Word Wise Blog: Content Writing Made Easy

Apr 05, 2026

The easy way to find benefits (vs features) to write about

Copywriting guru Bob Bly uses a persuasive copywriting exercise to distinguish between features and benefits – an exercise that I like to call “The Yellow Pencil Chart.”

At the top of a piece of paper, he records ...

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Apr 04, 2026

The little word with big connections

A preposition is a simple word that can be easy to overlook – a word like at, for, in, off, on, out, over, under, until, and with.

To be grammatical about it, a preposition is “a word that is used before a noun, a noun phrase, or a pronoun, connecting it to another word.”

Connection: these feisty little words indicate relationship!

No wonder prepositions are ...

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Apr 03, 2026

Online course: Writing Devotionals that Stick

Devotionals are a unique genre. And you can write them!

Writing Devotionals That Stick is a full-length, online course that walks with you step-by-step as you learn to write devotionals in a way that stays with today’s busy, distracted readers.

Leaders, entrepreneurs, students, moms, professionals, writers – or those who want to be – have learned to write devotionals by using the principles found in this course.

It’s a fun and easy-to-use guide packed with ...

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Apr 02, 2026

The parts of a resume you MUST include

The basic parts of a resume outlined here are a tool you can use to understand how resumes are constructed.

This list will also help you gather your personal data, organize it, and present it effectively in a professional resume...

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Apr 01, 2026

Why every content creator should write a blog (still)

“Should I write a blog?” A new author posted that question on one of my favorite online groups. She had just published her first book and was seeking ways to promote it.

Her question launched an extensive discussion. The newbie’s main concern was that ...

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Mar 31, 2026

Writing Your "About" Page: Use These Tips

I’ve been known to leave my About page alone for a couple years at a time.

I'm not the only one who is lax. Plenty of you out there who don’t even have an About page.

So when I got into a better habit of updating my site regularly, I put these tips together...

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Mar 30, 2026

SEO: Understand the basics

“What is SEO content writing?”

It’s a question I hear a lot – and not just from writing newcomers. The idea of creating content that conforms to any kind of acronym can be intimidating, akin to following a secret military code.

Your fears may be especially acute if you’re not technically-minded. Search engines are driven by a mass of algorithms, right? The complexities make even the most avid tech geek’s mind swim.

But there’s good news behind all those ...

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Mar 29, 2026

3 of the best kinds of content for your email newsletter

Email newsletter templates fall into two categories: templates for layout and templates for content.

The first of those – pre-formatted graphic layouts – allow you to choose and use to create your own online ezine, even if you lack tech skills. (I use Constant Contact for my email templates.)

The second category of email newsletter templates guide you to ...

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Mar 28, 2026

When just 6 words is best

Ad copy on billboards presents an interesting writing dilemma. You don’t want to distract the driver who is speeding by at 70 miles an hour, but you want your message to be clear.

That’s why six words is considered to be the limit for an effective billboard message (that and large, large letters). A driver can grasp a six-word message in seconds.

The principle is similar when writing ...

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Mar 27, 2026

"What's your book about?" How fast can you answer?

"What's your book about?"

If you want to sell your book, you need to answer that all-important question. And you need to do it in fewer than 200 words.

Perfect for nonfiction writers, self-publishers, and authors preparing proposals, marketing pages, or back-cover copy ...

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Mar 26, 2026

How to hit a bull's eye with bullet points

Bullet points (or “bullets”) have become a staple on web pages, in sidebars, for PowerPoint presentations, even in direct mail. They present information in list form.

Bullets are indented, short phrases, preceded by small dots, squares, dashes or graphics.

They’re everywhere, and readers like them.

That’s because bullets are ...

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Mar 25, 2026

Write an article or write a book? Take the quiz to find out

Should you write an article or write a book?

It’s a question you face at different junctures in your writing journey: when you’re first starting out and working towards publication … when you’re building your stable of writing clips … when you’re thinking of breaking into a new niche …

It’s a surprisingly important decision. Choose the wrong format and you may end up struggling with a book that feels thin… or compressing a powerful idea into an article that barely scratches the surface.

My answer to the question? It depends ...

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Mar 24, 2026

How to find the main idea of our content BEFORE you write

The writing process is easier when you find the main idea – the single most important thing (SMIT) to tell your readers – before you write.

If you do, you’ll save yourself time and aggravation. And your writing will have clarity.

When I first started writing seriously, I struggled with this piece of advice.

My problem was that in many instances, I didn’t know the main point I wanted to communicate in an article or blog post or letter. I had captured plenty of ideas but didn’t know how to process them to choose one...

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Mar 23, 2026

Simple story writing structure for quick content stories

A content writer needs to write persuasive stories.

If the idea of figuring out a story structure makes your fingers quake at your keyboard, then take a breath.

Let me go on the record here to say that when I started writing content, I was intimidated by storytelling...

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Mar 22, 2026

What's in your writing portfolio?

A writing portfolio showcases your work to potential clients, employers, and fans.

You fill it with samples of your writing that demonstrate your skills, whether you write articles, direct mail, blog posts, email campaigns, websites, books, novels, or any other content form.

Asaph, one of King David’s worship leaders, left us a writing portfolio in the book of ...

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Mar 21, 2026

Why repetition is a powerful persuasive tool (used the right way)

Bible authors used repetition different ways.

Sometimes, the repetition is obvious with exact words used sequentially, as in “Truly, truly” (Gospel of John) and “Holy, holy, holy” (Revelation 4)

More often, the repetition is subtly delivered with a synonym: words or phrases that mean (nearly) the same thing.

Here’s an example in ...

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Mar 20, 2026

Test your book idea with these 4 questions

You’ve got a book idea. You’re gung-ho to get writing. But should you proceed?

Given the potential mine fields of writing a book and getting it into the hands of readers, you want to make sure your idea is book-worthy.

You’ll invest a significant amount of your time in writing the book. And once you start, you want to finish it rather than let your first pages languish in your uncompleted projects file.

But how can you know that the sweat and tears invested in this book will yield readers? You want to know that there’s ...

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Mar 19, 2026

How to write a business email (step-by-step)

When you know how to write an email well, you can save time and get more business done with your employees, clients, vendors, and partners.

I’m not talking about writing an email to your spouse about a rental for next summer’s vacation (an informal, personal email.)

Nor am I referring to writing an email newsletter (an e-zine to your organization’s partners and supporters with stories and announcements) – although these tips can apply to these kinds of emails, too.

Rather, I’m referring to ...

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Mar 18, 2026

7 conversational writing techniques pros use without thinking

“Write the way you talk.” It’s the conversational writing mantra drilled into you from the moment you decided to write content.

But why do so many of us struggle to acquire a laidback chitchat style? And no, you can’t blame AI. Something visceral is missing.

I’d love to be sitting across the table with you, fellow writer, with a cup of tea at my elbow. You’d have ...

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Mar 17, 2026

Nonprofits need you to write these 5 types of content

I’ve been providing content writing for nonprofits for more than two decades. In fact, once I started writing for the nonprofit sector, I’ve never been without work.

Every business, whether it’s a for-profit biz or a tiny nonprofit agency, needs written content in place in order to stay solvent.

I’ve been paid to write all kinds of projects including ...

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Mar 16, 2026

Create a chapter outline for your book using this template

I use this simple template to create an outline for writing a book (non-fiction, that is.)

A template removes the overwhelm that comes with a project, especially a big one. And a book is a big project – one that can be so intimidating that once you get started, you can easily hit a wall.

Here’s how this outline template works.

Let’s say you ...

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Mar 15, 2026

How your current writing assignment leads to more gigs

Writers are always looking for more freelance writing gigs. But your next assignment is literally under your fingertips right now.

I worked hard on my first book manuscript, although I knew it was for a tiny audience and would likely never sell many copies.

I wrote, rewrote, proofed, and then submitted the manuscript to my editor on time.

A short time after it was published, I received ...

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Mar 14, 2026

One of the most powerful writing tools (fr*ee, too)

Investigative reporter Jason Grotto relies on a powerful writing tool: the fact check.

“We have to be sure the question we pursue can be answered with verifiable facts,” says Jason, who has written for the Chicago Tribune and The Miami Herald.

His exposes have uncovered ...

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Mar 13, 2026

Less than 10% of blogs succeed ... but yours CAN

Less than 10% of blogs succeed. But yours can!

I took a dozen of my favorite tools that have helped my blog succeed and bundled them together for you in this ...

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Mar 12, 2026

Parallel construction explained (and does it REALLY matter?)

Parallel construction is one of those subtle undercurrents that make for quality content writing.

When it’s there, it’s not noticeable.

But when your lists or sequences are not parallel, your writing feels awkward or disorganized. Even if the cringe-iness isn't obvious to the reader ...

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