Beginner Archives » Empower Writing

21Jan 2020 by Colleen Casey

Can Good Writing Be Taught?

Good writers communicate their ideas in a way that others can understand. But were they born with some innate ability to use words well, or can anyone learn how to be a good writer? I’ve seen two main beliefs about writing that I want to debunk. The first belief is that writing isn't highly skilled. As a professional writer, I’ve experienced my work being discounted because when it’s done right, it seems effortless. If you speak and write every day, even if you’re only writing emails, how hard could it be to write a quick blog post? It turns out that using a language doesn't always translate to writing ability. The second belief is that writing is either something you’re naturally good at or you’re hopeless. You may be romanticizing…

07Jan 2020 by Colleen Casey

Quick Writing Tip: Less or Fewer?

Beginner, Quick Writing Tips, Writing Skills

Wondering when to use less or fewer? Use “fewer” when the noun is countable and “less” when it isn’t. Read on for some examples. This common question pops up from time to time, particularly while looking for the express checkout line at the grocery store: Is it 10 items or less, or 10 items or fewer? This quick writing tip truly is quick, because using less or fewer in a sentence is incredibly straightforward. Let’s get to it! Use “Fewer” for What You Can Count Use “fewer” when the noun it’s referring to is countable. Here are some examples: >> I need no fewer than 10 people to help me move these boxes. >> This bag has fewer chips than usual. >> If fewer people left their snack wrappers behind,…

03Nov 2019 by Colleen Casey

How to Make an Editorial Calendar: The Ultimate Guide

Beginner, Blogging, Content Planning, Grower, How-Tos, Top Posts

An editorial calendar helps you plan your content and stay ahead of deadlines. It's a useful tool for any entrepreneur or online creator because you always know what’s coming next and you can plan around big events, launches, and holidays. One of the worst places to be as a content creator is in the “what should I do next?” state of mind. Your energy should go towards your content, not towards all the decisions you have to make before you can even start creating. Your editorial calendar lets you make those decisions ahead of time so you can focus on your content. In this post, you’ll learn how to make an editorial calendar using the following steps: Start and maintain a backlog of content ideas to fill your editorial calendarSet…

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…

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…

29Sep 2019 by Colleen Casey

The 2 Types of Emails You Should Know How to Write

Beginner, Email Marketing, Grower, How-Tos

You need two emails to engage your audience and share your products. Use them to build and convert your list of interested people into loyal customers. There’s a ton of content to write as an entrepreneur, but little is more fear-inducing than email marketing content. When you’re sending emails to your email list, you’re walking a fine line between turning your audience into engaged customers and alienating them with constant pitches. Your email list is the bridge between you and your audience. It’s the most direct channel you have to both reach them and hear from them. And because they’ve opted into being there, you know they think that what you’re offering is valuable. But what's the best way to connect with them? How do you deliver content regularly that…

22Sep 2019 by Colleen Casey

Quick Writing Tip: That Vs. Which

Beginner, Grower, Quick Writing Tips, Writing Skills

Common writing question: when should I use that vs. which? The answer is easier than you think. Believe it or not, that and which aren’t used interchangeably in a sentence, although you use them similarly. This quick writing tip will teach you exactly when to use which word in your writing. (See? I already used one of ‘em!) What's a quick writing tip, you ask? 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. So, how are that and which different? It’s All About the Subject The rule is that you should use which with nonrestrictive clauses and that with restrictive clauses. A restrictive clause…

06Sep 2019 by Colleen Casey

How to Write an Amazing Blog Post: A Hands-On Guide

Beginner, Blogging, Grower, How-Tos

This post won’t just tell you what goes into a valuable blog post for your audience—I’m going to unravel this very post step by step so you can see how a post is built from zero words to a thousand-plus. Blogging Isn’t Easy You’re a blogger, or you want to be. You might even have some regular readers (nice work!). But maybe your views and interactions aren’t where you hope for them to be. It’s not enough to write something good enough, click Publish, and wait for the traffic to come flowing in. You have to add value that no one else can, and you have to make sure that your readers know exactly what that value is. So how does a simple idea become a beautifully-crafted blog post that…

04Mar 2019 by Colleen Casey

5 Reasons Why You Need a Content Plan

Beginner, Blogging, Content Planning, Podcasting, Video Content

Content plans are a vital tool for entrepreneurs and content creators who want to make and share content regularly but don’t want their lives to center around the question: What should I post next? Whether you’re an entrepreneur, blogger, vlogger, podcaster, or another kind of online creator, you’ve likely faced this question. Along with it comes the stress of feeling left behind because someone else is always making something better, faster. You know that the way to stand out is to be yourself and create content that you’re passionate about, but you can’t be yourself when you’re overwhelmed by the never-ending cycle of coming up with original ideas and producing great content. This constant state of stress is often called the content treadmill. You’re always running, but you’re getting nowhere.…

30Jan 2019 by Colleen Casey

How to Look Natural on Camera: Advice from a YouTuber

Beginner, How-Tos, Video Content

Countless new creators face this moment: They’re sitting alone in a quiet room. Their brand new camera is balanced atop a tripod or stack of books, red light blinking anxiously. They felt so confident before this moment—they’ve seen thousands of videos online before and have maybe even found a handful of other creators who inspire them. They were exhilarated by a flood of ideas and giddily set everything up. And now, they’re wondering how they’re supposed to look natural when they’re basically talking to themselves. I know this because I’ve been there. I’ve been making videos on YouTube since 2014, and I’m still learning better ways that I can be more myself when I’m filming. In this post, I’ll offer my best tips to getting past the hurdle of trying…

Category: Beginner