Word Wise Blog: Content Writing Made Easy

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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Mar 11, 2026

8 copywriting principles every writer should steal

If you write, you’re in the sales business. (Bold statement, I know.)

Bloggers, authors, freelancers, nonprofit communicators, content marketers: I’m talking to you.

“But I’m not selling a product,” you say. You are, however, selling something else...

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Mar 10, 2026

How to write a quote: a quick tutorial

Content creators need to know how to write a quote – a statement from another person or source.

Quotations can be used to support an argument, make a case, or as a testimonial. You’re not putting words in that person’s mouth. Rather, you’re citing what that person has already said.

But what to quote? How much should you ...

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Mar 09, 2026

Does your headline do its job?

Just about every piece you write has a headline.

Call it what you want – a title (article), a subject line (e-mail), a banner (newsletter), teaser (outer envelope), a Johnson box (direct mail letter), or even a caption (photo).

No matter how you identify it, this short bit of text has an enormous responsibility. Its job is to get the reader to keep reading...

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Mar 08, 2026

Your resume's goal

A resume’s purpose is to capture an employer’s attention and lead to the next step, which in most cases is an interview.

That’s why your resume is not just your calling card. It’s a sales document.

If ever a Jewish leader had a solid resume, it was the Apostle Paul ...

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Mar 07, 2026

Use this word to connect the dots for your reader

My high school math teacher explained how to write a geometry proof. Write a conclusion on one side of the page. In the opposite column, list reasons the statement is true. Repeat the process until you connect the dots to your point.

The theorem always ended with the “therefore” sign – three dots placed in an upright triangle –as a signal of its logical conclusion.

Paul, trained as an attorney, used the same approach in ...

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Mar 06, 2026

A step-by-step guide for writing devotionals

If you’re reading a page about writing devotionals, there’s a good chance you want to share with people how you have seen God move. You want to inspire them and give them hope.

That’s great! And there’s a book designed to help you do exactly that.

Writing Devotionals That Stick is a writing guide that shows you step-by-step how to identify a truth about God from your daily life and write it in a format that will stick with today’s busy readers...

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Mar 05, 2026

How to build an email list for no (or little) cost

You’ve repeatedly heard the mantra, “The money is in the list.”

Yet if you’re like me, you may cringe every time you hear about list-building. Can’t you just spend time writing? All that talk about money and addresses is awkward. You’d rather leave it to the ad folks, copywriters and marketing wizards.

Even after you’ve had an email list for a while, you find ...

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Mar 03, 2026

News article vs. feature article: what's the difference?

Writer? Then you must know the the difference between a news story and a feature story.

But if the difference feels blurry, you're not alone. They both tell stories. They both inform readers. They both might appear in the same publication.

But they are not the same animal. And plenty of writers confuse them.

That’s a no-no.

Both news articles and feature articles are standard fare in ...

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Mar 03, 2026

10 ways to start a letter

The cursor blinks incessantly, begging you to start a letter. But you can’t get any words on paper.

Yet getting the words flowing can be a stumbling block for new writers as well as those who have written hundreds of letters and afraid of sounding like a broken record.

It can happen when you’re writing a cover letter, a sales letter, a prospecting letter, a fundraising letter, a letter of inquiry, a letter of complaint or even a thank you letter...

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Mar 02, 2026

Why you SHOULD raise objections in your content - and how to refute them

These 5 basic objections are the most common ways a reader puts up resistance as she reads your content.

Objections pop up in a reader’s mind when she reads anything with a call to action, from a landing page to a sales letter, appeal letter, prospecting letter, need statement in a grant application, or even in an article or blog post that makes a clear point with an action step.

A call to action presents the reader with a choice. Will she ...

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Mar 01, 2026

Don't obliterate your point by doing THIS

“Word count: 1,000 – 1,200 words or less.”

For the longest time, I mistakenly believed that editors posted submission word count limits solely to ration space.

And that’s part of it. With a nod to their advertisers and page count, editors must be ever-cognizant of column inches.

But the internet and free domains and no-cost blog platforms mean that ...

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Feb 28, 2026

How to end a story so it sticks

Wondering how to end a story?

The question applies whether that story is part of an opening anecdote, a serial for an online publication, a full-length novel, or the conclusion for your blog post.

To find out how to end a story, take a peek at Jesus’s parables. His stories wrap up with a surprise twist or unexpected ending to emphasize a truth...

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Feb 27, 2026

4 email templates I use to get more Writing gigs

Tired of staring at a blank screen wondering how to pitch yourself?

These 4 plug-and-play email templates are designed specifically for freelance content writers who want more clients — without sounding spammy, desperate, or generic. I created them and use them myself...

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Feb 26, 2026

Should you create an online course? Yay and nay

“You should create an online course to go with this book,” wrote one of my Amazon reviewers.

That comment surprised me. I was familiar with online courses since I’d taken plenty myself.

But create my own? The prospect seemed overwhelming.

Since then, I have created ...

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Feb 25, 2026

4 smarter ways to get freelance content writing jobs

You’ve sent the mass pitches. You’ve scrolled the job boards. You’ve tweaked your portfolio — again. And yet, the only thing landing in your inbox is radio silence.

That approach doesn’t just waste time.

It quietly trains clients to see you as replaceable. It drains your energy. And it ain’t helpful for your bank account, either.

There’s a better way. In fact, four of them...

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Feb 24, 2026

How one blogger writes 5 quality posts a week

Author and speaker Michael Hyatt uses a simple blog writing template to churn out quality posts five days a week.

He fell into blogging by accident - literally. He broke his leg and during his recovery, he started a blog which eventually shifted his then-editorial career in a whole new direction.

Michael will be the first to tell you that regular, frequent posting is one key to building a blog. Yet how do bloggers consistently produce quality posts with so much else on their plates?

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Feb 23, 2026

6 kinds of articles new freelancers get paid to write

If you’re a new freelancer and want to break into print, there are plenty of types of articles that you can get paid to write.

Writing articles offers a natural entry point into the freelancing business.

Magazines, trade publications, and websites routinely need content from freelancers. But you may be confused by all of the article writing options, particularly if you’re just starting out, so let me clarify...

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Feb 22, 2026

How your book readers can best find you

In the Bible, God used all kinds of vehicles to speak to people where they lived, worked, and operated.

For instance, God spoke to Moses in a ...

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Feb 21, 2026

Don't miss this opportunity to personalize your content

A salutation is the greeting at the beginning of a letter, note, or email. It begins a conversation.

Copywriter Siegfried Vogele’s famed eye tracking studies showed that readers conduct a quick skim of a business letter before reading it. First, the reader finds the sender’s name (in the return address block or signature). Then, the reader scans the letter’s salutation (“does the sender know my name?”)

That’s why at the start of a letter it’s best to avoid a generic ...

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Feb 20, 2026

How to turn random ideas into searchable content

Boy, did I get tired trying to find the right keywords for new blog posts.

You too?

That's why I created myself a tool.

Stop guessing what to write about. This fill-in-the-blanks SEO Seed Keyword Worksheet helps you uncover the exact words and phrases your audience is already typing into Google.

Designed specifically for writers, bloggers, and content creators, this simple but powerful worksheet walks you step-by-step through:

* Identifying your core topics

* Clarifying your audience’s problems and questions

* Brainstorming root (seed) keywords you can expand later

* Spotting content angles you may be overlooking

No complicated tools. No tech overwhelm. Just guided prompts that help you think like a searcher.

In less than 30 minutes, you’ll have a focused list of seed keywords you can plug into your favorite SEO tool — or use immediately to shape blog posts, website pages, email content, and more.

If you’re tired of writing content that doesn’t get found, this worksheet gives you a practical starting point...

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Feb 19, 2026

How to write a call to action (CTA) in 3 words or less

When it’s time to write a call to action, you may hit a writing roadblock.

Because it's awkward.

Your call to action (CTA) tells your reader what to do as a result of reading your post, letter, or email. You ask her for money or time or permission to invade her personal space and you may be stumped about what to say.

Because for many of us, it’s hard to ask for something.

Here’s a helpful writing tip to ...

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