

Oh. Yeah, stickiness of a website. Basically, when you read an article or a web content about stickiness, it’s referring to how ‘interesting’, ‘unique’ or ‘interesting’ the website is and are you doing enough to bring your readers back to the website. It also means that are you drawing a loyal crowd of readers to your website.

There are a lot of ways to make your website sticky.

• Creative content that is fast, accurate and don’t beat around the bush
• Interesting news that they can’t anywhere else just as fast
• Cute or funny pictures
• Cool tools that they can use for their website
• Music or cartoons
• Polls and interactive ‘online toys’ that they can play with or participate in
• Regular reply from the webmaster or the writer or the owner of the website that encourages interaction between owner/writer and reader/visitors.

There’s really no point in keeping a website going unless you put some effort to make it sticky. Just imagine this…if you want to promote a website that isn’t sticky, you’ll have to keep promoting the website to people you meet online and offline one million times before you get to see the ten thousand unique visitors that you’re looking for.

But if your website is sticky, then you promote the website one million times and you probably keep right about five hundred thousand of the visitors who come to your website.

Now, isn’t that an interesting fact?

Of course, I’m just pulling the figure out from nowhere but I am sure I am not at all that far off mark. If you search the internet, you’ll probably find some stats that can show you that online marketing and promotion of a website is about stickiness and how well you build connection with your site visitors and then build a bridge of loyalty between you and them so much so that they are willing to come back to your website time and time again…without you having to remind them or beg them to come back for another visit. 

*** ***

Marsha Maung is a Malaysian-based freelance writer with two kids. She spends her time ferrying her kids around, watering her plants, writing web content, SEO stuff, ghostwriting books and also indulges in the occasional Facebook-ing. Visit her blog for more dirty details on the life and times of a mother, writer, designer, housekeeper, coffee-maker, poop-wiper, chef…and just about everything else under the sun. 

    href=”http://www.social-bookmark-script.com/” target=”_blank”>Social Bookmarks 

Do Writers Really Need Their Own Freelance Writer’s Website?

I received a question like this from one of my websites? Hhhhmmm….how should I say this? OF C