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Word Wise Blog: Content Writing Made Easy
Award-winning writer Kathy Widenhouse has written 9 books and garnered 800K+ views for her writing tutorials.
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Word Wise is for busy people who want to write more (or need to), but don't have a lot of time.
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Oct 14, 2026
Stop chasing traffic. Start growing it with evergreen content.
Evergreen content is information that stays relevant long after you publish it.
It’s content that’s not time-sensitive. Evergreen posts are not tied to the latest trends, news, or fads. Instead, evergreen topics never go out of date.
These are the kinds of posts that become the most-clicked pages on your website or blog. They return consistent traffic over time.
Which is why bloggers and website owners love this kind of content. Right? But you may think that creating evergreen content is ...
Continue reading "Stop chasing traffic. Start growing it with evergreen content."
Oct 13, 2026
Why simpler words are better
Should you simplify your writing? Perhaps your content is littered with ten-dollar words when simple one-dollar words (or ten-cent words) will do.
But you feel you need to write “fancy” because it’s expected. People want thorough information, which includes lengthy and complicated explanations, right?
Maybe not. In fact, two of America’s literary giants feuded over this very topic.
William Faulkner (1897-1962) and Ernest Hemingway (1899-1961) were both Pulitzer and Nobel prize winning authors. Yet their writing styles differed dramatically. And they had ...
Oct 12, 2026
The big mistake most writers make in choosing an article topic
You start writing an article by choosing an article topic. Then, you drill down to an angle and your main idea. Then, you’re ready to write. Right?
Wrong. Not if you want to accumulate bylines. “Write it and they will publish it” is a risky approach to freelance writing.
The best writers don’t start writing by choosing a topic. They start by targeting where ...
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Oct 11, 2026
How new writers can avoid overwhelm (experienced writers too)
You don’t need to become a writer all at once.
It’s a process. You acquire one new writing skill at a time.
This “little by little” principle is woven throughout scripture. For instance, when the Hebrew people prepared to take the Promised Land, God’s instructions were clear ...
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Oct 10, 2026
How to reach more readers with one piece of content
Are you trying to build a platform, an audience, or online traffic? Repurposed content could be your answer.
Repurposed content “is not simply content spinning or rehashing old or outdated information in a way that is too close to duplicate content,” says SEO guru Neil Patel. “Instead, it’s more ...
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Oct 09, 2026
NEW: Introduction to Copywriting course
Copywriting is a specialized skill—one that is increasingly in demand.
And it is a skill that can be learned!
Learn the skill, and you can make a lucrative income.
This 6-week, online Introduction to Copywriting Course (taught by yours truly) equips you with basic copywriting skills.
By the end of the course, you’ll have completed a copywriting project you for a client or as a writing sample.
Learn more here: https://peninstitute.com/product/introduction-to-copywriting-group-course/
Oct 08, 2026
6 elements of a winning fundraising letter
This appeal letter writing format may appear too simple to be effective. It’s got just six elements.
Don’t be fooled. The formula may be uncomplicated, but it’s overwhelmingly successful in pulling gifts for all kinds of organizations.
There are at least 3 reasons why it works...
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Oct 07, 2026
Does your content pass The 7-Second Rule?
You worked hard on that article.
You researched it. You outlined it. You polished the introduction. You found the perfect statistic.
You even came up with a clever headline.
And then Robert Reader lands on the page, looks at it for a few seconds, and thinks, Meh.
Click. He’s gone.
Welcome to The 7-Second Rule....
Continue reading "Does your content pass The 7-Second Rule?"
Oct 06, 2026
Quick tip for writing clearly
This tip for writing clearly is particularly helpful to me because it is so simple. It focuses on only one word.
Only.
As power words go, “only” is a strong one...
Oct 05, 2026
The difference between an email message and an email campaign
An email marketing message is a targeted, strategic message sent to a person (or group) on your email list as part of a campaign or sequence. It’s carefully crafted to …
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Oct 04, 2026
How specific should you make your Ask?
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 bridal registry list. It shows me what ...
Oct 03, 2026
When should you write another book?
“Book series have long been a worthwhile and productive commercial endeavor for publishers and authors alike,” says Justin Hartwig in Investopedia. The Harry Potter book series of seven installments, for instance, has sold 500 million copies … and counting.
But beyond a way to increase fan base and sales, a book series is a way for writers to ...
Oct 02, 2026
Need a website that works for you? (free checklist)
If you don't have a website, or if you've got one that’s bare-bones…
My friend Christina Hills is offering a free resource that helps you design your own website.
It's called the Essential Pages of a Successful Website PDF Checklist.
In it, you will discover exactly which webpages you need to include if you want to attract your new clients.
And which pages you don't need.
Check out the checklist - it's FREE.
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Oct 01, 2026
6 secrets to writing effective subheads
You see subheads in magazine articles, direct mail, newspaper pieces … but maybe you never knew they had a name.
Subheads (short for subheadings) act like miniature headlines. They introduce a new section of your content. You use them in articles, blog posts, web pages, copy – and yes, books...
Sep 30, 2026
Breaking in? You need just 2 sets of skills.
It’s been years since my early days of confusion about freelance writing. Since then, I’ve watched plenty of veteran freelancers provide helpful guidance to newcomers.
And yes, as most of them say, there are 47+ steps you can take right now to get started.
Yet in reality, all those steps boil down to two buckets of skills...
Continue reading "Breaking in? You need just 2 sets of skills."
Sep 29, 2026
My favorite writing productivity hack
A productivity hack is a shortcut or workaround that allows you to get more done in less time. And I’m big on saving time. Time is one thing you cannot replace once it is spent.
Naturally, as a freelance writer, I collect productivity hack ideas. Show me how to ...
Sep 28, 2026
How to write an FAQs page
As you plan how to write a FAQ page for your website, the most important element is simplicity.
FAQs – the acronym for Frequently Asked Questions – are a list of questions and corresponding answers that address basic issues about a topic, your product, service, website, or organization. This is an opportunity for you to give your reader ...
Sep 27, 2026
How to train yourself to capture ideas
Imagine all kinds of words, images, and conversations fluttering around in the air — and that you are able to capture them and make them understandable.
That’s what an antenna does.
An antenna receives signals from a transmitting mobile device, radio, or television station and then translates those signals into data that people can use.
When “the receiving antenna is up,” it is ...
Sep 26, 2026
Why your article needs a specific writing slant
A writing slant is a specific angle on a topic, geared to a specific audience.
The story may be the same, but it is presented in a different way or with different details to different readers.
A good example of slant is the Nativity story as told by two different writers: Matthew and Luke.
Matthew was a ...
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Sep 25, 2026
Learn basic copywriting with this 6-module course
Copywriting is a specialized skill—one that is increasingly in demand.
Yet it is a skill that can be learned, allowing you to provide a desperately needed service for businesses, nonprofit organizations, and ministries—and make a lucrative income at the same time.
A copywriter’s goal is to persuade the reader to take a specific action, whether it’s to buy a product, sign up for a service, or click a link. That’s why copywriters and copyeditors need to know how copywriting works, how good copy is structured, and how to write each copywriting element. Introduction to Copywriting guides you step by step through each of those components. In six lessons, you’ll learn ...
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Sep 24, 2026
27 tips for writing headlines that have more personal appeal than Chat GPT
Writing headlines is an acquired skill.
These practical headline writing tips can help you not only write better headlines but also create them faster. And your headlines will have more personal appeal than what ChatGPT will spit out ...
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Sep 23, 2026
Want readers to stay on your webpage or blog? You need these tips
If you own a website (or write one for someone else), you need two things:
A plan to get readers to your siteTips for writing website content to keep them there longer.As for the first need: there are plenty of ways to get visitors. You can use high-value keywords to get organic traffic, plant inbound links, and generate traffic through your newsletters and social media links.
But once users find your site, how do you get them to hang out for a bit?
You want them to stay for ...
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Sep 22, 2026
3 cost-saving writing tips for an uncertain 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 nonprofits and businesses alike.
Don’t be like everyone else! It’s absolutely urgent that you ...
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Sep 21, 2026
What is copywriting ... and do content writers need that skill?
Basic copywriting is text that persuades. It’s the practice of writing text (called copy) with the goal of persuading someone to take a specific action—like buying a product, signing up for a service, or clicking a link.
It’s essential for any business, whether you’re large or small. Copywriters use the written word to promote your cause, service, or product.
But good, basic copywriting doesn’t just ...
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Sep 20, 2026
Why positive content draws readers more than negative
Research shows that a positive word is persuasive. And it can have long-lasting effects on readers and listeners alike.
In contrast, writers have long been taught to tap into fear and greed. By addressing those emotions, say copywriting gurus, you’re more likely to persuade readers to adopt your idea, buy your product, or support your cause.
That may be true. But ...
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