How to Use a Database to Store Content

(Excerpt) Using a database to store content has some big advantages. Assuming it is set up and managed correctly, and that users (procedure writers, content creators, etc.) can find, edit, and extract the content they need for a particular document, it can offer value in being able to ’single-source’ certain reusable content, and to separate…

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Pros and Cons of Working as a Remote Writer

Working as a remote writer might sound like a dream job, but it can also have its downside. One of the main challenges is that you’re not surrounded by coworkers on a day-to-day basis. The following are some of the pros and cons of working remotely: Pros of Working as a Remote Writer: Remote writers…

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How to Write Web Content with SEO in Mind

SEO (Search Engine Optimization) is a “necessary evil” for most writers and I agree with them. It’s not easy to write with SEO in mind because that brings in yet another level of discipline and complexity to a craft that is already complex and hard in many ways. But, on the other hand, if you…

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How to Split and Simplify Your Complex Sentences

© 2009 Ugur Akinci Here is a sure-fire method to split your long sentences into shorter and more easily understandable ones: Split your sentences at conjunctions like “and”, “or”, “while”, “however”, “although” etc. Those are the connection points where one clause is linked to another. By breaking your clauses apart you can develop a simpler…

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How to Eliminate Redundant Words from Your Writing

© 2009-2010 Ugur Akinci Repeating an idea has its rightful place in article writing, essays, or journalistic writing. Even if you’re writing a technical article for engineers and scientists it pays to express the main idea once in the header (a must), then in the sub-header, another time in the opening paragraph, and lastly for…

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How to Use Twitter to Promote Your Writing Services

© 2009 Ugur Akinci There is a good way to use the Twitter to promote your writing services, and another way that’s not that good. I’m finding these things out myself by trial and error and I wanted to share some of my findings with you. 1) Always share something useful and relevant, either by…

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Writers: Searching Through the Job Ads is not Marketing

© Ugur Akinci Generally speaking, we writers are not good at marketing our services. We love what we do and yet expect to be “discovered” and paid well for it too. Think again. This blog entry was prompted by an email from an obviously-very-qualified reader who asked whether she needs to get a technical writing…

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The Power of Text and Sub-Text

© 2009 Ugur Akinci We are all swimming in an seamless and boundless ocean of stories, narratives, texts, and sub-texts. Like the oxygen we breath, 99% of the time we are not even aware that that is the case. We are not even aware of it and that’s why it is so powerful. Here is…

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Write for Niche Markets to Earn More

© 2009-2010 Ugur Akinci We live in a world of specialization and specialists always earn more. There are neighborhood car mechanics who fix any old car and those who repair only Jaguars, BMWs and Porches. Guess who charges more? Your family doctor may know a lot about a number of different diseases. There’s also your…

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