http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/writing-tips-blog.html In Word Wise, I blog about simple, practical writing tips and writing short cuts so busy people can write more content. en-us writing tips Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 nonprofitcopywriter.com http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/matching-gift.htmlf862991add398f8594a7918487b80bfeA 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 ... Tue, 11 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/ezine.html3dfd4cfc79138311871f129f4dbfac12An 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... Mon, 10 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/genre.html8437bf07e3484e7226012ff6e6e41550When 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 ... Sun, 9 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/ask.htmlef0d8bd9a229b7648350c0f1961d044fDo 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 ... Sat, 8 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/writing-tips-blog.html#Whats-the-main-idea-of-this-piece1182a4c9bfa97ed4d3772c6ced7bd7bfThe 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 ... Fri, 7 Aug 2026 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/journaling-to-write-devotionals.html3142c15203282905e187d8cd119c177eYou 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... Thu, 6 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/build-social-proof.htmlc864db72ec4cef15e8246037b5136f91Every 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... Wed, 5 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/write-cleaner.htmld09aad9b32c3c4b28b1d04f154a75ea0"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... Tue, 4 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/writing-powerful-key-phrases.html73f2dd4b935ac3283db9dc08f928e4b9There’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 ... Mon, 3 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/message.html6c74e32b5aa9d280bdf27789749870caIs 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 ... Sun, 2 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/data.htmla7816364dedd662678ce0f111e62a876“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... Sat, 1 Aug 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/20-minute-blogger.html156d6c30ecf30251e3c5da11a5c914cfShort 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 ... Fri, 31 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/create-a-content-calendar.htmlb36ff8c16d9c5549c36d2a594ad6caf9When 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... Thu, 30 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/create-an-email-newsletter.html57ddb7355c8bbeaf2b59015fbc79a0a3Should 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 ... Wed, 29 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/types-of-letters.html62b1b65bc6a004bb6b42228bdeaa90ad“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... Tue, 28 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/facts-that-persuade.html741f64ea51ae8653f2996fd494f3e39eYou 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 ... Mon, 27 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/superlative.html535a502d45d1e5a3b56c02e1fe80fa6fA 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 ... Sun, 26 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/letter-closing.html32cfa8917c57e47e8f9ca41a60e8a1afA 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 ... Sat, 25 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/children-devotionals.html450743c4ad4e4f16144f244426aa0887When 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 ... Fri, 24 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/repurposing-content.htmld6ebde5be63a79363cb3740a06f315fcFor 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 ... Thu, 23 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/writing-ebooks.htmlabef8af326d3a2e0c2493802f3b26109n 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 ... Wed, 22 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/website-must-have.html31818e9caecc2d17887cb97cc74f2001Your 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 ... Tue, 21 Jul 2026 05:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/copywriting-formula.htmlafb488a2239437972959d98435c5de2aThis 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 ... Mon, 20 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/click.html4d93b740124c3b4f648a2dafc01a605fIn 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 ... Sun, 19 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/message.html6c74e32b5aa9d280bdf27789749870ca-cpIs 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 ... Sat, 18 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/content-strategy.html8d8faa0087899126fcc414eef8f409adIf 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 ... Fri, 17 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/trigger-words.htmld966fa378b3b29008eb3ced7a675b3efTrigger 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... Thu, 16 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/consistency-beats-talent.htmld6696eb920d28559cf205f0cabdde0e1“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 ... Wed, 15 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/6-writing-tips-for-starting.htmle5426ea218ec319f65a0354fc33f679bI 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 … Tue, 14 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/power-of-because.html2925cabf0e5d78d2a15fae844f680be9The 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 ... Mon, 13 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/pencil.html9910f68196ea9cd2609fcfa1805727bb“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 Sun, 12 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/freelancer.html1edd8256142554f9300958717c5a0059If 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 ... Sat, 11 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/book-writing-plan.html271d51f796d57535d86a6af975ebfee3“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 ... Fri, 10 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/images-for-newsletters.htmlec00462b21dbe97e9be6a7c552c8728fWhere 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 ... Thu, 9 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/how-keywords-work.html28d8b117c98c2d9feec7762752e9e1cdWhen 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 ... Tue, 7 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/throwaway-opening-lines.htmla2b7f7a712419875f0d716570485325fThrowaway 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 ... Mon, 6 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/white-space.htmlc6496d2b9a8fc41def089dfcab14ecafThe 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 ... Sun, 5 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/writing-better-content.html71a2c17d54120e0260e12b593a83c6b2Mike 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 ... Sat, 4 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/6-quick-tips-for-writing.htmlb6d0055c0f81d79726073b6b626f5f18These 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 ... Thu, 2 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/urgency-words.html9825e569778eece6ce78df750dac171cTime 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 … Wed, 1 Jul 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/call-to-action-examples.htmlf4bfa208ba3b923facaa67e3d500200dReaders 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 ... Tue, 30 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/letter-writing-tip.html07b44e362a13cc5d15d5776256e22b70Letter 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... Mon, 29 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/book-title.htmlc7fb570f7f95ab9b28c0601084165c26The longer a book title is, the harder it is to remember. So says best-selling author and book marketing expert, Penny Sansevieri. If a reader cannot remember a title, then it will be harder for her to remember the book. That’s not a place where you want your book to be. You want your book to ... Sun, 28 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/sequence.html8031846597b8b8d2a3ed48e6a683afd9A sequence is a series of related facts, events, or items. It is a powerful tool when you’re writing persuasive content. Peter modeled the sequence beautifully when he made a presentation to the early church leaders. These leaders heard that Peter had ... Sat, 27 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/writing-tips-blog.html#Build-or-re-build-your-blog-in-a-practical-wayfd3b0bd03690871d56241cfc0731e607Less than 10% of blogs succeed. But yours can! If you're starting a blog, restarting a lapsed one, or simply want to manage your blogs more efficiently, you may be wondering where to start. Wonder no more. Check out this simple set of ... Fri, 26 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/repurposing-content.html84450032dec1092a4b80623f654c2d46For 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.) If you’re a smart, efficient communicator you recognize that you need to repeat your message in different formats to drive it home... Thu, 25 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/powerful-headline.html746e9323fb9d15cafe8dd8bbdbe72179It’s been drilled into you from the beginning: you must have a powerful headline for your article, blog post, or web page. But what about all the other places you need a powerful headline … and may not know it? A headline is text that introduces the subject matter of the piece and pulls in the reader by ... Wed, 24 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/getting-started-writing-devotionals.html450e1b44c244e1f3ca4713d9be59f35eUse this mini-course, Getting Started Writing Devotionals, and in less than an hour you’ll be writing your own devotional. And you can enroll in this mini-course for FREE. I created the course for several reasons. First, devotionals are growing in popularity. So many writers tell me they want to write and publish their own devotionals. But many are uncertain where ... Tue, 23 Jun 2026 15:33:19 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/business-email-writing-tips.htmlb7f45957a0ee15801c4434d3457b9f33Of all business email writing tips, just one is supreme: know the goal of your business email before you write it. What do you want the reader to do when she gets your email? Yes, you need ... Tue, 23 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/write-a-pitch.html27f167410c87657a86c228a4a921373dIf you’re a freelance writer who wants to get article and blog post bylines, you need to know how to write a pitch. A pitch is a letter or email you write to an editor or site owner, explaining your story idea for the publication. A successful pitch moves the editor to say, “Yes! Go ahead and write this piece for me” and get paid, if it’s a commercial publication... Mon, 22 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/bullet-list.html38db1a94dac6f3fb2a08a95dfb37014fA bullet list is a series of short phrases, each preceded by a small dot or other symbol. It’s a widely-used tool in blog posts, business reports, articles, and books – even in text messages. That’s because a bullet list is easy to read, especially online. A list organizes valuable information. And the bullet or symbol allows you to Sun, 21 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/freelance-writing-tip.htmla9f582894e99a269e3bfcc27057c57d6“Write what you know.” It’s the best freelance writing tip you’ll ever get. I heard that statement a lot when I first started writing. It both encouraged me and intimidated me. It encouraged me because it was ... Sat, 20 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/writing-tips-blog.html#Learn-grant-writing-from-a-successful-grant-writer-June-23-August-5ad7eb686d2de6ca294b135fae0fc9692Grant writing is a specialized skill—one that is increasingly in demand. YOU can offer this desperately needed service to nonprofit organizations. And you can make money, too. I created the Grant Writing Fundamentals course for writers like you! By the end of the course, you’ll have completed a full grant proposal. You can take the course online June 23 – August 25. Or you can use the self-paced version at any time. Learn more ... Fri, 19 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/nonprofit-ezine.htmlbbacbef79618d3f3aa47cf2c9bc233e9Think about it for a minute. All of us have chosen to opt in to various email lists at one time or another. Why do you? Consider your own behavior and then apply that to ... Thu, 18 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/learn-grant-writing.htmle97e5ceaf87a1dbf5448bb533ebf0887“We found a grant opportunity and would like to apply. Could you write the grant proposal for us?” That question from a nonprofit client gave me the chance to learn grant writing. Writing grants, I knew, was a specialized skill — one I was a bit nervous to tackle. A worthy cause would be placing its funding future in my hands. Yet I soon discovered the fun in ... Wed, 17 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/persuasive-writing-tips.html1259abe6c4e886426163f7c1ffdbaa2bOne of the most powerful persuasive writing tips you can use is to raise objections. That is, anticipate why your reader may protest, question, doubt, embrace skepticism – and address those objections head-on in your copy or content. But won't raising these objections lead the reader to jump ship even before you’ve made your argument? Maybe you're hesitant to ... Tue, 16 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/eat-the-frog-first.htmle93146cb4906d4cd56de982703ddd888“Eat the frog first!” The quip has become a rallying cry for productivity and self-improvement experts, made popular in the international bestseller Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy. But it’s also a powerful principle for writers, too. The idea behind “eat the frog first” is to complete the one task that you’re least motivated to do - right at the start of the day. Maybe it’s ... Mon, 15 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/short-sentence.htmlc3eca0402eac5185dc0510acd085d3a6“Keep sentences short.” That is the first of ten clear writing principles recorded by American businessman Robert Gunning, the creator of the readability Gunning Fog Index. Fog being lack of clarity, of course. Gunning believed that writers. Sun, 14 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/overworked-words.html698e0c268972e6bc7cc90548fbf48a0dOverworked words that are tired and ambiguous: good, bad, nice, really, very. “The writer who has a definite meaning to express will not take refuge in such vagueness,” said author and English professor William Strunk, Jr. (1869-1946) in his classic The Elements of Style. I “take refuge” in overworked words to avoid writing with depth (laziness) … to dodge overwhelm (hurry) … or to sidestep self-revelation (fear). Overworked words are an easy ... Sat, 13 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/devotional-Bible.html43ca2bc12651a98cb28243a560282fb7It's easy to get busy, distracted, and overwhelmed. You beat yourself up and then focus on what you don’t do. Just Take A Step points out what you can do. Each of the eight chapters of this devotional Bible study walk you through ... Fri, 12 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/evergreen-content.htmlbfa5c915af122c32c10a791595fe6d88Evergreen 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 ... Thu, 11 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/40-40-20-rule.htmlb24447aaa2b30c2682806ce8ae692e3bYou’ve poured hours into your blog post … article … email campaign … sales page. Finally, you hit “Publish.” Then … crickets. Why do some pieces get attention while others flop and disappear into the noise … even after you’ve slaved to perfect it? The answer is quite simple, dear writing friend. It’s a hard truth. But grasp it — and your writing will succeed... Wed, 10 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/writing-a-hook.html268036354bf04c0bae1a2264907e3da8Writing a hook – your attention-getting introduction – starts by knowing the end of your piece. Which may come as a surprise, since your hook is the first sentence or two to your article, blog post, essay, marketing copy, short story, letter, web page, or nearly any other written work. You might also call it your “hook sentence.” Just as it is the hook that snags the fish, the hook sentence catches the reader’s interest so that he keeps reading... Tue, 9 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/where-to-find-freelance-writing-jobs.htmlabf49dc470f88b7896926c65ac33790aYou want to write for your favorite cause, but you are not sure where to find freelance writing jobs with nonprofits — ones that will pay you. The good news is that no matter what your interest is, there are hundreds of nonprofits working in that niche. And there is a proven way you can discover how and where to find freelance writing jobs that will help them carry out their wonderful work. Hundreds of opportunities? Yes. There are ... Mon, 8 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/interruption.htmlbabc2afec8ae2d72c80421fd172b39adDoes an interruption throw you off your concentration as you write? If you said yes, you’re not alone. Among a writer’s worse interruptions are email and texts, according to a study published by Gloria Mark at the University of California-Irvine. Mark reports that after only 20 minutes of computer interruptions (like email), workers indicate significantly higher stress, frustration, workload, effort, and pressure. Concentration produces more ... Sun, 7 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/new-writer.htmle4c550aa96563e59df0f745d406e980fThe Imposter Syndrome is typical in the new writer, but it’s a thinking pattern that impacts long-time writers, too. You may recognize it in yourself. Why would people read your words? You’re a phony. A fraud. A counterfeit or fake. If you’re a new writer without a stable of clips, you may expect ... Sat, 6 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/book-writing-plan.html271d51f796d57535d86a6af975ebfee3-cp“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 ... Fri, 5 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/5-important-tips-for-writing.html66a3e266ef64304c2bc70591d3c48378Here are 5 important tips for writing objectives. It's one of the more important writing skills to have – specifically, for writing grants, writing business plans, and strategic planning – that I wish I’d known when I first started out. It ain’t a bad list of tips to have on hand just in general, either, when you're trying to write with clarity. Just for the record, you can use these 5 tips when writing any kind of objective statement... Thu, 4 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/use-keywords.html2305446ddb106d2afb64f9a72ba0e575When you know how to use keywords, you can write better web pages, blogs, and social media posts. Keywords are terms and phrases that define a piece of content. They help drive search engine page results rankings, so the keywords you choose can lead readers to your website, blog, or social media platform for free. (Yay!) But for many of us, using keywords creates jitters … Wed, 3 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/SELWAB-formula.htmlfee0661965ba55977d4f66ed70ae68d0The SELWAB formula is a self-check for writing leads for letters, but it applies to writing leads for articles, headlines, and emails, too. The reason I use SELWAB is simple: I want my reader to keep reading. It’s an easy guideline formula: as I begin to write any lead (for a letter, an article, a headline, email subject line, a blog post), I frame my opening sentence or paragraph with ... Tue, 2 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/use-keywords.htmlca4c4429223a0c50ab6f4966974440adWhen you know how to use keywords, you can write better web pages, blogs, and social media posts. Keywords are terms and phrases that define a piece of content. (How keywords work.) They help drive search engine page results rankings, so the keywords you choose can drive readers to your website, blog, or social media platform for free. (Yay!) But how do you know which keywords to use? You can ... Mon, 1 Jun 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/reading.html077f7002d784a8287248e819c22fd235King Ahasuerus had just been to a banquet prepared by Esther. And he was invited to another one the next day. But that night, he couldn’t sleep. Like many, the king handled his restlessness by reading. Reading revealed information that Ahasuerus needed for ... Sun, 31 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/begin-writing-a-book.html28bfc716f4621df3842a981d0aaa32eeIf you struggle to begin writing a book, you’re not alone. Plenty of writers have a book in their heads. There’s a simple way to get it out of your brain and onto paper ... Sat, 30 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/20-minute-blogger.html156d6c30ecf30251e3c5da11a5c914cf-cpThe main problem, most bloggers say, is time. They don’t have time to blog or write consistently. You, too? But the truth is this: if you have 20 minutes, then you can build your blog... Fri, 29 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/devotional-illustration.html61bfdbd888ca478fca788d9ff3a55336A devotional’s point is abstract: love, joy, peace, patience, steadfastness, goodness, mercy, forgiveness, grace … An illustration is a word picture. When you use words to paint a picture, your reader can “see” a tangible image in her mind, much like a verbal slide or a still photo. ... Thu, 28 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/persuasive-writing-checklist.html5422c9b3fc1f89a1c4c99cf27555eafaIf you’re a content writer, you are in the business of persuasion. You produce relevant, valuable information. Your focus is on a particular set of readers. How can your content be helpful, appropriate, practical, or entertaining for them? Here’s where the copywriting formula, A FOREST, is so useful... Wed, 27 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/run-on-sentences.html23c35030789b7f7470de67aa2b24645bYou’ve been schooled in the evils of run-on sentences since the day you wrote more than one “and” in an essay. The biggest objection from your teachers? Run-ons are grammatically incorrect. They lack acceptable punctuation. They’re just not right, according to your high school language arts instructor... Tue, 26 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/content-writing-niche.html54c36ff85ca10a505d24f42fe8ddf40fEarly in my writing journey I learned that I could transfer my article writing skills to the content writing niche. So I took a copywriting course. Yet as I completed the lessons and read the forums and participated in discussions, I realized that I really didn’t fit in. Other students and instructors repeatedly talked about working in well-paying niches like the financial market, health market, and tech market. Companies in those niches have bigger budgets. Therefore, they hire more freelancers and pay larger fees. However, I was ... Mon, 25 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/comments.htmlf4c436b6009724a05eb3edc851289346On Twitter, a well-known Christian leader took a stand on an issue. The comments from other users swung widely from kindness (“Yes!”) to neutrality (“I respect your position”) to downright vitriol (“You are a hypocritical, evil person. I’m unfollowing you.”) But the comments I respected most were those that ... Sun, 24 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/question.html07150338a4f4d6491e7f0d6f9564b0ffWhen 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 ... Sat, 23 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/writing-tips-blog.html#Is-this-grant-right-for-your-cause-How-to-find-out3e24fc024c4c2085514722e6757efe76A grant proposal is a lengthy project with lots of elements. Before you invest your time in writing a grant application, you want to know that you’ve maximized your chances. One of the easiest ways to increase your odds is to apply for grants that are a good fit for you and your cause. In fact, misalignment is one of the biggest reasons that grant applications are rejected outright.. Fri, 22 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/capturing-ideas.html32b790f26a95f5325d12a2eeed440aa7Capturing ideas is a crucial step in the writing process. You haven’t truly adopted the “ideas-are-everywhere” mindset of a writer until you figure out a way to capture the ones that come your way. You need to find a way to remember them. Your ideas can be one of your most valuable resources because they are unique to you... Thu, 21 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 https://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/nonprofit-writer.html19db2097aa2c626827911162bed7d317“A nonprofit writer? I didn’t know there was such a thing.” “Is there really writing work available with nonprofits?” “Writing for nonprofits sounds fulfilling, but can you make any money?” I had the same questions when I started my writing journey. Most of my fellow writing students sought high-paying writing jobs with large corporations. I hesitated to go in that direction. To be honest, I was intimidated. I had no marketing or business background. But as I sought to get writing work, I discovered I possessed another — though different — commodity. I had a desire to help those who help others. That’s when I learned about the immense opportunity ... Wed, 20 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/types-of-newsletters.htmlff10dafbb9bfee80ed57577afc6b7414There are three types of newsletters: the company newsletter, the consumer newsletter, and the organization newsletter. Which one works for you? That depends... Tue, 19 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/writing-powerful-endings.htmld0dd507756fff045dffefeac914a5df2I admit it: as I write my first draft, I'm tempted to simply summarize at the end. Sure, I made a promise to Jane Reader in my opening - with a hook - and then delivered on that promise in the body of my content. Now what? Here is the tipping point: I want Jane to remember what she read. That’s why the key to writing powerful endings is ... Mon, 18 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400 http://www.nonprofitcopywriter.com/pitch.htmlc4f46a951a014cce37e7f5b1d9cecb26A pitch is an email in which you present your story idea to an editor. Your plan, as you pitch, is to explain your idea in such a compelling way that leaves no doubt you’re the one to write the story. My friend Gayle once shared with me her story of a successful pitch to a parenting magazine. Gayle used ... Sun, 17 May 2026 07:00:00 -0400