Month: May 2022

How to Write a Press Release? The Guide Expert Comments

Reporters look for stories that are timely, affect a large number of people, have an emotional element, or relate to other news stories. You could also tap into what people are talking about, either in person or on social media. If your business has a connection to a bigger story, you may improve your chances of getting covered.

How to Write a Press Release? [The Guide + Expert Comments]

There are specific guidelines for writing a press release—covering everything from news angles to press release structure. All of them you will find in our complete guide on how to write press releases that get attention (and results!), along with expert comments.

Remember that the angle (a perspective that story will take, in other words) which will interest the readers of a specialist magazine will be very different from the local newspaper. In fact, you should write different versions of your release for the different audiences you are targeting.

Keep in mind that you’re not only targeting potential readers, but also journalists. If you don’t do your research and target the wrong journalists, writing good press releases won’t get you anywhere.

With PR tools like Prowly, you can not only access a Media Database with over a million contacts but also use smart recommendations based on the contents of your press releases. This way, you’ll always pitch relevant journalists that are likely to be interested in your story.

Step #2: Develop Your Hook

Step #3: Write Your Press Release Headline

Note that the headline doesn’t start off with their company and how great they are. That’s going to turn off most journalists. Instead, the headline kicks things off with something about cryptocurrency, which is actually interesting.

Tips for press release distribution

First, you can make a list of the media outlets whose readers and viewers would be most interested in your news and send your release directly to them via email. You can find their email addresses with a quick internet search: [reporter name] + [news outlet] + email address.

These companies send your release to journalists based on their specific interests and also publish it on their website. Each service offers a variety of options, and costs can vary greatly, ranging from $69 to a few thousand dollars.

If your news is time sensitive, such as an event or announcement, send it to reporters a few days beforehand so they have time to craft their story. If you want news outlets to hold off on publishing, release it under embargo, which is a request that reporters not publish information until a specific date. If you really need something kept secret, make sure to only offer embargoed news to outlets you trust.

Generate buzz with a press release

While a press release doesn’t guarantee free press release coverage, it can be an effective marketing tool. By sending out releases with a regular cadence, you start to build up brand recognition with members of the media, influencers, and bloggers.

You never know when an outlet might be looking for a source in your industry, remember your company, and reach out for an interview. By sharing newsworthy information, you become a thought leader in your field.

Successful publicity depends on sustained effort. If you do get coverage, keep the buzz going by sharing those stories on social media. Mention previous coverage in the boilerplate of your next press release. Press often follows press, and once you get your first mention, you might find it easier to get a second, third, and so on.

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Sources:

https://prowly.com/magazine/how-to-write-press-release-guide/
https://backlinko.com/write-a-press-release
https://www.shopify.ca/blog/how-to-write-a-press-release

Practical Exercises to Improve Writing Skills (and Keep Practicing)

While playing with perspective makes for a great fiction writing exercise , poets and essayists can do this too. Patricia Smith’s poem “Skinhead,” for example, is a persona piece written from the perspective of a white nationalist, but the poem clearly condemns the speaker’s beliefs.

Writing exercises you can do in 10 minutes or less

Writing is a skill set anyone can improve with a bit of dedication, direction, and practice. The trick is figuring out what actions will truly help you become a better writer and which are simply a waste of time.

One of the best strategies great writers use for improvement are writing exercises — guided written activities that develop specific writing-related skills. The key is to choose daily writing exercises that align with your goals.

Writing skills

The best writing exercises focus on helping you improve one or two specific elements at a time. It’s similar to how athletes go to the gym to train certain muscle groups. Impressive performance is the result of targeted practice.

Below, you’ll find a list of 8 activities you can try, along with clear directions on how to start them, and short explanations of how each one will help you grow as a writer.

I Spent Two Years Practicing My Book (And Then I Published It!)

Practicing is hard work, especially when you just start writing. Still, when you practice exercises to improve your writing skills, it will make a big difference.

I often asked myself if this was all worth it. Am I really learning? Or am I just fooling myself? When you’re in the grind of the day to day, it’s hard to see the improvement.

Headspace is now published, and you can pick up a copy now.

Writing Exercises: Have Fun with Them!

Many of these writing exercises might feel challenging at first—and that’s a good thing! You will unlock new ideas and writing strengths by struggling through these creative challenges. The main point is to have fun with them and use them to explore within your writing, without indulging too many monologues from your inner critic.

Are you looking for more exercises to improve your writing skills? Our instructors can offer prompts, illuminating lectures, one-to-one feedback, and more to help you improve your craft. Check out our upcoming creative writing courses, and let’s put these skills to practice.

Write a beginner’s guide on something you’re passionate about

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation where you have no clue what the other person is talking about? They’re using lingo you’ve never heard and you’re trying to think of something to say, but you have no idea, so eventually, you just tune them out.

As a creator, your job is to excite your audience about your offers, not intimidate and confuse them. To prevent your audience from tuning you out, make sure your copy explains your offerings in a way that’s easy to understand.

To practice writing simple copy, spend ten minutes a day crafting a beginner’s guide breaking down a topic you’re intimately familiar with. Write your guide for someone who has no experience with the topic at hand.

“If you are not ready to write [longform copy] just yet, then social media [posts] are a great starting point. Social Media posts are short, therefore, you learn how to get your point across with minimal character and word targets.”

— Maria Juvakka

Bonus: If your guides relate to your niche, they can serve as starting points for actual books or ebooks. While you might not have your sights set on becoming an author, you can package up your guides as ebooks for an additional stream of passive income.

Writing Exercises to Improve Your Writing Skills

1. Fill a Blank Page

Set aside an hour and fill an entire page. This can be the start of a book draft, a short story, a story idea, blogging, or just free writing. One page is not a huge demand, but is enough words to get the juices flowing. Sometimes all you need is to give your stream of consciousness permission to flow.

2. Write Flash Fiction

I’ve read flash fiction that consist of only two words but speak volumns. If you’re not familiar with writing flash fiction, or feel intimidated by the idea, try it in reverse: write out a story premise, then reduce the words to see how many you can cut out and still retain the essence of the story.

3. Use a New Word

Creative writers are constantly learning new things. Expanding your vocabulary is part of this. While you don’t have to constantly fill your story with flowery language to achieve great writing, it’s beneficial to have a good selection of words to choose from.

Try finding a word you’ve never used before and writing a little passage using it. This can be combined with any of the other three exercises, and is in fact encouraged because it will help you become more comfortable integrating new words into your writing.

4. Switch the Point of View

Writing a story from a different character’s point of view can provide a lot of insight and flex your creative muscles. Writing from a different POV is more than just rewriting the same story, because every sequence of events presents a different story to different characters.

One person’s joy may be another person’s tragedy. Seeing a story’s events from a different POV forces you outside the box and really consider how to reframe an event or communicate a different message.

References:

https://ghost.org/resources/writing-exercises/
https://thewritepractice.com/exercises-to-improve-writing-skills/#:~:text=4%20Writing%20Exercises%20to%20Improve%20Your%20Writing%20Skills,lot%20of%20insight%20and%20flex%20your%20creative%20muscles.
https://writers.com/best-writing-exercises
https://convertkit.com/writing-exercises
https://thewritepractice.com/exercises-to-improve-writing-skills/

Practical Exercises to Improve Writing Skills (and Keep Practicing)

While playing with perspective makes for a great fiction writing exercise , poets and essayists can do this too. Patricia Smith’s poem “Skinhead,” for example, is a persona piece written from the perspective of a white nationalist, but the poem clearly condemns the speaker’s beliefs.

Writing exercises you can do in 10 minutes or less

Writing is a skill set anyone can improve with a bit of dedication, direction, and practice. The trick is figuring out what actions will truly help you become a better writer and which are simply a waste of time.

One of the best strategies great writers use for improvement are writing exercises — guided written activities that develop specific writing-related skills. The key is to choose daily writing exercises that align with your goals.

Writing skills

The best writing exercises focus on helping you improve one or two specific elements at a time. It’s similar to how athletes go to the gym to train certain muscle groups. Impressive performance is the result of targeted practice.

Below, you’ll find a list of 8 activities you can try, along with clear directions on how to start them, and short explanations of how each one will help you grow as a writer.

I Spent Two Years Practicing My Book (And Then I Published It!)

Practicing is hard work, especially when you just start writing. Still, when you practice exercises to improve your writing skills, it will make a big difference.

I often asked myself if this was all worth it. Am I really learning? Or am I just fooling myself? When you’re in the grind of the day to day, it’s hard to see the improvement.

Headspace is now published, and you can pick up a copy now.

Writing Exercises: Have Fun with Them!

Many of these writing exercises might feel challenging at first—and that’s a good thing! You will unlock new ideas and writing strengths by struggling through these creative challenges. The main point is to have fun with them and use them to explore within your writing, without indulging too many monologues from your inner critic.

Are you looking for more exercises to improve your writing skills? Our instructors can offer prompts, illuminating lectures, one-to-one feedback, and more to help you improve your craft. Check out our upcoming creative writing courses, and let’s put these skills to practice.

Write a beginner’s guide on something you’re passionate about

Have you ever found yourself in a conversation where you have no clue what the other person is talking about? They’re using lingo you’ve never heard and you’re trying to think of something to say, but you have no idea, so eventually, you just tune them out.

As a creator, your job is to excite your audience about your offers, not intimidate and confuse them. To prevent your audience from tuning you out, make sure your copy explains your offerings in a way that’s easy to understand.

To practice writing simple copy, spend ten minutes a day crafting a beginner’s guide breaking down a topic you’re intimately familiar with. Write your guide for someone who has no experience with the topic at hand.

“If you are not ready to write [longform copy] just yet, then social media [posts] are a great starting point. Social Media posts are short, therefore, you learn how to get your point across with minimal character and word targets.”

— Maria Juvakka

Bonus: If your guides relate to your niche, they can serve as starting points for actual books or ebooks. While you might not have your sights set on becoming an author, you can package up your guides as ebooks for an additional stream of passive income.

Writing Exercises to Improve Your Writing Skills

1. Fill a Blank Page

Set aside an hour and fill an entire page. This can be the start of a book draft, a short story, a story idea, blogging, or just free writing. One page is not a huge demand, but is enough words to get the juices flowing. Sometimes all you need is to give your stream of consciousness permission to flow.

2. Write Flash Fiction

I’ve read flash fiction that consist of only two words but speak volumns. If you’re not familiar with writing flash fiction, or feel intimidated by the idea, try it in reverse: write out a story premise, then reduce the words to see how many you can cut out and still retain the essence of the story.

3. Use a New Word

Creative writers are constantly learning new things. Expanding your vocabulary is part of this. While you don’t have to constantly fill your story with flowery language to achieve great writing, it’s beneficial to have a good selection of words to choose from.

Try finding a word you’ve never used before and writing a little passage using it. This can be combined with any of the other three exercises, and is in fact encouraged because it will help you become more comfortable integrating new words into your writing.

4. Switch the Point of View

Writing a story from a different character’s point of view can provide a lot of insight and flex your creative muscles. Writing from a different POV is more than just rewriting the same story, because every sequence of events presents a different story to different characters.

One person’s joy may be another person’s tragedy. Seeing a story’s events from a different POV forces you outside the box and really consider how to reframe an event or communicate a different message.

References:

https://ghost.org/resources/writing-exercises/
https://thewritepractice.com/exercises-to-improve-writing-skills/#:~:text=4%20Writing%20Exercises%20to%20Improve%20Your%20Writing%20Skills,lot%20of%20insight%20and%20flex%20your%20creative%20muscles.
https://writers.com/best-writing-exercises
https://convertkit.com/writing-exercises
https://thewritepractice.com/exercises-to-improve-writing-skills/