Category Archives: Copywriting

Help for Your Inner Editor

Have you been working on your piece for a while, but your creative juices seem to have dried up lately? It may be a good time to do a bit of editing. It can help you clear the deck to figure out what to augment and what to diminish. Then you can fix the newfound problems and move forward. But how do you get started?

Editing will require you to separate from your initial, creative self: the part that knows what you meant to say when you crafted the early drafts of your piece. You must now pretend you are seeing the piece for the first time.

Wearing your new hat, your first job is to scrutinize the big picture—from the perspective of one of your intended readers.

If you have trouble getting that hat to fit, recall other times in your life when you have adopted another person’s point of view. If you have ever acted in a play, done character imitations for your friends, or read lines of dialogue to a child from a storybook, you have some experience pretending to be someone else.

Follow these three steps to get your inner editor going: Continue reading →

Professional Writing Benefits Your Book Readers & Brings More Sales

[Dalya’s Note: This guest post was written by Judy Cullins, a fellow book coach who helps transform book ideas into helpful, entertaining, and engaging books.]

Do you have something great to share with others? If you don’t know the ins and outs of writing like a pro, take this review. You want your readers engaged and compelled – to listen with your easy to read copy – in books, online promotions, and your website.

Easy- to-read professional writing that hooks and engages your reader will also benefit you. You want them to finish what you write so they will tell others about your book.

You may be a professional, an entrepreneur, a coach or consultant, even an author. Its one thing to know your topic and business focus, but another to get your readers hooked and ready to buy what you offer.

To sell well, your articles, reports, books, and copywriting need to pass the 5-item checklist below:

Continue reading →

“Ask Dalya”: Improving Website Content

Not long ago, I partnered with GiftWorks to present a free webinar entitled “Web Writing that Gets Noticed.” In it, we covered:

3 Keys to maximize your website content
Today’s web users: what we know
Best practices: usability & accessibility

Participants asked a lot of great questions. Check out the answers below!

Q: How does web writing compare to other writing, such as an annual report?

A: Web writing is generally more concise than other types of writing, is easier to skim, and takes advantage of the web’s linking, audio, video and interactive capabilities. It also focuses more on keywords and tends to have a conversational tone (as opposed to a formal one). You can learn more about the differences by watching the free webinar.

Q: At what grade level (for reading ease) should we be writing? Continue reading →