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24 Content Writing Practice Exercises Any Writer Can Try

In this article, we feature 9 content writing practice exercises that can help you improve your craft.

Content writing describes the art of producing articles, blog posts, stories, eBooks, web pages, and even books about a particular topic, web drives and content.

And there are more writing job opportunities than ever for content writers today.

But what type of exercises should you practice if you want to improve your writing skills, become a better writer and earn more from clients?

1. Learn a Copywriting Hook

2. write and publish one blog post ever day, 3. rewrite old content, 4. create content for a different genre or niche, 5. copyedit your work, 6. use writing prompts, 7. learn an seo tool, 8. write catchy headline, 9. change up your writing style, 10. start a daily writing routine, 11. eliminate filler words, 12. master storytelling, 13. edit someone else’s work, 14. do the alphabet writing exercise, 15. start at the end, 16. adopt a new perspective, 17. read other’s works, 18. pretend you’re someone else, 19. echo read, 20. master the active voice, 21. describe in detail, 22. practice writing in first-person, 23. construct shorter sentences, 24. create an audience persona.

Copywriting describes writing words that sell. It could be a sales page, a sales letter, email marketing campaign or landing page. Good copywriters get six and seven figures a year for their work.

It takes a long time to become a profitable copywriter, but studying popular copywriting frameworks will help you build better writing muscles.

One particular easy to use copywriting framework is the Problem-Agitate Solution copywriting formula .

Introduce a problem. Agitate the problem by explaining why it matters. Solve the problem for readers.

This copywriting framework is a great content writing exercise for introducing your articles, stories, or even chapters in your book.

If you’d like to learn more copywriting framework exercises, reading a great copywriting book helps too.

Read our guide: What Is a Copywriter?

It doesn’t have to be an epic guide. Start small. Start with 300 words.

Answering Quora questions and blogging about your chosen industry on Medium exposes your writing to more potential clients and helps build a portfolio.

If you’re a new content writer, this strategy helps cultivate a habit of writing every day and learn more about writing engaging content. Plus, you can add to pieces over time and build a library of content.

With Medium, in particular, it’s relatively easy for a consistent content writer to start earning a couple of hundred dollars each month by publishing their blog posts and articles. Newsbreak is another good place to try.

Read our guide to making money on Medium .

If you’ve been writing content or practicing content writing exercises for a while now, take an old piece of writing from a few years ago that didn’t work. Ask yourself:

• What’s wrong with the article?
• How can I improve it?
• What keywords should I include?
• What reader questions can I address?
• Can I use some statistics?
• How can I improve the introduction or include a more compelling call to action at the end of the article.

You can also use this exercise on your best writing or piece of content from a few years ago. Updating older popular blog posts and articles with fresh content, insights, and stats is a surefire way to rank higher in Google search results. Content writers behind big blogs do this all the time.

A niche describes the topic or industry that a website is focused on. Example of popular online niches include:

• Health and fitness
• Food and drinks
• Personal development

If you’ve spent a couple of years writing in a particular niche, for example, health and fitness, perhaps you could try writing in a different niche like personal development.

A new niche encourages content writers to refine their craft and work outside their comfort zone for potentially more profitable clients.

Good content writers can capture the attention of readers with captivating hooks, stories and even concise language. On the other hand, nothing deters readers like clumsy and awkward written sentences.

If you need help improving sentence structure, consider using a good grammar checker. It will help you find and fix typos, and other missed mistakes.

These best grammar checkers are also helpful if you want to cut down the word count. They’ll highlight needless adjectives and adverbs. They also help with changing sentences from the passive voice to the active voice.

Fiction writers traditionally use writing prompts to overcome common problems like writer’s block and work through a writing a first draft .

Content writers can use writing prompts too. I recommend use a question and site like Quora or a tool like Answer the Public or Buzzsumo.

These sites and tools reveal real-world questions people are asking… and about your niche!

Simply, enter a topic related to your discipline and read through the questions. Pick one, use it as your first sentence or as a type of content writing prompt.

Now, start writing and keep going for at least fifteen. Don’t stop to edit the first draft until the time elapses.

Want to learn more? Read our guide to freewriting.

I’m always amazed when content writers claim they don’t need to worry about learning search engine optimisation or SEO. These tools reveal the simple terms and language readers use about a particular topic. And they also explain what types of questions to answer.

Sure, creating content is creative but apply a little rigour. You’re not writing a short story for a judge, you’re writing for an online audience!

The next time you write a piece of content, spend five minutes research your target keyword (using Google Keyword Planner) and competing content.

If you’re a more experienced content writer, invest in proven SEO tools like Clearscope or AHREFs. A content writer who brings the rigor of SEO to their next pitch will stand a far better chance of getting the job than a freelance writer who relies on gut feel.

Headline writing is a distinct discipline for content marketing professionals and writers. But a headline can also make or break a piece of content. Instead of relying on the first headline that comes to mind, write 5-10 headlines for every article you write.

Insert a keyword into the headline and also use a powerword .

If you’re a blogger using WordPress, an SEO tool like Rank Math can help you check your headline before publishing it. Alternative, consider using CoSchedule Analyzer or Buzzsumo to deconstruct popular headlines in your niche. I also recommend building a personal swipe file of headlines you like and referring to it often.

Do readers or clients like articles written from the first person or the third person? Or do they prefer blog posts that have lots of statistics, imagery, and videos? Or how about real-world storytelling?

Writing a listicle today doesn’t mean you have to stick to that format tomorrow. Good content creators can take a single a piece of content and spin it into many variations and formats. Content marketing involves taking one piece of content and tailoring for specific audiences.

For example, a long form article can also work as an Amazon Kindle book chapter, an email series or a Tweetstorm. You could also create a photo essay of your work.

Award-winning novelist Stephen King has a writing routine. In his book On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft , he shares that he follows a quota of writing 2,000 words daily. Many top writers have a writing routine of their own. If you don’t have one, today is the best time to start.

Set a specific time in your schedule and dedicate it to just writing. This timeslot can be in the morning before you get stressed by your job and other chaos. Or it can be late at night when the world is quiet. The keyword here is consistency.

It will take you around 10 weeks to form a habit. In that duration, you’ll learn discipline and overcome procrastination. You also won’t be scared by a blank page anymore! Plus, you’ll be a more efficient and fluent writer. The more you write, the easier ideas flow from your mind to paper.

Read our guide: How to Write Every Day .

Filler words do nothing for your writing. They do not add value or clarify your message. Some filler words make content more conversational. But overall, they are unnecessary and make your content wordy. They muddle sentences and weaken your writing.

Common examples are

Brevity, or using as few words as possible to relay a message, is a powerful skill. Company slogans best demonstrate the importance of brevity. They highlight the advertising message in a mere two to five words.

Learning brevity will bolster your authority in writing and boost readers’ comprehension. To ensure you avoid using filler words, here’s a comprehensive list you can keep close.

Start training yourself to avoid unnecessary words by writing how you usually do. Highlight any word that doesn’t contribute to the overall meaning or tone of the sentence. Then, remove them. You may feel like this exercise is counterintuitive, mainly if you’re used to a verbose writing style. 

Removing filler words will make your writing tighter, more engaging, and more digestible. In time, turning complex ideas in a clear, concise manner will be second nature to you.

An excellent writer is an effective storyteller. Stories should transport readers, make them feel emotions, and connect them to your content. Storytelling demands practice, originality, and affinity with your target audience.

When you’re an effective storyteller, your readers will remain engaged. Know what your readers are curious about and what their current interests are, then connect your stories to those subjects.

There are many exercises you can take advantage of to develop your storytelling talents. One of the most effective is narrative writing. Through it, you’ll learn how to build a structured narrative, develop characters, and create interesting plots. 

Mastering your storytelling abilities can significantly increase reader involvement, make your content more memorable, and even inspire action from your audience.

Check out these 10 Personal Narrative Examples .

Here’s an idea: Exchange written works with a friend and edit each other’s work. 

You can edit another’s work even if you’re not a professional writer or editor. It’s an understated but potent method that sharpens writing skills. You will have a fresh perspective on writing and can critically analyze what makes good content. 

When you edit someone else’s work, you can objectively identify writing strengths and weaknesses. You can acknowledge different writing styles and follow formatting rules. Every edit gives you a sharper eye for detail and enhances your critical thinking skills to polish your content writing.

Expand your imagination lexicon with the Alphabet Writing Exercise. Its concept is straightforward: start a sentence with the letter “A,” the next with “B,” and continue until you reach “Z.” I first encountered Alphabet Writing as a group writing exercise when I was in college.

This exercise challenges you to develop cohesive and sensible sentences, all while following the alphabetical sequence. It stretches your creative thinking muscles, urging you to think outside the box to maintain flow and continuity. It also improves vocabulary and sentence structuring skills, as each sentence must logically connect to the next.

Here’s an example:

• A lthough it was raining, John decided to go out for a run.
• B efore he could step out, he heard a loud crash.
• C urious, he turned around and saw that his cat had knocked over a vase.
• D espite the mess, he couldn’t help but laugh at the guilty look on the cat’s face.
• E ventually, he cleaned up, put on his raincoat, and braced for a run in the rain.

Alphabet Writing Exercise is not only a great tool for practice but also a way to make writing more enjoyable and engaging.

Writing based on the ending of a piece of content will help you master the mechanics of a good writing structure. It’s essentially writing in reverse, where you see the wrap-up and then figure out the path that led there.

Here’s how to do it:

• Find a well-structured article, blog post, or essay and copy the final paragraph.
• Study this paragraph carefully, noting its tone, the key points it reiterates, and the conclusion it reaches.
• Using this information, work backward to develop a piece that logically leads to this final paragraph.

This exercise will assist you in developing logical sequences and appropriate pacing to keep readers engaged. You also learn the power of effective introductions and conclusions. 

As a writer, it’s easy to get entangled in your perspective, causing you to overlook how different audiences might perceive your content. This is where adopting a new perspective comes into play. 

For instance, if you’re writing about the law with legal professionals as the intended readers, it’s okay to use legal jargon and have a serious tone. But what if you’re writing the same thing for the general public? What tone should you use? How can you draw them in? Put yourself in their shoes and ask: Would you enjoy your writing?

Remember, not every reader shares your background, experiences, or knowledge. By adopting their perspective, you can evaluate if your content is truly accessible and impactful for a wide range of readers. 

Reading is learning, and a content writer should continuously learn. Don’t get comfortable reading just one author or visiting just one blog. Expose yourself to various writing styles, tones, and genres of writing. Letting yourself explore will stimulate your creativity and broaden your understanding of the written language.

Read articles, novels, and essays — each piece of writing offers knowledge. Pay attention to the author’s language, structure, and storytelling techniques. How do they capture their audience’s attention? What strategies do they use to convey their points clearly? 

Analyze and learn from other writers. You can then incorporate their successful techniques into your writing. After all, writing is not meant to be a solitary proactive. It thrives on exchanging ideas and styles.

I remember copying my mother’s writing style to make an excuse letter when I was in school. She has an elaborate way of explaining things. So, my excuse letter became two paragraphs instead of two sentences.

Have you ever tried to write like someone else? In this exercise, you will have the chance to be anyone. 

Start by choosing a short article. Then, pick a prominent character with a distinct writing style. Let’s go with the prolific writer Alexander Hamilton, one of the authors of The Federalist Papers. Try to rewrite the article, imitating Hamilton’s style. He’s best remembered for his powerful, persuasive writing with strategic arguments and demonstrative language. 

When you write as someone else, you understand their writing process. You realize what makes their content impressive.

Old writing styles may be impractical today, but the essence of effective writing remains the same. For instance, writers then and now still both focus on their readers. This exercise lets you highlight and incorporate these existing overlaps into your content writing.

Are you sure your content reads well?

Echo reading is a technique that involves reading your content aloud. You can read to yourself or ask a friend to listen and give feedback after. 

It’s easy to become so absorbed when writing that simple errors, awkward phrasing, and other mistakes become easy to miss. Reading your writing aloud allows you to catch these minor issues before they become major problems. 

Echo reading also helps to ensure your content has a natural, conversational flow. If a sentence sounds awkward or difficult to read aloud, chances are it will also be challenging for your audience to read. Additionally, you get to check the rhythm and pacing of your content, making it more refined and enjoyable to read.

Active voice focuses on the subject that does the action. The active voice is more straightforward and concise. It reduces confusion about who is doing what in your sentences. For example: 

• Passive voice: The ball was thrown by the boy. 
• Active voice: The boy threw the ball.

Content writing doesn’t ban the use of passive voice. However, the passive voice often uses more words, making the content feel impersonal and vague. As a content writer, you should always prefer to use the active voice when you can. Through it, you can directly present information and make your sentences easier to read and understand. 

Active sentences avoid repetition and give your writing a sense of clarity. It’s easier to make your ideas come alive. Mastering the active voice will dramatically improve your content’s overall engagement and impact. 

See our article on the best passive Voice Checkers !

In description detailing, your goal is to paint a picture in the readers’ minds. By concentrating on details, you offer a sensory experience to make your writing feel more concrete. 

In this exercise, focus on unusual or repulsive subjects. Look for a subject that makes you feel uncomfortable or strange. It’s a powerful method to develop your descriptive and expressive writing skills. Try describing the following:

• The texture of a slug 
• Silence in an abandoned building
• A budding migraine
• Chalk against a blackboard

Aim to bring these subjects to life through your words. 

Description detailing pushes you outside your comfort zone and grows your literary skillset. You can explore and discover new ways to express your thoughts and make your writing more captivating and memorable.

Use the first-person perspective to make your content more personal and relatable. It’s an effective way to immerse readers and build an emotional connection through words like “I,” “We,” and “Us.” 

First-person writing practice often involves drawing on personal experiences or thoughts. This exercise can include anything from a diary entry to a personal anecdote or opinions on a particular subject. You’re telling a story and sharing an experience or feeling. You can pull the readers into the world you’re building so they can see things from your point of view.

In content writing, first-person POV lets you create more authentic and engaging materials. It also adds depth to your writing by adding unique, personal insights only you can provide.

Short sentences keep readers’ attention. They are best for readability and impactful delivery. There is also less room for grammatical errors with shorter sentences.

In this exercise, you can rewrite your old post or find a random article online. Break down the walls of words as best as you can so they are easier to read. You aim to intentionally reduce your sentences’ word count without compromising the core message. 

Additionally, shorter sentences can instantly elevate the flow of your content. They present easily digestible information that is very effective for readers who often skim-read content. They are also powerful tools for drawing attention to key points and adding a dynamic rhythm to your writing to keep readers engaged. This practice exercise trains you to simplify complex ideas and make your content accessible to a broader audience. 

Do you know who you’re writing for? Audience persona creation embodies all relevant information you have on your target audience. It allows you to tailor your writing to specific readers.

Imagine creating a detailed character in a story — their background, interests, behaviors, and struggles. That’s what a persona is. These fictional characters represent different segments of your audience so you can better understand and cater to their unique needs and preferences.

Here’s a quick method to identify your audience persona:

• Who is your ideal audience? 
• What are their goals and interests?
• What are their behaviors or needs?
• What are their demographics?

Audience persona creation provides a clear writing direction and increases your content’s relevance. You can align your writing with your target’s interests, values, and pain points, boosting engagement through personas. 

You don’t have to have an exact definition of your audience persona right away. You can adjust the persona’s characteristics anytime to reflect any changes.

Bryan Collins is the owner of Become a Writer Today. He's an author from Ireland who helps writers build authority and earn a living from their creative work. He's also a former Forbes columnist and his work has appeared in publications like Lifehacker and Fast Company.

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Carmine Mastropierro

8 content writing exercises to level up your writing.

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Writing is an essential skill that everyone should have, but it’s not always easy to do. If you’re struggling with your writing, don’t worry, you’re not alone. I’ve been writing for 10+ years professionally and know what works and what doesn’t .

In this article, we’ll take a look at eight of the best content writing exercises you can do to become a better writer.

1. Freewriting

Free writing is a great way to improve your writing skills , and it’s a simple and easy exercise to do.

The idea behind free writing is to write without any restrictions, rules, or expectations. You simply sit down with a pen and paper or a computer and let your thoughts flow onto the page. Don’t worry about grammar, punctuation, or spelling errors. Just write whatever comes to mind without any judgement or self-censorship.

The goal of free writing is to break through any mental blocks you may have when it comes to writing. By allowing your thoughts to flow freely, you’ll be able to tap into your creativity and come up with new ideas that you may not have thought of otherwise.

You can set a time limit for yourself, such as 10 or 15 minutes, and just write continuously for that period of time. It’s important to not stop and think too much about what you’re writing, as that can disrupt the flow of ideas.

Try using a Pomodoro timer to stay focused and take breaks. This is one I like using because it includes lofi music.

Once you’re finished with your free writing session, you can go back and review what you’ve written. You may find that some of your ideas are worth exploring further, or you may find that you’ve come up with some interesting insights or perspectives that you can use in your writing.

2. Read More

I don’t know about you, but I love reading! I mostly read non-fiction about self-development, marketing, and mindfulness. That’s why I found it surprising when I learned 50% of Americans hadn’t read a book in the past year.

Reading good books is one of the most enjoyable ways to improve your content writing skills. Not only does it expose you to different writing styles and techniques, but it also expands your knowledge and vocabulary.

When you read good books, you’re able to see how authors use language to convey their messages effectively. You can analyze the way they structure their sentences, use metaphors and similes, and create vivid descriptions to draw readers in. By studying the writing of successful authors, you can learn from their techniques and apply them to your own writing.

Reading books can also inspire you to write better content. You may find that reading a certain author or genre sparks your creativity and motivates you to start writing yourself. By exposing yourself to different writing styles, you can also find your own unique voice as a writer.

Additionally, reading books can improve your knowledge and vocabulary. You may come across new words and concepts that you can incorporate into your writing, making it more informative and engaging for your readers.

So, if you want to improve your content writing skills, make sure to set aside some time to read good books. Whether it’s fiction, non-fiction, or poetry, reading can help you become a better writer by exposing you to new ideas, techniques, and perspectives.

Some of my favourite content writing related books are:

• Everybody Writes: Your Go-To Guide to Creating Ridiculously Good Content
• The Content Code: Six Essential Strategies for Igniting Your Content, Your Marketing, and Your Business
• On Writing Well

3. Practice Summarizing

Summarizing content and articles is a great content writing exercise that can help you become a better writer. Summarizing involves taking a long piece of content or article and distilling its main ideas into a concise and easy-to-understand format.

Try visiting your favourite blog (mine is Neil Patel’s) and summarize articles as a way to practice.

By summarizing content and articles, you can improve your content writing skills in several ways. First, you can practice condensing complex information into its most important points, which can help you become more efficient and effective in your own writing . This can also help you avoid information overload, which can be overwhelming for your readers.

Summarizing content and articles can also help you develop your critical thinking skills. When you summarize, you need to analyze the content and identify its key points, which requires a deep understanding of the material. This can help you develop your ability to think critically and analyze information, which are valuable skills in any field.

Another benefit of summarizing content and articles is that it can help you improve your writing style. When you summarize, you need to use concise language and clear, simple sentences. This can help you avoid unnecessary words and phrases, which can make your writing more engaging and easy to read.

4. Write Every Day

Practicing writing is one of the most important content writing exercises you can do to improve your skills. Writing is like any other skill–the more you practice, the better you get!

One way to practice writing is to set aside time each day to write. You can start with something simple, like writing in a journal or blogging about a topic that interests you. Over time, you can challenge yourself by tackling more complex writing projects, such as writing an article or a short story.

Another way to practice writing is to get feedback on your work. This can help you identify areas where you need to improve and give you a sense of what you’re doing well. You can ask a friend or colleague to review your work or join a writing group where you can get feedback from other writers.

It’s also important to focus on the process of writing, not just the end result. Don’t be afraid to experiment with different writing techniques, styles, and formats. Try writing in different genres or experimenting with different points of view. This can help you discover what works best for you and improve your writing overall.

In addition to practicing writing on your own, you can also take writing courses or workshops to improve your skills. These can be a great way to learn from experienced writers and get feedback on your work in a structured environment.

5. Use Prompts

Using prompts is a great way to jumpstart your creativity and improve your content writing skills. A prompt is simply a topic or idea that serves as a starting point for your writing. It can be a single word, a phrase, or a sentence that sparks your imagination and helps you generate ideas.

I suggest checking out the writing prompt subreddit to get inspiration and ideas. It’s also a fun way to pass the time!

There are many ways to use prompts for content writing exercises. One way is to simply set a timer for a certain amount of time, and then write freely based on the prompt until the timer goes off. This exercise can help you get your ideas down quickly without worrying about editing or perfection.

Another way to use prompts is to focus on a specific aspect of your writing, such as character development or descriptive language. For example, a prompt might ask you to describe a scene using sensory details or to write a dialogue between two characters with conflicting viewpoints.

Prompts can also be used to challenge yourself by pushing you outside of your comfort zone. For example, you might use a prompt to write from a different perspective, such as a first-person narrator or a different cultural background.

6. Practice Editing

Editing is a crucial part of the content writing process. It involves reviewing your work, identifying errors, and making changes to improve the overall quality of your writing. Practicing editing as a content writing exercise can help you refine your skills, catch mistakes, and improve the overall readability of your work.

Use the Hemingway App to catch errors and mistakes in your writing. It also scores the content’s reading level (typically, the lower, the better) and suggests various improvements. This will help you become a better editor and not make the same mistakes again.

One way to practice editing is to review your work with a critical eye. Read through your writing and look for areas where you can improve the clarity, flow, and organization of your content. This might involve reordering sentences or paragraphs, removing unnecessary words or phrases, or adding more detail to clarify your ideas.

Remember, it’s important to remember that editing is an ongoing process . Even experienced writers need to revise and refine their work to make it the best it can be. So, make sure to set aside time for editing in your writing process, and continue to practice and refine your skills over time.

7. Write Different Types of Content

Writing different types of content can be an effective way to improve your writing skills as a content writer. It can help you become more versatile and adaptable, and enable you to tailor your writing to different audiences and purposes.

One type of content you might consider practicing is blog posts. Blog posts are a popular type of content that can be used to share information, tell stories, and engage with your audience. They can vary in length, tone, and style depending on your target audience and goals.

Another type of content to practice is social media posts . Social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram offer an opportunity to share shorter, more visual content that can be more engaging and shareable. This type of content requires concise writing skills and an ability to communicate effectively in a limited amount of space.

You might also consider practicing longer-form content, such as whitepapers or e-books. These types of content require a more in-depth writing style, and often involve researching and synthesizing information from multiple sources. They can be a great way to establish your authority on a topic and provide value to your audience.

8. Get Feedback

Getting feedback from other writers is a valuable exercise that can help you improve your content writing skills. Having someone else read your work and provide constructive feedback can help you identify areas where you can improve and give you new perspectives on your writing.

One way to get feedback is to join a writing group or community . These groups often provide a supportive environment where writers can share their work, receive feedback, and connect with other writers. You can also join online writing communities where you can share your work and receive feedback from writers around the world.

If you’re a student of any of my courses , you gain access to the private Facebook group plus feedback directly from me. This is one of the best ways to learn content writing, as it helps you fast-track your success and learning.

For illustration, I critique my student’s sales copy on my YouTube channel as well:

Another way to get feedback is to hire a professional editor. An editor can review your work and provide detailed feedback on areas like clarity, organization, and style. While this can be a more expensive option, it can be particularly helpful if you are working on a larger project, such as a book or an e-book.

When seeking feedback, it’s important to be open to criticism and to ask specific questions that can help you improve your writing. For example, you might ask for feedback on the clarity of your writing, the flow of your ideas, or the effectiveness of your argument. This can help the person giving feedback provide more targeted and useful advice.

Wrapping Up Content Writing Exercises

Writing is an essential marketing skill that can be improved with practice. I know it’s not everybody’s natural talent but don’t give up! By doing these eight content writing exercises, you can become a better writer:

• Try freewriting.
• Read more often.
• Summarize articles and content on the internet.
• Make writing every day a routine.
• Use writing prompts.
• Practice your editing skills.
• Write different types of content.
• Get feedback from other writers.

If you want to speed up the learning process and get mentorship from me, explore my online courses .

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Best practice content writing

By using this best practice content writing guide anyone can profit from a faster rate of output, better quality and higher readership..

In a world of instant connectivity, where everyone is in essence a publisher, the quality of your content often comes across as the single most important impression that readers have of you or your business .

Best practice content writing is all about speeding up the process of creating content (while making sure all competencies in a writing team are used) and heightening the quality of your content are not mutually exclusive. All it takes is good planning, a bit of structure – and this guide for best practice content writing. Having fun doesn’t hurt either.

This best practice content writing guide is divided into seven parts:

• Why are you writing – gather facts and define key points and goals. Don’t try to re-invent the wheel.
• Who are you writing for – structure your tone and text for your audience. Set an appropriate reading level and cater for skimmers.
• Get the look right, make the structure clear – make your text look appealing and help the reader navigate. Avoid bullet-land.
• Use simple, grammatical sentences – keep sentences simple and as short as possible. Avoid strings of qualifying clauses.
• Use the right words – keep the reader in mind and use one word rather than several. Build a list of words to add to consistency over time.
• Be consistent in meaning and words used – adopt or create a style guide. Always refer to things in the same way, and stick to your decisions.
• Revise and edit your content – give yourself time and space to revisit your writing with a fresh pair of eyes. Pass your work over to a colleague, or a service such as Wordy.com.

At the end we provide a model workflow for writing and producing content, which you can adapt to your situation.

Why are you writing?

You must have a clear idea of what you want to say if you are to communicate it efficiently. You must have the content (the facts) to hand and you must also know what effect you want to have: do you want to inform, sell, persuade, alarm, reassure – or what?

Planning is key to a good end product. You must clarify meaning, message and then how you are going to structure your writing up front.

• What content do I want to get over? Gather all your facts and do your research up front. As you go along you may discover that you need to source other information, but do as much as you can first.
• What message do I want to get over? Are you trying to persuade, inform, entertain or do something else? Have in mind the effect you want to have on the reader: what do you want them to do or feel or think once they have read your document?

You next have to get your structure right. You could plan this as a series of headings or sections. Some people find it easier to work with mind maps to impose order on their ideas. Web designers and writers will use a series of cards with topics on and sort them on their desk to produce a wireframe.

If you are telling a story or relating history put events in a clear chronological order; flashbacks work OK in film but not in informative writing. If you are arguing a point or trying to persuade the reader, stick to essentials. Again, you must make your points in a logical order.

Certain types of writing: business letters, academic theses, minutes of meetings and so on have their own conventions and structure. Follow these and don’t try to re-invent the wheel. If you are unsure about structure try to get hold of a previous report, minutes or whatever to see how the document should be structured, or find out from a colleague or the internet.

Put important ideas and facts at the beginning of your document. In some cases an executive summary will ensure that key points are read even if the rest of your document is ignored.

Think about what you can leave out or put in an appendix at the end. You don’t want to clutter your writing unnecessarily.

Who are you writing for?

You have to know who your target audience is and who is likely to read your document. Only then can you make decisions about matters such as what tone to use, how complex or simple your writing and structure can be and how much technical language or jargon will be understood.

• Who are you writing for? Have you a specific target audience or is your document intended for a general readership?
• How will the reader read this? Will they skim read and come back to it if they need to absorb it, or are they likely to read in a concentrated fashion?

Your audience

It is vital to know whom you are writing for. If you are producing public information you must use plain English geared to a low reading age. There are various websites that will check a document for readability, and Word has this function as well. Business, academic, journalistic and technical writing can be geared to a higher reading level.

If you have to hold and keep your reader’s attention you must work at making all parts of the text lively and engaging. Even when you think you have a captive audience you should ensure your writing is a pleasure to read and not a chore.

Are you writing for native speakers of English? If you are a non-native English speaker you must be doubly sure you get it right. Keep to simple and reliable forms of grammar and words, use a service such as Wordy to check this out for you, or give it to a native speaker to review. If you are writing for non-native speakers, again you must be sure that grammar and the words used are absolutely correct.

How are they reading?

If you are producing web copy, advertising copy or a press release a reader may simply skim the document. In this case you must pay particular attention to the look of the document, to headings and to getting important words first in your sentences.

On the web, readers skim in an F-shaped pattern, i.e. they run their eye down the left-hand side of the text, only reading the occasional full line that grabs their attention. However, once persuaded that the page has information of value to them they will return and read it more thoroughly.

Use the right language

Do the readers understand specialist language or jargon? Think about whether you can get your message over using the comfort of terms you understand and acronyms that are second nature to you. Do you need to make sure that this is a text that could be understood by anybody? In other words, if there is a difference, use the reader’s language, not your own.

Get the look right, make the structure clear

Your writing must look interesting on the page as well as being interesting to read. You may use a designer to ensure a professional look, especially for a website or marketing brochure. However, you must still pay attention to paragraph length, headings, and other features on the page.

• Use headings to orient the reader
• Make sure your text looks appealing

Headings – short, long, informative, whimsical?

You know what your message and content, your structure and your audience are, so help your readers find their way round your document by making sure the structure is clear. Short informative headings that follow the logical progression of the document are key here. If necessary, use a hierarchy of headings and subheadings to add details to the structure.

If a reader can skim a page and gain an instant impression of the content from the headings alone, this will encourage them to read thoroughly.

Headings are crucial on websites where accessibility for people with disabilities is of growing importance. People with visual impairment will use text-to-speech software, which reads headings and links in order to help the reader evaluate a page.

Of course, whimsical or eye-catching headlines can also be used to great effect to grab a reader’s attention.

Varying the look of a page

Good design avoids the two extremes of a slab of text at one end of the scale and a page so full of different features that it distracts the reader at the other.

When you are writing, keep the following opportunities for varying the look of a page in mind:

• bullet points to illustrate key points will enhance readability, though you must avoid the obvious pitfall of populating your page with a multitude of off-putting dots
• call out boxes are used for special offers, important information, opening times, contact details and so on
• pullquotes add interest, but must be used with caution as many people find them distracting
• quotations that are longer than a few words can be displayed, that is put on a separate line, perhaps indented or in quotes or in a different font
• biographies of writers usually placed at the end of articles
• headers and footers, which can contain useful information
• captions, pictures are often used to ‘break up the page’ but an informative caption will add value
• space – is it better to have indented paragraphs or a line space between? Generally space on a page that lets the text ‘breathe’ is more attractive and an aid to readability.

If your document is going to be laid out by a designer, make sure you tell them what you envisage and discuss the options with them. If you are working in Word or a similar program, you can vary the look of the page yourself, but err on the side of caution; too many fonts and different sizes coupled with injudicious use of bold and italic will produce a mess.

Use simple, grammatical sentences

Keeping it short and simple doesn’t mean losing subtlety or meaning. Short sentences and simple structures are more readily understood than sentences with many subclauses and diversions. Of course, sometimes long sentences can’t be avoided; that’s fine as long as the structure is kept simple.

• Keep sentences simple and as short as possible
• Avoid strings of qualifying clauses

Keeping it simple

The clearest English sentence has a subject, a verb and an object, with one extra subordinate clause at most. In other words, a sentence conveys one idea only with possibly one related point.

For example:

He met his clients. (Subject (he), verb (met), object (his clients).)

Last Friday he met his clients at the hotel to discuss future strategy. (Main elements still in the same order with descriptive clauses, but still one main idea.)

Subordinate clauses

Keep subordinate clauses to a minimum, and don’t embark on a grammatical structure unless you are sure you can get it right. The following sentence is fraught with grammatical danger:

If he were to have imagined that the club was one into which he would immediately be accepted, he might never have made the inadvisable decision to talk to the oldest member up with whose ramblings he was forced to put.

The final clause here is technically correct but reads unnaturally. The whole sentence is a conditional statement, but could be written a great deal more simply:

He didn’t imagine the club would accept him as a member. If he had known this would happen, he wouldn’t have spent time talking to the oldest member and listening to him rambling on.

Using verbs

Use verb rather than nouns when you can. Strong active verbs are efficient and effective. For example:

Teaching children is a rewarding experience.

Rather than

The teaching of children is a rewarding experience.

This investment will interest pension funds.

This investment will be of interest to pension funds.

Use the passive voice with caution. Use it when:

You don’t know who is doing the action: My handbag was stolen. Or you want to avoid saying who did something: The decision was taken to refuse your application.

In many cases the passive simply takes more words while clouding meaning.

The bank will now be owned by Virgin but will still be run by the same staff and executive responsibility for the running of the bank will be undertaken by the current board members; additional financial resources may be found through new share issues.

Virgin has taken over the bank, the current staff will continue in their roles for the present and the current board members will maintain their executive responsibilities. If necessary new share issues will finance any future requirements.

Further guidance in the Wordy style guide

The Wordy Style guide has further useful information. The grammar section covers collective nouns, fewer and less, none is and none are, singular and plural, relative clauses, split infinitives, whether and if, and who and whom.

Use the right words

This is the fine detail of good writing. You must find the words that describe yourself or your company or your objective best and the words that the reader will be most comfortable with. In some cases these may be technical, specialist expressions, in others, everyday language.

• If in doubt use a shorter word
• Make sure you know the meaning of the word; don’t use it because it sounds right. If in doubt, check in a dictionary.

First, second or third person? In other words: we, you or they? The answer will depend on the formality of your writing. Generally ‘we’ and ‘you’ are friendlier and less formal than ‘it’ and ‘they’. Compare:

We have decided to offer you £100 compensation.

It has been decided that the applicant should be awarded £100 compensation.

Good news though this is, you feel better if you are told in the first way rather than the second.

Keep the reader in mind – use the words they will be comfortable with; if in doubt, keep it simple. So, for example, use ‘extra’ or ‘more’ rather than ‘additional’, and ‘finish’ rather than ‘cease’.

If you can use one word rather than several, do so: ‘with’ rather than ‘with effect from’. But don’t worry if you find yourself using several simple words rather than a longer one.

Use verbs rather than nouns: ‘inform’ rather than ‘give information’.

Instructions

Sometimes only a clear instruction will do. If you have to write an instruction, keep the words simple. Use direct verbs.

Turn left at the cinema. Check your fire alarm every week. Seek professional advice.

If appropriate, number steps sequentially. Consider using illustrations, maps or a video to make your meaning clear.

Myself/yourself

Use only for reflexive meanings and emphasis, for example:

What will Mario Monti appoint himself to next? In this sentence it is Mario Monti who is doing the appointing, not anyone else. Certainly the witnesses who spoke to Bruguiere allege that those were statements made by President Kagame himself. The writer is emphasising the fact that it was the President who made the statements and not one of his supporters or aides.

The Wordy Style guide has further useful information.

The grammar section covers collective nouns, fewer and less, none is and none are, singular and plural, relative clauses, split infinitives, whether and if, and who and whom.

The spelling and usage section gives guidance on common problematic words.

Be consistent in meaning and words used

It doesn’t take much to lose a reader’s attention, and consistency is paramount here. If a reader comes across factual inconsistencies, apparent deviations of argument and so on they will feel confused. Consistency in all its forms gives reassurance about the validity and authority of writing.

• Adopt or create a style guide
• Don’t change your mind about what you are saying half way through; make sure your message or argument or communication is consistent in meaning

Style guides

Choices have to be made about how a variety of things are written. A style guide will include guidance, typically, on such matters as:

• Abbreviations, acronyms and contractions
• Capitalisation
• Dates and time
• Lists: how they are punctuated and capitalised
• Places – Vienna or Wien?
• Quotations – new line, single or double quotes, attribution
• Spellings, especially –ise or –ize (organize or organise)
• Use of italic

Many of these issues are covered in style guides such as the Wordy guide. Various guides are published by newspapers and academic publishers and are available in print form and on the web.

It may be useful to keep a note of decisions you make as you write. This will be guidance on what to do another time and anyone else involved in writing or editing can do the same. A word list documenting spellings used will be invaluable for future use.

Consistency of meaning

This will present no problems if you have got your structure right and have your message, argument or policies clear in your head. If you know what you are trying to say, you are unlikely to contradict yourself.

Consistency of usage and tone

You should always refer to things in the same way. For example, if your company is Best Writing Ever Ltd, and you abbreviate this to BWE, you should continue to refer to it as BWE – of course company names are governed by branding decisions much of the time. If you refer to a company as ‘the organisation’, continue to do so, don’t suddenly become ‘the company’ half way through.

Keep in the same person as much as possible; if you are using ‘we’ and ‘you’, stick with that.

Revise and edit your content

You cannot revise and edit your writing too much. Inevitably there comes a point when you have done your best and someone else must take over, but the more often you can come back to your writing with a fresh pair of eyes, the more likely it is that you will emerge with a crisp and efficient communication.

• Give yourself time and space to revisit your writing with a fresh pair of eyes
• Remember that editing your own work is difficult; pass your work over to a colleague. At the end of this process send it to the professionals. Wordy will find those infelicities that no-one else has spotted.

Self-editing

Self-editing is not easy, but it is possible, especially if you give yourself a break from a document.

• Look at structure, grammar, punctuation and meaning. Meaning may be the most difficult one to spot the holes in; after all, you know what you mean and it’s difficult to spot where other people won’t.
• Think about content – are you sure there is nothing unnecessary in there?
• Look at sentence length, even if you are sure you have the grammar correct – consider breaking a long sentence up. It isn’t universally the right thing to do, but is worth thinking about.

A fresh pair of eyes

It is a rare writer who can edit their text efficiently. In book publishing editors and proofreaders are provided to polish the text. In an office setting you can perhaps ask a colleague or team member to review what you have written, or you can employ an agency such as Wordy.

You can also try out text on your prospective audience – web designers and marketeers do this as a matter of routine. If you are a non-native speaker of English, getting a native speaker to review your work will throw up awkward phrasing and off-key use of words.

Model for best practice content writing

• Define purpose of document.
• Define target audience for document.
• Set way points for progress.
• Gather your team if more than one person is involved. You need to line up an editor, proofreader, designer, indexer, web designer and so on in good time.
• Gather key facts, and research if necessary.
• Plan your structure.
• If appropriate liaise with your designer.
• Have necessary references to hand (style guide, dictionary, web access etc).
• Start writing, making notes of any style decisions you make along the way.
• If you are not using a designer, consider the look of your document. Word styles are useful and enable you to make global changes easily.
• Structure – does it work?
• Content – is it all there? Can anything be omitted?
• Are grammar, punctuation and spelling correct?
• Are the words right? Does the message get over clearly?
• Send draft for consultation and approval if appropriate.

Happy best practice content writing!

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20 Best Free Content Writing Tools

Millie Dinsdale

Table of Contents

Features to look for in a content writing tool, best overall content writing tool, free research content writing tools, seo content writing tools, free grammar and editing content writing tools, miscellaneous content writing tools, how to pick the best tools for content writing.

As content writers, we know how long it takes to create high-quality, engaging content. When you’re producing multiple articles weekly, it feels like an insurmountable mountain. That’s why we, like many others, use writing tools.

Content writing tools help streamline more manual parts of the content creation process, improve overall productivity, and help keep writers happy.

But content writing is a complex process that involves many unique steps, with each step requiring different features and tools.

Working out which tools you do and don’t need is time-consuming. Which is why we’ve done the legwork for you.

Here are 20 tools split into four categories: content research, SEO content optimization tools, editing, and miscellaneous. For each tool, we’ve broken down the features, integrations, pros and cons, and pricing. We also give a recommendation for the best overall content writing tool.

A great content tool matches your budget, works with your current writing process, offers the features you need but not the ones you don’t, and is highly customizable. With that in mind, here are four features you should look for in a content writing tool.

There’s a vast array of pricing options out there, from free to $500+ per month.

The amount you should pay depends on how many tools you need, how many people will use the tool, how frequently you intend to use the tool, and how important the tool’s output is.

Some tools offer a lighter touch and help you improve your writing without doing it for you. Others offer a heavier touch and generate content in bulk. And some tools offer a mixture, giving you the freedom to choose.

To get the best tool for you, decide on how involved you’d like the features to be before purchasing.

Integrations

Do you prefer writing online or offline? Would you like to work in a dedicated app or have a tool that slots into your favorite writing app?

It’s essential you answer these two questions before deciding on a tool. If you don’t, you may find yourself with a tool that slows you down rather than speeds you up.

Customizability

Do you need to add a custom dictionary? Does your business have specific writing and content rules you need the tool to abide by? Do you need to write in multiple languages? Do you have additional security requirements?

If you’re looking for a fully customizable tool, we recommend starting with the paid tools, as the free tools are more generic.

ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid is an all-in-one AI tool that strikes the perfect balance between being a writing aid and giving writers autonomy over their work.

The tool offers 25+ online writing tools and reports that help with every aspect of writing, from improving sentence length and structure, to adding transitions, highlighting overused words, correcting grammar and spelling, and even providing suggestions to enhance dialogue.

In addition to this, you can also see in-tool articles, videos, and quizzes so you can learn and improve as you go.

With a Premium Pro license, you get access to Sparks, which is an AI generative tool that provides more options than any other software on the market. With Sparks, you can improve fluency, summarize text, add sensory descriptions, expand from notes, add dialogue, quotes, emphasis, counterarguments, and much more.

Integrations : Windows, Mac, MS Word (Windows & Mac), Google Docs, Scrivener, Final Draft, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge.

Price : ProWritingAid has three pricing options: Free, Premium, and Premium Pro. The Free plan allows users to access 25+ reports with a 500-word limit. The Premium plan has an unlimited word count and costs $10 a month. The Premium Pro plan adds 10x the usage of AI features and costs $12 a month.

Conclusion : If you want a tool that can help you with every aspect of writing, including generative AI, then try ProWritingAid for free .

Google Bard

Google Bard is a conversational AI tool available to the public in over 40 languages in 230 countries and territories.

It has three different generative options: Understand, Create, and Explore. Understand provides specific details and information. Create generates text based on a user’s prompt. Explore is for general requests and exploration.

The tool also offers voice commands, translation in over 100 languages, and a share feature, so you can continue and refine responses with others.

Integrations : Chrome, Opera, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Price : Free to everyone aged 18 and older.

Conclusion : It’s useful for providing information for general use, but it isn’t a top choice for business writers or students due to the lack of citations, the limited privacy, and the fact that you cannot sign up with a business account.

ChatGPT is an online chatbot that can answer questions in a conversational manner.

It uses natural language processing (NLP) to understand messages, make inferences, and generate replies. The program uses information that is publicly available on the internet, information from licensed third parties, and information from users and human trainers.

It has a few limitations. For example, it’s only trained on information up to September 2021, the tool generates responses that can be biased, and it is not a grammar checker tool.

The interface is simple. You simply add a prompt and ask ChatGPT to generate content. You can then edit the prompt and regenerate responses.

Integrations : Online and Android, iPhone, and iPad apps.

Price : Free.

Conclusion : Despite its limitations, ChatGPT is a great free online tool with a lot of potential as a content generator. However, you have to spend significant time and effort generating the right prompts to get the most out of the tool.

Google Trends

Google Trends is a tool that analyzes search queries and shows search trends over a set time period.

It works by sampling search data and generating a graph. This process means that users can quickly generate results, which would not be possible if the tool crawled the billions of search results for each search query.

Instead of providing exact data, it provides comparative data, rating each keyword from 1 to 100, with 100 representing the highest amount of traffic at a given time.

Integrations : Online only.

Conclusion : Like most of Google’s tools, Trends is incredibly intuitive, and the limited features it offers are excellent. However, this is a tool that should be used alongside other tools rather than a stand-alone.

Create high quality content quickly

Write flawless content with the help of an AI-powered writing aid.

Frase is an SEO-optimized content generation tool for digital content creators.

It helps with the four stages of the content creation process: researching, outlining, writing, and optimizing.

In the research stage, you can analyze competitors and generate content briefs. Then, in the outline stage, you can generate heading and sub-heading ideas. In the writing stage, the tool can create blog intros, FAQs, and general content. Finally, in the final stage, you can identify target keywords and compare your article to competitors.

Integrations : Google Doc, Chrome, Google Search Console, and WordPress.

Price : Frase has three plans: Solo, Basic, and Team. The Solo plan is $14.99 a month and allows you to optimize four articles a month. The Basic plan is $44.99 a month, and you can optimize 30 articles a month. The Team plan is $114.99 a month. It includes three seats and has unlimited use.

Conclusion : It’s a great tool for producing SEO-optimized article drafts, but writers will need to run their work through another tool to edit because Frase doesn’t offer advanced writing suggestions.

Writesonic is an AI content creation tool that generates text, images, and audio.

It pulls information from Google, and it has built-in SEO optimization tools. The tool also offers the ability to generate prompts if you are facing writer’s block, and AI images.

One of the most popular features is brand style, which allows you to create content in line with your brand voice. This helps users ensure their content is always consistent.

Integrations : Zapier.

Price : There are four plans: Free, Freelancer, Small Team, and Enterprise. The Free plan has a maximum of 10,000 words a month. The Small Team costs $13 a month, and the Freelancer costs $16 a month. They both offer a few more features than the Free plan. The Enterprise plan is $500+ a month and offers enhanced security, onboarding, and support.

Conclusion : The tool speeds up content creation, but the difference between the four plans is not clear, and they’re on the higher end of the price spectrum.

SurferSEO is a tool designed for writers to optimize their content for search engines.

It analyzes your content against the existing content that ranks for a particular keyword. It provides target keywords, titles, image counts, and word counts. Plus, SurferSEO works in any language, so you can rank content anywhere.

The tool can also generate briefs with headlines and check for plagiarism, so you can ensure your content is always your own.

Integrations : Jasper, Contentful, WordPress, Google Docs and Keyword Surfer.

Price : There are four plans: Essential AI, Advanced AI, Max AI, and Enterprise. The Essential AI plan costs $139 a month and allows you to generate five articles a month with 15 content editors. The Max AI plan allows you to generate 20 articles per month with 90 content editors, and it costs $499 per month.

Conclusion : The content editing features are incredibly user-friendly, meaning that anyone can use them with ease. However, the tool is quite pricey, and only the cheapest plan is suitable for individual writers.

Semrush is an SEO content tool designed for small to medium-sized businesses.

It offers help with keyword research, on-page SEO, competitor analysis, local SEO, rank tracking, content marketing, social media management, link building, and more.

The tool has a simple interface that is suitable for marketing teams who don’t have a dedicated SEO expert. The inbuilt reporting and social media tracking also mean that it’s suitable for teams who are tight on resources.

Integrations : Gmail, Google Analytics, Google Docs, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, WordPress, Trello, and more.

Price : There are four plans: Free, Pro, Guru, and Business. The Free plan gives you an idea of how the interface works and what the tool can do. The Pro plan costs $129.95 monthly and allows you to create up to five projects. The Business plan costs $499.95 a month, is designed for agencies, and allows you to create 40 projects.

Conclusion : This is an excellent tool for teams and individuals who are getting started with SEO. However, it prioritizes search engines over the reader, so if you would like content that does it all, you’ll need a writing tool alongside this.

Scalenut is a research and optimization SEO tool designed for marketing and content teams.

It has a variety of features, including a keyword planner that suggests keywords and interlinking structures. There is also a topic researcher, content optimizer, traffic analyzer, and more.

The tool works in multiple languages, including English, German, Japanese, French, Chinese, and more.

Integrations : WordPress, Semrush, and Copyscape.

Price : There are four plans: Essential, Growth, Pro, and Enterprise. The Essential plan costs $39 a month and allows you to generate 100,000 words. The Pro plan costs $74 a month, includes two seats, and allows you to audit and create 75 articles per month.

Conclusion : The UI is easy to use and suitable for SEO beginners. However, the tool doesn’t suggest any writing improvements, so you may want to run your long-form content through another tool before publishing.

LanguageTool

LanguageTool is a paraphraser, text editor, and grammar checker.

It can fix punctuation mistakes, help with formatting, and allow you to set up your own style guide. Premium users have access to unlimited rephrasing, while Free users are limited to five per day.

Additionally, LanguageTool works in over 25 languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Italian. Although it doesn’t offer the option to translate any text.

Integrations : Chrome, Edge, Google Docs, Firefox, and more.

Price : There are three plans: Free, Premium, and Teams. The Free plan offers basic features, with the advanced features behind a pay wall. The Premium plan offers four payment intervals, with the cheapest being the two-year plan, and the most expensive being the monthly. The Team plan is priced per number of users and offers additional features like a team style guide and dictionary.

Conclusion : LanguageTool’s price is on the lower end, and it offers a fair selection of features. However, the lack of a plagiarism checker, tone checker, and structural reports means that academic and creative writers may need to carry out additional edits.

Like ProWritingAid, Grammarly is an AI writing tool that checks grammatical errors in your writing in real time. It’s designed to streamline the writing process and reduce writing errors.

It’s available for multiple different English dialects, including British English, Canadian English, and American English.

Some of its most popular features are spell check, engagement ratings, citation generator, grammar check, synonym checker, readability score, writing style suggestions, plagiarism detection, tone adjustments, and writing assistant.

Another popular feature is the paraphraser, which allows you to reword sentences, emails, articles, academic work, and more.

Integrations : Windows, Mac, MS Word (Windows & Mac), Google Docs, Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge.

Price : Grammarly offers four different subscriptions: Free, Premium, Business, and Enterprise. The Free plan is simple and corrects written mistakes. The Premium plan includes rewrites, plagiarism checks, and more. The Business and Enterprise plans are designed for teams and organizations, and they include enhanced security and customized integrations.

Conclusion : This is a generalized tool suitable for most types of writers. However, if you’re looking for a targeted tool that offers customized writing options for creative, academic, or business writers, other tools may be better suited.

Quillbot is a writing tool for students and working professionals.

Quillbot offers seven features: paraphraser, grammar checker, co-writer, plagiarism checker, summarizer, translator, and citation generator. The most well-known of these features is paraphrase, which has a variety of modes, including standard, fluency, and creative.

The tool is available in over 20 languages, including English, Spanish, German, and French.

Integrations : Chrome, Google Docs, Microsoft Word, and more.

Price : There are two plans available: Free and Premium. The Free plan is limited and gives users an idea of what the tool can do. The Premium plan includes all the features and is available in three different payment plans: annual, semi-annual, and monthly. The annual plan costs $99.95 a year, and the monthly plan totals to $239.40 a year.

Conclusion : The plagiarism checker and citation text generator tools make Quillbot a useful tool for students, although the pricing is on the higher end for academic aids.

Ginger is an AI-powered writing assistant and proofreading tool designed for all types of writers.

The tool offers basic grammar and spell checking, which you can accept and correct in bulk, a translator, a rephraser, text-to-speech, and more.

The translator is the feature that sets Ginger apart. It allows you to translate into 50 languages, plus it can proofread text in those languages too.

Integrations : Microsoft Office, Gmail, Chrome, Safari, Edge, desktop and mobile apps, and more.

Price : There are six plans: Free, Monthly, Quarterly, Annual, 2-year, and Teams. The Monthly plan is $19.99, and the 2-year plan is $120 overall. The Teams plan is $4.99 per month per member. Each paid plan offers the same features.

Conclusion : It’s a top choice for English second language (ESL) speakers because of the translator, but for native English speakers, it doesn’t have as many advanced features as some of the other writing tools on this list.

Spinbot is a free grammar checker, summarizer, and article rewriter tool, primarily designed for students and academics.

You can use it to rewrite large pieces of text, or you can split content down into smaller pieces and paraphrase paragraph by paragraph.

It’s not a content generator, so users have to first generate text with the important points before pasting it into the tool and running a basic paraphrase. You can ask the tool to rephrase the text, shorten it, or lengthen it.

Conclusion : The tool is basic and functions much like a synonym generator. It’s useful if you have a sentence that you want to change, but it is not effective for long chunks of text.

Claude is an AI writing assistant that is accessible through a simple chat interface.

It’s designed for business professionals and can help with coding, content generation, customer support, editing, translation, summarization, and more.

One of the most popular features of the tool is the high security. Unlike many other generative AI tools on the market, Claude does not use user data to train. This makes it perfect for businesses who need help working with sensitive information.

Price : There are two options, Claude instant and Claude 2. Claude instant is good for lightweight requests at a reasonable price. Claude 2 is a more expensive version of the tool designed for complex tasks. Each plan is priced per million tokens, which are used to complete actions.

Conclusion : Claude is an excellent option for business professionals who frequently encounter limits and issues with other free generative AI tools. However, if you are a casual user, its functionality is probably more advanced than you need.

Anyword is an AI writing tool for marketers.

It can create a variety of content in your brand voice, including emails, ads, social media posts, and web pages. The tool analyzes all the published content you have in order to learn and replicate your brand voice, tone, and messaging. You can optimize this process by feeding the tool information about which pieces of content were the most successful.

Integrations : Chrome, Notion, Canva, and more.

Price : There are four plans: Starter, Data-Driven, Business, and Enterprise. The Starter plan is $39 a month and is suitable for one user. The Data-Driven plan allows up to three users and is $79 a month. The Business plan is $249 a month and also allows three users alongside additional integrations with other marketing channels. The Enterprise plan has pricing on request and includes customizable security options.

Conclusion : With the cheapest plan coming in at $468 a year, it is likely too pricey for small businesses.

Rytr is an AI writing assistant for content creators.

It can create blog post outlines, copywriting frameworks, emails, social media posts, SEO meta titles, job descriptions, and more.

The tool works in over 30 languages and has a built-in plagiarism checker to ensure all copy is original. It also has an image generator, although this is limited on every plan (including Unlimited).

Integrations : Chrome and desktop apps for Mac and PC.

Price : There are three plans: Free, Saver, and Unlimited. The Free plan allows you to generate 10,000 characters per month. The Saver plan costs $9 a month and allows you to generate 100,000 characters and 20 images. The Unlimited plan costs $29 a month and allows for unlimited content generation.

Conclusion : It’s adept at generating short-form copy, such as social media posts and emails, but it isn’t as good at creating long-form content, such as reports and articles.

Paraphraser.io

Paraphraser.io is a text rephraser designed for academics, freelancers, and SEO content writers.

There are six rephrasing options: fluency, standard, word changer, creative, smarten, and shorten. There is also a plagiarism checker, although the word count is limited if you’re on a free plan.

The company doesn’t offer refunds on purchases, so it’s important to try the free version and make sure it works for you before upgrading.

Integrations : Online only, unless you’re an enterprise customer.

Price : There are three plans for students: Weekly, Monthly, and Yearly. All the plans have similar limits on plagiarism checks, word changes, and paraphrasing. The Weekly plan is $9 a week, the Monthly plan is $23 a month, and the Yearly plan is $69 a year. There are also enterprise options available.

Conclusion : The functionality is limited, and other rephrasing tools provide more for cheaper. Although the free option, which has a limit of 600 words, is great for the occasional user.

Jasper is an AI content generator that markets itself toward enterprise teams.

It can learn from your brand’s style and tone and generate unique high-quality and engaging content that matches your brand voice.

Jasper can create a variety of content, like product descriptions, social posts, landing page copy, ad copy, and unique articles.

Integrations : Chrome and Microsoft Edge.

Price : There are three plans: Creator, Teams, and Business. Creator is for individuals and costs $39 a month. Teams includes up to three seats and is $99 a month. The Business plan includes all the same features and is available on request.

Conclusion : A comprehensive tool with a user-friendly interface, although it’s quite expensive if it’s for occasional use.

Smodin is an AI writing tool designed for students. It can help with homework, grading, plagiarism detection, and more.

It can simplify homework by showing explanations for any type of question, providing relevant resources, and assessing the structure and quality of a piece.

You can grade your own papers by using a premade grading system, or you can upload your own. It provides an estimated grade with feedback about why you received that grade, meaning you can improve your work before turning it in.

There is also a plagiarism detector, which students can use to ensure they only turn in original content and never unintentionally plagiarize.

Price : There are three plans: Limited, Essentials, and Productive. The Limited plan is free, the Essentials plan is $10 a month, and the Productive plan is $29 a month. The best plan for you depends on your intended usage frequency.

Conclusion : A useful tool for students with some unique features, although the pricing is quite steep if you plan to use it often.

When it comes to picking a content tool, free trials, money-back guarantees, and free plans are your best friend.

Reading reviews, talking to colleagues, and looking at feature lists will give you a good idea about how a tool works, but there’s no better way to decide whether it’s right for you than by trying it for yourself.

If you’re looking for a tool to help with every aspect of writing, including ideation, drafting, editing, and proofing, then why not give ProWritingAid a try?

There’s a 14-day money-back guarantee for yearly and lifetime memberships, and a free plan that allows you to test 25+ reports on up to 500 words of your text.

Millie is ProWritingAid's Content Manager. A recent English Literature graduate, she loves all things books and writing. When she isn't working, Millie enjoys gardening, re-reading books by Agatha Christie, and running.

Get started with ProWritingAid

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Everyone has to start somewhere. With content writing, the place to start is with writing. While many content writers go to school for English or Marketing, or even a Writing-specific degree, it's certainly not necessary. There are plenty of successful content writers out there who have never had a day of writing-focused education, and many whose first language isn't English besides.

It's possible to be a successful content writer without training and certification, but it requires one thing: experience.

I consider myself a fairly proficient content writer, though I don't know that I'm among the best of the best. I'm knowledgable enough to distill some tips for you, though, and I can help you become a better content writer. Here are my tips!

Read, Read, Read

You aren't alone. You aren't writing in a vacuum. Every writer, and indeed virtually every creator of any kind of content, will tell you that the number one thing they do to keep themselves going is consuming media. Authors read. Video producers watch movies, TV, web videos, and streams. Illustrators take the time to consume art.

It's important to read with a critical eye, but also to read for pleasure. Read because you're interested in the topic, and read with an eye for the intricacies of writing. What perspective does the writer use? What tone have they adopted? How long are their sentences, their paragraphs, their sections, and their posts? How natural is their language? You can learn a lot just from reading.

Here are some key reasons why reading other content is essential for writing your blog posts:

• Inspiration: Reading other blog posts can inspire you by providing new ideas or perspectives on a subject; this can spark your creativity and help you think about how to approach your blog in a unique and engaging way. Inspiration doesn't have to originate from the content you read; I've thought of specific questions and topics after reading something that has nothing to do with the article I'm reading, and I wrote a blog post about it!
• Knowledge and expertise: Reading content from other sources helps you stay informed about your niche or industry. This knowledge can be invaluable in developing well-researched and credible blog posts. It also helps you better understand and address your target audience's needs and concerns. Trust me; writing confidently about a topic is challenging when you don't have much expertise. Reading content by other experts can speed up this process.
• Identify trends: By reading content from various sources, you can identify emerging trends and topics gaining traction in your niche; this enables you to write timely and relevant blog posts that cater to your audience's interests.
• Improve writing skills: Reading high-quality content exposes you to various writing styles, techniques, and structures; this can help you improve your writing by adopting effective strategies, refining your voice, and learning new ways to communicate your ideas.
• Understand audience preferences: By analyzing the types of content popular among your target audience, you can tailor your blog posts to meet their preferences; this can help increase engagement, readership, and overall satisfaction with your content.
• Learn from successful bloggers: Observing the practices of successful bloggers can help you identify what works and what doesn't; this can help you avoid common pitfalls .

Reading also gives you useful insights you can use in your own writing later. You accumulate facts, which you can pull out and use as citations later. You learn clever wordplay, new words you can use to spice up your own writing, and terminology common amongst professionals in your industry. You gain insight. So: read!

Know What You Want to Write

Depending on why you want to write, you may already have a goal in mind. I generally see people in a few categories.

• The people who want to start a blog because it's a way to make money, but have no guidance or goal in mind.
• The people who have a passion for a topic, and want to start a blog to turn that passion into something more.
• The people who have the ability or talent for writing (and have been told as much through their schooling years) and figure they might as well make a career out of it.

The first group is difficult because they have to spend time developing a niche, a topic, an interest that interests them. Choosing what to make a site about is very difficult, and it's even more difficult when you have to learn every aspect of the craft along the way.

The second group is people who already know their stuff and just might need help putting their thoughts into writing. This is the kind of group most of my article here is aimed at, but everyone can get some use out of it.

The third group doesn't generally need help with the technical aspects of writing, but transitioning from the stuffy world of academic writing to the free-flowing world of content writing can be a shift that not everyone is equipped to deal with.

In any case, you need to know in a broad sense what you want to write about for your site, and in a narrow sense what you want to write about for a given article. I often start with some keyword research to develop a topic idea , write a killer title for that topic , and then create my outline for the article based on those search phrases and that topic.

It's worked well enough for me so far - writing articles that match real searches and catering to those searches is a great roadmap to getting your articles found.

Write, Write, Write

Believe it or not, I didn't start out writing great content. I spent years writing some pretty mediocre content , and I only stood out because a lot of the people also writing content in the same arena were so, so much worse. Like, you'd be surprised just how bad some of the people out there writing content are. Go to Textbroker and spend a few bucks on some 3-star articles and you'll see what I mean. Content mills are generally a wasteland.

Part of successful content writing is just practice . The more time you spend writing, the more familiar you'll be with the process. The more details you'll be able to stick in your mind as you write. The better you'll be able to formulate posts as you go along. A post that might have taken me two or three hours to write a few years ago, I could write better in less time today.

Writing a lot and writing consistently is often cited as a key factor for blogging success. I'm not sure it's 100% necessary from a marketing standpoint, but I can tell you that it's extremely beneficial from a technical standpoint.

They say that practice makes perfect, and while there's no such thing as perfect, practice is always important.

Keep Tone, Voice, and Perspective Consistent

One thing I often see novice writers struggling with is perspective, tense, tone, voice , and all of those other subtle technical elements of grammar that come naturally with practice.

Here are some examples:

• Shifting between "I", "We", and "The Company" as self-referential signifiers. Know who you're representing when you write. If I write something for a client, I'll use a different voice than when I write something for myself.
• Shifting between the personal and the impersonal, as in going from "we recommend X" to "X is generally recommended." There's a time for different levels of formality; know which one you want to use.
• Referencing industry terms incorrectly. I see this a lot with freelancers who have to write for multiple industries; using terminology incorrectly makes people who know what they're talking about recognizing that you don't.

It doesn't really matter which perspective, which tone, which voice you use. What matters is that you keep it consistent throughout any piece you write.

Care About Keywords

A huge part of successful content writing online is caring about keywords . Keyword research is the core of every good blog post, most paid advertising, and a whole lot else besides. That's just how powerful Google is these days.

I'm not going to go extremely deep into keyword research here. It's a very detailed topic, and there are a lot of great guides out there already written to help people of all skill levels get started.

Suffice it to say that, in my mind and in my experience, keyword research is an essential part of good content writing. Knowing how Google interacts with keywords, how to use keywords appropriately, and how to write around awkward keywords is essential.

Don't Care Too Much About Keywords

Look, I know what I just said, and I know what I'm saying now.

The fact is, keywords are a lot less important than they were five or ten years ago. Back then, you needed to figure out exact, specific keywords and write posts with specific levels of keyword density to make sure your content thrived. Pick the wrong keyword and your content never shows up for high volume web searches . Use the keyword too little and Google doesn't think the post is relevant. Use it too often and you get dinged for keyword stuffing. It's a fine line to walk.

We create blog content that converts - not just for ourselves, but for our clients, too.

We pick blog topics like hedge funds pick stocks. Then, we create articles that are 10x better to earn the top spot.

Content marketing has two ingredients - content and marketing. We've earned our black belts in both.

At least, it was. Then Google introduced a bunch of machine learning and semantic indexing features to their index. These days, Google will show you search results that don't even include a phrase you used when searching but are still relevant. They understand things like synonyms, variations on keywords, and so on.

That's why these days, I don't worry too much about specific keyword usage - at least, not within the context of my articles . I use keyword research to guide the topics I choose to write about, and I might sprinkle in a specific keyword here and there when I find a way to work it in, but I'm not going to double over backward to include specific long-tail keywords in every post I write. Over-optimizing your posts like that can have the opposite effect:

"The idea is basically to try and level the playing ground a little bit. All of those people who have sort of been doing, for lack of a better word, 'over-optimization' or 'overly' doing their SEO, compared to the people who are just making great content and trying to make a fantastic site, we want to sort of make that playing field a little bit more level."

Heck, here's an example. This blog post uses "start content writing online" as its primary keyword. You can tell this because they use the phrase a couple of times throughout the piece when it's awkward to type the whole thing. You can also tell it because it's in a different font than the rest of their content, though I'm not sure that's intentional. Just… don't be that awkward and obvious about it, right?

When In Doubt, Add More Formatting

One key insight that most content writers have at some point is that web readers don't actually read the content. You might notice this behavior in yourself, or you might have it pointed out to you by a marketer, but it's pretty true. People who see posts on social media, half the time they don't even click through, they just read the title and the snippet and make assumptions based on that.

For people who click through and see content, they still skim . They read the first paragraph or two, then they skip through it looking for value. It's up to you as a content writer to provide that value. You just have to know how to do it.

The easiest way, beyond making sure your writing is, you know, valuable, is to add formatting.

Add subheadings as much as possible. This helps break up your content into digestible chunks. Add formatting like bold and italics to emphasize certain points. Add gaps in between paragraphs and sentences to emphasize points. Add bulleted or numbered lists to build up, well, lists.

Formatting enhances the user's ability to skim and extract value from content. Even if there are better resources out there, if yours is the most readable, it's the most useful.

Strive to One-Up the Competition

A lot of content writers, when they first get started, find it very hard to figure out their place in the world. They come up with an idea, then they see that there are 10,000,000 Google search results for that idea already and that the top five results are all that idea done better than they would do. It's easy to get discouraged looking for that one unique piece of content.

I'm here to tell you that you don't need to be unique to be valuable. This article you're reading right now? Dozens of other people have written other articles on the same topic, some of the same points, and some with other tips and hints as well:

Here's what you do. You find something that already exists, and you do it better.

There are three main ways you can out-do existing content .

• Take content that is broad but shallow, and add depth to it. This involves more research, more data sources, and more critical thinking to find conclusions the data leads you to.
• Take content that is narrow but deep, and add breadth to it. A deep dive into one subject in one industry is narrow, but it's an opportunity to tie another related subject or another industry into it.
• Take content that is old and make it up to date . A lot of old content these days is kept up to date by the initial author, but if it's left abandoned, you can try to supersede it by writing the same basic content with newer information.

Keep in mind that when I say "do what they do" and "you don't have to be unique", I absolutely do NOT mean you can just copy their content. You still have to write unique and original content, but you can cover the same topics and similar points.

Don't Be Afraid of Tools

I've known a lot of writers over the years who pride themselves on their precise knowledge of technical grammar, and who end up focusing more on their grammatical accuracy than on the quality of their content.

To me, this is hilarious. You're priding yourself on a skill that is easily replaced by a free online tool.

With the rising popularity of AI tools like ChatGPT , there are tons of content and blog writers that can help generate outlines, blog topics, and provide inspiration for your own writing.

Don't be afraid to use the tools you have at your disposal. Use a spelling and grammar check. Crank up the settings in MS Word. Use keyword research and topic ideation tools.

Here are some of my favorite tools:

• Ahrefs. I wrote a good breakdown of Ahrefs and similar tools .
• Grammarly. Proofreading and grammar checking is super important. If you run a WordPress site, you can even embed Grammarly into your site automatically.
• Clearscope . Clearscope can help you find opportunities to improve your content. I use it to help me discover things that I may have missed, as well as easy opportunities to include relevant keywords. I wrote a guide comparing Clearscope and Marketmuse here .
• WordPress plugins. There are a lot out there; here are some of my favorites , as well as a seperate guide for PageSpeed plugin recommendations .

There are tons of tools out there to help you be a better content writer, and there's absolutely no shame in using them.

Finish With a Proofread

When you finish any given piece of writing, go through it with a fine-toothed comb looking for errors . I know I just told you that tools can do a lot of that for you, and that's true. I make a lot of typos and minor grammatical errors as I type, and you know what? I have a few different autocorrect rules in place to fix them for me. Until you develop your own library or process, make sure you're proofreading everything.

Now and then an error will slip through. That's fine. If you notice it, fix it. If someone else notices it, fix it. If no one notices it, it's not really going to do you any harm. Even still, it's important to get a proofread in on your content before you finalize it and publish it.

Develop a Style

Over time, as you write, you can develop a style . That style will develop naturally, as you find your voice. You find the way you like to express your ideas. The way you like to use lists and formatting. The perspective you use to cover various topics and make analogies. Your style is built up over the years and it comes about from experience.

Your style will also change over time. After you've been writing content for a year or two, if you go back and look at the early content you've written, it will read like something written by someone else entirely. Don't worry; an evolving style is perfectly fine. Developing a style that's unique to you is the important part.

Keep at it. Content writing is a long-term investment, and it's a skill that never stops improving. The more you keep going, the better you'll become.

James Parsons is the founder and CEO of Content Powered, a premier content marketing agency that leverages nearly two decades of his experience in content marketing to drive business growth. Renowned for founding and scaling multi-million dollar eCommerce businesses through strategic content marketing, James has become a trusted voice in the industry, sharing his insights in Search Engine Watch, Search Engine Journal, Forbes, Entrepreneur, Inc, and other leading publications. His background encompasses key roles across various agencies, contributing to the content strategies of major brands like eBay and Expedia. James's expertise spans SEO, conversion rate optimization, and effective content strategies, making him a pivotal figure in the industry.

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August 12, 2020 at 9:38 am

Hi James, this was super helpful! I've read a lot of guides besides yours and yours is the only one that left me with some takeaways that I can actually use. I didn't realize how important (and also un-important!) keywords were, and your Grammarly screenshot inspired me to try it out. I'll also be way more mindful of who has already written about a subject before I start writing, that's something I haven't really done before, at least, not in a detailed way. Thanks again!

August 12, 2020 at 11:20 pm

Hey Faeeza, thank you for the very kind words!

This post was aimed at beginners, if you're interested in reading more, we have a handful of other posts you might find useful/interesting in our "Blogging" category: https://www.contentpowered.com/blog/category/blogging/

Topic ideation and competition research are easily the two biggest overlooked things when it comes to beginners and blogging - master those two things and you'll be far ahead of the curve!

August 30, 2020 at 8:16 am

I have been using the inverted pyramid approach to my writing style as it’s more easier to write long form content with this tactic and I can easily formulate my subheadings.

August 30, 2020 at 5:33 pm

Hi Sonny, thanks for sharing with us! It's good to know what's working for others. I think the fundamentals of the inverted pyramid are sound, if the bulk of your content is legitimately useful and actionable information, then your content is already off to a good start.

October 05, 2020 at 8:32 am

Hi James, This helped me a great deal, just wanted to say thank you. You really know your stuff with blogging. I'll be reading your other articles too.

October 05, 2020 at 7:59 pm

Thanks for stopping by Nur and for the kind words!

January 08, 2021 at 12:04 am

Hi James Your post helped me a lot. Thank you for this amazing work. God bless you more.

January 08, 2021 at 9:08 pm

Hey Adila, you're very kind, thanks for that! Very happy it helped you.

March 07, 2021 at 9:45 pm

Hey,James. This is my first time going through an actual content writing beginner tips article, as I am thinking to start writing online. Thanks for giving me some valuable pointers which I will keep in mind when I find my interest. No, I will no be doing this,initially, for money (but money is required to sustain, right?) but to search where my interest lies. Baby steps!! Wish you good luck 🤞, from India.

March 12, 2021 at 12:44 pm

Hey Ipsa - thanks for hopping on live chat with me, and I'm very happy this helped you out!

Revenue certainly helps. Being able to hire people to help you grow your blog will amplify your results, and it's hard to do that without any cashflow.

That's what's so great about blogging - you can bootstrap it at first until you're up and running. If you can give your readers enough value, customers will usually follow. It's a great way to draw people into your orbit.

March 09, 2021 at 7:36 am

This is never an easy job! Besides putting in the actual work, you need to have passion, patience, and time otherwise you’ll give up. I remember back in the day that I was on the verge of dropping my blog completely, and I did pause for a bit. A few months later my traffic was skyrocketing, all organic traffic to my blog posts. That has made me a believer ever since. It just takes a while to start working, but once it does it goes HARD.

March 12, 2021 at 1:00 pm

Hey Matt, thanks for your comment!

This sounds similar to my story - my first blog was over 10 years ago for a free flash game site. It had ads on it and was making a few hundred bucks a week, so I started reinvesting that into the content. I probably did a dozen or so blog posts, waited a month, then gave up.

A year or so later, they were the highest traffic pages on my site and were generating the lion's share of my AdSense revenue. I sold the site shortly after, but I think that's what made me a believer in blogging as well. It does require a good deal of patience and putting love into your content, not rushing it or skimping out. Man, Google's algorithm has really changed a lot since then, as has WordPress.

What brings you here today, just brushing up on the basics? 🙂

May 19, 2021 at 3:32 am

This is a great post. I appreciate your skills. Thanks for sharing.

May 19, 2021 at 11:35 am

Thanks Frisco! I appreciate it, glad it helped you.

May 24, 2021 at 10:38 am

Hi James! Your article is superb. I love it. It helped me a lot.

May 24, 2021 at 1:28 pm

Hey Fatima, really appreciate it! I'm happy it helped you 🙂

November 28, 2021 at 2:58 am

Hi james, thank you so much. The article has really helped me alot

November 29, 2021 at 1:58 pm

Love to hear it! Thanks, Brenda!

June 04, 2021 at 9:16 am

Hi James, i just started learning how to write articles. But it is not an easy task. Your article is good and gave some nice information.

June 04, 2021 at 2:34 pm

Hey Pankaj!

I really appreciate that, thanks for taking the time to say that. It makes writing these worth it.

Keep it up, if there's anything I can do to help point you in the right direction, please let me know!

June 06, 2021 at 5:18 am

Thank you so much! You've actually encouraged me to give content writing a try. This is really helpful.

June 07, 2021 at 10:32 am

Hey Ginnie! That was my goal, so I'm very happy to hear that. Thanks for stopping by and good luck!

July 07, 2021 at 7:58 am

Hi James, Thank you so much. It very helpful. I am very interested in content writing but the area that I have passion in is what I can't figure out, I think will give a try. Thanks

July 08, 2021 at 2:12 pm

Thanks Peter! Good luck 🙂

July 12, 2021 at 8:19 am

Hey Mr James, Nice article especially for beginners like me... Hope to hear more from you.

July 12, 2021 at 4:29 pm

Hey Ezekiel, thanks for the kind words and for stopping by! I hope it convinced you to start a blog of your own 🙂

July 29, 2021 at 7:04 am

Awesome post, simple and informative. I liked this line,

“Keep Tone, Voice, and Perspective Consistent”.

Super important to succeed in this, if articles are boring to read it's hard for anyone to be fulfilled.

But it was nice to read this. Thanks for writing this useful content.

July 31, 2021 at 4:33 pm

Thanks for the comment, Mohammad!

I couldn't agree more. Thank you for your words of encouragement.

January 30, 2022 at 6:48 pm

Super effective, practical, and easy to apply / follow article.

I love your simple yet powerful writing style. It seems you are taking a live class!

I recommended your link to at least 15 people. They are all so grateful! I, too, am fascinated.

You are a trustworthy, excellent content writer and mentor. Thanks from the heart.

January 31, 2022 at 2:02 pm

Thanks Ahmed!

Wow, that means a lot. Thank you for your heartfelt comment on my post, and I'm so happy it's helping to make a positive difference.

This is why I do what I do 🙂

March 13, 2022 at 10:29 am

Thanks, James. Your post was helpful and detailed. It helped to clear a lot of concepts for me.

March 15, 2022 at 6:39 pm

You're welcome, Suhail!

March 28, 2022 at 10:15 am

I'm really impressed and happy with these tips! You are a great mentor!

March 31, 2022 at 8:23 pm

Thanks Oluwasola! That's very kind of you to say.

April 07, 2022 at 7:55 am

waoh, this is very informative, guess I've found what I've been waiting for to become a content writer. Thanks a million James Parsons.

April 07, 2022 at 3:00 pm

Thanks, Ruth! Love to hear it.

August 25, 2022 at 6:34 am

Thanks, James. I'm just about to start content writing and your article was the first I have read. It really feels like I'm in it already, and I hope the tips grabbed would do me much help in my pursuit. Please, if you have more articles for a total beginner like me, I would appreciate it. Thanks many times🙏

September 01, 2022 at 2:08 pm

Thanks Olivia, love to hear it!

Here's are a couple of articles that I recommend next:

https://www.contentpowered.com/blog/blog-optimization-tips-seo/ https://www.contentpowered.com/blog/tips-beat-competitors-seo/

This is a great one too; small changes to your user experience are reflected across all of your pages and will help your site perform better overall: https://www.contentpowered.com/blog/improve-user-experience-website/

Feel free to reach out any time if you need pointing in the right direction 🙂

March 11, 2023 at 9:18 am

Amazing blog article!

March 11, 2023 at 12:13 pm

April 26, 2023 at 10:10 pm

Hey James, I retired from my job a couple of years back. Did try my hand at a couple of things. But always wondered what do I do with some exclusive work experience I gained during my employment. Then it struck me that I should start writing a blog and discuss various aspect of the commodity I worked on during my job. I saw many YouTube videos on how to write blogs and also read many online articles available on the net, as mentioned by you. Honestly, found your article to be very crisp and clear. I will surely follow your guidelines and start reading/researching/writing earnestly.

Thank you very much James.

April 29, 2023 at 11:47 pm

Absolutely. It's incredible what reach blog articles have on the internet, even on subjects that you wouldn't think would get much traction. In some cases, ESPECIALLY on subjects you think wouldn't get much traction.

My best advice is focus on having a great website and try to create content that is 10x better than anybody else. Do that, stick with it for years, and you'll be rewarded!

The reason most people's blogs fail is because they think they are creating great quality content, but aren't. Or, they don't stick with it long enough. Knowing that will help you succeed.

It's hard work, but it's rewarding and well worth it.

April 26, 2023 at 11:54 pm

Hey James! Thanks for the Guide. Which is better for blogs in your opinion?

April 29, 2023 at 11:45 pm

I'm a sucker for WordPress.

It doesn't get much better than WordPress for internal/external link management, optimization, SEO, custom development, automation, etc.

April 27, 2023 at 10:19 pm

Nice Article

April 29, 2023 at 11:43 pm

May 16, 2024 at 6:25 am

Hi James! Your content is top notch. I have learn't a lot through this site

May 23, 2024 at 12:55 pm

Thank you Chris, I appreciate it!

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Write & Improve

Developed by the University of Cambridge, Write & Improve is a FREE tool that helps every learner to improve their English writing.

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8 Content Writing Tips From Experts In 2023

Don't be afraid to use SEO-friendly tools to your advantage. But always remember to write for humans.

The digital market is volatile and ever-changing.

Everyone is competing for popular keywords, and artificial intelligence is changing content creation.

It can be a bit daunting, especially if you’re new to content writing.

So, how can you cut through the noise and write more effective content in 2023?

We’ve asked 17 industry professionals to share the wisdom they’ve learned over the years, their advice to those trying to find their way into content marketing, and their favorite tools for writing and optimization.

Julia McCoy, VP of Marketing at Content at Scale, would have told her younger self to realize the opportunity.

“It was hard to see it back then since I was at ground zero,” recalls McCoy.

“But the industry of content marketing itself had ballooned by billions of dollars since when I started. This would have given me more hope and excitement that what I did truly mattered to building not just income, but a legacy.”

Without further ado, here are their top tips:

1. Focus On Your Audience

Jamie press , digital marketing specialist at eurisko.

The best tip I can give a copywriter is to think “audience first.” This advice is straight from Brian Clark , founder of Copyblogger.

Sometimes, we go straight for the keyword tools when we’re brainstorming a piece of content; however, if we don’t know who we’re writing for, our copy won’t resonate with the reader.

Dialing into our target audience and their pain points (specific problems our audience needs solving) is the first step.

Carlijn Postma , Brand Strategist, Speaker, and Author of “Binge Marketing”

One: Start bingeing.

Really? Yes. The first educational go-to database is your streaming service.

The best writers and content creators are the creators of films and series. They know how to attract and retain an audience by creating a compelling story.

And bring your notebook.

Two: Know the difference between a target group and an audience.

In content marketing, your goal is to communicate through text, video, or audio. Therefore, you need readers, viewers, and listeners. That is an audience.

There is a huge difference between a target group and an audience.

A target group is pointed out by you as the sender of the content (whether this target group likes it or not).

An audience decides for itself if it wants to be your audience. I prefer to reach and engage an audience over a target group.

Focusing on an audience will make you a better writer.

Three: Always create content in series.

Now, if your goal is to attract and retain a loyal audience, you have to start creating content in series.

With only one episode, one piece of content, you just won’t be able to build an audience.

And if you are creating a series, learn from the masters: use cliffhangers at the end, and recaps at the start of an episode.

Ask yourself: “What does my audience need to know about what I wrote in previous episodes to understand this one?” This signals your audience to consume the other episodes, too.

Linda Pophal , Founder At Strategic Communications, LLC

Focus on your audience and their needs and interests – that’s all that really matters.

If you write for your audience and work to address the questions they might have, you will automatically create SEO-friendly content, because that’s what SEO is all about.

Even when my clients have specific SEO requirements, I first write the copy as I had always written it, long before SEO existed – to meet my audiences’ needs.

Then I’ll go back and “retrofit” the keywords that clients have requested; often, they’re already there and may just need to be tweaked or added to a bit.

2. Choose Quality Over Optimization

Steph andrusjak , seo consultant.

Always write with the user in mind, even when optimizing for search engines.

You can optimize an article by using keyword tools, like KeywordTool.io or AlsoAsked , to find what queries people are searching to help you mold your article – but don’t let the quest for optimization undo the quality of your writing.

If you’re writing content to sell something, then embrace copywriting formulas to create compelling statements.

If you’re writing articles of interest, then write in a way that the end user can relate to and explain the subject as fully as possible.

Most of all, write for your audience.

If your end users are teenagers, write in a style that will appeal to them without sacrificing the image you want to present.

If the website’s main customers are business owners, then opt for a more professional, formal tone.

Making sure your content is search engine optimized doesn’t necessarily mean you have to write thousands of words.

The key is that it needs to be as long as required for you to explain your point clearly and comprehensively. This means that content can be just as effective by writing concisely.

3. Build Out Your Content With Search Intent In Mind

Rudy mawer , ceo at mawer capital.

When you are just beginning your career in SEO writing, don’t forget that you write for both Google and the people who use it.

Keep these two equally important audiences in mind to maximize visibility and reach.

Quality content is essential, and Google knows this . It is pushing your content out to the world through its platform.

The better content that Google provides its users, the more likely people will use Google when they have a question.

It is essential to understand the keywords you are writing for and be able to talk about them dynamically.

You want your writing to be engaging, informative, and relevant for the reader.

Adam Berry , SEO Consultant At Adam Berry SEO

I would definitely urge my former self to write for humans, not robots!

I’ve learned that it’s important to take the time to craft meaningful sentences that are interesting and engaging to readers.

This means writing with more details and facts to provide context, as well as aiming for greater semantic richness.

For example, instead of simply stating a fact or opinion, try elaborating on why it’s true, or how others may feel about it, to draw readers in.

By taking this approach, I found that readers were more likely to connect with my content and leave feeling enriched by the experience.

Joe Karasin , CMO At CircleIt And Head Of Growth Marketing At DigitalWill.com

One: Don’t let the new focus on AI-driven content deter you.

AI content may get technical points and be produced more quickly, but creating compelling content is something that is still a human endeavor.

At the end of the day, the search intent of most users will favor the content that holds interest, which as of right now, AI hasn’t shown it can do.

Two: Balance is key.

You might be able to craft a beautiful story with your content, but if it isn’t written with SEO in mind, it won’t rank.

However, if you write a bunch of SEO-friendly content that is boring, no one will want to read it, and it won’t rank.

Being focused on the balance is the way you will gain readers and traction in your career.

Three: Write about what people want to read.

If you are writing content for a company, you want to look at the real-life applications of the company’s products and services.

By putting the customer or reader in the central piece of your narrative, you will get others to read it and identify with the “hero” of your story.

For example, if you have created a new technology, don’t just write a post about the features. Talk about the users and how the features you want to write about are improving their lives.

Sherry Bonelli , Owner Of Early Bird Digital Marketing

If you are just starting in the writing industry, I first recommend following Ann Handley and getting a copy of her “Everybody Writes” book.

Ann is an amazing writer that gives you writing tips that you can use whether you’re tasked with writing blog posts, website content, email newsletters, social media posts, ads – or anything in between. Plus, she has a great sense of humor – so she’ll make you laugh as you learn to be a better writer!

Now, when I began my writing career, I was very lucky to have a solid SEO foundation under my belt.

But looking back, I focused too much on writing for individual keywords when I should’ve spent more time writing about the topics people were searching for.

As a writer, create content about the topics people are searching for and then do more extensive keyword research about the questions people ask about the topic (and subtopics) you’re writing about.

Make sure you answer those questions thoroughly in your content. That’s the way to make your readers – and Google – happy!

4. Consider Using AI Writing Tools, But Use Them Wisely

Julia mccoy , vp of marketing at content at scale.

We live in a completely new era versus the one I started in.

Today, the baseline of human content production can be assisted, if not nearly replaced, by AI tools built on top of OpenAI’s game-changing GPT language releases to write and create content.

With GPT4 on the horizon and about to launch, human content production will shift forever into an AI-assisted one.

That said, if you’re considering a writing career, don’t think there’s no need for the human. There’s a huge need for your writing skills.

It will just look different than when I started – when it was solely human-based.

My tips for you: Learn how to incorporate AI writing tools into your process. Learn how to edit, cut the fluff, and make the content that AI produces better. Learn strategy.

These skills will put you in a place where you cannot be replaced by AI.

Cai Ellis , SEO Manager At ToolTester

Now is not the time to completely move over to AI writing tools.

Although Google hasn’t come out and said that AI content is bad, we know that it prefers content that’s written by people for people.

With that said, it wouldn’t hurt to learn how to optimize AI content so that it’s a skill you can call on as and when needed.

We will likely see this as something that’s specifically needed from marketers in no time.

You could have a trial run of ChatGPT at home, focusing on the creation of content that’s helpful and user-first using the tool’s text as a starting point.

Other than that, the number one lesson for any new writer would have to be not to put themselves under too much pressure.

It takes time to learn how to craft the types of content that will engage and persuade.

It’s advisable to keep writing as a side hustle until you’re confident of meeting and exceeding client expectations.

Shubham Bajaj , Founder And SEO Scientist At Netsurge Technologies

With the onset of various AI writing tools and ChatGPT , it’s important for content writers who are just getting started to be able to write in a way that differentiates them from machines.

Adding your personality and character to your write-up and telling engaging stories that can keep the reader hooked are important aspects.

It is also important to note that, while it’s good to be quirky and conversational, make sure you have an NLP-friendly section that defines or provides an exact answer for the query in a format that Google or other search engines can directly use to display as a snippet.

5. Practice Writing Regularly

Jason hennessey , founder and ceo at hennessey digital.

Read widely and often to develop your writing skills and understand the various styles and forms of writing.

Then write every day, even if it’s just for a few minutes, to improve your writing discipline and practice your craft.

Lastly, seek feedback on your writing from others, and be open to constructive criticism.

Alex Valencia , President At We Do Web Content

If I could give my past self a piece of advice, it’d be to brush up on grammar and style rules.

For style, there’s nothing better than reading works by your favorite authors. How do they describe everyday things and situations? How do they craft sentences? What about their storytelling that hooks you in?

Then, practice, practice, practice.

Sam Hollingsworth , SEO Director At Moving Traffic Media

Write more often and be less scared.

Like so many other things, we get better at writing the more that we do it (and reading).

It allows us to learn new things, experiment with new processes, and expand our skills for everything from creativity to accuracy and even speed and efficiency.

Dvir Ben-Aroya , Co-Founder And CEO At Spike

For those just getting started in their writing careers, reading widely can help you develop a strong writing style.

By reading various authors and genres, you can learn about different writing techniques and styles and find inspiration for your own writing.

Practicing regularly is also important, as it allows you to improve your skills and become more proficient in your craft.

Networking with other writers can also be beneficial, as it can help you learn about the industry, find potential collaborators or mentors, and stay informed about new opportunities.

And it’s also important to be open to constructive criticism because it helps improve your writing.

If I could go back to the beginning of my writing career, I would tell myself that I need to spend more time reading and practicing different types of writing.

Even if you only write one specific style of writing, practicing different styles and formats of writing will strengthen your primary style by association.

It is a great mental exercise to sharpen and use the other “tools” in your writing toolbox.

For example, if you only write B2B long-form keyword-rich blog content, practicing creative writing every so often might be useful.

By doing so, you can combat writer’s block, gain additional perspectives, and have more engaging and dynamic content.

6. Find Your Rhythm And Style That Sparks Joy

When starting a career as a writer, it’s critical to uncover the type of writing that brings you joy.

The topics you cover should excite you, and crafting pieces should feel like a privilege.

It shows in your work when you have passion for the things you’re writing about. The energy is relaxed and confident.

Focus on developing your own unique voice and style.

Writing is a highly personal and subjective endeavor, and it’s important to find your own way of expressing yourself and telling stories.

This will set your work apart and make it more likely to resonate with readers.

Never forget that writing is (seemingly) one of the most basic ways for humans to communicate.

Of course, like most everything in life, there are good and bad examples of it.

Be mindful of the foundational guidelines we’ve been told most of our lives but also do not lose out on creativity to do so.

I often think back to something one of my favorite journalism professors taught me (and of which he claimed one of his favorite professors taught him as a budding journalist): “Write like jazz.”

It should have rhythm, but also irregularities and improvisation that allow it to stand out. It should be enjoyable and digested with ease.

7. Learn To Overcome Setbacks And Imposter Syndrome

Kaitie frank , digital marketing copywriter at page one power.

Imposter syndrome is real. Kick it out the door and have confidence in your writing!

Read examples of great work, then put your spin on it.

Also, triple edit:

• Edit on-screen.
• Print it out and edit.
• Have another set of eyes look at it.

Don’t let people bully you into submission. I spent too much time at a job where I was told I wasn’t good enough, and that made me lose confidence in my writing.

Instead, find a place where mentors help you grow and develop your skills, not knock you down because you don’t write exactly like them.

If I could go back to the beginning of my writing career, I would advise myself to be more persistent.

Writing is a challenging and competitive field, and it can take a lot of time and effort to succeed.

It’s important not to give up too easily and to keep working towards your goals, even when faced with rejection or setbacks.

8. Grow Your Network And Portfolio

Monika nozinic , copywriter at async labs.

My advice to those who are just getting started in their writing careers would be:

• Read and study as much as you can. Look at the work of famous copywriters and see what you can learn from them.
• Write every day to develop your skills and build a writing routine. The more you write, the better you’ll get at it.
• Get feedback. Show your work to other people and see what they think.
• Learn SEO. Understanding SEO will help you to write copy that ranks well in search engines.
• Network with other writers and industry professionals.
• Know your audience. Understand who you’re writing for and what they need.
• Be adaptable. Copywriting constantly evolves, so be prepared to learn new things and adapt to new trends.
• Practice makes perfect. Keep practicing and experimenting until you find your voice and style.
• Learn about the industry you’re writing for. This way, you’ll be able to understand their language and speak to their pain points and goals.
• Be passionate. Copywriting is a creative field, so bring your passion for working, and it will shine through in your writing.

The advice I would now give myself at the start of my career would be to connect with other copywriters and content creators. Ask them to be my mentor for a week or two.

Also, I would tell myself to develop thicker skin and persistence, as rejection and criticism are a normal part of the writing process, which I learned, sometimes the hard way, along the way.

Take time to build your portfolio.

You’ll want to start collecting samples of your work as soon as possible; these will be invaluable when applying for jobs or searching for opportunities.

Make sure each piece is polished and showcases your best writing ability.

Experts’ Favorite Tools For Content Writing And Optimization

Grammarly and hemmingway.

Alex Valencia’s top writing tool is Grammarly , and he says that “every professional should use it (#notanad).”

“It’s taught me a lot about my writing style and how to improve it. For keyword research, I use Semrush ,” Valencia shares.

Shubham Bajaj suggests Grammarly and Hemingway “for avoiding grammatical errors and ensuring that your content is structured properly, especially when starting and you have a low to zero budget to spend on tools.”

“Once you have some budget to spend, consider subscribing to advanced tools like ProWritingAid ,” Bajaj recommends.

“When it comes to writing tools, there are oodles of SEO tools out there that have content tools built in. (Some are definitely better than others.) One of my favorite tools for optimizing content is Surfer SEO ,” says Sherry Bonelli.

“Surfer SEO takes the keyword you’re trying to optimize your content for and analyzes your content against the top-ranking webpages.

Then it shows All words and Natural Language Process (NLP) words so you can see if you’re overusing some words – or not using words that you perhaps should use. (Like maybe you didn’t even think about including a word or topic in what you were writing!)

Surfer SEO can really take your writing optimization to the next level. I’d highly recommend you play around with it.”

“Don’t be afraid to use tools to your advantage,” advises Rudy Mawer.

“You are writing search engine-centric content; the internet has many resources and tools to help make your job easier and your writing more effective.”

Mawer loves using Surfer SEO as well. “Its content editor gives you a real-time score of your content’s strength for the keyword you are trying to rank for, NLP keyword suggestions, and a competitor analysis.”

Dvir Ben-Aroya’s favorite tools for content writing and optimization include Grammarly, Hemingway , Yoast SEO , and Google Analytics.

“Grammarly and Hemingway are writing tools that can help you improve your grammar, style, and readability.

Yoast SEO is a plugin that can help you optimize your content for search engines, and Google Analytics is a tool that allows you to track the performance of your content, including pageviews, bounce rate, and conversion rate.

These tools are very helpful in making your content more effective and engaging for your target audience,” explains Ben-Aroya.

Content At Scale

Julia McCoy saves up to seven hours per piece by using Content at Scale , “a long-form AI content writer that does everything for you – even SEO research and optimization.”

“It’s utterly insane to realize we’re here in an era where AI can replace hours and hours of grunt work at a fraction of the cost,” McCoy notes.

She also loves KWFinder for easy, simple, enjoyable keyword research and enjoys having ChatGPT for writing email outlines, topic ideas, and lists.

Linda Pophal does a lot of interviews with subject matter experts and sources, and Otter.ai helps her accomplish the task.

“Otter.ai is great for recording and transcribing these interviews automatically so I can focus on what the sources are saying without worrying about missing anything,” says Pophal.

“I also like Grammarly, Hemingway App, and AP Styleguide online, and have begun experimenting a bit with ChatGPT, not to actually write my content but to help with outlining and getting a head start in fleshing out ideas,” she adds.

Cai Ellis finds Answerthepublic and Reddit great for content inspiration.

“If you’re writing on a niche topic, diving into that Subreddit is the best way to get authentic and unique insight quickly,” Ellis recommends.

Joe Karasin also uses Reddit and Quora for topic research and to learn what people are talking about surrounding your topics.

“There are probably questions your audience has that you haven’t even considered. Write about those topics, and you’ll experience success,” Karasin advises.

Google Search And Suite

Jamie Press goes for a simple Google Doc for writing and collaborating with colleagues and clients.

Kaitie Frank uses good ol’ Google for research and optimization.

She believes that the “SERPs (search engine results pages) will tell you all you need to know about which headers to use and which information to include.”

Sam Hollingsworth shares a similar outlook.

“Like many old-school journalists, I don’t rely too heavily on many tools to help me optimize content or even come up with ideas to write about, but it’s nice to have them when needed.

It’s amazing how much direction and ideas we can get from free resources like Google Keyword Planner , as well as traditional Google Search.”

“For help optimizing content, MarketMuse and Frase are great tools to have available in your efforts,” Hollingsworth adds.

Editor’s note:  All interviews have been lightly edited for clarity, brevity, and adherence to our  Editorial Guidelines . The views expressed by the interviewees in this column are theirs alone and do not necessarily represent the view of Search Engine Journal.

More Resources:

• 7 Tips To Make Your Writing Portfolio Discoverable In Google Search 
• What’s The Best Way For SEO, Topic Experts & Writers To Work Together?
• Content Marketing: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

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Constant Content Blog

15-minute writing exercises that will make you a better writer.

Posted October 29, 2018 by Isaac Justesen in Freelance Writers , Freelance Writing Tips

Becoming a better writer doesn’t have to mean enrolling in college classes like English Literature, Creative Writing, or Journalism 101.

You needn’t take an online learning class from the latest hot freelance writing guru. Spending thousands of dollars to gain access to the wisdom of a marketing master won’t improve the caliber of your content writing.

What will improve your writing is spending 15 minutes each day working on the basics of good grammar, proper punctuation, and sentence structure.

[bctt tweet=”15-Minute Exercises That Will Make You a Better Writer” username=”constantcontent”]

14 Writing Exercises You Can Do In 15-Minutes

No, you don’t have to go back to school to become a better writer . Scheduling a few minutes each day to hone your craft can significantly improve your writing abilities. If you want to learn how to become a better writer, try practicing the following essentials of efficient writing.

Exercise 1: Analyze your writing.

Pay attention to how many times you use filler words, passive voice, and long sentences. Learn to edit your writing. Become a master at catching yourself adding fluff to your content .

Exercise 2: Work on improving the readability rate of your writing.

Audiences have different readability targets. Learn to adjust your writing style to specific target markets. Use a tool like AnalyzeMyWriting.com to help improve your readability scores.

Exercise 3: Practice concise writing

• Stop using words ending in “ly”. Adjectives ending in “ly” often add little value to a sentence.
• Reduce your usage of ‘and’ in sentences. If you are using ‘and’ too many times and your sentences grow too long because of it, there’s a good chance one sentence could become two. (<– Can you spot the problem with this sentence?)
• Get rid of cliches.
• Shorten your sentences. Shorten your paragraphs.
• Improve your punctuation. Don’t use a semi-colon just because you can.
• Stop using trendy phrases. ‘Outside the box’ has been used to death. Explain yourself without using a buzzword or phrase.

[irp posts=”6561″ name=”How to Keep Your Writing Concise”]

Exercise 4: Read content from your target clients.

Learn which topics are important to your content buyers. Too many freelance writers spend time connecting with other writers online. Time is better spent researching the content needs of clients. When you understand the topics your audience cares about, you’ll be able to craft forceful content rich in detail.

Exercise 5: Spend time reading content on top publications.

Many freelance writers would one day like to land themselves on a top publication. Spend a few minutes to learn how they write. Emulate their style. Soon you too may be writing for these premium publications.

[irp posts=”7315″ name=”The 17 Best Blogs for Content Writers”]

Exercise 6: Find something new to learn

• Learn a new word each day. Make a game of improving your vocabulary.
• Synonyms are a writer’s best friend. Use a tool like WordHippo.com to find synonyms for words you use on a regular basis.
• Search Pinterest for ‘improve your writing’ + ‘infographic’ to find helpful writing tips.
• If you want to become a better writer, ask for critiques of your content from experienced

Exercise 7: Rewrite one of your existing articles

• Use more sub-headings.
• Use a text-to-speech tool to read your writing aloud.
• Work on your conclusions. How you tie your content together matters.

Exercise 8: Rewrite your introductions.

Spend 15 minutes each day for a week writing a new introduction to the same article. Take a fresh approach each time. Review your work after a week to compare your results.

Exercise 9: Tweet more.

Tweeting forces you to sharpen up your writing because you have only 140 characters to communicate your message. You have to be more direct.

The last paragraph was only 140 characters, but it explained why Twitter can be an effective tool for writers. It makes you focus on the reader and get your point across in as few words as possible.

Exercise 10: Explain a complex subject in >100 words

This is actually a more difficult exercise than it sounds. If you need some inspiration, check out HubSpot’s “In Under 100 Words” series, which addresses some complicated subjects in short form. Choose a subject you love or one you know very little about. Remember to include as much information as possible, without being vague.

Exercise 11: Write a sonnet or haiku

Choose a topic and then explain it within the framework of a sonnet. This is a poem of fourteen lines, using ten syllables per line. If you’re feeling brave, try writing a haiku. This is a poem of seventeen syllables, in three lines of five, seven and five. The poems don’t have to rhyme, but they force you to make every word count. They also make you to consider how words sound and how sentences flow together.

Exercise 13: Write a flash fiction story

Flash fiction stories can be anything from 100 to 1,000 words. When you try to write a complete story in so few words, it makes you think about the beginning, middle and end. It also forces you to cut out unnecessary details and use words that convey more emotion and meaning.

Exercise 14: Edit someone else’s writing

If you have no trouble getting words on the page but you think your finished content needs tightening up, try an editing exercise. Find a blog post online and copy the text into your text editor. Then look for as many ways to improve it as you can. Check for the following:

• Spelling or grammatical errors.
• Long sentences that can be shortened.
• Unnecessary words.
• Formatting problems.
• Confusing ideas that could be made clearer.

Remember to take away the positive aspects of the writing, which will help improve your own style.

Related Reading:

• 11 Ways to Add Punch to Boring Writing
• 14 Tips for Writing Catchy Headlines
• 23 Freelance Writing Tips That Will Help Grow Your Career

Practice Makes Perfect

Becoming a better writer takes time. Schedule 15 minutes into your writing routine to work on improving your writing skills. The rewards can be substantial, especially if you want to earn a living as a freelance writer .

Related Posts

How to identify trending topics and do industry research during any given time period, the right way to apply for public writing requests on constant content (and what not to do), watch your language: communication techniques to sell yourself as a writer, five ways to stay focused on writing and improve productivity.

• freelance writers
• writing exercises

• Content Production

Content Writing 101

Written by Brian Dean

What Is Content Writing?

Content writing is the process of planning, writing, and publishing written material, such as articles, blog posts, product descriptions, and marketing copy, that is intended for online consumption. The goal of content writing is to inform, educate, or persuade readers, and it can be used for a variety of purposes, including:

• Building brand awareness
• Increasing website traffic
• Generating leads
• Improving search engine rankings
• Establishing credibility

Why Is Proper Content Writing Important?

When most people hear “content writing”, they think “writing articles”.

However, writing content isn’t just important for blog posts.

In fact, content writing is important for all types of different content formats, including:

• Video scripts
• Email newsletters
• Keynote speeches
• Social media posts
• Podcast titles
• White papers
• Web page copy
• Landing pages
• YouTube video descriptions

Or put another way:

Writing is the foundation for pretty much any content that you publish.

Best Practices

Create an outline.

Creating an outline is a GREAT first step in the content writing process.

Outlines help your content come out better for two main reasons:

First , outlines force you to put all your thoughts down in an organized way (rather than writing everything off the top of your head). Which really speeds up the writing process.

Second , outlines usually lead to a much better structure for your content. That’s because an outline lets you see your content from a “high level” that’s impossible to see as you’re writing.

Plus, because you have an outline, your final content will hit all of the major points that you set out to before you started writing.

So: how do you actually go about creating an effective outline?

Here are three main strategies that work well:

So when we start working on a new guide, we use a lot of the structure from our existing guides as a base.

• Use a template: Most professional content writers work off of proven templates. Here are 5 content templates you can use to create outlines .

For example, let’s say you’re about to write a guest post about the keto diet.

Well, you’d want to type “keto diet” into BuzzSumo to see what’s already done well.

Then, read some of the best posts to see exactly what you should cover in your article.

Make It Easy to Consume and Share

Content that’s super easy to read and share is of the keys to great content .

You can have a post written by the world’s top copywriter. But if that post is hard for people to consume, no one will read it.

Here are a few tips to help make your content easier to consume, skim and share.

Keep it Snappy, Rich and Entertaining

Whether you’re writing about content creation or cars, your writing needs to grab (and keep) people’s attention .

Otherwise, they’ll click over to something else.

How you grab someone’s attention depends on the format you’re working with.

When I create videos, I use “Family Guy moments” throughout the video. These are little asides that add some humor to and spice to my video content.

And when I write videos, I focus a lot on formatting and layout.

Specifically, I try to keep my paragraphs short:

I also sprinkle in visuals and screenshots to mix things up.

And if you’re about to sit down and record some audio, you want your lines to be short and snappy. You also want to avoid parenthetical statements. Content in parenthesis is easy to follow when you’re reading it. But you can easily “lose the thread” if you’re listening to your audio as a podcast.

In short: your final content needs to be super engaging to work. And no matter what format you’re working with, that starts with the content writing process.

Quotable On Social Media

According to a study that we conducted, very few blog posts get shared or linked to .

And to increase the odds that your content ranks in search engines and gets shared on social media, add shareable quotes.

For text-based content, this can be a statement that you highlight in your post.

And if you’re making a YouTube video, you can pull out a short snippet from that video to share on LinkedIn.

The important thing here is to have these quotes ready before you publish the post. Then, highlight them in your content.

Choose Interesting Angles

With 2.3 million blog posts going live every day , you can’t just publish something generic and expect a wave of visitors.

Instead, to get traffic to your content, it needs a compelling angle.

An angle is simply the hook that makes your content stand out from all the others on that topic.

Your angle can be a personal story. A bit of controversy. Or something that simply looks better than what’s out there.

The angle you go with depends on your target audience.

For example, when we published our guide to becoming an SEO expert , our 8-bit design helped it stand out.

Make It Actionable

For most niches, your content can’t just be entertaining.

And it’s not even enough for it to simply be informative.

For your content marketing to work, your content needs to be super useful .

Here’s how:

Our SEO audit post is a great example of this.

It’s not a collection of random tips. This content is a step-by-step action plan that anyone can follow.

• Keep it up-to-date: A single outdated step or example can derail an otherwise great piece. I recommend going back and updating your old content at least once a year.

Make it Trustworthy

For people to share and link to your content, they need to trust it first.

And while design factors in to how much people trust your content , your writing plays a big role too.

Here are a few tips to make your content more trustworthy.

• Use proper grammar: If you want to improve your writing skills, a tool like Hemingway Editor or Grammarly can be a huge help.

For example, whenever we write a guide, we add lots of stats and references.

Here’s an example from our blog.

Give it a Magnetic Headline and Introduction

Most visitors only spend 15 seconds reading an article before leaving.

With such a short window of time, your headline and introduction are incredibly important.

Here’s how to create headlines and intros that work:

Note how these bullet points aren’t topics . They’re benefits that someone will get out of reading and implementing what’s in the guide.

How can I become a content writer?

If you’re looking to dive into the world of content writing, you’re in for an exciting journey. Let me walk you through the steps that have worked wonders for me and many others.

1. Learn SEO Fundamentals

First off, get cozy with SEO basics . It’s the backbone of content writing.

Start with keyword research – it’s like picking the right tools before you start building. Use tools like Google’s Keyword Planner or Semrush to find what your audience is searching for.

Then, dive into on-page SEO . Think of your titles and meta descriptions as your first handshake with your readers – make it count.

2. Niche Specialization

Now, pick a niche.

This isn’t just about what you love; it’s about where you can add real value.

Ask yourself, “What unique perspective or solutions can I bring to my readers?” This focus will make your content more engaging and valuable.

3. Develop a Unique Writing Style

It’s your signature. Keep it clear, engaging, and packed with actionable tips.

I always aim to write as if I’m talking to a friend – straightforward and helpful.

Use tools like Grammarly to keep your grammar in check and Hemingway Editor to make your content crisp and readable.

4. Create a Portfolio

It’s your playground for trying out new ideas and a portfolio to showcase your skills.

Make sure it’s SEO-friendly; after all, you want to walk the talk.

5. Learn from the Best

Learning never stops. Keep an eye on the top content writers and digital marketing resources.

What are they doing right? How are they engaging their audience? How are they using new AI tools in their workflows?

Don’t just consume content; dissect it.

6. Feedback and Improvement

Lastly, the power of feedback can’t be overstressed. Use it to refine your writing.

Remember, the best content writers are those who listen, learn, and adapt.

That’s my blueprint for becoming a content writer. I

t’s about blending SEO savvy with a unique voice, continually learning, and always striving to provide value to your readers.

Stay curious, stay committed, and you’ll find your path to success in content writing.

The Definitive Guide to Writing Blog Posts : I recommend sending this to any content writer that you work with.

The Complete Guide to SEO Content : How to write quality content that’s specifically engineered to rank in Google.

Evergreen Content : How to plan and write content that continues to bring in traffic for years after you publish it.

The Definitive Guide to Copywriting : Learn how to write SUPER compelling copy for blog posts, sales letters, videos and more based on tips from the world’s top copywriters.

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• Free Courses
• Content Writing free courses

Free Content Writing Courses

Great Learning is offering free content writing courses to help you attain in-demand creative skills for a career in content writing. The content marketing basics free course offered here will help you gain content skills that are the best way to connect with customers and promote your product and services. Through the free spoken English course offered, you will have the upper hand in fluency in writing content. 

You also have a free course addressing WordPress, which is an in-demand platform for content writing and help you get acquainted with its multiple plugins for smoother content writing. Enroll in these free content writing courses that address basics to advanced concepts to help you upskill in content writing and gain free certificates of course completion.  

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Learn Content Writing For Free & Get Completion Certificates

The modern industry has incorporated content writing as a crucial component. Content creation is crucial for businesses to effectively sell their goods and services to potential clients, given the growing trend of digital marketing. Businesses may produce compelling, educational, and persuasive information that appeals to their target audience through content writing. It is an excellent approach to developing a brand and establishing a presence online.

Using content writing, you can produce persuasive material that will draw customers to your site and generate leads. Furthermore, it works well for creating content for SEO, which makes it easier for clients to find businesses. Similarly, content writing can be utilized to provide content for social media campaigns, assisting businesses in more successfully connecting with their audience.

Writing content is a crucial component of the market today. It is an effective tool that can assist companies in achieving their objectives, establishing their brands, and establishing a presence online. Businesses should invest in content writing as a significant resource if they want to succeed in the cutthroat economy of today.

Great Learning offers free online content writing courses with certificates to help you develop the critical, creative abilities currently in demand. You need to understand that content is "King" when it comes to connecting with your target market and boosting sales of your products or services. Given the demand, learning the essential abilities of content writing is necessary for you to advance in the current industries.

Benefits of Learning Content Writing

Content writing is an increasingly important skill in today's digital world. More and more businesses are turning to content writers to create compelling, engaging, and informative content for their websites, blogs, and other digital platforms. Learning the art of content writing can be highly beneficial for any writer, regardless of background and experience. Here are just some of the benefits of learning content writing:

1. Increase Your Professional Credibility:  

Content writing is a specialized skill that requires knowledge of topics and the ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple and engaging way. By learning content writing, you can demonstrate to potential employers that you have the skills and knowledge necessary to produce content that will help build their brand and grow their customer base.

2. Expand Your Professional Network :

Content writing is an excellent way to expand your professional network. As a content writer, you will work with people from all walks of life, including marketing professionals, web designers, and business owners. This can open up a whole new world of professional opportunities for you and help you build relationships with professionals in your field.

3. Enhance Your Writing Ability :

Content writing involves creating informative and engaging content. By learning the art of content writing, you can hone your writing skills and create content that resonates with readers. This will help you stand out from the competition and further establish yourself as a professional writer.

4. Generate Additional Income :

Content writing is a great way to generate additional income. Many content writers can earn a full-time income from writing content for businesses, websites, and other digital platforms. With the right knowledge and skill, you can quickly become a successful content writer and generate income from your writing.

Content writing is an invaluable skill in today's digital world. Learning the art of content writing can increase your professional credibility, expand your professional network, enhance your writing ability, and even generate additional income. If you're looking to take your writing career to the next level, then learning content writing is a great way to do just that.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Great Learning offers free content writing courses, which address basic to advanced concepts. Enroll in the courses that best fit your career objectives from the course pool to earn certificates of completion for content writing.  

With the support of online learning platforms, it is now possible to learn concepts on your own. Great Learning Academy is a platform that provides free content writing courses where learners can learn at their own pace.  

These free content writing courses offered by Great Learning Academy contain self-paced videos allowing learners to learn crucial content writing skills at their convenience.  

Yes. You will have lifelong access to these free content writing courses Great Learning Academy offers.  

You can enroll in Great Learning's Digital Marketing Courses , which will help you gain skills in demand in industries. Complete the course to earn a certificate of course completion.

Yes, learning content writing can be a valuable skill to have. Content writing can be used in various industries, from marketing and advertising to journalism and web design. It is a versatile skill that can open up career opportunities and increase your marketability as a professional.

Content writing is popular because it is an effective way to communicate with people and share information. Content writers are able to create compelling, engaging content that informs, entertains, and educates readers. It is also an effective way to boost search engine rankings, build brand awareness, and increase website traffic. Content writing is a great way to reach a large audience and build relationships with potential customers.  

You will be awarded free content writing certificates after the completion of your enrolled content writing free courses.  

Through these free content writing courses, you will learn about content marketing basics, spoken english, design thinking, user experience, and more relevant concepts crucial for content writing.   

These content writing courses are provided by Great Learning Academy for free, allowing any learner to learn content writing and gain crucial skills for free.

Learners, from freshers to working professionals who wish to learn the latest skills in content writing, can enroll in these free content writing courses and earn certificates of course completion.  

Choose the free content writing courses you are looking for and click on the "Enroll Now" button to start your content writing learning journey.

Great Learning Academy is the proactive initiative by Great Learning , the leading e-Learning platform, to offer free industry-relevant courses. Free content writing courses contain courses ranging from beginner-level to advanced-level to help learners choose the best fit for them.

There are several jobs that require you to learn content writing, including:

• Technical Writer
• Web Content Writer
• Social Media Writer
• Content Marketer
• SEO Writer  

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How to Write Impactful Website Content: 8 Proven Techniques

Effective website content writing is vital for building a strong online presence. It's more than just conveying information—it's about connecting with your audience and delivering value.

In this blog, we'll explore eight essential guidelines to help you create compelling website content. From understanding your target audience and setting clear objectives to writing engaging headlines and optimizing for search engines, we'll cover the key components that can enhance your website content.

What is website content writing?

Website content writing refers to the creation and development of written content specifically for websites. It includes the planning, editing, and optimization of textual content that appears on web pages. Website content can take various forms, including articles, blog posts, product descriptions, About Us pages, and more.

Website content writing is also a fundamental element of digital marketing and online communication. It plays a crucial role in engaging, and retaining visitors, ultimately driving the success of websites and businesses.

FYI: StoryChief eliminates the need for various tools such as social media, automation, AI tools, SEO, and analytics. Start publishing for free today . 🙌

Why is website content writing important?

Website content writing is crucial for several key reasons, playing a fundamental role in the success and effectiveness of a website. Here's why it is important:

• Informing and educating : Website content provides valuable information and insights to visitors, educating them about products, services, or relevant topics.
• Establishing credibility and trust : High-quality content helps build credibility and trust with your audience. When visitors find valuable and accurate information on your website, they are more likely to perceive your brand as trustworthy.
• Encouraging conversions and sales : Persuasive and strategically placed calls to action (CTAs) within your content can drive visitors to take desired actions, such as making a purchase, subscribing to a newsletter, or filling out a contact form.
• Enhancing search engine visibility : Well-optimized content improves your website's visibility in search engine results. By incorporating relevant keywords, meta descriptions, and other SEO strategies , you increase the chances of your website ranking higher in search engine queries, leading to more organic traffic.
• Feedback and improvement : Through comments, reviews, analytics, and customer feedback tools , website content provides valuable insights into your audience's needs and preferences.

Guidelines for writing effective website content

1. understanding your audience.

Understanding your audience is a critical step in effective website content writing. It involves gaining insight into the individuals who will be visiting your website, their characteristics, and what motivates them to engage with your content. This knowledge helps tailor your content to meet their specific needs and preferences.

Additionally, mapping a buyer's personas can better help in identifying your target audience.

For instance, if you run a fitness website, you might create a persona named "Annie," who is a 30-year-old yoga enthusiast with a busy schedule. She values health and relaxation and prefers content that fits into her active lifestyle. Creating such personas helps you understand what "Annie" would be interested in and how to create content that appeals to her.

2. Setting clear goals & purpose

Setting clear goals for your website content is a crucial aspect of content strategy . It helps you stay focused, measure success, and ensure that your content aligns with your overall business objectives.

Similarly, the purpose of your website content gives you the reason why you are creating and publishing content on your website. This purpose can vary depending on your business and industry. Common purposes include:

• Inform : Provide valuable information to educate your audience about your products, services, or industry.
• Entertain : Creating engaging and entertaining content to keep your audience interested and coming back for more.
• Inspire : Motivating and inspiring your audience, perhaps by showcasing success stories, achievements, or innovative ideas.
• Convert : Encouraging visitors to take a specific action, such as making a purchase, signing up for a newsletter, or filling out a contact form.

It's important to clearly define the purpose of your content to ensure that it serves a specific role in your content strategy and aligns with your broader business goals.

3. Planning your content strategy and content types

A well-structured content strategy is essential for creating a consistent and engaging website. It involves defining the types of content you will create, organizing your content hierarchy, and implementing a schedule for content creation and publication.

Different types of website content can be created such as:

• Homepage : The homepage is the first page visitors typically see when they arrive at your website. It should provide an overview of what your website offers and guide users to other relevant sections.
• About us : The "About us" page is where you can tell your story, introduce your team, and explain your company's mission and values. It's an opportunity to build trust and connect with your audience.
• Services/Products pages : These pages offer detailed information about the products or services you provide. They should highlight the features, benefits, pricing, and any other relevant information that helps visitors make informed decisions.
• Blog : The blog section is where you can regularly publish informative and engaging articles. It helps drive traffic to your website, establish thought leadership, and engage with your audience on a more personal level.
• Contact us: The "Contact us" page should provide clear contact information, including a contact form, email address, phone number, and physical address if applicable. It should make it easy for visitors to reach out to you.

Tip: Collaborate with your team to create, optimize, approve, and publish landing page content. Analyze results and identify top-performing channels from one platform.

4. Writing compelling headlines

Headlines are critical elements of website content writing as they serve as the first point of contact with your audience. They are the first things readers see, and they play a significant role in whether a reader decides to engage with your content or move on. You can use the following effective techniques for crafting compelling headlines:

• Use action words : Incorporate action verbs that encourage readers to take action or engage with your content. For example, "Discover," "Learn," "Master," or "Unlock."
• Pose questions : Questions in headlines can Evoke curiosity and prompt readers to seek answers. For example, "How to Boost Your Productivity?" or "Are You Making These Common Mistakes?"
• Create intrigue : Use curiosity to intrigue readers. For example, "The Secret to Success They Never Told You" or "Unbelievable Facts About..."
• Numbers and lists : Include numbers in your headlines to indicate a clear and structured approach. For example, "10 Ways to Save Money" or "5 Essential Tips for..."

Tip: StoryChief’s AI writes compelling headlines for you. Start creating your headlines today - it’s free !

5. Crafting engaging introductions

Crafting engaging introductions is crucial to capture your audience's attention and encourage them to continue reading your content. The purpose of introductions is to draw readers into your content and provide them with an initial understanding of what they can expect. Creating compelling intros involves using various techniques to hook your audience and keep them engaged.

Some effective techniques include:

• Storytelling : Share a relatable story close to your topic. Stories can create an emotional connection with readers and make the content more relatable and engaging.
• Quoting statistics or facts : Use relevant statistics, data, or compelling facts to highlight the importance or urgency of the topic. This can help establish credibility and create a sense of relevance for the reader.
• Offering a solution or benefit : Clearly outline the potential benefits or solutions that your content will provide. This helps readers understand the value of engaging with your content and motivates them to continue reading to learn more.

6. Make your content scannable

Creating scannable content is a vital aspect of website content writing. Scannability refers to the ease with which readers can quickly skim and find the information they're looking for in your content.

Employing various techniques such as bullet points, subheadings, and short paragraphs can significantly enhance the readability and overall user experience. Utilizing bullet points allows you to present information in a concise and easily easy-to-understand manner, making key points stand out.

Similarly, subheadings can break up the text into separate sections, making it easier for readers to scan the content and find the information they are looking for. Short paragraphs help prevent overwhelming the reader with large blocks of text, making the content more approachable.

7. Encouraging user engagement

Encouraging user engagement is a critical component of web content writing. Engaged users are more likely to interact with your content, stay on your website longer, and take desired actions.

User engagement can include a wide range of activities, depending on your website's goals, but it typically includes actions such as leaving comments, sharing content, signing up for newsletters, making purchases, or contacting your business.

Here are some key components and strategies for encouraging user engagement:

• Clear calls to action (CTAs): Include prominent and persuasive calls to action throughout your content and website. CTAs prompt visitors to take specific actions, such as "Sign Up Now," "Learn More," or "Contact Us."

• Interactive content: Incorporate interactive elements like quizzes, polls, surveys, and calculators to engage visitors and provide a more personalized experience.
• Comments and discussion : Encourage users to leave comments on your blog posts and articles. Engaging with user comments and developing discussions can build a sense of community and keep users returning for more.
• Live chat and support : Offer live chat or support options for users who have questions or need assistance. Providing immediate help can lead to higher user satisfaction.

8. Mobile-friendly content

With the increasing use of mobile devices for internet browsing, having mobile-friendly content is essential. It involves making your website and content easily accessible on smartphones and tablets.

The following practices can be used to ensure mobile-friendly content:

• Utilize responsive design techniques to ensure that your website adapts to various screen sizes, and provides an optimal viewing experience.
• Use font sizes that are easy to read on smaller screens without requiring users to zoom in. Ensure that the text remains readable even when the screen is resized.
• Optimize images and videos for mobile viewing to minimize load times. Compress images to enhance loading speed.
• Optimize your website's loading speed to ensure quick access to your content, reducing bounce rates and enhancing the user experience.

Understanding and implementing these guidelines for effective website content writing can significantly enhance the quality, engagement, and performance of your content, leading to a more successful online presence and improved user experience.

Streamline your website content writing

To sum up, effective website content writing is integral to building a strong online presence and engaging with your target audience. It involves creating and optimizing content that informs, engages, and converts visitors into customers.

By following the guidelines outlined in this blog, including understanding your audience, setting clear goals, and creating a well-structured content strategy, you can significantly enhance the quality and performance of your website content.

Tired of juggling multiple tools for content marketing? Join 5,000 marketers who manage website content, social posts, videos, webinars, podcasts, and whitepapers - all from one central content marketing calendar .

Frequently asked questions

Q1) what are web writing skills.

Ans: Web writing skills refer to the abilities and techniques to create effective and engaging written content for websites and online platforms. These skills are crucial for creating content that informs and persuades online audiences, whether on blogs, websites, or various digital platforms.

Q2) What is good web content?

Ans: Good web content is engaging, informative, and easy to understand. It effectively communicates a message, provides value to the reader, and encourages interaction.

Q3) Can you use ChatGPT to write content for the Website?

Ans: Yes, you can use ChatGPT to assist in generating content for your website. ChatGPT, and similar AI-powered tools, can be valuable for various content-related tasks such as generating Ideas, drafting content and grammar, and proofreading.

SEO score is generated by our copywriting assistant and helps us rank higher on search engines.

Free tools to make your students better writers and readers .

Quill.org, a non-profit, provides free literacy activities that build reading comprehension, writing, and language skills for elementary, middle, and high school students.

Writing Across the Curriculum: Quill's nonprofit mission is to now build both reading and writing skills through free, OER content across the curriculum. Over the coming years, we will be building a library of free ELA, social studies, and science activities that engage students in deeper thinking through writing prompts that provide immediate feedback.

9 million students have written 2 billion sentences on Quill.

Quill Reading for Evidence

Provide your students with nonfiction texts paired with AI-powered writing prompts, instead of multiple-choice questions, to enable deeper thinking.

Students read a nonfiction text and build their comprehension through writing prompts, supporting a series of claims with evidence sourced from the text. Quill challenges students to write responses that are precise, logical, and based on textual evidence, with Quill coaching the student through custom, targeted feedback on each revision so that students strengthen their reading comprehension and hone their writing skills.

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Quill Connect

Help your students advance from fragmented and run-on sentences to complex and well structured ones.

Using the evidence-based strategy of sentence combining, students combine multiple ideas into a single sentence. They then receive instant feedback designed to help them improve their clarity and precision.

Quill Lessons

The Quill Lessons tool enables teachers to lead whole-class and small-group writing instruction.

Teachers control interactive slides that contain writing prompts, and the entire class responds to each prompt. Each Quill Lessons activity provides a lesson plan, writing prompts, discussion topics, and a follow up independent practice activity.

Quill Diagnostic

Quickly determine which skills your students need to work on with our diagnostics.

The diagnostics cover vital sentence construction skills and generate personalized learning plans based on the student’s performance.

Quill Proofreader

Proofreader teaches your students editing skills by having them proofread passages.

Students edit passages and receive personalized exercises based on their results. With over 100 expository passages, Proofreader gives students the practice they need to spot common grammatical errors.

Quill Grammar

Students practice basic grammar skills, from comma placement to parallel structure.

Quill Grammar has over 150 sentence writing activities to help your students. Our activities are designed to be completed in 10 minutes so you have the freedom to use them in the way that works best for your classroom.

How Quill Works

Set up your classroom, without it.

You can quickly and easily set up your classroom in Quill by inputting student names or providing students with a unique code. If you use Google Classroom or Clever, you can automatically set up your classroom with one click.

Choose activities

Decide if you want your students to proofread passages, combine sentences, or complete a diagnostic. Use our ten minute activities as building blocks during your classroom instruction.

Use easy-to-consume reporting

Use our reporting to spot trends and identify growth opportunities. Monitor comprehension on specific writing standards.

Get immediate feedback for your students

Save time grading and watch your students correct their mistakes instantly.

Intervene where students struggle

See exactly where your students need intervention with our comprehensive reports.

Differentiate learning to meet the needs of all students

Assign specific activities for ELLs and students with learning differences.

Engage students with adaptive activities

Challenge students with questions that automatically adapt based on their previous responses.

Align with the Common Core Standards

Easily meet Common Core language standards with our aligned activities.

Easily sign up with Google Classroom

With one click all of your students and classes will be imported.

Over 100 concepts totaling 50 hours of quality curriculum.

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Join over 2,000 schools using Quill to advance student writing.

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11 English Writing Websites That’ll Have You Writing Like a Professional

Being able to write well in English is an incredible skill.

This is true for both English language learners and even for native speakers!

It goes without saying that writing in English is a key ability for the future .

That’s why we’re going to look at some of the top online resources to perfect the skill of writing in English .

Types of English Writing Websites

11 wonderful websites to power up your english writing skills, hemingway app, quick and dirty tips from grammar girl, write & improve with cambridge, project gutenberg, british council, how to use writing websites effectively, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

Choosing the right resources is the most important step. But to do this, you need to consider what exactly you need help with! Is it some basic grammar and spelling? Or more of an in-depth course and introduction to English writing in general?

Let’s take a look at some of the key categories that you need to consider.

• Spelling and Grammar Checkers:  Spelling and grammar checkers are a great way to make sure that your writing is clear, grammatically correct and accurate. These websites would be best suited to an advanced writer who writes large amounts or writes frequently. The reason they aren’t recommended for a beginning learner is that it’s important to develop the skill of checking and editing your own writing first.
• Lessons and classes:  If you’re a new learner or are looking to focus on a particular area of writing, then taking an English writing class might be a good option. They’re a great way to get a general introduction to English writing. You can also go deeper on a particular topic.
• Writing advice: Blogs and websites are fantastic sources of information regarding English writing. You can find helpful tips, advice from writers and general information regarding spelling and grammar. Websites like YouTube are also useful resources to find specific information.
• Creative Writing and Prompts:  Sites that provide tips on creative writing and prompts can be a great source of inspiration. Creative writing is an excellent way to practice new vocabulary and different writing styles. It can also be more fun than academic writing!
• Journaling and Habit-forming: There are many services that focus on helping you reach a writing goal of a particular number of words or a streak of days. Sometimes simply sitting down and doing the writing itself can be a difficult challenge! Journaling and freewriting websites can help maintain your motivation. They can also keep you on track and show you important information regarding your work rate.

In this post, we’ll be looking at the top websites from all these categories. This is to give you a nice selection and variety of websites to choose from. If you want to start writing English like a professional, then you should consider some of these options!

Grammarly is a free website and app that fixes your writing. You have the option of typing directly into the platform or copying large blocks of text (such as an essay) for correction. There’s also an extension that works with a number of platforms such as Google Docs, MS Office, Gmail and many other online writing websites.

• Thousands of learner friendly videos (especially beginners)
• Handpicked, organized, and annotated by FluentU's experts
• Integrated into courses for beginners

Grammarly is like having a personal editor read your English writing. The corrections are always offered as suggestions, instead of auto-corrections, so you’ll have a chance to review your mistakes before changing them.

However, because the app is aimed toward English natives I’d recommend Grammarly to an intermediate to advanced level writer. This is because the app looks to correct errors that native writers would make and isn’t designed specifically with English learners in mind.

For example, a native speaker will be using Grammarly to check for common errors such as a lack of apostrophes in contractions or using too much passive voice. It might offer suggestions if you’re using one word too often and it can even make a database check for plagiarism.

If you’re a beginner ESL writer, you may find this feedback helpful. However, feedback on word choice, formality, structure and staying on the topic question or essay question may be more beneficial. For this, you may need a writing instructor or English teacher to give in-person feedback in these earlier stages.

So how should you use Grammarly? To use Grammarly efficiently as an English learner you should consider it a final step in your writing process. Copy your text into the platform to do a final edit. But, always attempt to edit your own writing first as we discussed earlier in this post.

As an added bonus, the website has a very useful and frequently updated blog that covers various topics related to writing and grammar, as well as work and careers.

• Interactive subtitles: click any word to see detailed examples and explanations
• Slow down or loop the tricky parts
• Show or hide subtitles
• Review words with our powerful learning engine

Ernest Hemingway was an American author known for his simple and direct writing style. He wrote with limited adverbs and in short sentences.

This is a great style to practice especially for business English and professional English purposes because it’s important to be able to explain complex ideas in a basic manner.

That’s the central idea behind the Hemingway editor.

The Hemingway App website works in a similar way to the previously mentioned Grammarly app: It offers suggestions to help improve your writing.

That being said, there are some key differences.

The Hemingway App is best used for overall “stylistic” purposes. It helps your writing feel less complex and cluttered. It’s also important to note that it doesn’t correct spelling.

To use the website, copy your text and paste it into the editor. The editor will then provide you with a score and suggestions on how to improve the clarity of the writing, active/passive voice , how hard or easy your writing is to read and more. Everything is color-coded so you can easily see what needs to be updated.

• Learn words in the context of sentences
• Swipe left or right to see more examples from other videos
• Go beyond just a superficial understanding

You can make edits to your text right on the website and watch your readability score increase as you do! The more you use this website, the more aware you’ll become of the clarity and simplicity of your writing as you write.

It’s worth noting that this isn’t the only way to write—you may prefer to write with more flowing, flowery language, and that’s absolutely something you can do! The Hemingway App is a good option for you, though, if your writing is difficult for others to understand, more lengthy than you’d like or if you just want to write in a simpler style.

The app is free however you can choose for a paid service that offers additional features.

Even native speakers will re-read their own writing several times to not only check for grammar mistakes but also to gain an understanding of how it will be read by others.

If you’re interested in discovering additional ways to express what you wish to write, then Wordtune is a good place to start.

On Wordtune, there are multiple editing options to suit different needs. For example, you could have your piece of writing rewritten, check its grammar, change its formality as well as make it more concise or longer.

• FluentU builds you up, so you can build sentences on your own
• Start with multiple-choice questions and advance through sentence building to producing your own output
• Go from understanding to speaking in a natural progression.

You can even use Wordtune to find synonyms, which will not only allow you to improve your writing but also help you expand your English vocabulary .

To analyze your writing on Wordtune, simply copy and paste your text into the editor. I’d recommend starting off with shorter texts or sentences so you can focus on the variety of suggestions that this website will provide you with. You’ll be able to compare different options and see a deeper analysis of your writing.

Like Wordtune, Ginger also offers grammar checks and can rephrase your writing, providing you with various options to choose from.

Want to add variety to your writing or simply grow your vocabulary? As well as rephrasing and correcting sentences , on Ginger, you can simply click on a word to find more synonyms . This is a great way to learn new words and see how they can be used in your own writing.

One of my favorite features that I’d recommend to all English learners and even native speakers who want to improve their writing is Ginger’s “Writing Center,” where you’ll find a ton of informative guides about different types of writing, from resumes and cover letters to business vocabulary and letters .

• Images, examples, video examples, and tips
• Covering all the tricky edge cases, eg.: phrases, idioms, collocations, and separable verbs
• No reliance on volunteers or open source dictionaries
• 100,000+ hours spent by FluentU's team to create and maintain

Mignon Fogarty, also known as the Grammar Girl, is the founder of the blog and website “Quick and Dirty Tips.” She’s an award-winning writer and podcast host, and has a number of other accolades.

And there’s a good reason for that: Her webpage is a goldmine (full of useful information) of grammar advice and writing tips for native and non-native speakers alike!

You can find articles that cover basic grammar rules all the way up to more specific issues such as when to use specific words, like in the case of historic vs historical .

There are two ways that you can make the most of this resource as an English learner. The first is to search for a specific answer to a question that you have in mind. Grammar Girl has the answers to many of the most common grammar questions. If you have a question about how to use a word or how to apply a grammar rule, there’s a good chance it’s been covered on the website.

The second (which is my favorite) is to simply scroll through the website, diving deep into all the interesting and funny articles. You’ll learn the interesting history of some words, incredible tips and of course plenty of writing-related advice.

It’s a great way to learn while having fun!

Udemy is an online education platform. It offers courses in pretty much anything! That means that there’s a full range of English writing courses for you to choose from, ranging in price, level of difficulty and area of specialty.

This is the perfect resource for a person who’s new to writing in English or for a learner who wants to focus on a particular type of writing, like creative or business writing. Basically, you’ll be able to find something valuable to your writing goals at any level!

Among the courses covered are specific courses such as one on formal email writing .

To make the most of this resource, it’s very important that you carefully select the right course for your goals. This means reading the reviews, watching the course preview and reading any feedback or notes left by people who have previously taken the course.

Make sure you keep up to date with the classes and prepare materials on a schedule! Since these are mostly courses that allow you to go at your own pace, you’ll have to keep yourself on track.

Coursera is another online education platform that’s similar to Udemy and offers courses on specific topics. This means you’ll be able to find many courses offered on different styles of writing in English.

Plus, there’s an extra benefit to using Coursera: The courses come from authorized universities and institutions. As a result, many of the courses are more academic and similar to something you’d find in an actual college course. By taking one of these courses, you’ll be getting expert advice for much cheaper than the cost of a university class, or even for free!

Coursera suits learners looking to achieve a professional level of writing . In fact, if you scroll through the offerings, you’ll notice that many (but not all) of the courses on English are business or professionally focused .

If you’re learning English for business, you might find it useful to take this course on “Better Business Writing in English” from the Georgia Institute of Technology. Or, if you’re just trying to improve your overall writing skills, this course on grammar and punctuation from the University of California, Irvine can help you out.

You also have the option of paying to receive a certificate of completion at the end of the course. This makes Coursera an excellent option if you’d like to put your English studies on your resume!

Cambridge English is considered the “gold star” of English learning and teaching. In fact, the Cambridge Exams are known around the world and are very sought after by English learners. Over five million Cambridge English exams are taken every year!

Because of this, the resources that they produce are highly professional and educational, like their great service called “Write and Improve.”

Once you set up your profile and current writing level, you’ll be taken to your dashboard. Here, you can start writing either in a “free writing style” or with a given topic. Once you’ve completed your writing, it’s assessed and leveled based on your spelling, grammar and vocabulary. It’s then checked against the Common European Framework Reference for Languages (CEFR) .

“Write & Improve” is a great resource to give you an idea of what level your current writing skills are, as well as to discover some areas for improvement. This is also a very useful resource for anyone planning to take an accredited English exam, especially if you’ll be taking a Cambridge exam.

As an added benefit, you can set goals with this resource and take comfort in knowing that the feedback is based on the Cambridge system, including having your spelling checked against the Cambridge Dictionary .

Project Gutenberg is an open-source (legally allowed to be shared for free) library with over 70,000 titles! Generally, the titles you’ll find here are a bit old, as many of the books are no longer protected by copyright.

You may be wondering how exactly an online library can help perfect your writing skills. Well, by allowing you to read great books for free, of course!

But you can’t just read—to really learn from this resource, you need to read actively and closely. Take your time and read passages slowly. Write notes in a journal so you can get a better feel for the language. Take note of new phrases and words, unfamiliar grammar structures and anything else that stands out to you.

Start by scrolling through the top 100 . Most of these books are still very relevant today in English culture!  Project Gutenberg is an excellent introduction to the long history of English writing and culture.

It’s important to note that many of these books may use older or more traditional types of English, so be sure to check words and grammar rules for their modern usage.

The British Council is another organization that focuses on the English language and culture. Like Cambridge English, the British Council offers services related to English learning and exam preparation.

Their writing section is a great mix of English writing resources and activities. These would suit any type of learner since they’re clearly arranged by difficulty and are designed for self-study. This means you can set your own schedule and focus on areas of interest that are relevant to you.

To begin, choose your appropriate level. To really make the most of the resource, you should be completing all the activities as well as interacting in the comments section. You may find some tips and feedback you wouldn’t otherwise get!

If you like the free content, there’s an option to continue with a paid course. This is a good choice for anyone who wants to prepare for an exam or get a more structured learning experience.

“I don’t want to write today.”

“I don’t know what to write about!”

“It’s too late, I’ll write tomorrow.”

Do you ever find yourself making excuses like these? I know I do! It isn’t always easy to get yourself to sit down and write.

This is where the psychology of forming a habit is so important.

So far we’ve looked at resources that help our skills or give us pointers for our English writing capabilities.

But what about the act of writing, itself? Forget complex grammar and spelling issues. Sometimes, sitting down and practicing writing is the hardest part of all!

750 Words tracks your writing and encourages you to write every day. The goal of the website is to get you to write 750 words—about three pages worth of writing—per day.

In addition to being a minimal and beautifully designed writing program, 750 Words provides feedback on the time you’ve spent writing, the number of words you wrote and the language you used. It also gives you a report on your writing output (how much you achieve).

There’s a big focus on habit building on the platform, which is an often forgotten but very important step! It can take anywhere from 18-254 days to form a habit, and 750 Words provides the motivation to write every day.

This is a “free-writing” or journaling website, which means you should be writing without any goal or task in mind. If you find yourself struggling to think of something to write about, Journal Buddies has a great list of 49 writing prompts for English learners.

750 Words doesn’t check your spelling or grammar, so you can use it with some of the other resources in this list, like Grammarly.

To make the most of these writing resources, there are a couple of things you can do. First, you should be consistent with your writing—that is, do it regularly. This means that you should be writing every day . You can also plan out your schedule to include writing as part of your daily tasks.

You should also consider joining a community or writing club. This can either be online or an in-person writing club.

Writing clubs are an excellent way to motivate yourself as well as introduce yourself to new ideas. Best of all, they’re the perfect support for writing resources. They offer the opportunity to expand and grow your skills in a helpful environment. You can ask questions, request feedback or even seek advice about particular websites that other writers use.

You should also be using resources that actually help you to develop your English writing skills. This is a very important step. You need to think of online writing websites as a way to improve your writing quality and your skill. But it should always start with you! For example, if you’re at a beginner level, then a resource that automatically corrects your spelling isn’t going to help you learn much, since you need to learn how to fix errors on your own before using an app.

On that note, learn how to edit your own writing. Editing—or looking at your writing for mistakes and correcting errors—is a critical step in the writing process. After you complete your work, take a step back. This means you need to leave your work for a day or two before reading it over. Then, you can look for mistakes with a fresh look. Read your writing, keeping an eye out for errors like incorrect spelling, punctuation mistakes or poor grammar.

If you’re a more advanced writer, you can also consider changes to the voice such as active and passive sentences and the structure. Learning how to edit your writing is one of the best steps you can take toward improving your writing proficiency.

On top of writing websites, expanding your English vocabulary and immersing yourself in a lot of good writing will help a lot. If your English is more advanced, books are a great choice, along with popular publications like Forbes , Vanity Fair , and National Geographic . 

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Being able to write in English is a gateway to many incredible things, whether you’re working toward a personal goal to be more creative or a global skill for business! With these 11 incredible English writing websites, you’ll soon be able to develop this skill and write in English without fear!

If you like learning English through movies and online media, you should also check out FluentU. FluentU lets you learn English from popular talk shows, catchy music videos and funny commercials , as you can see here:

If you want to watch it, the FluentU app has probably got it.

The FluentU app and website makes it really easy to watch English videos. There are captions that are interactive. That means you can tap on any word to see an image, definition, and useful examples.

FluentU lets you learn engaging content with world famous celebrities.

For example, when you tap on the word "searching," you see this:

FluentU lets you tap to look up any word.

Learn all the vocabulary in any video with quizzes. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning.

FluentU helps you learn fast with useful questions and multiple examples. Learn more.

The best part? FluentU remembers the vocabulary that you’re learning. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned. You have a truly personalized experience.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Blog • Perfecting your Craft

Last updated on Feb 07, 2023

The 50+ Best Writing Websites of 2024

The Internet is full of writing websites and blogs to help people reach their creative goals . If you’ve always dreamt of writing your own book, but don’t know how to get there — or if you’re in the process of writing, but feel unsure about what to do next — then it’s your lucky day! Here we have all the best writing websites of 2024 in one single place for your convenience. They’re also organized by category, and alphabetically within each of those categories, to make each one easier to find. Enjoy!

Best writing websites for writing craft and inspiration

1. Almost an Author

Offering up new content every day, Almost an Author covers a grand scope of writing topics. From genre-specific advice to emotional support on your writing journey, there's tons of useful info here for beginner and veteran writers alike.

2. Association of Writer & Writing Programs

Having just marked their 50th anniversary, AWP is one of the premier authorities on writing. The AWP website provides resources and ample opportunities for authors, teachers, and students at every point in their career. Here you’ll be able to find information about writing programs, career options, and conferences all over the world. Keep in mind, though, that access to some of these features is restricted to members only.

3. Creativity Portal

This is a wonderful hub for creative resources that has been around for a whopping nineteen years! Here you can find writing prompts , creative coaching, printable writing templates, and interviews with authors that will help nourish the right side of your brain.

4. Daily Writing Tips

As the name suggests, this site offers daily writing tips ranging from open-ended prompts and exercises to grammar, spelling, punctuation, and vocabulary. It also covers all writing levels and professions, so it doesn't matter how far along you are in your writing career — DWT is sure to help you out.

Instead of spending thousands of dollars on a master’s degree, you can get your own "DIY MFA" right here! This site (founded by Gabriela Pereira ) aims to cover everything you would learn in a graduate program, while giving you the freedom to choose your own areas of concentration and allocate your time as you please. 

6. Electric Literature

While not exactly a craft-focused website — so no straight-up writing advice or prompts — this nonprofit digital publisher showcases literature-related essays, criticism, and recommended readings. If you're looking to brush up on both literary theory and recent literary trends, Electric Lit is the place for you.

7. Fiction University

This virtual university, run by award-winning author Janice Hardy, contains tons of advice and concrete examples to help authors build a strong writing foundation. It's full of blog posts by professionals who share their own processes and techniques, providing tips not just on what you should do as a writer, but on how  to make it happen.

8. Helping Writers Become Authors

Longtime author K.M. Weiland offers writing advice that ranges from outlining and structuring to characterization and dialogue — plus all the little details in between. She updates her blog faithfully with topical posts that would pique any writer's (or non-writer's) interest.

9. Insecure Writer's Support Group

Writing is intimidating for everyone , whether you're a multi-published author or you're just starting out. That's why getting support, guidance, and motivation throughout the process is vital! On IWSG, you'll discover a wealth of information on writing, publishing, marketing, and anything else you might need to ultimately overcome your insecurities.

10. Literary Hub

LitHub boasts a superb selection of content for all things literary. Here you can get all the latest book-related news, posts on design and the craft, your daily dose of fiction, and sparkling reviews of new works. One of this site's best features is its section on literature in translation — a great resource for those who want to read books and authors from around the world.

11. LitReactor

The LitReactor blog consists of writing classes, workshops, and a myriad of posts on writing and books ( some of which are even written by us! ). There’s also an online magazine that includes interviews, criticism and analysis, and seasonally appropriate reads and recommendations.

12. LitRejections

An unfortunate occupational hazard of with writing is rejection. This is where a site like LitRejections comes into play! It offers personal stories to help discouraged writers persevere through rejection, and maintain hope and motivation as they move forward in their careers.

13. Live Write Thrive

In this website by professional writer and editor C.S. Lakin, you’ll find plenty of nuanced writing anecdotes and tips. Lakin also supplies annotated critiques that can help you prep your book for publication.

14. NaNoWriMo

Besides serving as the official information hub for NaNoWriMo , this site also lends constant support for those struggling to "win" National Novel Writing Month. Make sure to check out the NaNoWriMo forums, which are chock-full of other people's personal writing tips and strategies to get you through November — and every other month of the year — as a writer.

15. Now Novel

This comprehensive website, founded by author Bridget McNulty , is a go-to for just about every writing-related question you might have. Here you'll also find advice, courses, and even an author dashboard where you can keep track of your own writing progress.

16. Positive Writer

If you often feel uncertain about your creative abilities, this is the site for you. Bryan Hutchinson created Positive Writer to encourage and inspire all those who want to write, no matter how much experience or confidence they have.

17. ProWritingAid

ProWritingAid offers a fantastic manuscript editing software that analyzes your writing and creates reports for you to learn from! This tool also includes a thesaurus, grammar checks, style suggestions, and more — you can learn all about it on the ProWritingAid blog, or in our review of the app !

18. She Writes

A well-established writing website with a feminist bent, She Writes is "the largest online community and content site for women writers... all around the world." The site features thoughtful posts and resources to help writers on their journeys, as well as a personal She Writes blog page for every user who signs up.

19. Well-Storied

Here you can find recent articles, workbooks, tutorials, and fascinating discussions on writing. Kristine Kieffer has an extensive archive of posts as well, where you can procure information on just about any topic related to books and writing.

20. The Write Practice

Fulfilling the promise of their name, every single post on this site emphasizes putting theory into practice! There's simply no better way to become a writer than by creating a routine, and that’s exactly what The Write Practice helps facilitate.

21. Writer’s Digest

Writer's Digest is one of the most encyclopedic writing websites out there — after all, the print magazine has been around for almost a century now! Here you’ll find genre and vocation-organized articles, events and competitions, webinars, templates, tutorials, and so much more.

22. Writer Unboxed

Writer Unboxed features articles by authors and industry professionals, focused specifically on the craft and business of fiction writing.

23. The Writing Cooperative

Plain and simple, this is a group of people who want to help each other become better writers. On Writing Cooperative, you will find articles that cover just about every aspect of the writing life. They also have monthly writing challenges to keep you incentivized, and there’s even a space where you can submit your own article to the blog!

24. Writing.com

This is an absolutely all-inclusive community for writers . It’s open to all levels and provides a creative, supportive environment for all members, as well as portfolios to store and display their writing. Like most writing websites, it also includes a plethora of writing tools , contests, and rewards.

25. Catapult: Don’t Write Alone

Don’t Write Alone is a blog written by the Catapult team dedicated to helping writers grow their skills. As a publisher and magazine founded in 2005, Catapult has seen a lot of works and now they’re spilling all the details. From interviews, to craft essays, to writer lifestyle essays, Catapult covers it all.

26. Kirkus Review’s Writers’ Center

Kirkus Review is known for its prestigious $50,000 dollar annual prize and its bi-monthly issues where they critique hundreds of recently published books. But, did you know they also have a section of their website devoted to helping emerging writers grow their skills and navigate the publishing industry? They’re always up to date on the latest trends — if they aren’t creating new trends themselves.

27. Writers Write

An invaluable resource for creative writers, business writers, or bloggers, Writers Write offers over 1400 articles, courses, and workbooks to help you take your writing practice to the next level. Alongside their educational content, they offer book reviews, trivia on famous authors, and prompts. Sign up for their inspirational newsletters for regular hits of motivation that will keep you writing.

28. The Narrative Arc

Beginning as a home to Andie R. Cranford’s writing journey, The Narrative Arc is now a treasure trove of practical tips and prompts to inspire your creativity. Breakdowns of popular books are particularly handy for the budding author — but whether exploring writing for the first time or tightening the bolts on your Franken-novel, the site's ideas on craft are elegant and inspiring.

Best writing websites in the publishing industry

29. Agent Query

This database allows authors to perform in-depth searches for literary agents . You can narrow your search by genre and keywords, view agents’ full profiles, and see if they are currently accepting queries — all for free!

30. The Creative Penn

Besides being a bestselling author on various topics, Joanna Penn is also a leading voice in self-publishing . On her punnily named site, you’ll find abundant information related to writing, self-publishing, marketing, and everything else you mind need to make a living as a writer.

31. Digital Pubbing

Digital Pubbing provides industry news, interviews with indie authors, and resources for learning all about ebooks and the publishing industry. In accordance with the name, this is the perfect site for any author hoping to absorb some serious digital knowledge.

32. The Independent Publishing Magazine

We know it might seem like we're repeating ourselves, but this website really is all about publishing (both independent and traditional, despite what the name indicates). Whatever info you need about self-publishing, trad pub, or hybrid publishing , you’ll definitely be able to find it here.

33. Publishers Weekly

And if you have a specific question about the publishing world, you’ll most likely find the answer here. This weekly magazine is packed full of news, reviews, announcements, and many other resources on the industry. It has been dubbed as "the Bible of the book business" and with its extensive archive, it’s easy to see why.

34. Publishing Perspectives

Publishing Perspectives is another leading source of publishing info, specializing in industry news and topical articles. Aimed at publishers, agents , and authors alike, it features a variety of posts that cover book fairs, distribution, education, and much more.

35. Query Shark

Not sure where your query letter is up to snuff? Query Shark offers the opportunity to have your query critiqued, and to read detailed query critiques of other authors' letters, so you can get the best possible results for your book. Be warned, though, that this sharp-toothed feedback isn't for the weak of heart.

36. Writer Beware

This amazingly thorough site compiles information on schemes and scams that affect authors , especially those run through email and the Internet. It’s sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America, but obviously applies to authors everywhere. If you're a fresh-faced author trying to get published, definitely check it out — it could save you from losing thousands of dollars in an elaborate scam.

37. The Darling Axe

When the industry professionals at The Darling Axe aren’t working on manuscripts, they flock to the internet to share their hot takes on the publishing industry. They also host writing contests throughout the year to build a writing community and give unpublished authors the chance to get feedback from professionals.

Best writing websites for marketing and design

38. David Gaughran

An experienced author of historical adventures, short stories, and popular books for writers , David Gaughran is one of the definitive writing experts out there. His eponymous blog contains plenty of info on marketing and self-publishing, plus workshops to help aspiring authors. And similar to Writer Beware, he's the noble opposition of online publishing scams and scammers — so if you're frustrated by these issues, you'll discover a blissfully sympathetic voice on his blog.

39. Kikolani

Focused specifically on marketing, Kikolani offers tips and strategies for bloggers who want to grow their presence and attract more readers. Here you’ll find information on brand development , social media, customer retention, and other useful tips that you can put to good use as a blogger. (If you're just getting started, though, we'd recommend this course .)

40. Kindlepreneur

Dave Chesson is — in his own words — a “digital marketing nut.” His blog has all the information you could ever need about Kindle book publishing , how to write to market, increasing your rankings on Amazon, and lots more practical tips and advice.

41. Storiad

Storiad is a marketing platform that helps authors and publishers sell books. Go here for essential information on writing apps , databases, tools, and budgeting to help you run your own publishing campaign from start to finish.

42. Writers & Artists

Part of the distinguished Bloomsbury, Writers & Artists has quite a few articles on writing and the self-publishing process. They also offer editorial services and events on many different topics, like genre-specific writing courses and how to get connected with agents .

43. Your Writer Platform

Naturally, this site is dedicated to building your very own writer platform. There are tons of tips, resources, tools, how-tos, and even individual consulting services to help you build the platform that works best for you and your marketing needs.

Best writing blogs by industry professionals

44. Goins, Writer

Bestselling author Jeff Goins created this blog to share his thoughts on writing and to inspire others to chase their creative dreams. He's especially good at breaking complex topics down into digestible bits — new writers, go here for your primers.

45. Jane Friedman

With copious experience in the publishing industry, Jane Friedman offers online classes and articles on the entire process of book publishing. She's a real goldmine of business knowledge, so keep her in mind for when you're ready to publish your book.

46. Nail Your Novel

As a bestselling former ghostwriter who now publishes under her own name, Roz Morris provides advice about writing, self-publishing, and of course, ghostwriting . If you're interested in becoming a ghostwriter, be sure to check out her courses!

47. Nathan Bransford

Nathan Bransford is a former literary agent who posts all about the inner workings of publishing, as well and information on agents and self-publishing. He also does consultations, edits, and critiques . 

48. Rachelle Gardner

Skillful agent Rachelle Gardner has negotiated over 200 contracts with over twenty publishers and helped more than 100 authors fulfill their dreams of publishing. On her blog, she offers writing, publishing, and social media coaching, along with general writing and publishing tips.

49. Kris Writes

For regular insights from a New York Times bestselling author, look no further than Kristine Kathryn Rusch's blog. On Mondays, she posts free short stories for authors to find inspiration in, and Wednesdays she posts in her “Business Musings” collection where she breaks down news from the publishing industry and offers her inside opinions. 

50. The Marginalian  

Maria Popova describes her site as “a record of my own becoming as a person — intellectually, creatively, spiritually, poetically — drawn from my extended marginalia on the search for meaning across literature, science, art, philosophy, and the various other tendrils of human thought and feeling.” She sends out a Sunday newsletter with thoughtful deconstruction of the week’s best liberal arts goings-on to help broaden her readers’ appreciation of the creative world.

51. John August

For all the screenwriters out there, John August co-hosts a weekly podcast with fellow screenwriter Craig Mazin discussing both the craft and business of screenwriting while breaking down popular movies. To help screenwriters really get a feel for the process of working with a studio, John has posted multiple versions of scripts from different stages in the production process on films and series he’s written, including Charlie and the Chocolate Factory , Big Fish , and Chernobyl .

What are some of your favorite writing websites? Let us know in the comments below!

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20 Content Writer Websites (That Will Blow Your Socks Off)

While a compelling job pitch and vast experience give you an edge, showcasing your writing prowess on the right pedestal is the game-changer.

Enter the magic of a captivating portfolio. With the digital realm booming and thousands of sites springing to life daily, the appetite for content writers has never been more voracious. Just to paint a picture, there are a staggering 2 billion live websites as we speak! Each vying for attention and ravenous for fresh, compelling content. For those wielding the pen, it’s high time to carve out a digital niche, making it easier for potential clients to discover and tap into your expertise. Dive in as we spotlight 20 exemplary content writer portfolios to fuel your inspiration, ensuring your digital footprint not only stands out but also magnetizes opportunities.

20 Examples of Great Content Writer Websites:

1. millie lapidario.

Millie Lapidario is a famous content writer who runs her job board as well. Although primarily a tech writer, she has written other types of content too. A collection of her past work is brilliantly displayed in her portfolio . She has chosen an attractive color combination of black and white for the theme, giving her site a nice retro look. She also has other writers under her employ to serve more clients simultaneously.

2. Francesca Nicasio

Featuring statistical figures that highlight the dramatic results of her work in the first half of the page, Francesca Nicasio has an extremely professional website. She mentions her expertise and later defines how clients can benefit by hiring her. Such strategies can help you win jobs instantly. She also prominently displays her email on her welcome banner, so you can see it as soon as you open it. Thus, clients find it easy to contact her.

3. Sally Bacchetta

Sally Bachhetta has a simple and decent-looking website. I think that’s a good initiative because many clients don’t enjoy getting into fancy details. Right at the start, she talks about her expertise, which is freelance content writing , instructional designing, and sales training. Her website has a nice flow of information. She first explains her expertise in content writing and then provides her bio. She also mentions her previous experience and articles in her portfolio.

4. Muriel Vega

Muriel Vega is a professional content writer and copywriter, and her skills are aptly highlighted in her unique portfolio. She let her creativity shine in her portfolio by using icons and animations. As soon as you open her website, you can see the niches she’s specialized in. By clicking on any icon, you get directed to her articles written in that niche. That’s a highly creative and professional way of showcasing your skills. By using the least words possible, you don’t take much of the readers’ time while browsing.

5. Helen Gebre

Helen Gebre uses a simple design on her website and introduces herself perfectly, with a short description. Her writing style and bio portray how much she loves writing and considers it an art. The other page displays her work, in which she included samples of past content she wrote. The next page is a short introduction about her, which is highly creative and fun to read. On the last page, she has a section where clients can reach her.

6. Kat Boogaard

Kat Boogaard has a nicely designed website with beautiful and subtle colors and an amazing theme. At the very beginning, she explains a little about herself in the most creative way possible. It tells about her professionalism. Kat explains how much she loves freelance writing and how clients can benefit from her work. She included in her portfolio the many instances in which other websites feature her work. I think it’s a great strategy, especially if those sites provide backlinks to hers.

7. Emily Thompson

Emily Thompson has a simple and clean website, but with a creative flair to attract clients. She explains her track record and uses bullet points to do away with long and boring paragraphs. Then, she presents a clever but subtle argument that can make potential clients realize the advantages of hiring a professional writer . And as a coup de grâce, there’s a CTA button underneath. In the end, she shares her client’s reviews and mentions the brands she’s worked with.

8. Tyler Koenig

Tyler Koenig’s website does not only exude confidence with punchy one-liners, but it also gives a glimpse of his personality by mentioning a hobby. This strategy is amazing as it grabs attention quickly as well as conveys a message that he is a no-nonsense professional. The website’s homepage is simple and unique, and you can click the icons to get directed to a specific page.

9. Brittany Berger

Brittany Berger’s website is one of my favorites, as she uses a unique approach to convey her thoughts in the best way possible. She offers a quick solution to existing and potential clients, which is exactly what they are looking for. After all, clients want to see an immediate answer to their requirements. Her website has a nice color scheme and uses icons and animations to make it even more appealing.

10. Yolander Prinzel

Yolander Prinzel has a straightforward website with little frills. However, it delivers everything clients need to know to hire her. The best thing about her website is that all the details are on the home page. She also added links to her work, as well as featured testimonials from past clients who raved about her services.

11. Michal Eisikowitz

Michal Eisikowitz has one of the best and most professional content writer’s websites I’ve seen so far. The way she addresses the problems on point and offers the best possible solution hooks you perfectly. She also uses clever and humorous images to make clients realize their dilemmas in producing powerful and timely content. The way she uses bullet points and tries to make a friendly relationship with the clients through her work is highly impressive. She also explained everything sequentially, which is great!

12. Sarah Asp Olson

Sarah Asp Olson uses a different approach by minimizing texts and using more images on her homepage. Said images serve as clickable thumbnails that will direct you to see her past work in that niche. Her bio is also short but to the point. However, what’s missing is the creative style most other writers use on their websites. It’s fairly neutral but delivers the right information.

13. Sarah Turner

From the get-go of her website, Sarah tells her expertise, which is copywriting in the health industry . This tactic is great, as clients won’t have to scroll through the website to know her writing niche . You might think that this is self-limiting, but she is projecting herself as a consummate expert on the topic. However, unlike other writers, she shared her experience first and described herself at the end.

14. Catherine Conelly

Catherine Conelly’s website is another example of a simple and decent content writer website. The homepage only includes a picture of her along with a list of her expertise. On the side, there are sections you can click on for further information. She shares her content writing journey nicely on her website, including samples of her past work and experience.

15. Ally Denton

Ally Denton demonstrates how you don’t need to be loquacious to say much about yourself and what you can offer. She only briefly talks about herself on the homepage and mentions the niches she loves, which is a great initiative. After all, a business should be able to communicate its products or services by using the fewest words possible. You can discern her professionalism just by looking at her homepage.

16. Jeremy Herriges

Being a sportswriter and journalist, Jeremy Herriges combines his passion with his profession. This is another content writer with tunnel vision. He specifically states his writing niche on his compelling website, which is the sport of boxing. He is a major contributor to various sports publications. His homepage features colorful graphic art and a brief introduction. Later, it talks about his previous work and contact details, which are a great sequence.

17. Rachel B. Levin

Rachel B. Levin has a fascinating website that blends her expertise with the theme. Right after landing on the homepage, the first lines clearly explain what she does. Later, you can see her published work, which she neatly organized according to niches. You can access each one by clicking on the respective thumbnail images. Her “about” section focuses more on her content writing career.

18. Marlen Komar

Marlen Komar’s website is an example of a creative and professional content writer’s website. While the top of the page proclaims she is a writer, the bio below details her expertise and the niches she loves to write in. As she is a lifestyle and beauty writer, most of her past work features the beauty industry and common issues that women face daily.

19. Amanda Loudin

Amanda uses a minimalist approach on her website and uses the first line to discuss her work experience and expertise. Then, you can see her featured articles, which are great for displaying your work. She also tells a little about herself as a content writer.

20. Chidinma Nnamani

As soon as clients visit your site, they should know what you offer. And that’s what Chidinma does perfectly. In the main lines, she talks about her favorite niches , and just below that, she mentions the type of content she prefers to write. Her website is well-organized and professional. She also shares screenshots of her best work and how she has improved the traffic to clients’ sites.

Final words

All content writer websites mentioned here are highly professional and showcase the individual’s skills and expertise. While adding the right theme is important , playing with words to convince clients to hire you is equally essential. So, whenever you want to build a website in this industry, check out the ones we featured here as a reference. Next up you may want to check how to create your own freelance writing website .

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Hey there, welcome to my blog! I'm a full-time entrepreneur building two companies, a digital marketer, and a content creator with 10+ years of experience. I started RafalReyzer.com to provide you with great tools and strategies you can use to become a proficient digital marketer and achieve freedom through online creativity. My site is a one-stop shop for digital marketers, and content enthusiasts who want to be independent, earn more money, and create beautiful things. Explore my journey here , and don't miss out on my AI Marketing Mastery online course.

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Strategies to Overcome Writer’s Block

What is writer’s block.

Writer’s block is a phenomenon experienced by writers that is best described as an overwhelming feeling of being stuck in the writing process without the ability to move forward and write anything new. There are a few hard truths we must face before talking about “overcoming” writer’s block though:

• You do not overcome writer’s block by refusing to write until you feel “inspired.”
• You do not overcome writer’s block by floundering & feeling bad about yourself.
• You do not overcome writer’s block by being unkind or cruel to yourself.
• You do not overcome writer’s block by procrastinating or making excuses.
• You do not overcome writer’s block by doing everything but writing.
• You do not overcome writer’s block by believing in writer’s block.

Turn Down the Dial on Self-Doubt

Sometimes we hear a critical voice in our head that make statements like “no one will think this is any good” or “there’s already a better scholar in your field.” Part of our writing practice should be learning how to turn the volume down on that voice, which has no place when we’re sitting down at the blank page. That voice might be helpful later down the line when we’re editing, but it’s not helpful before we even begin writing. There can be a lot of emotions that can make writing difficult: frustration at the rules of writing or the publication process, anger that past attempts at writing went unnoticed or underappreciated, and/or fears that we might not be good enough. Being aware and acknowledging these negative thoughts and feelings can be an important first step to overcoming writer’s block.

Creating a Productive Work Environment

One possible reason you may be struggling to begin writing could be connected to your writing (and by extension, your study) environment. Here’s a quick little exercise to get in touch with your writing needs. Take out a sheet of paper and answer the following questions:

• Where do you prefer to write at? What spaces feel most productive to you? Do you prefer to be at home or out at a coffee shop? Library? Grad carrel?
• Are you energized by being around other people—or is that distracting?
• Is there a time of day that works best for you? When can you carve out writing time?
• Do you need to incentivize yourself to get work done? Do rewards work on you? (For example, brewing tea, having snacks nearby, burning a favorite candle…)
• Do you like to listen to a certain type of music—or is silence preferred?

After you’ve spent a few minutes outlining what you value in a writing environment, consider how your current work environment compares to your ideal, and if your current situation needs any enhancements or changes.

Practice Prewriting Exercises

One way to take off some of the pressure of producing your next great work is acknowledging that you don’t have to go straight into writing the thing itself. There are a number of “prewriting” (i.e.: planning) exercises to help you begin to generate thoughts and words without putting the onus on yourself to begin your magnum opus. These activities include freewriting, list-making, brainstorming, mindmapping (clustering), looping, and/or outlining. Resources:

• University of Kansas Writing Center on “Prewriting Strategies”
• Berkeley Student Center on “Before You Start Writing That Paper…”
• Peter Elbow on Freewriting

Use Apps to Help You Organize and Focus

• If you get distracted easily, there are timer-based apps (for example, Self Control or Freedom) that allow you to block out websites, social media, and other internet-based distractions so you can focus on your writing. There are also plenty of “Get Things Done” (GTD) apps you could embrace, such as Notion, OmniFocus, Evernote, Trello, Google Keep, and ToDoIst. There are also apps to track your research/citations, including Mendeley, Zotero, & EndNote. Try researching a few and experimenting with them—one of them may become a great resource for your writing practice! Resources:
• Google Keep
• SelfControl
• “How to Choose a Citation Manager” Article

Set S.M.A.R.T. Goals

You’re going to be overwhelmed and doing yourself a disservice if, say, you try to write an entire dissertation chapter in one day. “S.M.A.R.T.” is an acronym that encourages us to make sure our goals are targeted and able to be reached. Therefore, your goals should be specific, able to be measured, actually achievable, relevant (or reasonable), and time-sensitive.

• S pecific: Well-defined, clear, unambiguous
• M easurable: Create criteria that measures your progress
• A chievable: Attainable and not impossible to achieve
• R ealistic: Within reach, realistic, and relevant
• T ime-based: Create a clearly defined timeline that has a start date, benchmarks, and an anticipated deadline
• University of California SMART Goals Guide

Strengthening Your Writing Practice

Below is a short list of ways to thwart writer’s block and get closer to your goals. This is an assortment of ideas for you to try:

• Try a smaller, manual task to get yourself moving right before you plan to write, such as washing the dishes or taking out the trash. Engaging in a smaller activity can get us doing something , even if it’s not writing, which helps push away the apathy and malaise and resentment we can experience sometimes toward the blank page.
• Don’t wait until inspiration strikes. Create a writing schedule for yourself using your S.M.A.R.T. goals to start building in a writing routine.
• Try working in blocks of time, such as using the Pomodoro Technique.
• If you’re in a rut, try mixing things up. Try writing in a new environment, or working on a different chapter or section of your writing project. If you feel like you’re pushed up against the wall, try to think outside the box and approach your writing from a different angle.
• If you tend to be a perfectionist, find small ways to take the pressure off, such as drafting is an “ugly” font or avoiding titling your paper or sections until the end. Naming something can give it power, so try and find small ways to ignore the desire to be great.
• Create an accountability group with friends so you’re all working on writing together and can support each other.

Resources :

• The Pomodoro Technique

Practice Wellness & Use Your University Resources

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, remember to take care of yourself. Writing—especially bigger writing projects like dissertations—can be mentally taxing. Listen to your body and don’t forget your needs as a human: sleeping and eating and even remembering to take a break from the computer screen to move your body or do some light stretches. We also have counseling and therapy services here at the university that you may want to take advantage of if you feel that your writer’s block might be connected to other parts of your health and overall wellness. Resources:

• Counseling Center
• Psychological Consultation Center
• Couple and Family Therapy Clinic
• Wellness Resource Center
• Well-being Coaching

Advancing Science and Practice for Persons Living with Dementia: Riding in the Moment Has Its Moment

“As a caregiver, I can speak to the fact that life is intense,” says Traci Edmondson.

Edmondson is the dementia care specialist for Calumet and Outagamie counties in Wisconsin. She also cared for her husband while he was living with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease.

“You are always on. You are always caregiving,” she says. “You don’t have a moment to think or process anything for yourself because it’s all about trying to organize and manage all the daily activities” for your loved one.

“Someone else was taking care of my husband and he was participating in a joyful experience,” recalls Edmondson. “I had an opportunity to be present, to see his joy, but also have my own experience without the burden of caregiving.”

Riding in the Moment™ was developed by Hearts & Horses, a therapeutic riding center in Colorado. Their goal was to improve the quality of life of people living with dementia and their care partners.

University of Wisconsin–Madison Assistant Professor of Kinesiology Beth Fields, PhD, OTR/L, BCG learned about Riding in the Moment™ while she was in graduate school. She’s now bringing the program to Dane County.

“When I was out in Colorado, I volunteered for this program because a family member was living with dementia,” Fields explains. “I wanted to learn about non-pharmacological interventions that my family member could benefit from. When I came back to my home state of Wisconsin, I started reaching out to folks to see whether this type of program exists here.”

“Since the program’s inception in 2011, various research studies have found that the program is safe and acceptable, and positively influences the health and quality of life not only of the participants living with dementia, but their family and friends,” says Fields. “For example, participants living with dementia experience fewer behavioral and psychological symptoms when engaging with horses as compared to other common activities that folks with dementia engage with, such as music, arts, or gardening groups.”

“The problem of not translating this research to community practice is that the growing number of folks living with dementia and their families don’t get to benefit,” says Fields.

Her partners in bringing Riding in the Moment™ to Dane County include Three Gaits, an accredited therapeutic riding center in Stoughton.

“Our mission is to provide equine assisted activities to people of all ages who are living with a disability,” says Jolie Hope, the executive director of Three Gaits. “We have worked with older adults before, but not with people living with dementia. We are mindful that each participant will have their own abilities, based not only on themselves, but where they’re at in their progress with dementia. We want to create an environment that provides them the opportunity to do what’s best for them on that day.”

When Three Gaits volunteer coordinator Ashley Haggard emailed volunteers asking for help launching the program this summer, she was surprised by the immediate response.

“I had a bunch of emails in my inbox of people sharing their stories about how dementia has impacted their lives and saying, ‘I really want to help with this program. This is super important to me’,” says Haggard. “We see that there’s a large need and lots of support.”

Traci Edmonson, the dementia care specialist who participated in Riding in the Moment™ with her husband at a therapeutic riding center in Neenah, Wisconsin, supports growing the program to reach more people living with dementia.

“Up until two weeks before my husband passed, when we got ready to do Riding in the Moment™, he was excited,” she remembers. “He was no longer able to sit on the horse because of his balance. But just being able to be there and touch the horse and groom the horse made a difference in his life, for the rest of the day. For someone with dementia, a day is a long time. He would tell me, ‘That was the best day I ever had.’ And it was only two hours.”

–Diane Farsetta; photos from Hearts & Horses provided by Beth Fields

Interested in learning more about the program and how to participate in Dane County? Contact [email protected], visit www.three-gaits.org , or call 608-877-9086.