Telecommute:


Freelance Writers – Demand Studios
Health, Fitness and Nutrition Writers – Livestrong
Press Release Writer
Writers
DigitalSpy.com Sub-Editor
Film Reviewers
Garden Bloggers

Location Specific:


WomenWorking.com Web Editor (NY)
Food Critic/Blogger (TX)
NHL Writer (MI)
Copy Writer (NY)
Features Editor (TX)
Medical Writer (NJ)
Technical Writer (KY)
Writer – MadCap Flare (MA)
Lead Reporter (AL)
Writer (TX)
Beauty Writer/Creative Assistant (CA)
Technical Writer (NC)
Writer – Money Magazine (NY)
Junior Technical Writer (TX)
Writer/Editor (VA)
Bilingual Technical Writer (TX)
Technical Writer (CA)
Web Content Writer (MA)
Web Writer (NY)
Staff Writer (AZ)
Staff Writer (FL)
Writer – Technical/Nuclear Power (GA)
Writer/Editor (Wash DC)
Copywriter – Healthcare (OH)
Proposal Writer (NC)
Writer (CA)
Promotion Writer/Producer Opening (Milwaukee, WI)
Technical Writer (NJ)
Writer (OH)
Writer (IL)
Technical Writer (GA)
Technical Writer (VA)
Business Writer (PA)
Writer (MD)
Technical Writer (VA)
Staff Writer – Healthcare (Wash DC)
Writer (Quito, Ecuador)

Guest post by Courtland L. Bovee

All good writing involves persuasion-getting the reader over to your side. You may be writing to persuade a colleague to take on a new project, writing a blog post trying to persuade people to accept a new idea, or writing persuasive advertising copy for a new product. In each situation, your goal is to persuade your readers that you have something to say and that it is in their best interest to take the action you have requested.

Here are five elements to keep in mind when writing persuasive messages.

1. “You” attitude. Too much business writing has an “I” or “we” viewpoint, which causes the writer to sound selfish and not interested in the reader. If you want to get your point of view across, convey information, or persuade the reader, you have to talk in terms of the reader’s interests, hopes, wishes, and preferences. Good writing psychology requires that you present your message in light of the reader’s viewpoint rather than your own.

“I” or “We”
To help us process this order, we must ask for another copy of the requisition.

We trust you will extend your service contract.

“You”
So that your order can be filled promptly, please send another copy of the requisition.

By extending your service contract, you can continue to enjoy topnotch performance from your equipment.

2. Warmth. You can make all sorts of mistakes in your messages yet still leave your readers with a good feeling if you can convey the magic intangible of personal warmth. Warmth is more difficult in writing than it is in oral communications. Essentially, warmth is an aspect-possibly even the measure-of the “you” viewpoint. You should not only demonstrate concern for the audience’s problems but interest in their attitudes and an appreciation of the ways in which handling the situation is going to be helpful to them.

3. Parallel experience. One way of touching the right spots with your reader is to draw on a parallel situation in your own experience. Build your writing around this experience, or use what you learned as a basis for your writing. By creating a sympathetic bond between you and your reader, you enhance the person-to-person connection and help your reader to become more open to what you are saying.

4. Good manners. If you want to persuade your reader, you must show impeccable manners. In other words, be nice. If you are rude or overly aggressive, your reader will shut down to your argument and turn elsewhere. When in doubt, put yourself on the other end of the writing and ask, “How would I feel if this was directed at me? Would I be offended, or would I be open to listening to more?”

5. Tone. The tone of your writing goes beyond the content of your words and offers the reader an overall feeling or indication of your meaning. The overall tone of your message will depend on the subject, but a general guideline is to stay positive. Suggest to your reader that you are interested in his or her problems and in solving them. A good tone is ruined by using harsh words or phrases. Some examples:

Poor
the alleged loss
you claim that
you neglected to send
in which you assert
if we were at fault
we request that you send us

Improved
the loss you refer to
we understand that
you did not send
you tell us
please accept our apologies
please send us

Persuasion is an art, not a science-but that does not mean there is no winning formula. By incorporating these five elements into your business communication, you will have a greater chance of getting your reader to stop, listen, and take the action you want.

About The Author:
Courtland L. Bovee, one of America’s leading instructors in clear and effective communication, co-authors several leading college-level texts with John V. Thill, a prominent communications consultant and current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Communication Strategies. Their website, Business Communication Headline News, the #1 business communication site on the web, is at http://www.businesscommunicationheadlinenews.com.

Image: sxc.hu.

Telecommute:


Freelance Journalist
Bloggers
Freelance Writer/Researcher
Writers
Writer
Website Copywriter
Freelance Writers – Suite101
Country Music Blogger
Article Writers
Freelance Legal Writer/Editor
Quality Press Release Writer Wanted
Research Blogger
Editor of Consumer Website
Proofreader

Location Specific:


Writer (CA)
Freelance Writer for eBook (Vegas)
Writer – American Greetings (OH)
Freelance Copywriter (CA)
Spec Writer (OH)
Technical Writer (AZ)
Senior Editor/Writer (MO)
Part Time Writer/Editor (MD)
Technical Writer (VA)
Editor/Reporter (MO)
Need a Writer for a New Real Estate Website (West Village, NY)
Pomperaug Sports Writing (Southburyt, CT)
Copywriter (CA)
Blogger/Editor (Wash DC)
Freelance wine/spirits/liquor writer wanted for magazine (Westchester County, NY)
Senior Technical Writer (MA)

Guest post by Courtland L. Bovee

Millions of blogs fight for readership online (over 75 million by some counts), with thousands more being created every day. Making yours stand above the rest may seem like a daunting task, but here are ten suggestions for making your blog posts stand out from the crowd.

1. Write each post title so it grabs the reader’s attention. It is the first thing someone reads, and it should get your reader’s attention right away. Your title should both pique the reader’s interest and be informative. Do not write “Business Writing Advice”; instead, say “The Best-Kept Secret to Reducing Your Business Writing Worries.” Longer titles have the advantage of describing in detail what your post is about; 8-12 words are a good range.

2. Keep sentences short and clear. A little goes a long way. Readers are busy people and they will not spend hours detangling complex syntax or sifting through blocks of text. Also, use strong language. Start a new paragraph every few sentences, and limit each post to 250 words, if possible. If you cannot write it in under 250 words, split it into two entries.

3. Break up the text. Use numbered lists, bullet points, and subheadings to make your posts easy to scan. Lots of white space on the page is a good thing-it allows your reader to take mental breaks and let the knowledge soak in. In addition, with the inevitable clutter of banner ads and side text, this technique puts some distance between your writing and all those distractions.

4. Keep current. No one wants to read old news. Your job is to stay up-to-date so your readers do not have to themselves. Read newspapers. Scour the web for references. For example, if you write a blog about business communication, subscribe to Google News Alerts using keywords related to the field, such as blogs, podcasting, instant messaging, business letters, memos, and business reports, so you will always be well informed. Posting items from last month or last year will lose your reader’s interest faster than you can say “Enron.”

5. Be bold. Timidity is an easy path to anonymity. Do not be afraid to create and state your opinions. Of course, there are some situations in which objectivity rules-but you have to give people a reason to read this blog by you and not by the person next door.

6. Be accurate. If you make a statement, be prepared to back it up. Know what your sources are and quote them accurately. Misinformation spreads like wildfire online; do not be the spark that sets it off or the wind that fans it.

7. Contribute to the conversation. Links are great-but then what? Do not just post links to the same tired sites, offer your reader something new. Contribute to the conversation. Your goal is to be the site to which everyone else is linking-so you had better have something worth writing about.

8. Stay focused. Once you have defined the theme of your blog, stick to it. A blog about piggy banks has no business posting about the latest innovation in alternative energy. Such a deviance will only confuse your reader and chip away at your virtual authority.

9. Use key words liberally. Keywords are, well, key. Harness your blog’s search engine potential by dousing your title and post with effective keywords that will help interested parties find your page in the vast, muddled blogosphere. This is one of the most important elements of getting your blog read-go at it with gusto.

10. Be consistent. Keep a schedule and stick to it. Post frequently-at least several times per week if you want to increase your potential of attracting new readers. Let your blog languish for weeks without updates and your audience will move on to fresher ground.

Maintaining an informative blog that people want to read takes hard work and good writing skills. Find what makes your writing unique-and flaunt it for all it is worth.

About The Author:
Courtland L. Bovee, one of America’s leading instructors in clear and effective communication, co-authors several leading college-level texts with John V. Thill, a prominent communications consultant and current Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Global Communication Strategies. Their website, Business Communication Headline News, the #1 business communication site on the web, is at http://www.businesscommunicationheadlinenews.com.

Image: sxc.hu.

Telecommute:


Blogger/Social Networking Guru
Writer/Editor
Looking for Blog Writers to Write Quality Blog Posts on Their Blogs
Copywriter for fast turnaround catalog writing gig
Writer for A New Technology Website! (Chicago, IL/Telecommute)

Location Specific:


Writers for Start up Magazine (CA)
Writer (IL)
Ghost Writer (GA)
Seeking Editor/Reporter (MO)
Spec Writer (OH)
Technical Writer and Trainer (IL)
Technical Writer (VA)
Bloggers (TX)
Web Marketing – Copywriter / Blogger (NJ)
Blogger (San Diego, CA)
Technical Writer (OH)
Online Web Content Producers (IL)
Creative Circle: Mid-level Agency Copywriter – English/Spanish (West LA, CA)
Need Copyright for Website (Tempe, AZ)
Writer (CA)
Technical Writer (OH)
Writer (HI)
Technical Writer (CA)
Technical Writer (MO)
Web Content Writer (TX)
Writer (AL)
Writer/Editor (Wash DC)
Proposal Writer (NC)
Technical Writer (WI)
Senior Writer/Editor (MO)
Web Content Writer (GA)
Lead Copy Writer (IL)
Scientific Writer (IL)
Staff Writer (Miami and NY)
Writers/Bloggers – Apple Macintosh/Computer Technology Website (Denver Area, CO)

Guest post by Lisa Silverman

Once in a while I am called upon to edit or proofread a manuscript that makes a particular mistake with great frequency, and I’m reminded to tell you all to avoid aforementioned mistake. Today I am helping to rescue an author who had difficulty knowing when to include or omit the ever-present but little-considered word “that.”

I refer to “that” not when used as a pronoun (”That was a great party”), adjective (”I prefer that website”), or adverb (”He wasn’t that fat”). Usage in those cases is more straightforward, although the word can perhaps be replaced by a more interesting or descriptive one.

The more troublesome function of “that” is as a conjunction, usually introducing a subordinate clause. It’s troublesome because in many cases, it’s perfectly acceptable to use “that”—-and perfectly acceptable not to. You should be able to recognize when it makes a difference, and why.

Example:
“Peter told Paula that she looked beautiful.”
“Peter told Paula she looked beautiful.”

Economy of words being important to me, I would choose the latter sentence. It conveys the same information without being unclear. However, eliminating “that” can sometimes affect the clarity of a sentence, and while you’re being your own editor, clarity should trump even the economy of words. When the clause being introduced follows a transitive verb, the introductory “that” can often prevent a misreading of the subject of the clause as the object of the verb, as in this example:

“She trusted that Ken had been faithful.”
“She trusted Ken had been faithful.”

In this case, go with the first sentence. Why? While the meaning of the second sentence will be clear to most readers by the time they arrive at the period, they will first find themselves reading this: “She trusted Ken.” And we don’t want our readers to be confused for even the millisecond that it takes them to get from “Ken” to “had.” Because confusion creates distance.

This is another one of those little tricks you can use to address both wordiness and lack of clarity in your writing. Look for “that” when you’re rewriting, and make sure it’s there when it should be and gone when it’s unnecessary. And that will be that.

About The Author:
Lisa Silverman is a freelance book editor and works in the copyediting department at one of New York’s most prestigious literary publishing houses. She has also worked as a ghostwriter and a literary agent representing both book authors and screenwriters. She founded http://www.BeYourOwnEditor.com in order to provide writers with free advice on both writing and the publishing business.

Article source:
http://www.articlecity.com/articles/writing/article_1435.shtml

Image: sxc.hu.

This week was a doozie for me, because I (along with about 200 other bloggers) said a sad goodbye to b5media. They got rid of all the bloggers on Blisstree, EveryJoe, and Splendicity. A couple weeks ago they removed all the Entertainment bloggers. Just another day in the life of a freelancer, right?

Freelance writers today are used to uncertainty, but when you’ve worked with a client or company for a long period of time and have the rug pulled out from under you, it stands to reason that there are going to be a bevy of emotions that go along with it. Don’t think “business is just business” when it comes to your emotions. So while I’m sad, I’m also hopeful. I do believe that when something ends, a new and better thing begins. I’m looking forward to the possibilities. In the meantime, here are some links and news for the week.

• Check out my guest post over at Inspired Pen entitled “On Being a Working Writer.” Tel Asiado has a link for writers she interviews to showcase their work on a special on her site entitled On Being a Writer.
• At ProBlogger, guest poster Charlie Gilkey lists 8 Reasons You Might Not Be Getting any Comments.
• Angela England has an interesting take on the permanence of blogging when it comes to motherhood.
• Happy National Grammar Day!
• Ami Hendrickson talks about “Playing the Query Game” at her blog, Muse Ink.
• Check out my interviews this week at Cathy Stucker’s blog Selling Books and at Susan Whitefield’s blog.  These are two “preview” interviews for the blog tour I’ll be doing next month.  Stay tuned.

Telecommute:


Label Editor French Canadian
Content Editor
Need article writers to write about music
Review Bloggers
Bloggers
Consumer Review Bloggers
Blogger
Portuguese Language Copywriter
Freelance Writers
Copywriter with Web Copy Experience
Writer

Location Specific:


Staff Writer (NY)
Writer (OR)
Help Writer (MO)
Writer-Radio Disney (TX)
Copywriter (IL)
Writer- Content Analyst / FAQ Writer (CT)
Technical Writer (PA)
Web Content Writer (CO)
Technical Writer (ME)
Technical Writer (TX)
Economic Reporter (Wash DC)
Freelance Writer (AL)
Staff Technical Writer (OR)
Associate Editor (Wash DC)
Senior Web Writer/Editor (VA)
Part Time Writer/Editor (MD)
Reporter (VA)
Writer/Editor (MD)
Technical Writer (MA)
Corporate Communications Writer (PA)
Editor/Writer 2 (NC)
Copy Writer/Brand Mgr (IL)
Senior Writer (MD)
Reporter (NY)
Writer (PA)
Content Writer (IL)
Technical Writer (NC)
Senior Writer/Editor (MO)
Features Writer (WY)
Technical Writer (MN)
Writer/Editor (MD)
Writer (CT)
Writer (OH)
Staff Writer (NY)
Writer/Editor (MD)
Biography Staff Writer (NY)

Telecommute:


Web Content Writer
Freelance Writer
Content Writer
Grant Writer
Experienced Fashion Blogger Needed
Freelance Writer
Ghost Bloggers
Freelance Writer/Blogger Needed with Czech Language Skills

Location Specific:


Development Writer (NY)
Creative Writer (OR)
Freelance Copywriter (CO)
Writer and Editor (RI)
Looking for writer with interest in future technology. (Oceanside, CA)
Technical Writer and Editor (MD)
Writer (CT)
Reporter (IN)
Seeking creative spanish writer (TX)
Freelance Marketing Copywriter – New York
Freelance Writers
Sr Web Writer/Editor Job (VA)
Seeking Health & Lifestyle Editor-Writer (GA)
Technical Writer (Milwaukee, WI)
Columnist (NY)
Technical Writer (MD)
City Reporter (TX)
Technical Manual Writer (NY)
Tech Writer (MI)
Donation Writer (MI)
Scientific Writer (MA)
Technical Writer (NJ)
Senior Reporter/Writer (Cayman Islands)
Copywriter (AZ)
Technical Writer (CA)