PDF: WordGigs Writer`s Reference

Transcription

Hello and Welcome to You!
We are very pleased that you have made it this far in your training as a WordGigs.com Apprentice Writer!
We have put together this Writer's Reference Guide so that you will have some material available to you in a
more permanent form, something that you can print out (if you wish) and keep handy during the next few weeks
and months as you transition over to being one of our regular writers -- something that will help you develop
your skills as a writer, as well as a freelance writer.
Much of the material here is applicable to doing any type of online writing. In fact many sections will be found
helpful to anyone working as a freelancer working online.
There are three sections to this guidebook -• The first section, "Getting Started," will show you how to find your personal account information, the
summary of work types and payouts, as well as directions on filling out your W9 form.
• The second section, "Understanding the Writer Interface," will provide you with helpful information on
"the queues," how to get help, email and system notices, understanding the elements of the project
editing page, and getting the "green checkmarks."
• The third section, "Writing - Researching - Succeeding," is where you will find writing samples, help in
improving your writing skills, how to do Internet researching accurately and efficiently, and how to be a
success as a WordGigs.com writer.
We strongly encourage you to print out a copy of this guidebook and go through it carefully. Make notes in it.
Keep it near your PC as a handy reference for questions you may have.
We're glad to have you as one of our writers -- may you enjoy your experience with us!
ON BEHALF OF ALL THE MANAGEMENT AND SUPPORT STAFF
WORDGIGS.COM
P.S. Throughout this guidebook you will see sections marked with this symbol:
 This will indicate an important point, a tip, action item, or good strategy that you can/should use. Pay
attention and look for these as many have found them to be helpful!
Disclaimer: While we have made every effort to keep the information contained in this guidebook up-to-date and free from errors, none of
the information contained herein should be considered definitive. Questions concerning current policies and standards should always be
Welcome and Introduction Page 1
directed to management (via support ticket or email). In cases of discrepancies or questions, the decisions of the management/owners of
the business will prevail over any statements made, or implied, in this guidebook.
Contents of this writer's handbook are to be considered proprietary and confidential, and are not to be shared with anyone in any way, nor
the contents reproduced or posted on any website, online forum, or e-mailed to others. It is not to be sold, auctioned online or rewritten
into any other format. Violators will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. We can afford lawyers -- and know how to use them!
Welcome and Introduction Page 2
Updating Your Personal Information
 As a brand-new Wordgigs.com writer one of the very first things that you should do – if you have
not already done so – is to make sure that your writer's account personal information is up-todate. Should you have a change in your information, such as a telephone number change, change
of name, moved to a new address, etc. then you will need to update the information in this area.
The screen capture below will help to explain what goes in to the various fields:
Remember -- if you change any of your profile information you must click the "Submit" button in
order for your changes to be saved. If the email address you use when you login changes, you will need
to notify us via support ticket, as writers cannot change their login email. After changing a password and
submitting the change, the password box will be blank for security purposes.
Your Personal Account Information Page 3
Quick Overview of Work Project Types
 (You might want to print out this guide and keep it near your computer for quick reference)
REGULAR BLURB POSTS ("BLURBS")
• 100 words min. (Mini-blurbs: 80 words)
• Topic is researched (may need to use URL to generate some quick ideas)
• Write the post on-topic (use keyword meaningfully, don't just throw it in there somewhere)
• Use the KW phrase one time
• Provide a meaningful title, properly formatted
MINI-POSTS
• 200 words min.
• May require a small amount of background research
• More detailed than a blurb, but less detailed than an article
• Provide a properly formatted, meaningful title
• Use the KW phrase twice
• Written in 2 paragraphs
ARTICLES
Type
Size (Length)
Regular
350-400 words
EZA
401-500
Medium
501-600
Large
601-700
X-Large
701-800
Jumbo
801-900
Super-Jumbo 901-1,000
• Topic researched for approx. 5-10 minutes; larger articles will require more research
• Customer instructions displayed on the screen will tell you how many times the keyword phrase
should be used
• Skip a line between paragraphs
• You may incorporate subtitles, bulleted lists, etc. if appropriate
• Written in 3-4 paragraphs (or more, if the article is longer)
• Provide a unique, creative title in the correct format for each article you write (no dupe article
titles)
• With any article longer than an EZA, you must use subheadings/subtitles
GENERAL GUIDELINES:
1. All content must be 100% ORIGINAL -- you should check your sources for researching facts, but
what you submit must be in YOUR OWN WORDS
2. No "spun" content or use of material prepared with article "spinners" will be permitted
3. All submitted projects will be checked for duplicate/spun content -- writers violating these rules
will be left go, without payments being made to them. NO EXCEPTIONS.
4. You retain NO usage or reprint rights for the content -- everything is ghostwritten and the content
belongs ONLY to the customer who paid for it. You cannot resubmit the content anywhere else,
Work Types and Payouts Page 4
either on Wordgigs.com or anyplace else. You don't own it -- we don't own it -- only the customer
owns it!
5. Do not use any “dictation software,” such as Dragon NaturallySpeaking, etc. The transcriptions
can be inaccurate and can introduce errors into your content.
BEFORE SUBMITTING ANY PROJECT:
1. Make sure your material has been spell-checked
2. Proofread for grammatical errors
3. Keep the tone "positive"
4. Ask: Did I follow the customer's special instructions?
IN ORDER TO SUBMIT PROJECTS (GET THE "SUBMIT" BUTTON TO APPEAR):
• Each entry must have content
• Each entry must have a title, correctly formatted – Remember that the KW in the title (if required
by the customer) does not count towards the total number of KW instances requested by the
customer.
• Each title must be unique (No duplicate titles)
• KW must be used at least once -- and spelled correctly -- in order for the KW checkmark to
appear - this includes the use of secondary keywords if the customer includes them
• Each entry must meet the minimum length requirements, sometimes you need to add more
words
• The KW must use the exact capitalization as given by the customer.
• You must first spell-check to get the "submit" button to appear
• Get in the habit of saving your work often!
• If you must use an interface other than the one we provide you to write your content, NEVER use
a word-processing application such as Word, and NEVER copy and paste your content from Word
as it will bring in unwanted symbols, HTML code/tags, etc. Instead use Windows-supplied
Notepad or Textpad (which can be downloaded for free) which are text editors.
Work Types and Payouts Page 5
How to Fill Out Your W9 Form
Each year, around tax time, we send to all of our writers a copy of the IRS Form-1099, as well as
reporting all earnings to the IRS. To be able to do that, we require you (as per the law) to give us the
legal name you use when you file your tax returns, your complete mailing address and Social Security
Number. To get this information we have you fill out IRS Form W9, Request for Taxpayer Identification
Number and Certification. This information is kept strictly confidential at all times and is used only for
reporting your earnings. If you change location or name, please submit an updated W9 form so that we
can mail your tax information and report it correctly to the IRS. Incomplete or out-of-date information
could cause delays in your tax reporting or other serious consequences. All writers must have a
completed and "signed" W9 and NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) on file before they can be paid for
their completed work!
Here is the W9 form and the fields that must be completed:
Filling Out Your W9 Form Page 6
The "Queues" - Your Available, Accepted and Rejected Lists
Within your WordGigs.com writers account, we help you to manage information by organizing work
projects into various "queues" or lists ---
Changing to one of these dropdown lists will filter projects to show only projects within that particular
list.
• Your AVAILABLE list shows a list of all projects currently available, not accepted by any other
WordGigs writer.
• Your ACCEPTED list shows a list of all projects accepted by you, which are not completed yet.
• Your REJECTED list shows a list of all projects which were rejected back to you, which need further
work.
• Your COMPLETED list shows a list of all work that you have completed, once it has passed a
quality-check.
The Available - Accepted - Rejected Lists Page 7
How to Get Work From the System:
1. First, navigate to the AVAILABLE list to see if any projects are currently available.
2. Second, find a project that you like. We process the oldest work first.
3. Click on the project title to begin the process to accept it.
Confirming Your Acceptance - Noting the Deadline Date and Time
When you click on the project title you will be presented with two dialog boxes to confirm your choice:
When you click "OK" you will be given another confirmation dialog box with the specific date and time
when your project will be due -- This time is EASTERN time, you will need to adjust this time for your
local time zone where you reside . . .
Viewing Projects You Have Accepted on Your Accepted List
Once you have accepted a project it is time to start work on it. You will find the project listed on your
accepted list.
Getting Help - System Notices - Email Messages
Getting Help: The Support Tab
When you click on your support tab, you will see a list of recent system notices that have been sent to
you. An item showing in bold is something that you have not viewed yet. Click the item to view it --
When you click the title of an unopened notice, you will see it displayed --
Getting Help - System Notices - Email Messages Page 10
Communicating with the WordGigs.com Support Team
Should you have a question or need more information, you can also call the Wordgigs Writer’s Hotline: 410-3948745.
Getting Help - System Notices - Email Messages Page 11
Understanding the Elements of Your Project Editing Page
When you click the project title for a project you have already accepted, you will open up the project so
that you can type in the content. The following screenshot shows the layout/structure of the editing
(typing) page. All projects share this same basic structure --
If your project contains more than one item, you will navigate from one item to another by clicking the
Understanding the Project Editing Page Page 12
navigation links on the left-hand panel. Blurbs, mini-blurbs and mini-posts may have more than one
item. Usually, articles only contain one item per project. Important: all items within a project must be
completed before you can submit it to the customer.
Your Project Notes Area
Usually you will find information in this area. Here is a brief rundown on what these sections mean:
Section
What It's About
Content
Type
Original = You will provide content
Rewritten = You will rewrite content given to you by customer, so that it is 100% unique
Extra
Research
Yes = Extra research required
No = Default (5-10 min.) research time can be used
# KW
How many times in total is the main KW to be used?
Main
Keyword
In Title
Yes = Use main KW phrase in the title
No = Do not use KW phrase in the title
Secondary If present, there will be 1-4 secondary keywords
Keywords Use secondary KW one time each in the article
Research
URL's
If present, will give you good source(s) of information for background research (if not
present, you will find info.)
Project
Notes
Any other notes pertinent to this project. You may also find notes here if your content
submission was rejected by the customer.
Keyword
The MAIN keyword phrase for this project
Keyword
Notes
Any notes from the customer on how to use the keyword.
The Formatting Toolbar
The formatting toolbar, located at the very bottom of your editing screen, allows you to adjust the
formatting of your content and do other useful tasks --
Can't Get the Green Checkmark or Submit Button? Check These Things Before
Submitting Tickets . . .
Many new folks often put in support tickets saying that they cannot get the green checkmark next to
items or that the submit button does not show up, even though the project seems to be completed.
While we are always here to help you, and you are always welcome to put in support tickets for help,
there are some things you should check first before contacting us...
Green Checkmarks:
There are two types of green checkmarks: One which will appear next to each keyword phrase in your
project, and the other one which will show next to each project item in the navigation panel to the left
of your typing (editing) area. You must have a green checkmark next to each keyword phrase and a
green checkmark next to each project item before you will get a submit button.
KEYWORD PHRASE CHECKMARKS will appear when the keyword phrase is used exactly as typed by the
customer in the keyword box. This includes a direct match on spelling, capitalization and even spacing
between words. If the customer uses "Texas" in the keyword phrase, and you type "texas," you will not
get a keyword checkmark. If they have "Txeas," (misspelling) and you type "Texas" (correct spelling),
again you will not get a match. If the customer types two spaces between words (which is sometimes
hard to spot) you will need to use two spaces between.
 Note: if a customer keyword contains a special character, such as a slash (/), your project will not
submit. Get into the habit of checking your project keywords as soon as you accept it – and notify
the support area if you see keywords with slashes, as they need to remove them. Do not wait
until you are ready to submit a project to notify us as you may not get the project submitted
before the deadline and you will lose the project and not get credit for it!
If you are having trouble using the keyword, try using the "paste keyword" button, at the bottom of
your edit screen (the double-A's icon). This will paste in the keyword directly into your content.
PROJECT ITEM CHECKMARKS will appear next to each item on your left-hand navigation panel when:
1. You have a keyword phrase checkmark next to the keyword phrases - main and ALL secondary
keywords.
2. You have a good title
3. You have the correct amount of content (word count) for the item.
4. You have spell-checked the item.
SUBMIT BUTTONS will appear when:
1. Each individual item has a green keyword checkmark.
2. Each individual item has a green project item checkmark
3. You have spell-checked each project item.
If you have checked through the above items and things don't seem like they are working, then feel free
to send in a support ticket and we will be more than happy to look at it for you.
Getting the Green Checkmarks Page 15
Content Type:
Extra Research:
·....
No
How many omes lN TOTAl do you want yoor PRIMARY keyword phrase to be used: 2
Green checkmark in the
navigation panel for each
ItemI
n your project
(blurbs/mlnlblurbs/mlnlposts
Main Keywordi
n 1itle: Yes
I-'
Seconddry Keywords: lo...,S<M:iesln BIOOmOgton
Research URLs:
may have more than one
tiem in a single project)
No
Project Notes:
I™
Keyword:
10,..,S<M:iesllt>omngtonMH
content:
Minimum 350 WO<ds Ma>0mum 405 wor
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- Sec,ondary Keywords
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Getting the Green Checkmarks Page 16
r•
words
Blurbs and MiniBlurbs
One important point about blurbs and mini-blurbs is that they must stay on-topic.
For example, consider this badly written blurb:
"Laptop computers are a great choice for the busy person. Unlike desktop PC’s, laptops take up much
less space, are very portable and today’s laptop has a much lighter weight and better batter
performance than models manufactured years ago. One thing you will need to be careful of is that some
laptops have a CPU that is not very powerful. If all you need a computer for is to check emails and to surf
the Internet for natural remedies for toenail fungus, a less-powerful netbook will do, but in general you
should purchase the most powerful laptop you can afford.”
Now this would be a great blurb if the keyword was "laptops," but in this instance it was "natural
remedies for toenail fungus." The keyword phrase has just been dumped in there. It has nothing to do
with the overall topic of the blurb!
The Anatomy of an Excellent Article
They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. With the following example article, we want to
"flatter" the writer who wrote it by encouraging you to copy this style and approach -- because it is just
what our customers are looking for!
(We have color-coded the main and secondary keywords so you can see how they were used in the
article.)
Main Keyword: Mortgages North Dighton
Secondary KW 1: have perfect credit
Secondary KW 2: top credit score
Secondary KW 3: debt to income ratio
Title:
Qualifying for Mortgages North Dighton
 As you read this article, notice that the writer has
supplied useful, factual information based on research,
not generalities, platitudes or common-sense statements
in an attempt to sidestep background research!
 Also - notice that although a conversational "tone" is
used, the writing itself is very clear and easy-tounderstand. Writing with clarity requires effort!
Article Text:
Over the past few years, it has become a lot harder to qualify for a home loan. However, this does not
mean it is impossible to borrow or refinance a home loan. It is possible to borrow the money needed for
Mortgages North Dighton. It is not necessary to have perfect credit. On the other hand, it isimportant
to meet credit guidelines. In general, those who don't have too much consumer and housing
Writing Samples - Good vs. Bad Page 17
debt along with good income and reserves may be approved even with less than perfect credit.
When applying for a mortgage, it is not necessary to have a top credit score. However, the consumer
must prove that he or she has used credit responsibly during the past 12 months. This means there
cannot be any late payments reported to the credit bureaus. Older late payments may be overlooked by
the mortgage underwriter. However, the underwriter is likely to not be forgiving about recent late
payments.
The mortgage underwriter is also looking for evidence that the borrower has the ability to repay the
loan. The underwriter will look at two things. First of all, the underwriter will look at the total debt
payments after the mortgage has been approved. The minimum monthly payment has to be affordable.
These payments include credit cards, auto loans, and student loans. In addition, the underwriter will
want to see that the borrower has sufficient income. Furthermore, it is necessary to show that the
income will be consistent for a few years. Lenders like to see a borrower stay in the same line of work
for at least two years. There should be no large gaps in employment unless the job is seasonal.
Regardless of the employment situation, borrowers need to have a debt to income ratio that is less
than 45% in most instances.
Finally, many lenders want to see borrowers with cash reserves in case of emergencies. The exact
amount of reserves will vary from borrower to borrower. However, it is a good idea for borrowers to not
be living from paycheck to paycheck. A bigger down payment or additional equity will help with approval
as well. Those that have good reserves, good income, and good credit have a good chance of getting
approved for a mortgage even in today's tight lending environment.
If you will learn to write like this writer you will please the customer 100% of the time!
Writing Samples - Good vs. Bad Page 18
Awkward Keyword Phrases: What You Can Do
One of the most difficult and frustrating aspects of writing "our" type of content is the need to incorporate
keyword phrases supplied by the customer into our content. Quite frankly, they are often awkward and look
downright silly in a sentence! You may find the following information helpful . . .
Why Are These Phrases Sometimes So Hard to Use In a Sentence?
The reason for this is simple: these phrases are actually taken from search engine queries (lists of popular search
engine phrases -- that are used by people searching for information on the Web), and so they express thoughts
that are not complete, and which make them difficult to use properly (grammatically) in a sentence.
Some Strategies You Can Use:
Try adding a word or phrase at the beginning or end of the keyword phrase. As you are not actually changing the
keyword phrase given, this is perfectly acceptable.
For example, "link building engene oregon"
UGGHH...
But it could become:
• "link building eugene orgeon companies..."
• "link building eugene oregon Internet consultants ..."
• "link building eugene oregon SEO consultants..."
• "professional link building eugene oregon companies..."
Notice how the additional word/phrases complete the phrase and makes it usable in a sentence?
SO . . . The next time you have keyword phrases which are "stumpers" try to think a bit out of the box. Stand that
phrase on it's head and think about how you could complete the (often implied) meaning of the phrase. But also
keep in mind that the correct capitalization must be used as well as proper grammar capitalization rules, too.
Improving Your Writing Page 19
Our Duplicate Content Policy
(Please Print Out And Save For Your Records)
WHAT IS DUPLICATE CONTENT -- AND WHY IS IT BAD?
This section is designed to help you, as a WordGigs.com writer, to understand more fully our policy
concerning the submission of duplicate content.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU READ THIS ENTIRE DOCUMENT AND FULLY UNDERSTAND IT. ALL OF
OUR WRITERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO ABIDE BY THIS POLICY. IF THERE IS SOMETHING IN THIS
DOCUMENT THAT YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND, PLEASE ASK FOR A CLARIFICATION.
For our purposes, "duplicate content" is defined as any content that is lifted verbatim (word-for-word)
from any other source. Typically this happens when someone copies and pastes content from a website
and incorporates it into material that they submit to us.
Of course, in the normal course of researching, writers may freely use facts and background information
on a particular subject -- but they are never permitted, at any time, to simply steal material and use it
without making changes to make it 100% their own words.
It is also important to understand that if you take and steal content and put it into your material, and
then include other material that is original with you, that this is still considered to be submitting
duplicate content. You should also be aware that articles submitted on Wordgigs are checked by
Copyscape and you can get an error message stating that your article failed the Copyscape check. One
common problem that can cause an article to fail a CS check is formatting issues, such as having too
many blank lines at the end of the article – in that case simply put your curser at the end of the last
paragraph and save from there.
Every sentence and every paragraph that you submit must be 100% your own words.
Submitting duplicate content is very bad, because such content is ABSOLUTELY WORTHLESS to our
customers. For example, if they take your content and submit it to an article directory site, it will be
rejected by the owners of that site because it is duplicate content. If they post your material on their
own website, you will have absolutely no value to the Internet search engines because they detect and
discount duplicate material.
Every time there is an issue with customers getting duplicate content we have a lot of "damage control"
to do -- our reputation as a business in the Internet community is damaged. In some cases our
customers will leave and never return -- and who can blame them?
WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES LEVIED ON WRITERS IF THEY SUBMIT DUPLICATE
CONTENT?
If you, as a writer, submit duplicate content into our system -- even if we catch it before it goes out to a
customer -- the penalty will be severe.
First of all, you will FORFEIT YOUR ENTIRE PAYMENT DUE TO YOU. That means that if you have a
payment due of $1,000, you will lose it all for the sake of a $4.00 article, or a $1.00 blurb! It just isn't
worth it to spend all of your time working hard only to lose it because you gave in to the temptation to
submit duplicate content.
Secondly, if you submit duplicate content YOUR WRITER'S ACCOUNT WITH US WILL BE TERMINATED
THE SPOT. There will be no negotiations, or second chances. You will be finished -- and your reputation
will be ruined as a writer.
PLEASE UNDERSTAND: WE HAVE VERY ACCURATE DUPLICATE CHECKING CONTROLS IN PLACE TO
IDENTIFY DUPLICATE CONTENT -- WRITERS WHO SUBMIT DUPLICATE CONTENT WILL BE CAUGHT AND
TERMINATED.
WHY DO WRITERS SUBMIT DUPLICATE CONTENT -- SOME BETTER
ALTERNATIVES TO LOSING YOUR JOB
As a writer, you may be tempted to submit duplicate content for a number of different reasons. In each
case there is a better alternative -In some cases, writers submit duplicate content because they are in a rush and don't have time to
finish researching and writing their material. The solution to this dilemma is very simple -- budget your
time better and allow an adequate amount of time to do your writing and researching.
If you are tempted to do this because you have too many pending projects, please talk to us about it -submit a ticket and we will see what we can do to temporarily take some of your projects away from
you. It is much better for us to do that rather than for you to do something that will cause you to lose
your position with us.
Another reason why you might be tempted to copy someone else's words is because you have a subject
to write on and you can't come up with any ideas or don't really understand the topic. But
remember -- RESEARCH is also a part of your job. You need to allow adequate amount of time to
research this subject before you can begin to write on it. In the normal course of your assignments, you
will be asked to write on subjects that you have no firsthand knowledge of -- so plan for this. Far too
many writers, it seems, only want to write on topics that are comfortable for them -- but SERIOUS
writers know that a certain amount of research comes with the territory.
Finally, some writers steal content simply because they are looking to make a quick easy buck or two.
They are looking for an easy way to get money without really putting in any time or effort -- these are
the people that we can do without. We sincerely hope that you are not one of them -- if you are then
you should seek an income-earning opportunity through some other channel...Because you are NOT
welcome here...And our good writers would be the first to throw you out. If you are lazy, beware -- you
have been warned!
 HOW CAN I MAKE SURE MY WORK IS 100% UNIQUE?
Have you ever wondered just how unique your articles are? While no honest writer will intentionally
copy someone else's content, it is always possible to do so UNINTENTIONALLY. How can you prevent
that from happening?
The best way is to check your work before submitting. And there is a good way to do that.
1. Go to the website: www.Copyscape.com. They are the industry gold-standard for identifying
duplicate content.
2. Sign up to be a "premium" member
3. Purchase $20 worth of credits on their system. Each search (check) of the system will cost you a nickel
(.05), so $20 = 400 searches. They will give you up to a year to use all of your credits.
4. Then as a premium member, you can paste your content into the text box area, and hit search. They
will search the web for any other published websites that use those same phrases, sentences, etc. You
can check your results, and make any necessary changes to your content BEFORE submitting it off to the
customer.
BIGGEST BENEFIT FOR YOU: PEACE-OF-MIND THAT YOU KNOW YOUR CONTENT IS UNIQUELY YOUR
OWN.
Note: While not as good as CopyScape, there are several other websites that offer a content-checking
service (some free, some paid) -- they will allow you to run your text thru a checker to see if that content
is posted elsewhere on the Internet:
http://www.articlechecker.com
http://www.scanmyessay.com
http://www.plagiarismdetect.com
Types of Article "Angles"
Before writing any article, you as a WordGigs.com writer should give some thought to the overall structure of the
article. Don't just dive in and start writing! An article with an unclear structure will be confusing to the reader and
it will be difficult to read. Good structure will not only make your material easier to read, but it will make your job
as a writer much easier, because when you know your structure, it's like following a "roadmap" -- in some cases
the article will practically write itself!
 Here are some basic types of article structures -- you will need to adapt them to your specific article
requirements, of course, but this will give you a good starting point.
"Tips and Tricks"
Everyone likes to get "insider information" on any subject. Perhaps the material you uncover for your articles can
be packaged this way. Give your article a good title, such as "Tips for Busy People: Weight Loss," or "Insider Secrets
of Internet Marketing".
• In your first paragraph explain why the reader needs to know these tips (What pain will it reduce? How will
these help them?)
• For your tips, you can simply list them out -- even as a numbered list (1 … 2 … 3 …) or discuss just a few in
separate paragraphs.
• Wrap it all up in one or two sentences at the end, and you are finished!
"Pros and Cons"
Sometimes an article subject will lend itself perfectly to a pros and cons analysis -- the good points, and the bad
points. The great advantage of this approach is that this type of article structure will lend an air of "objectivity" to
your writing.
Introduce your subject (1-2 sentences) -- write 1 paragraph outlining the negatives: common objections,
difficulties, warnings, etc.
Then write 1-2 paragraphs addressing yourself to those negatives, or showing how other positives overcome those
negatives.
Writing the positives last leaves your reader with a favorable impression of your customer's product or service and
makes the whole article seem less self-serving. Then summarize in a conclusion.
"Questions and Answers"
This is one of my all-time favorite approaches. It is also a great technique to use if you have little bits of info on
your subject but not enough of any one thing to make an article out of it.
• After your introduction (1-2 sentences), then take one of those information "facts" and turn it in to a
question. Then write out an answer.
• If you have even 5-6 seemingly unrelated facts for the topic, you would be surprised at how often you can
turn it into a nice Q/A article for your customer.
Example Fact: Women live longer than men (on average).
Question/Answer: "Who lives longer today -- men or women?" . . . "Not surprisingly, in most cases women outlive
men by a wide margin. This is because . . ."
"How To Do It" / "Checklists"
These are usually very easy to make use of. If you are dealing with any type of "do-it-yourself" subject, or any area
where people need to know HOW to do something, then this could be a great way to go.
• Following your article introduction, use bulleted-points or a numbered list to give your reader step-by-step
instructions -- sometimes you can adapt this and call it a "checklist" of things to do. MAKE SURE YOU REALLY
DO TELL THE READER "HOW TO DO IT", STEP-BY-STEP, IN YOUR ARTICLE.
Examples:
"For Every New Parent: A Home Safety Checklist"
"Refinishing Your Hardwood Floors - A Do-It-Yourself Guide For Homeowners"
"Self-Managed IRA's - How to Set Up Your First Account"
"Shopping Comparison"
Sometimes, you will have to write articles about specific types of consumer/industrial products. What you can do is
write about specific products -- model number, color, manufacturer, price range, features, description, addons/accessories.
• With this type of article structure, you can mention a good number of different products throughout your
article -- a bit of information about each. Or you can write a paragraph in-depth about 3-4 different products
in that niche.
If you use this approach, you may find shopping sites (Amazon.com, Yahoo Shopping, etc.) a great help, as you can
put in a general search term ("strollers," "pressure washers," "antique lamps") and get a display of several
products -- complete with summary information about it! This is a great time-saver (on research time).
Plan Your Work -- and Work Your Plan
• Before doing any actual writing of your articles, decide what type of article (like those mentioned here)
would work best for you. Think about the structure -- first -- then and only then should you start typing. "Plan
your work, then work your plan, " as the old saying goes.
As you gain experience writing various types of articles, you will soon be able to quickly determine which type of
article structure will work for you. Using the correct structure will enable your article to be written more quickly,
with less effort, thereby allowing you to complete it sooner, which will in turn boost your overall earnings.
Avoiding Fluff and Filler
No one likes to read online content that turns out to be useless. Those articles are boring, a betrayal of the
reader's expectations, and just a waste of everyone's time. Our customers hate articles which return no real
value to them, or to their readers!
Content vs. Words
Keep in mind that while you are paid for words, what you are really providing is content. Interesting content.
Useful content.
The number-one mistake that writers make is to just "fill out" an article with more words when they have run out
of useful things to say.
Avoiding Verbosity -- How?
1. Eliminate unnecessary sentences like "There are many places on the Internet where you can get information
on . . ." or "You can find out more about . . . by searching the Internet." THAT IS USELESS! Why? Because the
reader obviously already knows that! If they wanted to do an Internet search they would not be reading your
article!
2. Eliminate unnecessary words. Look at your sentence length. Chop them down! Eliminate unnecessary words and
use the "space" you save to put in more valuable content.
Example: Real Estate
Verbose -"Experts across the board agree that, despite what news outlets and other media pundits say, that the residential
real estate market will not bounce back to health until possibly sometime in the next 3 calendar quarters. For this
reason, many homebuyers could pick up incredible home buying bargains, if they have their financing in order."
Much better -"Real estate experts believe that the residential housing market will not rebound until sometime in 2016. So if
you are looking to buy a home, now could be a good time to find great deals."
Example: Dieting and Weight-Loss
Verbose -"Who can estimate the number of people who have tried to lose weight but have given up because they did not
go about it in the proper way. There are many truly effective and safe ways to lose weight."
Much better -"Many people have tried to lose weight -- and failed -- because they lacked a plan. You can lose weight and do it
safely by . . . "
These words add little meaning --delete them from your content!
Kind of
Sort of
A little
Basically
For the most part In general
Pretty
A few
More or less
I believe
In my opinion
I think
Most of the time Some of the time In the near future
(Use frequently) (Use occasionally) (Use "soon"
In order to
A lot
As a matter of fact With the possible exception of In many respects
3. Be honest. When your article is finished, read it over and ask yourself, "Did I really say anything USEFUL here?"
"Would someone actually find the content helpful, practical, and actionable? (i.e., can do something with it)? If
your answers to those questions are "no," then it is time to do a re-write!
4. Try outlining. An outline is like a skeleton. It shows your "bare thoughts." Jot down a few thoughts on paper
first -- points you want to cover in your article. Now, before you start filling in the details, ask yourself, "Is this
really enough useful content?" Add a few more useful points to your outline. Then as you write, hit each of those
points (providing necessary detail) and then go on to the next one. You'll be surprised at how "tight" your article
will be.
When you provide our customers with articles jam-packed with all sorts of useful and practical information they
will be pleased. Never yet have we had a customer who rejected an article telling us, "Sorry, there was way too
much great content here. You are going to have to cut some of this stuff out…" But they will reject articles that are
filled with too much fluff and filler.
What NOT to Include in Your Articles
One of the most challenging tasks we face as writers is to provide good, usable, and interesting content in our
articles. And one of our greatest TEMPTATIONS is to add extra words/phrases/sentences -- that really add no
value to the article -- just to fill out the word count.
Below are some common phrases/statements that we often see in articles. In most cases, they should be LEFT
OUT, as they really don't add to the informative value of the piece. Below each one are my thoughts as to why
they are not necessary. . .
"There are many different types/makes/models/varieties of XXX available today. . ."
Of course there are many different types. Everyone knows that. You don't need to tell anyone that. What you DO
need to do is to tell them the details of what IS available. What ARE those different makes and models? What
makes them different from one another? Is one better than another? That is information people want to know.
"Prices vary widely from seller to seller. . ."
Yawn...Do you really need to tell someone that? INSTEAD, give some specific price range information.
"If you search the Internet, you can find many outlets that sell XXX . . ."
Again -- Why even bother to say that? What is new about that? Instead: Tell them where they can find XXX.
"You can find pricing discounts if you just shop around . . ."
Forget it -- leave that one out totally. They will be reading your article (posted somewhere) because they are
ALREADY looking for information -- your job is to give them some.
"You will need to research carefully before purchasing XXX . . ."
Again -- This is a totally useless statement to make in any article. Smart shoppers always research carefully
before buying. Instead: Tell the reader WHAT THEY WILL FIND when they "research."
Many other examples could be given, in addition to the examples listed above.
When you and I use these types of sentences in our content, we are -- intentionally or
unintentionally -- communicating a message to the reader:
• "I'm lazy
• I don't really care about this subject at all
• I don't really have anything interesting to say
• I just want paid."
That is not the message we want to communicate.
REVIEW those articles before submission.
ELIMINATE the useless junk, filler words and phrases.
REPLACE the crapola with something interesting and valuable to say.
You will please your customer -- and they will be back to put even more money in your pocket!
"Cutting the Fat" from Your Writing
It's amazing how many of us -- myself included -- throw extra words into our writing that are not really
necessary. It's something we need to watch out for!
Below you will find a list of some of the most-often misused phrases in written communication (there are
actually many more).
As you read these over, ask yourself: "How many of these am I using?"
"assemble together"
The phrase "together" is really not needed here -- because we never "assemble apart"!
"general consensus of opinion"
Here, the word "consensus" is sufficient, as it always involves general opinion.
"blue in color" (or black in color, red in color, etc.)
The phrase "in color" should be eliminated, because "blue" is a color by definition.
"basic fundamentals"
Fundamentals are always "basic," so you could use "fundamentals" or "basics" but not both.
"our actual experience"
Experience is never theoretical, so the word "actual" is not necessary here.
"sale items at the lowest price"
Sale items are the lowest price, so "sale items" is all you really need here.
"personal recommendation"
As there is no such thing as an "impersonal recommendation," the word "personal" is not needed here.
"personal anecdote"
Again, "personal" is unnecessary here, as an anecdote is always personal.
"important essentials"
If it's "essential" it's always "important," so "essentials" is sufficient to communicate the meaning.
SOMETIMES IT'S JUST BETTER TO GO WITH SOMETHING SIMPLE:
• Instead of: "due to the fact that . . ."
Use: "because . . ."
• Instead of: "in the event that . . ."
Use: "if . . ." or "when . . ."
• Instead of: I am in receipt of . . ."
Use: "I received . . ."
AND THERE ARE SOME PHRASES/SENTENCES THAT SHOULD NEVER BE IN YOUR ARTICLES:
"You can find more information about . . . online."
Totally unnecessary. Everyone knows you can investigate online.
"Many styles (models, colors, prices, features) are available."
Again, totally unnecessary. Common-sense stuff, adds nothing to the article's value. Eliminate!
"Be sure to investigate carefully before . . ."
Of COURSE they will. No value in an article -- strip it out!
Proofreading Your Work
(A Checklist for You)
General considerations: Try not to be distracted when you are proofreading! Even a simple 100-word blurb
needs your careful attention, as mistakes and typos detract from what you have to say. Mistakes can happen
with anyone's writing, but we can at least try our best to minimize them.
Proofreading is your responsibility -- you cannot depend on others to do it for you.
Follow the Correct Proofreading Procedure:
1. Try to read your article backwards, a sentence at a time. This will force you to concentrate on what you
have written.
2. If possible, wait a day (or at least a few hours) after you have completed your material before
proofreading it. Have your article done a DAY before you want to turn it in, and on that day, give it a
fresh once-over, before submitting.
3. Be on the lookout for the mistakes you always seem to make. We all have them -- our "pet" typos,
improperly used words, etc.
4. Correct your overall structure/construction first -- then look at the language, spelling and
formatting. (Go from the "whole" to the "parts".)
5. If you are in doubt at all about the proper use of a word -- look it up! That includes the proper spelling.
Chances are the customer will know that it has been spelled incorrectly or misused.
Proofreading Your Content
Have I carried out ALL the customer's instructions?
Is what I have to say here interesting to the reader?
Does the introduction (first few sentences) capture the attention of the reader?
Have I explored this subject/topic in enough depth -- Have I included an acceptable level of detail,
offering specific facts rather than generalizations and clichés?
Does the conclusion bring everything to a proper close, or is my article left "hanging" at the end?
Proofreading Your Structure
Is the overall theme of your article clear to the reader?
Do your article paragraphs flow smoothly (good transitions)?
Are there any gaps or jumps in your article that need correcting?
Does each of your article's points build upon previous points you have made?
Proofreading Your Language
Have I run the spell-checker (note the red, wavy lines)?
Subjects and verbs: do they agree? (Plural with plural, singular with singular)
Does each sentence contain a complete thought? (No? That is a sentence fragment and must be
corrected.)
Do pronouns and nouns agree ("He" with "Bob", "She" with "Mary" -- and the right form of it's, its,
that, this, these, those)
Typing too fast: "I am going the neighbor's house." (Left out: "to") or typing "you" when you meant to
type "your" or typing "form" when you meant to use the word "from" (a spell-checker won't catch
that stuff!)
Am I using too many words or phrases too often? Change that!
Have I left out any words? If necessary, have someone else read it.
Proofreading Your Spelling
Have I used commas correctly?
Separating two complete thoughts in a sentence: Billy was born in the Netherlands, and he was
the youngest boy in a family of 12.
To set off introductory phrases/words/clauses: After suffering through one series of crummy
jobs after another, Mike found perfect fulfillment in being a WordGigs.com writer.
To set off phrases that interrupt the thought of the sentence (called parenthetical
statements): Laura, who was never a fast typist, began to experience difficulty in getting her
WordGigs writing assignments completed on time.
Have I double-checked my article for commonly misused words? (To, two, too; their, there, they're;
alot, a lot; your, you're, etc.)
Proofreading Your Format
Have I supplied an interesting title -- in the correct format? (More than just the keyword phrase,
interesting and unique, first letter of each major word capitalized, only punctuation should be a ? or !
(never a period) )
Have I skipped a line to separate paragraphs?
Is my article of sufficient length to meet the customer's requirements?
Deadly-Dull Writing -- Here's How to Avoid it
Clients HATE "deadly-dull" writing. It is a waste of your time to write stuff that is dull, and the customers
don't want to pay for stuff like that. Below are some tips to help you to avoid this common writer's trap.
CLICHES ARE THE WORST!
STRIP OUT all those over-used, dull and lifeless phrases that you see everywhere.
Using clichés will make your stuff look (and read) like all the other crapola on the web today. Be yourself!
THE "PASSIVE VOICE" WILL PUT YOUR READERS TO SLEEP!
In the "active voice" the subject =DOES= the action of the sentence.
"I completed the project last night."
In the "passive voice" the subject =RECEIVES= the action.
"The project was completed by me last night."
Passive: "Our writers are paid twice monthly."
• Active: "We pay our writers twice a month."
Passive: "The article was reluctantly approved by the customer."
• Active: "The customer approved the article -- reluctantly."
DON'T TURN VERBS INTO NOUNS! ("Nominalizing")
Instead of: "do an inspection"
• Say: "inspect"
Instead of: "make a recommendation"
• Say: "recommend"
Instead of: "perform a study"
• Say: "study"
Instead of: "enter into a discussion"
• Say: "discuss"
Instead of: "reach a conclusion"
• Say: "conclude"
KEEP IT SHORT (PARAGRAPHS AND SENTENCES)!
Paragraphs: Keep your opening paragraph short -- 3-4 lines -- and make it interesting to engage your
reader's interest. After the opening paragraph, additional paragraphs can be 6-10 lines, as necessary. And a
paragraph can (occasionally) be a single sentence.
Sentences: Longer sentences make it harder to follow your train of thought (mentally they have to "keep it
in memory" until they get to the end.) People who write a lot in forums often write one long sentence after
another ("stream of consciousness" writing, where one thought just tumbles out on another) -- this is VERY
BAD. [That preceding sentence is way too long and should be split into at least 2-3 smaller ones.]
Your sentences should be about 15-18 words max per sentence, for a general audience readership. (Just like
this one.)
MAKE IT EASY TO FIND!
People looking for information online don't want to invest time in "wading through" a lot of dense prose.
Keep it short -- to the point -- with the text broken up.
* Bullet points
* Subtitles/subheadings
* Numbered lists
-- All of these will help to organize and highlight the important information that you want to present -- so
that your readers can get to it quickly.
STAY AWAY FROM OBSCURE WORDS!
Keep this in mind: "everyday" words are 1.5 syllables or less (on average).
Take 100 words of your content, add up the total number of syllables in those 100 words, and then divide by
100. This will give you the average number of syllables per word in YOUR writing. Are you overloading your
readers?
Do You Write to Be Admired -- or to Assist?
Many beginning writers write to be admired -- because we are taught to write that way during our school
years. . .
We are taught to write using "fancy" or "literary" English -- using complex organization, complex sentence
structure, varying the vocabulary used, etc.
As a result, we learn to write in a way that we do not speak.
Is that a bad thing? Yes, actually.
When we write in a special "literary" manner, in a way that people never use in spoken communication, people
do not have experience with it -- and so they will often not UNDERSTAND it.
The goal of "our" type of writing is not to impress a teacher of English composition but to communicate content
in a way that is clear, easy-to-grasp, and straightforward.
In other words, at WordGigs, we write to ASSIST, not to BE ADMIRED.
READING COMPREHENSION LEVELS
Who will read what you have written -- what types of people will see it?
"Average people surfing the web," you might say -- and you would be correct.
But, have you ever thought about the reading comprehension level of the "average person"?
• IF you think they are reading at college level . . . you would be wrong.
• IF you think they are reading at the high school level . . . you would also be wrong.
• IF you think that your writing is just so wonderful that they will spend lots and lots of time unraveling your
dense, hard-to-read prose . . . you are most definitely wrong!
The average reading comprehension level today, especially for a web audience, is that of a typical 12-14 year
old.
In some cases, closer to 11 years (a 6th grade reading level).
WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU AS A WRITER?
It means that you must write as you SPEAK -- as you would express it in an ORAL presentation.
It means that your organizational structure must be CRYSTAL CLEAR, otherwise your readers will
get lost in the "maze" of your writing.
It means that you must not use unfamiliar vocabulary, or insider jargon, except when no other
words will communicate the essential meaning.
It means that you must keep your reader moving along, keeping their interest.
PLANNING YOUR WRITING
Before you begin working on that next project, take some time and THINK THROUGH the assignment -- What is the purpose? Why are you writing this -- to persuade (salesy approach)? To merely inform?
- What is the message? What is it that you (or the client) wants the reader to do next? What are they to feel?
What are they to do?
Your customer instructions can sometimes give you some clues.
Example customer instructions: "We would like you to write a short article that describes what toenail fungus is,
how to tell if you have it, and also some of the top ways to cure it."
What those instructions tell you: You will be writing in a conversational style, in an easy-to-understand manner.
This is an assignment where the purpose is simply to inform.
Another example of customer instructions: "We need you to provide us with some promotional content that we
will post on our website which promotes a wonderful treatment for toenail fungus."
What those instructions are saying: You will be writing to PROMOTE. Any informational content you provide in
your article will serve the ultimate purpose of reinforcing in the customer's mind that the product offered there
is the best treatment for them.
Same topic -- but a very different writing focus -- because there are two different objectives.
RESEARCHING YOUR WRITING
You need to strike a balance here. You want to present enough information in order to establish credibility in
the reader's mind -- but not overload them.
In most cases, you don't want to get over-specialized in your treatment of the subject, which will add
unnecessary complexity to your document.
"Use the information you find -- don't try to go looking for information that you think
you should have."
Suppose you have to write on toenail fungus (our example above), but all the websites you have looked at have
very little factual content -- which, let's say, your customer wants -- but mostly sales promotion.
Here's what you do -- don't try to find a single content source that is totally factual, but find 10 websites dealing
with toenail fungus. Lift one little bit of factual information from each site. You will end up with 10 sets of
"facts," usually more than enough for a factual presentation, and way more than you will need for a
promotional-type article.
ORGANIZING YOUR WRITING
How do you organize your writing?
By OUTLINING IT.
It does not need to be a "formal" outline (like you learned to do in school) -- that takes too much time.
It can be as simple as listing your main points one after another, perhaps indenting any sub-points.
Here's an example:
TOENAIL FUNGUS: CAUSES AND EFFECTIVE TREATMENTS
-What causes toenail fungus?
-How do if I have a toenail fungus?
-What's the best way to treat a toenail fungus?
You see . . . Nothing fancy or complicated.
Complicated outlines lead to complicated articles. That's a NO-NO.
• You could scribble your outline on a tablet or notebook (I use a LOT of different notebooks) that you can
refer to when you start writing.
• You could type it out in as a text file and keep that window open as you write your content.
• You could even write your outline directly in your project and then fill it in/replace it with detailed
content as you write.
HERE'S AN INSIDER TIP: SPEND A LOT OF TIME THINKING ABOUT THE OUTLINE OF YOUR ARTICLE.
Why? Because your outline maps out the organization -- and when the ORGANIZATION of your article is clear
and logical, your writing will be clear and straightforward when you start putting in the content.
ONLY WHEN YOU HAVE A GOOD, CLEAR OUTLINE ARE YOU READY TO WRITE!
• IF your articles have a confusing flow to them . . . You need to outline.
• IF you sometimes get "lost" in the middle of your article, not knowing what to put in your article next . . .
You need to outline.
• IF your customer is rejecting your article saying that your writing is "difficult to read" . . . You need to
outline.
• IF you find yourself having to continually revise and revise your article, rewriting it from the beginning . . .
You need to outline.
• IF you find that you are taking too long to write an article . . . You need to outline.
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: WRITING AN ARTICLE IN 30 MINUTES
5 minutes: Read your customer instructions. THINK about those instructions. What is the direction you
need to take? What is the customer asking for -- information? promotion? reinforcement?
5 minutes: Research (Yes -- 5 minutes!) Use customer-supplied URL's or your own searching and open a
few different sources in your web browser in different tabs. Remember: "Use the information you find -don't try to go looking for information that you think you should have."
5 minutes: Outline. List the major points and sub-points. Nothing fancy, just a guide for you to use when
writing. It should be simple and straightforward.
10 minutes: Typing. This is where you hit those keys! IF you have done the previous steps correctly, this
part will go very quickly, as now you know what you need to say.
5 minutes: Proofreading. Read your article over twice. Read it top-to-bottom first, making sure all the "big
stuff" is in place -- Correct structure, proper points/sub points, proper and interesting title. Then read it
bottom-to-top, to look for the "little mistakes" that creep in -- grammar mistakes, types (er, that should
be "typos" -- the stuff spell-checkers won't catch).
Writers, let's write to ASSIST, not to BE ADMIRED . . . and let's do it EFFECTIVELY.
Titles: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Titles are the first thing that the customer will see when they receive your content back -- and they are also the
first thing that anyone else reading your material will see. This makes titles incredibly important to the
effectiveness of your articles.
Here are some simple rules concerning the way we want you to handle the writing of titles for material on
WordGigs.com:
1. Capitalization: Capitalize Each and Every Word in Your Title. If the word is a common one such as "the," "for," "to",
"a," "an," etc. then you are NOT required to capitalize it (study the first sentence for an example of proper
capitalization).
2. Do NOT write your titles in ALL CAPS.
3. Do NOT end your title with a period. Periods end sentences, and a title is not a sentence!
4. Always make sure you check your customer instructions to see if they want the title to have a keyword.
5. Never use exclamation points (!) and hyphens (-) in titles at any time.
6. Never use a URL (website address) in a title – even if the customer tells you to do that in their instructions.
7. Within any project, you cannot submit materials with duplicate titles (same exact wording). The system will not
accept those titles.
8. Never EVER use slang, profanity, sexist, racist or other bad language in your titles (or anywhere else).
9. Your title should not have an "angry" or "hate-filled" tone (i.e., some sort of personal rant).
10. Make sure that your title accurately reflects what you talk about in your article.
Title Length
We see way too many short titles in material submitted from our writers. A title should always be 4-5 words at a
minimum. As a general rule, good title length is greater than 35 characters but less than 100. In most cases, it
should not exceed 100 characters.
Also -- Although it is good to use your customer keywords in the title (at least sometimes), you should use other
words in addition to the keywords in any title.
Good Title Suggestions (Just To Get You Thinking)









"A Product Information Guide To…"
"Consumers Guide To…"
"Help For The Rest Of Us: ------"
"Questions And Answers About…"
"Tips 'n Tricks" (Good For "How To Do It" Articles)
"Choosing The Best…"
"Choosing The Right…"
"Avoiding Pitfalls of…"
"What You Need To Know About…"
 "Answers To Your Questions About…"
How to Write Better Titles
Whatever you are writing for us -- blurbs, mini-posts or articles, you will still need to write a good title for each
entry. But writing titles is not something that we ordinarily do, and it can be difficult to learn how to write
GOOD ones.
Here are some tips that may help you when you are writing headlines -Write your content first, and your title last. Why? Because when we write the title first, we lose our focus
when we write the content, and forget about the focus of the title. We end up with a title that does not
accurately reflect what we have written (the actual content of the blurb, mini-post or article).
Instead, write your title first -- make a decision about the direction of your writing, and let your title reflect that.
Then and only then fill out the content, making sure that the content speaks directly to the concerns/thoughts
raised in the title.
A very popular type of headline (and article as well) is a "how-to" type. This is exactly what people are
searching for on the Internet -- "How to Change a Car Tire Safely," "Risk-Free Investing," "Finding the LowestCost Health Care Plan," "Getting More Visitors to Your Website".
Another type of headline (and article) is a "steps" headline -- "10 Steps to Healthy Weight Loss," "6 Steps to a
Better Vocabulary," "4 Steps to Finding a Reliable Private School". And you better make sure that your content
lists all those steps!
Stay away from overly-long or confusing titles -Instead of writing:
"15 Safe and Effective Ways That You and Your Family Can Use to Save Money on Your Next Utility Bill This
Coming Winter"
You can use this instead:
"Save Money -- 15 Energy Conservation Tips Every Family Should Follow"
Don't hesitate to ask a question in your title. What is the number-one question that people have when they
are looking for information on your subject? Put that question right in your title:
• "Can You Really Find a Reliable Children's Nanny?"
• "Is it Possible to Get Into Medical School with a 2.00 GPA?"
• "Can You Buy a Great House with Bad Credit?"
Notice how we used the word "you" in the titles above? That helps to personalize the title -- using words like
"you," "your," "yours," etc. will help draw the reader into your article. They will be interested because it is about
them, it is about what is of concern to them.
Words, Sentences, Paragraphs: Your Content Building-Blocks
As you do your article writing, understand that words are your most basic building-blocks. That's because words
help to represent thoughts. So the choice of the proper word is very important!
Words: Word Choice and Word Agreement
Writers do not use the proper word for 2 reasons . They either have a very poor (limited) vocabulary or they
don't know the proper meaning of the words they are trying to use.
There is no shortcut here. The only way you ever expand your vocabulary is by expanding it! How can you do
that?
1. Subscribe to one of several e-mail services (go to dictionary.com or similar sites to sign up) to get a new word
sent to you via e-mail daily. Try to incorporate some of those words in your writing.
2. Look it up -- If you are about to try using a word but are unsure of its meaning, look it up -- either in a printed
dictionary, an online website, or you can even buy software for your PC (I use Merriam-Webster's program on my
PC if I am writing offline or online). You can even type in "define - - -" as a search engine search and view the
results.
Word Agreement -- What it Is and Why it Matters
Word agreement answers the question, "What word(s) go with this word?" Certain words must agree, or they
will become a distraction to your writers. Some of the more common types include -Person agreement: Subjects and verbs should agree in the "person" (first-, second-person, etc.)
Bad -"There was several new writers waiting for their weight-loss articles to be approved by the customer.
In the above sentence, the subject is plural (writers) so the verb must be plural (were), not singular (was). When
speaking of the past, the rule is: "I was … you were".
Number agreement: If the subject is plural, so must the verb -- and vice-versa.
Bad -"This PC have too many USB ports."
The subject is singular ("PC") so the verb should be "has," not "have". Have is plural, so it is used with a plural
subject, while "has" is the singular form.
Paragraphs: Does Everything Fit Together?
If your words and sentences are looking good, finally look at your paragraphs.
For maximum clarity, introduce a major shift in content with a new paragraph.
Just as your article (as a whole) should have an introduction, a middle, and a conclusion, so should each
paragraph.
Normally paragraphs begin with a topic sentence. Topic sentences serve as an "introduction" of sorts to that
paragraph, letting the reader know what you are going to be talking about. Next will follow one or more topic
sentences. Topic sentences add detail and develop your subject. The paragraph will end with a concluding
sentence. A concluding sentence does double-duty: It summarizes and closes the paragraph, and provides a
"hook" to the next paragraph (if there are any) by just mentioning a key word or thought taken up in the next
paragraph.
How can you get your paragraph articles to fit together? The most common approach is to use certain
"connecting" words and phrases at the beginnings of a paragraph.
Major connectors: In conclusion . . . Finally . . . First(ly) . . . In the second place, . . .
Minor connectors: For example . . . For instance . . . In addition to . . . They are as follows . . .
Minor connectors usually connect sentences, or parts of sentences, with one another.
Major connectors connect the main points you are making in the paragraph.
Often, an article that reads very "choppy" and that does not flow well can be fixed up quickly by inserting some
connecting words throughout. They serve as written "signposts" that signal to the writer the points you are
making.
If you have thought about the overall structure of your article first (remember the earlier section about
structure?), then as you write, you should use both major and minor connectors to incorporate that same
structure into your writing. With a clearly defined structure, your article will be easier to read (and understand).
If you don't incorporate a good sentence and paragraph structure into your writing, your articles will resemble (in
structure) a big bowl of spaghetti: nothing but a big lump, filled with all sorts of twists and turns, that takes the
reader nowhere.
Commas, Commas Everywhere
Probably the most confusing aspect of the English language is the use of commas. Most people use way too
many of them in a sentence -- probably because they were taught a rule when they were children: "Use a
comma everywhere you would pause if you were speaking the sentence out loud."
On the other hand if you don't use enough commas in your sentence to break up the sentence into natural
thought-units it will become difficult for your customer to read and to understand it. (Notice how long that
last sentence was? And it contained no commas to break up the content.) Merging multiple thoughts into one
sentence in an incoherent way is called a "run-on" sentence.
Here's a further complication: comma usage is, to some extent at least, a matter of personal taste. Often
writing can be made clear by using commas in different ways. The following should be considered a only a
very general guide to comma use in your articles.
1. Commas and List Items
One of the most common uses for commas is to set off items in a list. In most cases you will not use a comma
before the word "and" that is used before the last item in a list.
Example: "pears, grapes and bananas" not "pears, grapes, and bananas".
However, if it is possible that the person may misunderstand or misread the items, you can use a comma with
the last item.
Example: "We have pears, oranges and apples." (no comma). But "We have fax, copier, printer, and fax and
telephone machines." -- "fax and telephone machines" is a single type, therefore we use a comma before the
word "and."
2. Don't use a comma before the first item in a list, or after the last item.
Wrong: "Sally visited, France, Spain, Italy and The Netherlands, before coming home."
Right: "Sally visited France, Spain, Italy and The Netherlands before coming home."
3. You may use a comma to set off a phrase (clause) at the beginning of a sentence.
Example: "Before she returned home, Sally visited France, Spain, Italy and The Netherlands."
 To evaluate your comma use, make sure to proofread your articles thoroughly after writing the entire
piece. Go back through it, looking for commas. Question the placement each one -- does it really need
to be there? If not, remove it. If your sentences are overlong or seem too complex, try using one or two
to improve readability.
Much more could be said about commas. If you are over-using commas, try not to use them so often. There
are also many good treatments of the subject that you can consult for more help.
Think you can spot wrong words being used? Then try this proofreading "quiz" on for size!
Take a look at the examples containing misused words below and see if you can find the wrong word in each
sentence. (Answers are given at the end.) Although there are no spelling mistakes, each sentence does contain
a mistake in word usage:
1. What will today's students listen to when they are in their 40s? Is disco music in there future as well?
2. Coach Thompson's team won ten consecutive Big Twelve Conference crowns, and tied the NCAA record with
nine consecutive NCAA champion from 1978-1986.
3. Life experience sometimes plays an important roll in how and what a student may write about.
4. During the parade, they band members marched in unison.
5. Do you think computers have changed are everyday life?
6. The store at the end of the block does not except checks any longer.
7. One study showed that of the countries 250 million people, almost 10% still smoke.
8. As evidence has shone, the crime rate in the city has dropped in the last decade.
9. If writing is such an important part of the school curriculum, than why are so many students having problems
with the essay assignment.
10. I was raised in a home were rock and roll music was not allowed.
By understanding that proofreading requires a slow, deliberate analysis of what you have written, you will be
able to recognize the trouble with the sentences above, and be better prepared to recognize the same type of
problems in the future.
Answers to the proofreading "quiz" -1. What will today's students listen to when they are in their 40s? Is disco music in there future as well?
Should be: What will today's students listen to when they are in their 40s? Is disco music in their future
as well?
"There" should be "their" because the second form shows possession. It is their future because it
belongs to them.
2. Coach Thompson's team won ten consecutive Big Twelve Conference crowns, and tied the NCAA
record with nine consecutive NCAA champion from 1978-1986.
Should be: Coach Thompson's team won ten consecutive Big Twelve Conference crowns, and tied the
NCAA record with nine consecutive NCAA championships from 1978-1986.
"champion" should be "championships" because champions win championships. The former refers to the
players, the latter to the titles they hold.
3. Life experience sometimes plays an important roll in how and what a student may write about.
Should be: Life experience sometimes plays an important role in how and what a student may write
about.
"Roll" should be "role." The word "roll" refers to the verb roll or the rolls you eat, while someone's "role"
is the part they play in something.
4. During the parade, they band members marched in unison.
Should be: During the parade, the band members marched in unison.
"They" should be "the," and is a common typo--the type that suggests sloppiness on the part of the
writer, nonetheless.
5. Do you think computers have changed are everyday life?
Should be: Do you think computers have changed our everyday life?
"Are" should be "our." Although some people pronounce them alike, "are" is a verb (a form of be) while
"our" shows the possession of a group. (People are busy during the holidays. Our family still manages to
get together.)
6. The store at the end of the block does not except checks any longer.
Should be: The store at the end of the block does not accept checks any longer.
"except" should be "accept." "Except" forms the base for the word "exception" and shares a similar
meaning; "accept" forms the base for the word "acceptance" and shares a similar meaning.
7. One study showed that of the countries 250 million people, almost 10% still smoke.
Should be: One study showed that of the country's 250 million people, almost 10% still smoke.
"Countries" should be "country's." "Countries" is the plural form (i.e., more than one country);
"country's" is the plural form and shows that something belongs to the country.
8. As evidence has shone, the crime rate in the city has dropped in the last decade.
Should be: As evidence has shown, the crime rate in the city has dropped in the last decade.
"shone" should be "shown." "Shone" is a form of the verb "shine," while "shown" is a form of the verb
"show."
9. If writing is such an important part of the school curriculum, than why are so many students having
problems with the essay assignment.
Should be: If writing is such an important part of the school curriculum, then why are so many students
having problems with the essay assignment?
"Than" should be "then." "Than" shows relationship when comparing two things, while "then" shows a
time relationship. Ex: First I went to the store. Then, I went home.
10. I was raised in a home were rock and roll music was not allowed.
Should be: I was raised in a home where rock and roll music was not allowed.
"Were" should be "where." Were is a form of the verb "be," while "where" indicates a location or
speech.
(Both quiz and answers are taken from:
http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Basic_Writing/Proofreading#Proofreading_Examples)
Choose Your Words CAREFULLY!
When preparing those articles, blurbs, or any other type of content, it is imperative to choose the correct words.
That includes spelling!
Many folks do not use the correct words -- they type in one thing, meaning to refer to another word altogether.
Here are some examples:
1. "All together" is not the same as "altogether".
2. "Any one" is not the same as "anyone".
3. "Worth while" is not the same as "worthwhile".
4. "Often times" is not the same as "oftentimes".
5. "Give away" is not the same as "giveaway".
Here's the rub: You could use any of these words and not trip a spell-checker, as all of them are validly spelled.
JUST BECAUSE A WORD IS SPELLED CORRECTLY DOES NOT MEAN THAT IT IS USED PROPERLY.
KNOW the different meanings, and PROPERLY PROOFREAD your content to make sure that the words you are
using are used properly.
37 OF THE MOST COMMONLY MISUSED WORD CHOICES
Word Pair
accept/except
Definitions and Examples
• accept: to agree with, to consent to something, to receive something
• except: other than, with the exclusion of.
"Mary will ACCEPT the award for the most improved writer on Friday."
"All of the writing projects EXCEPT Mary's have been submitted to the customer."
adapt/adept/adopt
• adapt: adjusting to fit needs or requirements
• adept: very proficient, skilled
• adopt: to choose, to ratify
"Mary will ADOPT the article template for her own writing projects."
"Mary is a Lead Writer for Wordgigs.com because she is ADEPT at exceeding
customer's expectations."
"We will ADOPT several of the better changes proposed by our writers at our latest
webinar."
adverse/averse
• adverse: hostile or unfavorable
• averse: opposed (usually used with "to" following it).
"On principle, Bob is opposed to ADVERSE criticism of his Lead Writers by
customers."
"On principle, Bob is AVERSE to criticism of his Lead Writers by customers."
affect/effect
• affect: to influence (the most common meaning)
"This higher article payout will AFFECT writer morale in a very positive way."
• affect: (as a noun) - a feeling or emotion (much less common usage)
"The writer did not display much AFFECT (emotion) when counseled about their
writing errors."
• effect: result, outcome (the most common meaning)
"What EFFECT will higher penalties have on writer productivity?"
• effect: to bring about, to cause (much less common)
"The new WordGigs.com website system will EFFECT quicker web browser displays."
allude/elude
• allude: an indirect reference to something/someone
• elude: to evade, to go unnoticed, to escape detection
"During our last webinar, Dave Kelly ALLUDED to a new type of writing assignment
which is coming soon."
"He can't be a Lead Writer for us: despite proofreading his articles many times, errors
still seem to ELUDE him."
allusion/illusion
• allusion: referring to something indirectly
• illusion: something not really there, a false perception
"She made an ALLUSION to comments made by the customer in the project reject
notes."
"It is an ILLUSION to believe that you can never become a better writer, that you are
perfect."
alternate/alternative
• alternate: in place of something, a substitute
• alternative: options, one of many choices from which to choose
"Sherri could not complete the project, as she was selected as an ALTERNATE juror.
She had to be in court in case one of the jurors could not finish the whole trial."
"Sherri's project had difficult keywords, so she contacted the support team to ask for
several ALTERNATIVES that she could use instead."
among/between
• among: describes relationships involving more than two people/things
• between: describes relationships involving only two things, or for comparing one
thing to a group to which it belongs.
"These 6 writers decided AMONG themselves to chat on instant messaging after
midnight on Tuesdays."
"The choice was BETWEEN working Friday and Saturday nights."
anxious/eager
• anxious: worried, disturbed, concerned
• eager: enthusiastic, happy, interested
"The ANXIOUS writer proofread their article 4 times before submitting it to the
customer."
"The new writer was EAGER to make a good impression on Bob."
capital/capitol
• capital: a seat of government, assets or money, an uppercase letter
• capitol: the building where legislature meets
"This new writer website represents a new CAPITAL investment."
"Is Sacramento the CAPITAL of Oregon or California?"
"Start each title with a CAPITAL letter."
"The project keywords were 'controversial CAPITOL Hill legislation,' if I remember
correctly."
cash/cache
• cash: money
• cache: a hiding place, or storage place/area
"Her WordGigs payment was huge, so she has the CASH to do a lot of Christmas
shopping now!"
"We fixed the web browser issue, but please refresh your browser CACHE first to see
the changes."
"I know that there is a CACHE of holiday cookies not far from my PC, just in case of a
holiday snack attack."
cite/sight/site
• cite: to quote or reference an authority, to acknowledge
• sight: the ability to see
• site: a location or place
"Unless a customer requests it, in your WordGigs projects, you don't need to CITE
your source material."
"This new writer never loses SIGHT of his goal -- to eventually become a Lead
Writer."
"Our company has 6 remote SITES where we maintain our databases."
conscience/conscious
• conscience: an inner sense of right and wrong
• conscious: fully aware and alert
"Only someone with a complete lack of CONSCIENCE would intentionally plagiarize
an article."
"I am CONSCIOUS of the fact that sometimes writers must toss-back a writing
project."
continual/continuous
• continual: occurs steadily, perhaps with occasional stops or breaks
• continuous: occurs in an unbroken fashion, with no pause, stop or break
"Because she CONTINUALLY missed project deadlines, her writer account was
disabled."
"WordGigs receives a CONTINUOUS influx of new writing projects every day."
council/counsel/consul
• council: a government or advisory group
"Bob's position on the town COUNCIL will last for four years."
• counsel (as a noun): advice or help that is given counsel (as a verb): to give advice or
help
"The new writer sought COUNSEL from the support staff about their first writing
project."
"The support staff gave their best COUNSEL to the new writer about their first writing
project."
• consul: a government official stationed overseas, who represents citizens of their
native land in that country
"The CONSUL told us there are many American writers living in that country."
criticize/critique
• criticize: to give a negative judgment
• critique: to evaluate (not necessarily a negative judgment)
"This new customer is a real pain -- he does nothing but CRITICIZE our writers all of
the time."
"Now that the writing project is finally complete, the customer gave us her CRITIQUE
of our process, in hopes that we could improve it."
decent/descent/dissent • decent: proper, adequate, passable
• descent: to move in a downwards direction
• dissent: disagreement, opposition
"If Jane does a DECENT job on this writing assignment, the customer may choose her
as a preferred writer."
"The DESCENT in Jane's writing quality to the lowest of all writers is unacceptable to
Bob."
"Other article writing companies have suffered from significant amounts of writer
DISSENT over shady payment practices."
disburse/disperse
• disburse: to pay out
• disperse: to scatter
"We DISBURSE writers payments twice each month."
"We DISPERSE writing projects to as many different writers as possible."
ensure/insure
• ensure: to make sure, certain or safe
• insure: to guarantee against loss or harm
“We always ENSURE that our writers are always paid on time.”
“Newlyweds with their first apartment must take steps to INSURE against theft and
fire.”
everyday/every day
• everyday: ordinary
• every day: each ("and every") day
"Receiving over 1,000 new writing projects at one time is not an EVERYDAY
occurrence!"
"I wish we could receive over 1,000 new writing projects EVERY DAY!"
farther/further
• farther: deals with distance
• further: deals with extent, to a greater extent
"The pencils you are looking for are just a little FARTHER at the end of the shelf."
"We will have to FURTHER discuss the impact of these proposed system changes on
productivity of our writers."
formally/formerly
• formally: in compliance with the rules/procedures/regulations
• formerly: dealing with the past, some time ago
"Bob will FORMALLY notify all the writers of a change in article payouts."
"She was FORMERLY a writer for a leading magazine."
healthful/healthy
• healthful: something that promotes good health
• healthy: in a state of good health
"Eating HEALTHFUL foods can make a big difference in your energy levels."
"In order to remain HEALTHY, eat the right kinds of foods."
imply/infer
• imply: to suggest
• infer: to guess or conclude
"She doesn't mean to IMPLY that the customer is wrong."
"One might INFER, from the customer's anger, that they did not like that article."
lay/lie
• lay: to place
• lie: to recline (has other meanings as well)
"Please LAY the monthly writer's report on the top of the printer."
"After struggling with a day's worth of support tickets, Bob will LIE down for a nap."
lose/loose
• lose: unable to find or obtain
• loose: to untie, make free in some way
"He was afraid he would LOSE his writer's account because of too many reassigned
projects."
"I get tired of customers who LOOSE their anger on me!"
maybe/may be
• maybe: perhaps
• may be: a possibility exists
"MAYBE we can ask her to take these past-due projects."
"It MAY BE that the customer will delay submitting their projects today, as it is a
holiday."
overtime/over time
• overtime: work performed at a higher rate of pay because the length of the work has
gone over schedule
• over time: a time reference
“Boy I sure wish we got overtime pay for those longer writing assignments!”
“Over time as she gained more writing experience, she became qualified to take on
more challenging assignments.”
perspective/prospective • perspective: a view, or vantage point
• prospective: something likely (or expected) to happen
"You gain a better business PERSPECTIVE when you work in a support capacity."
"All PROSPECTIVE WordGigs writers must first successfully complete their training."
precede/proceed
• precede: to go before
• proceed: to go forward, to advance
"Normally, a person being made a Lead Writer is PRECEDED by much experience
writing articles."
"If you want to be on the writer waiting list, then PROCEED to the WordGigs site to
sign up online."
principal/principle
• principal: first in rank/importance (as an adjective)
"Economic opportunity was the PRINCIPAL reason she became a freelance writer."
• principal: leader/head of an organization or money that earns interest (as a noun)
"The PRINCIPAL of my daughter's school declared a snow day."
• principle: a basic law or truth
"Mike uses the PRINCIPLES of good writing when completing all his assignments."
regardless/irrespective/ • regardless: without regard ("regard-less") for objections; anyway
irregardless
• irrespective: without consideration of (ir-respective) of
"REGARDLESS of her misgivings, she took the writing assignment."
"Writing projects are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, IRRESPECTIVE of past
earnings.
• IRREGARDLESS: NOT A REAL WORD! Some people mistakenly use irregardless to
mean "without regard." The use of the prefix IR- (meaning "not") is not necessary, as
the word regardless is already negative in meaning.
respectively/
respectfully
• respectively: in the proper order or sequence
• respectfully: with respect
"Bob was promoted to the positions of vice president of operations and writer's team
manager, RESPECTIVELY."
"The new writer spoke very RESPECTFULLY of her former employer."
simple/simplistic
• simple: clear, easy to comprehend
• simplistic: oversimplified
"The directions are very SIMPLE: call the hotline number for emergency project
reassigns, don't put in ticket requests."
"Because he was in too much of a hurry, Bob gave a very SIMPLISTIC explanation to
the writer."
stationery/stationary
• stationery: writing supplies (paper, envelopes, etc.)
• stationary: not moving, a position that is fixed
"Dave needed to order new business STATIONERY right away."
"Jane's writing production is STATIONARY -- she is making no progress whatsoever."
that/which
Both of these words are pronouns -- they modify meanings of nouns.
• THAT adds detail that is essential to the meaning of that part of the sentence.
• WHICH gives added detail or information, not essential to the meaning.
"Mike goes to the barber THAT is on the corner of Main and Howard streets."
(The information about the location is essential to the meaning.)
"Mike's barber shop, WHICH has been there for 68 years, is the place most men hang
out in this town."
(The age of the barber is not essential information, just additional or supplemental
information.)
then/than
• then: at a certain time; later
• than: a conjunction that is used to introduce a comparison
"First, Bob will send out the new writer satisfaction survey, THEN he will develop the
new webinar schedule."
"Dave is better THAN Bob -- much better -- in using SEO techniques."
two/too/to
• two -- an adjective -- meaning the number 2
"I need TWO copies of the new writer's manual right away for these trainees!"
• too -- an adverb -- meaning in addition, more than, very, also
"Our customer fees may be TOO high for some."
• to -- a preposition -- toward (deals with location, movement, spatial relationships)
"Joe went TO the doctor."
weather/whether
• weather: atmospheric conditions at a location
• whether: a conjunction used to introduce an alternative possibility (either stated or
implied)
"The WEATHER was lousy -- and resulted in a lot of hotline calls."
"I do not know WHETHER she will be working online at this hour.
Thoughts to a Struggling Writer
Recently we had an e-mail conversation with a writer who was having some issues with their writing (which all
writers do from time to time). We thought we would just share a bit of what they told us, as well as our
response to them. Perhaps some part of what we shared with them might help you as well? Hopefully, it
might.
First off, here is an excerpt of their e-mail to us (personal info has been stripped out):
Thank you for sending that to me. I had no idea. I know the [project name] was rejected, I
thought I wrote as per the client's instructions but when I got it back, it freaked me out pretty
bad . . .so I know I was just dragging people through thoughts and ideas.
I struggle with self confidence in that arena, I want to do a good job but when I fall short, it just
makes me stare at my screen and then I wind up missing deadlines and rushing. I don't know
what to tell you about the poor grammar and spelling, I can't even begin to know what was
going through my head . . .I try to do the best I can on those.
If you can help me with that stuff, I would appreciate it. . . I have this crazy speech to text
software that was supposed to help me but like yesterday, the word "caravans" became
"caramel bands".
Also, discipline . . . I need help with 'just writing', do you have any ideas on how to improve
that?
I need money like crazy, [the writer talks about personal stuff here] . . . So, I am in a little
trouble financially; any pointers you can give me to be a better writer with more discipline to
just do it would be helpful.
Thank you[Writer Name]
Now for our thoughts:
[Name], Thanks for responding. That you took the time to respond to us is a very good sign actually, as the
real problem people are the ones who refuse to communicate with us!
First off, I think that one of your issues may be stress.
Stress can really affect our (me too!) abilities to focus. It can constantly throw us off track. The good news is
that as your personal/home/family/financial situation becomes more stable, the source of a lot of your stress
is going to go bye-bye with it. Stay hopeful -- it will get better for you in time, if you just keep at it.
Writers block and getting over "inertia" is actually a pretty common issue, especially with newer writers. One
thing that I have found is to use a good timer or stopwatch device. Keep it right beside your computer, and
set a time for you to work -- then start it ticking! You'll be surprised, because watching that timer count-down
will really make you conscious of what you need to do!
Also keep on-focus: Why are you working? What is your goal (or goals)? Keep focused on the goals and you
will be better able to wade thru all the garbage that comes to you daily.
Then: make sure to build in some breaks into your routine.
Can't seem to write? When that happens ask: Why? Why right now? Try to pinpoint:
1. Stressed? Take a break from things. Let things cool down in your mind.
2. Can't think of an angle? Do some quick research, find out what others have said on your topic, might give
you some ideas. You might even want to "sleep on it" and come back to your assignment later; sometimes
your brain will have come up with a "fresh approach."
3. Try Googling "writers block" or "writing ideas" and see what others have said about this.
Dictation software: This can be a time-saver, but keep in mind:
1. You must thoroughly train it to your voice, and make corrections so that it can "learn".
2. Be sure and proofread because "sound alike" errors can creep in at any time. Don't just dictate and then
immediately send it off without a review.
SUGGESTED PLAN OF ACTION FOR YOU:
(Assumes that you have 3 days to complete an article project. Blurbs/mini blurbs take much less time.)
Day one and two: Accept a project(s) and research them. Come up with a list of facts to include and decide on
your "angle". You should develop a basic list of points to cover when you actually sit down to write. Then,
using your facts/outline/research, craft your article(s) you accepted on day one. Finish the content!
Day three: Final proofreading and final corrections/modifications. Then submit to customer.
Doing it in stages can make the whole process much less intimidating. Also doing your research on "research
days", your writing on "writing days" and your final check on "proofreading days" can help you work more
efficiently, and will also help to give you a break from constantly writing. It may be better than researchingwriting-proofreading, researching-writing-proofreading, over and over and over. (Each person finds a way to
do it that is right for them, this is just one possible approach.)
By the way: What's your work environment like? Screaming kids, a nosy spouse, or phone calls from friends
and neighbors can dilute your focus. You need a PLACE and TIME where you have quiet and can think about
the task(s) at hand.
Even if you don't have a special "area" to work in, you can still work in a common area (kitchen, living room,
family room) -- IF YOU DO IT AFTER-HOURS (i.e., when no one is around).
Also, you must have a "contract" with your family/friends that "this is my time for working now, I can't be
disturbed." THAT is critical, as most family members are not used to someone doing their "job" at home.
Some helps/resources for writers:
1. A good dictionary. I have one installed on my old PC here (from Merriam-Webster). There is also
dictionary.com, an old standby.
2. Strunk and White. The classic book on writing style. It's called The Elements of Style, written by a man
named Strunk and revised by E.B. White (the guy who wrote Charlotte's Web, among other things). It's a small
paperback and you can buy it for a few bucks from Amazon.com and other outlets (most good bookstores
stock it or can order it for you).
Hopefully some of this may be of help to you. Let me know if there is anything more I can do, as we certainly
want everyone to be successful at this. Your willingness to try to improve is a good sign that you are, believe it
or not, on the right track.
We hope you can take something away from this conversation with a WordGigs.com writer . . .
Researching Your Articles
As a WordGigs.com writer there is a right way and a wrong way to go about researching your article information.
Overall, keep in mind that you must strike a balance between useful content and time -- your time.
The more time you spend researching (all other things being equal) the more useful content you may uncover -but if you spend too much time researching you will not be productive enough to earn much money. There is no
sense in spending 30 minutes researching an article when you should be striving to finish an article within 30-40
minutes.
This means that you need to have razor-sharp Internet researching skills! You need know where to go to get
information -- useful information -- fast. When you are writing for WordGigs, every minute counts!
Constantly think to yourself: "How could I be doing this more efficiently?" Remember that you are not being
compensated on an hourly basis, but for completing a certain amount of work within a deadline timeframe - so
if you learn to do it quicker, we all benefit.
Don't Reinvent The Wheel!
Perhaps the best piece of advice I can give you is to build on the work of others. Many topics/niches have already
been written about -- sometimes extensively. Why spend time doing original research on the latest diet pills or
Internet marketing techniques, when someone else has done that?
You just need to find the information that is already out there. But where can you find it? The answer is authority
sites. These are sites that have content submitted by many different people, from many different sources.
A great place to get information is from article directory sites. These are sites which accept articles (much like
what you write) where website owners and promoters attach a personal link or two at the end for promotional
purposes. Among best and most authoritative article directory sites are:
www.ezinearticles.com
www.goarticles.com
www.articlecity.com
www.articlealley.com
There are many, many more article sites on the Internet -- just Google "article directory sites" and you will find
lots. A quick read-over of a couple of articles (remember: put it in your own words) and you should be set to start
writing.
Another type of authority site is a site like Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) or DMOZ (www.dmoz.org). These sites
contain a vast amount of information on many different topics. DMOZ is a listing of sites which have been handreviewed by editors, and in their judgment these sites contain much valuable content (not just salesy
promotions) -- visiting those sites you may find a goldmine of information!
If you just need a definition of a word to get you going, try this: type "define - - -" (no quotes) into your favorite
search engine.
Suppose you have the keywords "pipette tips." What are those? Are they something that people use for smoking?
Is it something to do with the plumbing in your home?
Internet Researching Page 56
Type in "define pipette tips" and see what you get in results -- most of the time you will get a listing of suggested
meanings for the word. Once you understand the general meaning, you will be able to research more fully,
because you understand the reference.
 What To Do When Information Is Lacking
Here is a suggested "plan of attack" when information seems to be very limited for your project topic:
1. Just to be sure, make certain that you have tried the major authority sites as described above.
2. Try the "define - - -" trick as stated above. Sometimes that will yield unusual sites you might have not even
considered.
3. Try a site like Yahoo Answers -- type in your search terms in the site search box to see if there are
questions/answers on the site dealing with that subject.
4. Try typing in something like: www.keyword.com, www.keyword.org, www.keyword.net, etc. Sometimes you will
find websites with these names, or perhaps a more generic form, that gives info on that subject.
5. Sometimes you must play around with the keywords a bit, changing the search terms to get a better set of
results. For example, if you are searching for information on "UK Foreign Exchange Traders" and can't get much
information, then try searching on "UK Forex," "Forex UK," "traders Forex UK," etc.
6. Don't forget to try to put double-quotes around your search terms. By default, if you input search terms
keyword1 keyword2 into the search engines, they will return results for any page where "keyword1" and/or
"keyword2" are found, even if both words are located in different places on the page. When you surround your
search terms with double-quotes, as "keyword1 keyword2," the search engines will return results where BOTH
terms are found together on a page. This can make a big difference in the relevance of your returned search
results!
7. You can also try using these specialty search engine commands (especially in Google)
allinurl:keyword <all the items must be in the URL>
link: keyword
<returns pages linking to a website web page>
title: keyword
<returns pages using these words in their web page title> (can be really helpful)
8. If all else fails, and you have made a good-faith effort to find information, then contact the WordGigs Support
Team and ask for some help/suggestions. They are there to help you, as long as you have first tried to find
information yourself.
A Brief Word About Your Web Browser
It is important that you set up your web browser software (the application you use to surf the Web) properly -This includes three things:
Tabbed Browsing: Make sure that your web browser supports tabbed pages. With a tabbed page feature, you
can surf from website to website, and put each site you are looking at on a different tab. Then you can jump backand-forth from tab to tab as you gather information for your articles. It's a real time-saver!
Bookmarks: Make sure that you bookmark any sites -- like authority sites -- that you find are a useful source of
information. You may find it valuable (and time-saving!) to visit that site again when researching future writing
projects.
A "Notes" panel -- I would encourage you to look at one of the lesser-used web browsers: Opera
(www.opera.com). Opera is not used as much as Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, but it has some helpful
features for researchers -- especially "panels" which you can slide in and out (at the right or left of your screen) at
the click of a button. With a notes panel revealed, you have a handy panel for typing in (or copying/pasting) your
research findings. You can have that same panel open when you actually start writing your article. You won't have
to open a text file or word processing application, and then have to jump back-and-forth transferring
information -- it will be available to you at all times, just off to the side. Information in your panels is
automatically saved, and you can even "synch" Opera to an online account which will make this information
available to you if you choose to work on more than one computer. And the best thing about this web browser is
that it is free to install!
Some Authority Sites You Should Bookmark For Quick Reference
SITE URL:
Comments/Notes
www.ezinearticles.com
Tremendous collection of articles. But don't
plagiarize!
www.dmoz.com
Online search directory - you will find less of the
spammy, commercial sites there, and more useful
sites listed, than some of the usual search engines.
www.google.com
Sure, Google is a big search engine site, but it is
the workhorse of all the search engine sites. It is
also good for general fact-checking.
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Wikipedia is a GREAT site that provides
tremendous public-domain content. I use it
constantly in article writing, and you should too.
www.m-w.com
This is the site of Merriam-Webster OnLine. You
can look up words from the older 10th edition of
the M-W Collegiate Dictionary for free. (If you
want to look up words in the 11th ed., you will
have to pay a fee.)
www.britannica.com
Online, but information is stripped-down if you
are non-paying (still good though).
www.encyclopedia.com
Another online encyclopedia site - also good for
background information.
www.doityourself.com
This is a great site for background information on
"how to do it" articles.
www.howstuffworks.com
If you are ever clueless about how something
"works" - just go to this site. Highly
recommended!
5 Steps to Success as a WordGigs.com Writer
We have put together this section for a very simple reason -- now that you have become a WordGigs.com writer,
we want you to be a success! If you are successful as a freelance writer not only will you benefit, but we will as
well.
Step 1: Set Some Goals
So you have come on board as a WordGigs.com writer. Why did you do that? What is your purpose or reason for
doing so? Most likely, to earn some additional income -- or in some cases to explore freelance writing as a possible
full-time career.
In order to become a success you must have some way of measuring yourself -- a way of determining whether you
have, in fact, become successful. How do you do that? By setting goals for yourself.
 One very important set of goals are earnings goals. How much do you want -- or need -- to earn each month?
Come up with a dollar figure. Take that monthly figure and divide it by four -- that will be your approximate
weekly goal. Ask yourself: How many projects will I need to complete each week to give me that amount of
money? And, how much time will I need to spend to be able to produce that much work?
Why is it important to set earnings goals? Because earnings goals will help to keep you motivated on a day-today basis. When you find some of your writing assignments difficult, you can remind yourself that you are doing
this writing for a reason, a purpose.
Let's face it: some writing projects will be downright boring. How do you get through that? By knowing that every
completed project will take you just a bit closer to your monthly earnings goals. Having these goals in place will
make it much easier to deal with the daily crap that inevitably comes to each of us.
Step 2: Work on a Schedule
When you are employed in a traditional setting, you are required to report to a specific location and work for a
specified time period. No traditional employer would tolerate an employee who wanted to change their work
hours/schedule every single day!
When you are working as a freelance writer you must take the same approach -- you need to develop a regular
schedule, with fixed hours. We know that for some of you this may be difficult because you are dealing with home
or family situations where you could be interrupted at any time.
But there really isn't any way around it -- if you are going to be a successful freelance writer you must set aside
specific days and times during the week when you can do your writing, and nothing else.
If your home or family situation is challenging, it may be easier to begin by thinking about what times during the
day, or days of the week, when you have more time to yourself. This will make the best times for you to do your
writing.
And don't think that it is necessary to have a huge chunk of time available. Perhaps you have an hour in the
morning that you could spend working, another hour some time in the afternoon, and perhaps another hour in the
evening. That would give you three solid hours of working time each day! Three hours per day, for 6 days per week
= 18 hours/week, which comes close to many traditional part-time jobs -- and you never have to leave your home!
Steps to Success as a WordGigs Writer Page 59
Other writers -- particularly those who work outside of the home -- may find it easier to spend 2-3 hours writing in
the evening. And almost everyone has some kind of free time available to them during the weekend. It's time to
turn off the TV and start earning some money!
There are many different ways to go about doing this, as you can see, but all successful freelance writers have
learned to work according to a schedule.
Step 3: Create the Proper Environment
Once you have set up some earning goals for yourself and have decided on a schedule, the next step is to create
an environment that is conducive to success.
Primarily, what you need is a place that is free from distractions and also set up in such a way that you can
produce quality work in the most efficient way possible.
Think about the kinds of things that distract you. For most people, noise is a big distraction, so your work area
should be located in an area of your home where it is relatively quiet. On the other hand, some people find it
enjoyable and even inspirational to have some music playing in the background.
Of course you are going to need to be away from the hustle and bustle of your household in order that you can
focus on the job at hand. If necessary you may need to work behind closed doors, or even in an out-of-the way
place such as they basement or attic. Many writers (believe it or not) write in their garage!
And while you don't need to run down to your local office supply store to buy a lot of expensive furniture, you do
need to make sure that your work area will permit you to work at your computer for long periods of time without
eyestrain or fatigue.
Your work environment should also permit you to have all of your necessary tools nearby including notebooks,
pens and pencils, a calendar, etc. Having your telephone nearby will save you time because you won't have to run
to another part of the house to answer the phone.
 Tax Tip: If you set up a dedicated work area -- ideally an entire room -- with your computer and other
necessary items -- and use it exclusively as your "place of employment," then the IRS will allow you to take
deductions for maintaining it on your income taxes! (Please see your tax professional or IRS guidebooks for
more details on this.)
Step 4: Stay Focused and Avoid Distractions
One of the important reasons to set aside a place where you can work is that it will help you with this next goal -to stay focused on what you need to do and also to avoid distractions. More than anything else, becoming
mentally distracted will lower your productivity (and consequently your monthly earnings).
It is especially important to stay focused on the task at hand when you are doing background research for your
writing. It's very easy to end up doing a lot of pointless Internet surfing if you're not careful.
One helpful tool that will help you stay focused is to have a countdown timer handy. One option is to use a timer
that sits on top of your Windows desktop. You can download and install many different types of Google desktop
applications, including several different varieties of timers. If you are interested please see:
(http://desktop.google.com/plugins/i/countdown_pascalalfa.html?hl=en)
If, for example, you have exactly one hour to spend writing, set your countdown timer for 60 minutes and set it
going. Make sure that you can see the timer at all times. We don't know why, but having that timer counting down
the seconds really helps many writers to focus!
Sometimes, when you're in the middle of writing, something will come to mind -- something that you are
reminded that you need to do, or that you would like to do. You don't want to stop your writing to deal with that.
 Here is how you can handle that situation -- Always keep a pen and paper nearby. When something like
that comes up, simply jot a note to yourself on paper. This will free you up mentally to temporarily "forget
about" whatever that thing was. You can get on with your writing assignment, knowing that you won't forget
because you've written it down.
If you are troubled by too many incoming phone calls from friends and family while you are working, then of
course you are going to have to let them leave a message. If necessary, you may need to temporarily turn off the
ringer so that you can work without interruptions.
Step 5: Grow Out Of Your "Comfort Zone"
As a new writer, naturally your first impulse will be to accept writing projects that appeal to you personally. This is
normal and natural, because these are subject that you are familiar about or have a personal interest in. However,
in order to be successful freelance writer this will need to change.
Why is that? Simply because there will never be enough writing assignments dealing with subjects that are
personally interesting to you to enable you to earn any significant amount of income.
What this means is that, sooner or later, you are going to have to learn to leave your writers "comfort zone" -the topics and subjects that you find it relatively easy to write about.
If you are writing mostly blurbs (blog post snippets), then start taking articles. If you like articles, then take some
blurb projects once in awhile.
This also means that if you would find writing on projects like childcare, contemporary fashion, or the
entertainment industry, why not take some writing projects dealing with business management techniques,
Internet marketing , or current technologies?
If you are a brand-new writer -- if you have been working for us for less than a month, you should endeavor to
select projects outside of your personal comfort zone between 10%-20% of the time. This will help you to build
some solid researching skills, as well as your confidence.
If you are an intermediate-level writer -- if you have been working for us 1-3 months, then you should try to select
projects which are more challenging for you, about 30%-40% of the time. At this level, you should have much
greater confidence in your abilities to handle varied topics. Your researching skills will have probably grown by
leaps and bounds as well.
If you are a more experienced writer, then you should be selecting projects in ANY subject area or topic. Ideally,
as an experienced writer, we should be able to assign you any project and you should be able to complete it.
Freelance ghostwriters -- if they are pros -- can handle anything thrown at them. They are like "writing machines"
and they KNOW they have what it takes to get the job done.
Your Personal Action Plan and Conclusion
 Here is a personal action plan that you can use to implement these five steps to success:
1. Today, if you have not already done so, sit down and come up with some earnings goals. What do you want out
of your WordGigs.com experience? How much do you need/want to earn this month? Every month?
2. This week, take steps to finalize your personal work schedule. Discuss it with your spouse and other family
members so that everyone is on the same page. Let them know that you will need them to help you to stick to
your work schedule. ONCE YOUR SCHEDULE HAS BEEN FINALIZED, STICK TO IT!
3. Within the next month, try to set up your own personal work environment -- a place where you can work
without distraction, a place which will enhance your productivity. You don't need to have a lot of special
equipment or furniture -- or even a separate room. But you do need to have an environment that will enhance
your creativity.
4. As you work day-to-day, stay focused on the task at hand. Minimize distractions and interruptions. Don't waste
time. If necessary use a clock or timer so that you are really conscious of the passage of time -- because as a
freelancer time really is money!
5. Whenever you need more work, push yourself to grow out of your comfort zone. If you are a newer writer, try
to choose 1 out of every 3 projects in a subject area that you are not familiar with. If you are more experienced,
you should set a goal of choosing 1 out of every 2 projects that will be more challenging for you.

PDF: WordGigs Writer`s Reference

Transcription

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