Fantastic Words to Describe Obscure Emotions
Have you ever found yourself searching for a word to describe certain emotions or feelings, but just can’t put your finger on the right one? Well, believe it or not, there is actually a word for that. It’s called “lethologica.” But lethologica does not have to get you down. It turns out there is a whole collection of words to describe obscure emotions or feeling...
February 12, 2021 READ MORE
8 Reasons Why You Really Do Need a Business Blog
In this day and age, people spend a lot of time online reading blogs. After all, they are an excellent source of entertainment and information. Some make you laugh, while others help you understand complex concepts or even products. Following the blogs of your favorite businesses keeps you in the loop and makes you feel like you're a part of its inner circle. You k...
February 9, 2021 READ MORE
A blog, short for “weblog,” is a text-based online diary or website product used for informational or entertainment purposes. A blog can be written by a single writer, or a group of writers. And the information contained in this platform varies according to the topic or theme. Generally speaking, a blog shares the viewpoint and opinions of its writers. However,...
February 5, 2021 READ MORE
How to Position Yourself as an Industry Expert Through Content Marketing
We are all good at something. Some of us are naturally good cooks, excellent writers, or born leaders. As we progress in our careers, we develop proficiency in subjects germane to our jobs. Sometimes, that proficiency and specialization becomes the core competency of our career. That proficiency and specialization can move markets, get interviews, get you quoted, s...
February 2, 2021 READ MORE
Content marketing is a marketing approach that’s focused on delivering valuable and relevant content to a target audience. It aims to consistently attract followers by engaging them with content that addresses their particular needs. Brands use content marketing to generate leads and improve profitability by converting more leads into sales. While traditional mark...
January 30, 2021 READ MORE
Can You Make Money Writing Nonfiction Children’s Books?
There's a section in the library you use a lot if you have kids, but you may never really think about as a writer. All of those books on sports, animals, trucks, helicopters, famous people, and every other topic under the sun are fascinating to kids. They love to learn, and as they read, they develop their passions. In 2020, the children's non-fiction market h...
January 26, 2021 READ MORE
Strange and Unbelievable Myths About Writers
When you think of a writer, what image comes to mind? An eccentric hermit who locks themselves up in a remote cabin, stays up all night writing, and drinks far too much alcohol? Like most stereotypes, these are not generally an accurate depiction of reality. In fact, most clichés about writers couldn’t be further from the truth. In this fun blog from Authors Publ...
January 22, 2021 READ MORE
The Technical Writer’s Role in Document Development
If you’ve ever been charged with producing technical manuals or documents, you know how important it is to ensure that they’re written in a clear and concise manner. But what if you’re not a writer? Or what if you are just too busy to get the job done? That’s where the technical writer steps in. Technical writers specialize in writing and editing docum...
January 19, 2021 READ MORE
Barbara Adams is an award-winning writer with more than 30 years of technical writing experience. Her portfolio includes hundreds of whitepapers, case studies, trade articles, op-eds, books, and brochures. And at TWFH, Barb is our go-to authority for all things technical. For this installment of Copywriter Q&A, Barb talked to us about the art of making technical co...
January 15, 2021 READ MORE
10+ (More) Great Books Every Aspiring Writer Should Read
Writers love to read about writing. From advice on mastering their craft, to memoirs of writers, and even straight-up grammar tips, books about writing are a major part of every aspiring writer’s library. The Writers For Hire writer, Jennifer Rizzo, told us about “5 Great Books Every Aspiring Writer Should Read,” and they were great suggestions, but there are a lo...
January 12, 2021 READ MORE
Publishing Trends: 2021 and Beyond
After a 2020 that was unusual, to say the least, publishers of all sorts are now looking ahead to see what the future holds for the publishing industry. In this article, we're going to break out our crystal ball and focus on leading industry trends while analyzing some of the biggest news in the publishing industry. So, stay tuned. We have a lot coming your way. ...
January 8, 2021 READ MORE
Writers’ Tips for Working from Home
Ever since COVID-19 lockdowns started in March of 2020 and forced many people to work from home, the internet has been full of hilarious memes. From jokes about doing Zoom calls in your pajamas, to cartoons depicting parents trying to work with kids in the house, it’s clear that the switch from the office to working remotely has been a challenge for many. There is on...
January 5, 2021 READ MORE
Copywriter Q&A: Diving into Company Blog Campaigns with Melanie Green
The Writers For Hire (TWFH) team member Melanie Green has more than 15 years of writing experience and specializes in digital marketing content. With TWFH, Melanie is the go-to expert on blog campaigns for businesses. For this installment of Copywriter Q&A, we asked Melanie for her insights on the best practices for launching an effective blog campaign. TWFH: W...
January 1, 2021 READ MORE
Content Audits: Why Your Site Needs One and How it’s Done
You’ve worked tirelessly on creating the perfect website for your business and have even added some great content to beef up your blog section. So, how do you know if your site is performing well? That’s where the content audit comes into play. A content audit is the process of going through all the content on your website and analyzing it to better understand ...
December 29, 2020 READ MORE
Christmas Eve Books and Other Traditions Around the World
With Christmas only a few days away, shoppers around the world are scrambling to find those last-minute gifts for their loved ones. But between hurried trips to the store and online shopping in hopes that packages will arrive in time, families are also preparing for their annual Christmas traditions. While some traditions such as decorating with Christmas lights, visiti...
December 22, 2020 READ MORE
How to Write a Blog Post That People Will Want to Read
Have you ever passed a house that had a really cool front door? It could have been some cool glasswork or just a color that popped. It immediately gives the whole house a more interesting vibe, and it makes you want to see what’s inside. Your blog is the front door to your website. Don’t settle for basic brown or white. Give it some thought. Let it add some flair...
December 15, 2020 READ MORE
Generating Buzz About Your Nonfiction Book
What’s on your list of dreams you want to fulfill and goals you want to achieve in your lifetime? Is writing a book on the top of your bucket list? Maybe you aspire to write about your life experiences, a topic that interests you, or something you’re knowledgeable about. While that's all fine and good, how are you going to distinguish your book from the mil...
December 8, 2020 READ MORE
9 Great Holiday Gifts for Genealogy Buffs
With the holidays upon us, you may find yourself searching for the perfect gift for the genealogy buffs in your life. And while they may tell you that the only thing they really want are the missing census records from 1890, we’ve come up with a list of some more viable options that are sure to be a hit. Antique Maps Photo by Dorothe form PxHere It is a k...
December 4, 2020 READ MORE
Understanding Active and Passive Voice in Writing
"TIME's spell-check always admonishes me whenever I compose a sentence in the passive voice, a warning that is often ignored by me." — Richard Corliss, film critic for TIME magazine There are certain writing tips or admonishments that writers hear so often that they’ve become almost cliché: “Show don’t tell.” “Write every day.” “Use the active, no...
December 1, 2020 READ MORE
How Our Fears Have Changed Our Language
If you’ve read any of the Harry Potter books, then you know all about “he who shall not be named.” However, it may surprise you to hear that the practice of not speaking the names of the things we fear—and instead calling them by something else—is actually something that’s been done since the beginning of time. In fact, according to this great article fr...
November 25, 2020 READ MORE
Ghostwriting: Much More Than Meets the Eye
When you think about the term “ghostwriter,” what comes to mind? Someone behind-the-scenes who writes books, speeches, and even social media posts for others without getting credit? If so, you are correct; however, ghostwriters are often used to help with some unusual projects. From cookbooks and fortune cookie messages to poetry and horoscopes, ...
November 17, 2020 READ MORE
Top 3 Reasons Why Smart Companies Hire Technical Ghostwriters
Have you ever set up a printer in your home or downloaded software onto your laptop? Perhaps you constructed a jungle gym for your kids or took your blood glucose level with a medical monitor. If so, you likely benefited from the work of a technical ghostwriter. Some may only associate the term “ghostwriting” with professionals who draft content on behalf of ano...
November 13, 2020 READ MORE
Copywriter Q&A: Flori Meeks Discusses the Art of the Interview
The Writers For Hire (TWFH) team member Flori Meeks began her career in suburban Detroit as a community newspaper reporter. Throughout her impressive 25+ years as a writer, she has taken the skills she developed as a reporter and spun them into a successful career which has included penning everything from blogs and web copy to ghostwriting nonfiction books and autobiograp...
November 10, 2020 READ MORE
What’s All the Buzz About? Public Relations 101
If you’re not a public relations (PR) or communications professional, chances are you likely clump PR in together with advertising, marketing, and event planning, thinking they are the same. And it’s OK if you do. A lot of people make this common mistake. What exactly is PR anyway? A critical element of your marketing mix, PR involves persuading an audience to ta...
November 6, 2020 READ MORE
What to Include in Your Family History Book
Writing a family history book can be a tremendous gift for your family, especially for future generations. But it can also be a daunting project. There could be seemingly unlimited amounts of research to dig into. Should you conduct interviews? If yes, then how many should you do? Just what should you plan on including in your family history book? First, Determin...
November 3, 2020 READ MORE
Avoiding the Copyright Police: Ways to Find Free Images for Your Blog
Remember story time as a kid? While the story was great, you have to confess it was the pictures that drew you in, right? Looking at the pictures was the best part of the entire experience. The same applies to digital and printed communications. Visuals, including photography and infographics, play a significant role in helping people take action, become inspired, o...
October 30, 2020 READ MORE
Many people aspire to write their own life stories. But let’s face it— not all memoirs are as engaging or moving as the author intended. In fact, it can be difficult to write a memoir that other people actually want to read or consider insightful. Your story must be interesting enough to hold their attention. Fortunately, there are strategies you can use to wri...
October 27, 2020 READ MORE
20 Great Podcasts to Inspire and Improve Your Writing
As professional writers, we at The Writers For Hire (TWFH) are constantly looking to hone up on our skills while staying attuned to current trends and developments in the writing world. And we have found that listening to podcasts is a fantastic way to do just that! Whether you are tuning in while working out at the gym, or listening during your commute to work, pod...
October 23, 2020 READ MORE
Style and Tone in Writing: What They Mean and Why it Matters
As a writer, you hear the terms style and tone bandied about quite a bit, and frequently together. But are they something you need to pay attention to? Or do they just happen when you write? You know that all writing has some form of tone and style, but what do the terms really mean? Aren’t they essentially the same thing? While both are ways to expr...
October 20, 2020 READ MORE
How Much Time Does A Ghostwriter Need to Write A Book?
One of the most common questions new and prospective clients ask ghostwriters is how long their book project will take from start to finish. For clients that pay by the hour, the thought of a project taking six months or longer can be scary. We interviewed several professional ghostwriters to ask them about their processes and how long ghostwriting takes them. ...
October 16, 2020 READ MORE
How To Make Your Family History Come To Life
You’ve spent the last couple of years researching your family history. You even hired a professional genealogist to track down the information you couldn’t uncover on your own. Now you are ready to share your findings with the rest of your family. You could go with a basic family tree diagram, or a journaled scrapbook, but you really want to make the stories ...
October 13, 2020 READ MORE
The Writers Behind Your Fortune Cookie Aphorism
It may come as a surprise to you that fortune cookies are not actually a Chinese invention. While their true origins are widely debated, it is a common belief that the first fortune cookies appeared in California sometime in the late 1800s to early 1900s. The real question is, though, who is behind the messages on those tiny pieces of paper hidden inside of the cook...
October 9, 2020 READ MORE
Is Traditional Publishing Dead?
There was a time when writing a book and actually getting it published was a dream akin to saying “I’m going to make it in the NBA!” or “I’m going to be a rock star!” Then, self-publishing came along. And while it didn’t garner much respect early on, in recent years self-publishing has taken over a major share of the publishing industry. In other words...
October 6, 2020 READ MORE
How to Put Your Best Foot Forward with Your Style Guide
You may not think fonts, colors, and tone of voice are essential in telling your company or organization's story, but they are. These items all reflect your brand and serve as important components to distinguish your company and establish customer loyalty. And there’s nothing better than a style guide to help ensure consistent communications. Style guides are a re...
October 2, 2020 READ MORE
The Ins and Outs of a Nonfiction Ghostwriting Contract
Have you dreamed of seeing a book with your name on it? Would having a book published under your name help get your speaking engagements or enhance your personal brand? Do you have something important to say but don’t consider yourself a writer? Do you want a record of your family history? Are you considering running for office? If so, you may have wondered about hirin...
September 29, 2020 READ MORE
Partnering with Writers to Create Great Blogs
You spent the last few weeks researching, interviewing, and selecting a professional writer to assist you in drafting the company blog. Now, you’re ready to send them on their way to develop compelling copy that will take your company to the next level. But, before you have your new writing team start churning out content, follow these five steps to make the mo...
September 25, 2020 READ MORE
Publishing Your Private Memoir or Family History Book
You have a story to tell, and you are confident that it’s worth telling. It has characters, drama, and is filled with emotion. The best part is, it’s all true! Now you want to preserve that story for those you love and generations to come. So, what do you do once you’ve finished putting words on the page? You want to publish your story in a tangible book ...
September 22, 2020 READ MORE
Editors vs. Proofreaders: They Don’t Wear the Same Hat
The words you put out on behalf of your company are essential to your bottom line. They reflect your brand and your mission, and they attract potential customers or donors. With so much at stake, it is imperative that you have multiple sets of eyes on your final copy before it goes out for all the world to see. So, who should those eyes be? Every piece of solid w...
September 18, 2020 READ MORE
7 Steps to Researching Your Family History Online
I have this fantasy of taking an extended trip around the world to discover where my ancestors came from and to meet long-lost relatives. In this fantasy world, I have unlimited time and resources to explore every rabbit hole and track down clues about those who came before me. The reality is that I—along with most people—don’t have the time it would take for...
September 15, 2020 READ MORE
Making the Most of Your Company Newsletters
A newsletter can be a marketer’s best friend. But like any relationship, they require an investment of your time, an understanding of what makes them tick, and some tender, loving care. There are a few key factors you need to consider and best practices to implement before making a newsletter a regular part of your communications strategy. Printed vs. Electro...
September 11, 2020 READ MORE
Your Book: 5 Things to Think About Before You Write a Word
If you are like most people, you’d like to write a book someday. But, as anyone who has actually followed through and written a book will tell you, it can be a long and arduous process. If you want to have any chance of succeeding, it is important to plan and prepare first. The more effort you put in up front, the better your chances are of actually getting a dra...
September 8, 2020 READ MORE
The Benefits of Using Filler Words in Your Writing
Filler words really get a bad rap. You know the ones I’m talking about: “um”, “uh”, “like” … And hedge words, such as “just” or “kind of,” are treated just as badly. According to this article from the Harvard Business Review, though, using filler or hedge words in your speech and writing can actually be useful. While excessive use of fille...
September 4, 2020 READ MORE
Who Owns Intellectual Property?
For writers, marketers, content creators, and businesses alike, intellectual property laws can make a huge impact on your company’s livelihood and protect you from having someone else benefit from your work. This means that someone else cannot publish a copy of your book as their own or that another company cannot steal your proprietary software to improve their own ...
September 1, 2020 READ MORE
25 Beautiful and Inspiring Words to Expand Your Vocabulary
As human beings, we use language every day to convey thoughts and ideas, describe our feelings and emotions, to argue our points, and to convey directions. And, as writers, we at TWFH use language even more than the average person. Very rarely, though, do we actually sit and think about just how beautiful language can be. Take meliorism, for example, which ...
August 28, 2020 READ MORE
Document Management – How To Make Sure Employees Can Find Critical Business Info When They Need It
Let’s be honest…document management is probably not on the top of your priority list. You may even have an “old school” filing cabinet, where your company stores copies of personnel files and HR paperwork. You have to admit, though, that digging through physical files (or even unorganized files on your computer desktop) is not exactly an efficient business prac...
August 25, 2020 READ MORE
The Numbers Behind the Words: Can You Make Money Writing Non-Fiction Books?
We all know an awful lot about something. It’s just the way people are. Your area of expertise might be something useful, like knowing how to fix cars, or it might be something less tangible, say, an obscene amount of knowledge about cartoons from the late 1970s to the early 1980s (ruh roh, Raggy!). Whatever the case may be, chances are that people come to you from...
August 21, 2020 READ MORE
WHAT IS A URL, AND WHY DOES IT MATTER?
Most people are familiar with the term “URL.” However, unless you are surveying a bunch of Google employees, few could probably tell you what each letter stands for, and what it actually means. But if you use the internet with any regularity, it could be helpful to gain a better understanding of the term and its importance. Start With a Definition The term “...
August 18, 2020 READ MORE
Staying Connected While We’re Disconnected
In these uncertain times of Coronavirus and quarantines, we have all had to find different ways to adapt and change the way we do things in our lives. TWFH came face to face with this challenge while trying to plan a “going away” party for our wonderful senior editor, Stephanie. We wanted to find a way to come together as a group, to thank Steph for her many years ...
August 14, 2020 READ MORE
7 Tips and Tricks for Effective Communication in the Business World
You’ve started a business. You’ve got a good product, built your operation, and started making good sales. But, you have challenges. You have a good team, but have trouble keeping people on the same page or taking advantage of the momentum you’ve worked so hard in your business. So, what’s going wrong? Chances are, it’s communication. Every business l...
August 11, 2020 READ MORE
How To Write a Family History Book—7 Steps Plus A Pro Tip
With the rise in popularity of media programming such as PBS’s Finding Your Roots, and the ease and accessibility of home ancestry and DNA test kits, more and more people are choosing to research their family history. The internet has made this research easier than ever before. For those who decide to go even further—to compile and record the facts and stories th...
August 4, 2020 READ MORE
Soon after John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage was published in 1957, speculation began over who actually crafted the words behind the Pulitzer Prize-winning biography. For years, many believed the book was largely written by Theodore Sorensen, Kennedy’s close aide and speechwriter. But ever loyal to his president, Sorensen consistently denied any substantial invo...
July 31, 2020 READ MORE
Diving Headfirst Into Your Family Tree
Do you ever wonder about where your ancestors came from, and what struggles they had to endure in their life’s voyage? The journey of discovering your roots and your family history can be quite fascinating and exciting. It can also be a daunting and time-consuming task. A simple Google search will lead you to a vast array of websites, promising to give you the answers...
July 28, 2020 READ MORE
Getting a Handle on your Business Documents
Policies. Procedures. SOPs. Instructions. Standards. These aren't just fancy buzzwords tossed around the office. These are documents that, when written well and used correctly, will save you mounds of time, money, and frustration. Defining the differences All of these documents are different and serve various functions. If you are not familiar with their...
July 24, 2020 READ MORE
Fantastic Words That Are Begging for a Comeback
Have you ever heard a word, and found yourself thinking, “Wow! Now, THAT is a great word!”? We’re not talking ordinary, everyday words here. We’re talking about words with meanings that perfectly describe certain situations or people. Take the word “groke,” for example. You know that guy (or girl) who stares at you when you are eating, just hoping that y...
July 21, 2020 READ MORE
Your Guide To The Family History Interview
So, you’ve decided to write a family history book but are not quite sure where to start. Or, maybe you are ghostwriting an autobiography for someone else. Either way, you’ll want to be sure to include all of the best family stories. If you rely on just your own memory, or that of your subject, specific details can get a little fuzzy. This is where it pays to int...
July 16, 2020 READ MORE
Buying a Cat in a Sack and Other Funny Idiom Translations
Languages are fascinating and funny things. And there are so many sayings and idioms that we use in our every day speaking that we rarely think twice about. But if you ever try to translate idioms from one language to another, you realize just how strange some of the things we say really are. Take the following idioms, for example: “It’s a piece of cake”“...
July 14, 2020 READ MORE
Copywriter Q&A: Kathy Rinchiuso Keeps Website Projects On Track
Whether you’re giving your existing website a much-needed update or starting from square after a company rebranding, chances are, you’ll work with Kathy Rinchiuso, our go-to website project manager. Kathy keeps the lines of communication open and ensures that clients, web designers, copywriters are all speaking the same language. In this installment of Copywriter Q...
July 9, 2020 READ MORE
Plan on Hiring a Ghostwriter? Here’s What They Need to Know to Write Your Book
If you plan to hire a ghostwriter for your book, you’re in good company. While no one has specific numbers because of the confidentiality involved with ghostwriting, people estimate that 50% to 90% of all nonfiction books on the bestseller’s list are ghostwritten. And that doesn’t count the number of fiction books and memoirs penned by ghosts. Why do so many p...
July 2, 2020 READ MORE
Copywriter Q&A: Jennifer Rizzo Shares Tips for Genealogy Research
Jennifer Rizzo has always been fascinated by genealogy. At The Writers For Hire (TWFH), she puts this lifelong interest to use, helping clients fill out branches in their family trees and answer big, important questions about who they are and where they came from. In this installment of Copywriter Q&A, Jennifer shares some of her suggestions for aspiring gene...
June 24, 2020 READ MORE
There’s a story brewing inside you. Admit it. Maybe you’ve had the idea for a great adventure tale for years, or maybe you just recently decided to go after a professional goal of getting published. Regardless, the words are there… but you’re just not sure how to form them into the next great work. Enter the ghostwriter. A ghostwriter is a professional wr...
June 19, 2020 READ MORE
Is a Book Still an Autobiography if Written by a Ghostwriter?
Why do so many celebrities, politicians, and executives turn to ghostwriters to help them write their autobiographies and memoirs? It’s simple: writing a book is hard, time-consuming work. Plus, just because someone holds a position of authority or fame doesn’t mean they are skilled at writing. It makes sense to enlist the help of an expert to get a book written...
June 18, 2020 READ MORE
ISBNs: The Alphabet Soup of the Literary World
Your grocery store cashier picks up your can of chicken noodle and waves it over a little sensor before delivering it to the conveyor for bagging. You know what’s happening: The can is stamped with a barcode that indicates the item and price. Once scanned, this information tells the cashier how much you owe and updates the store on its inventory. But have you ever not...
June 10, 2020 READ MORE
The Art of Ghostwriting: How to Capture Someone Else’s Personality in Your Words
Writing is a very personal process. Every writer is unique, just as every individual is unique. So how can you write for someone else? Your goal is authenticity: to genuinely mimic the client’s rhythms and seamlessly weave their characteristics into the story. That is the key to successful ghostwriting. It’s not enough to be a strong writer, to organize thoug...
May 29, 2020 READ MORE
When a Hybrid Publisher is the Best Choice for Authors
When Patricia Marshall’s mother started self-publishing her own books a decade ago, she paid someone to print her books on an Espresso Book Machine (a machine that can print and bind a book in a few minutes), one book at a time. She would then ship the books to Amazon to sell them. She lost money with every sale. Although her mother was happy to fulfill her dream o...
May 19, 2020 READ MORE
Emojis Delayed by the Coronavirus
The 2019 novel coronavirus has changed our lives a lot in the past couple of months. From transitioning to remote learning and remote working, to wearing a mask in public, it’s amazing how different our lives are now from just three months ago. And it’s crazy to think of the multitude of things that the virus has affected. In fact, believe it or not, even emojis hav...
May 7, 2020 READ MORE
Intellectual Property: Protecting Myself, My Book, and My Sources
Every interesting story has a hook. The challenge is finding what grabs your reader. One sure way to make your story stand out is by using quotes. Why is this effective? Possibly because our human nature makes us curious about others. Quoting experts helps you make a compelling argument. It’s satisfying to read of others who support our opinions, and it’s justif...
April 29, 2020 READ MORE
Coronavirus Response: How and Why to Ramp Up Your Blog Content Quickly
As more and more Americans self-quarantine or are asked to work from home, online activity is skyrocketing. In fact, from January 29 to April 8, usage rates rose 105 percent (from 22.6 million people to 46.2 million people in the U.S. using the internet during peak hours). While the circumstances aren’t ideal, most business owners are asking themselves how they ...
April 17, 2020 READ MORE
How to Increase Productivity by Reducing Email Usage
There is no denying that over the years, we have become increasingly more reliant on email. We use it to sell products, provide customer support, communicate with coworkers, and more. But is this approach truly working to our benefit? Could reducing our email use actually help us create a more productive business environment? Since 2015, the average amount of bu...
April 9, 2020 READ MORE
Good News to Brighten Up Your Day
It’s no secret that people are feeling a bit down these days. With shelter-in-place orders, businesses closing, and news stories that sound like some kind of post-apocalyptic novel, it’s no wonder people are struggling to stay positive. It is during times like these, though, that it is increasingly important to look for the beauty and good in the world. Thanks to th...
April 2, 2020 READ MORE
Traditional Publishing vs Self-Publishing: What’s the Best Way to Publish Your Book?
You’ve written a book—congratulations! But after the initial euphoria wears off, many authors are faced with this looming question: Now what? You want to get your book out into the world—but aren’t sure which is the best way to do so. Should you try to land a contract with a traditional publisher? Or is self-publishing the best way to go? Evaluating Publis...
March 26, 2020 READ MORE
Keys to Small Business Marketing
Kimberly Smith, University of Houston Small Business Development CenterEach year, about 400,000 new small businesses open their doors to the economic landscape in their communities. But according to www.bloomberg.com, a whopping 80 percent of these new ventures will fail within the first 18 months. What’s the difference between one energetic, inspired entrepreneur with a...
March 18, 2020 READ MORE
The Ultimate Guide to Self-Publishing Platforms
Two decades ago, self-published authors commanded about as much respect for their work as used car salesmen or politicians. In other words, no one was taking them seriously. But over time, stories began to emerge about authors like Mark Dawson, who has sold over 2 million copies of his books. Or Amanda Hocking, who back in 2012 reportedly made $2.5 million from sale...
March 13, 2020 READ MORE
The Death of the Apostrophe Society
As self-proclaimed grammar nerds, we at The Writers For Hire are disappointed to share that the Apostrophe Protection Society has officially been shut down. (Never mind the fact that we did not even know that such a society ever existed until we came across this article from the Evening Standard.) The society, which was founded in 2001, was the brainchild of retired Bri...
March 5, 2020 READ MORE
Going Behind the Curtain: FAQ on Publishing and the Legal Issues of Hiring a Ghostwriter
Every year, dozens of civil lawsuits are filed that included allegations of libel or defamation. Most of the time, these things are obscure cases that never reach the headlines, but nevertheless cost both plaintiffs and defendants sizable sums for legal fees and court costs. Some cases, though, such as Jesse Ventura’s case against Chris Kyle’s widow or the suit f...
February 27, 2020 READ MORE
Mastering ROI: 11 Tips For Measuring Content Marketing and Thought Leadership
You’ve invested in content marketing and thought leadership campaigns in hopes that they will help to grow your business. But, how do you know if they are truly worth the money you put in? Too often, it can seem difficult to figure out if you should keep funding a particular type of marketing strategy or if that money would be better spent elsewhere. When you inv...
February 19, 2020 READ MORE
Best Practice for Distributing SOPs
So, your standard operating procedures (SOPs) are ready to go—you’ve written them, had them reviewed and tested, and incorporated feedback. Now all you have to do is distribute them. That should be the easy part, right? Well, you’re probably dealing with a lot of SOP content, and it can be hard to know exactly who needs to receive what information or how to get it...
February 12, 2020 READ MORE
Proofreading Always Counts In 1904, dressmaker Lena Himmelstein Bryant opened a boutique in New York City. When she opened her business account at the bank, the clerk misspelled her name… and Lena simply rolled with it. [block_imgwrap_per conper="75" content="She went on to create something of a dynasty in women’s retail, establishing more than 800 plus-size clo...
February 6, 2020 READ MORE
The Art of Technical Ghostwriting
One of the most challenging aspects of technical writing is communicating effectively with a subject matter expert (or SME, commonly pronounced as one word “smee”). SMEs have the knowledge that the technical writer must extract and translate into useful publications, such as documents, videos, webinars, classroom courses, and marketing collateral. In some cases, ...
January 30, 2020 READ MORE
Capturing words—Tools writers use for recording interviews
If there is one thing guaranteed to improve a piece of writing and make it more interesting, it’s the addition of insights from others. Adding firsthand experience, professional perspectives, and touching personal stories about a topic helps to elevate writing in a way that nothing, not even seriously in-depth research, can. For as long as writers have been interview...
January 27, 2020 READ MORE
The P’s and Q’s of Proofreading
Proofreaders don’t get enough credit – and a lot of people don’t spend enough time proofreading their own work. Proofreading is about more than just making sure to cross all the t’s and dot all the i’s. We’ve put together a list of helpful proofreading tips to make sure that your documents come out as close to perfect as possible – every time. Keep your s...
January 15, 2020 READ MORE
One of my biggest pet peeves is prepositional phrases that don't logically link to the rest of the sentence. I see this writing practice all the time, and it usually happens because: a) the writer is trying to improve sentence flow, or b) the writer is trying to cram extra information into a paragraph and can't figure out where to put it. Here's an example: "With more ...
December 23, 2019 READ MORE
Talking to SMEs: How to make the most of their time (and yours)
When it comes to adding clout to a piece of writing, fewer things help more than talking to a subject matter expert (SME). They know the ins and outs of what you’re writing about and they know it well. They are the expert after all. The context and technical knowledge that an SME brings to a piece of writing is undeniable. The journalism world is effectively built on...
December 18, 2019 READ MORE
Think You’re Done Editing? Take a Step Back.
A writer’s work is never done. When you’re writing, you can get so wrapped up in the proofreading and editing process that you miss a HUGE oversight or error in your copy. This goes for all writing — whether it’s a marketing letter, a web page, or a novel. So, when you think you’re done writing and editing and proofreading everything, you’ve got one more mile...
December 12, 2019 READ MORE
What Publishers Look for in an Author
You’ve done it. You’ve finished your nonfiction book—or worked with a qualified ghostwriter to create one—and now you’re ready to find the right publisher to bring your ideas to the world. But what can you do to make yourself as sellable as possible—not your work, but you as an author? This advice comes straight from the pros—editors, publishers, and ...
December 10, 2019 READ MORE
Words that Contradict Themselves
If you have read our blogs Why the English Language is a Writer’s Nightmare and Are There Any Synonyms for Synonym?, you are well aware that we think the English language is crazy and confusing. But, have you ever taken the time to actually stop and think about just how crazy it is? We have way too many words that are either spelled the same way, but pronounced di...
December 5, 2019 READ MORE
Fun Thanksgiving Facts From The Writers For Hire
Did you know that the day after Thanksgiving is the busiest day of the year for plumbers? Or how about the fact that the woman famous for writing “Mary Had a Little Lamb” was also known as the “Mother of Thanksgiving,” after her four-decade campaign to get the holiday re-instated nationwide? With the first Thanksgiving dating all the way back to 1621, it’s...
November 26, 2019 READ MORE
Ronald Reagan once quipped about his autobiography, “I hear it’s a terrific book. One of these days I’m going to read it myself.” Rarely does a celebrity exhibit such candor in acknowledging their partnership with a ghostwriter. In fact, the entire practice of ghostwriting seems shaded in mystery. To deconstruct the myths and doubts surrounding the practice, we�...
November 22, 2019 READ MORE
Five Tips for Hiring the Right Ghostwriter
You don’t have to be famous to hire a ghostwriter: Lots of everyday people use ghostwriters to help with all sorts of writing projects – from non-fiction memoirs to family histories to business books. Most people hire ghostwriters because they have an idea for a book, but they just don’t have the time or the writing expertise to get those ideas on paper. And, if you...
November 19, 2019 READ MORE
HOW TO KICK-OFF A WRITING PROJECT: PART THREE – GATHERING INFORMATION
The team is in place, and the kick-off meeting ( or kick-off call) is over. Now comes the content. You probably have a good idea of what you need from everyone. You’ll find, however, that different colleagues require different levels of engagement. Your main challenge may well be dealing with various comfort levels when it comes to writing or, as the old saying goes, ...
November 14, 2019 READ MORE
The 108 Most Persuasive Words In The English Language
It's a long known fact that the secret to persuasive writing isn't in the adjectives, it's in the verbs. Copywriters know power verbs sell and convince. Internally, we have a list of 108 verbs that we've been using for a good decade, and we recently thought we should share it with proper credit to the original author. We found that although the list is being recirculated (...
November 12, 2019 READ MORE
Updating Training Materials Quickly and Efficiently
If you have ever managed a company, you know that training materials are a necessity. However, ensuring that those training materials are up-to-date can be an overwhelming task. Medium- and large-size organizations face content consistency challenges all the time. We know that overcoming these challenges may feel like an uphill battle or a backburner project constantly...
November 7, 2019 READ MORE
How the Phrase “You Guys” Came to Be
As a writer, I have always struggled with second-person pronouns. Having spent the last few years working with a Houston-based writing team, I have taken to occasionally using “y'all” in my everyday speech. However, writing “y'all” seems to be too much of a commitment for me. As a non-Southerner, it somehow feels like I am being an imposter. But, what other opt...
November 5, 2019 READ MORE
Marketing Buzzwords Demystified
If you have turned on the TV or engaged in social media over the past decade, you have almost certainly heard the buzz about buzzwords. They are everywhere. From politicians to celebrities to company CEOs, it seems that everyone is using buzzwords. But, what exactly are buzzwords? And what are they used for? Let’s start with a basic definition. According to the Merria...
October 31, 2019 READ MORE
Copyright Rules for Blog Writers
Every good blogger knows that photos are an integral part of blog writing. The use of photos and graphic images helps improve your blogs by breaking up the text and giving your readers something interesting to look at. But how do you find free images to use? And how do you know that those images are truly copyright free? Well, this blog from PRNewswire is a great ...
October 29, 2019 READ MORE
Copywriter Q&A: Angie Frederickson on Social Media in Healthcare
Angie Frederickson has two decades of marketing and journalism experience, and her specialty is healthcare marketing. Her impressive resume includes a four-year stint as the marketing manager at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and she has worked on content marketing and social campaigns for a variety of healthcare-related projects. In this installment of Copywriter Q&a...
October 24, 2019 READ MORE
The Bizarre Writing Habits of Famous Authors
For even the most skilled writers, it takes a special kind of motivation to turn out literary hits. While some writers may rely on a good cup of coffee, and perhaps some inspirational music, there are others who take a less conventional approach to finding motivation. Take Benjamin Franklin, for example. He felt that his best work was done if he wrote while he was nude....
October 22, 2019 READ MORE
Why the English Language is a Writer’s Nightmare
I have always felt sorry for people who have to learn the English language. For writers in particular, English can be a complete nightmare. Some may say that it can be understood “through tough thorough thought, though,” but let’s face it — English has some really crazy aspects that simply do not make any sense. Take the word queue, for example. Why do we n...
October 15, 2019 READ MORE
HOW TO KICK-OFF A WRITING PROJECT: PART TWO- THE KICK-OFF CALL
In our previous blog, we discussed the importance of running a kick-off meeting when starting a new project. However, if it turns out that the meeting participants are in different locations, or working remotely like so many professionals are today, the kick-off meeting will have to be a call. While the concept of the kick-off call follows the same basic principals as ...
October 3, 2019 READ MORE
How to Write an Email Newsletter That People Will Actually Read
If you have ever been in charge of writing email newsletters, you know that it can be an incredibly frustrating process. You work hard to try to write an email that contains the important information that you need to convey, yet when you check your open and click rates, it seems that very few people are actually reading what you send. But, what if there was a way th...
October 2, 2019 READ MORE
HOW TO KICK-OFF A WRITING PROJECT: PART ONE — THE PROCESS
When starting a new project, one of the most important first steps is the kick-off meeting. Leading a kick-off meeting for a writing project requires lots of preparation—and patience—on the part of the project manager and the project team. The meeting brings together all stakeholders and sets the tone for the entire project. The writing process can involve a lot ...
September 27, 2019 READ MORE
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