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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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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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Jul 21, 2026
The 4-letter word your website MUST have
Your website must have a 4-letter word.
That got your attention, didn’t it?
But please don't think I'm advocating profanity.
I’m talking about the little 4-letter word ...
Jul 20, 2026
Use this tried-and-true copywriting formula to show benefits
This highly-respected copywriting formula created by direct marketing pioneer Bob Stone remains an enduring tool even decades later.
Its specific focus is on the benefits of your cause, project, program, product, or service.
Stone’s 7-step formula was originally meant for sales letters and direct response advertising. Yet copywriters everywhere have learned that “Bob Stone’s Gem” (as it is fondly called by marketing professionals) is useful in nearly any kind of ...
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Jul 19, 2026
How to get your reader to make the click
In digital marketing, a click with a link pulls in your reader to your ad, video, landing page, post, or website.
The click is the first step you want your reader to take.
Once the reader clicks, the next step is ...
Jul 18, 2026
Do you make it easy for readers to contact you?
Is it easy for readers or prospects to message you to get more information about your services and products?
If not, rethink your availability.
We've got plenty of ways for people to reach out, but that was not the case during the time when ...
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Jul 17, 2026
2026 is halfway over. It's time to update yoru content strategy.
If you’re a writer or freelancer or solopreneur or small biz owner, you need a content strategy.
No, it needn’t be complicated.
But you must have one if you want to make the best use of your time and build a following.
Don’t get put off by the marketing experts who ...
Continue reading "2026 is halfway over. It's time to update yoru content strategy."
Jul 16, 2026
5 trigger words that move readers to act
Trigger words set off a quick response in your readers because they generate urgency.
These are a special set of keywords that are especially useful in countering a reader's inertia.
Your reader gets a pile of mail to read every day. Opportunities shout from the radio to the inbox to social media.
That's why the language you use in subject lines, envelope carriers, and calls to action is super-duper important...
Jul 15, 2026
Why consistency beats talent for writers
“He’s such a naturally talented writer.”
You’ve heard people say that about an author … a blogger … a novelist.
It’s easy to believe that successful writers simply are born with a gift the rest of us don’t have. Somehow, the Writing Fairy sprinkled that particular person with Magical Writing Dust. And POOF! He writes brilliant NY Times bestsellers without one slap of the Delete key.
The naturally talented writer: It’s a myth.
If you look closely at the writers who consistently publish ...
Jul 14, 2026
6 tips for starting out successfully as a freelancer
I put together this list of 6 writing tips for starting out as a freelancer for a very practical reason: to strike down the fear of selling your services.
This fear nearly debilitated me at the beginning of my writing journey. In fact, I still experience flare-ups. I had no idea where to begin to get clients …
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Jul 13, 2026
Why the word "because" is so powerful
The power of because: this seemingly innocuous word is the poster child for persuasive writing.
You may mistakenly think that “because” is forceful or pushy. Or it is too simple to make much of a difference. Not so!
The word “because” is so powerful for one simple reason. It explains ...
Jul 12, 2026
"I'm just a pencil in God's hands."
“I am a little pencil in God's hands,” wrote Mother Teresa (1910-1997) in The Joy of Loving. “He does the thinking. He does the writing. He does everything. Sometimes it is really hard because it is a broken pencil and He has to sharpen it a little more.”
The word picture of a pencil is a powerful one for
Jul 11, 2026
Freelancer, meet your best friend
If you’re a freelancer (or want to be one), then persistence is your best friend.
Stick with prospecting long enough, and you will get your first paid assignments and more after that.
The process works much like the maxim ...
Jul 10, 2026
Make a personalized plan to get your book DONE in 2026
“I want to write a book.” You’ve said that more than once. In fact, your book idea has been floating around in your head for some time.
You may have jotted down some notes or you’ve got a file folder with clippings and facts and anecdotes. Maybe you even have an outline. But an actual manuscript? You haven’t made much headway on that, if any.
What you need is a book writing plan — a plan that is simple enough to ...
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Jul 09, 2026
Tips for finding free images for your newsletter
Where are the best places get images for newsletters from your nonprofit?
You. Your clients. Your projects. Your work.
Think about it: which would impact you most: a touched-up image of a child holding a neat, clipped lamb… or a gritty photo of a young boy and his strong though shaggy flock of goats set against the backdrop of a dirt-poor village?
Don’t worry if your images “not perfect.” Readers want the real deal. Where at all possible ...
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Jul 07, 2026
How keywords work
When you know how keywords work, you can write better web pages, blogs, and social media posts.
Keywords are terms and phrases that define a piece of content.
They’re useful in any copywriting or content, but especially important when writing for the web. Search engines feed on keywords for page results rankings, so the keywords you choose can drive readers to your website, blog, or social media platform for free. (Yay!)
I found it helpful to understand how keywords work before I ...
Jul 06, 2026
Avoid these 6 throwaway opening lines
Throwaway opening lines don’t work. They don’t work in email, in pitches, and in business letters.
No, I haven’t used them lately. I’ve received them.
Nearly every day, I click open emails from freelance writers who want to ...
Jul 05, 2026
Don't forget the white space
The Bible’s early manuscripts lacked white space.
They were written in continuous script.
Continuous script, typical in ancient Hebrew and common ancient Greek, lacked punctuation marks and spaces between words.
It’s a writing style described in ...
Jul 04, 2026
You've got just ONE thing to focus on when you write
Mike had ideas and examples galore from his decades of missionary work in a third-world country.
He also had the gift of words – a gift that helped him as a leadership training consultant when he returned to the United States ...
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Jul 02, 2026
6 tips for writing social media posts that your readers love
These 6 quick tips for writing social media posts help me keep grounded.
I admit it: I want people to read my posts. I want interactions. My guess is that you do, too. But in the process, it can be tempting to use tricks to get people to read what I write.
But that’s not why my mama taught me. She taught me to use manners over manipulation.
It is one of the great ironies of writing: in order to get ...
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Jul 01, 2026
10 urgency words that move readers to act FAST
Time is limited. Hurry before you miss this exclusive opportunity. Act now before all spots are filled. Enrollment ends today — this is your last chance.
Makes your index finger itch to click, doesn’t it?
That’s what urgency words do.
Urgency words set off a …
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Jun 30, 2026
Call To Action examples that work
Readers expect to be told what to do. But writing an Ask can feel awkward – like you’re being bossy or salesy.
When you have some call-to-action examples to use as a template, you can have confidence to ask with clarity.
You know how it is ...
You've addressed your reader's need in your letter or email or blog post. Now, it's time to ...
Jun 29, 2026
Letter writing tip: Try this great opening line
Letter writing tip: use the opening line you’re afraid of.
We writers push back from using this opening line in letters. Isn’t the wording overused? Won’t the reader consider this approach too ordinary or trite? Isn’t persuasive writing purposely vague rather than direct, as suggested by this line?
No. No. And no...
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