From the category archives:

Writer’s Block

Don’t Pick Up Garbage on Twitter

August 9, 2010 Writer's Block

I look at Twitter before I check my e-mail. I’ve followed interesting sources so I can read at a glance what’s going on. Anytime. If I want to know more I’ll click through the link. I’ve also kept garbage followers off my Tweets. Be selective Don’t follow just anyone and don’t let them follow you. [...]

Horrible Twitter Headlines

August 6, 2010 Writer's Block

Below are REAL Twitter headlines WITH corrections: Eat less naturally=Eat less, naturally Free hair loss tips=Tips for stopping hair loss Ask me about skinny legs=Want thinner legs? Get lucky with followers =Let followers find you 140 Characters Test Your Writing Skills You’re likely to tweet now and then. Can you stand up to the test? [...]

What’s the Source?

August 5, 2010 Writer's Block

I grew up writing on notebook paper with a pen. There were no computers in my high school. There were no computers in my college journalism class. We used typewriters. We pulled copy off the Associated Press wire. We actually tore paper off a continuously clickity-clacking Associated Press machine that spewed news from around the [...]

Cut It Out: Copy Edit For Clarity

August 2, 2010 Writer's Block

Tight, carefully worded content beats goo gobs of crappy overwritten posts. Get to the point for readers’ sake when website posting. Keep prose to a minimum. Spare everyone from daily ramblings. Believe it or not, other people don’t cherish every word or flowery phrase you share. Most people stop reading after the headline. The average [...]

Homemade Websites

July 31, 2010 Writer's Block

This one goes out to all those industrious, hard-working entrepreneurs who build their own websites. 1. Really? So you went to YouTube and watched a how-to video. Now you know how to build a revenue-driving, No. 1 point of contact with the world. Good for you! You save money and your competition gets your clients. [...]

Loser Headlines Lose Readers

July 31, 2010 Writer's Block

I wrote a Best of Gannett Headline for The Detroit News: Pearl of a Gem to Sell for $60 Million Clams. The newspaper has the award. I have the memory. I learned three things about writing headlines on newspaper deadlines: 1. Headlines=readers When people see your website eyes naturally scan content on the page left [...]

Writer’s Block: There’s No Such Thing

July 29, 2010 Writer's Block

When writing doesn’t come naturally, quickly or easily, the term writer’s block inevitably arises.

But writer’s block is a misnomer. Writer’s block is simply an inability to produce original written content. People who say they have writer’s block are generally not professional writers.