Rachel Writes

Rachewrites is Now on Wordpress

2011-06-22T03:22:00.000-07:00

Hello and thanks for coming here. Rache Writes has now moved to Wordpress. If you would kindly click here, it would be so great to see you there.

Oh, and please don't forget to leave a comment or say hi:)

Why I Started Blogging and Why Should Too!

2011-06-20T00:35:00.000-07:00

If you have something to say or something to share, then you should definitely start blogging!

Cpntinue reading... Why I Started Blogging and Why Should Too!

Top 5 Free Online Advertising Campaigns for Home Business Owners

2009-10-07T06:08:00.000-07:00

Here are 5 free online advertising campaigns to promote your home business or small business:

E-mail Marketing. Build up a listing of people who have bought from your store or prospective customers who have shown interest in your products. When you launch a new item or a sale in your store, send them an e-mail. Be sure to include an “Unsubscribe” button so recipients can simply unsubscribe themselves from your list if they do not wish to receive your updates. Marketing e-mails sent to the right people, for the right purpose and at the right time will not be taken as "spammy".

Online Press Releases. Do you have an interesting new story that involves your business? If yes, create a news item and distribute it to free press release websites. A lot of people subscribe to news updates from various feeders and sources so it’s a great way to get more exposure at no cost.

Giveaways. Host a giveaway on your blog or sponsor a giveaway through your favorite blogger. Everybody loves to win something! It doesn’t really matter if it’s a $20- or a $100-worth item. As long as it’s something special in your store, people will love to win it! Giveaways are a sure way to invite more people to check you out.

Blog Advertising. Having your own blog makes it easier for people to find your shop and get to know more of what it’s all about. It helps build up recognition and trust because people can check your background as a seller. Blogging promotes positive interaction- making way for friendships, better customer relationships, and a better way to meet new prospects.

Other bloggers will often introduce you to their readers or spread the word about your shop at no charge- especially if they LOVE what you sell. Find bloggers who does interviews! Q&A’s are a wonderful means to reach out to your market.You can also check out blog advertising networks. Here, you can find bloggers who can post a review on their blogs for a small fee. It’s a great way to improve your search engine ranking because you can choose your own target keywords and have them linked to your website.

(Read more about blog marketing techniques that bring in traffic.)

Online Directories. Submit your business website’s URL to free online directories like DMOZ. The Open Directory Project is a human-edited directory so it can take from 2 weeks to several months to get your website reviewed. Be sure to read the rules and to select the right category to avoid getting rejected. What’s great about DMOZ is that they only accept quality sites so that Yahoo Search, Google, AOL Search, and other major search engines use it as a resource.

Online Writing: Learning Basic HTML

2009-04-21T06:08:00.000-07:00

If you want to make a living writing for the internet, learning basic HTML is an advantage. Let’s talk about why you should learn HTML, which basic HTML tags you need to know and how you can use these to enhance your writing.

Continue reading: Basic HTML Tags Every Blogger Should Know

When Should I Use Capitalization?

2009-02-22T22:58:00.000-08:00

Proper capitalization is important. Never overlook these basic rules of capitalization:

Capitalize:

The first word of a sentence
The pronoun “I” and all its contractions (I’m, I’ll, I’ve,I’d)
All proper nouns
The first word of a quote (“Please, give me advice.”)
A title or rank preceding a person’s name (Dr. Glenn Faust, Engr. Bradford)
A person’s title inside a quotation or dialogue. (“Have a great trip, Sir!”)
Compass points when referring to a specific region. (“My friend lives in the South.”)
All words included in titles of books, songs, movies, and other art works
Names of clubs and organizations
Historical events
Names of languages

Do not capitalize:

Names of seasons (winter, spring .summer, fall)
Directions when not referring to a specific region (The sun sets in the west.)
Names of elements (carbon, oxygen, helium, etc.)

Use Adverbs - But With Caution!

2009-02-20T02:59:00.000-08:00

“The road to hell is paved with adverbs.”
– Stephen King, On Writing

Adverb - “any word that modifies any other part of language: verbs, adjectives (including numbers), clauses, sentences and other adverbs, except for nouns” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adverb)

There are 5 types of adverbs (manner, time, frequency, place, purpose). Adverbs are used to compare, to give more detail or description.

Continue reading: Use Adverbs - But With Caution!

Active Voice vs Passive Voice – Who Wins the Battle?

2009-02-16T05:41:00.000-08:00

Professional writers recommend the active style of writing unless you have a very good reason for using the passive voice. Which should you use?

Continue reading: Active Voice vs Passive Voice

Are all Mass Nouns Singular in Form (Not Pluralized) ?

2009-02-09T22:20:00.000-08:00

Dictionary.com defines mass nouns as “nouns. . . that denote a substance or concept indivisible into countable units...”

Most mass nouns represent liquid substances (water, milk, vinegar) and food stuff (meat, sugar, cake, pie).

Although mass nouns are generally not pluralized, there are also mass nouns that can take both singular and plural forms (by adding s).

Some mass nouns can also be count nouns.

Examples are:

She knows how to cook salad.
She knows how to cook many kinds of salads.

Grain is abundant in this country.
Different grains are grown in each region.

Go ahead and ask her what brand of detergent she likes.
Some detergents contain harsh ingredients.

Forest fires are prevalent during dry season.
Earlier today, there was a forest fire in this area.

Some mass nouns only have a singular form but no plural form.

Examples are:

I bought a piece of equipment for you.
I bought pieces of equipment today.

He sold me this piece of furniture.
He carves desks, cabinets, shelves and other wooden furniture.

I didn’t know that piece of information until the teacher explained it in class.
The internet is packed with useful information.

*Microsoft Word editor flags the word "informations" & “furnitures” as grammatical errors. The word "equipments" is left unchecked.

Other examples of mass nouns:

advice * air * blood * food * garbage * graffiti * grass
homework * knowledge * luggage * mathematics
money * music * pollution * research * sand * soap
software * traffic * transportation * travel * trash

Practical Tips On Editing Your Own Writing

2009-02-04T21:41:00.000-08:00

If you don't have someone else to edit your writing or if you don't want to hire an editor, you'll have to make do on your own. Here are practical tips on how you can edit your own writing more effectively:

Continue reading Practical Tips On Editing Your Own Writing.

Practice Writing Through Blogging - While Making Money As Well

2009-01-26T22:35:00.000-08:00

One way to hone your writing skills is to start blogging. If you’re not familiar with the concept of blogging, just enter the word BLOG in your search box and you’ll come with a long list of blogs you can visit.

The term “Blog” was coined from these two words: WEB and LOG which means a journal or a daily log (record) written on the web. By writing your thoughts, experiences and ideas every day, you can sharpen your vocabulary, thinking and writing skills one day at a time.

The good news is, it can also be a great way to make money. I personally, have been able to make extra income from blog advertising. This week, I discovered a new paid to blog site and it’s called Paying Post.

Unlike other get paid to blog sites, this one doesn’t seem to have any requirement with regards to the number of posts, the page rank or the age of the blog. All four of my blogs- both old and new (including this one) has been approved today. So if you have a blog, all you need to do is sign up.

Bloggers can register up to 10 blogs and as soon as you have one approved blog, you can start taking on opportunities in the marketplace. If there are several opportunities available for you, you can reserve up to 3 opportunities for each of your blogs per day.

Payment is sent via PayPal every first day of the month and the lowest price for a post is $5. So let’s say that you took 3 opportunities that pay $5 each, then that means you earn $15 for that day.

Opportunities are usually your personal reviews about a certain brand, product or website. Depending on the advertiser, you may be asked to write something positive about the company or anything (even negative) that you want to say.

The best post for the payment period will receive a $25 bonus from Paying Post. Thus, by writing quality reviews, you increase your chances of bagging the bonus! If you're not sure of how to write a good review, read this article about The Art of Reviewing.

Don’t forget to write on your blog regularly even if you’re not being paid. Enjoy the whole process of writing as you create each post. And as you strive to make your blog posts worth the read, you would surely gain an audience and be a much better writer than you've ever been. The extra bucks you earn from paid blogging would just be, as they say - icing on the cake!

Have You Checked Your Punctuation?

2009-01-20T02:12:00.000-08:00

Punctuation marks are important symbols that can add depth, clarity and structure to a written work. Correct punctuation marks are also essential in reading- particularly when it comes to pausing and intonation.

Try to read a paragraph that has not a single punctuation on it and you'll realize the difference. Some authors use punctuation to define their personal writing styles but unless you are a pro, it's best to stick with the rules of proper punctuation.

The three most common punctuation marks that are used to end a sentence are period (.), question mark (?) and exclamation point (!). Here are the basic rules:

Make sure that all your statements end with a period.
Make sure that all your questions have a question mark at the end.
If a sentence suggests strong feelings or emphasis, use an exclamation point.

Use a double quotation ( " ) for direct quotes, dialogues, speeches or citations.
Example:
“I’ve always wanted to be a writer,” Helen said.
According to Wikipedia, “Certain aspects of punctuation are stylistic and are thus the author's (or editor's) choice.”

Use a single quotation (‘) if there is another quote within the quotation.
Example:
Haley said, “My mother said, ‘You can’t go out today!’ in a very stern voice.”
“I heard Mr. Riley said, ‘I don’t know that boy!’ right in front of everyone in the room,” said Jean.

Use an apostrophe (‘) to show possession or to combine two words and form a contraction.
Example:
All these cute flowers are Amy’s. All the cards have her name on them.
You’re not the only one who is interested about the proper use of punctuation marks.

The comma (,) has many uses and therefore, can be quite confusing. Generally, a comma is used to:

denote a series

Example: I went shopping and bought a new bag, a new pair of shoes, and a watch to go with my outfit. (the comma before AND can be omitted)

separate adjectives in a row

Example: She is such a brilliant, talented, charming young woman that no one can resist.

denote an appositive or a phrase that supplements information to the subject

Example: Antoine de Saint Exupery, a French writer and aviator, wrote The Little Prince.

separate an introductory phrase

Example: Although not autobiographical, The Little Prince was inspired by the author’s experiences as a pilot.

separate 2 independent clauses

Example: Everybody was curious about the new girl, but nobody knew where she lives or what thing she do.

call someone’s attention

Example: Jess, don’t forget to call me when you get home.

separate a city from its State

Example: Los Angeles, California

separate direct quotations

Example: John asked, “Where you the one who took the picture?”

A Semi-colon (;) can be used to separate 2 related but independent clauses. It is also used to separate a more complex series.
Example:
There hasn’t been any rainfall this month; everyone expected the rain to fall anytime but it didn’t.
I was having a hard time deciding whether to wear my brown, leather jacket; my black, formal blazer; or my green, cashmere sweater for my job interview.

A Colon (: ) can be used to introduce a list.
Example: I brought along three friends with me: John, my high-school classmate; Jerry, my neighbour; and Dianne, my officemate.

A Hyphen (-) is used with:

Prefixes (for easier reading)

Example: re-invent, ex-husband

Compound words

Example: out-of-place

Numbers written as words

Example: twenty-two, thirty-three

A Dash( – ) is used when an idea is added in the middle of the sentence. This is done to add clarification, information or a dramatic emphasis to the subject.
Example: Punctuation marks – like period and exclamation point – add depth to a sentence.

The slash (/) is used when suggesting two possible options or terms in a sentence.
Example: You will need a company ID and/or driver’s license to get through.
A customer must exercise caution when he/she is shopping online.

Parentheses ( ( ) ) are used to add information or a thought or to show an example without interrupting the sentence.
Example: The use of punctuation marks (period, comma, exclamation point, etc.) need not be complicated.

Brackets ( [ ] ) is often used when adding a comment or note from the editor of the piece.
Braces ( { } ) are used to denote a numeric set.

Why Check Your Spelling?

2009-01-12T23:44:00.000-08:00

One of the basic rules about professional writing is to avoid spelling errors. Misspelled words or typographical errors can instantly send negative impression to a reader. Wouldn’t you be turned off if an interesting article that you’re reading contains not only one but several misspelled words?

True, not everyone is as strict when it comes to pointing out wrong spelling. But then again, not everyone would be as forgiving. It would be a shame to lose readers just because you didn’t pay attention to the correct spelling of words. If you have an online business, it would be a shame to drive away potential customers because poorly presented web content.

Another reason why you should watch out your spelling: Search Engines check them too! Yes, even search engines prefer websites that are free from typos! Just read this article by Matt Cutts: SEO ADVICE: Spell Check Your Website. If you want to rank higher and increase your traffic, all the more you should pay attention to your spelling.

Microsoft Word has its own spell-checking tool that you can use to spot errors as you type. Here are free online spell checkers that you can use to double-check your work:

Orangoo You can either enter the URL of your webpage or paste the text or the entire article that you want to check. Aside from English, you can also spell check in other languages (French, Spanish, Italian, etc.)
SpellChecker.net
Jacuba

Check Your Spelling: Proofread Your Work
Aside from using automatic spell checkers, don’t forget to proofread your work. Spell checkers can only detect incorrect spelling, but not incorrect grammar. Some words may be correctly spelled but are used in the wrong context.

Homonyms or homophones (words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings) are usually misspelled or misused in texts.

Here are two examples:

Its (possessive form of IT) and It’s (it is)
Your (possessive pronominal adjective) You’re (you are)

It’s easy to miss these spelling errors if you won’t proofread your work. If you don’t have time, have someone else to do the editing for you.

Improve Your Spelling Skills:

Finally, you can do a lot to improve your spelling skills. If you’re not sure of how to spell a word, look it up in the dictionary. Spellcheckers are great for quick editing but using a dictionary helps you learn more about a word.

A dictionary gives more information such as the pronunciation, etymology, the part of speech the term belongs, the meaning, and sample sentences. Some dictionaries even include synonyms and antonyms.

A deeper understanding about a word would help you remember the correct spelling more easily. Here are links to online dictionaries for your research:

Are You A Redundant Writer?

2008-12-22T04:51:00.000-08:00

The Wikipedia defines REDUNDANCY as

“the use of duplicative, unnecessary or useless wording. Some people expand the definition to include self-contradictory wording.”

When I started writing, one of my biggest writing mistakes was the use of redundant words. Examples of redundant phrases that I’ve been guilty of using were: each and every, could possibly, all throughout, first of all, first started, and more. After writing a bunch of articles with redundant phrases, I’ve learned how to avoid them and spot them when I edit my work.

Continue reading Tips on How to Avoid Redundant Writing

Yes, I Am An Internet Writer!

2008-12-18T23:02:00.000-08:00

No, I'm not an expert in writing and I do not have a bachelor's degree in English but I do write for a living. I have been a freelance writer for almost three years now and everything I know about it, I learned through experience and research.

Is it easy to be an internet writer? Yes, writing can be a very easy and enjoyable work if your heart is in it. If you're determined to learn it, there's no reason why shouldn't achieve your goal- whatever that is.

If you want to be a successful online writer, you can certainly develop your writing skills through practice, self-study and observation.

When I started writing for the web, I have not the slightest idea how it works. I've always loved writing short stories and poetry but I wasn't ready to write about business, credit cards and other finance-related topics. What I do know is that I want a homebased job and because the opportunity was there, I went for it.

My First Online Writing Job
I found an opening for the position of an online writer from Bestjobs.ph. The job description calls for good writing skills, a reliable computer and an internet connection so I submitted my resume along with sample written works and waited.

The next day, I was interviewed online (via Yahoo messenger) by a woman- who will turn out to be my boss until this day. She was warm and friendly and is willing to give me a chance to be part of her team, even though who she needs is someone with a background in finance.

Mind you, the sample writings I sent her were articles about Dogs and Anxiety. And that's because I am dog lover and I feel most comfortable writing and researching about it. On my first day, I was introduced to everyone on her team (via YM conference) and was assigned to write 3 articles about credit cards. To think that I don't even own a credit card. I did not know anything about credit cards and I didn't understand what the terminologies mean.

I had spent the whole 8-hour night shift reading about credit cards online and writing the articles at the same time. (APR, debit, balance transfer, duhhh!) To cut it short, I survived that first day and thankfully, the articles I submitted met HER (my boss) expectations. Except for a couple of corrections here and there, the articles turned out to be fine.

Improving My Writing Skills
When I read my previous articles and compare them with my recent writings, I can see the difference. Somehow, I have improved my writing skills by writing every day, by reading and studying the works of other writers, by proofreading my own work, and by continuously learning through the internet.

I'm starting this blog to share my discoveries and learning as I strive to improve further my knowledge and skills in writing. I will be sharing some online writing tools that have certainly made my job easier. And because writing for the internet and online business is so interrelated, I will also be posting articles about internet marketing through articles and Search Engine Optimization.