Blog writing is often perceived to be synonymous with free flowing writing ornamented with a personal touch, vernacular lingo and with colours of humour as well. But, is it so? Writing is an activity that comes to full bloom when the reader is able to read, understand, relate, get astonished and even smile while glancing on the content, and of course, exactly in the same manner as what the writer actually meant! To accomplish this rather easier-said-than-done feat, writer hopelessly tries to incorporate things that invoke nothing else but boredom. Instead of relating, finding it astonishing and smiling, the writer gets a hollow stare, soporifically treated eyes and yawns.

It’s always good to read something that is infused with humour, however, ineffective humour is an impending doom waiting to engulf the writer and thrown behind the bars for the crime of spending the reader’s valuable minutes. The reader also on the other hand never forgives the writer for the rather heinous crime and might even leave presents containing words, which in a different sense are not appropriate for a public platform. Humorous writing is not everyone’s cup of tea and unnecessary inclusion of it kills the quintessence of the content.

Leaving apart light topics; issues and offbeat matters that demand utmost attention are also addressed by bloggers. Blog writing manages to reach a section of people that honour individuality and personal perspective that is tricky in today’s ‘imposed perception’ by the channels and media. Leaving behind gobbledygook language and giving readers an plain interesting read should be enough in any way.

What is the most annoying element in your way to office? I know that’s an obvious question, but don’t get surprised, I am also a human and I do run out of ideas at times! However, we hate to see a long queue of desperate vehicles forcing our patience to get exasperated at the start of our day.  It’s quite weird and surprising that the term ‘traffic’ is considered to be the lifeline for the ‘cyber addicts’. Also, more it is, you become a millionare! Why do you think the young brigade is earning quick money in extremely quick instances? Blogs have become the new buzz for the net bees of the world. However, there are a few that are often dents in the blogging world which need serious attention in order to widen up the scope of better and sensible blogging which not only includes the cyber enthusiasts, but the business enterprises all over the world also.

No one will have the balls to take a detour from the concept of blog being the best way to interact with the reader. This is because, blogs are only meant for this singular purpose only. It is only due to its closeness and conversational property that it is being used by almost all small and big enterprises to come closer to their customers. Even the celebrities have succeeded in digging up time to write a blog, just to pamper them more (poor people!). Though blogs are increasingly becoming the handiest weapon for quick and genuine results, few points need to be remembered in order to increase the importance of your blog. In other words, take the pain to scroll down through the few important steps necessary to increase the traffic of your blog –

• You wrote a blog three or four months back, but never bothered to update it or write another one. If this is your so-called blogging scheme, think again! Quality, quantity and frequency are three major components of a well manage blog. Keep writing and write well.
• If you have the dreams of becoming a ‘Blogging Star’, do not forget to submit your blogs in popular search engines like Google and Yahoo!
• Don’t overdo the act adding important links to your blog. Remember, the blog needs to be read too, rather than deliberately distributing the attention towards the links. It also helps other bloggers read your blog, which in turn gives access to the websites that the other bloggers on the blogging circle are traversing into. This helps in increasing the visibility of your blog.
• If you are lucky enough to be successful in grabbing enough eyeballs, do take the pains to reply on the comments that you may receive from your readers. This helps greatly in increasing the traffic for your sole blog.
• Be smart enough to fit in a RSS Feed button. It not only helps in attracting readers, but it also helps in keeping up with the reader’s interest in your blog by informing them about your upcoming blogging ideas or the next blog that you are planning to write.
• Do add tags in order to increase the feasibility of your blog. Adding tags helps search engines find relevant content more easily and instantaneously in blog search engines such as Technorati.
• Post your best works in popular bookmarking sites such as Digg, StumbleUpon, and Reddit to bolster traffic in your blog.
• Adding images to your blog adds to the appeal of your blog.

All you need to do is remember them while writing a blog. Now that’s the most difficult part, isn’t it?

The day my senior told me that I’d be working on an onsite project, the only thing I was glad about back then was that the client’s office was closer to home. I had no notion that there would be so much more in store for me.

Before my onsite tenure was to begin, I had to go to the client’s office and meet the person I was supposed to work with. While on the way to his office, I get to know that it is hardly a meeting, but more of an interview! Now, no matter what job it is, when someone tells you that it’s an interview, you certainly get a little edgy. As it was too late for me to ‘prepare’ anything, I just took along the experience and the knowledge I had gathered working as a content writer.

The so called interview was a breeze and my work commenced in a week. As far as work was concerned, it wasn’t much different from what I did back in my office, so I got accustomed to the project quite easily. But then there were many other differences that started to emerge slowly. Now my own office consists of a group of talkative, imaginative, creative (and ever hungry) writers and we have the freedom to explore, discover and share ideas among each other. A writer’s block, whenever that does happen – does not last for long, as there’s always a co-writer next to you or your seniors who help out readily whenever you get stuck. Everyone is in the same age group, so we all share a similar sense of humor (which can vary from crass to childish) and come lunch time, you would never get to hear a minute’s silence in all of those 45 minutes break!

So when I started working onsite, it was a whole new environment. For one, I am the sole writer there, so if a writer’s block does strike, I’ll have to manage it all on my own. Earlier I was so used to working with a constant (and comforting) brouhaha (of intense discussions and keyboard clatter and pigeons chatter) in the background, that it took a while adjusting to the quietness of the quiet room (oh yes, that’s what the room is called where I sit!).

A couple of days passed and I slowly realized the benefits of working client side. If you have read the old posts on this blog, you’d know that how it irks us writers when a client does not brief us well on the kind of content he needs. Luckily, I am now saved from that annoyance. Working onsite, the level of communication with the client gets hugely improved. When one has the facility to walk over to the person’s desk, share ideas and opinions and get immediate feedback, it is of great help. It is so much easier than talking to a client over the phone or instant messaging or a video call. Another thing which I’ve realized is that while onsite I am my company’s sole representative, while this does put a lot of pressure on me, it also makes me perform better.

So if you ever get a chance to work onsite, I’d say go for it. You definitely get to learn a lot and not just in terms of the work you do. You get to experience a new work environment, get to interact with people from different industries, and get to boast that content writing isn’t everyone’s cup of tea!

Ask any professional content writer about what annoys them the most and answer will unanimously be, “brainless clients”, followed by “writers block”. Brainless clients are so annoying that I refuse to write about them and spoil my good mood, so let’s talk about writers block.

Each and every blogger, online marketer and site owner has hit writers block. An immensely talented writer could be reduced to staring at the computer screen like an imbecile while his mental image is reduced to a static screen, unable to think about topics, let alone content.

There are two ways to tackle any obstacle; the first method is to go through it, while the second method is to go around it. While there are many ‘cures’ out there which may or may not help you deal with your writers block, there is a technique which guarantees to give you a nudge in the right direction. Just have a peek at what your competition is writing about.

Think about it, they are targeting the same audience as you, so you do not need to worry about that. You could even see which of their topics were the most popular and use this information to learn what your competition is doing right. Though, keep in mind that you will be one step behind the competition and there is a possibility that lightening won’t strike twice.

Finally, I would like to stress the fact that I am not asking you to copy their work. Just check out their topic, and put your own spin on it. The last thing you need is your competition pointing fingers and calling you out for plagiarism. It would be wise to let some time pass between the time they posted their article and the time you post yours.

Looks like I finally proved to my teacher that peeking at my friends work really does pay off.

“When you Judge another, you do not define them, you define yourself” – Dr. Wayne Dyer. When writing controversial topics personal experience and public opinion, both play a major role. Debates are interesting and healthy way of interaction for both the readers and writers, but when a writer takes the initiative to bring a bigger picture of controversial topics it’s better to balance both the sides of the story in equal proportion.  Controversies are definitely very complex in nature therefore to have an objective approach will be appreciated. Keeping in mind other’s point of view and staying focused on the subject can add to your articles on controversial topics.

The subject of controversial writings plays the vital role in deciding the track to be followed. There are a few subjects in our society that have been written for so many years unfortunately, adding to more disparities in society. Whatever subject a writer takes just remember, knowledge is the tool. It is very important to have detailed knowledge and understanding of subject (both the sides of the subject you decide to write on) before you take the crucial step to jump into the controversial matter. Your article can itself become an argument if you favour one side of the story. It is a fact that a writer has its own individuality, thoughts and a personal point of view, but while dealing with contentious topics it’s better to stay sensitive and avoid giving your personal comments that can bring out the extremists.

The two subjects that have always been associated with controversy are “Politics” and “Religion.” Sensitivity and awareness are the best buddies who can help you tackle these topics. Political controversies will always become a heated topic no matter how old it becomes and talking about religion, remember everyone thinks their religion is the best. However, there will always be some idiots who will be ready to find loopholes in your articles for their own benefits.

Another bad day in the office – how many of them did you have till date? There would be some obvious collar raising expressions as a reply, but there would be some frowned up facial disambiguation too! I don’t mind them because that was, after all, inevitable. It was more than enquiring about one’s salary and age. However, writing an e-mail for a particular reason may carry its own pains. The necessary ointment of common sense and presence of mind needs to be explored by the writer himself/herself. It may sound too direct and harsh, but that’s how you spare yourself from another ‘bad day’ in the office.

E-mail etiquette is supposedly the most important part of business communications. ‘Too formal’ and ‘too casual’ are the two clichés which should always be done away with while writing an e-mail. Wait…..it would be better to put all of them in a list, rather than cramming all of them in one place –

Dos

Beating around the bush never helps. If you think that you can explain everything, you are probably right, but you need to remember that people have other work too. Get to the point as soon as possible and finish up in style. There are other ways to explain things!

Never forget to answer all the questions that were asked by the client. I don’t need to tell that if that’s not done what the forthcoming consequences are going to be!

The subject line included in the composition of an e-mail must be short and explanatory. The subject line is the only element which asks for attention. It tells the reader whether it needs to be clicked on or not

Instead of CCing everyone, do keep in mind that this function is meant for those who are associated with the information that you want to disseminate. The ‘CC’ button should always be used on priority basis

Punctuation and grammar may sound a little irrelevant, but they play an important role in quality business communication. A decent e-mail must be error free from these two perspectives

You should be careful while using HTML and attachments because all e-mail tools may not read the HTML text due to the absence of necessary tools

Finally, do check your mail before sending. It is always better to be on the safer side, as our forefathers have said so!

Don’ts

Quick response always helps in building a healthier business communication. No one has the patience to wait for a surprise. Avoid delaying for a reply as much as you can.

Each letter in the mail written in CAPITALS signifies the insanity of a person who may appear to shout out loud, and an e-mail written in all small letters mows down the importance of the mail.

Public service is not a bad idea, but when it becomes annoying, it is always better to pull the curtains. Similarly, one should be careful while clicking the ‘Reply to all’ button until it is necessary to do so.

Stay away from sending chain mails. Often they are viruses which bog down servers

E-mails are not for confidential information dissemination. Many of you might have thought it to be, but unfortunately its not. Stay alert!

Including a signature line with name, title, company and phone number at the end of every mail always helps in making the mail attain a standard look.

Tell your friends to have a look on these points before they carry on with their silly mistakes after hitting the ‘compose’ button in their mail.

Many of us often crib about too much interference of technology into our lives. Now, the bitter truth lies in the fact that we sow the tree and than we go insane when the tree has grown too big. Obviously, we decide to chop it off. I agree to all your ambiguous opinions of human need and the love for nature and what not…! However, few of us would dare to imagine our days without an urge for having a glimpse on our laptops or personal computers. Every single aspect of human existence on this planet has been preferably infected by the bug of technological revolution. There may be instances where a real essence of a human life on this earth rams with technology driven human existence, but none of us has the balls to deny the dire need of technology in our lives today.

Books have always been the best friend of the mankind. They are considered to be the anchor for the unstable psychological cruise that a human steers itself through in search of the greatest truth. Technology has, however, made the cruise a little shorter by devising a completely different weapon of knowledge. The e-books or electronic books have come up as the new tools to help people relive the experience of reading their favorite book without soaking in the pains of carrying it below their underarms. Instead of dumping in your cupboards with a hump, browse them in the internet, download them, and read them as many times you want, store them as your personal digital library or wipe them out, if you feel at all annoyed by their presence!

In 2007, www.amazon.com came up with its e-book reader, the Amazon Kindle, which revolutionized the entire architecture of e-book consumption all over the world. Stepping into the world of e-commerce as an online bookstore, amazon.com strengthened its roots by coming up with this unique product. You just don’t shop, download and read the e-books; newspapers, magazines and other forms of digital media are abundantly available for perusal in Amazon Kindle. Being inconsistent in our needs has always been an unbreakable trait for us. Thus, technology can’t be spared. Till now, there have been several iterations for the Amazon Kindle in terms of hardware devices. Apart from Microsoft Windows, iOS, Blackberry, Mac OS X, Android, webOS and Windows Phone 7 are the other hardware interfaces on which Kindle works. This year, touch screen Kindle interfaces called Kindle Touch were introduced which was again followed by the introduction of the tablet incorporated with a reader app and color display. Kindle was initially introduced in the market as a Kindle DX line with a keyboard. The recent Kindle Fire is an Android based tablet with a color touch screen and a 7-inch IPS (In-plane Switching Technology) display.

If you thought that Kindle is the only option of an e-book reader, you need to look further. The Barnes and Noble Nook (also known as Nook) is another e-book reader developed by Barnes & Noble, an American online book retailer in the year 2009. Nook is based on the Android platform with Wi-Fi and AT&T 3G wireless connectivity. Nook Color was the recent edition of the e-book reader which was launched on November 19th, 2010. Nook Color was based on an advanced Android 2.2 as against the Nook Simple Touch which was launched recently on 10th June, 2011. Nook Simple Touch was based on a more basic Android application called the Android 2.1.

The necessary euphoria for the availability of such wonderful devices will need a little time to sediment into the lives of each and every community of the human society. However, we can rejoice on the grounds of reaching the pinnacle of shrewd galvanization of technology and elements of human life. There are lots of ‘ifs’ and ‘buts’ as far as the implementation of the perks of this technological revolution in our lives, but there is no harm in imbibing into the age-old presumption of hunger for more. Undoubtedly, we will need to find the answer on our own and justify it, but the door for further needs won’t close!

Travel writing is a dream for many writers and who can blame them. The thought of being paid to jet across the world to the most expensive and exotic locals is a mouth watering thought for any writer. Everyday thousand try their hand at travel writing in their blogs, newsletters, etc, hoping that one day they get a shot at professional travel.

While it is possible for an everyday blogger to become a professional travel writer, many people tend to shoot themselves in the foot by not following simple writing etiquette.

Being sloppy

Whether you are writing a 1000 word article, or just sitting in your PC writing a blog. The worst thing you can do is to write a shoddy article. Keep in mind that your work is your portfolio and you should be proud of what you write.

Treating your articles as personal journals

Many people think that the best way to write a travel article is to write as though you are writing a personal journal. This is not true as your personal journal is meant to be written for your own eyes while a travel article has an audience. There will be a clear difference between the two in the tone that you use in an article.

Staying shallow without building experience

While it is very nice to have a niche, it is very easy to be trapped in it. Keep an open mind and don’t feel shy to try new and different things.

Not putting any personality in the article

Many travel writers make this mistake of writing a blank and boring article without putting any sort of personality into it. If your writing can make someone laugh or cry, then you should be proud to call yourself a writer.

Ignore or disregard your audience

One of the worst mistake that you can do as, not just a travel writer, but as any writer is to ignore and disregard your audience. Remember that you are here to serve them, not the company.

Not even try

The absolute worst mistake that you can make as an aspiring travel writer is to give up without a chase. If you do fail the first time, try and learn what was wrong and write another article while correcting the mistakes of the previous article. Remember, Rome wasn’t built in a day.

Every time I tell someone that I’m a content writer, I get the same reactions from almost every one. An eyebrow is raised; the jaw drops a bit lower, the eyes are filled with a dumb look and the mouth utters the words, “what the heck is that?” This followed by me spending the next 30 minutes trying to explain what exactly I do, occasionally having to resort to pantomime just to clarify what my job is.

So I decided that to answer some of the questions that I have come across frequently. The next time someone asks me what I do for a living, I’m just going to direct them here. It will not only save me some time, it will also help be preserve my sanity.

Let’s start off with the most basic query.

What is a content writer?

A writer who writes content, is it so hard to understand that? Well, apparently it is because this is usually followed by…

What kind of content?

Anything and everything under the sun, one day you could be writing about escort services and weed shops in Amsterdam, the next day it could be about car insurance in the UK. Guess which one is more fun to write about.

Is it the one about the car insurance?

No, don’t be stupid.

Is it like web designing?

NO! It is not like web designing, it is very different. I write the content which goes on a website.

So how do you communicate with the overseas clients?

Via something called the INTERNET!! GEEZUS! Have you been living under a rock?? Either ask me some intelligent questions or go away.

Do you enjoy your work?

Finally, an intelligent question, well, it is a job where you get to learn something new every day. You get a good idea of the world around you as research the topic given to you. And since the topics are so varied, it’s never monotonous or boring. (Unless it’s about chimney sweeping)

What irritates you as a content writer?

The most annoying thing is when a client fails to realise that a good article needs time. He sets an almost impossible deadline will not be finished on time, even if we resort to witchcraft. Another thing is when they don’t specify what kind of article they would like and complain that the article wasn’t what they were expecting. Am I supposed to read your mind? I’m a writer, not a telepath.

What are your plans for the future?

I’m thinking of becoming a drug dealer. At least this way, you will understand my job and I won’t be subjected to so many questions.

As I try hard to quench all my creative juices to come out with something really very interesting, I was struck by this weird idea of taking a dig on the art of writing. Calling it an art seems to be too obvious for most of us, but did we ever take the pains of regarding this act of creative carnival as a science too? No wonder most of you would now be frowning on the weird pint of view that I have just put forth in front of you, but it will be quite interesting to reveal the fact. Although it won’t be that easy for me to impress each pair of eyes reading this!

It’s really wonderful how a human mind works and cultures such a myriad number of ideas in a lifetime of a human being on this earth. Each and every human travels through a distinctive journey of life. The balance between the bitter ones and the sweet ones varies on a large scale. Don’t forget that the human civilization has been fortunately or unfortunately divided into the dual class of existence – male and female. Whether you take the physiological or the psychological aspects, both are similarly different. Not all cerebral entities are gifted with the sword of penning down the visible experiences that tend to shape themselves in disparate stories on a piece of paper. Our eyes and our mind always start wondering and pondering on just one thought – how did that writer bring all that experience in such a beautifully explained story? So, ladies and gentlemen, that’s writing as an art for you. Not everyone can match the depth of Arundhati Roy or the thought provoking ability of Salman Rushdie (I can remember these two names only, for the moment; please use a bit of your own knowledge also).

A small bunch of friends come to your house and you serve them with your first ever made ‘French omlette’ to them. A silent bedlam will definitely haunt you immediately, but some of your good friends may not admit that you have just broken the record of making the most horrible omlette in the world. When you are pouring out your refined creative lubricant in the form of words, it is very important to remember that someone else will dig in his/her eyes to read the write-up that you have just popped out of your mind. Many writers need the balls to write some irritating stuff for their readers. Well, I just can’t comment on how many people do have those balls and how many of them don’t! There are many ways of making a write-up readable. Multiculturalism is evidently found on this planet. Thus, the tastes for reading also vary to great degrees. Clamoring down all the ideas haphazardly never leads a writer to reach the heart of the reader. Knowing the audience is extremely important to ensure about the subject on which one should work upon. For some writers, region is as important as the tone of the write-up. Being abreast with the latest interest of the people all across the world is another factor which makes a writer travel through the tougher terrains of developing the pack of words where he/she leaves no space for a chance. At the end of the day, all are humans and most of us have the same old habit of craving for more!

There are numerous evidences in the history of the human civilization where art and science have merged to create magic. In the profession of writing too, this amalgamation is extremely necessary to pull out the curtains of true human experiences and tell the world about the fascinating story of human mind and its ability to create mansions of limitless imagination.