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Word Wise Blog: Content Writing Made Easy
Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has helped hundreds of nonprofits and writers produce successful content , with 750K+ views for her writing tutorials. She is the author of 9 books. See more of Kathy’s content here.
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May 15, 2026
Write a personalized post faster - without AI? Yes, please
You want to build your blog.
Your problem: organizing your ideas. And writing a post when you have just spurts of time.
Sure, you could use AI. And that post would sound jilted and sterile like tens of thousands of others that flood the internet with no traction.
But what if you could write a blog post faster -- one that reflects your personality and includes individual touches that make the algorithms sing?
Yes, it's possible ...
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May 14, 2026
Should you specialize in a writing niche?
Should you specialize in a freelance content writing niche?
It’s a question that plagues plenty of writers.
A niche is a small, focused subject. For instance, gardening is a large topic. Japanese water gardening is a niche – a specialized subset of gardening.
The freelancing temptation, particularly when you’re starting out, is to be a generalist – a writer who will take on any project in any industry. Generalists get to work on a variety of writing projects and build their skills.
There’s a lot to be said for that. But ...
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May 13, 2026
What is SEO content writing? A quick tutorial
“What is SEO content writing?”
It’s a question I hear a lot – and not just from writing newcomers.
SEO content writing can feel like a mysterious mix of marketing, tech, and writing skills.
Your fears may be especially acute if you’re not technically-minded. Search engines are driven by a mass of algorithms that continually shift, right? It’s easy to be intimidated by those incessant changes. The complexities make even the most avid tech geek’s mind swim.
But there’s good news behind all those bytes, and it’s this ...
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May 12, 2026
Lead, Lede, Hook: How to write an introduction
When I first started writing seriously, I had to learn how to write an introduction for different kinds of writing projects.
And I was confused.
As a new freelancer, I understood right away the importance of the first few words of a piece.
But everybody called it different things. My writing instructor (a former journalist) called it ...
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May 11, 2026
How to build a writing sample portfolio
“How do I build a writing sample portfolio?” a new writer asked. “People won’t hire me without first seeing my work. But I can’t get clips unless I write.”
It’s one of the questions I hear most often. And it’s a problem I faced, too, when I first started writing. A potential client always asks that pesky question: “Do you have any clips?”
Surprise: you ...
May 10, 2026
How writer's guidelines help you write quality content
I stared at the email. “Please review our writers guidelines. Your submission does not meet our publication’s requirements. We do not accept personal experience articles.”
I had broken a freelancer’s cardinal rule. I did not study the publisher’s writer guidelines thoroughly before ...
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May 09, 2026
Why your book needs front matter
Books are divided into three parts—front matter, the body, and back matter.
A book’s front matter is everything between the cover and page one: title page, copyright page, testimonials, dedication, epigraph, list of figures, forward, preface, acknowledgments, introduction, and table of contents.
Why does your book need front matter? Because it ...
May 08, 2026
Don't have a marketing plan? Do it on 1 page.
A simple 1-page marketing plan can do more for your freelance writing business than any course or template. It's the secret to steady work, better clients, and less stress.
Follow these steps to create your own 1-page marketing plan. This document is ...
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May 07, 2026
Point of View (POV) explained for content writers
Point of View (POV) is the position you take as a writer while you narrate your content. It’s your lens, like a camera.
You explain the events or information from your view (first person), directly to another individual (second person), or as an observer (third person) ...
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May 06, 2026
A site owner explains do's and don'ts of guest posting
Every week, I receive emails from writers who want to submit posts on one of my websites.
If you want to build momentum as a writer, guest posting is a powerful tactic. Instead of waiting months or years to grow your own site, you can get instant access to an existing audience … build your portfolio … earn credibility by association in your niche.
But before you shoot off your next guest post pitch, increase your chances of success when you understand what site owners need...
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May 05, 2026
Writing a winning grant application starts with ... reading?
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 to them right away. Surely the funder is simply waiting to hear about your ...
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May 04, 2026
Writing headlines FAQs
While every writing task is important, writing headlines is crucial. A headline is your introduction, first impression, opening line, and sales pitch all rolled into one.
That’s plenty intimidating. But never fear!
Here you’ll find plenty of practical information to help you learn to write compelling headlines including ...
May 03, 2026
Ask questions. Jesus posed 307 of them!
When you ask your reader a question, you invite her to interact with you.
Jesus used this technique. Scripture records 307 questions Jesus asked listeners.
His questions ran the gamut ...
May 02, 2026
The checklist - a BFF for preventing carelessness
Boeing’s B-17 bomber aircraft was developed in the 1930s and was later used by the United States in World War II against German targets.
Beyond its notoriety in combat, the B-17 has left another lasting mark in the aviation industry: the pre-flight checklist.
During the aircraft’s test flight ...
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May 01, 2026
Struggling to ID your target reader? Use this tool.
When you identify your target audience BEFORE you write, you can create more powerful, relevant content.
And you don't need to struggle to ID your unique target reader for any piece of content you create, from articles to blog posts to books -- even sales letters, grant applications, and PowerPoint presentations. Use the worksheet to guide you through the process of ...
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Apr 30, 2026
Do you use the "You Rule"?
There's a basic writing rule that can change your content almost instantly.
And this rule is not just for copywriting. I use it in all kinds of content writing.
The rule is this: focus on your reader by directly addressing them using "you," "your," and "yours." When you use "you" and its relatives freely, your shift focuses from you (and your brand) to the reader.
The principle has come to be known in writing circles as “The You Rule" ...
Apr 29, 2026
38 ways you're different from your competitor
“I want to show the reader that my nonprofit stands out,” my client said as we discussed an upcoming fundraising letter. “He’ll want to invest in us because he sees how effective we are – that we meet a need that he cares about – and that we’re different than anyone else.”
Without realizing it, my client nailed THE most critical step in being heard in the noisy online marketplace.
Your USP – Unique Selling Proposition – is what makes you different from others in your niche, whether you’re a freelancer, nonprofit, small biz, or solopreneur...
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Apr 28, 2026
5 places to find book ideas
Getting book ideas is not a struggle for me. I have a pages-long list of ideas that I’d like to develop into books — many more books than I’ll complete in a lifetime.
But early in my writing life? I was idea-less. Or so I believed.
I mistakenly thought that “getting book ideas” meant I needed to have a fully developed outline in my head or on paper. Or I had to find ...
Apr 27, 2026
Your 3-letter persuasive powerhouse
NOW!
When you see that little 3-letter word, what’s your gut reaction?
“There’s not a moment to lose.”“It’s happening as we speak.”“Do it immediately.”“I must respond right away.”
An itsy-bitsy, 3-letter word can do that to you.
The word "now" is simple. But its effect is ...
Apr 26, 2026
Keywords are mini-spotlights on your main point
Keywords are terms and phrases that define a piece of content.
They put a spotlight on the message of your article, blog post, or web page.
Well-chosen keywords give you a list of terms to use in web pages to improve search page rankings. And well-placed keywords help a reader get the gist of your message.
For instance, let’s say ...
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Apr 25, 2026
Giving credit to others builds YOUR credibility
A citation is a reference to a source of information.
For instance, you may quote an expert or give a statistic or offer research results in your content – each as an information source to support a point.
Your citation acknowledges the writer and the work that gave you that information.
Plus, a citation bolsters ...
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Apr 23, 2026
Top FAQs from new copywriters (with answers)
If you're new to copywriting, you may feel intimidated.
You study marketing gurus, ads, and campaigns, and it’s easy to be consumed by inferiority ... especially if you’re not familiar with what copywriting is.
And if you’re wearing multiple hats in your business or nonprofit – and writing is one of them – well, your inadequacy may escalate even further.
But when it comes to the writing world, here are a few insider’s secrets about getting started in copywriting and becoming a freelancer ...
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Apr 22, 2026
7 types of email writers must master (if you want to build your biz)
Over the years, I’ve written plenty of emails for my writing biz.
And clients have hired me to write dozens of different kinds of emails, like abandoned cart emails. Upsell emails. Nurture emails. Cross-sell emails. Review requests and surveys …
I noticed a trend. A few types of emails pop up again and again.
They’ve become what I call my “greatest hits” list for email. And after all that practice, I’ve ...
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Apr 21, 2026
One way to build writing skills at zero cost
Free webinars are an excellent way to acquire skills and information while connecting with other professionals.
Topics address all areas of interest to bloggers, freelance writers, nonprofits, ministries and small businesses. I've attended free webinars about effective copywriting, strategic planning, getting donors, website development, online stores, using social media, journaling, email, freelance writing ... you get the idea...
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Apr 20, 2026
Write better email subject lines: FREE checklist
Better email subject lines are easy to spot for one simple reason: they get the reader to open the email.
You can measure your email open rate with objective data, recorded by your email list manager. The open rate reveals in large part whether or not your email subject line works.
But what if you don’t know how to write subject lines in order to boost your rate?
Gone are the days when ...
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