In the last year or so, I’ve seen wave after wave of alarmist posts on social media claiming that AI-generated content will destroy your search rankings. And some AI critics warn that “Google penalizes AI content” or “Google is shutting down sites that use AI.” I’ll tell you straight out: that’s a myth. Google isn’t … Read more
From what I see on social media and among my colleagues, attitudes toward generative AI seem to be all or nothing. Some writers use AI like it’s a magic content machine. They type in a prompt, grab the output, run it through a humanizer, and click “Send to Editor.” As an editor, I feign ignorance … Read more
A lot of people aren’t sure about the difference between editing and proofreading. If you’re an editor or experienced writer, sure, you know the difference. But if you’re a beginner writer or a small business owner looking to hire an editor or proofreader, you might be confused by the terminology. And what is copyediting? Then … Read more
Content writing isn’t just for big businesses and professional content writers. It’s for anyone who writes articles or blog posts. You might be a book author, an industry expert, a niche blogger, or someone who just wants more of an online presence for work or fun. High-quality content is helpful. It grabs attention and boosts … Read more
AI tools like ChatGPT can be intimidating and confusing. If you’re not already using AI for writing, you’ve probably wondered, What is ChatGPT? What’s it for? Should I check it out? Is it ethical? ChatGPT is a super-smart friendly robot that will help you with almost anything. It uses artificial intelligence (AI) to understand … Read more
If you want everyone to know you’re a newbie blogger—or you don’t get out much—call a blog post a “blog.” I’m writing a blog today. I get paid to write blogs. How long should a blog be? I started seeing “blog” used like this 7-8 years ago, but it’s much more widespread now. It’s typically … Read more
Seems like everybody’s talking about writing schedules, writing habits, and writing challenges these days. Newsletters from the many blogs and podcasts I follow are cramming my inbox with topics like how to draft an outline in xx days, why you’ve fallen off the writing wagon, or how to fulfil your writing dream. And that’s exactly … Read more
Keeping up with the news keeps you informed. But you can also use it to improve your self-editing skills by intentionally looking for mistakes or confusing writing. I know, I know. You’re tired of the news. You don’t have time or it’s too distracting or upsetting. Or you watch it on TV. But reading the … Read more
What’s not to love about free writer tools? For starters, even if you prefer to write rough drafts in longhand—pen and paper—all writers eventually need word processing software of some kind. Sure, MS Word is the standard. But if a yearly subscription for Microsoft 365 puts a dent in your budget—or you just don’t like … Read more
Need some writing motivation but can’t seem to make it happen on your own? Well, there are all sorts of sneaky tricks you can use, like Camp NaNoWriMo which starts April 1. It’s the best way I know of to kick your fingers into motion. Do you know what it is? Most of you probably … Read more