27Oct 2019 by Colleen Casey

Quick Writing Tip: Apostrophes (You’re Doing it Wrong)

Beginner, Grower, Quick Writing Tips, Writing Skills
Apostrophes are used in contractions and to show ownership. But they’re being (mis)used for a lot more. Learn how to use apostrophes the right way with this quick writing tip. Quick writing tips are simple lessons for you to keep in mind as you write your web copy, sales pages, email marketing, social media, blog content, and everything else you have on your plate. This quick writing tip addresses a HUGE pet peeve of mine: unnecessary apostrophes. Apostrophes are being misused everywhere nowadays. It feels like I see them being used incorrectly more than I see them being used correctly.  The rule for using an apostrophe is simple: use it for a contraction and for when you’re attributing ownership. But for some reason, apostrophes are being used for more than…
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20Oct 2019 by Colleen Casey

How to Edit Your Writing Like a Boss

Blogging, Books and eBooks, Grower, How-Tos, Podcasting, Video Content, Website Copy, Wordsmith, Writing Skills
Editing is difficult, but it doesn’t have to be tedious. This post walks you through how to edit your content without losing your mind. Editing is the hardest and most time-consuming part of writing. When you hear the word “editing,” you might first think of copywriting, when you’re looking for typos, misspelled words, misused punctuation, and other granular fixes. But, editing entails much more than the tiny details.  Editing is the entire process of shaping a draft into its final form. It involves looking at the entire work, then at each chapter or section, page, paragraph, sentence, and word. You’re looking at how things are working on a deeper level than spelling. (But spelling is definitely part of it!) So, let’s talk about how to edit your content without losing…
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13Oct 2019 by Colleen Casey

3 Reasons to Plan Your Videos

Beginner, Content Planning, Creator-ship, Video Content
Videos are a lot to manage. Planning lets you make decisions ahead of time, leaving you the mental space to add value and entertainment during filming. Whether you make scripted content or freeform vlogs, it’s best to do a little planning before you start filming. A plan adds structure that helps you make sure that your videos attract viewers, that you have space to showcase your personality, and that you don’t ramble away from your intended message. In this post, you’ll learn 3 reasons why planning your videos can boost your views and engagement (and your sanity). 1. You Can Craft Your Story You want your video to be entertaining and useful from the first second. You do that by designing a clear path through a story or message in…
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06Oct 2019 by Colleen Casey

How Focus Shapes Your Blog Posts

Blogging, Grower, How-Tos, Wordsmith
Focused blog posts give readers your knowledge in a neat package. Asking the big questions helps you shape your ideas into great content. A blog post’s focus comes from the big-picture questions that drive it. When you define your focus, you answer the big questions that determine what information to share, what order it should go in, and why your message is important to your readers. To illustrate how important focus is to your blog content, I’ll be creating a sample blog post and shaping it up as I answer some big-picture questions. What Are the Big Questions? You’re probably wondering what the big questions are. I explain these in my post 9 Skills That Will Instantly Improve Your Writing: Ask yourself:1. What am I trying to accomplish with this…
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