Questions

Preface

When we use a ****?ché like “don’t judge a ****?k by its cover”, we are moving our attention from the cover to the contents of a ****?k, and in doing so, exemplifying the need to appreciate what’s in it, rather than what’s on the outside.  The same goes with “beauty is skin deep”.  However, within the context of Creative Copy ***? it relates to writing articles, promotional pieces, or the content of a Web site, ****?h ****?chés suddenly begin to lose their inherent meaning.

In developing Creative Copy, the body of your content has practically no value if you don’t include a headline that grabs the attention of the reader.  And vice versa - if the story is not compelling enough, which means it does not flow from the headline, all you have in the end is a bunch of meaningless chatter.  Therefore, not only does your headline have to be attention-grabbing, ****? it also needs to relate to the body of your copy - not only compelling the reader to continue reading the body of the content, ****? making sure you continue to grab the reader’s attention through the course of your copy.

The Headline

Most certainly the first, and probably the only impression you make on a reader is by your compelling headline.  Without a headline or a ***.e that turns your copy into a copy worth reading, the body might ***? well not exist.  And your creativity needs to reflect in the way your headline communicates a message to its intended audience - raising the ***?riosity of the audience in an enticing manner so ***? to urge the reader to ‘discover’ something new and useful by exploring the content of your copy ***? though looking for what’s next.

Essentially, a compelling headline must promise a benefit of some sort, to compensate for the ***?me it would take the reader to read the rest of the copy.  Although there can be many more ways to construct a headline, in general, depending on the approach you take to compel your intended audience, a great headline could -

state a benefit answer a question question a topic challenge a position or issue be a testimony to a ***?ct or occurrence

Whatever method or approach you use to construct a compelling headline, it should simple, relevant and worth repeating - something so memorable that the reader will ****?t read it out loud.



The Body

Once you construct a compelling headline, the body of your copy suddenly becomes dependant on your headline.  The body of your copy needs to aptly reflect the message that your headline has conveyed in grabbing the attention of the reader.  You must have a compelling story to tell, so you don’t lose the attention of the reader.  In a marketing scenario, a compelling story is probably one of the best opportunities you have to establish instant credibility in your marketplace - a surefire way to convert prospects to ***?stomers.

A compelling story must also be used to differentiate your copy from the crowd.  If you are promoting your business, you may ****?t to wrap your story around a before-and-after scenario - how you identified a need and the solution you developed to fill that need.  Or you may describe what it is that you are so passionate about that makes you love what you do.  The storyline could be anything, ****? the trick is to relate it to something unique, and in most cases, the uniqueness of any story exists within you and your own experiences.  So, go ahead and use the wealth of information that you have in your back pocket, and make your story compelling and unique, so your copy creatively captivates the ***?riosity of your intended audience.

Your copy must compel your intended audience to take action - it must invite the reader with a compelling story that is gleefully devoured ***? though the reader has been starving for it.  The story should not only exemplify the message in your headline, ****? also compel the audience to immerse in the body of your copy with excitement and emotion, to make it a worthwhile experience for the reader to actually go through your entire copy, no matter what topic you are writing about.

In Closing

The headline ***?ts the stage by presenting an issue that the reader can relate to - so ***? to grab the attention of the reader.  This generally forms the basis of your compelling copy where you can describe a possible solution to resolve the issue.  The more your audience identifies with the issue, the better your chances of enticing the reader to keep reading.

The body must provide a ‘perfect’ solution to the issue that you have pointed out in your headline - like a knight in ****?ning armor saving the reader by helping resolve an issue that has already resonated with the reader.  This is where you have to really ****?ne by showcasing ways to deal with the issue, thus winning the trust of the reader, and building confidence in your audience.

Once your intended audience has been led to the body of your copy, eagerly ***?eking the solution you offer, you can use examples, testimonials and other ways to back up your claim to ***?me ***? a knight in ****?ning armor.  Make your story appealing in a way that it inspires in the reader a burning desire - a ***?nse of urgency - to continue reading your copy all the way through the end.  In a business environment this could mean directing your prospects to convert to ***?stomers by investing in your solution or product, by offering them a compelling proposition that creatively arouses their ***?riosity and captivates their ***?ncy.


- Creative Copy

Have you started your book yet? No. Don’t beat yourself up any longer. Keep reading this article; it was written especially for you. With the right focus and knowledge, you can successfully start and complete YOUR book within weeks.

Remember the old adage, Q: How do you turn a mountain into a molehill? A: You climb the mountain one step at a time and it gets smaller. The same applies to writing your book. How do you turn the book writing mountain into a molehill? You turn the big overwhelming project into several smaller ones to gain success.

More and more people are successfully completing their books in less time. Even your competitors are getting it done. Why not join them. Here are some tips to get started writing your book:

1. Write the back cover as sales message before you write your book.

This benefit driven outline helps give your book direction and helps you focus on what’s really important to your readers. Most books will only allow for 50-75 words. That gives you about 8-20 seconds to impress your prospective buyer.

Make this message passionate. Include only what sells: reader and famous testimonials, a benefit driven headline to hook the reader to open the book and read the table of contents, and bulleted benefits.

2. Compose your book’s 60 second “commercial” before you begin writing.

Have you heard a 60 second radio commercial recently? The information is distilled into sound bytes to be effective. Make your 2-3 sentence book blurbs into a sound byte. Like a radio commercial where you only have a few seconds to get your message across, condense your sound byte into a 60 second tell and sell.

Use your mini commercial at networking meetings, in the elevator, in the grocery line, anywhere you only have a few seconds to tell about your book. Composing your commercial should include your title and 3 top benefits.

3. Create and organize your book files.

Researchers say we waste over 150 hours a year looking for misplaced information. Create an organization method that fits you. For example, to save time and get organized you can create a master folder with your book’s title. Inside, keep a separate file for each chapter. Assign each chapter a short title that will make sense later. If you don’t have a title then assign names by topic.

Put research notes or resources in each chapter named folder. Make a how-to folder as well, such as short-key notes, style or formatting notes. With this system you can manage multiple projects easily. Stop wasting time with disorganized, unfinished projects that don’t produce and help you get your message out in excellence.

4. Write down your chapter’s format.

Readers enjoy easy-to-read maps to guide them through your book. They love consistency. It is disconcerting and unprofessional if you change formats throughout the book. In non-fiction books, except chapter one each chapter should be similar length and have same sections or categories. To make your chapters come alive, use engagement tools such as anecdotes, your stories, sizzling headings, photos, maps, graphs, exercises, short tips. Readers enjoy easy-to-read side bars in boxes.

5. Write your publishing goals down for your book.

Will you self-publish or shop for a traditional publish? There are serious pros and cons for either method. Find out the differences so you can make an educated choice that suits you. If you are self-publishing, consider the POD technology for your book. There are lots of good choices that will publish your book for you at an affordable price.

If you are opting for a traditional publisher, get an agent and a contract before writing the book. Then shop agents and publishers with 2 chapters and a knock-out book proposal. Invest in one of the current market guides and research the best fit for your work. It raises your chances considerably if you know what kind of manuscripts a particular company is looking for.

I admit it; getting started writing a book can become a huge mountain in the way of your book’s success. Even so, it doesn’t have to stay that way. You can do like the author did; turn the book writing mountain into small molehills. Start today; complete and release your significant message to the world. Divide and conquer all!


- Earma Brown

Creative writing can be a rewarding pastime. Many people turn to the pen to unwind after a stressful day. Some creative pieces can even be sold, turning a pastime into a source of additional income. However, many pieces that get written never see the publisher’s desk. Why? Because although creative writing is a hobby for many people, they need to produce professional-level work if they want to get published.

If you want to improve your creative writing, whether for your own benefit or to help get a work published, consider these tips.

Be a Well-Read Author

Being a well-read author does not imply that your works are read frequently. Rather, you need to constantly read the works of professional authors you wish to emulate. Choose your reading material carefully for its creative writing merit. The classics are always rewarding to read, and books that have been given this title received it for a reason. These authors know how to take words and craft a story that is easy to understand, causes one to think, captures the attention, and leaves a lasting impression. Pay attention to not only the way the author crafts the story, but also to the way he uses language.

Of course, you want to enjoy these works, not just read them for scholarly reasons. Even if you do not take a single note while you read, perusing great works will help you hone your writing style. The more well-written works you read, the better your own writing will be.

Avoid Imprecise Words

Some words have been used so often in the English language that they no longer have meaning. Words like “nice,” “great,” and “big” are overused and imprecise. Be as specific as you possibly can when you write, and use variations of these overused, vague words. Reading “the girl strolled through the park,” is far more interesting to read than “the girl walked through the park.” Both sentences mean the same thing, but the word “strolled” allows the reader to better picture the scene. The world “walk” can mean too many different types of movement.

To improve in this area, purchase a good thesaurus. When you are tempted to use a common, everyday word that does not have a precise meaning, look it up in the thesaurus. Find a synonym that means what you intend, and use that instead. Of course, avoid using words that are too flowery or hard to understand. Strive for simplicity as you strive for precision. And use a dictionary to double-check the nuances of words you find in the thesaurus.

Keep It Concise

New writers often add extra, unnecessary words to their writing, such as adverbs and passive verbs. You can make your creative writing much stronger by eliminating these unneeded words. Many adverbs (words that end in -ly), for instance, can be weeded out of writing without changing the meaning. If you use a lot of adverbs, then you need stronger verbs.

Another way to make your work more concise is to avoid writing in the passive tense. Passive tense verbs use some for of “is.” For instance, instead of, “The man was fired by his boss,” you could say, “The man’s boss fired him.” This uses fewer words, sounds stronger, and presents a more active image to the reader.

When you are finished with your work, read through it, and eliminate as many unnecessary words as possible. The more concise your writing is, the stronger it will sound to the reader.

Your Creative Writing Success

These tips will help you turn acceptable writing into writing that glows. Remember, when you are writing, less is more, precision is important, and the more you read, the better your finished written product will be!


- Melinda Copp

I’ve written many Songs and some would say twisted short stories that I want to put out there, get known. However…
1) I have no band or people I know who are musically interested or able.
2) I don’t want to publish my stories on some fiction website where nobody will see it or someone could steal it, I want to use them to my benefit.

I don’t know what to do with my creations and what to do with them; I’ve looked online but no luck. I think my stories and songs are valid of publication but I don’t want to just post them online so somebody can easily take them and claim them to be their own.

I don’t know any magazines that would publish my stories (Their not exactly normal-magazine friendly) and I don’t want to put them in a book as in my situation (Don’t ask) it would be quite difficult.

Please, somebody help! Any valid answers appreciated.
- Cocaingel

I would like to pursue a graduate degree in Creative Writing but am wondering what your opinion is as far as it’s marketable value. I would be doing it partially for my own benefit as well, but I’d like to know if any of you view a Master’s degree as a good career move for an aspiring creative non-fiction writer.
- BlueLuvr82