Great Advice On Web Content Writing

Oh joy! Another book from James Chartrand — I could hardly wait to open my review copy. Write For the Web is an 86 page e-book which answers new freelance writers’ questions about writing web content and launching successful freelancing careers. It’s written in James’s no-nonsense style and is divided into five sections covering the writer, the market, the business, the writing and finding work. There’s also a bonus section on writing opportunities.

About The Writer

The first section, entitled all about you, gets rid of those nagging doubts and fears that hold writers back. For James, being a web content writer is staggeringly simple:

• use correct spelling and grammar

• talk persuasively about a subject

• motivate yourself to write regularly

Now, that doesn’t sound so difficult does it?

This first section takes you through the skills you need to launch a successful web content writing career. It also helps writers to assess how the experience they already have can help them in this area, as well as how to make up for any areas where they are less experienced.

The Writing Business

Section 2 is about business aspects: the basics that you need, managing time, sales and marketing, negotiation, rates, accounting, copyright, contracts and payment. Section 3 helps you think about marketing your services. James talks you through the various types of businesses that you might be writing for and gives advice on how to be the kind of writer that clients want. Again, the advice is simple. My favourite line is where James says: “don’t be a jerk” (a one-line client relations manual).

Writing — The Basics

Section 4 is a short section which is all about the basics of different types of writing. Armed with the information in this section you can get started on a number of different writing projects. James does not talk you through every step here but put each type of writing into context so that you will know exactly what you’re getting into when you agree to write, for example, a press release or a blog post.

Bidding For Writing Work

The proposal is the subject of section 5. This is one of the most important sections as writing the right proposal is what gets you the job. There are six pages on this subject — read every word, then follow up by working your way through the lists of places where you can find online leads. It’s also worth paying attention to the list of scams which often trap the unwary new web content writer.

Woot Woot!

One great feature running through the entire book is the Woot section where James shares some great resources which are all worth checking out.

If you are an established writer then the best thing about this book is the list of additional markets outside the web world. But the book is mainly aimed at new writers and reading this e-book is an easy way to get comfortable with web content writing very fast. So, to paraphrase James: go buy it already.