Content & Writing Tycoon

**Andreas Bard** · 07-24-2006, 02:43 PM

Most writers I have used have taken a lot of like writing classes and such, but I bet many freelancing writers do not have had any classes like that and are liked self-teached and have had writing as a hobby before starting doing it for money.

What is your history?

//Andreas

**-JJ-** · 07-24-2006, 02:56 PM

Indeed, many freelance writers developed there skills by self-teaching themselves, but in a whole many writers have either excelled in an English class or have taken some sort of writing class to enhance there writing skills and grammer.

Everyone has a unique way of writing and whether or not you've taken classes or not doesn't naturally mean you are bad at it. It's all about what the client likes.

-JJ-

**NavySeals91** · 07-24-2006, 03:56 PM

Writing skills are what fuels online page ads, and descriptions. I am 50-50 for writing. I like writing, but I don't like writing while typing, it just does not flow for me staring at a screen. Then again, when I write on paper for reports, et cetera I want to write more than is needed so I get cramps a lot. For basic grammar and writing, I recommend sparkcharts because the charts have a lot of useful info. I also have some writing books but I have not read them yet because I don't really need to. If you want some titles of helpful books, PM me and I'll help you out.

Also, there are many different styles. The style in which college writing is based is more professional and critical. (Not using personal pronouns, not too many cliches, not sounding like you talk, etc...)
Then there is a style that we write forum posts with, how we talk in real life which sounds more personal which would be good for sales pages. A reason being is that relating to the reader and talking to him/her gives the person a sense of security.

I just lightly scratched the surface, but I don't know too many styles of writing.

Matt

**Rob_TID** · 07-24-2006, 08:45 PM

I really enjoy writing. I used to do a bit of freelance magazine writing during my university years, but I quickly came to the conclusion that only the publishers actually made money in the magazine gig. I therefore decided that the way to make money was to become the publisher and the cheapest way to become a publisher was to move online.

So here I am, writing what I like and getting paid by affiliate and ad networks to do it. And they pay much better than most magazines.

**marketjunction** · 07-25-2006, 02:25 AM

1. Reading many writing oriented books. Elements of Style was my first classic.
2. Reading many books, magazines, academic journals, ads, business communications and so forth to hone in on styles.
3. Help from partner. She's on the elite level (ghostwrote NY Time Best Seller as one example of ability).
4. Print Journalism (college).
5. Continually practicing the art to improve. I spend time weekly reviewing.

It's a process.

Like many here, I enjoy writing.

**Cumbrowski** · 07-25-2006, 06:10 AM

I like writing and started to write a lot more end of last year. I have the "penalty" that English is my second language which is often something you can tell when you read my stuff.

However, as we say in Germany, "there never did fall a master out of the sky".
The more I write, the better I become. I also read books, blogs and ezines about writing and copywriting.

For some stuff would I rather have somebody with excellent writing skills to correct my content. Grammar, choice of words etc.
If anybody is doing this kind of work for hire, shoot me an email and let me know your rates.

Thanks

**Plugin-Developer** · 07-25-2006, 09:15 PM

I enjoy writing, but wouldn't consider myself anywhere near the level of most online content writers.

I find that writing is a very personal thing, and that it can take many forms based on your audience and subject matter.

For example, in my blog I use personal pronouns quite a bit and am generally informal. I refer to the third person "you" quite often because I want to speak to my readers and give advice.

In my college technical papers (I'm an engineer) I find myself writing stiffly and abstracting everything as much as possible. If you've ever written an eight page physics lab report, you'll recognize sentences like "The apertures in the cantilever track were measured with a set of digital calipers in three different spots, ensuring the accuracy of the part, and forming the basis of our hypothesis."

Writing is fun, and I think one of the best ways to learn is to actually do it. Write and write and write some more, and you have to eventually get at least a little better at it. I have noticed a bit of improvement in my writing in the last three months.

**Josh P** · 07-26-2006, 05:18 PM

Natural love for it, and reading a lot. By a lot, I mean multiple books at the same time. Writing classes in school are also good.

**Jason Webb** · 07-30-2006, 11:06 AM

Hi

If people want to learn more about being a freelance writer then Nick Daws (do a Google search for him)
offers some quite useful courses. I learnt quite a bit from them.

Best Regards

**kashem** · 07-30-2006, 11:38 AM

Hi all
if you think the post does not fit here, please ignore.

English is not my first language, I have study English grammar, language in high school. As I am doing some business online, I need to have contents for my site and some for article marketing. As I am not confident with my English I usually hire someone. It very is costly for me.

Now I want to have the ability to write at least for my site.

What is your suggestion? How could I improve my skill and gain some confidence?

Thanks

**Jeff Hester** · 07-30-2006, 12:33 PM

Writing skills are honed by two things, primarily reading and (duh) writing. Write something--anything--but write frequently. Over time, you develop your skill and find a voice that suits your personality.

I read lots of magazines these days, everything from Business 2.0 to the Economist, to Wired and GQ. It's more of an informational and entertaining style of writing, which is what I shoot for when I'm writing for the web.

And though you didn't specifically state so in your initial post, I assume you mean writing for the web. This requires an entirely different style, much more consise and designed for quick scanning. Find some sites that use a style you like, and read them regularly.

Usability guru Jakob (love-him-or-hate-him) Nielsen has a good resource on writing for the web: useit.com/papers/webwriting/ (I can't post URLs yet, so you'll have to cut-and-paste).

**wamcon** · 07-30-2006, 01:32 PM

Reading is one of the most important ways to improve your writing skills. When you find a writing style that is close to how you want to write - then write, write, write. Articles, blog posts, forum posts until you feel comfortable with your style - your voice. Realize it's a matter of time and knowing first what you want to say then practice writing with your readers in mind.

Me - I've been a reader my entire life, so many different kinds of books and writing styles and subjects. I can have several books going at the same time. I just started writing seriously this past year. It takes time to find your voice and style. Then it is simply a process.

**kashem** · 07-30-2006, 01:50 PM

thanks a lot.

**Andreas Bard** · 07-30-2006, 05:17 PM

Great posts guys. Really helping!

//Andreas

**Dan Kenitz** · 07-30-2006, 06:49 PM

I wrote two books before I even went to college to get a degree in Writing. After four years, I have that degree, and writing is as easy and enjoyable as ever.

In fact, recently, I was selected by the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel to be a community columnist - I'm only 22 years old.

EDIT: Yes, reading helps your writing skills, but nothing helps your writing skills like, oh, say...WRITING.

When I wrote a novel as a sophomore in high school, I sat down and wrote ten pages a day, no matter how forced or bad the pages would be. And I ended up being a fast typer, and the "go-to" guy for helping people with papers in college.

I advise writing under restrictions for yourself. Make it hard - that's how you grow, after all. You don't get strong by lifting five pounds, right?

**Prosperinet** · 08-24-2006, 08:48 PM

I find that a technique called " Clustering" helps me focus.

A tip which I came across recently is to print the thing out, and correct it from the printed page.
You'd be amazed at the improvement this makes.
For example, the Spell Checker will not pick out "Their" when you meant to write " There."

**Hobbit** · 08-25-2006, 04:40 AM

I'm not a very good writer, probably because it's my second language. It has however improved since I started posting in webmaster forums.

**Rush^** · 08-27-2006, 11:11 PM

The two main elements in becoming a good writer (reading and writing alot) have already been mentioned, however, i would suggest that note taking is also essential. No matter whether you're gonna be writing fiction or non-fiction jotting down a quick idea for a story as you have it is always vital. Writing may be 98% perspiration and 2% inspiration but you still need that 2% and if you're limiting your opportunities to get that 2% to when you're sitting down at the computer wanting to write then you're gonna be screwed.

What goes for ideas also goes for "good lines".

I have drawers full of notebooks filled with small ideas/lines i've thought of which may not be useful at the time but are later on.

**Bookworm-SEO** · 08-28-2006, 05:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marketjunction

1. Reading many writing oriented books. Elements of Style was my first classic.
2. Reading many books, magazines, academic journals, ads, business communications and so forth to hone in on styles.
3. Help from partner. She's on the elite level (ghostwrote NY Time Best Seller as one example of ability).
4. Print Journalism (college).
5. Continually practicing the art to improve. I spend time weekly reviewing.

It's a process.

Like many here, I enjoy writing.

Read the right people and your grammar will improve.
My newspaper writing in college was somewhat useful.
I used to moderate a rap/poetry forum, so I get some stylistic elements from that experience.
Writing my blog and reading others' writing.

**imported_htmlmaster** · 09-01-2006, 10:40 AM

Read a lot and write a lot. Make sure that you read books and such that are slightly above your normal reading level, but not so hard that you can't understand them.