Read it and be stunned!

Link: http://www.useit.com/alertbox/9710a.html

I am planning a series of articles where I share my experiences about the different aspects of website content writing. Each of these will focus upon a single aspect of writing for the web.

This idea took root in my mind when I began to deal with my team of writers going haywire while writing their work assignments. So, these articles are meant to be like tutorials for them, and also as guidelines for the future writers who wish to join my team!

Stay tuned! Depending upon ‘the hectic schedule’ these articles are on their way!

http://www.copywritingtipsandideas.com/ - A fantastic blog with some great posts on the common mistakes made by writers - grammar and spelling and a whole lot more….

http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/ - A great site for some really basic grammar tips!

http://www.junketstudies.com/rulesofw/ - Wow! These rules are good stuff to read and re-read over and over again.

A link to a book which I think all writers should have! Read it, digest it completely, and then purge it - and find your own style! Set yourself a realistic target of anywhere between 2 - 5 years to do all that!!

This is the book that sets the tone to learning how to write with a certain amount of panache which will distinguish you from the rest. The ‘finding your own style’ bit is something I follow personally - because, as a writer, it is essential for you to find your own ‘voice’!

http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/grammar/ - The site where you can get your basics right!! Full of downloads and handouts you can print off and refer to when you are in doubt.

And here is one of my personal favorites: http://www.killianadvertising.com/coverletters.html - This is actually a website of an advertising agency based in Chicago. The advertise for interns on a regular basis. The result? A bunch of cover letters with the interns’ applications! Laugh and Learn!

To add to the fun, here is one of the ‘Cover Letters From Hell’ that I have recently received - (have edited the names and have included my reply):

The e-mail I received:

Ms madhavi I am interested to be a content writer so need your guidace If you have the time pls guide I working as cse no in domestic call centre i have the qulification M.A. in Englaish. pls guid me but i have wish to be an content writer

The reply I sent out:

Hello Mr.***,

I can and certainly will guide you regarding your desire to become a professional content writer. In fact, here are a few important suggestions:

• 1. Please revise your spellings - to be a writer, it is extremely essential that your spellings be right: the least you can do is spell “English” correctly - “Englaish” is the wrong spelling.
• 2. Please revise your English Grammar. That too is extremely important.

Once your English grammar and spelling are perfect, it doesn’t really matter what you claim to have studied or what your work experience is - you will find a way. Contact me when you can write properly, and I will be glad to guide you. Please check below - in your e-mail to me, I have highlighted the areas where you have gone wrong. Hopefully you will understand why I am writing to you in this fashion.

This is a perfect example of how not to write to me!!

The idea of this blog is to share my thoughts about Writing - whether it is writing for pleasure or writing for making money…

I will be putting up my thoughts, ideas and suggestions on this blog as and when they occur to me.

Feel free to comment upon my posts, and voice your opinions. (But note that these comments are moderated - just to make sure that you are a human being etc. and not someone out to spam me!)

Hope to hear from you soon!

~ Madhavi.