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The History of the No. 2 Pencil and a Story About a Writer Who Used Them

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The No. 2 Pen is a symbol for how I do business

Remember back in the day when we all used no. 2 pencils in school? Remember, you had to bring two of them to a test? Remember how you'd stand in line at the pencil sharpener to get the finest point?

My name is Sara Lancaster, and I am the owner and primary writer at No. 2 Pen. When I think about my writing I like to think about those early days when I learned all the fundamentals of writing using a no. 2 pencil. Although I don't use a pencil anymore, I do use a pen to get my creative thoughts flowing.

My business name, No. 2 Pen, is important because it reminds me of those writing fundamentals, but it also is important because I like to think of myself as second in the writing process. The client is always first in the process.

My goal is to write according to a client's needs and provide as many revisions as it takes to get the job done. This lens is designed to give you a taste of what my writing and communications company can do for you.

The history of the no. 2 pencil

The world's very first pencils were introduced over four hundred years ago, way back in the mid 1500s. Maybe you're not surprised to know that it was the British who developed the very first pencil.

Way back then, the British were mining graphite and so they used their ingenuity to wrap small pieces of graphite--not lead--in string or wooden tubes. These devices made for great writing utensils (a/k/a pencils).

After the pencil made its debut, it did not take long for other pencil makers to crop up all over Europe and then later in the United States, particularly in the Boston and New York City area.

Joseph Dixon, who founded the Joseph Dixon Crucible Co., has turned out to be one of the most famous pencil makers of all time. Joseph Dixon Crucible became the Dixon Ticonderoga company in 1983. Sound familiar?

Part of the reason Dixon became such a success is because the company created a system to produce over 100 pencils in one minute, which allowed Dixon to dominate the booming pencil market for quite awhile.

Pencil makers experimented with different mixes of lead, graphite, clay, sulfur and other materials to see what worked best. It was determined that lead made for the best writing quality. They also tested different shapes and styles of wood to determine what weight and style worked best. Turns out a hexogon shaped wood case is the most ideal.

Pencil sharpeners, erasers, and mechanical pencils all influenced the way pencils look today--including the no. 2 pencil.

Not all pencils are yellow or #2, of course. Pencil color is just a matter of preference and the number represents the lead's hardness (1 is the softest, 4 is the hardest).

(Photo courtesy of Dixon)

All the no. 2 pencils you can handle

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What the No. 2 Pen can do for you

As a writing and communications company we work with individuals, small businesses, web site owners, and more

The No. 2 Pen has several different areas of writing expertise including website content writing, social media content creation, and our blog post writing service. But since we are a full-service writing and communications company, there is actually no writing project we aren't willing to take on. This is just a brief look at what we can do for you.
  1. Work as a Website content writer to write original Web content or to re-write Web content using proper search engine optimization (SEO) strategies.
  2. Propose a social media content writing plan for the success of your business and/or Web site.This includes creating Squidoo lenses, writing content for your Twitter account, finding guest blog post opportunities, and submitting your professionally written articles to relevant social news sites.
  3. If you want to do the writing, but just want some guidance, the No. 2 Pen can act as a writing coach on any project. This includes scholarly articles, eBooks, newsletters, books, and more.
  4. Write and produce all of the documents necessary for a press kit, investor packet, or similar set of marketing materials. We will work with you to develop sell sheets, brochures, case studies, white papers, annual reports, and more.
  5. Apply our copy editing expertise to a document of any length to ensure the piece is grammatically correct and keeps the reader's interest.
  6. Help you organize and create a style guide for your business in order to maintain consistency and correct formatting/style in all of your marketing materials.

Client testimonial

"Sara is a very talented and creative wordsmith who quickly comprehends what your needs are and how to craft her writing style to meet them. She is a delight to work with, efficient, and always meets, and often exceeds, her deadlines."

- Amy Rinehart, Publications Sales and Marketing Manager, National Institute for Trial Advocacy

You can get a REAL no. 2 pen

I've actually purchased this pen (how could I not). It writes beautifully. The grip is amazing. The Acme No. 2 Pen is so real to life and so closely resembles my logo that I feel like it was made just for me.

I can't recommend this little writing utensil enough. And what pen collector or writer wouldn't want one for him or herself?
Could not locate item B00115MRJA. Please try again.Sorry, there are no results available from Amazon.

SEO web content writer

A professional Internet marketing firm can help you develop a targeted search engine marketing campaign and help you with search engine optimization (SEO), if your Web site needs it. SEO is a way to ensure that your Web site turns up in organic search engine results.

SEO includes things such as writing Web site content, incorporating necessary back-end coding that your Web designer may not be aware of, and using other online marketing tactics that will help you build links and a high search engine ranking.

The No. 2 Pen focuses on writing Web content that is search engine friendly and incorporates the right number of the client's chosen keywords. Sure, we write great Web content that informs visitors and encourages them to act, but we use SEO Web content writing tactics to be sure that the Web content we write helps, not hurts, your SEO goals.
website-content-writer

So you want to hire a ghostwriter

A ghostwriter is someone that writes your content anonymously

Are you hesitant to hire a ghost writer? Maybe you worry that a ghostwriter won't write the way you would or maybe you worry that a ghostwriter will be too expensive.

Whatever your concerns, a good ghost writer will collaborate with you to complete a project that is high quality and written according to your preferences.

Always ask for writing samples and professional references when hiring a ghost writer. Another way to cover your bases is to ask the ghost writer to provide a short writing sample on a topic you choose. The writing test doesn't need to be anything difficult or comprehensive, only two or three paragraphs on the topic you want written.

Just about anything can be covered in ghost writing. From blog posts to magazine articles to books, an individual ghost writer can focus on one particular area or write in a number of areas.

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10 steps to writing an ebook someone else will want to read

No. 2 Pen offers ebook writing, editing, and design

  1. Complete several "brain dump" sessions. This is a time when you will write completely distraction-free for a set period of time. You're not allowed to edit your words, or over-think what it is you are doing. Just write.
  2. Answer the question. In one sentence, what is the one point you are trying to make with your eBook?
  3. Create an outline making sure you use the answer to your question as the thread from start to finish. I know, I know, you don't want to. But if you take the time to organize your thoughts the re-writing process will go much smoother.
  4. With your outline and the answer to your question in mind, go back through and read your brain dumps. The content you don't want to use should be copied and pasted into a second document. The text you think has potential should be copied and pasted into a third document. Leave your original brain dumps in tact -- you may want to refer to them later.
  5. Take the document with the promising text and begin to revise. Rewrite sentences so they are grammatically correct. Organize thoughts so they match your outline.
  6. Read through the first draft with a critical eye. Does everything make sense? Are all your points proven? Is the order of information logical? Is it funny, informative, thought-provoking (whatever type of style you are going for)?
  7. Step away from the eBook for a few days. Focus on another unrelated project so you can come back to it with a fresh mind.
  8. Revise, revise, revise. Does every section of your eBook answer your question, or at least lead to the answer of the question?
  9. Hire a graphic designer to create a cover and to layout your text beautifully.
  10. Hire an eBook proofreader to look over the eBook and make sure there are no typos, formatting errors, etc.

Your favorite office supplies from Cafe Press

We're not just writers, we're pencil lovers. Share the love.

No. 2 Pen Mousepad

No. 2 Pen Mousepad

Now you'll know where to find us -- all the time.

Price: ' Buy Now

No. 2 Pen Ceramic Travel Mug

No. 2 Pen Ceramic Travel Mug

Take our pencils with you...

Price: ' Buy Now

No. 2 Pen Journal

No. 2 Pen Journal

Don't forget what you learn on our blog, www.no2pen.com/blog...take notes!

Price: ' Buy Now

No. 2 Pen Large Mug

No. 2 Pen Large Mug

Drink up and log on

Price: ' Buy Now

No. 2 Pen Note Cards (Pk of 10)

No. 2 Pen Note Cards (Pk of 10)

The yellow pencil is more than a useful writing tool, it's a piece of nostalgia.

Price: ' Buy Now

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Four reasons to include press releases in your business marketing plans

The No. 2 Pen offers a press release writing service for any size business. News as small as a new Web site and as big as a corporate merger are worthwhile press release topics.

Are you considering whether or not to incorporate press releases into your strategic marketing plans? Consider no longer. Here are four reasons to write press releases:
  1. Get press!!! Create a targeted media contact list and send the press release to journalists and bloggers you know will be interested in your news.
  2. Create a news section on your Web site and post your press releases there. Press releases add valuable content to your Web site and give your business credibility.
  3. Publish press releases on an online press release distribution site like PRWeb or PR Leap. This way, more journalists will find your news and your news will be found by anyone online, including potential customers.
  4. When you post a press release on an online distribution site, you create high-quality links that lead back to your Web site. This is great for your Web site's search engine ranking.

Client testimonial

"I like working with Sara because she puts into words the concepts I am trying to convey without making the idea too complicated. Her writing style is easy for all of my customers to understand, regardless of their education, and that is very important to our business."

- Mark Harvey, Jr., Used Vehicle Director, Mountain States Toyota in Denver

FREE writing and marketing resources

free-writing-resourcesOur goal is to create a website that serves as a resource for small businesses who do a lot of their own marketing. Sure, it's great when clients hire us to handle all of their marketing and writing, but we understand that it's not always feasible for small businesses to pay others to do that kind of work. Budgets are tight, we get that.

In light of this, we offer several writing, communications, and marketing resources that are completely free or pretty darn close. Here's what you can get from the No. 2 Pen.

1. Click here to visit our Writing Freebies web page and download any of these FREE resources:

  • Copyeditors Style Sheet

  • Editing and Proofreading Checklist

  • Website Content Writing Checklist

  • eBook Outline Template

  • Squidoo Lens Marketing Tips

  • And more!

2. Request a website content review. For the price of a New York Times bestseller from Amazon.com, we'll review your existing website and give you suggestions on how to improve the web content. More on this brand new service to come.

3. Browse the No. 2 Pen blog. We update our blog twice a week (sometimes a little less or a little more). We invite you to read the blog, comment, and send us your ideas and questions any time.

4. Sign up for our newsletter. We send out a quarterly emailed newsletter that has tips, advice, and more free resources that you won't find on our website.

5. Just contact us. The No. 2 Pen provides a free consultation to every one that calls or emails us directly.

Stay awhile, say hello

Squidoo lensmasters, fellow writers and lovers of good writing: leave me a message!

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