Railroad Whistles

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Punctuation Tips for Writers

Punctuation Tips for Writers

Week of Sept. 29, 2012 - Generating Evergreen Content

By Joan Whetzel

Online sites providing content for informational purposes love evergreen content because it continuously brings readers into their site. Writer's love it too for the same reason. Evergreen content provides a continuous source of income for writers and content providers alike.

What Exactly Is Evergreen Content?

Evergreen content consists of articles that remains relevant for a long time, sometimes forever. The topics could be anything but tends to cover topics that don't change. Scientific information that has already been proven, history, and recipes are a few examples. The topics must be enduring (meaning it never goes out of date), frequently include video, tables, images or other information to help illustrate the text, and may include documentation to back up the research done by the author. The research references provide by the author can be used by readers to do further research on their own. Good evergreen content must contain clear instructions, examples, and explanations and must be engaging enough to bring readers back or to have readers recommend it to others, and will live on for the lifetime of the website (while requiring little or infrequent updating).

Writing and Publishing Evergreen Content Online

Always write your evergreen content with the objective of driving traffic to your website and to all of your online content for a long time. The topics may sell your product and must sell your "brand" with topics that are always fresh (a.k.a. forever green). The topics will always be of interest to readers. Websites and print publications geared around specific topics (e.g. women's health, fitness, green living, winter sports, sports, pets, etc.) suggest all sorts of evergreen content geared toward those specific genres. Evergreen content could be written as encyclopedia style informational stories, reviews of products and services, tutorials or how-tos, list articles, and advice. The main point to be taken here is to make the stories readable by the general public (not for technical, scientific, or academic audiences) and written in a conversational style that invites readers to read the article all the way through. It must also be engaging enough to invite those readers to share it with their friends, coworkers and family.

Not all evergreen content is old but can be new or recent, such as newly created recipes or new techniques for home improvement and hobby projects. Sometimes, current events can become evergreen content. An example would be, the 2011 drought in Texas. Recording the events of the drought and the effects may be interesting to many readers while it is happening. Then, 5, 10, 15 years down the road or so, when there's another drought with similar effects, readers like to find that content and compare what happened then to what's happening now, and see if the solutions for that drought may still be relevant. On the other hand, there was a drought in 2012 in other parts of the United States. It offers the same evergreen benefits, allowing readers to compare the two droughts, their effects, and their possible solutions. When writing about current events, try to write it as if you are recording history (which you are), and write it in such a way that it may become evergreen content for readers and even other writers. You could always make it evergreen content for yourself as related events crop up in current events. If so, always link that content back to your other related stories, thereby ensuring its durability as evergreen content.

Writing that Keeps on Earning

The very nature of evergreen content, is that it is always relevant, always applicable to peoples' lives. It will continue to drive readers to look up the information being provided - hopefully for generations. Because it continues to draw in audiences, advertisers for the websites providing the evergreen content love it because evergreen content provides them with a readymade audience who may be looking for their related products and services. That's because people who are looking for the information in your evergreen content may also be looking for the related products and services offered by the advertisers and will be more likely to click on their ads. It helps the writers and the online sites hosting the evergreen content as well. The advertisers pay the sites (who pay the writers) based on the number of hits to that evergreen content. The more hits that the evergreen content gets each month, the more the site and the writers earn. If the evergreen content is on your business site, used as a way to keep their customers informed and "in the know," it keeps the customers happy, which invites them to purchase more from your site (or your brick and mortar store), and may well invite your loyal customers to share the site and the articles with their friends, family, and coworkers. Evergreen content can truly become the writing that keeps on giving - and earning.

All About Solar and Lunar Eclipses

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Catholic Charities, Galveston Houston Diocese

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In-Text Citation Basics: MLA, APA, and Chicago Manual of Style Formats

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Methods of Leavening and the Science Behind Them

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What Is Scurvy?

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Week of Sept. 23, 2012 - Why I Write

By Joan Whetzel  

          I love to write. I write as often as I can. There has to be an extremely good reason for me not write. Why do I write? Oh, let me count the ways.

I Like Learning New Things

             I like writing because I am not confined by the dictum to "write what you know." I get to write what I want to know about. I am always learning new things which I am excited to share with others. This is leading me to all kinds of new areas of expertise. It also opens my mind to new questions, new things to learn.

It Feeds My Creative Spirit

            Writing feeds my creativity, allowing me to creatively put words together in new ways. It compels me to consider appropriate artwork and take photos that will go along with the stories I write. It also drives me to come up with creative summaries to entice readers to read further. I find my creative muses are omnipresent in my life just by being open to them.

I Can Fit it Into My Lifestyle

            I can take my writing with me on vacations or to places (i.e. doctor's offices) where I need to sit in the waiting room waiting on someone else. I can fit in and around my family's routines and emergencies. Since I am an early morning person, I can writer early, before the day has a chance to intrude on my creative juices.

                                           

I Can Do it Anywhere

            I can take it on vacation. I can take it with me and write while I wait on appointments (mine or others'). I can take it to the local coffee shop. I can write in the park - which I do often when the weather is nice.

I Can Earn Money from Multiple Sources

            Freelancing offers me so many opportunities to write for  money. There are thousands upon thousands of magazines that publish freelance work. I have been trained in journalism, so I could do some freelance submissions for the local newspapers. I choose to write for some of the multitudes of writing sites online. I can choose write what I write for these companies submit as many articles as I wish. The best part is that some of the online sites pay by the number of hits each article gets. In other words, My articles don't just pay once, they keep on paying because they keep getting hits from readers. Others only pay once, but that's okay too. A paycheck is a paycheck. And any published writing that I can use as proof of that I have been published, will always lead to more writing jobs in the future.

I Can Make My Own Hours

            I am an early morning person. I can write in the early morning up until lunchtime. Sometimes, though, I find I can't sleep at night, so I sit up and write for a while. It usually puts my mind at ease and I fall right back to sleep easily after a short stint of writing. If I have a morning dentist appointment (or something else going on in the morning), I can write in the afternoon. It doesn't matter when I write, as long as I can write.

The Hope of Making More Money

            The more success I have the more potential writing jobs I have. The more writing sources I have, the more potential money I can make. The sites that keep paying based on hits for my evergreen content, will continuously send me paychecks. I have written a few books which, if the sales begin to take off soon, will earn me additional income. With a little marketing on my part there is no end to the possibilities.

What Are the Conditions Necessary for a Hurricane to Form?

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The Top Causes of Air, Water, and Land Pollution

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Houston Museum of Natural Science

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My All TIme Favorite Movies

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Visit Joan Whetzel's Amazon Store, which lists many useful products recommended by Joan Whetzel
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The 10 Most Soothing Sounds

The 10 Most Soothing Sounds

Easy Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe

Easy Broccoli Rice Casserole Recipe

Taking Stock with Stock Photos

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Learn how to take your own stock photos and either sell them to others or use them for your own articles and books.

Week of Sept. 16, 2012 - How Writing Fits into My Lifestyle

By: Joan Whetzel 

            I love freelance writing. There are so many ideas and so many opportunities to write. Yes, there are some writers who make a lot of money, but for most of us writers, money doesn't fill our pockets. Many writers make a decent income from writing, while for others, it's about the opportunities to write. Basically, we love to write, whether we are making money or not. The greatest perk for writing is that it can be fit into any lifestyle.

Writing Hours

            Unless you are working in an office setting, writing (books and freelance) has  no regular work hours. I can pick and choose my own work hours as long as I meet my deadlines. I'm a morning person so I like to do all or most of my work before lunchtime. On the rare occasions when I get into night owl mode, I can work until the wee hours. There are no right or wrong work hours.

Writing Space

            Writing space can be anyplace that allows me to concentrate and feeds my creativity. If I need to write at the local café this week, then pack up your materials and enjoy some coffee and an order of pancakes or something lighter. I've been known to make use of their wifi if my chosen cafe has it. On the other hand, if you need a quiet spot I work in my home office where I can close the door and shut out the distractions by closing the blinds. I can turn on some music if I need it. Some days I go to a local park with a sack lunch, write by hand, and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine..

Portability

            This leads me to the point of portability. Writing can be taken anywhere. I've written on airplanes (though admittedly it wasn't the easiest place for me to write). I've tried writing in a moving car, but between the potholes, the sudden stops of the people in front of us, and the motion, this plan of action didn't work so well for me. I understand that it works quite well for others to write while traveling, though. In general, I find it quite easy to pack up what I need for a few stories or chapters and travel to a new location to write. I can write in restaurants, at parks, in churches (don't ask), etc. I can either take colorful pens and paper and write by hand - to be transferred to computer later - or I can take my laptop and notes and start typing. My writing supplies don't take up that much extra room and they come in handy for other things as well. On a recent trip, my granddaughter used my computer to watch DVDs, and the paper and colored pens wee used for drawings and games.

Availability for Family Matters

            Most days I don't have a problem with other conversations and activities distracting me. Once I'm in my writing zone, I tune everything out, relegate it to background noise. I find I can easily work my writing around regularly scheduled family activities and needs. I either adjust my work hours or I take my writing with me for those times when I know I'll have to wait on someone. The emergencies still give me a little trouble sometimes. But again, I can get most of my writing done early in the day. Sometimes I have to stop midstream, take care of the emergency, then come back and finish up later. It sometimes disturbs my train of thought, but mostly I find that the interruption to my thinking actually helps me see things I hadn't thought of before. The emergency breaks me out of my routine and gives me fresh ideas and a different perspective. So in the long run they aren't really all that much of a hindrance.

Writing as a career or hobby has a lot of perks that I would hate to give up. I'll keep on writing as long as I can.

Books in Print by Joan Whetzel

Find these Books in Print, in paperback format, by Joan Whetzel on Amazon:

1.Adventures for Young Writers: Writing Projects for 4th to 8th Grade Students A resource for educators and home schoolers as an aid for learning to write well.

2.Effective Study Skills and Techniques for High School and College Students The title is self expalnatory. it is amed at ehlping high school and college students study more effectively.

3.How to Write Term Papers, for High School and College Students Aimed at high school and college students, teaches skills for writing scholarly term papers.

4. The Public Library: A Public and Private Resource A public and educational resource, showing how to use a public library.

5.Writer's Ethics: Freedom of Information and the Right of Privacy Covers the ins and outs of ethics for writers and puglishing as it pertains to the Freedom of Information Act and the Right of PRivacy.

Kindle Books By Joan Whetzel

Kindle Purchase by Joan Whetzel, available on Amazon:
1.45 Frequently Confused Homonyms for Writers and Students This book lists those pesky words that writers and students frequently get wrong, along with their definitions to help distinguish each of the words.

2.Internet Search Tips for Writers and Academic Researchers  This book gives some helpful information for doing research on the internet. It is aimed at writers  as well as high school and college students.

3.Understanding Libel for Writers Covers the ins and outs of libel law as it pertains to writers and publishing.

4.Effective Study Skills and Techniques for High School and College Students The title on this book is self explanatory. It is aimed at helping high school and college students study more effectively.

5.The Three Pigs and the Fortress of Pork A humorous short, a variation on the 3 Pigs children's tale.

6.Sentinel Service A short  book, tells the story of a family's touching experiences at a funeral for a beloved family member.

7.Press This Button to Control the Universe Humorous story for kids, told in short story and script formats.

8.Writers' Ethics: Freedom of Information and the Right of Privacy Covers the ins and outs of ethics for writers and publishing as it pertains to the Freedom of Information Act and the Right of Privacy.

9.The Kitchen This is a short book, a mini memoir of summers spent in my grandmothers kitchen.

10. The Public Library: A Public and Private Resource A public and educational resource, showing how to use a public library.

11. Adventures for Young Writers: Writing Projects for 4th to 8th Grade Students  A resource for educators and home schoolers as an aid for learning to write well.

12. How to Write Term Papers, for High School and College Students This book, aimed at high school and college students, teaches skills for writing scholarly term papers.

Branches or the US Government & Checks and Balances

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Natural and Home Remedies to Help Ease Depression

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Overcome Insomnia, Naturally

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Riding in the Back of a Pickup in Texas

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Ways to Get Kids to Eat Properly

Ways to Get Kids to Eat Properly

Week of Sept. 9,2012 - Grammar: How to Use Who / Whom, Which/That, and Only

By Joan Whetzel

     When it comes grammar, the use of some words can really be confusing. Take, for instance, "who" and "whom". "Who" knows for "whom" these words were intended? Consider the words "which" and "that." A sentence "that" contains one these words may be grammatically incorrect, "which" may be a problem. Think about the placement of the word "only." Oh, "only" if I knew the answer; if I "only" knew the answer; if I knew the "only" answer, then I would know where the only belongs.

Who or Whom?

     The clues to when to use one of these two pronouns lie in determining whether it refers to the subject or the object of the sentence or question. Who (or whoever) refers to the subject of the sentence whereas whom (whomever) refers to the object of the sentence. For example: "Who is the recipient of this package?" is subjective. The "who" - the person who will receive the package - is the subject of the sentence. "For whom have you brought this package?" is objective. In this case, "you" are the subject of the sentence and "whom" is the object, or the person being acted on (having the package brought to).

     Here's a simple way to remember this:

·         When asking "who" the answer is always "he", she",  or "they." (Notice that who, he, she and they all end in vowels.)

·         When asking "whom" or "for whom" the answer is always "him", "her", or "them." (Notice that whom, him, her, and them all end in consonants.)

Which or That?

     This choice of words is probably the most confusing, grammatically speaking. The choice rests with whether the clause that "that" or "which" is attached to is essential or non-essential. "That" is usually attached to essential clauses, those phrases that add necessary information in order for the sentence to make sense. "Which" is generally used with in non-essential clauses, those phrases that add information that, while interesting in itself, isn't vital to the meaning of the sentence. If  the clause wasn't there, the sentence would still make sense. A note of caution: non-essential clauses can also begin with "that", though essential clauses never begin with "which." Also, non-essential clauses should be surrounded by ellipses (parenthesis) or commas to set the phrase apart, alerting the reader that additional, non-essential information is being added.

     Here are some examples of that and which usage:

·         Essential Clause: Milk "that" is made from soy is better for anyone allergic to dairy.

·         Non-Essential Clause: Drinking soy milk, "which she prefers", has lowered Kathy's cholesterol. (if the phrase "which she prefers" were removed, the sentence would read: "Drinking soy milk has lowered Kathy's cholesterol." The meaning of the sentence has not changed.

The Placement of "Only" in a Sentence

     If  using "that" or "which" wasn't confusing enough, placing the word "only" in a sentence could really muddle your mind. Putting "only" in front of the wrong word falls under one of every English teacher's pet peeve: misplaced modifiers. To make things worse, most people place "only" anywhere they want in spoken English. In other words, most of us get a bit lazy when speaking to each other, and frequently disobey the rules. Is it any wonder that we run into difficulty when trying to use the word only when writing?

     Here's the main rule: Place "only" directly in front of the noun that it modifies. The sente3nce changes meaning depending on where the world "only" is placed. Check out the following examples. The "only" has been placed in four different locations in the same sentence.

This gives the sentence four uniquely dissimilar meanings.

·         Claudia "only" submitted her manuscript to three publishers. [Claudia sent her manuscript to the three publishers, but she failed to enclose a cover letter, contact information, her resume, writing clips, or any other enclosures required by the publisher.]

·         Claudia submitted "only" her manuscript to three publishers. [Claudia submitted her manuscript to the publishers, but did not send anyone else's manuscripts.]

·         Claudia submitted her "only" manuscript to three publishers. [Claudia sent out the "only" 3 copies of the manuscript that she had to three publishers - without keeping the original or any copies for herself.]

·         Claudia submitted her manuscript to "only" three publishers. [Claudia sent her manuscript to three publishers. She didn't send it to any other publishers nor to any literary agents, friends or family.]

     Using who or whom, that or which, and only correctly is not really all that difficult. Lean these few simple rules and you'll always get these words right when you write.

Voting Rights and Voters Registration in the US

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Rated TV-G, The US TV Rating Sytem
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Week of Sept. 2, 2012 - Grammar: Prepositions

By Joan Whetzel

Prepositions illustrate the relationship between two parts of a sentence including spatial relationship, the relationship of the subject to something or someone else, direction, and pinpointing events in time. They are used in prepositional phrases containing the preposition along with a noun or pronoun. The noun or pronoun acts as the object of the preposition. Prepositional phrases don't contain verbs, so do not form a complete sentence.

Spatial Location

Spatial Prepositions: above, at, below, in, on, over, under, and underneath

Prepositions used for special location describe the location of a stationary object in relation to everything else around it. For instance, the sky is above  or over us; the ground is below or under us; children play in the sandbox while at the playground; and the pot of soup was on the stove.

Relation to Something Else

Prepositions in Relation to Something Else: among, behind, between, beside, in front of, in the middle of, next to, and with

To show relationship to something else  a preposition must explain the meaning of a sentence by describing the relationship between the subject and the other objects in the sentence. For instance,  "The cobra's enclosure was placed among the poisonous snakes, between the rattlesnakes and the copperhead snake." or  "The venomous snake exhibit was placed in front of the constrictor exhibit but behind the non-venomous snake exhibit."

Showing Direction

Directional Prepositions: by, into, onto, over, past to, toward, and under

A sentence subject that is moving requires directional prepositions, those prepositions that describe the subject's movement from one place to another. In this case, the preposition describes a travelling object or person rather than a motionless object or person. For example, the cow jumped over the moon; the fish swam under the sea; the children walked to school; the cars raced toward the finish line and past the guy waving the checkered flag.

Locating Something in Time

Prepositions to Locate Something or Someone in Time: after, at, before, between, beyond, for, from, from…to, in, on, since, until, and use.

These prepositions that place objects, people, and events along a timeline in comparison with other objects, people, and events. For example, a Emmy Awards starts at 7:00PM; it runs from 7:00 to 10:00 PM; it starts after the evening news and ends before News at 10:00PM.