Content Writing & Copywriting Blog

Tackling Writer’s Block

Nov 18, 2004 No Comments »

Many think writer’s block is nothing but an excuse for a lazy writer not to write. To an extent yes, I do believe there is no thing like writer’s block — you can either writer, or you can’t write — it’s all a matter of perseverance. I used to get this so-called block whenever I had to write something meaningful. I couldn’t go beyond a paragraph. My interest would evaporate, I would feel hazy and lethargic, and I would feel like visiting a porn website.
Now that I write content for a living, I rarely encounter the block. I can’t afford it. I can’t, for that matter, even afford to have a bad mood because usually in the next two hours I have to mail a document to a client. Even when I’m not feeling like writing, I keep writing until I get into the groove and deliver a satisfying assignment. Sometimes mind goes here and there. Sometimes there are hundreds of tensions in the family (for instance the latest episodes with my parents!). Sometimes words just refuse to come into existence. The only thing I can do at that time is, keep writing, keep writing, keep writing, keep writing even if it reads like an incoherent gibberish. Gradually, a pattern seems to appear and there are a few phrases that tickle my fancy. I grab them, gradually stretch them, mould them, and soon I have a paragraph that I like. From that paragraph I squeeze out another sentence and from that sentence another paragraph and then before I realize, I have my 500 words satisfactorily written!

Why Success Matters?

Nov 17, 2004 No Comments »

Success of my clients is very important for me — both on personal as well as professional levels. I always believe that my work should make a positive impact and if it doesn’t, I’m failing somewhere. Even if it doesn’t make a negative impact I feel uneasy and re-focus. Sometimes the web content I write doesn’t work. The sale-copy that I write doesn’t increase sales, or stops even those sales that were happening before. This is most traumatic. Amazingly, most clients think I can still work for them, give me a second, or a third chance, and eventually, things begin to work.
But I always strive to improve my client’s way of working once I begin to work with him or her. I remember how happy I felt when a client told me he could go on a vacation after years because I automated most of his work with a PHP program. Another said she was able to make more money when I changed the textual content of her main web page.
Since I value my success, I tell my new clients to pay me for my writing work once my work begins to pay them. It shows that I’m sincere, that I really mean to deliver, and to a lot of extent, I have faith in my capability. This becomes shady when clients get their job done, they are seemingly satisfied, and then they disappear. But this is a chance I’m ready to take.
Happy clients are good for my business too. Most clients prefer to pay once I deliver what they expect. I mentioned that in one of my previous post that a client called up and paid me even when I had forgotten to ask for payment. Success brings a positive impact. I want to have lots of successful clients: clients that are happy, content with my work.

Why Have Optimized Content?

Nov 16, 2004 No Comments »

Optimized content is rapidly gaining prominence throughout the world. It is written in such a manner that it is liked both by the readers and the search engine robots. The content is woven in such a manner that keywords and key phrases are repeated again and again without sounding repetitive or nonsensical.
But why write such content? Especially why should it be important to those webmasters who can pay for every click or who can bid for ranking? There are a few good reasons why your website needs optimized content.
Read the whole article…

Why I Write for a Living?

Nov 15, 2004 No Comments »

A simple answer could be that I “love” writing. I’m very happy when I’m writing. Whenever I have to write something challenging, something result-oriented, it gives me an adrenaline rush. I feel confident and I can convey eloquently without going overboard. But there is more to it. I not only write, I’m a freelancer. I do website content writing and copywriting as a freelancer. The word “freelancing” gives shudders to many people, who are happy well-cushioned in their non-inspiring 9-5 jobs.
I don’t “have” a job. I always have to look for it. It’s like you are appearing for an interview on a daily basis. My livelihood depends on my ability to sell my skill. On a regular basis I have to convince people that yes, I can do their job, and I can do it well. And above all, I have to deliver. Many clients like to pay me when my work begins to pay them. Does this make me jittery? No it doesn’t. It makes me confident. It pushes me to work harder, to give more than 100%. This way, I only get what I deserve. This gives me immense satisfaction. The more I work, the more I excel in my field. The more I excel, the more work I get. It makes a beautiful cycle.
A while ago I added Nick Usborne’s article: 5 Reasons Why I Write for a Living. In this article he talks about why he writes and why he likes to work on his own. There are pros and cons, but by the end of the day, given a choice, he’ll always chose freelance writing over a regular job.
Read the whole article…

English to Hindi Translation

Nov 14, 2004 9 Comments »

I’ve been, along with Alka working on a project for a few days. We have to translate an English documentary script into Hindi script. We have prior experience. So far the work is going good and the reviewer has liked it. We don’t translate verbatim and try to make the language sound as “normal” as possible. It’s a big project. It’s a corporate DVD of Wrigley chewing gum.
Translation is gradually becoming a prominent work, as more and more TV channels are getting their software translated to reach the regional markets. And the money is not bad too. If we successfully get the current project implemented, we may offer translation as a separate service and I’ll put another page solely devoted to it at http://www.amrithallan.com. I may try PPC campaigning too.