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Writing Tips
Read these 353 Writing Tips in 16 categories ranging from Addresses for Letters to Semicolons. Each tip is approved by our Editors and created by expert writers so great we call them Gurus. LifeTips is the place to go when you need to know about Writing tips and hundreds of other topics. Become a Guru or Become an Advertiser.
Meanwhile, we've taken the time to put together your most frequently asked questions in an effort to try to help you along in the tip writing world. Read on.
LifeTips Content Assignments:
Q: "Do you have any jobs available?"
A: Yes, we always have jobs available. You can find those jobs by logging onto the Guru admin area and looking under "Tip Site Gigs" and "Client Gigs". Please apply for jobs through this area and if we choose you for a project, you'll get a note of approval from one of our editors.
Q: "Are deadlines flexible?"
A: In a word, no. But we do make exceptions. If you choose to ignore a deadline or simply dismiss the deadline you were assigned, you will have forfeited your project and any subsequent cash payout. If you require an extension of your deadline, simply ask us. We're always willing to work with you and come up with agreeable terms for deadline projects.
Q: "Do I have to fill in..."
A: YES, you do. Each and every tip you write must have a question, keyword association, mobile and most importantly, source area filled out. Should you choose not to fill out any of these areas, we will deduct payment from your overall project.
Q: "I'm an expert in a particular area, do I need a source?"
A: If you directly quote someone, use statistics or offer any type of medical, legal or financial information you must source your information.
Q: "How long should tips be?"
A: Tips vary in length, but are usually around 200-300 words, depending on the topic. The general rule: give as much information as you can so the reader leaves the tip with a definite plan of action.
Books:
Q: "Did you receive my book proposal?"
A: If you submitted your book proposal through the Guru Admin area, as required, then yes, we did get your book proposal. Please understand that we get over a dozen book proposals a day, so it takes time for our editor, Melanie, to go through each and every one of them. Once your proposal is accepted, you will hear from us!
Q: "When will my book be published?"
A: The book publishing process is a long and arduous one. The books go through several editorial drafts before the content (inside of the book) is sent to design for layout. The layout process takes the most time, as we need to fit the tips into the allotted spaces, and sometimes add additional pages and design functionality for the books. Once design is finished it comes back to editorial for another proofing. As you can see, this is a back and forth process that requires many proofs and approvals. It can take a few months for your book to be published once your tips have been approved. We are excited, too!! But we take care to review and review and review your tips and the layout to ensure that the book looks its best.
Q: "How do I get paid for my book?"
A: You get paid by live check once a month for any of your books that were sold the previous month through Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com or other retailers. You will be paid $2/book sale.
Q: "How can other people buy my book?"
A: The books are sold on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and other retailers. You can order directly from those sites. If you have a situation where a client/consumer wants to buy in bulk (more than 100 copies) you can email Melanie Nayer and ask for a bulk rate.
Q: "Where can I find other books that you've published?"
A: All the books in the LifeTips 101 book series are found on Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and other online book sites. You can also find the most recent books published on Melanie's blog, which is updated weekly with new books printed, news on books, and other Guru jobs and information.
General LifeTips Questions:
Q: "Did you get my W9?"
A: Yes, we did. It might take up to 4-6 weeks for it to register online, as your W9 goes through our accounting department for processing, etc. Don't worry! If you sent it over, we're sure it's here!
Q: "What are the keywords/mobile/question areas, and what does it mean?"
A: This is the foundation of tip writing. Please familiarize yourself with the keywords portion first. Keywords are essential for SEO and web content. You must include the keyword(s) you are targeting in your tips. The question is simply that.the question that answers your tip. This "question" will be featured on the FAQ pages of relating tip sites. The "Mobile" field is for opt-in cell phone subscribers to get mobile messaging on their phones. You should write a 140-character (one sentence) summary of your tip for cell phone downloads.
Q: "When do I get paid?"
A: Checks are cut once a month during the first week of every month. If you were due any money, you can safely assume that your check went out the first week of the month after your assignment was approved by our editors. Please allow 10-14 business days for your check to arrive.
Q: "I didn't get paid $10 per tip - why?"
A: We pay UP TO $10/tip, as stated in all the LifeTips documents and terms and conditions. The grading is based on spelling/grammar and overall tip content. Please review the terms and conditions agreement you signed when submitting your application for more details.
Q: "I don't like the Guru Admin area; can I send you my tips in a word document?"
A: We need you to use the Guru Admin area! The Guru admin area talks to our LifeTips tip sites which talks to our book publisher database.it's a lot of technical jargon, but it works! We recommend that you write your tips out in Word, if you feel more comfortable, and then copy them into the Guru Admin project area.
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Check out our Writing Jobs
The Hartford - Hartford, CT - 8 days ago
for high traffic websites
Bachelor's degree in English, Journalism, Technical Writing or a related field
Ability to consult on the business needs and the...
Top 10 Ways To Get Top Dollar
Here is a list of things to consider when writing your tips to ensure top dollar payments in your next check:
- 1. SPELL CHECK. Every misspelled word is $1 off the tip.
- 2. Avoid Run-on Sentences. Tips are short bursts of information that contain a powerful message. Make sure your message is clear.
- 3. Consistency Counts. Keep your writing consistent throughout your tips. LifeTips follows AP style guidelines for grammar and abbreviations. LifeTips style is to capitalize the first letter of each word of the tip title.
- 4. Fact Check and Source. Make sure to include the source of your information if you're citing specifics/statistics in your tip.
- 5. Use "Final" Keywords. The "keywords and phrases" must be used in at least one tip per keyword/phrase. For more information on how to properly use keywords, view the memo dated April 17.
- 6. Research Other Keywords. LifeTips has provided you with the keywords designated by the sponsor of the tip site, but does that mean those are the best keywords for your tip? We've included a few different tools on the job board to help you research keywords for your tips.
- 7. Go The Distance. Supply useful information that goes beyond the obvious in your tips.
- 8. Watch Your Tone. Know your audience, and write appropriately with the right tone and language for your target audience.
- 9. Don't Duplicate. Don't reuse tips in order to fill all 100 tips, and don't duplicate content from another source or tip site. Instead, brainstorm with your editor about ideas for more tips.
- 10. Stay On Target. The tips you write should relate to the specific category. Be careful about adding off-the-wall tips that don't make sense. It's not relevant to the consumer, the reader, the client, or LifeTips.
Tip of the Week:
From the Child Protection Tip Site, Authored by Susie McGee
Tip: Red Alert Notification
Because the risk of new sexual predators moving into an area continues to be a very real issue, the National Alert Registry eliminates the need to continuously check the Website or contact a local law enforcement agency. They have created a Red Alert notification.
As the national sex offender registry is continually updated, the Red Alert is an e-mail that is sent to individuals alerting them to a new sexual offender in the area. You no longer have to search through sex offender registries to see if a new sex offender has moved to your neighborhood! A notification that includes the date the sex offender has moved to your area, along with information about that predator will be included.
Editor's Note: The tip is newsworthy, value-driven and to the point. It makes use of the keyword "sex offender" on multiple occasions.
Previous Memos To Writers:
April 17, 2006: The Importance of Keywords.
April 24, 2006: Sell Yourself
May 1, 2006: Sourcing Your Facts
It is always a good idea to get reviews before the
publication process begins, but if you haven't, don't
worry, you can still get reviews. How do you get
reviews? That is the big question, but everyone uses
different methods. Choosing what methods work for
you is the best way to go. I will share with you how
I've been successful at gaining them.
It all started with my first book, THE GOLDEN
LOCKET, a teen novel. I happened to be in the mall at
the same time Mort Crim, an Author and News
Broadcaster was. He was at Waldenbooks signing his
book, SECOND THOUGHTS. I decided to go get a
copy, when I did, I handed him my business card and
told him that I had a book in the publication process. I
then asked him if he would kindly review it for me. A
few days later, Mort Crim took my husband and I out to
breakfast, he gave me a review, and also gave me a
signed copy of his new book. I was thrilled! I will never
forget Mort Crim and what a wonderful man he truly is.
It never hurts to try something like this. I just happened
to stumble across Mort's book signing event, but it's
also possible to just look up events and attend them as
well. Just remember to bring your business cards! There
are many authors out there who will support you and
give you a review, but you will never get it if you don't
ask.
Ask and you shall receive! This is what I did to get
more reviews. While attending Oakland University, I
had asked two of my professors to write a review for
me on my new release, ALL ABOUT ME. They did!
They read my book and gave me a great review. One
thing about professors, they will tell you the truth!
Now, I had three reviews for this book. Then I
remembered my friend from C&G Newspapers who
had written a review for me in the past for THE
GOLDEN LOCKET. I had asked her to write one for
ALL ABOUT ME. She did! Keep all of your contacts,
usually if they write a review once, they will more than
likely write you another.
Another great way to gain reviews is by email. Don't
waste time and money sending media packages out,
unless you get the O.K. first. There are plenty of ways
to get in touch with editors and review personnel by
email. Most marketing books have the names and
emails of book reviewers. Sometimes you can just look
them up under a specific website as well. Example: If
you wanted The New York Times to write a review, just
look up their website, find the editor's email and email
them. I have done this several times with several review
personnel. If I receive a response, then I will proceed
with sending them a package. This way you received a
response, and the reviewer is expecting your package.
No time wasted, and you have a better chance at
gaining that review.
Don't forget, even if you had your book published, still
fight for these reviews. Reviews can be printed up in
the news, announced on the radio, advertised at your
book signings; you can do all sorts of things with your
reviews. Once, I even made a plaque and placed it on
my table at my book signing event; for all to see. I had
received this review after my book had been published,
so I couldn't place it in my book, but I wanted to show
it off. Reviews are a great advertising piece; get as
many as you can.
Words For Writers: Week of May 1, 2006
NEW VIEW: SOURCE
As LifeTips brings bigger, stronger and brand name companies into our network, it's important that we maintain the level of professional writing and research LifeTips is know for. Millions of readers read our tips every day and wonder, "where did they get that information?" LifeTips is a reputable source and we strive to uphold the reputation of fair and ethical publishing.
Going forward, all writers will be required to source their information for tips submitted. The source field will appear in your tip task box, and I encourage you to add the source on some/all of your tips for submission.
When the client says, "This isn't true!" We can say, "Yes, it is!"
* Plagiarism will result in being removed from the LifeTips writer pool, and you will not be paid for any work submitted
Tip of the Week:
From the Substance Abuse Tip Site, Authored by Jane Raeburn
Tip: Abuse Prevention
Early attempts to prevent steroid abuse concentrated on drug testing and on educating students about the drugs' adverse effects.
A more sophisticated approach has shown promise for preventing steroid abuse among players on high school sports teams. In the ATLAS program, developed for male football players, coaches and team leaders discuss the potential effects of anabolic steroids and other illicit drugs on immediate sports performance, and they teach how to refuse offers of drugs. They also discuss how strength training and proper nutrition can help adolescents build their bodies without the use of steroids. Later, special trainers teach the players proper weightlifting techniques.
A program designed for adolescent girls on sports teams, patterned after the program designed for boys, is currently being tested.
Editor Notes: The tip is newsworthy, focusing on the recent steroid abuse in sports and how to prevent steroid abuse. Although the client of the site is Passages Malibu, the writer was able to work in another program aimed at abuse prevention without stepping on the toes of the Substance Abuse Tip Site client.
Previous Memos To Writers:
April 17, 2006: The Importance of Keywords.
April 24, 2006: Sell Yourself
Have you ever caught yourself in a daze? Have you ever been in a bind and had to think quickly of a solution to get yourself out? Have you ever picked up a pencil or pen and started to draw for no reason? Did you actually come up with something? Have you ever created a story? Have you ever danced new moves? Have you ever thought of some new math puzzles? I could make this list go on and on. This is the many ways that we can make use out of our creative mind to spark our imagination. Sometimes we use our creative mind in a conscious manner because we realize that we are trying to come up with something creative. We can also use our creative mind naturally, without knowing what we are going to come up with. Our creative mind works in many different ways, but one thing is for sure, it is always there. Look around you, what do you see? Create a story utilizing objects and pictures. What did you come up with? Just start writing and you will be surprized what you accomplish. Don't be affraid of your creative mind, just go with the flow.
Words For Writers
Sell Yourself: When applying for jobs on the job board, make sure you include links to published articles, or source documents that you've written about in the niche topic you're applying for. Include URLs to specific online articles with your application.
If you're interested in the topic but have no previous written work to document, provide examples of tip ideas that you would write about, and why it's important for the consumer.
Tip of the Week:
From the Running Tip Site, Authored by Malcolm Smith
Tip: Choosing the Right Running Shoe
Different running shoes are designed for different biomechanical needs, and matching a shoe to your needs can be a little intimidating at first. That's where the “shoe finder” comes in. A running shoe finder is simply a system that helps you select a type of shoe that best fits your body's needs and your style of running. An online search will reveal many options. Shoe finders from magazines are generally the least biased. Large retailers come next – though they only list the shoes they carry. Manufacturers only list their own shoes, so their finders are of limited help. To use the finder, enter answers to a few simple questions (sex, weight, etc.), and the finder will return (usually) several shoes of the type best suited for you. Make a note of the models the finder suggests. Try several finders, and note which shoes are recommended time and again. Finally, visit a good running shoe dealer, and try on as many of the recommended models as possible. Jog around the store in each one that fits well, and select the model that's most comfortable.
Editor Notes: The keyword phrase specified in this tip is "running shoe finder" and the writer used variations of the phrase throughout the tip, without compromising the tips value to the consumer. As a result, the company moved their ranking up to the No. 6 slot in Google for this searched phrase.
Have you ever been drawn to someone because of his or her personality? You saw something that you liked about a particular person, but you just couldn't place your finger on it. Maybe they were funny, sweet, exciting or charming. Maybe they were very intelligent, or maybe they could do something that you wished you could do. Whatever the reasoning, know your characters you are creating. Do you know their type of personality? There are many types. Let me list a few:
1. The person who likes to help others.
2. The person who likes to succeed.
3. The person who is romantic.
4. The person who must do everything right.
5. The person who must understand everything and its meaning.
6. The enthusiast person, they are happy about everything.
7. The person who makes peace with the world and its people.
8. A strong person. A leader.
9. A weak person, one who follows others.
10. A trusting person.
11. A person who is a skeptic.
12. A moody person.
13. A person who must be around others at all times.
14. A person who wants to be alone.
15. An animal lover.
When creating a character give them personality along with creating an image. You can use more than one personality type as well.
2005 Standard Deductions for Individuals
There are two main variations on the filing status for individuals. You can file single filing status or head of household. To file under head of household status, you have to be unmarried and have paid more than half of the cost to maintain a home for yourself and your claimed dependents or another qualifying person. The 2005 standard deduction for the head of household filing status is $7,300. To file single, you must be unmarried, divorced, or legally separated. The 2005 standard deduction for single filers is $5,000. Before you decide to claim the standard deduction, however, you should familiarize yourself with items you may claim as personal tax deductions to see if you could get a tax cut by itemizing. Generally speaking, if your itemized federal tax deductions exceed the standard deduction, your taxes will be lower—and that's like money in your pocket.
* This tip received a $10 grade. It offers insightful information for the reader, gives the reader action steps and offers value to the reader. To read more, you can visit our Taxes Tip Site
Online Car Buying Resources
Why leave your home? There are so many online resources available to today's consumers that buying a new car can be done almost entirely from home. Instead of wandering car lot after car lot, narrow your choices down by researching your options online. You can:
• Build your car online, carefully considering options in the comfort of your own home instead of succumbing to last-minute, high-pressure sales tactics at the dealership
• Crunch the numbers by researching transaction values (what buyers are paying for the car in your area), or what Edmunds.com calls "true market value"
• You can request car quotes from multiple dealers online (doing so puts you in a much better negotiating position)
*If you're comfortable with online transactions, you can complete the transaction online conducting dealer communication by e-mail and having the car delivered to your doorstep. In this case, paperwork would be completed by mail.
* This tip was also given a top dollar rating. It provides the user with action-based options and value-added information that will them a consumer.
A fragment is a group of words posed as a sentence. However, these word groupings cannot stand alone and make sense.
"Tangled in the jewelry box."
When fragments appear next to other sentences in a specific context, they can be difficult to spot.
"That's when I saw the necklace. Tangled in the jewelry box."
The fragment is usually missing either a subject or a verb. In this case, the question would be what is lying in the middle of the floor? We can answer that if the fragment is in context. In this case the answer is the necklace. To fix the fragment, many times you can put the fragment with another sentence or transform it into a sentence.
"That's when I saw the necklace tangled in the jewelry box."
Or:
"That's when I saw the necklace. It was tangled in the jewelry box."
Some writers use fragments to emphasize other sentences or certain points. If you choose to do so, always make sure the fragment will be easily understood from the surrounding text so your reader will not be confused.
Whose: The possessive form of "who"
"Whose watch is this?"
Who's: The contraction of "who" and "is"
"Who's on first base?"
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