Word Wise Blog: Content Writing Made Easy

Feb 12, 2026

News story vs feature story: what's the difference?

A good set of article writing tips must explain the difference between a news story and a feature story.

Because a news article and a feature article are two different kinds of content.

But plenty of writers confuse them.

And that’s a no-no. Both news articles and feature articles are ...

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Feb 11, 2026

3 things I wish I'd learned before writing my first book

f I could hop into a time machine and sit down with my pre–first-book self, I wouldn’t give myself advice about agents, royalties, or Amazon algorithms.

Nope. Before writing my first book, I’d tell myself three much simpler things.

Not flashy things. Not “guru” things. Just the kind of stuff you only learn after you’ve already done it the hard way.

These three lessons fall into three phases of the book-writing journey ...

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Feb 10, 2026

7 tips for writing winning newsletters

Newsletters: do you think Snooze or Can’t wait to read it?

These 7 tips for writing winning newsletters are helpful whether you’re considering starting a newsletter or if you already have one.

Consider this to be a checklist of newsletter best practices...

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Feb 09, 2026

5 top tips for avoiding jargon in your content

Want your content to get read by more people? Avoid jargon.

Jargon is insider language. It’s that collection of words or expressions that are used by a particular group of enthusiasts or in a profession. You might think of it as a set of verbal shortcuts or niche lingo that’s familiar only to specialists.

Plenty of us are guilty of using jargon-ese ...

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Feb 08, 2026

Why gimmicks don't work in copywriting

"You write well," said the instructor, "but you haven’t persuaded me."

He went on to say that the content of my main point was not the issue, but rather simple fundamental mechanics, such as …

“Your main point was buried on page 2. Move it to the opening paragraph.”

“I should be able to ...

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Feb 07, 2026

What makes a speech persuasive

Writers can learn an important lesson from public speakers.

A persuasive speech explains “why.”

People act when you give them a good reason, whether it’s to deliver a minority’s rights, resist a dictator’s advances, or embrace a nation’s recovery from financial crisis...

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Feb 06, 2026

Writing By The Book - daily encouragement for writers

Writers need encouragement.

And we need tools to equip us.

That's the basic premise behind Writing By The Book ...

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Feb 05, 2026

How one blogger writes 5 blog 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 ...

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Feb 04, 2026

Are you making these 5 deadly mistakes in your nonprofit writing?

Most nonprofit fundraising mistakes aren’t about “bad writing.” They’re about missing how donors think and feel in your writing.

I admit it: Upbeat writing is tough when it’s a challenge to meet payroll. You may be desperate enough to reach into your donors’ mailboxes and shake them, hoping their pockets will spill out enough coins to pay the electric bill.

Yet even in down times, you can ...

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Feb 03, 2026

How to write a content story to make a point

“Let me illustrate …”

When you know how to write a story, you up your writing game.

I’m not talking about writing a novel, short story, or other form of fiction.

I'm talking about using itty-bitty stories in content and copy.

It’s standard operating procedure for writers to use a story as ...

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Feb 02, 2026

How to read a grant application so you can write a first-class proposal

A successful grant proposal starts with the grant application.

As in reading the application carefully before you write one word.

I know, I know. A grant proposal can be a lengthy project with lots of elements and you want to get at them right away. Surely the funder is simply waiting to hear about your project and its worthiness.

And you’ve got it down on paper before the deadline, right? It’s tempting to read the grant application quickly and then jump into writing ASAP.

But a bit of well-placed time can ...

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Feb 01, 2026

Does your prospect know she needs a freelance writer?

Do prospects know how they can benefit from a freelance copywriter?

Many times, no. And it’s your job to tell them.

Let's look at an example ...

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Jan 31, 2026

Before you start writing your book, do this

If you’ve ever had an inkling to write a book, then those thoughts have crossed your mind.

Especially these days, when writing a book has become more accessible than ever before, thanks to the internet and self-publishing software.

But should you write one?

Answer that question by asking another one ...

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Jan 30, 2026

How to drill down your main idea before you write

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.

It's a simple process, actually. You start with a pool of ideas ...

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Jan 29, 2026

Top tip for writing a bang-up cover letter

Your cover letter has just one job.

That job remains the same no matter what content accompanies your cover letter: your resume, a grant application, a sales presentation ...

You may be tempted to treat your cover letter as an afterthought, especially if you’ve already invested plenty of time in the other parts that accompany it. Don't succumb to this temptation. Here's why ...

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Jan 28, 2026

How to never run out of ideas again

“Ideas are all around you.”

My first writing instructor drilled that principle into my head. Yet I felt deficient rather than encouraged. If ideas were all around me, why couldn’t I grasp them?

Perhaps you’re among the majority of writers (old and new) who struggle to generate ideas. Envy bubbles up at the select few — they overflow with fresh angles on worn topics.

As a content writer, I wanted to know their secret for how to get ideas...

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Jan 27, 2026

What are writing clips and how do I get them?

“Do you have any writing samples?”

If you haven’t heard this question, you will.

If you’re a freelancer … you need writing samples to show prospective clients that you can write.

If you’re a small business owner or ministry leader … you need to take a look at a potential writer’s clips to decide if this person is a good fit for you.

And here’s a surprise ...

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Jan 26, 2026

Easy, no-cost graphics for writers: a quick tutorial

I’m a content writer, not a designer. Yet I know my projects need both graphics and copywriting to be effective in today’s visual content landscape. Writing and design go hand-in-hand, much like peanut butter and jelly, to deliver a complete message.

But my clients – ministries, nonprofits, and small businesses – can’t afford a designer for every project. If you are a freelance writer, solopreneur, or if you’re just starting out in the online world, you get this.

The good news is this ...

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Jan 25, 2026

Eat humble pie ... and gain more than you ever expected

It was time to load the website copy I’d written for a client. I was on my first conference call with a website developer who was training me to navigate the back end of the new website.

And I was nervous. Posts versus pages … categories and tags and keywords … featured images, menus, widgets …. I’d written plenty of website content for clients but loading it in the back end was new to me...

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Jan 24, 2026

Get more from your byline

A byline in a newspaper or magazine gives credit to the writer of the article. It literally means “second line.” That’s why a byline is placed just below the article title.

Bylines were rare until the mid-1800s...

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Jan 23, 2026

In less than 15 minutes, find your "why"

Use this free online course, Why Build Your Blog, and in less than 15 minutes understand six great reasons to build your blog ...

and you'll have identified YOUR unique "why" for building your blog.

Plus, the course is FREE.

Your blog is an incredible way to build your online audience, extend your reach, and build ...

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Jan 22, 2026

Avoid oblivion. Steer clear of these 5 email marketing mistakes

One of the biggest email marketing mistakes you can make is to not send email.

But I assume that you already know that.

So you’ve avoided one of the biggest email marketing mistakes already – you’ve started an email list. And maybe you’ve even started sending emails to that list.

But all that digital goodness has a few pitfalls. If you’re not careful, you’ll make the most common email marketing mistakes without even knowing it.

I did. In the process, I sabotaged my own ...

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Jan 21, 2026

50 copywriting terms every writer needs to know

Headlines, hooks, CTAs, AIDA, PAS — copywriting terms can sound like a foreign language.

But learning these basic copywriting terms isn’t about memorization. It’s about thinking like a copywriter.

Once you understand the language, you’ll write faster, communicate more clearly, and start making intentional choices instead of guessing ...

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Jan 20, 2026

What are contextual links -- and why do you need them on your site?

An entire post about creating contextual links? Yep. You click on them all the time. Why not learn how to create them?

Contextual links are a specific type of link. Links, as you know, are those connectors that ...

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Jan 19, 2026

How to write a How-To article (that actually gets read start to finish)

If you’re a writer, you need to know how to write a how to article.

A how-to article is a durable short content form because it provides step-by-step instructions to help your reader complete a task.

Personally, it’s one of my faves to write because it is so logical and sequential. First, do this. Then ...

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