Advice Request: Article Writing Course

You don't need a course. You already have the basic mechanics of writing down pat, so that's good.

Now just go pick up a cheap book on copywriting like "Cashvertising" that explains the basics of writing in ways to speak to the reader's emotions.

There are so many different types and styles of "articles" that you will be writing if you want to do this full time and there is no course that is going to teach you how to do them all. If you passed high school english, then you can churn out the $5.00 an article stuff with no problem cause most of are just essays that hopefully attract Google's attention.

Everything beyond that just takes practice, really, and studying other people's work. As a content provider you might be asked to provide a sales page, autoresponder chain, blog post, "About Us" page, product reviews or just about anything else. There is no better way to learn than to study other people's work.

On Fiverr I wrote an article on the pros and cons of plastic jars and another article that same day that was a sales page for a vibrating rubber ducky (you can guess what the purpose of THAT was).

It helps to identify the purpose of what you are writing. For instance is the article just to get clicks from Google? Is it trying to sell something? Is it a product review? Is it a blog post? Once you understand the PURPOSE of the piece you are writing then it gets easier.

For instance a blog post (on a good blog, anyway) should not only inform the reader of something but also try to encourage discussion around the topic of the post.

I could go on but I think I am rambling at this point. What I am trying to say is that practice, imitation, and working with the client will get you farther than most "courses".

Honestly, your writing is fine if it is of the same quality as that post. You could easily sell a 500 word article for two or three times that in the Warriors for Hire section.

The best thing you can do to get better at writing is keep practicing.

yup, i dont think u need a course.

just be genuine and people will be willing to read.

an article can be all professional but if its cold selling i woundnt read it any further.

In all respects, I can say that GameVoid is right. How you improve your article writing style is ultimately up to you.

But I'm also familiar with the nagging voice inside your head that says, "if only I purchase an awesome course that will conveniently give me awesome, no-nonsense advice from someone who has been there" that will set you out for a quest to actually buy something despite knowing that you can do it alone.

For some reason unknown to me, there's a certain confidence that comes from learning about things in a course aside from getting generic advice everywhere that you may probably already know anyway.

Should you really decide to purchase a course, How to Write an Article in 7 Minutes by Jason Fladlien has helped me a ton, if only to gain more confidence in my writing, to say the least. I was really satisfied with it, and everywhere I've searched almost all the reviews were positive ones as well.

Good luck to your article writing efforts!

I really appreciate all of your replies and encouragement.

GameVoid, thank you for your detailed reply. I will consider buying "Cashvertising." It looks interesting and I didn't really consider studying copywriting and applying it to content writing. I also read one of your sample articles and was impressed. I will read through all of your samples tomorrow.

I am humbled by your reply, Amanda, as I read your posts carefully when I come across them and you're one the writers I look up to on this forum. You have made a good name for yourself here. I've checked out your "Warriors For Hire" post and read through your websites and samples linked from your ghostwriting website more than once.

Frances, I just started Jason Fladlien's latest IM course (along with Wilson Mattos), and I was impressed by session #1. I will consider buying his article writing course. I do suffer from that nagging voice in my head, but Jason's course has helped me nix that problem in one session. I'm very focused now on the material that I will consider buying: only that which helps my goals I have laid out!

I have some confidence in my writing skills; I'm just trying to adapt to the Internet. I know that Internet surfers are very impatient and if an article doesn't immediately perk their interest...here comes the BACK button! After finding an initial interest in the article, if they read three or four more sentences and it's dull and uniformative...same result.

I have a very straightforward, just-the-facts presentation. This reflects my real-life conversational skills--I can never think of anything to "small talk" about. Reading some of the "best" articles it seems to me that the authors really poor a bunch of personality into them.

Case-in-point, if you read some of Eric Gruber's articles (the link in my OP), he always includes a personal story within his articles. That makes them much more interesting to read and makes the articles more memorable.

I think part of my problem is figuring out how to include enough pertinent information in so few words. In my previous writing activities, I haven't needed to limit myself to a certain number of words, and I could express my ideas fully.

As you can tell by reading any of my posts, I tend to turn what should be a few simple statements into full-blown reports. Maybe I'll be better-suited for writing reports and ebooks, which is great I guess, because my goal is to start info-product creation next month (preferably NOT in the IM nitch!).

Haha. Ironically, now I will hit the "Post Quick Reply" button!

I'm currently in the middle of writing a little guide on how to structure different types of articles, how to research them and how to evoke emotion so that readers will click those links and buy. Send me a PM with your email address and once it's finished I'll send it to you.

It's basically a step by step formula on how I write and research all my articles/reviews. Don't worry it doesn't cost money nor am I trying to sell you anything. You have a very good grasp on English if your posts are any example and thus you should be charging a whole lot more than $5. Undervaluing yourself in this business is a surefire way to get burnt out extremely quickly.

Yep they are all right..yoiu just need to keep practicing to be the best that you want.
If you want to strengthen your writing skills and develop your writing ability then you simply need to write. Write as much as you can, as often as you can. You don't always have to be writing articles for publication - sometimes you may feel like simply writing your own private thoughts down. But the more you write, the better your writing is likely to become. Good Luck

I've been a member of this forum for two months, and it's always been extremely helpful.

But mostly I've just been browsing other's questions, reading tons of information, and buying WSOs. I've been hesitant to take action due to lack of confidence, fear of failure...all the usuall suspects, I'm sure.

Actually posting my own thread and getting personalized feedback makes me want to go right out and take action! The comments I've received have improved my confidence.

Again, I really appreciate the support.

Hi Apex,

I guess i shall not repeat what most of the warriors have recommended.

You may want to opt for a "psychology" course on what makes people buy, since you already have good writing skills.

Well, if you're looking for a course, then Jason Fladlien has a pretty good course about it called "how to write a 400 word article in 7 minutes or less".

I personally bought it and I can tell you it works. You won't be able to write articles in 7 minutes in the first day of course, but I'm sure the second time you will write an article, you will do it 30% faster.

Another thing about article writing is using speach recognition software, like dragon naturally speaking.

If you're interested, you may send me a PM and I'll give you a bonus if you go through my link.

Hi Apex,

From your post, I ascertain your intent on learning better article writing techniques is to increase the value of your article to prospective buyers interested in marketing their products with articles, (also known as article marketing).

The art of writing is more than just putting together a bunch of words surrounded by keyword phrases to hopefully get the attention of Google or search engines. Most of the articles you see on EZA or other article directories are nothing more than what I call "search engine fodder", having the sole purpose of attracting a search engine spider for indexing with zero regard to reader value.

The most important aspect of writing is to appeal to a reader in terms which endear or engage the reader. For example, appealing to the emotions of a reader is a strong method for getting that reader to agree with you.

Once you achieve reader agreement, you have conquered the first step in accomplishing your goal of retaining that reader. Retention will permit the reader to complete the article and potentially click on the resource box.

A large majority of internet marketers fail in engaging and retaining the reader, largely because, they fail to understand the proper method of article marketing. Article marketing is not just putting out search engine fodder, rather about providing value, such as new information, expanded knowledge or general explanations of the subject matter.

If your desire is to write more valuable content, here are a few suggestions I use in my articles:

First and foremost, Always apply a spell-checker and grammar check and edit accordingly! Poor language is detrimental to the article in more than just terms of readership, it also affects potential listing in search engines.

Secondly, research your subject matter through authoritative sources (NOT other article directories) such as, Wikipedia, News sources such as CNN, and University sources (most colleges have vast research resources online).

When you are ready to put together your research, follow a plan in your writing; a basic structure of an article should have the following set of parameters. (This is called the SEESAW method)

Statement (make your statement)
Explanation (explain that statement)
Example (give an example of the statement)
Statement (Reiterate your statement in other words)
Answer (give an answer or solution to the statement)
Weigh (tell the reader how to weigh their options, making a choice)

In essence, your article will contain a minimum of 6 paragraphs (one for each parameter explained above) and each paragraph will have 3-4 sentences. You may use additional paragraphs in each parameter if necessary.

Additionally, you want to include relevant information in your article, and stay on point in the article. The application of synonymous words, semantics and relevant information will increase the value of the article, making it more enjoyable to the reader.

Once you master the basics of writing, using a plan, then you can expand your techniques to include the implementation of power words that evoke emotions. (you can PM me for ideas on this)

Finally, the most important part of writing quality articles: review and edit your content. Ensure all misspellings and grammatically incorrect usage is corrected. Then read your article one last time for clarity and continuity.

Hope this helps!
Joe

Please please - PLEASE don't spend any money on this, it's not necessary at all. Save your cash for stuff that you can't learn for free.

Here's a direct link to my afternoon workshop on Article Writing (which I later published as MP3 audios)

ArticleWritingTips X (Audio eBook)

As someone whose been writing for income for over 20 years, I can tel you that you're not going to learn much more from a $300 "course" (if anything at al) than you will from this workshop.

Set aside an afternoon and do it.

Paul Barrs

Wow Joseph, that was a profound 14th post! I'm grateful that you devoted your time to reply in my thread.

You are spot-on what I'm trying to accomplish. I can handle the "grammar, spelling, and editing" with no problem; the rest of the information is valuable to me.

Your paragraph on research hit a nerve: I hate all the advice to go to EzineArticles for my research. I guess I need to spend a couple of hours finding the University sources? Or do you know of any search engines that catalogue these kinds of excellent resources?

I'll need to spend some time sorting through your post, as there is lots to digest.

Thanks again!
John

Hi Paul, thank you for the advice.

I have paid for a couple of (cheap) article writing products in the past. I immediately went to your ebook and read through the introduction and table of contents. It looks to be exactly what I needed.

I'm definitely setting aside THIS afternoon for you ebook!

http://357articlemethod.com/

Download link is in the confirm message, so you don't even have to get on the list if you really don't want to.

The best thing to do is keep writing articles cause practice makes perfect...

Sanssecret -- thank you for that link. I actually downloaded that report about six weeks ago...and forgot all about it! I will paste it on my desktop and read it as soon as I'm done with Paul's ebook.

xavierfok -- Are you saying I have mental problems? Oh, wait, that's psychiatry! I did buy the above recommended book "Cashvertising" last night after reading the Amazon reviews and a book excerpt. It looks excellent. I've been looking for a good introduction to copywriting, so this fits right in with my plans.

Amazing! I believe I will have all the information I was looking for, and I only spent $10 (for the book). I've been looking at the $300 product from my OP for a few weeks now, wishing I had enough money that I could buy it. But now I probably have far more quality information on hand than is contained in that course.

Once again, a HUGE "thanX" to everyone who's helped out me here!

As you already know how to write, I suggest getting hold of a copy of Robert Caldini - Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion would probably be more helpful than any of the courses. Among other things, the book is also a fascinating read.

Best of luck

Max

Hi,
as others have said, your writing seems great.

If you want a course Tiffany Dow, who has been a respected Warrior member and helped others over the years has one you might be interested in called Ghost Writing Cash:
Ghostwriting Cash: Official Site By Tiffany Dow (no affiliate link)

I think one of the attractive things about this course is that it shows you different ways to make money, so its not just about writing better articles.

Hope this helps
Ged

I don't want to exhaust you with the number of books you could buy, read, and, learn from on persuasion. You can go to the copywriting forum sticky section on here for that.

http://www.warriorforum.com/copywrit...ooks-ever.html

I just wanted to say stick with what you're doing, and, evolve from that. I think you already have a good foundation. Also, you already took action by purchasing cashvertising. I have that book as well, and, because of this thread already started rereading it.
I know you will do well. Good luck.

Did you actually quote YOURSELF? :confused:

You already have got what an article writer really need, and you said that your articles are sold for $5 that's really a good thing. Now as you wanted to improve your writing skill I must have to say that now its time to concentrate and meditation as meditation is the best practice that great writers always follow.

I've spent much of the last 24 hours listening to Paul Barrs' free audio ebook "Article Writing Tips" (link in his post above) and Paul Myers' free "Voice Report" (link provided by sanssecret).

I've got to say...I've wasted over 30 hours (easily) scouring the Internet for article writing instruction, tips, and courses to buy; and reading through three reports and/or ebooks that I purchased.

I learned far more in the four hours I spent listening to Paul's free audio ebook than from everything else I've stuided combined. I now know how to take my writing from a straight and dry, just-the-facts presentation and turn it into something that people will actually want to read.

To be certain, I still have a lot of learning to do (don't we all?), but I now understand what separates the great writers from the mediocre ones.

If you are looking to improve your overall article-writing philosophy and quality, I definitely recommend that you spend a small amount of time (and no money!) listening to Paul's audio.

Also, Paul Myers' report was definitely worth the hour it took to read it. There's a lot of practical information contained in the report to aid in developing your writing style.

A big thanks to Paul and Paul!

Now for my followup question...

Where should I be doing my high-quality research?

Joseph suggested "Wikipedia, News sources such as CNN, and University sources."

Are there any high-quality search engines that draw from these university sources? Or a webisite with a complete listing of great sources?

One of the best uses of wikipedia is to go to the end of an article under references. You can sometimes follow those links to usable information.

Dead-tree versions of the standard texts, must-reads, bestsellers, etc.
work better for me. I can scan the book in a matter of seconds, and if it passes that test, skim through a random chapter in minutes. I simply don't have the time or patience for videos - which are generally actually worst than the most deadly boring lectures in college.

Anything you read among the standards in writing non-fiction, especially journalism, should help. One in particular that I can recommend is
Roy Peter Clark. Writing Tools: 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer. Boston: Little, Brown, 2006. (currently $5.20 for the paperback, $8.99 for the Kindle at Amazon; go figure; check the reviews and table of contents).

I like it because it's about the craft. Too many books on writing are elitist BS or condescending academics and theory. This one breaks that stereotype and is more like spending the day with the managing editor, getting hours of plain spoken instruction about the various aspects of writing under pressure of that deadline. (Clark is VP at the Poynter Institute School of Journalism.)

I think practice makes perfect. You seem to have a good foundation already to write quality articles. You just need to make the process smoother and faster while not compromising the quality.

I agree with the others that have already said that you know *how* to write. If you are wanting more guidance what to write and structure beyond what you've already read, I would just go to the Ezinearticles blog and look over some of their posts on article templates.

I don't think I would spend any more on article related courses until you're ready to move into copywriting.

You do not need a course, just start writing a 400 word article a day and do it consistently....20 mins a day max.

1) Find a keyword to base article on
2) Select your title i.e "Three ways to master yourkeyword"
3) Write a paragraph on the three tips you are making about your keyword
4) Write an opening paragraph about the problem your three tips solve
5) Write a closing paragraph about how your tips solve the opening problem

You can fart 400 words... :-)

Angela Booth produces a number of excellent courses on writing content AND how to market your services to make good money creating this content for businesses and individuals. Instead of making pennies per work, she shows you how to appeal to markets which demand the utmost in quality and relevancy. She has a website and several blogs. Just go to Google and type in her name and you should be able to get to some of her sites.

Oh to me it appeared he was saying my tried and tested strategy on learning how to write good articles was incompetent which would have been very rude of him....I guess I should look out for more of his crazy jokes...

If you would like I short, concise course look at Jason Fladian's Stop Watch Copy Writing Course. Jason gives you the frame work for creating a successful sales page.

John,

From this humble start, you have drawn one amazing pile of gold out of the warriors here. Way to go, man!

I hope your articles are at least half as successful as this thread is!

Cheers,
Tim

One of the best courses on writing articles for maximum profit and enjoyment comes from a woman called Angela Booth. I believe she is from Australia and has been writing professionally for many years. She has courses and maintains a helpful blog and newsletter which has many helpful resources and suggestions dealing with ways to find profitable work maintaining blogs for corporate accounts or writing the kinds of articles, press releases and other content which clients are willing to pay well for.

Everyone complains about the low cost which most people have to accept for writing assignments. There are however options for high quality pieces which demand higher prices. Angela's courses help to teach you how to write those kinds of pieces and then how to find the clients who demand them.

Excellent, and also more economical than taking a "course". Another resource to strongly consider is "Turn Words into Traffic" by Jim Edwards. This speaks specifically to article writing for getting targeted traffic.

The key ofcourse is to draw readers interest and propel them to a sale, you could always look at some ad copy that caused you to buy the product to get some ideas

John, to be clear, are you looking for guidance in writing articles or in copywriting? The skill of generating high quality "presell" content is less art and more science. I you likely have those skills now and just need to do more of it.

But copywriting--that "propelling them through to a sales conversion--is definitely a skill that requires more than practice. It's a science and an art. "Cashvertising" is a great resource for this. So is "Mad Men."

Is your goal to become a high earning copywriter?

All best,
Bill

The 4 day money making blueprint is very effective, also research a guy named Davion Wong. He's an expert article marketer and he has a couple products out. I think one of them is called article marketing robot. There's also an article product on clickbank that's only like 4.95- The guy shows you how to write 5 minute articles-- as a matter of fact that's the name of the product so don't be afraid to check that stuff out.

Writing can be learned from time to time. Its a good idea to go for a course if you have enough money but you can truly appreciate your work when you learned it from yourself and not from the course. =)

if you can read then you can write. But writing is a bit a head of reading especially when it comes to attracting people. You have to consider a lot of things when it comes to writing. And one basic of it is the grammar and spelling of course then everything else follows.

Read the Book "Made to Stick: Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die " - a book by brothers Chip and Dan Heath. I believe this will give you plenty of ideas.