Speed Up Article Writing Without Sacrificing Quality

Tuesday, 29 October 2013

A Story of You, a Genie, 3 Wishes, and a Ton of Great Articles

Today, we’re going on a journey to find out a little secret that many of our top authors already know. So grab a beverage, sit back, relax, and read on.

Our Story Begins …

Imagine you’re walking down a tropical beach when you suddenly spot something glinting in the sand ahead. Upon closer inspection you discover a gold lamp covered in sand. Picking up the lamp, you dust it off and admire its gleaming surface.

An instant later, the lamp begins to vibrate. As a wisp of smoke shockingly begins to rise from the spout, you quickly drop the lamp at the water’s edge. The smoke roils and churns while slowly taking the form of a rotund figure floating lazily above the waves – an EzineArticles logo embroidered upon his cap.

You realize immediately it’s the legendary EzineArticles genie and you will now be the lucky recipient of 3 wishes!

“Greetings!” booms the genie. “I am here to grant you 3 wishes that will make you a better Expert Author. What is your first wish?”

You briefly think before responding, “I want to write faster so I can gain the competitive advantage of publishing a ton of articles.”

“Your wish has been granted,” the genie replies. “You now have the ability to write more articles than ever before. With these articles you will flood the Internet with useless drivel.”

“What!? I don’t want to do that! I want to write only high-quality articles!” you shout.

“Is that your 2nd wish?” asks the genie.

“Yes!” you reply emphatically.

Your wish has been granted,” says the genie. “You will now write the best articles the Internet has ever seen. Each will take you many hours to complete.”

“That’s not what I want either!” you blurt out. “I want to to write a ton of high-quality articles faster than I ever have before!”

The genie laughs, “Well, why didn’t you say so in the first place? Is that your final wish?”

In barely a whisper you say, “Yes. Final wish.”

The genie waves his hands in a grandiose gesture … and nothing happens.

“So … what about my wish?” you ask.

The genie chuckles, “It has been granted. Sign into your My.EzineArticles.com account and check your Digital Locker. In there you’ll find a collection of 157 article templates designed to make you a faster, better writer while also providing you with the ideas you need to get started.”

As the genie vanishes, you smile. It appears that you got your 3 wishes after all.

… The End

Obviously, this is just a story, but what 3 wishes would you make if it was real? If the first two wishes match those in the story, then you’re not alone. A large percentage of our Expert Authors strive to write great articles fast, but they often end up going overboard one way or the other. The result is poor quality articles or articles that took hours to write. It appears that there’s no solution to this quandary.

That’s where article templates come in. These PDF documents are just the ticket you need to generate great ideas, write quickly, and build your portfolio of high-quality, informative articles.

Looking to have that 3rd wish granted for you? Look no further than the EzineArticles Shop!

Posted by Marc, Product Marketing Manager on October 25, 2013 at 9:00 am | 952 views

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10 Distractions that Destroy Productivity: The WRONG Advice

Are You Sabotaging Yourself?

Expert Authors face a fast, competitive atmosphere. Simply finding the time to write while balancing personal and professional priorities is an enormous challenge. Compound that with overcoming pesky distractions and you’re in for an uphill battle.

Here’s a tough point most people will not easily admit: You are the cause of the majority of your distractions.

While distractions like texts, notifications, email, and more may come from others, you choose when, where, and how you react and engage with the distractions. It’s not too late! You can reclaim your power over distractions.

Take a look at the list of distractions below and see how many you can relate to. If the number is overwhelming, it’s time you took a closer look and deal with them in a way that suits your priorities.

WARNING: Each point below is written from the perspective of the wrong advice. It’s delivered tongue in cheek to provide a humorous view of self-induced distractions. I hope they make you smile because I know I’ve been guilty of a few of these excuses. Let us know which ones you’re guilty of too!

10 Distractions that Destroy Productivity: The WRONG Advice

Turn On All Electronic Devices

Email/Internet: Maintain a non-stop connection to the Internet while you’re writing for news updates and constant idea generation. Also, avoid scheduling specific times to check your email – it’s far too important to respond to each message straight away. Be the ultimate multitasker, don’t neglect email or the Internet!
Phone Calls/Text Messages: Never risk letting a caller go straight to voicemail. Even if you’re on a great track in your writing, you should make time to chit chat with friends and brush up on your texting skills while you’re brainstorming. It won’t bust your productivity too much and it’s better to respond to others quickly to keep them engaged in conversation. Keep your phone on at all times.
Television: With so many great shows on TV and streaming media channels, how can you possibly keep up with it all? Tune to your favorite programs and have them play in the background while you’re writing! It will ultimately save time because you’re multi-tasking! Challenge yourself to concentrate on your writing and what’s going on in the show you’re watching. Take a seat on the couch, write, and take in all the drama of the entertainment world at once!
Video Games: Playing video games or apps on your smartphone can be soothing. Take a break from writing by grabbing a controller and get lost in fantasy or the latest app saga with a truly hands-on experience. Your writing can wait. You can get back to work once you complete the next level or the one after that.

Be at the Beck and Call of Relationships

Friends: Your friends need your full attention. Try to make plans with them while you’re thinking about your next set of articles. Do they want to drop by during your scheduled writing session? No problem! It’s good to interact with others when you’re trying to focus. Casually talk about current events and controversial topics to get your mind racing and to make the room more tense.
Neighbors/Surprise Visits: We’ve divorced ourselves so much from face-to-face communication these days due to technology. Encourage your neighbors to visit as they please! You never know when you’re going to have company over, so have the kettle and a few homemade goodies ready. Don’t ignore knocks at the door because you’re busy – you can pick up where you left off with your writing.
Pets: To most pet owners, these loyal and adorable animals are like family. Include your pets in your writing sessions. Isn’t it adorable the way your cat sits on your keyboard? How hilarious is your dog’s latest tail-chasing antics? Never let your pet think your office is off-limits; after all, they want to be near you and get updates on dinner. Take frequent breaks to give them attention.

Let It All Go

Physical Condition: Turn discomfort into opportunity! Being too comfortable while you’re working will put you to sleep. You need to feel agitated, hungry, tired, and shift constantly in your seat if you want to be alert. Let the motivation to relieve the discomfort – eat, sleep, or straighten out your back – drive you to finish your work faster.
Environment: If you’re the type to be distracted by a little dust or coffee stain, by all means – take the time to thoroughly clean your workspace. You need the absolute cleanest environment for any type of writing. When you see an opportunity to organize, dust or vacuum, be sure to take it! Alternately, if your workspace is so messy that you can’t find your outlines or notes, let it go and don’t worry about organizing the space! You can let your memory do it’s work or perform the research over again.
Procrastination: It’s necessary to put things off from time to time. You need to mull over an idea because the longer you put off writing, the more powerful your ideas will become as they mature in your mind. Throw out your calendar and avoid a schedule. Take your time and wait until tomorrow, or the next day. You’ll get around to it!

DISCLAIMER: Do not follow the advice given above – in fact, do the exact opposite! Think about the distractions you specifically struggle with. If you recognize and understand how harmful these can be to your productivity, you will have a chance at success. Remember, you can do things as you’ve always done them and get the same results. Or break the pattern, step it up, and focus on your writing by eliminating distractions. The path you take is up to you! Are you guilty of any of the above self-induced distractions? Do you have solutions to drive away distractions? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

Posted by Vanessa, Editorial Manager on October 21, 2013 at 9:00 am | 5,217 views

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Top Misused Words Part IX

Happy Birthday, Noah Webster!

In 1828, at the age of 70, Noah Webster published An American Dictionary of the English Language. He hoped to help children in overcrowded schools better articulate themselves and standardize American speech. Born on October 16, 1758, Webster is now known as the Father of the American Dictionary. 255 years later, Webster’s birthday is celebrated by thousands on “Dictionary Day.”*

It’s with great pleasure that we dedicate this edition of the Top Misused Words to Webster and to all who are passionate about language.

Assume vs. Presume

assume – to suppose to be the case, without proof; to take or begin to have (power or responsibility).

Incorrect: I’m not 100% sure, but I would presume a “Toad in the Hole” is an amphibian in the ground.
Correct: I’m not 100% sure, but I would assume a “Toad in the Hole” is an amphibian in the ground.

presume – to suppose something is the case on the basis of probability; to be audacious enough to do something.

Incorrect: Judging from the recipe – a dish of sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter – I would assume “Toad in the Hole” is delicious!
Correct: Judging from the recipe – a dish of sausages in Yorkshire pudding batter – I would presume “Toad in the Hole” is delicious!

Decimate vs. Devastate

decimate – kill, destroy, or remove a large percentage or part of (original meaning limited to kill one person in ten).

Incorrect: Julius Caesar threatened to devastate the 9th Legion during the war against Pompey.
Correct: Julius Caesar threatened to decimate the 9th Legion during the war against Pompey.

devastate – destroy or ruin (something).

Incorrect: The city was decimated by a huge earthquake.
Correct: The city was devastated by a huge earthquake.

Ensure vs. Insure

ensure – make certain that (something) shall occur or be the case.

Incorrect: Encourage passengers to wear seatbelts to insure their safety.
Correct: Encourage passengers to wear seatbelts to ensure their safety.

insure – arrange for compensation in the event of damage to or loss of (property), or injury to or the death of (someone), in exchange for regular advance payments.

Incorrect: If you don’t live in an earthquake zone, should you really ensure your home with an earthquake policy?
Correct: If you don’t live in an earthquake zone, should you really insure your home with an earthquake policy?

Farther vs. Further

farther – used as comparative of far; more distant in space than another item of the same kind.

Incorrect: On the further side of the mountain, you’ll find treasure.
Correct: On the farther side of the mountain, you’ll find treasure.

further – to a greater degree or extent; help the progress or development of (something); promote.

Incorrect: She had depended on articles to farther her exposure as an Expert Author.
Correct: She had depended on articles to further her exposure as an Expert Author.

Literally vs. Figuratively

literally – in a literal manner or sense; exactly.

Incorrect: I can’t believe you figuratively ate an entire half gallon of ice cream in one sitting!
Correct: I can’t believe you literally ate an entire half gallon of ice cream in one sitting!

figuratively – in a figurative sense; metaphorical.

Incorrect: The Haunted House was so scary: I literally died of fright!
Correct: The Haunted House was so scary: I figuratively died of fright!

Proofread. Maintain your credibility. Avoid confusion. Gain readers. It’s that easy! Do you have any misused words you’d like to see added to the Top Misused Words series? Share them in the comments section below – we’d love to hear from you!

For more posts like this, check out the Top Misused Words category!

* This post was updated on October 16, 2013 at 4:15 p.m. CST.

Posted by Penny, Managing Editor on October 16, 2013 at 9:00 am | 1,680 views

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EzineArticles Asks: What Reading Level Should You Target?

Use Words That Speak to Readers

Authors have typically achieved higher levels of education than the average reading level and tend to write at the same reading level as other authors in their niche. So where does that leave the actual reader?

According to many reports (including the U.S. National Center for Education Statistics’ 1992 Adult Literacy survey), the average reading level is the 7th or 8th grade. Combine that with reports of increasingly low-attention spans of Internet users who require even milder language and you’re looking at a reading level of the 6th or 7th grade.

What Should You Do?

Our recommendation is this: If you want to communicate the right idea to the right audience, then you need to use the language and vocabulary with which they’re most comfortable. Sometimes that will require simple words and sometimes more specific language should be used. Ultimately, you need to dig into the demographics of your target audience to determine their reading level. This will ensure you’re sensitive to their needs and will be able to communicate your message.

Also, take a look at recommended reading lists that are prescribed for the various reading levels. There are plenty of words like “assimilate” and “eccentric” that occur on 8th grade vocabulary lists, so it’s important to point out that reading level doesn’t indicate the shortness of words. The key is your readers should understand the words and its context.

What Do You Think?

Now we’d like to pose this highly debated question to you: What Reading Level Should You Target?

Do you believe that articles should be watered down to reach a wider audience? Why or why not?
Do you believe that audiences should be challenged with a higher reading level? Why or why not?

Share your feedback or questions in the comments section below. For those who are curious about where your article’s reading level is, stick around to calculate your current reading level.

Calculating Your Article’s Current Reading Level

There are several formulas to determine reading level (Flesch, Dale-Chall, Gunning, SMOG, etc.).

Read-able.com provides a great Readability Test Tool to help you easily determine the current reading level of your articles. All you have to do is enter your article’s URL and it will provide the actual scores for 6 readability formulas and the text statistics used to calculate your score.

Want a closer look at exactly how these reading levels are calculated? Try the SMOG formula!

We’ve chosen to outline Harry McLaughlin’s SMOG formula because it’s one of the most recent formulas proposed and it’s one of the easiest to calculate. However, if you wish to look further into assessing the reading level of your articles, we strongly recommend reviewing the Dale-Chall formula which incorporates a word list of easy words and has been often referred to as the most accurate formula.

How to Assess the Reading Level of Your Articles Using the SMOG Formula

SMOG stands for Simple Measure of Gobbledygook (wordy or generally unintelligible jargon) and is a measure of readability developed in the late 60s to estimate the years of education needed to understand a piece of writing.

It takes a bit of patience, but here’s how SMOG works:

Select a total of 30 sentences in your article.Count the number of syllables for each word in each of the 30 sentences.Count the number of words that contain 3 or more syllables.Determine the nearest perfect square root of the total number of words with 3 or more syllables (use this PDF chart from ClassZone.com if you need a refresher).Add the result to the number 3 (a constant in the formula) and you will have calculated the grade level of your article.

For example: Suppose your article has 50 words with 3 or more syllables in the 30 sentences that you reviewed.

3-syllable word count = 50Estimate the nearest square root = 7Add 3 = 1010th-grade reading level or college reading level

Don’t forget: We’d love to hear from you! Please share your feedback regarding the above question (What Reading Level Should You Target?) and feel free to share your writing’s reading level in the comments section below!

Posted by Vanessa, Editorial Manager on October 9, 2013 at 9:00 am | 1,521 views

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How to Predict Natural Keywords

Become a Thought Leader

A huge part of your success as an Expert Author can be found in how well you’ve fostered your brand as a thought leader. A thought leader is an innovative authority who is largely recognized as a major influence in a particular niche (and even profits from it).

However, you can’t become a thought leader by writing from the same angles, using the same keywords, and taking the same points of view as every one else in your niche. You must break the line of conformity and one way to do so is to develop a solid content writing strategy built by predicting hot keywords in your niche.

You don’t have to be a magician to predict words, otherwise you’d be drawing keywords out of a hat and hoping for the best (which would be a colossal waste of your time). Lead by knowing your audience’s likes, dislikes, fears, and passions as well as stay on top of trends in your niche. Then carefully and strategically predict new keywords (or long-tail extensions of existing keywords) based on your audience’s interests and relevance to your niche.

Use this graphic as your guide to discovering opportune keywords, providing fresh content for your audience, and building your brand as a thought leader! Simply click on the graphic below to view in a new window and then click the image to zoom in or out.

How to Predict Natural Keywords
Transcription

Why? Predicting Natural Keywords Will Help You …

Get a leg up on your competitionBecome a thought leader in your nicheIncrease your audience by gaining traction with new readersBuild your reputation as a credible source

How? Put Your Toolbox Away!

Avoid keyword selection tools. If these keywords are being provided to you, they’re being provided to others as well.

Immerse Yourself! You Can’t Lead if You Can’t Keep Up, So …

Subscribe to News OutletsRead Niche-Relevant BlogsFollow Social Media SourcesDiscover Audience Q&ASpot BuzzwordsScope out Google Trends

Look for Indicators of Opportunity

Identify keywords that are most relevant to your topic.Identify keywords that are most relevant to your audience.Find the opportunity in keywords that are most relevant to your topic and your audience.

Tips for Putting These Keywords in Action

Brainstorm articles that are relevant to your topic and your audience.Focus on writing content for your readers, not for search engines.Target both long and short-tail keywords.Be natural; don’t force keywords into the content.Integrate the keyword in the title and article summary.Naturally position the keyword phrase as close to the beginning of the title, summary, and opening paragraph.Use no more than one keyword per 100 words.

Want to share this image? Simply copy/paste the code from below into your blog or website.

Have questions or comments? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

Posted by Vanessa, Editorial Manager on October 11, 2013 at 9:00 am | 2,532 views

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Short and Sweet: How to Revise Your Articles

“Don’t write something in 1,000 words that could have been said in 600.” – Robin Henry

Have you ever had a friend or relative who seemed to ramble on and on, so much so that you found your mind wandering toward more interesting things like, “Should I make that dentist appointment for next Tuesday or Wednesday?” Or “Is it true if you eat a polar bear’s liver, you will die of a vitamin overdose?”

Don’t be that person … in your articles that is!

So much emphasis is placed on proofreading that many Expert Authors forget a step: Revising. The result may fashion lackluster, boring, rambling, and occasionally confusing articles.

The solution? Guarantee yourself a more powerful message by keeping your articles short and sweet with these tips.

7 Tips to Revising Articles

First, let’s discuss the difference between revising and proofreading, which are often mistaken as the same step in the writing process. Proofreading occurs when you read your article for grammar, punctuation, and formatting errors (often after the revising process). Revising occurs when you reread your article to ensure your message is clear, concise, and logical. Think of it as pumping more “oomph” into your articles.

Ready? Use these tips to get started:

Cut Verbiage: Words like “just,” “really,” and “very” slow down the power of your message. When revising, ask yourself, “Is this word really that necessary?”
Remove Redundant Words: “I’ll meet you at 12 noon,” “this is absolutely essential to your success,” and “I have the exact same bag” are examples of redundancies.
Discard the Inessential: Consider whether the article’s focus is too wide or too narrow based on your user’s needs. Remove sections of inessential text to get to your point faster and add text (as needed) to ensure reader comprehension.
Stay Organized: Check the flow of the article. Does the pattern make sense? Are the transitions smooth? Should one point occur earlier for better readability?
Keep Promises: Did you follow through on promises made to the reader in the article’s title, introduction, or any other part of the article?
Use Active Voice: Rather than the subject receiving the action, ensure the subject acts or performs the action in the sentence. For example, “The mime was waved to by the child” (passive) vs. “The child waved to the mime” (active).
Be Precise: Simplify your verbs by using concise language. For example, replace “He argues for the importance of the idea” with “He defends the idea.”

Have You Tried the Paramedic Method?

Take your revising skills to the next level! Expert Authors can polish their writing skills using Purdue University’s Online Writing Lab. To improve readability, they recommend utilizing Richard Lanham’s Paramedic Method. Here’s how:

Sample Sentence Before Using the Paramedic Method

In this paragraph is a demonstration of the use of good style in the writing of an article.

Circle the prepositions (of, in, about, for, onto, into)

(In) this paragraph is a demonstration (of) the use (of) good style (in) the writing (of) an article.

Draw a box around the verb “to be” forms (is, am, are, was, were, been, being).

In this paragraph [is] a demonstration of the use of good style in the writing of an article.

Identify the action and convert it into a simple verb.

In this paragraph is a demonstration of the use of good style in the writing of an article.

Convert passive text to active by moving the doer into the subject (Who’s kicking whom)

In this paragraph is a demonstration of the use of good style in the writing of an article.

Eliminate any unnecessary slow wind-ups

In this paragraph is a demonstration of the use of good style in the writing of an article.

Eliminate any redundancies

In this paragraph is a demonstration of the use of good style in the writing of an article.

Revised Sentence Using the Paramedic Method

This paragraph demonstrates good style in articles.

How do you keep your articles short and sweet? Do you have additional revising tips you would like to share? Have you tried the Paramedic Method or any other revising method to revive your articles? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

Posted by Penny, Managing Editor on October 18, 2013 at 9:20 am | 1,469 views

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Article Writing Tips to Retweet: October 2013

Every month @EzineArticles provides hundreds of useful tidbits of information, motivation, and training for over 100,000 followers.

We’ve gathered some of the best ones from the better part of October right here. Retweet any of them for motivation or to share with your Twitter followers.

Just CLICK on  to Retweet.

Motivational Quotes for Expert Authors

Inspiration and Images to Share With Your Audience

EzineArticles Inside Information

What’s your favorite Tweet from October? Let us know – we’d love to hear from you!

P.S. For more posts like this, check out the Article Writing Tips to Retweet category and don’t forget to follow us on Twitter to stay up-to-date on the latest EzineArticles information and training.

Posted by Penny, Managing Editor on October 28, 2013 at 9:00 am | 366 views

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