Let’s talk about your blog.

I know. It’s a painful topic for many of you. You don’t know what to write, you don’t feel confident about what you DO write, and frankly, you’d rather not be blogging at all. It’s nerve-wracking, stressful and not as much fun as you thought it would be when you started it. You’re behind on your blogging schedule… and it’s been a while since you’ve written a post.

It’s been even longer since you’ve actually ENJOYED writing a post.

It doesn’t have to be that way. Writing a blog post shouldn’t take days. It shouldn’t be stressful. And there are fun, easy writing techniques that can help you feel inspired, motivated and even electrified to blog.

One good blog post? It can bring in serious business results: More sales. More customers. More sign-ups.

That is… if you’re actually writing those posts.

Now, the Damn Fine Words writing course gives you plenty of writing techniques that help turn you into that confident writer. They’re insider secrets that probloggers like me use all the time – and we’ve been using them for years.

But today, I want to take a few quick tips from course lessons and share them with you, because I want to help you get back to stress-free, electrified blogging. Try these:

Capture your ideas. Many people have great ideas… and they don’t jot them down. They blame the idea for coming to them at the worst time, like when they’re in the shower or driving their car and nowhere near a computer.

15 minutes later? That idea is gone. Forgotten. Wasted.

Don’t be that way. Don’t make shower excuses. Use technology to your benefit: record a quick voice memo on your smartphone. Write yourself a text message or an email. Grab a pen and scribble your idea on the back of a receipt.

Yes, even if you’re all wet and dripping water on the floor.

Then when you have time, settle into your writing routine – the one you’ve built to train your brain so that it gets ready to write on demand.

Wait. You do have this routine established, right? You’re not coming to your writing cold, are you? That’s a common mistake many bloggers make – sitting down without a plan thinking they’ll smash out awesome posts just like magic.

Nuh-uh. You can’t build a house without a plan, and you can’t sit down to write without a plan either – one that goes beyond, “Hey, I think I’ll write about this today.” You could, but that blog post will be as shaky as that slap-together house.

So don’t do that. Plan your posts, and then…

Write a shitty first draft. I’m not kidding – forget perfection out of the gate. Shitty first drafts rule. You can edit and polish up your writing another time, but right now, get your idea down in a rough draft form so that you can improve on it later.

Start writing for the future, too. Write a bunch of shitty first drafts and build a collection of drafts for later. The more you have of these on hand, the more you’ll be able to grab your draft in a pinch, polish it up and scheduling it for posting.

Imagine having a year’s worth of blog posts, all ready to go. It’s an easy goal to achieve… with the right techniques guiding your way, of course.

If you want to learn more about those techniques, then it’s time for you to get into Damn Fine Words, the writing course that helps you build the confidence you need to blog your way to better results. You’ll learn how to collect ideas and expand them into better posts, you’ll learn how to blog in a way that helps you earn business, and you’ll kickstart your blog back into life again.

And you’ll enjoy blogging – maybe for the first time in your life.

Registration for Damn Fine Words is open right now – and it closes in just a few days, so grab your seat now. Click here to learn more on how this course could electrify your blog, or click here to register now.

Soon you’ll be blogging like there’s no tomorrow!

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Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
How to Get Your Blog Back On Track first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Damn Fine Words is the writing course that changes businesses – and even lives. Students who’ve taken the course rave about how it’s opened up a whole new world of opportunities for them and how their perspective on writing for their business has brought them all sorts of fantastic results.

Now, that all sounds nice, but if you’ve never taken the course, you might be curious: what’s inside? What will you learn? What’s waiting for you?

Here’s your sneak peek inside Damn Fine Words.

You’ll learn the power of writing using just three sentences.

There’s a secret content-creation technique that’s extremely valuable for capturing your ideas so you can turn them into focused blog posts, full ebooks and compelling web copy – and all you need are three sentences.

Most writers don’t even know about this technique. And when they learn it, they’re suddenly churning out a year’s worth of blog posts in no time at all. Add this writing technique to your routine, and you’ll be ready to burn through all the content you need. Easy breezy!

You’ll learn to improve your writing – without writing a word.

There’s one easy way to take all those awkward sentences, unclear points and strange phrases and turn them into smooth-sounding writing that readers love – and you won’t have to lift a finger to find them, either.

Using the magic of human physiology (and a little fun science), you’ll discover how to write in a way that sounds so much like a natural conversation that you won’t believe it. Readers will think you’re talking straight to them – which you will be, of course!

You’ll learn how to get readers to take action.

A good call to action can help you get serious business results – and you can learn how to write a call to action that goes well beyond the usual ‘click here’ B.S. (I know you can do better than that.)

You’ll write calls to action that encourage readers to take the action you want, without sounding spammy or pushy. They’ll contact you, call you and buy from you more than before. (You might even want to test out your new call-to-action skills on your kids – maybe they’ll finally listen when you ask them to clean their room.)

You’ll learn how to get past the mental writing blocks.

A lack of confidence, writer’s block, getting stuck in the editing phase… these issues are common to people who need to write for their business. That’s why the course teaches several techniques that help you sweep away the obstacles in your mind.

Practice them, and you’ll never hold yourself back any more. You’ll be ready to write for results with stronger confidence and internal knowledge your words are just fine, thank you very much. No more stress and no more staring at the blank page!

You’ll learn to find your writing voice and use it loud and clear.

What the heck is writing voice? Do you have one? How do you find it? What does it sound like? Many people who need to write for their business get hung up on this one… and often get stuck in that stiff, corporate kind of tone no one likes to read.

That’s why you need to discover your writing voice and start putting it to work for your business – and with plenty of fun activities to help you learn what it is, why it works and how to make it happen, you’ll soon find the voice that sounds just right to you… and to your readers.

You’ll learn how easy it is to recycle for results.

That’s the beauty of this writing course. It doesn’t teach you just one thing you can apply in only one area of your business. It teaches you writing skills that you can recycle and reuse for any writing task, in any area of your business.

Throughout this course, your business will evolve – which is why different writing lessons become more important and relevant as your needs change. One week, you’ll appreciate lesson 5. The next, you’ll be thankful for lesson 16. And you’ll always be able to pick and choose from the lessons you need each time you sit down to write.

By the way, today is the last day you can register for Damn Fine Words and save $200 on the retail price of the writing course. This offer ends tonight at midnight. What are you waiting for? Go!

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Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
Your Sneak Peek Behind the Writing Course Doors first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Entrants fought hard to get into the Damn Fine Words writing course. Some posts were straightforward. Some were thoughtful. Some touched our hearts. It wasn’t an easy choice, and we wished we could offer everyone a place in the course.

After great deliberation, several shortlists, and many discussions, the judges and I narrowed it down to two lucky winners. Congratulations to:

• Scott Lesovic of Magic Bash
• Mary Ulrich of Climbing Every Mountain

Scott and Mary, you’ve each won a free membership to the Damn Fine Words writing course, where you’ll enjoy an intense learning experience that’ll change your business – maybe even your life.

Here’s what judges had to say about the winning entries:

Mary has proven for years that she has the endurance and the commitment to be an active and valuable member of a community. She is consistently positive, helpful, and encouraging, and for that alone I’d be willing to give her a place in Damn Fine Words: she’ll be a smart and empathetic peer and work hard as a committed student. Factor in her ambition to help parents of autistic children like her own son, and it’d be an absolute crime to deny her the scholarship.

Scott is the winner for me. What stood out is how clearly he’s connected the dots between writing skills and his business bottom line. Scott is going to use his copy to expand his magic empire, booking clients and promoting his work… and that’s what I think Damn Fine Words is all about. I’m nominating him for the free scholarship, because I know he’s going to create real tangible business success with the skills he learns.

To all entrants, thank you for sharing a little window to your world. You made us laugh, smile, and wish we could take you all under our wing. Your posts showed talent, creativity, drive and determination, and you have our heartfelt applause for having put your words out there.

And now that you have, don’t stop. Keep learning, keep writing, keep believing in yourself. You can change your life, and you have everything you need to get where you want to be, right there inside you. Make it happen.

If you’re reading this post and ready to create lasting change by improving your writing skills, the Damn Fine Words writing course is now open to new students. Click here for more information … and get ready for a whole new level of business.

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Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
Announcing the DFW Writing Contest Winners first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Every single business owner, no matter what their industry, needs to be able to write well to be successful.

And if your business has a website, a blog, or operates online, then writing skills are crucial.

If you’re completely confident that your writing has never, ever lost you a client, then you don’t need to worry.
But if you know you’re not sure what to write in emails to clients, if you’ve ever thought your website copy might not be very great, if you’ve ever noticed your blog doesn’t get many comments or that your newsletters never really get opened much…

You’re missing out. And you need to improve a critical business skill: your writing.

Damn Fine Words is the writing course for business owners that teaches you the skills you need, gives you a safe place to practice effective writing and get feedback on your work, and encourages you to apply everything you learn to your business.

So you start getting results from your words.

Registration for the Damn Fine Words writing course is currently open, and for a very limited time only.

Click here to learn more about the Damn Fine Words course – and how it can change your writing, your business… maybe even your life.

Leave a Comment!

Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
Damn Fine Words Writing Course Open for Registration first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Chris puts his money where his mouth is: He’s visited 193 countries without ever having held a “real” job or earning a regular paycheck. And during his extensive travels, he’s managed to continually write for his A-list blog, build an empire of training resources and publish several books, his latest being the $100 Startup (of which I have a copy in my hot little hands).

Chris writes – a lot. And from the strangest places, too, like third-world airports between lonely red-eye flights and Bedouin tents in the desert while grunting camels lurk just outside.

Alright, maybe the camels are an exaggeration, but clearly this devotion to writing (sometimes under incredibly tough circumstances) requires some sort of magical skill to maintain. It’s nothing short of amazing… and you’re going to learn Chris’ secrets.

I’ve invited Chris Guillebeau to sit down with me for a casual conversation, all about writing. Just how does he keep going? How can he manage to write so well and so consistently from all these crazy locations? And what’s with his eclectic blog that breaks all the “stick to your niche” rules?

You’re going to learn Chris Guillebeau’s writing secrets – all of them.

Join Chris and me on April 30 at 1pm EST and listen in as we discuss writing from anywhere in the world, how to consistently feed a hungry blog and crafting bestseller books without ever losing focus. This call is going to be valuable, especially if you want to leverage your writing skills to live off your success.

You won’t want to miss this conversation – you’ll pick up writing techniques, tips and advice that let you walk away feeling smarter, sneakier and ready to tackle new goals. Chris and I will discuss:

• The truth about writing, and whether you absolutely need to do it
• How to continually feed your blog, even when you don’t feel like it
• Tips to keep writing when you feel lonely, isolated and discouraged
• Advice on writing while you travel and what to do in crazy locations
• The difference between blogging and books – and which you should choose
• The secret to facing your writing critics and what you should tell them
• How to be an eclectic writer who still stays in your niche
• Whether you should outsource your writing or do it all yourself
• How to persevere and stay focused on your writing goals

This conversation is going to be great: Chris is a true gentleman and a real pleasure to talk to, and he’s passionate about challenging people’s beliefs about traditional careers and employment. He’s practically THE freelancer advocate.

In fact, you could say Chris is your key to a better, more fulfilling career. (Even if all you have is $100.) After you listen to our call, you’ll feel inspired to plan your next great escape… with confidence you can write your way there.

Dial in on April 30 at 1pm EST. It’s a life-changing event you won’t want to miss.

How to Get in on the Call

To get call-in details for this exclusive candid conversation, just sign up for the Damn Fine Words newsletter below. You’ll get the dial-in number and also be signed up to receive extra bonus content, more hot interviews with leading writers and powerful writing tips from Damn Fine Words.

It’s the best online writing course to help you succeed in business… through words alone.

Sign up for the Damn Fine Words newsletter now.

 

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Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
A Casual Conversation with Chris Guillebeau on Writing first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

A lot of people have been telling me they wished they could register for the Damn Fine Words writing course. It’s launching May 7 for its 3rd edition, and people who write me say that if they could just get in on this course…

• …they could finally start that online business, because they’d have the skills to write their web copy and blog for business.
• …they could improve their writing skills and pull in more clients and money, instead of making the meagre income they’re slaving to earn right now.
• …they could feel confident in their written communication for the first time in their lives, instead of agonizing over every piece they write.

These people know that Damn Fine Words is one of the best writing courses out there, and it could change their business game. They know it’s a life changer – and it could even be a life-changer for them.

I’d like to help make that change happen.

Welcome to the Damn Fine Words Writing Contest.

This contest is a friendly competition where your sincerity, desire to learn, and motivation to succeed counts. It’s a writing contest that isn’t about the quality of your writing so much as the quality of your thoughts on writing… and what you plan to do if you improve your writing skills.

Here’s what you can win:

Two people will win a place as a student in the May edition of the Damn Fine Words writing course. (Retail value $1,599.)

Winners will join the course as full-access students when class begins on May 17. They’ll benefit from the lessons, the hands-on exercises, the interactive forum and my personal feedback and support throughout the entire course.

Pretty awesome, right?

Here’s what you need to do:

Write a blog post about why writing is important to you and your business. Why becoming a better writer could literally change your life. How not feeling confident in your writing has affected you, and what it would mean to you to have that obstacle swept away.

I want to know why it’s important for you to be in the Damn Fine Words writing course.

Keep in mind that Damn Fine Words is a writing course for business owners, so if you have an idea for a business you’d love to start, an existing business that isn’t doing so well or an established business that could be doing much better, let me know.

The DFW Online Writing Course Contest Rules

1. Write one blog post article of at least 450 words on why writing is important to you and how better writing skills would change your business or your life.
2. Link to www.damnfinewords.com once in your post.
3. Post your article to your blog.
4. Come leave a comment here in the comment section and link to your post.
5. Pat yourself on the back.

That’s all.

There are no points given for correct grammar or spelling. There are no points given for the fanciness of the words you choose or the quality of your sales writing. In fact, there are no points given for the quality of the writing at all.

What I’m looking for are two people who really wants to be in this writing course and who know this course can help them succeed.

I’m looking for two people who will show up every day and do their very best because improving their writing skills matters to them. I’m looking for two people who understand the value of writing and its worth to their business.

You don’t need fancy language or correct grammar or finely-honed writing to convey the sincerity of your passion. Trust me – I’ll see it.

Two judges will help me select the winners:

1. Taylor Lindstrom is a professional writer who has worked closely with me for several years.
2. Peter Shallard is the Shrink for Entrepreneurs and a business success consultant I work with on all my ventures.

The contest closes on May 1 at 7am Eastern. Have your submissions in before then, and we’ll select a winning post and contact the author directly. (Be sure to have a Contact page on your site, or leave us an email address here in the comments!)

Ready? Get writing!

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Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
The Best Online Writing Course Contest Ever first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

One month you’re rolling in sales and clients, cackling like a fiend at your riches. The next, you’re wild-eyed and panicked because work dried up… and so did the money. A week after hustling hard? You’re loaded again – until you’re back to being poor.

Money’s a real bitch.

No one really prepares you for this financial roller-coaster. No one tells you about the love-hate relationship you’ll have with money. It’s the dirty little secret: If you don’t manage your money properly from day one, you’re in for a rough, rocky ride.

You’re probably making bad financial decisions right now… ones that don’t leave you feeling happy and successful.

• You’ll live well for a year… then get your tax bill and cry.
• You’ll blow money on the new iPad… then eat Kraft Dinner to make ends meet.
• You’ll DIY and bootstrap… and lose clients because you don’t impress them.

Let’s face it: When you own a small business, money can be a blessing and a curse. But do you really need money to happy and successful?

Maybe all you need is a new way of thinking about money.

You’re about to learn what it is.

What would you change if you had all the money in the world?

That’s the question author Laura Vanderkam asked when she interviewed people for her new book, All the Money in the World: What the happiest people know about getting and spending.

She discovered some surprising answers – and they’re not what you think.

I wanted to know what Laura discovered. Badly. I wanted the secrets of these people – how they thought about money, what they did with it, and how they spent it to increase their happiness.

I had to know. I wanted Laura to tell me everything she discovered.

And you get to listen in.

Your Invitation: Let’s Talk about All the Money in the World

It’s time to expose the cold, hard truth about getting and spending money so you feel happier, more fulfilled and more successful. It’s time to ask the hard questions people avoid… and bring you a new mindset that helps you achieve better small business success.

So you’re invited:

Join me and Laura on April 25 at 12.00 pm Eastern and listen in as we talk about money – how to make smart buying decisions, where to spend your money and ways get your money working harder to make you happier. We’ll discuss:

• Why you should avoid that $47 ebook…and spend 10 times as much instead
• How to weight the costs and benefits of every purchase you’ll ever make, ever again
• The crucial question to ask yourself before you buy that thing you want
• Why context counts, and how to turn your spending psychology around 180 degrees
• How bootstrapping could be sabotaging your business income
• The list you need to write today to start creating change in your life
• How to spend your cash so that it brings more money and more happiness to your life
• Why your own spending psychology needs a makeover to keep your budget in check

This is going to be one cool conversation. I know because Laura’s expertise significantly changed my life.

After I read Laura’s book, I began asking myself one extremely important question before making any purchase – even if only cost 1$ – and that question saved me thousands of dollars in less than 4 weeks.

Let’s be clear: I live well, but I don’t have all the money in the world. I still have to think before I make purchases. I have a money coach and a budget. And sometimes I have to plan and save for what I want, just like you do.

But thanks to Laura, my new relationship with money is working to get me what I want a lot faster than before.

So dial in on April 25 at noon and listen as Laura talks about your relationship with money. It’s a life-changing event you won’t want to miss.

How to Join the Call

To receive call-in details for this exclusive event, sign up for the Damn Fine Words newsletter below.

 
You’ll be able to listen to the call, and you’ll also be signed up to receive weekly writing and content-creation tips from one of the best online writing courses for business owners ever.

Book your calendar for April 25, 12:00pm Eastern. Don’t miss it!

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Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
A Casual Conversation: What Would You Do If You Had All the Money In the World? first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

You’ve probably heard that guest posting is a valuable marketing strategy for your blog or business. One guest post published on the right site can bring you new readers, new clients and more sales – fast.

And not just for the day your guest post takes the spotlight, but for months (even years!) to come.

I know guest posting works. I used the strategy heavily in my early years, and I even wrote an ebook about it. Men with Pens become a popular Top Ten Blog for Writers faster than the speed of light. Guest posting on major blogs set my business squarely in the spotlight of success.

It can do the same for yours.

Today, Men with Pens is one of those big-name blogs accepting guest post submissions, and getting a yes is often considered a prized achievement for many writers. I receive so many guest post submissions that some days I can’t keep up with demand!

But here’s the problem: Unfortunately, I have to turn most guest posts down. They just don’t cut it.

That’s the cold, hard truth about guest blogging.

Which begs the question, what makes for a great guest post? How can you get that coveted yes from major blogs? How can you write a guest post that stands out like a shining star from the hundreds of hum-drum hopefuls?

You’re about to find out.

Jon Morrow is THE authority on guest blogging. He has carte blanche publication rights on major sites, earns serious money for his writing talents, built an entire course around guest blogging and is renowned for his brilliant posts – the kind that go viral in a heartbeat.

Jon’s compelling guest posts are so valuable, people just can’t afford him.

Everyone wants to know Jon’s secrets – even me! So I asked – no, I demanded – that Jon join me in a casual conversation and share his personal secrets and insider info with you. We’ll hook up on a call and talk for 45 minutes… and you get to listen in.

Find Out How to Write a Great Guest Post (and Get the Yes!)

Join me and Jon Morrow on March 28 at 12:30pm Eastern for a very special casual conversation between two top writers and probloggers as we discuss:

• Why so many guest posts get turned down – and how to avoid that happening to you
• The tricks Jon uses to create ultra-compelling posts that go viral every time
• The 3 most valuable elements to make a guest post stand out from the rest
• How Jon managed to learn to write so well – and how you can do the same
• The biggest mistake amateur guest posters make, and how you can avoid it
• Tricks to improve your posts immediately for instant impact and praise
• What top bloggers really look for in guest posts (so you can give it to them!)
• Valuable insider secrets you can use to write great guest posts… like magic!
• How to approach a top blogger with your guest post – and I mean, the right way.

This conversation is going to be spectacular: Jon is a genius writing master with a leading reputation for powerful guest posts that hit you in the gut. You’ll benefit from listening in as we go head to head on how to write a stellar guest post and get the yes from major sites.

Dial in on March 28 at 12.30 Eastern and listen we tell it to you straight. It’s a life-changing event you won’t want to miss.

How to Get In On the Call

To get call-in details so you can dial and listen in on this exclusive conversation, just sign up for the Damn Fine Words newsletter. In a few days, I’ll send you all the details you need to join us for this special call on how to write a great guest post.

You’ll also be signed up to receive extra special invitations and powerful writing tips from Damn Fine Words. It’s the best online writing course that helps you succeed in business… through words alone.

Sign up for the Damn Fine Words newsletter now.

And book your calendar for March 28, 12:30pm Eastern. You’ll receive call-in details when you sign up below. Don’t miss it!

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Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
Jon Morrow Tells You Exactly How to Write a Great Guest Post first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

These are the writing idea killers. Cater to them, and you’ll run out of words, live in doubt and constantly fight with your writing confidence.

Destroy them, and you’ve freed yourself from the psychological traps of writer’s block forever. Your writing becomes effortless, ideas flow from a fountain of creativity and words come easily, on demand.

But how? How do you smash through these obstacles? How do you cure writer’s block? How do you skyrocket your writing confidence? How do you send your writing productivity through the roof so that you’re slamming out words faster than they can come to you?

How do you write without fear?

That’s the big question. The minds of writers are rife with fear. Writers suffer mountains of self-doubt and cripple themselves with a lack of writing confidence. I hear about writer’s block all the time – in my online writing course, on my blog, even through private emails that only hint and whisper at the monster lurking under the bed.

It doesn’t have to be that way. In fact, you can turn yourself into a lean, mean writing machine that churns out effortless, effective writing that produces business results… completely stress free.

Imagine what having that writing ability in the palm of your hand would feel like: You’d whip out well-written guest posts quickly and easily. You’d breeze through engaging newsletters your readers can’t wait to open. You’d finally write that ebook, smash out compelling web copy and completely revolutionize your business results.

Can’t do any of that when you’re stuck thinking, “I can’t write.”

You need to produce. You have a business that needs all sorts of content: blog posts, articles, web copy, sales pages… You need to write, with effortless ease and all the writing confidence in the world.

You need to just put fingers to the keyboard and GO.

And I know someone who can teach you how.

Peter Shallard is the infamous Shrink for Entrepreneurs, a brilliant business consultant who works with wealthy people around the globe as they strive to change their psychology and create near-effortless success.

He even warns clients when they begin working with him: Life’s going to change. Get ready.

Peter’s also a fantastic writer and knows the ins and outs of writing psychology. (He never gets writer’s block, and he’ll tell you exactly why it doesn’t even exist.) That’s why I couldn’t think of a better candidate for this important, exclusive interview event:

I’m going to pick Peter’s genius brains about writing psychology. We’ll cover topics such as how to develop your writer confidence, create an abundance of writing ideas, smash through endless editing cycles so you leave them behind forever, and build fonts of writing creativity that overflow with awesomesauce.

Get ready. Life’s going to change.

Join Peter Shallard and me on March 21 at 12.30pm EST and listen in as we have a casual conversation about writing psychology, fear, and how to smash through writer’s block.

You won’t want to miss this call – Peter charges nearly $400 for his time, but he’s agreed to share a full hour of his writing psychology brilliance, completely free of charge. You’ll walk away with more writing techniques than you can handle.

Listen to what Peter Shallard and I have to say as we discuss:

• The truth about writer’s block, and how to eliminate it forever – once and for all
• The secret answer no one tells you to, “Is my writing good enough?”
• The 3 most valuable elements that skyrocket confidence in your writing
• How to build a font of creativity so you always know what to write
• The biggest mistake you’ll ever make as a writer, and how to avoid it
• Tricks to improve your writing immediately for instant impact and praise
• Why writers suffer from blank-page syndrome, and what to do about it
• Valuable insider secrets you can use to write great content… like magic!
• How to instantly turn a sluggish muse around and write the right way.

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Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
How to Smash Writer’s Block Forever first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.

Guest posting is a great way to get known and gain exposure for your business. I know, because I used guest posting as a marketing strategy for years. I still guest post when the mood strikes me.

Heck, I even wrote an ebook about it.

But most days, I’m on the other end of the spectrum. This place is a popular blog, and I get hit with guest post requests at least ten times a week. (Sometimes more.)

Now in a perfect world, that’d be great news. I’d have lots of luscious content full of smart advice from rockin’ writers with something valuable to share.

Last time I checked, though, the world isn’t perfect.

In fact, if the average guest post I receive is any indicator of where perfection is going these days, I’d say it’s headed straight to hell in a hand basket.

And luscious content? She checked out about half a year ago.

That means it’s time for some cold, hard truth. I may get flack for saying it, but… most guest posts are terrible.

I don’t want to be mean or unkind, but most guest posts my peers and I receive these days are so slap-together bad that NO comes out of my mouth so fast I nearly burn my tongue.

The writing is low level, the grammar is awful grammar, typos are having a party, and it would be easier to let the post die than trying some serious CPR editing.

And I’m not even being a stickler, here. In fact, I’m pretty darned tolerant about those typos and awkward sentences.

But for the most part, guest posts these days are just flat-out bad. They’re poorly researched. The assumptions and claims are frequently downright wrong – even dangerous to the point that following the advice would probably cause some fast business failure.

This blog’s mission is about helping you get ahead, not get you dead.

Here’s my personal pet peeve: Incredibly scattered writing. It’s like writers submit thoughts that have been riffed off without any consideration to organization, structure or flow. They’re so full of tangents, irrelevant points and straying focus that they read like splatter from a smashed pumpkin.

I know everyone likes to joke about ADD, but some guest posters take it to mass epidemic extremes.

These posts aren’t coming from people who feel they don’t have the skills, by the way. Most guest posts I receive are from writers for hire, freelancers and people who actually want business exposure so they can charge people money.

Sad. Really, really sad.

Even sadder? The people who can write, the ones who really know how to work their words, the folk who may not have all the skills but who can pen a good piece nonetheless… well, they think they’re no good at it.

Despite all their talent and ability to write well, the good writers lack confidence and never guest post at all. What’s the world coming to?

Here’s another cold, hard truth: the average guest post isn’t a gift. It’s a burden. It lands in your inbox out of the blue, and it needs to be read, reviewed, edited, approved, formatted, scheduled, and distributed, not to mention commented on and moderated once it gets published.

And that doesn’t even include the back and forth emails between the hopeful writer and the blog owner.

This takes time, people.

Valuable time. And contrary to popular belief, successful blog owners aren’t lounging about on their recliners while beautiful servants feed them frosted grapes. They’re busy people with jam-packed schedules and businesses to run.

And time is money. Deny it as much as you’d like, but it’s true.

Here’s what really knocks me for a loop, though: Let’s say a blog owner spends his valuable time and reviews the post. The final verdict comes through, and it’s not looking good. The guest poster gets a “thanks but no thanks”. What happens then?

Surprisingly, in many cases the guest post gets published – warts and all – on another blog.

Now sometimes, that’s okay. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure, and we’re all well aware that what makes for good writing is often highly subjective to personal preference. It’s fine for a ‘no thanks’ guest post to find a good home.

But I’m not talking about a good post, here. I’m not talking personal preference or the wrong fit for the blog’s focus.

I’m talking about a bad guest post. A substandard, poorly-written piece that got turned down because it just wasn’t very good. You could say the guest poster didn’t know the piece was that bad, but I’ve seen writers who are well aware of the fact turn around and shop the piece out to someone else.

That’s a little like saying, “Well, looks like Aunt Nancy didn’t like this natty purple sweater… I guess I might as well give it to Gramma Wilson. She’ll take anything.”

How about taking a good, hard look at that natty sweater and realizing that maybe Aunt Nancy is giving you a big, fat hint that you need some help in the fashion department? Or how about having some respect for Gramma Wilson, who really deserves better than questionable castoffs that make people wonder about her sanity behind her back?

Here’s the big clincher, though… the strategy works. Gramma Wilson will wear the laughable sweater and other blog owners will publish the badly written post. I see them end up on all sorts of blogs, blogs with quality reputations and big readerships.

It stuns me. It shocks me. And it actually makes me wonder what’s going on out there.

Have we all given up on good, solid, well-written posts in favour of just having something to fill up Tuesday’s empty slot?

I haven’t. And other blogs – the smart blogs – haven’t either. They’re accepting less guest posts and tightening up standards, just like I have.

Because here’s the thing: Getting a yes on a guest post submitted to a reputable blog should be an honour, not a given. It should be a goal we strive for, something to work towards. An achievement that helps us learn and improve.

Don’t you think so?

So for guest posters and blog owners alike, here’s what I suggest: Stop lowering your standards. Stop saying yes to fill empty spots. People are tired of it. Start getting critical and picky. Demand more from what you read and what you write. Stick with what’s solid, what’s well-written and what’s clearly worth reading.

It’s the only way we’ll make this crazy blog world a better place, after all.

Leave a Comment!

Post by James Chartrand

James Chartrand is an entrepreneur, a pro copywriter and the founder and CEO of Men with Pens and Damn Fine Words, the game-changing writing course for business owners. She loves the color blue, her kids, and ice skating.

Another rockin' post from Men with Pens!
The Cold, Hard Truth About Guest Posts first appeared on Men with Pens
Copyright 2006 - 2011, All Rights Reserved.