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Aug 15, 2026
Are you hiding your book from readers? Here's how to know
I don’t like book promotion. Writing a book is one thing. But marketing it makes me feel icky and salesy.
But that changed when I learned that my book is a message God wants me to share.
“Christian authors hesitate to make book promotion offers because ...
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Aug 14, 2026
FREE mini-course: Discover 6 great reasons to build your blog EASILY
Your blog is an incredible way to build your online audience, extend your reach, and build your business.
But building your blog takes some time. If you’re going to invest yourself, you want to know your why.
Take this free mini-course, and in less than 15 minutes you will understand six great reasons to build your blog ... and you'll have identified YOUR unique "why" for building yours...
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Aug 13, 2026
3 cost-saving writing tips in a down economy
Easy and cheap: those words are gold when it comes to writing during times of upheaval, whether it's nonprofit fundraising tips or promoting your biz or building an online following.
Chances are during uncertain economic times, you’ve had to whittle down your communications budget. Promotion departments pull back. Solopreneurs trim budgets to the bone. People expect a “disappearing act” from solopreneuers and nonprofits and businesses alike.
Don’t be like everyone else! It’s absolutely urgent that you keep yourself in front of your readers...
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Aug 12, 2026
How to choose a story angle - it takes just 3 simple steps
"Your content is too general. Choose a story angle and be more specific.”
That editor’s rejection letter hurt.
Worse, I didn’t know how to begin drilling down my story to specifics.
Today I am grateful to that editor for taking the time to scribble that tip – “choose an angle” – in the margin of my article. He helped me understand the need to narrow a story idea to one that’s saleable and engaging for readers...
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Aug 11, 2026
NOW is the time to secure a matching gift donor for year end
A matching gift as part of your year-end appeal is an excellent way to maximize your campaign.
When you identify a major donor (an individual, group or business) who will make a significant-sized contribution to your nonprofit by December 31, you can use that pledge in to motivate other readers.
That sum can be leveraged as a “matching gift” during your year-end appeal series. It's a powerful and persuasive ...
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Aug 10, 2026
Email campaign vs email newsletter: What's the difference?
An email campaign versus an ezine: what’s the difference? As a freelancer, blogger, or content writer, you’ll be called upon to write both.
But the terms are easy to confuse.
If you don’t know what makes each one unique, then you will struggle with what to write or how to write it...
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Aug 09, 2026
Why ID'ing your book's genre is crucial to its success
When you know a book’s genre, you can gain the most from the book and its purpose.
Books of the Bible are classified according to their literary genre – a category based on the book’s purpose.
For instance, Exodus falls into the "history" genre. As you read in Exodus about the history of the Hebrews as they wandered the desert, you learn from ...
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Aug 08, 2026
Why you should make a specific Ask in your content
Do you feel awkward when you write an ask? Sometimes, I do.
It helps me to look at The Ask from the giver’s point of view.
For instance, when I’m invited to a wedding, I appreciate a ...
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Aug 07, 2026
What's the main idea of this piece?
The writing process is easier when you whittle down your main idea -- the single most important thing you want your content to tell readers -- BEFORE you begin to write.
And when you have a key thought front and center throughout your piece, readers find it easier to grasp and understand ...
Aug 06, 2026
Journaling to write devotionals
You can use journaling to write devotionals for your blog or your ministry.
Journaling is a personal record of your thoughts. It's a way to capture your ideas on paper, process them, and then use them.
You may already use journaling in your personal life to record the ways God speaks to you and how you respond and grow.
But you can also use journaling as the basis for written content. Journaling can be an important part of your writing process...
Aug 05, 2026
No readers? Here's 19 ways to earn trust before you have a following
Every successful freelancer, solopreneur, consultant, and small business owner started in the same place: Zero clients. Zero testimonials. Zero reviews. Zero case studies.
That was me. And you may be you, too.
If you’re just getting started, you might wonder, “How can I convince someone to hire me if no one has hired me yet?”
It’s a fair question — but here’s the good news...
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Aug 04, 2026
5 quick tips to help you write cleaner right now
"Write cleaner." You hear that all the time from writing coaches.
In order to hook your reader and keep him, you’ve got to grab his attention with enticing content – facts, anecdotes, statistics, angles, ideas.
But even if your reader is passionately interested in your topic, they will only stick with you if your content is easy to read. Clean writing will make or break you...
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Aug 03, 2026
Writing powerful phrases is "easy" with this one word
There’s one word that makes writing powerful key phrases easy.
It’s “easy.” And it’s one of my favorite power words.
Power words are terms that arouse a reader’s feelings and move her to act.
What kinds of feelings do you get when you read the word “easy”?
At first, you may think ...
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Aug 02, 2026
How easy is it for readers to contact you?
Is it easy for readers or prospects to message you to get more information about your content, services, and products?
Think about what John the Baptist had to do to get a message to Jesus.
John had been imprisoned for publicly criticizing Herod Antipas, the Roman ruler of Galilee.
He had been ...
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Aug 01, 2026
How to gather data (other than numbers)
“Jesus loved data.” That statement by writer Abby Perry gave me pause.
But it’s true. Data is more than numbers and statistics. It’s also facts and information, which Jesus gathered regularly.
Look at just a few ways He collected different kinds of information and what He did with it...
Jul 31, 2026
Build your content just 20 minutes at a time
Short on time -- long on ambition?
If you have 20 minutes, you can build your blog ... your website ... your book ... your portfolio.
wrote The 20-Minute Blogger after I learned to write in bursts. My children were young, I was working full time, but I wanted to build my freelance writing business.
So I wrote in short spurts as I had time ... usually just 20 minutes here or there. Since then ...
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Jul 30, 2026
Do you need a content calendar? If you're asking, then YES
When I first started blogging, I never dreamed I’d need to create a content calendar. I was new to writing. I simply wanted to finish a post and get it online. That meant I worked on each post for a couple of weeks, if not more. My first dozen site pages took the better part of a year to complete and upload.
Fast forward a decade or two when a webinar participant asked me, “Do I need to create a content calendar?” Bloggers and small biz owners – especially those new to online content creation – hear the term “content calendar” and hit the panic button.
Just what is it? Do you need one? And how do you create it? The whole idea sounds complicated.
It’s not...
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Jul 29, 2026
Should you publish an email newsletter?
Should you create an email newsletter?
Many writers ask if starting a newsletter has benefits for their freelance biz.
And if you’re a small business owner, blogger, or solopreneur, you may wonder if the effort is worth your time.
My answer: Yes.
And not just because everybody’s doing it. You need to be convinced that starting an email newsletter is right for you ...
Jul 28, 2026
2 types of letters that get you paid writing gigs
“I need clients!”
It’s a common refrain among freelance writers who are looking for work.
At least two types of letters pave the way for you to get paid writing gigs. When you take the initiative and write these letters (and lots of them!) you let clients know you're available.
These two types of letters have very different purposes and are written to different kinds of clients. Let me explain...
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Jul 27, 2026
10 kinds of facts that persuade your reader to act
You know to use facts that persuade to appeal to your logical readers. Factual proof gives your reader actual evidence to back up your claims, which is important for your less emotionally-driven readers.
But facts are useful, too, to persuade your emotional readers.
Stories rouse your reader’s feelings and prompt her to act. Facts help to justify ...
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Jul 26, 2026
Why this lazy technique doesn't work
A superlative is an exaggerated expression. It’s huge, amazing, phenomenal, outstanding, awesome – or any other term that overstates and inflates.
When used excessively, a superlative is clickbait, designed to sensationalize and get attention rather than offer a ...
Jul 25, 2026
What's the best closing for your letter?
A letter closing, also called a “complimentary close,” is the short phrase you use when you end a letter or email. It comes before your signature.
Best practice dictates that you choose a closing phrase that is suitable for your relationship with your reader.
That means “Sincerely” or “Kind regards” for formal business interactions and ...
Jul 24, 2026
God & Me! 3: Fun for Girls Ages 6-9
When my editor asked me to write a book of fun devotionals for girls ages 6-9, I saw a perfect opportunity to help young ladies understand that God is their friend.
They can get close to Jesus by ...
Jul 23, 2026
How to get 21 pieces of content from 1 idea
For a writer, repurposing content is the ultimate recycling program.
You start with one piece of content (such as your monthly or quarterly newsletter) and adapt it to fit different delivery platforms and formats (such as your blog, social media, appeal letters, email campaigns, and website.)
Repurposing your content seems so simple that you may feel it’s a cop out.
It’s not. Here's what I mean ...
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Jul 22, 2026
Writing eBooks: 25 frequently asked questions every new author asks
n eBook is an “electronic book.”
Everybody is writing eBooks these days. Small biz owners, bloggers, leaders, entrepreneurs … yes, even people who think they can “get rich quick” off of AI.
But even with eBooks’ popularity, you may wonder if this is a format you should pursue and, if so, how to go about it.
Writing an eBook feels like a huge project. Questions start piling up before you even ...
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