Stefanie Flaxman delivers the slow and steady tips that will actually help you become a better writer. If you want to reach your audience, they first need to understand your message. This show delivers the art of writing, updated for the digital age.
A Quick Way to Fix Writing Errors You ve Made Multiple Times
Edit of the Week: A time-saving technique that helps you find and correct mistakes. The Show Notes 5 Keyboard Shortcuts for Writers and Editors How to Decide Whether to Use It s or Its (Once and for All) Copyblogger blog Copyblogger FM Stefanie s articles on Copyblogger Revision Fairy – You re the Master Storyteller: On Writing &... Listen to episode
4/7/2016 • 14 minutes, 32 seconds
4 Digital Proofreading Tips that Give You an Unfair Advantage
Edit of the Week: discover four classic proofreading techniques updated for digital publishing. The Show Notes Stefanie on Twitter How to Review Your Writing Like the Editor of Copyblogger.com Copyblogger blog
3/31/2016 • 18 minutes, 21 seconds
How to Decide Whether to Use It s or Its (Once and for All)
Edit of the Week: a dissection of the possessive pronoun its. The Show Notes How to Make Singular and Plural Nouns Possessive
3/24/2016 • 10 minutes, 33 seconds
3 Ways to Sharpen Your Editing Skills and Strengthen Your Writing
Edit of the Week: tips for assuming the mindset of an editor in honor of Editor-in-Chief s one-year anniversary. The Show Notes Editor-in-Chief Season One Rewind: 3 Lessons to Revisit Become the Editor-in-Chief of Your Own Digital Media Platform Stefanie s articles on Copyblogger 3 Sources of Fuel for Sophisticated Content Marketers The Showrunner podcast The Digital... Listen to episode
3/17/2016 • 24 minutes, 12 seconds
A Seemingly Minor Fact-Checking Tip that Yields Top-Notch Customer Service
Edit of the Week: perform day/date checks as part of your standard editing practice to avoid confusing your audience. The Show Notes Why Haters Are the Petri Dish of Great Content Marketing by Jay Baer
3/10/2016 • 11 minutes, 43 seconds
How to Make Singular and Plural Nouns Possessive
Edit of the Week: dissecting possessive, plural, and plural possessive (plus how to stop overcomplicating words that end with the letter s ) The Show Notes The Mainframe
3/3/2016 • 12 minutes, 47 seconds
Do You Use Single Quotation Marks Incorrectly?
Edit of the Week: an easy way to remember when to use double quotation marks and when to use single quotation marks.
2/25/2016 • 10 minutes, 4 seconds
Hyphens, En Dashes, and Em Dashes: Do You Know the Difference?
Edit of the Week: use precise punctuation to keep your reader in the world you ve created for him with your words.
2/18/2016 • 14 minutes, 59 seconds
5 Keyboard Shortcuts for Writers and Editors
Edit of the Week: learn five handy keyboard commands, plus a not-to-miss bonus tip to help you publish like a pro. The Show Notes The Secret Weapon Behind Great Websites: The Role of the Content Editor
2/11/2016 • 14 minutes, 32 seconds
How to Review Your Writing Like the Editor of Copyblogger.com
Edit of the Week: an underutilized proofreading technique that helps you spot and correct errors you ve previously overlooked. The Show Notes Copyblogger blog Catch More Writing Mistakes with This Underutilized Proofreading Trick The Professional Way to Proofread Your Writing When You Don t Have Time
2/4/2016 • 13 minutes, 9 seconds
How a Confident Editor Overcomes Perfectionism
Edit of the Week: a stress-free process for producing your best work. The Show Notes Lauren Mancke – Head of StudioPress at Rainmaker Digital Rafal Tomal – Lead Designer at Rainmaker Digital Why Content Marketers Need Editors A Simple Plan for Writing One Powerful Piece of Online Content per Week
1/28/2016 • 12 minutes, 45 seconds
Editor-in-Chief Season One Rewind: 3 Lessons to Revisit
Should I get a tattoo of Editor-in-Chief s cover art? Listen in for the answer and other highlights from Season One of Editor-in-Chief … In this 12-minute episode, I discuss: 7 types of content that help build your audience 5 key roles of a contemporary Editor-in-Chief 8 signs of weak writing that turn off readers The... Listen to episode
11/19/2015 • 12 minutes, 27 seconds
The Difference Between Making Choices and Attempting to Control
“Get behind the wheel; stay in front of the storm …” How can you optimize your chances of a more positive outcome in any situation? In this 18-minute episode, I discuss: Why decisions shape your identity What a woman jogging on the sidewalk with a stroller has to do with the choices you make that... Listen to episode
11/12/2015 • 18 minutes, 15 seconds
Talking Versus Doing: Which Business Stage Are You In?
You only have so much energy; where are you choosing to spend it? Take a fun self-assessment. Plus, you ll learn why physical notebooks with lined paper are the best tools for keeping you grounded and productive. In this 21-minute episode, I discuss: The benefits of self-assessment What talking and doing look like in your life... Listen to episode
11/5/2015 • 21 minutes, 30 seconds
The Difference Between Responsibility and Control
Why an Editor-in-Chief doesn t have to be (and shouldn t be) controlling in order to be responsible. When you recognize the difference between being responsible and being controlling, you can aim to embody the qualities that will help you work with ease and become more productive. In this 9-minute episode, I discuss: Why responsibility is satisfying... Listen to episode
10/29/2015 • 9 minutes, 9 seconds
Does an Editor-in-Chief Have to Be a Control Freak?
If an Editor-in-Chief takes responsibility for all aspects of her content creation, can she ever relinquish control? People want control when they re emotionally attached to outcomes; they want a final result to align with their preferences and therefore (desperately) attempt to shape a situation in their favor. However, do strict preferences create the most productive... Listen to episode
10/22/2015 • 10 minutes, 36 seconds
How to Draft 7 Pieces of Content that Help Build Your Audience
Learn about the types of content to produce when you need to grow your audience. Whether you re just getting started or have been producing content for a while (and feel burned out), these seven types of content will help push your content creation forward so you can attract an audience to your digital business. In... Listen to episode
10/15/2015 • 17 minutes, 24 seconds
This Type of Content Won t Grow Your Audience
Why a certain type of content is like showing your vacation photos to strangers. Avoid this common content mistake with your content and discover what to do instead … In this 10-minute episode, I discuss: The difference between building your audience and serving your existing audience How to evaluate your content ideas Where to start... Listen to episode
10/8/2015 • 10 minutes, 33 seconds
3 Editorial Lessons from Chief Content Writer Demian Farnworth
Demian Farnworth returns to Editor-in-Chief to share three lessons he learned from recording 100 episodes of his podcast, Rough Draft. Unknowingly, Demian assumed the role of Editor-in-Chief of Rough Draft and had to make decisions that served both his audience and his own production capabilities. In this 20-minute episode, Demian Farnworth and I discuss: Finding... Listen to episode
10/1/2015 • 20 minutes, 5 seconds
This Tiny Editorial Habit Can Make a Big Difference in Your Content
Here s a quick tip that helps you build trust with your audience. Discover how to produce clean, professional writing in a way that also maximizes your chances of creating unique content. In this 14-minute episode, I discuss: A simple, but often ignored, editorial standard When I broke this editorial standard during an episode of Editor-in-Chief... Listen to episode
9/24/2015 • 14 minutes, 15 seconds
Why Twitter s True Value Has Nothing to Do with Your Followers
As an Editor-in-Chief, it s your job to determine the best ways for you to use social media. Do you use Twitter in a way that feels natural to you, or do you just follow the social media post formats that other people in your industry use? The answers to those questions don t particularly matter as... Listen to episode
9/17/2015 • 21 minutes, 46 seconds
The Counterintuitive Truth about Working Hard
You can stay on top of your content production schedule without getting burned out. Listen to this week s episode of Editor-in-Chief to get digital publishing tips that help you manage your workload. You ll discover that taking a break is part of hard work. What type of breakthrough will you have when you take a break?... Listen to episode
9/10/2015 • 15 minutes, 6 seconds
How to Use a Semicolon
Incorrect semicolon usage perpetuates additional incorrect semicolon usage. Learn the appropriate way to use this punctuation mark and put an end to the cycle. The next punctuation lesson in the Editorial Standards series will help clarify misconceptions about an elegant and practical punctuation mark. In this 13-minute episode, I discuss: What I would have named... Listen to episode
9/3/2015 • 13 minutes, 28 seconds
How to Use a Comma
On this episode of Editor-in-Chief, the Editorial Standards series continues with a lesson about correct comma usage. Commas are often underused or overused. Do you know how to implement the right balance in your writing? When punctuation marks are used correctly, readers take them for granted — they are merely symbols that seamlessly guide readers... Listen to episode
8/27/2015 • 13 minutes, 43 seconds
How an Editor-in-Chief Creates Editorial Standards, Part Two
This week s installment of the editorial standards series outlines three digital publishing best practices you can implement right now. Get ready to start making details a priority … In this 13-minute episode, I discuss: How to make your content a trusted source for your audience Why we become hooked on certain digital media and ignore... Listen to episode
8/20/2015 • 12 minutes, 40 seconds
How an Editor-in-Chief Creates Editorial Standards, Part One
Discover how to make your digital business stand out by creating and managing editorial standards that add a superior layer of quality to the work you produce. Now that we ve established connection is king, rather than content alone, how do you ensure that your content helps you establish a strong bond with your audience? In... Listen to episode
8/13/2015 • 19 minutes, 25 seconds
The Anatomy of an Editor-in-Chief of a Digital Business
Discover the five key roles of an Editor-in-Chief and how they help you establish your own digital business. Through the Editor-in-Chief mindset, you can create a business asset that has the potential to move your career forward. In this 20-minute episode, I discuss: What an Editor-in-Chief looks like in practice How becoming the Editor-in-Chief of... Listen to episode
8/6/2015 • 20 minutes, 10 seconds
An Editor-in-Chief’s Responsibilities in the Digital Age
Jerod Morris, VP of Rainmaker.FM, stops by Editor-in-Chief to discuss the responsibilities of an Editor-in-Chief in today s on-demand digital content world. Does the current role of an Editor-in-Chief in the digital space differ from the traditional definition of an Editor-in-Chief? In this 27-minute episode, Jerod Morris and I discuss: The contemporary content marketing environment How... Listen to episode
7/30/2015 • 27 minutes, 9 seconds
8 Signs of Weak Writing that Turn Off Readers
What makes writing weak, and are you able to identify the specific aspects of your writing that are weak? Writers can be hard on themselves. They may think everything they write is lousy. But lousy is a vague word — and that general self-judgment doesn t help you move beyond lousy writing. Check out these eight... Listen to episode
7/23/2015 • 23 minutes, 19 seconds
How to Position Your Digital Content for Maximum Impact
You don t need to reinvent the wheel when creating the best digital content for your audience … Find out how you can apply a classic marketing lesson to your own content marketing, as well as your product and service creation. In this 17-minute episode, I discuss: The power of packaging (and repackaging) Why we re naturally... Listen to episode
7/16/2015 • 17 minutes, 26 seconds
A Simple 5-Step System for Editing Your Own Writing
In order to revise your writing effectively, you need to look at your work objectively. You don t want to just glance at what you ve written, quickly decide it is perfect, and then move on … missing an opportunity to become a stronger writer. But how do you accurately critique your own creation? In this 14-minute... Listen to episode
7/9/2015 • 13 minutes, 47 seconds
A Productive, 3-Step Path to Follow When an Editor Rejects Your Writing
When a publication does not want to publish your writing, what is the best way to proceed? Here s a productive way to take action after an editor rejects your writing. This is yet another way that will help you become the Editor-in-Chief of the content you produce. In this 18-minute episode, I discuss: Trusting an... Listen to episode
7/2/2015 • 17 minutes, 44 seconds
7 Common Mistakes Writers Make When Pitching to Editors
It is in your best interest to avoid these errors when you’re building relationships with editors … Do you have pet peeves about human interactions? What types of behavior absolutely drive you nuts? You could hate when someone doesn t say thank you when you hold a door open for him or become extremely irritated when... Listen to episode
6/25/2015 • 31 minutes, 13 seconds
The “Sh*t Sink” Principle for Those Who Worry About What Could Go Wrong
Learn about a surprise in my hotel room in Denver during Authority Rainmaker 2015. This story demonstrates how you are already well-equipped to handle the unexpected … In this 15-minute episode, I discuss: How preparation builds confidence The Sh*t Sink Principle Why you should start or expand your online business before you think you are... Listen to episode
6/18/2015 • 14 minutes, 35 seconds
Why a Unique Selling Proposition Contradicts Everyday Life
Once upon a time, there was a periodontist who attempted to state benefits instead of features, but he made a critical mistake … Listen in to find out what it was — and how it affects your business. In this 16-minute episode, I discuss: How a visit with a periodontist turned into a business lesson... Listen to episode
6/11/2015 • 16 minutes, 2 seconds
Don t Quit Your Night Job
Editing is evaluating choices you ve already made to move forward intentionally. If Person A and Person B both work with equal passion and effort to move their businesses forward, but Person A has gained financial stability from a self-directed, creative career and Person B has not, what does Person B lack? In this 28-minute episode,... Listen to episode
6/4/2015 • 28 minutes, 11 seconds
A Philosophy of Art for the Digital Age
Today, being a starving artist is so passé … You already know the Internet has the potential to put your creations in front of a much wider audience than you d have at an art show at your local coffee shop. But, this week, photographer Bryan Formhals and I talk about the lesser-known benefits of living... Listen to episode
5/29/2015 • 36 minutes, 25 seconds
Editor-in-Chief: The Reader s Advocate
An Editor-in-Chief evaluates what s best for the reader in ways a writer does not … Discover why a writer s “final” draft is different than an Editor-in-Chief s final draft. In this 15-minute episode, I discuss: Why you need to always delete text from your “final” draft How to keep your readers in your “created reality” How... Listen to episode
5/21/2015 • 15 minutes, 24 seconds
What s Your Favorite Word?
Why you should let go of your preferences to become a more mature writer. Examine your writing like an Editor-in-Chief to keep your audience engaged and to continue growing as a writer. In this 14-minute episode, I discuss: How to experiment with your writing to achieve a new level of maturity Where we can discuss... Listen to episode
5/14/2015 • 13 minutes, 39 seconds
On Being Yourself for a Living
Fulfilling work is built on who you are and what you love. ~ Roadmap: The Get-It-Together Guide for Figuring Out What to Do with Your Life. This week, I talk to Annie Mais, Education Director of Roadtrip Nation, and co-author of the new book Roadmap: The Get-It-Together Guide for Figuring Out What to Do with... Listen to episode
5/7/2015 • 22 minutes, 57 seconds
The Professional Way to Proofread Your Writing When You Don t Have Time
It takes time to produce your best work. If you don t have time, do this … Learn how to perform a power proofreading. It s like power napping or a power lunch: You extract a substantial benefit from a brief activity. In this 20-minute episode, I talk about: An important question I forgot to ask Demian... Listen to episode
4/30/2015 • 19 minutes, 45 seconds
‘Try It from a Different Angle’ and 2 Other Game-Changing Editing Lessons from a Shoddy Vacuum
What are you refraining from doing that could dramatically change your content? For your online business to produce your desired results, you may need rethink your strategy to provide the best experience for your target audience. If you think a task is too difficult, this might be the time to try it anyway. In this... Listen to episode
4/23/2015 • 7 minutes, 47 seconds
A Media, Not Marketing Case Study: The Rise of Chef Tim Anderson
How does a reality television competition help launch your career if the winner doesn t receive a monetary prize? Today s guest on Editor-in-Chief is an American who won the British television program MasterChef in 2011. Tim Anderson is now an entrepreneur and author whose first book, Nanban: Japanese Soul Food, is available from SquarePeg in the... Listen to episode
4/16/2015 • 56 minutes, 32 seconds
How to Write Not-to-Miss, Valuable, Unique Content
After discovering that content marketing was the perfect fit for my online business, I realized I had a lot of work to do. What was I going to write about? If I just copied what other freelance copy editors wrote about on their blogs or copied GrammarGirl, my writing wouldn t stand out. I didn t want... Listen to episode
4/9/2015 • 7 minutes, 2 seconds
Tenacity and Tissues (or, a Specific Example of Why You re More Capable Than You Think You Are)
Plus, two foundational elements of editing and proofreading. I like being extremely prepared when I learn something new. I want to have gotten a solid eight hours of sleep the night before. I want to be in my office, at my desk, on my iMac. I want to have my favorite brand of green tea... Listen to episode
4/2/2015 • 6 minutes, 34 seconds
Can You Be a Writer and an Editor-in-Chief?
An interview with Copyblogger Media s Chief Content Writer, Demian Farnworth: How the art of editing complements the art of writing. An editor s job could be viewed as a writer s safety net — an opportunity to catch and correct mistakes before the general public views a writer s work. But what if an editor regards a section... Listen to episode
3/26/2015 • 1 hour, 2 minutes, 11 seconds
Execute a Practical Editorial Strategy With the ‘Prepare; Don’t Plan’ Philosophy
How to balance an Editor-in-Chief s long-term and short-term responsibilities. Are you an Editor-in-Chief? Editor-in-Chief (noun): a person who assumes complete responsibility for and ownership of all the communication he or she puts out into the world to enable a self-directed, creative career. Do you want to become one and learn effective ways to take control... Listen to episode
3/19/2015 • 9 minutes, 3 seconds
Become the Editor-in-Chief of Your Own Digital Media Platform
Why the editor-in-chief model elevates your content to a superior level. There is a lot of outstanding media online. We often get so bogged down with information overload that our default outlook is that the Internet is full of junk - that it s a rare occasion to discover exceptional content. It may feel rare, but... Listen to episode