Write Biographies on Squidoo

What Can I Write on Squidoo?  How About Biographies!

Today we’re continuing our “what can I write on Squidoo” brainstorming sessions by examining the idea of writing biographical articles for Squidoo. 

Biography writing is often interesting work for the writer.  Your task will be to transfer the human interest of someone's life story into fascinating reading for your online visitors. 

So where do you start?

Pick a Genre

First, where do your interests lie?  Would you like to write bios on musicians?  Or maybe you’re interested in a people of historical interest?  Are there famous people linked to your heritage you’d like to cover?  How about famous actors or actresses?

Once you picked the area you’d like to focus on, you’ll have a direction to follow for future work.  Biographies can be long-lasting and relevant for years to come or can be up-to-date pieces popular in today's current culture only.  

Long legged bios will bring readers for years to come if you keep your work updated.  More current bios may be of interest for shorter periods but often bring a lot of traffic early on.   

Both types of bios work well on Squidoo, just understand the genre you’ll be highlighting will affect the amount of interest and its readership.

Do your Research

Spend a few hours answering the question “what makes this person unique and interesting”.   I’ll often open another window and list all the interesting data I can find all on one page, read through it, ask more questions, then go out and find more answers.

Write a First Draft

Take all your interesting research details and put them in chronological order.  This will provide the structure of your article. 

Get rid of information that’s not absolutely necessary to a short bio.  Edit to the point that it would catch the interest of an online browsing reader.

Edit into Final Draft Form

Write the article in the tone of voice you prefer.  Does your article need a personal voice or just your researcher’s voice to tell this human interest story?   Edit your article to make it unique.

Publish and Promote

Once your biography article is edited, is totally unique and not copied from other sources, you’re ready to publish, promote your article, and start the process anew. 

One of the tools that Squidoo offers its online writers is the ability to promote additional Squidoo articles on this bio you’re publishing.    A good habit to get into is to write similar stories, in this case more biographies, and link them together in your article.  This will help visitors as they pick and choose articles to read on your site. 

Tip:  Try to write at least 6 biographical articles and link them through the tab available in the introduction “module”.    You don’t have to do this all at once, but make sure you go back and make the links once you’ve accomplished this feat.  It’s a big help in your article promotion scheme.

Care to Try it Yourself Now?

You don't have to be a professional writer to join Squidoo.  Just write about what you know.  Tell us about what makes your pet special, write a tribute to your grandparents, or just what's cool about your hometown.  

Then get in there and read others' work, and you'll be surprised how often they'll return and read yours.  

Click on the link below and start writing - and tell them Sanne sent you!

  

You Too Can Write on Squidoo - It's Free to Join! 

Learn Something New

Squidoo offers something for everyone.  You don't have to write to enjoy the Squidoo site.  

Jump in there and learn about people, places, activities, projects, cultures, world recipes, how-to-do's, and many other things all at  one website.


Whether you want to read or write, you're sure to spend a wonderful time at Squidoo learning something new.

Enjoy!

Looking for a Subject? Ideas for Online Writing

Looking for a Subject?  Try These Ideas for Online Writing on Squidoo

Let’s take first things first.  If we’re going to write an article, we need a subject to write about.

Today we’re going to gather a list of ideas and come up with some articles to write. 

So grab a pen and paper and let’s start brainstorming.

What did you do this weekend?  Let’s go from there. 

Tell us about your top ten favorite movies, your favorite beach, your favorite sports team, being a soccer mom, best ways to study, favorite books, favorite author, favorite music, favorite vehicle, favorite city, or maybe your favorite place to visit.

Think about your home and family

Write about your hometown, your family history, your family background and cultural identity, family recipes, family pets, advice on child-rearing, advice on raising animals, hobbies

What do you do for a living? 

Where do you work, where do you want to work, what do you hope to be?

Think about your personal interests

Are you a gamer?  Are you interested in the environment?  Are you interested in good health and fitness?  Do you like wildlife, history, art or music?  Write about it!

What are your hopes and fears?

If you had an audience willing to listen to anything you had to say, what would you say to them?

Think about charities you like

Can you advocate for a charity, speak about the needs of others, work with institutions that help the needy?  Tell people about it.

Do you have skills you can share?

Are you a crafter?  Do you like to teach?  Can you explain technology?  Are you knowledgeable about products?  Do you like to design quizzes?

Tell us a story about yourself

What do you like to do?  What makes you interesting?  What makes you silly?  Tell the world.  You’d be surprised at how many people would like to know about you!

Now that you’ve seen my list, how is yours looking?  Do you have a few ideas you can run with?

Give it a try. 

And if you’d like someone to look at it when you’ve completed your first article, drop me a line.   

I’d love to see it!

Care to Try it Yourself Now?

You don't have to be a professional writer to join Squidoo.  Just write about what you know.  Tell us about what makes your pet special, write a tribute to your grandparents, or just what's cool about your hometown.  

Then get in there and read others' work, and you'll be surprised how often they'll return and read yours.  

Click on the link below and start writing - and tell them Sanne sent you!

  

You Too Can Write on Squidoo - It's Free to Join! 

Learn Something New

Squidoo offers something for everyone.  You don't have to write to enjoy the Squidoo site.  

Jump in there and learn about people, places, activities, projects, cultures, world recipes, how-to-do's, and many other things all at  one website.


Whether you want to read or write, you're sure to spend a wonderful time at Squidoo learning something new.

Enjoy!

How to Tailor Your Squidoo Article to Your Audience

There are two types of articles written on Squidoo – the how-to/authority story and the journal writer/storyteller article. 

How do you decide which voice to use?

Consider how you’d speak on the subject if you were asked to give your article as a speech.  Would you tell your audience charming stories or speak as the voice of knowledge?

Storytelling Articles on Squidoo

When you choose to write an article by storytelling, you’re talking directly to your audience in the manner you’d speak to a friend.  You share your personal thoughts and feelings in a journal or storytelling article.  You color the article with descriptions and personal observations. 

Use storytelling and journals for articles you’d feel easy about sharing with peer groups.  Use storytelling when you want your audience to empathize with you.

Storytelling works well when you write about personal experience such as the death of a parent or the adoption of a child.  It also works great when you write about your pets or your favorite teacher.

Journal Articles on Squidoo

This same storytelling technique is used in journal stories on Squidoo.  Journal stories often speak to one’s personal journeys or revelations, such as how you met your goals or listing the sightseeing stops you made while traveling in a foreign country.

These are personal stories told and enumerated in a personal way.  When the reader has finished your article, they feel like they know you.  There’s a personal connection.

Authority Articles

An authority article is used when you’re giving the reader information, and when writing a recipe or a how-to article. 

This voice works well when you’re providing interesting facts and details in an objective manner.  You goal in writing authority articles is to help the reader solve a problem or gain factual understanding.  The goal is to provide knowledge, not build a relationship with the reader.

How to Choose Your Voice for Articles on Products and Recommendations

Interesting enough is the theory behind product articles and recommendations.  On Squidoo, you often have a choice on which voice to use and how to present the product in your work.  In writing product recommendation articles, either voice can be appropriate. 

Perhaps you’ll choose to write as an authority when you’re writing technical items where you compare the product’s merits against its competitors.  Technical buyers love to read what an authority has to say when it comes to purchases.

But then you might change it up and write in terms of a storyteller when you recommend a favorite household product where you can explain why you personally love the item.  Buyers like to know what real people feel about the everyday item before purchasing.

Be Yourself

The most important point to remember in writing for Squidoo is to be yourself.  Write in the manner you’re most comfortable and your personality will shine through. 

Whichever tone you choose to use will work well online.  Just remember to tailor your style to the audience you’re addressing and you’ll do just fine.

Care to Try it Yourself Now?

You don't have to be a professional writer to join Squidoo.  Just write about what you know.  Tell us about what makes your pet special, write a tribute to your grandparents, or just what's cool about your hometown.  

Then get in there and read others' work, and you'll be surprised how often they'll return and read yours.  

Click on the link below and start writing - and tell them Sanne sent you!

 

  

You Too Can Write on Squidoo - It's Free to Join! 

Learn Something New

Squidoo offers something for everyone.  You don't have to write to enjoy the Squidoo site.  

Jump in there and learn about people, places, activities, projects, cultures, world recipes, how-to-do's, and many other things all at  one website.


Whether you want to read or write, you're sure to spend a wonderful time at Squidoo learning something new.

Enjoy!