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Top Tips to Improve Your Writing Skills On Squidoo

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Improve Your Writing Skills On Squidoo

If you are searching for ways to write a novel, a mystery or romantic comedy then you have come to the wrong place.

But if you are looking for tips on how to improve your writing for fun then maybe I can help.

I write articles on Squidoo for my enjoyment. I've always thought it would be fun to write, putting words on paper and exploring what is inside of me. But I never thought it possible until about 3 years ago.

I teach how to make beaded jewelry and I always enjoyed sharing my knowledge with others.

As I was learning to make jewelry I was unable to find an instruction book that suited me and explained the process in the simplest of simple terms but detailed in a way that I wanted to learn.

I began thinking of writing myself but I didn't know how to begin.

I had always enjoyed writing letters to friends and thought maybe there is something to that. Now, here I am almost three years later, creating information pages on Squidoo, Hub Pages, Ezine Articles, Bead At Home Blog and just writing in general.

I'm not sure I would have ventured out if I did not have the encouragement from others that have lead me to seek this out.

Was it easy? No.

I had been dreaming of reaching a larger audience by taking my beading classes and knowledge on line and as I began to discover how to do that I learned that writing your own content was a big part of it.

If you have reservations about what you have to share or the question 'Is anyone really interested in what I have to say?' creeps into the corners of you mind then you are not alone. We all question our own level of skills. But if you don't put yourself out there then you will never know.

Ask yourself "What's the worse that will happen?".

Your writing brands you. Who you are and shares with others what you are about. Writing allows you to share your experiences, your knowledge, your expertise with a broader audience.

I will be sharing with you some of the tips I have learned along the way while completeing a writing assignment I challenge myself with.

If you would like to hear more then follow along and I'll share how you can improve your writing skills.

Accepting An Invitation To A Writing Challenge

Write surrounded by a supportive community

I will begin by telling you that this page that you are reading is called a 'Lensography'.

'What is that?' you may be asking. Squidoo is a writing platform and each page you create is called a lens. When you create a lens that includes a group of lenses based on a niche or project, it is called a 'lensography'.

I was invited to join a writing group on Squidoo called the 'Rocketmoms'. I gladly accepted this invitation feeling it would throw me in a support group and writing challenges would be part of participating in the rocketmoms community.

I accomplish two things here. I will practice my writing skills and network with a supportive community since we are all doing the same thing; learning to write better.

This lensography was to be the completion of my 'RocketMoms Fall 2011' challenge.

The challenge: Write 6 lenses or pages based on subject matter presented.

You may not complete the challenge and that's okay, don't be hard on yourself.

Give yourself a pat on the back for beginning the challenge. Half of the challenge is starting.

Sometimes these writing challenges can become overwhelming, life gets in the way and you may feel like you run out of things to say. Keep moving forward, a little at a time and you will get there.

TIP #1: Participate in Writing Challenges.

What Do I Write About?

Start with a little bit about you

One of the most fun things about writing that I find is that I can write about what ever I want.

You will see from my pages that I have created the topics are a wide variety.

Challenge 1: Share something about me.

I am rather reserved and keep most things to my closest friends and family but there is always some general information you can share about yourself that someone else may find interesting, helpful and enlightening.

I find that very freeing.

I use to think that nobody wanted to hear what I had to say but I still wanted to share it.

Surprising enough, there are people out there that are interested in what Y-O-U have to say and they are normally those that are feeling or experiencing the same thing you are writing about.

It takes courage to put yourself out there and expose yourself to a greater audience.

You may be shy at first but if you will take that first step and keep putting one foot in front of the other you will soon find that it becomes easier and easier.

Here are a few suggestions of topics, about you, that you can begin practicing with:

Hobbies
Interest
Current events in your life
Children
Pets
Your Passions
Cooking

Keep it simple and light until you find your footing. Only you will know when you are more comfortable to talk about heavier topics.

As you can see there are many topics that will fit this category of talking about you.

I bet if you think about it you can come up with other topics that best suit you. Give it a try.

Listed just below is my page to complete challenge 1: 'About Me'

TIP #2 - Write what is laying on your heart today that you want to share.

Writing Challenge #1 - About Me

Share a little about the Author

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Write About the Weather

Are You a Fair Weathered or All Weathered Friend?

Writing Challenge 2 Topic: Fun Fall Activity.

Perfect topic anytime! Write about seasonal activities. What do you like to do in which season. Write for the current season you are in.

Seasons can consist of weather seasons, church seasons, school seasons, sport seasons. You see there are lots of seasons to discover.

So what kind of fun, educational, helpful hints or tips have you learned or do in which ever season you decide to write about?

Have fun with it, keep it local in your area or maybe you have something to share about places that you visit. Either way you have your own experiences to share.

TIP #3: Write about seasonal topics

Writing Challenge #2 - October Fun!

This was a fun challenge with Fall fun.

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Write About A Niche

Keep it focused on one thing

Niche writing is important to remember.

Keep it focused about one topic or one thing or tips on one subject. It keeps your reader and you on the same page.

If you write to broad and to general then both you and your reader may forget where they had started.

You can get very narrowed topic, niche about a niche.

Use this as an exercise:

1. Begin with a topic.

2. Find one thing to talk about on the topic.

3. What one thing about that one thing?

See if it works.

I have my niche topic listed just below. See if this helps create a clearer picture for you

TIP #4: Write on a specific topic; A Niche.

Writing Challenge #3 - Nice (Super) Niche

Focus on one topic

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Journals to Inspire You to Write

surround yourself with motivation

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Write About An Interest

You always have something to contribute

An easy way to get going with writing is to write about something you like.

The best way to begin is pretend you are having a conversation with a friend and just say what comes to mind.

You can always contribute something to a conversation of friends, well then write that way. You are among friends and those that resonate with your voice will find you.

The more you write the better and more comfortable you will become. But the big key is to start. I will be the first to admit that it takes courage to do it.

If you are reading this page then there is a desire in you to want to write. Where did that desire come from, Why do you want to write? Answer that and stay focused.

We all had to learn to walk, so start with your baby steps, keep practicing and before you know it you will be running.

TIP #5: Write about something that interest you, a topic that you are comfortable with.

Writing Challenge #4 - In The Kitchen

Not my favorite place but still have something to share

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Pictures Are Worth 1000 Words

Add photos

Here is a questions for you?

Do you know where on the internet you will post your writing?

The reason I ask is that there are several writing platforms available on the internet to get you started.

Now I would be amiss if I did not tell you that the article you are reading right now is posted on Squidoo and this is where I got my start.

I was introduced to Squidoo almost 3 years ago and I found it so user friendly that it took me a long time to venture into other writing forums.

But they are out there and I will share some of the others further down this page.

What causes me to ask you this questions is that most writing forums encourage posting pictures with your articles.

Why?

People like pictures!

It's really just that simple.

Ask yourself, do you like looking at pictures when you read an article?

Then others do to.

Now this leads to another question.

Do you know how to download pictures to your computer and then upload them to a site?

If you do then great you are ahead of the curve.

But if you don't, please do not let that stop you!

There are easy ways to learn this or you can use free photos until you learn to post your own.

I would bet someone you know can help you with this or I can help you further if this scares you but you must ask for help.

It will be easier than you think. Remember, baby steps.

You can start the writing process without pictures if you must but put it on your 'to do' list to add this to your writing process.

TIP #6: Include Pictures

Writing Challenge #5 - Picture Perfect

Pictures say 1000 words

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Places You Have Visited

Local or Not

I have a confession to share with you.

I did not get to finish this writing challenge. This is where I stopped.

So use this as an example that life happens and gets in the way.

It hasn't stopped me from continuing to write and I will eventually finish the page I started. So learn from me that it's not the end of the world but merely a learning curve.

But had I finished this on time my challenge was to write about a 'Dream Vacation'.

I had to think about it for awhile. For my lifestyle and family life we don't vacation. I mean take what is considered a real get out of town vacation or stay in town for a 'staycation'.

I had decided that my vacation was a state of mind and that is where I was going with it. I will come back to finish it, I liked where I was going with it. But I may save it for another writing challenge.

So my final tip in this series is

TIP #7: Write about places you have visited.

Writing Challenge #6 - Dream Vacation

Stand By

To be continued.........
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Squidoo Headquarters Shares Their Wisdom

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Take A Vote

There are so many tips to improve your writing but these were what came to mind for me. Sometimes you may think you have nothing to write about but you always do.

You may think no one would be interested but there is. You will be surprised. I was.

Vote for your tip that you like best from this list and feel free to add your own. Either way thanks for stopping by to visit and I hope you have learned something new or feel validated that that is what you thought, too.

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Writing Forums

Easy Option Available to Get Started Writing On-Line

Squidoo
Squidoo.com is my favorite writing forum. It is user friendly and allows you to explore many different methods of creating content. Follow this link to begin your Squidooing journey. But I give a WARNING! Squidooing can be addictive so please Squidoo responsibly.
Hub Pages
Hubpages.com is another writing forum similar to Squidoo where you can earn money for the content you create among the hub pages. Follow the link above to find out more about it.
Ezine Articles
E-zine articles is a more straight forward forum to just writing content. There is not much promotion allowed in your articles it's basically straight content or reviews. Self promotion can be done in your profile area but there are limitations. Be sure to read rules and regulations so you do not find yourself in violation.

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by

teriann

Bead At Home

Proverbs 20:15 Lips that speak knowledge are a rare jewel.

Teri, A.K.A. 'bead at home mom' is a:
 a child of Christ... more »

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