#is pretty obviously not something you can just smash out a 4-6 page paper on in a handful of days lol

[goldensunset]

i would like to thank my professor for giving us an extensive list of potential topic ideas for this paper that otherwise has an incredibly vague and broad prompt with little elaboration bc i know so many teachers/professors who would just give us that vague prompt and nothing else to go off of

[yenglainiam-blog]

How does DOUBT control us?

Hello, welcome to my tumblr page. I'm new here and to be quite honest, I am new to blogging so I have no idea where to start or really how to begin. I just know that I woke up this morning feeling like I had to write or insert some feelings into a blank piece, whether it be on paper or on my computer.

So today's topic is something that I've been contemplating on for quite some time. "SELF DOUBT". My only problem was, I never accepted that it was more of an issue/habit that I've had for so long. So to begin with this topic... I guess I should explain a little bit of where I come from.

My name is Amy, and I am a single mother of a little girl (6), divorced for 4 years now, but happily engaged with my next partner, John. He has two children of his own. I met him shortly after my divorce. Together, we are a blended family. John and I both come from a life where we had to endure a lot of trauma. John's ACE score happens to be a 9 out of 10. My ACE score is a 6 out of 10. And if you don't know what the ACE score is, it stands for Adverse Child Experiences. Once you take the test, it helps you understand how your experiences from childhood could effect your life as an adult. Below you can find the link for this test:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean

Rewinding back a bit more.... besides my trauma, I also had a family that was unsupportive. I have a pretty large family. 3 sisters, 2 brothers, and a mom and dad. I've felt the strain that I was a complete failure and maybe even the BLACK SHEEP of my family for awhile. I fought so many times to get the validation I needed from my mother and father. However; they didn't ever fully support me, or at least how I needed them to. Sure, they provided the necessities that I needed in life like a home to live in, car to drive in, meals and so on. But I never felt like there was much encouragement, emotional support, let alone love. There was never any hugs (unless I reached for it, but it became a pat instead of a full hard on hug), not much of any I love you's, or anything along those lines. Just a lot of "expectations" basically. I was always told that I was wrong or doing things the wrong way. Always told I would never be able to do things like my siblings have been able to. I constantly felt tugged and pulled and never felt like I was ENOUGH. They made me feel like it was my fault, and for so long I blamed myself. I stopped having confidence in me (sad, balling my eyes out at this point). I felt knocked down so many times by my family, I actually stopped counting and started to rebel. I started to have bad relationships with men, chose bad activities to do, fell into drugs, and of course by the time I turned 18, my parents and I got into a huge fight. I packed up and left and shortly after that I was forced (culturally) to marry my ex-husband. After marrying him, I moved to CA and was very depressed and sad. I gained A LOT of weight and continued to suffer mentally and physically.

Fast forward to now... On Monday night, John and I, we didn't argue but it was more of a sense that we both needed space. Maybe myself more than him. We ended up sleeping in different rooms. The next day, I said some words via text to him without even knowing I had hurt him. My words were asking him to see if he really wanted to be with me and that maybe we need to be alone. That night after our kids went to bed, we talked. He told me that he was very hurt and not happy that I doubt our relationship every time we get sad or upset. He said to me, "if you had a partner who doubted your relationship all the time, how would you feel?" He said, every time we fought, I always threw in the white towel and was ready to walk out (this was true). I, of course, right there and then realized that I was causing pain and mischief to our relationship. Obviously, I would not like a partner to doubt me. I've been doubted all my life by people I thought loved me. (sad) He continued on talking to me but I had already shut down. Buried under my large blanket, I was ready to close my eyes, sob until I fell into a deep sleep. I didn't. I remained in one piece and laid there silently. I thought John was going to leave me again and sleep out in the living room, but he did not. Instead, he came to lay next to me and held me close.

So..... what have I learned out of this you may ask? As much as I hate to admit it.... doubt gives power to negative thinking. Once you start to doubt something, your mind will spiral and continue to feed into that doubt. I doubted a lot and didn't realize this was becoming a habit. Not until last night when my partner mentioned it to me. It felt like I was smashed right into a huge brick wall. It really hurt. But it was a good causing pain. Because it taught me that for once, I have found someone who TRULY loves me inside and out, up and down, and all around. Someone who emotionally supports me, talks to me, holds me close and loves me unconditionally. I DID NOT WANT TO LOSE THIS. I knew it and I knew waking up this morning I needed to start fixing the little girl who's been in pain for so long.

To anyone who is struggling with a sense of failure to life, anyone who doubts everything that seems scary or unforeseen, just remember and keep this one thing in mind, DOUBTING is not a safe option for you! I thought it made me feel safe, but really it is inhibiting my personal growth as an individual and growth in my relationship with my spouse/children.

I read an article on how to overcome my habits with doubting situations, I'd like to share these simple strategies with you in hopes it can help you also!

Simple Life Strategies: 5 Ways to Crush Doubt

1. Awareness. The first step is to make a decision today to become more aware of when those doubts are popping up.

2. Interrupt the doubt. Next time you catch yourself doubting your own abilities, interrupt your own thought process and acknowledge the doubt (you could say to yourself – “is that a doubtful thought I’m having there?”)

3. Question the validity of the thought. Ask yourself “Is that thought a fact? Or is it unfounded?”

4. Are you looking for safety? Check in to see if the thought is leading you to take the ‘safe option’ or does it inspire you to try something new?

5. Take control. Remind yourself that we have over 70,000 thoughts every single day – and that it’s your choice today if you listen to this doubtful thought or not.

Last but not least.....

I honestly said to myself when I was younger that I am not going to be the kind of parents my parents were. I was going to be someone I needed when I was younger. So today........ I'm throwing that word "DOUBT" out the window. I want nothing to do with it anymore.

Thank you for reading my blog.. comments any or all are ok.

Sincerely,

Broken hearted woman.

[peterpparkrr]

(Alex Standall x Reader): Mercy (pt 10)

Summary: After you heard the tapes you broke up with Alex because you thought that he was still in love with Jessica. But when you find out that he tried to commit suicide you take a look back at your relationship and realize you may have made a mistake.

A/N: This one’s uhh...intense, so, get ready for that. I apologize in advance.

(pt 1) (pt 2) (pt 3) (pt 4) (pt 5) (pt 6) (pt 7) (pt 8) (pt 9) (pt 10) (pt 11) (pt 12) (pt 13)

The next day wasn’t much better. There were still whispers and stares as you walked around school but people had already started to move on to new gossip and drama, specifically about Bryce and the fact that Marcus had called him a rapist. Compared to the past few days it seemed relatively drama-free and you were starting to think that maybe things were finally going to start turning around.

However, when you got home from school your mood quickly changed when you walked into your room.

Everything was a mess. Your room wasn’t necessarily the cleanest but this. Someone had destroyed your room. Everything was on the floor. All of your clothes were pulled out of your dresser and closet and littering the floor. The books on your bookcase were pulled off their shelves and a majority of them were ripped to shreds. Everything from your desk as emptied out. Your lap was smashed on the floor as were all of the pictures frames you’d had. Your sheets were stripped off the bed and looked like they’d been ripped to shreds as if by an animal.

You walked through the mess gingerly and when you got to the bed you noticed there was a piece of paper laying on top of your mattress. You opened it up to only drop it quickly when you realized the message on it was written in blood. In harsh, bold letters it read “you talk you die bitch”

“Alex,” You cried when he picked up after you fumbled to dial his number, “Someone, someone broke into my house-my room, ohmygod Alex they destroyed everything,” You manage to get out.

“Are you hurt? Are you safe now?” He asks, clearly alarmed, “I’m on my way over, I’m texting Zach.”

“I’m fine, it’s just-please get here soon-I don’t know what to do,” You tell him.

“Is anyone else home? Did they do anything to the rest of your house?” Alex asks.

“No, everyone’s gone still, I don’t think my parents will be home ‘til late. I don’t think they did anything else, everything else seemed normal when I walked home.”

“Okay, okay, should you call the police? You need to call right? Should you call my dad?” Alex asks.

“No!” You replied quickly as you stared down the note you still had clutched in your other hand, “No… I can’t call the police, no one can know that this happened,” You tell him.

“(Y/N)...” Alex replied slowly, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

“I-I’m fine, Alex, I can explain it when you get here, it’s complicated…”

“Okay, we’re pulling up to your house right now, everything’s going to be okay, we’ll come up,” He tells you before hanging up the phone.

A minute or so later you heard grumbles and you could tell Zach was helping Alex get up the stairs to your room. You quickly wiped at your eyes and turned around just was they made it to your doorway.

“Jesus Christ,” Zach muttered as you stepped over to them and wrapped your arms tightly around Alex, hugging him as tight as you could.

“(Y/N), oh my god,” Alex says as he squeezes you as hard as he can, “Thank god you’re okay.”

“Who would do this?” Zach asks as he looks around in disbelief.

“I don’t know,” You reply, “but, uh… they left this,” You tell them as you grab the note off of your bed and hand it to Zach. They both read through it and share a glance before turning back to you.

“We’ve gotten similar notes,” Zach tells you, “Not just us, Jess got one too, and Clay got driven off the road, it has to be someone trying to keep us quiet during Hannah’s trial, we think it’s Bryce or someone he’s paying to do it.”

“But no one knows I’m testifying, I only told you guys and my parents,” You tell them.

“I don’t know, I guess someone found out somehow,” Zach replies.

“But this is insane, who would do this just to keep (Y/N) quiet during the trial, what could she possibly say that would be so bad that Bryce or someone would do this to her?” Alex asks.

“I have no idea, but (Y/N), you need to tell someone, you need to talk to Alex’s dad.” Zach insists.

“No! If I tell someone then who knows what this person will do next? Bryce could destroy my whole life, my future, if he wanted to,” You argue.

“At least tell your parents,” Zach pushes.

“Are you kidding? They’ll make me call the police, they’ll make it a whole spectacle,” You tell him, “No, we need to clean this up, no one but us can know that this happened, not Jess, not Clay, none of the others.”

“(Y/N)-”

“Come on, we have a few hours and my parents will never notice the difference, trust me, I can’t deal with this on top of everything else.” You tell them, “Please.”

“I’m in,” Alex said as he squeezed your hand reassuringly.

“Zach?” You ask.

Zach glances between the two of you, before rolling his eyes, “Fine, but I’m only doing this because the two of you are going to fail on your own.”

“Okay, can you go grab the trash bags? They’re under the kitchen sink downstairs,” You tell Zach before turning to Alex, “And uh, we can just sort through everything I guess. See what’s salvageable.”

“You mean I don’t get to just sit and look pretty?”

“Well you’re obviously going to do that while we work,” You quip back, laughing slightly before turning towards your room and feeling the smile slide off of your face, “Can you bundle up my sheets? Those are goners, I’ll have to go find some new ones in the closet.” You tell him as you crouch down to get a closer look at the books strewn across your floor, “God, I’m gonna have to throw out almost all of these.” You comment as you pick up a cover that has been completely detached from its pages.

When Zach comes back upstairs with bags you all get down to business and start filling them with every belonging of yours that is beyond repair. You ask each other questions about certain items and whether or not something is ‘too broken’ but other than that you don’t make any effort to have a conversation and neither do the boys.

Eventually, you have several bags full of your belongs and the rest of your room is empty but clean.

Most of your clothes were just thrown around and you’ve rehung or refolded them and they’re all back in your closet and dresser. Your photo frames were destroyed but most of the pictures were fine so you left the pile sitting on your desk, as a promise that you’d go buy some new ones eventually. Your bed had new sheets and blankets on it now, but they were basically the same ones you’d had before, thanks to the fact that your mom had duplicates of just about everything in your house, just in case.

You and Zach took the bags down and out to your trash can and when you were finished you all sat around your room, exhausted physically and emotionally.

“I should head home,” Zach said after a while, “I’m supposed to look after May tonight and after I walked out of the field dedication thing today I should probably get home on time, my mom is already mad enough.”

“God, I still can’t believe that your mom wants you to defend Bryce,” You tell him with a sigh.

“Yeah, well she doesn’t know the truth,” Zach replies, “You ready to go, Alex?”

“Actually, I can drive him home, you can head out,” You reply quickly.

“Alright, I’ll see you guys tomorrow,” Zach replies

After a beat, Alex turns to you, “You’re not kidnapping me? Are you?”

You grin, “No,” You tell him, “Unless you want me too,” You offer as you stand up and move over to where he’s sitting on the bed.

“Maybe,” He replies as he lays back on your bed and pulls you down to lay next to him.

“Well, if it were up to me you would never leave,” You tell him truthfully as you snake your arms around his waist, “I just- I can’t be alone. Not now.”

“You’re not getting rid of me anytime soon.”

“Promise?”

“Swear it,” he says as he links his pinkie with your own, “Never.”

“I love you,” You tell him softly. “I love you more.”

[douxbebearchives]

Author Profile: IWrite4Olitz

Stories on FFN; tumblr: @iwrite4olitz​

Your name/nickname/alias: 

Lynn, iwrite4olitz

How long have you been writing? 

Is “forever” too vague? Since I could properly grip a pencil...

How long have you been writing Olitz?

Since July 10th, 2015.

What drew you to Olivia & Fitz? 

Their combustible chemistry. Is there any other reason?

Outside of Olitz, where do you get inspiration to write? 

Everywhere. Anywhere. But my favorite inspiration comes from music. If I get stuck, I read a book. ;)

How do you describe your style of writing? 

::hyperventilates:: I...don’t have one compact sentence to describe it. I suppose it’s because I choose words and sentence structure to suit whatever tone I’m trying to convey, while also considering the “voice” of the character whose point of view I’m writing. So, for example, if I’m writing something romantic, I use more flowing sentences, but choose words that I think the character whose head we’re in would actually use. If I’m trying to convey something tense or urgent, I’ll use more concise, clipped language and structure. If I need to drive an emotion home, or incite a reaction of some kind, I choose visceral language. Ugh, this sounds so clinical! But I promise it’s not. It just happens naturally. I’ve been called “poetic” and “evocative” by readers. I’ve also taken this super fun quiz:

https://iwl.me/

...the results of which told me I write like Stephen King, which contradicts the poetic thing. Haha. Love Stephen though. Do you guys follow him on twitter? Follow him. He’s one of my best friends in my head. And he’s woke.

Do you write (journal, pen/paper) or type first? Depends. If I have it clear in my mind how a scene should go, I type until my brain is empty. Then I edit until it’s as close to my mental picture as possible. If it’s not clear in my mind, my brain automatically goes on high alert, snatching inspiration from anywhere, at any time. That’s when I scribble things in notebooks or type notes into a document to piece together later. Dialogue, action, events, settings...

Do you have a special notebook or writing utensil? 

I have several notebooks, Evernote, and Baby (my touch screen computer). But I plan on replacing her with a Mac soon, because she’s prone to viruses and my tech medical bills have been piling up!

Do you incorporate visuals, music, and/or poetry to help you get into the writing mood? 

Yes! Music is the most powerful inspiration for me. I can get several scenes, or a chapter, or an idea for an entire story from one song. I love creating inspiration boards to visualize big scenes more vividly (and sharing them is fun). I don’t read much poetry, sadly. I have a book of famous love letters and poetry collecting dust on my bookshelf if anyone’s interested. It’s red, vintage-looking, really pretty...

Do you use mood boards/aesthetics/Pinterest? 

Yes! Here’s the one for Pas De Deux: https://www.pinterest.com/AuthorLynnTurner/pas-de-deux/

Favorite kind of music or podcasts to listen to before/while you write? 

I don’t listen to podcasts as part of my process. I find them too distracting. My taste in music is all over the place. I have the same affinity for jazz or soul that I have for pop or indie. That’s not very helpful, I suppose, but it just boils down to whatever moves or inspires me. Would you believe that Pia Mia’s “Do It Again” inspired the one-shot that became No Regrets? She was a 19 year old youtube sensation at the time, and it was her summer smash hit (possibly her only hit) about a one night stand. Hey, I’m not proud. “Locked Away” featuring Maroon 5 inspired the gala scene at the end of that story. “Garden” by Emeli Sande played as I wrote the garden love scene in Pas De Deux, and “Dreamland” by Emilia Ali was playing when I wrote the scene that opens PDD Chapter 10. :-)

Where do you like to write (Home, coffee shop, etc.)? 

I prefer to write in isolation. I love cafes, but I tend to spend my time there doing research, or outlining, or creating inspiration boards. At home, I tend to write very early in the morning or late at night when everyone’s asleep...or during “me time” when certain tiny humans aren’t around to tug at my proverbial coat tails. If I have my headphones, I can pretty much write anywhere.

How long does it take you to write a chapter? 

Oh gosh...Okay, in a vacuum, with a chapter fully formed in my mind, tons of coffee and wine coolers, I can crank one out in a single day. Outside of that vacuum, it could take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. There are so many variables: mood, inspiration, time. I’m trying to be better at forming good writing habits. John Grisham says if you aren’t writing at least a page per day, you’re not writing a book. Stephen King writes 600 words a day. Stephen King is not human.

A favorite line or paragraph you’ve written. 

This changes all the time, and I have different ones for each work, haha. By the time anyone reads this, it likely will have changed again. (There are some things I’ve written for the next Pas De Deux update that might upstage this, I dunno)...but I think this paragraph from Olivia’s point of view in Chapter 9 is my current favorite, It shows their dynamic so well, I think, and is quintessentially the Olitz I recognize no matter the writer, or whether the story is AU or canon:

She shivered, unnerved to be in his head, to see for herself the irrefutable evidence that he knew her. He knew her and she hadn’t told him a single thing.

Describe yourself in 5 words/phrases: 

You could give me 24 hours and the fate of the universe on my shoulders and I still couldn’t do this, hahaha. In a perfect world, my self is constantly evolving, so how about, in keeping with the theme of fifths, I choose something in iambic pentameter?

“Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than You.” -Dr. Suess

Favorite TV shows/movies: 

This question is a rabbit hole. You’d need a “read more” button, and once clicked, readers would be subjected to pages and pages...so I’ll just list the ones I’d grab in case of a fire, or the apocalypse.

TV: Gilmore Girls, House, Girlfriends, A Different World, Living Single, the travelogue adventures of Samantha Brown and Anthony Bourdain, Sense8, Queen Sugar, Greenleaf, Underground, House Hunters, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black

Movies I can watch repeatedly and not get bored: Pride and Prejudice, The Devil Wears Prada, Focus, Pretty Woman, Love Jones, Ever After, The Wedding Date, Trainwreck

Movies with romantic elements: The Proposal, Trainwreck, Maid in Manhattan, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Something New, Serendipity, While You Were Sleeping, Maid in Manhattan, The Proposal, Miss Congeniality, The Cutting Edge, A Walk in the Clouds, Return to Me, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Under the Tuscan Sun, Love Story, Beyond the Lights, Circle of Friends, Belle, Closer, Stompin at the Savoy, Memoirs of a Geisha, Dangerous Beauty, Cinderella (the one where Whitney Houston plays the fairy godmother), Coming to America, Juno, You Me & Dupri, Parent Trap, Overboard, Braveheart, The Preacher’s Wife, Palm Trees in the Snow

Favorite vacation spot: 

Hawaii

Favorite books: 

You’d think that, since my movie list is a rabbit hole, my book list would be a labyrinth, but even with all of the books I’ve read, I’m selective about what makes my favorites list:

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen, The Hating Game by Sally Thorne, Grin and Beard It by Penny Reid, Literally every book by Penny Reid, Hadassah: One Night With the King by Tommy Teney, The Twentieth Wife & The Feast of Roses by Indu Sundaresan, The Nonesuch by Georgette Heyer, Wildseed & Lilith’s Brood by Octavia Butler, The Twilight Series by Stephenie Meyer (YES, okay? It’s not literary genius but it’s very entertaining, if you skip book two), Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind, Master of the Game by Sidney, Sheldon, Psy-Changeling series by Nalini Singh

*With the advent of fanfiction, I’m much pickier about published books, which I’m sure you all understand. ;)

Favorite authors:  

I have a to-read list half a mile long, so I’m sure this will change, but these are authors whom I find consistently write entertaining stories, even if they don’t make my favorites list:

Penny Reid, Alyssa Cole, Alisha Rai, Nalini Singh, Philippa Gregory, Farrah Rochon, Stephen King, John Grisham, Octavia Butler

What do you like better? AU or Canon?

I enjoy both, so long as they’re written well. Writing-wise, I’m more comfortable writing AU. With canon, I’m constantly aware that these aren’t my characters, so I’m sort of hyper aware of the constraints. And I have control issues. Lol.

Favorite trope/scenario to read? 

Enemies to lovers, love at first sight

Favorite Olitz TV moment/conversation? 

Seriously??? Only one? How about top three? Top five? Okay, fine, since you’re twisting my arm, I’ll give you my top ten in no particular order. (You drive a hard bargain):

1. VERMONT

2. “You almost died.” “Yes.” “Don’t do it again.” (she went in there to get him to comply, but then she actually LISTENS to him, like, really listens...and he changes her mind. They show a united front in this scene that was gorgeous to watch)

3. “I hate you.” “I know.” ...which morphed into…”You are everything and I am nothing.” ::ugly, mucous-dripping crying::

4. “Sit with me and watch me earn you.” (and obviously the AMAZING sex that came after)

5. Can the entire episode of The Trail be one?

a.  “I got a guy.” “You got a guy? Another guy? Hell’s angel? Mobster? A kind hearted felon who owes you a favor?” “Technically, he’s on probation.”

b. Camp David. Allll the Camp David. They were so in love, cute and care-free.

c. Love scene from The Trail (It’s their best, IMO. Organic. Combustible. Raw.)

d.  One minute on the couch

6. Pre-State Dinner shenanigans, Post-State Dinner Navy t shirt

7. Literally every Olitz phone call

8. 503 Oval Office Kiss ::swoon::

9. Truman Balcony kiss, because he was so vulnerable

10. Fitz saying “I still want you” in the AU episode, because it was so real, and I *believe they’re destined to be together in every universe.

*Honorable mentions: Rose Garden, Deskgate, Constitution (These were gripping, but I have personal, nitpicking reasons why they’re not in my top ten), allll the Season 6 bedtime snuggles, and every hug.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Ava DuVernay is my other BFF in my head.

Someday, when I’m confident enough in my knowledge of the era I choose (which will take years and years of research and development), I will write a historical fiction with a WOC heroine...possibly with elements of science fiction.

[anseladams03]

8 Techniques That Helped Me Improve My Writing During Ten Years of Blogging

Epic copywriting is an integral part of driving traffic and making conversions.

Smashing Magazine even states that “it’s not uncommon for proper copywriting to increase search traffic by 50 percent and conversion rates by 30 percent.”

But being a great copywriter requires more than simply being great at writing.

You need to have a fundamental understanding of human psychology to be able to persuade readers to buy your product/service—you need to know what motivates people to purchase.

Plus, there are several other variables that will impact your approach, including your audience, overall aim, and desired customer reaction.

This graphic from ABC Copywriting offers a nice visual breakdown of the specific elements of great copy:

But how can you become a world-class copywriter in a short period of time if you have only minimal experience?

It took me 10 years to improve, figuring out these techniques. By practicing them, you’ll be able to improve a lot faster.

1. Learn from the best

If you’re just starting out, I suggest diving in head first and absorbing as much information as you can about the process.

Unlike other forms of content writing, copywriting is a highly specialized field and requires a unique approach of its own.

I’m a proponent of reading books from some of the brightest minds to get their take on things.

They’ve been there, done that, and can get you to where you need to be.

Some specific authors to check out include David Ogilvy, known as The Father of Advertising, and Bob Bly.

This list of 50 attributes of a great copywriter from Jeff Bullas can be helpful too.

I also recommend checking out this list of 75 resources from Kissmetrics specifically designed for those who want to become great copywriters.

This covers the entire spectrum and is ideal if you’re just getting your feet wet.

2. Get in the habit of practicing your craft

There’s a definite possibility that you’ll suck at your first attempt at copywriting. Don’t take it personally.

But you would be amazed at what can happen with enough continual practice.

Even in as little as a week, you can make tremendous strides.

You’ll learn to be more efficient and will develop hacks for streamlining the process. You’ll also discover what works for YOU.

That’s why I recommend practicing on a daily basis if possible.

3. Study the psychology behind purchasing decisions

As I mentioned earlier, psychology is a key element in copywriting.

In order to persuade someone to buy something, you need to understand their thought process and behavioral patterns.

Copyblogger has an interesting article that highlights seven psychologically-backed copywriting tips.

In it, you’ll read about the concept of mirror neurons—neurons in the brain that “activate when you ‘observe’ something happening, and then transfer some of the feeling on you.”

I think a good example of it is the Allstate’s “Mayhem” ad campaign.

You know, where they say “mayhem is everywhere” and show disastrous scenarios like a tree branch falling on your car?

These commercials are good at making you envision and feel what it would be like if it happened to you. In turn, you’re more inclined to buy their insurance.

The point I’m trying to make is that your copywriting should resonate with readers and make them feel something.

You need to get in their heads and truly understand what makes them tick.

In turn, this should guide your copywriting and help you create more potent copy.

4. Do your research

Effective copywriting isn’t just clever wordplay. A big part of it is great research.

Why is research so important?

For one thing, it makes your content more authoritative.

By including relevant statistics, case studies, and quotes from experts, you back up your argument.

It shows that your copywriting is based on objective facts and not merely an opinion.

Anyone can make a claim, but when that claim is backed up by data, it becomes credible.

It also adds a layer of depth to your content.

When you take the time to research, you’ll inevitably gain a deeper understanding of a topic.

You’re more likely to see the big picture rather than just bits and pieces, and this should be reflected in your writing.

When you put all this together, it’s going to be helpful in building trust with readers.

Trust is obviously important because it’s going to make it easier to persuade your prospects to buy.

Even if you really know your stuff, I still suggest you get in the habit of performing some preliminary research because it’s going to add a new dimension to your copy.

5. Work on your headlines

Quite frankly, it doesn’t matter how great your overall content is if the headline sucks.

In fact, “on the average, five times as many people read the headlines as read the body copy.”

If your headline isn’t captivating, very few readers will make it to your call to action (CTA).

While it may seem easy enough on paper, creating a great headline can be pretty tricky.

But I’ve come up with a formula for streamlining the process to ensure you create attention-grabbing headlines.

In one of my previous articles, I talk about “the four u’s of headline writing:”

Your headline should be unique.

Your headline should be ultra-specific.

Your headline should convey a sense of urgency.

Your headline should be useful.

Here’s an example of a great headline. It’s quick and to the point:

6. Master the art of the opening sentence

Just one rung below headlines on the importance scale is your opening sentence.

Once you’ve caught the reader’s attention with an awesome headline, you want to motivate them to read through the rest of your content until they ultimately reach the CTA.

And this always begins with a well-written opening sentence.

What do I mean by well-written?

It needs to be short, engaging, and able to reel in the reader immediately.

Here’s a perfect example from Chartbeat:

If you look at the opening sentence, it meets all three of the criteria mentioned above.

It simply says, “It’s not enough to just count clicks and page views anymore.”

This is obviously short and to the point. It’s engaging because it gets readers wondering what they should be assessing if clicks and page views aren’t enough. And it also makes them want to read on to find out what solutions Chartbeat offers.

What’s the takeaway?

Work diligently at perfecting your headline and opener.

If you’re able to do this, you’ve already won half the battle, and you’re in a position to capitalize on the maximum percentage of leads.

7. Use the AIDA formula

AIDA is an acronym created by copywriter Gary Halbert.

It stands for:

Here’s a breakdown of how it works…

You start by grabbing the reader’s attention with an awesome headline and opener like we just discussed.

You build interest by touching on their needs, wants, and pain points as well as ways your product/service can solve their problems, improve their lives, etc.

You create a desire to buy your product/service by clearly explaining its benefits.

Finally, you insert your CTA to encourage your readers to take action right away.

I’ve found this simple formula to be incredibly helpful for guiding my copywriting.

While the specific details will vary depending on your audience, industry, and product/service, the AIDA formula always works and will keep you on track.

8. Be meticulous about spelling and grammar

Did you know that “poor grammar on websites scares 59 percent of people away?”

Spelling and grammar mistakes can be the kiss of death for your business because it makes you look unprofessional and diminishes your credibility.

After all, would someone trust and want to buy from a company that doesn’t know the difference between your and you’re?

A study was even done to determine the biggest mistakes a company can make.

According to the findings, the overwhelming number of respondents (42.5 percent) said they were most influenced by spelling and grammatical errors.

As you can clearly see, poor spelling and grammar can be a real deal breaker, and your conversion rate is going to take a big blow.

This is why it’s so important to be incredibly thorough and even borderline obsessive about proofreading your copy before it’s published.

I also recommend using a tool such as Grammarly to help you catch grammar errors.

It’s a free Chrome plugin, and it will greatly reduce your mistakes.

Conclusion

There are countless people who are great writers but lousy copywriters.

Mastering this craft demands a unique approach and a specific skillset.

Fortunately, it’s possible to learn how to become a world-class copywriter in a fairly short period of time if you’re willing to put in the effort.

Even if you’re just starting out, following these tips and techniques should put you on the fast track to quality copywriting, which means two important things.

You can convert more of your leads AND increase your profitability.

What do you think the most important aspect of copywriting is?

from Quick Sprout http://ift.tt/2hYOIJf from Blogger http://ift.tt/2iYVMqX January 06, 2017 at 09:37PM