Showing posts with label write. Show all posts
Showing posts with label write. Show all posts

The hardest part about writing, is getting one’s self to actually start writing. Most writers usually hate to write but love it when they have finished writing. To be able to escape this process, what some writers do is procrastinate.

Having this attitude really does not get anything done. One of the basic reason why some think this way is because they are afraid to fail. They also put tremendous pressure upon themselves, thinking that whatever writing that they should do and produce must be brilliant.

The fact of the matter is that no writer, or person for that matter, is perfect. Everyone has flaws and having imperfections is the perfect reason why more writing should be done.

Discipline is important. Without this, nothing will get done or will get written. Having discipline causes any writer, especially those who write articles for the internet, to think clearly and go beyond his or her mundane concerns. When one has discipline, the focus is on the output and not on the ego.

Discipline serves as a guide

Having discipline enables anyone to think in a lucid manner. It also helps in coming up of ways to present the details and facts of an article. A disciplined mind gets things done easily.

Using a guide in numbering the characters that should be present on each line of a given article is an easy and controlled way to limit as well as define what it is to write about and how.

Observe how doing this and setting a limit to one’s self actually helps the writer compose the article thereby avoiding awkward breaks in each sentence. When this is done, readability of the article is achieved as well as the topic at hand becomes a whole lot clearer.

Discipline helps achieve focus

There are a million things to write about as well as there are a million things to say. Having discipline makes it a lot easier to select a particular idea or subject. A general issue could still be broken down in sub topics and start from there.

The words to be used for such an article must also be appropriate to the kind of reader targeted. Once this is decided upon, selecting the appropriate mood, be it serious, funny, etc. would be a lot easier.

Having discipline makes it easier to break a topic down

If it is simply too overwhelming to write an article in one get up and go fashion, the only solution is – don’t write it.

Discipline yourself to think of the article in easy and convenient small chunks. Take each idea as one paragraph. Then think of another idea in terms of another paragraph. Then, make a simple outline of the article as well as the issues and topics that will cover it.

Discipline yourself to just let go

Writing is a process. It is best that writing be not forced. Such an attitude produces an article that is stiff, unreadable and – most likely – unlikable.

Discipline yourself to just write

A lot of things could crop up inside one’s head about the article one is intending to write.

It is easy to be distracted about other topics that could be included in the article, or other issues, as well as other subtopics.

It is best that one should just stick to the current topic at hand. Topics or issues that are off the main points must be avoided.

Remember that the objective is to write, complete and finish the article. Entertaining any and all forms of distractions will not be helpful.

Be disciplined to not edit — at least not yet

In any first drafts, the key to writing completely is to let the ideas just flow. Editing must and will have to come at a later part. Editing is not part of the writing process, at least in this stage where thoughts really just have to flow, so let it.

Be disciplined to re-read and review the article

After the writing is complete, this is the perfect and best time to start reading it as well as reviewing it. First time drafts must be proofread. This is also the best time to start editing.

Check and find out which parts seem to lag. Is there any weak idea that needs backing up? Are there no spelling errors in the article? Are there any errors in grammar? Such mistakes must be paid attention to as it could distract the readers from the idea and point of the article.

Discipline yourself to relax

After writing, let the article stand or sit on its own. Get up and eat, sleep, read, watch television or simply get out.

Make sure that you spend at least a day letting the article breath.

Discipline yourself to re-write

Getting back to the article after a considerable amount of time away from it enables anyone to look at it with fresh eyes.

Check the title. Review if the sentences are complete thoughts. Delete or re-write what needs to be edted or re-written.

Well-written articles should be satisfying and not leave readers wanting to have more.

Discipline yourself to make the article known

After all is said, written and done, it is now time to send the article out. Readers should be appropriately advised where the article came from, who wrote it or if there is any link related to the article and its source.

In summary, discipline helps anyone, especially in writing, start and finish a task with a process that is methodical and one that actually works. All one needs is discipline to carry it through.





 A successful marketing plan relies heavily on the pulling-power of advertising copy. Writing result-oriented ad copy is difficult, as it must appeal to, entice, and convince consumers to take action. There is no magic formula to write perfect ad copy; it is based on a number of factors, including ad placement, demographic, even the consumer’s mood when they see your ad. So how is any writer supposed to pen a stunning piece of advertising copy — copy that sizzles and sells? The following tips will jumpstart your creative thinking and help you write a better ad.

KNOW THE BASICS

All good advertising copy is comprised of the same basic elements. Good advertising copy always:

Grabs Attention: Consumers are inundated with ads, so it’s vital that your ad catches the eye and immediately grabs interest. You could do this with a headline or slogan (such as VW’s “Drivers Wanted” campaign), color or layout (Target’s new colorful, simple ads are a testimony to this) or illustration (such as the Red Bull characters or Zoloft’s depressed ball and his ladybug friend).

Promises Credible Benefit: To feel compelled by an ad, the consumer must stand to gain something; the product is often not enough. What would the consumer gain by using your product or service? This could be tangible, like a free gift; prestige, power or fame. But remember: you must be able to make good on that promise, so don’t offer anything unreasonable.

Keeps Interest: Grabbing the consumer’s attention isn’t enough; you have to keep that attention for at least a few seconds. This is where your benefits come into play or a product description that sets your offer apart from the others.

Generates Action: This is the ultimate point of advertising copy — it must make the reader react in some way. This doesn’t necessarily translate to buying the product immediately or using the service. Your ad could be a positioning tool to enable the reader to think about you in a certain light. Speak to your audience, or the audience you’d like to reach, and you’ll be surprised how frequently they come to you in the future.

KNOW THE MEDIUM

How you write your advertising copy will be based on where you will place your ad. If it’s a billboard ad, you’ll need a super catchy headline and simple design due to the speed at which people will pass. Online ads are similar; consumers are so inundated with Internet advertising that your ad must be quick and catchy. Magazine advertising is the most versatile, but this is solely dependent on the size of your ad and how many other ads compete with yours. If you have a full page ad, feel free to experiment; more page space gives you more creative space. If the ad is tiny, you’ll need to keep things as simple as possible.

KNOW THE STYLE

Advertising copy is a unique type of writing. Its point is to balance creativity and readability into something persuasive and entertaining. Keep the following points in mind when you write your copy:

Be Succinct: There are few things more damaging to an ad campaign than messy wordiness. Use short sentences with as many familiar words as possible; save the thesaurus for a thesis or dissertation. Always make sure to use precise phrasing (why use five adjectives when one good action verb would do?); and eliminate any redundancies, such as “little tiny” or “annual payments of $XXX per year.”

Talk To Your Audience, Not At Them: Though you are announcing the availability of a product or service, avoid being clinical or overly formal. Write as if you’re talking to your ideal customer; use a style they’d use, words they’d be familiar with, slang they’d probably know. But be absolutely certain that you’re using these terms and phrases correctly. A recent McDonald’s campaign attempted to reach a certain audience by using the phrase “I’d hit it” in reference to a cheeseburger, unaware that the phrase is almost always used as a sexual reference.



Subscribe to RSS Feed Follow me on Twitter!