Creativity and attention-to-detail are among the best skills to have for a large number of industries – this blog explores their desirability and usefulness for many jobs and the best ways of acquiring these skills.

Have you ever wondered when looking at adverts or hearing voice-overs on TV adverts and programmes who wrote the words? Do you look at books, magazines or blog posts and spot errors and think ‘how could it have been missed?’.

Writers and proofreaders are people who are actively sought by companies, businesses, organisations, publishers, educational establishments to name but a few to create and check copy, texts and so on.

But why are writers and proofreaders so important? Why do companies outsource this work when they may have an in-house team of writers? Surely, spellcheckers pick up on every mistake?

Why do companies outsource copywriting?

Writing articles, blog posts, essays or even scripts for promotional videos and TV adverts, the art and skill of writing is still in hot demand. Some larger companies do have an in-house writer or copywriting team, but a lot of the time, organisations and businesses outsource this important task.

There are many reasons why this is the case;

 

Why do companies outsource proofreading?

When it comes to content and articles, it is important that it has the polish and professionalism that customers expect from a business or organisation. Proofreading detects the mistakes that lurk hidden in word choices, grammar and punctuation.

There is a difference between proofreading, the basics of checking articles, posts etc. for spelling and grammatical, and editing, the processes of re-wording or altering a piece of test to increase its appeal. As a proofreader, you may decide to qualify as editors too, a fantastic and worthwhile addition to your creative writing skills

Companies outsource proofreading for all kinds of reasons;

Is it the career for you?

Being a writer or a proofreader is not a task that suits everyone. It may sound romantic being a writer but quite often, it involves many hours of sitting at a desk. Also, some of the topics you may write on will not be exciting.

Being a proofreader means having the ability to not only spot small errors in a text but being able to concentrate for long periods of time.

As well as specific proofreading courses, creative writing courses are ideal for placing a polish on your own writing, as well as an opportunity to explore different ways of using the written word.

Is it a career choice that attracts you?

 

Can you remember the time you last received a hand-written letter? A thoughtful letter is a beautiful thing, a chance to let someone know that you have them on your mind.

Every year, people around the world celebrate letter writing on September 1st. Organisers say that this is a chance to look back and remember the beauty of writing and sending (as well as receiving) a hand-written letter.

For writers, this is the ideal opportunity to explore further one’s own writing prowess.  Being a successful writer is not necessarily measured in pounds and pence earned, but by how much people like and enjoy the things you write.

So, how do you become a successful writer?writing with a quill

Find your niche
Writing is a massive and diverse field. You may be a fiction writer, enjoying creating short stories but even then, you need to know about genres and niches. Where do your talents lie? What fires your imagination as a writer?

If a story is in you, it has to come out

William Faulkner

But this doesn’t mean you should pigeon-hole yourself before you have had time to get your writing off the ground. Creative writing courses spend time looking at all kinds of writing and genres (including poetry and creative writing) as well as commercial writing for clients.

Find a market
There is a market for all kinds of writing, but you will need to spend time finding the right market and the right clients for your style.

There are various means of doing this:

Expect feedback
Writing is a creative art. What one person likes, another will not – this can make for a bumpy ride for many writers.

Don’t be frightened to write crap, because crap makes good fertiliser
Jessica Brady

There are differences in what your client or a publisher will want, but there are some basics to bear in mind:typewriter

Read, read, read and write
If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others:
read a lot and write a lot

– Stephen King

In order to be a chef, you need to cook food – but you also need to taste in order to check the seasoning. You may also dine out at other restaurants to see what other chefs are producing.

The same is true when it comes to writing. The more you read across different genres, the wider your own imagination will be. This is about how you express certain feelings and emotions in the words you choose.

Listening to radio plays and spending time at the theatre are also great ways to develop your writing skills. Why is it that when you listen to a radio play, the picture in your head is so rich and full? How did the playwright create this imaginative world for you to enjoy?

Keep at it
Every writer I know has trouble writing
-Joseph Heller

There are days when the words won’t come. There are days when it feels like torture. But then there are the days when the words trip off the end of your pen or appear in streams on the screen before you.

The important lesson when writing is this: keep at it. Keep putting one word after another, not worrying whether you have the comma or full stop in the right place until later on in the process. Create your characters: make them smile, make them cry, make them big and bold or make them shy, make them the bully and make them the victim.

Enjoy writing and enjoy reading because one day you could be
someone’s favourite author.

Not written an assignment in a long time? Daunted by the task at hand, unsure you can stretch your answer to 1,500 words or more?
Whether you are new to writing assignments or coming back to learning after a break, this simple but effective assignment writing guide is jam-packed full of fantastic information and advice.<

#1 Read the Question Carefully
First up is an obvious step, but one many students leave out. You need to always read the question carefully.

We often skim read the question, picking out keywords that we think are important. A word jumps out at you, and off you go, scribbling down 1,000 words in answer.

But are you really answering the question? In any question, there are keywords that are directing you to the information it wants to elicit from you.

For example, it may ask you to ‘discuss the use of split infinitives in popular writing’ or ‘explain the growing use of text speak in every day English’.

typewriter#2 Prepare and Plan

It is rare for even for seasoned academic to plunge into writing an essay of any length, either 1,000 words or a 10,000 words dissertation, without outlining a response.

Outlining and planning your assignment will make the difference between a mediocre grade and a fantastic one, a boost to your confidence when it comes to your studies.

There are several things you need to do. As well as planning your assignment content, you also need to look at:

#3 Structure
There are three main parts to your assignment: the start, the middle and the end.

Introduction

This is a small paragraph that sets out what you are going to talk about in response to the question asked. It introduces the reader to the aim and purpose of your assignment, along with the basic concepts you will address.

The main body

man writing

This is where you will discuss these concepts in turn. The basic guidelines are:

Conclusion

This is your closing paragraph. It is a summary of what you have discussed. The ‘golden rule’ simple: don’t introduce new topics or ideas in your conclusion that you haven’t discussed in your main essay.

Academic assignments are not usually written in the first person. So don’t write ‘I found out through researching the topic’, instead write something along these lines, ‘Research shows that…’

#4 Referencing
When you write an assignment, you will use the concepts and ideas of other writers and academics. This is exactly what your tutor wants to see – you have researched the topic, used their ideas and applied them.

When you do this, you need to reference and cite their work. This is like giving your tutor and address or a signpost as to where you got the information and where they can find it.

Different learning providers will use different systems, so check carefully how they want references to be cited. In most cases, as well as giving an indication in the main body of the assignment, you will also need to create a bibliography of books and websites you have used, listing them in alphabetical order.

Check how to reference correctly, depending on the system the learning provider uses.

Practice Makes Perfect
For some people, writing is a tough assignment, but there is support, help and advice available. If you are unused to writing, why not take a look at creative writing courses such as these to give you the writing practice that you need.

Don’t forget to ask your tutor for help too. And when you get your marked assignment back, follow their suggestions for improvement too.

Happy writing!

There are an untold number of writers, all with secret notebooks. From a few lines of poetry to short stories, novel outlines and ideas for articles addressing numerous topics, these words, thoughts and ideas remain hidden.

As a writer, you will know how difficult it is to allow others to examine your words, for fear that your ideas will be derided. You may know it as a work-in-progress, but when someone points out its short coming or – even worse – laughs at it, your shrink back to where you were; your work and your words remaining hidden.

From a hidden passion to a flourishing career

There are all kinds of amazing stories, and not just about writers, who have ditched the 9 to 5 and followed their heart and their passion.

It isn’t just a pipe dream; it is something you can do.

But you still have bills to pay. You may not be sold on the idea of living ‘off grid’. You still want the spoils and trappings that you enjoy today. And you still can. You just need to be practical.

Learning from others, how do you turn your passion into a career?

Get skilled

Ask anyone who has turned their passion into paid employment, and this includes writers, on how they did it and somewhere in the story will be a mention of skill.

Skill is the art and ability to do something. With writing, anyone can string a sentence together (almost!) but a sentence on its own doesn’t sell. Certain types of writing sell, and some do not. You need to be confident that you can write, and write well.

You also need to be able to write commercially, something that a creative writing course will cover. Identifying what you know about and what you can write well about, is key to turning those hidden words in notebooks that no one knows you have, into paid and gainful employment.

Struggling with what skills you have to offer? Try this exercise;

  1. What skills and/or qualifications do you currently have?
  2. What interests you? Can this be part of your writing?
  3. What is missing from your writing? Would a creative writing course be the springboard that you need?

Spotting the potential

Again, take time to ask anyone who is carving a career out of writing, and you will find that there was something that triggered the change. It may have been an epiphany as they sat behind their work desk, that spending the next X number of years doing the same thing, day in and day out, was not wanted they wanted to do.

Or fate gave them a push.

Tough trading conditions, for example, means many companies and businesses tighten their belts, meaning that for some employees, the threat of redundancy hangs over their heads. Whilst some find this stressful, others realised it was the push they needed to take a big step – and follow their passion.creative-writing

But before you take the leap, there are a few practicalities you need to be aware of. And one major practicality is to understand your market.

Is there a market?

Many writers tend to favour a certain genre, some of which are more popular than others.

What do you like writing about? Where does your writing skills lay? And what is the commercial interest in this?

Frankly, if your writing does not have a commercial element to it, it can be a very different journey to success. This doesn’t mean that everything you write needs to be mainstream.

Blogs and articles can sell well, thus they pay the bills and give you the freedom you need to be able to write the stuff you really want. In other words, by day write for money, but by night write the novel you have always wanted to.

Creative writing has all kinds of outlets. If you love writing a romantic romp or two, publishers such as Mills & Boon are always looking for submissions from new authors. However, your name may not be dazzling in lights, as you will probably have a pseudonym.

Short story submissions are also welcomed by a number of magazines and publications and can pay relatively well, although you may find that until you get a reputation and a proven track record, the pay is not fantastic.

Selling your writing services

For writers, there are also freelancing websites that allow you to register for free and either showcase yourself to the world or bid on work that companies and businesses want doing. Just taking a moment to browse through the kinds of jobs businesses are asking to be completed, and the money they are willing to spend, is a great way of doing your market research.

Like other people in creative industries, you need to think about how you showcase your work. The online world offers all kinds of opportunities, and one way in which you can show people your writing is to profile your work on a blog.

There are several blogging sites, some free and some paid for. The idea is simple: create content, post it regularly and then if someone wants to see an example of your work, give him or her the URL.

Businesses across all industries and sectors need written material, from web page content to articles or copy for printed materials.

Sending out emails with links to your website will be a great way of people being able to see who you are and what you do. Pitching yourself direct to a business can be a foot in the door in many cases, especially if you are pitching to a sector or an industry that you know.

Web design agencies also work with a team of writers, offering work on a freelance basis that can sometimes become regular work too. Creating content for their clients, you may need to sign a declaration that you will not approach one of their clients direct for work etc.

There are various industry publications, all of whom look for content from time to time. If you have skills or experience in a certain field, why not pitch them an idea or an article? There can be payment involved but sometimes, as a writer, you need to be looking for publishing opportunities to share as part of your portfolio of work. Think of it as part of building credibility, which could lead to you commanding a higher price in the future.

Go for it!

Not that we are encouraging you to be reckless, but sometimes you just need to make that leap. Here’s how some other people have done it;

Driven, passionate and unwavering

Like any ‘job’, writing can be tough some days. There’s the dreaded blank screen and the flashing cursor but no words. There are assignments that are not your subject, slightly dry and boring but you do them because it pays the bills.

But then, there are the assignments that you like, the writing that makes the words flow and the imagination flourish. Like any other form of self-employment, you need to be pragmatic and organised. You need to manage your time and your money.

You need to nurture your talent and your skill and for writers, there are times when you need to come out of your shell and be part of a supportive community. A creative writing course can be the perfect antidote to the isolation that a writer can feel. It can also be encouraging to have a supportive tutor and an online forum to test ideas.

And there are things like I Love to Write Day, 15th November 2016, a chance to explore what others are writing, as well as a chance to share. You will be amazed at the number of people who write.

Of course, writing is always about making money. For some people it is the release they need in a busy life and in a world where there is still so much to fix. It is a release mechanism and doesn’t mean that every writer is destined or even wants to win the Man Booker Prize.

 

 

There are many writers that inspire. And when it comes academic essay writing, rather surprisingly you may think, writers of fiction can have some great tips.

Roald Dahl day celebrated on 13th September 2016, looks at the work of this inspiring children’s author. For aspiring authors, he has sage advice regarding the discipline of writing.

For example, he advocated that top of the list for any writer, no matter what their assignment, was the correct writing environment. The environment around you inspires you, just as much as it can hamper.

Sitting in a corner, surrounded by junk and clutter may not be the best environment, conducive to completing writing assignments and online creative writing courses.

Essay writing

Dahls’ tips could also extend to those students who have an assignment looming.

Combining both Dahl’s tips with those specific to essay writing, these top 10 ideas for getting an assignment written are all that you need;

#1 Start early and schedule your time

An essay has a deadline and the closer this deadline, the more panic-stricken you will feel.

It may seem like a long way off but with the reading needed to complete the essay, drafting and polishing to give the final product, you may find that time ticks away faster than you think.

An essay written in advance of a deadline gives a far better read than one written hastily the night before.

#2 Understand the question being asked

All too often, students lose valuable marks because, although a well-written essay, it is not answering the question.

Is the question asking you to critically evaluate or discuss what happened during the Night of the Long Knives in Nazi Germany? Is the question asking you to review the products used in a facial for very dry skin or, is the question asking you to compare and contrast the novels of Roald Dahl?Top-10-essay

Every assignment question will have key words in it. Pinpoint what they are and, as you write your assignment, keep referring back to the question.

#3 Get organised
You have started your assignment well in advance, you have pinpointed the key words in the question so know you need to get organised.

Before putting pen to paper, get your research done. What text books do you have that cover the topic? What can you find online?

Online creative writing courses can be useful in helping you to order your thoughts and materials too.

#4 Learn by example

Dahl was a great advocate of looking at other people’s work and understanding how they had structured their pieces.

The same is true for assignments although with the digital age, it can be tempting when the going gets tough to copy or plagiarise other people’s work.

All education providers and qualification agencies take a very dim view of passing someone else’s work off as your own. Don’t do it.

#5 Keep track of quotations and citations

When you use someone else’s work in the body of your essay, you must acknowledge their work. However, there is nothing more frustrating than having a really great quote written in your notes but you cannot find who it belonged to or where you found it!

Referencing your reading and other ideas is an important tool in academic writing; thus, be organised with keeping reference materials.

#6 Dash off a quick draft

All too often, when a student starts writing an assignment, they start to labour unnecessarily – starting with the introduction.

A top tip is to dash off a quick draft, not overly worrying about style or grammar. Think of this as an outline narrative of where you want to start and the points that you want to cover.

Creative writers start their novels in different ways; JK Rowling, for example, makes a table of chapters, noting the key points for each. Others dash off a synopsis, similar to the suggestion here. Online creative writing courses can be a minefield of information and tips on getting your writing started.

#7 Keep drafting

Once you have your narrative draft, you can now start to edit. Cut things out, expand on points, back up opinion with references and quotations…

#8 Check the word count You will now be at a point where you have a product not far from being finished. But it is a 1,000 words too long or 200 words too short. Keep polishing!

#9 Presentation

Now you have the more or less finished product, format it so that it meets the requirements of the course, as well as ensuring it looks the part. It should be typed clearly, with 1.5 or double spacing between lines, and easy to read with no spelling errors or glaring grammatical faux paus.

#10 Give it chance to mature…

… before you hand it in or send it off to your tutor.

Sometimes, we are too close to the piece, meaning we cannot see glaring mistakes or obvious omissions. Take a break from it but give it a final read through a few days later.

Roald Dahl Day celebrates the author – why not find out more about this charismatic author?

A nation of avid readers means a nation of people with high literacy and numeracy skills, as well as feeding the part of the brain that can often be squeezed by the stresses and strains of everyday life. We associate imagination and make believe with children but, for adults, the ability to imagine and dream is just as important.

But, there is another reason why reading is a great past time – writing.

What is creative writing?
The likelihood is, in answer to this question, you will assume it means fiction, novels, short stories and poems – and you wouldn’t be wrong.

But there are new strands being added to the definition of creative writing. The articles and blogs posts and, some would say the social media posts too, that are created on a daily basis also count as creative writing.

We have become so accustomed to creative writing meaning fiction, or non-factual writing, that it can seem a stretch of the imagination to think of articles on the web as creative pieces.

But they are. They take thought and imagination, as well as a sprinkling of creativity to put across what could be seen as a dry topic, in a fun and engaging way.

The process of writing

Firstly, there is no wrong or right way to write. Creative writing courses will not set out a prescribed writing process but it helps to understand the steps within a story. The next time you read a book or even watch a drama on TV, take note of what happens and to whom and, more importantly, when in the story it happens to them…

#1 Start, middle and end

In essence, there are three basic sections to a story, whether this is a screenplay, a novel or a short story. Thinking of this can be helpful in creating a structure to your story but consider this advice from author Billy Wilder;

In the first chapter, put your favourite character up a tree. In chapter two, set the tree on fire and in chapter three, rescue him.

This is, in essence, what needs to happen in your story. Your character needs to be introduced, the problem or issue working against them identified and then they need escape/solve it. Along the way, they could have many jolly japes and scrapes.

fiction-writing

‘Read a book Day’, an event marked in early September, is designed to encourage more people to read. Or, to try something a little different.

#2 Your writing style

There is some debate about linguistic fingerprint emerging in the forensic linguistic word, an idea that we all have a writing style that potentially, under scrutiny, give us away.

In many ways this is true. However, it can lead to some words being over used. There are also some words that are considered less valuable within a creative writing process.

Take the overused adverb ‘very’; if your writing is littered with this word, consider expanding your repertoire – the best way of doing this is by reading.

Also, by reading different genres and styles of creative work, you will come across a greater depth of word usage, sentence types, styles and general expression. ‘very wet’ will become ‘drenched’, or ‘soaked to the skin’…

#3 Be inspired

Everyday life is littered with inspiration – you may not be seeing just yet.

Creative writing courses will help you identify stories lurking in every crevice. For example, the face peering out of the window on the top deck of the bus, what are they running from? The lady sat in the passenger seat of the red car at the lights, why does she look so unhappy? The man who has delivered your pizza, why is he a delivery driver with such an expensive watch on his wrist?

These are just three examples of the inspiration you could come across in a day. The face on the bus may not be running from anything but towards irs, the lady in the passenger seat is not unhappy, just tired and the pizza delivery chap wears his grandfather’s watch, given to him the night he died…

#4 Set aside time

A deadline can be friend or foe. They can propel you forwards or they can panic you.

There are two hidden lessons here: structure your writing time and make time. It may be half an hour on a Tuesday night while the kids are at gym or Thursday morning before your afternoon shift start.

Hidden threats
The greatest threat to your writing is procrastination. Or is it? There is another threat, and one that strikes without warning.

Writer’s block is the fear of the blank page, an inability to write no words.

None.

At.

All.

The vast white blank space and the menacing, pulsating cursor combine to make your dread writing…

Creative writing courses can help develop your writing, as well as giving you a few hints of dealing with procrastination and the dreaded writer’s block. There is, after all, a novel in all of us.