Week 3 Has Passed…This Week is Your Last Chance to Win!
This week Tim Smith from Fuel Your Blogging helped us out and picked what he felt was the best writing tip and the most deserving of the Copyediting & Proofreading for Dummies book.
This week the lucky winner is Luc:
“Take a journal with you when you travel to take note of people,
places, food, etc. that make an impression on you. You will build an
inventory of characters and locales from which you can draw from in
the future. It is surprising how much your memory retains, just from a
few recorded details. And it is a great way to get inspired.”
Congratulations and great advice, Luc!
OK…it’s your last chance to go down in history as a winner of one of the “For Dummies” books from Fuel Your Writing! 
Here’s what is left. Who couldn’t use a little help with their SEO?
Week Four (October 26th-30th)- Search Engine Optimization for Dummies
Don’t stop now! You have until Midnight CST this FRIDAY (30th) to get your tips in. Here are the rest of the rules if you need a refresher. Remember, the more tips you leave, the more chances you have to win Search Engine Optimization for Dummies! It’s easy…just LEAVE YOUR COMMENT BELOW!
I have kept my tip for the last week – i am passionate about SEO Article writing. However one of me tips is:
Write everyday!
Write,first for humans and only then for search engines!
Always leave a piece alone for awhile before coming back to revise. A fresh brain allows for fresh thoughts and better revisions–a professor.
When you write don’t focus on being brilliant, focus on being yourself and telling the story (whatever that story might be).
A good brainstorming suggestion I heard once: Don’t just “think” of what to write about. Write about what to write about. Writing begets more writing.
SEO: Regardless of how important SEO is in your releases, the sentences still have to make sense!
Write for an audience of one – yourself.
Write about what you believe, and believe in what you write, because if you don’t, nobody else will.
Test different writing environments, such as: write with music on; write with music OFF; take your notebook/laptop to a coffee shop; write in the kitchen; write in the break room at work; test out different scented candles and/or oils.
I’ve noticed that I used to need music on while I did homework and wrote stories, but now I can’t concentrate with most music going (unless it’s a soothing instrumental, but sometimes that’s distracting too, and not in the best way). Testing out different environments might spark some inspiration and maybe even help you realize new ways of increasing the productivity of your writing project.
Writing and editing are not the same thing – don’t try and do them at the same time.
Write simply. Don’t use several words where one word will do. Don’t us a big word where a small word will do.
Learn to love the Thesaurus. There could be a better word to use, one that will convey your meaning clearly. It also jogs the memory when you’re floundering with a thought. (P.S. It will help in your keyword search for SEO, too!)
Be specific. Two vivid examples are much better than trying to cover an entire experience with “I saw many amazing things.”
When you’re stuck, go for a 20-minute walk — or other exercise. Some of my best ideas come when I’m in physical motion and giving the thought process a rest.
The best writing tip I’ve ever received?
Eavesdrop.
It may not be polite, but it’s one of the smartest things you can train yourself to do as a writer. Eavesdropping aids character development, provides you with strange perspectives, and prompts whole story-lines!
If you’re too moral to do your own eavesdropping, you can always take anything from http://www.overheardinnewyork.com/ and write the rest of the story. :)
I received this advice from my college “creative writing 101” professor. So far, he’s never been wrong. Even if you don’t necessarily “eavesdrop,” training yourself to listen will help you immensely as a writer. Take the naturally random humor and strangeness of humanity and spin it into literary genius. It’s free – and fun – inspiration!
Thanks for hosting this giveaway, Fuel Your Writing!