Personally Perfected Words For Life, Work & Business | Copywriter Blogger Southend and Essex

Do You Feel ‘Icky’ When You Share a Glowing Customer Review?

Will shouting praise from the rooftops lead to success?

How to Keep Coming Up with Blog Post Ideas

Now you can finally stop asking "what am I going to write about?"

Do You Have to Carve Out a Freelance Niche?

In my five years as a freelance writer, I have so far avoided the thing that most people told me I’d eventually have to do, which is to carve out a niche for my writing.

How to Start a Personal Blog

Don't overthink it... just write.

How would you describe 'creative writing'?

Do copywriting and non-fiction count?

How much for a slice of time?

Why time is a valuable commodity.

Mind the Credentials! Why Creative Work Needs More Than ‘Experience and Qualifications’

What kind of creative work are you really looking for?

Here’s Why Your Career Change (Probably) Won’t Start with a New CV

Does your CV feel like a cage you're desperate to escape from?

Is it Possible to Push Too Far Out of Your Comfort Zone?

Why pushing and pushing (and pushing) can be a terrible idea.

How to Capture – and Expand – Your Best Creative Ideas

Creative ideas are like ghosts...

Is there a secret to good writing?

Why is the Pope "allergic" to adjectives?

(That's not the start of a joke.)

Here's the thing: work/life balance won't exist unless you create it

How to set boundaries between work and life.

Why You Must Write as Who You Really Are (Not as You Want To See Yourself)

Reader, I called bullshit.

The Art of Listening (Or How Letting Other People Talk Helps You, Too)

Good listening is more than just letting people talk.

How to Tame the Fear That Lurks Behind “I Haven’t Got Time to Write”

Strategies to beat your writing monster into submission

How to Write a Killer Speech (for Zoom)

“When the content’s right, the confidence will follow”

Fun Creative Resolutions to Make You Happy in 2021

How to take the pressure off... and just enjoy being creative.

Why Write a Diary, If Nobody’s Going to Read it?

If you want to re-connect with yourself, write like nobody's reading.

The Art of Asking for Advice (or Why Should I Care if You Want to Be a Writer?)

What's in it for me?

Do You Need Inspiration to Create?

Are you waiting for that bolt of creative lightning?

How to Be (or Stay!) Creative in Lockdown 2

Ideas to help you keep that creative well flowing.

When Schedules, Goals, and Rituals Don’t Work

Why failing to plan could be just what you need to succeed.

How Dare They Criticise Me! How To Make Good Use Of Feedback

How not to drown in other people's opinions.

It’s All About You – Why Writing Your Best CV Takes Selfishness

Reading your CV should make you smile, because it contains the very essence of who you are, and what you’re all about.

If You Want To Be Ultra-Creative, Channel Your Weirdness

What are the events, loves, or random quirks of character that really make you, you?

How To Be A Confident Writer

How to write like nobody's reading (in a good way!)

How To Engage Readers With Your Words

How to entice readers into joining your wordy world

Why Should I Write About That, When Others Have Done It Already?

Nobody else can tell a story in quite the same way you can.

All Hail September, Month of New Beginnings

Get ready to shed the skin of summer, and begin a new creative project.

Why (The Right) Words Matter, More Than Ever Before

In these unprecedented times, words count.

(Don’t) Show Your Work: How To Become A Confident Creator

Create like nobody's watching... so that when they are, you're ready.

How to Shape Your Book Idea… So You Can’t Wait to Write it!

Maybe you haven’t done anything with that idea yet, because it’s just too vague.

Why ‘Explain Your Obvious’ is the Secret of Persuasive Writing

Explaining what’s blatantly obvious to you, could turn out to be advertising gold.

Lacking In Experience? Here’s Why You Should Apply For That Job Anyway

A creative approach could work wonders for your career.

Three Reasons Why Online Meetings Are Better than Face to Face

"For online gatherings, your personal catering choices are king."

Life in the Time of Coronavirus

There’s something reassuring about businesses carrying on as ‘normally’ as they can...

How to Write About Something That Really Fires You Up

What's your personal soapbox topic?

The Persian Flaw (Or, Why We Don’t Have to Be Perfect When We Write)

Don't let spelling and grammar fears stop you from writing.

GSOH Required: How to Write an (Effective) Online Dating Profile

"...it’s detail that will make you stand out, and most people aren’t mind readers."

Who Do You Want to Be Today?

This is a story about a career transformation. And Take That.

Want to Write Like A Human? Mine Your Inner Monologue

"You can’t be on somebody’s side, if you don’t know what they think or how they feel".

Blogging, and the Importance of Bodacious Self-Expression

...they were learning how to express their true feelings in words, and the results were honest, uplifting, and totally magnetic.

How to Learn from People Who Aren’t Like You

No matter how scary it seems, learning from difference will benefit you much, much more than the comfy mediocrity that similarity brings.

Secret Sauce to Give Your Blog Posts Added Spice

"If you want to grab readers’ attention, you have to start with the heart."

How Not to Scare Your Customers

How do you make people feel safe about working with you?

How I Got Better At Public Speaking

My journey from terrified mumbler to casual speaker, in easy-to-follow steps.

How to Transform Your Blog Into a Book

If you have trouble motivating yourself to write that next blog post, whisper a little reminder: this could be a book one day.

Writing Lessons From Improvised Comedy

There’s something fascinating about a group of people being silly on stage, especially when they’ve probably all got mortgages and serious jobs.

How Do I Start Blogging?

Blogging basics to help you create a rip-roaring read.

Does Your Website Need a Copy Refresh? (Mine Did)

Revamping your web copy will give your business the gift of reconnection.

How I Rescued My Stalling Novel

Struggling with writing a novel? Find the courage (and the effort!) to really get to know your work.

How to Plan Your Career Change CV (Hint: Be Selfish!)

"If you really want to change your career, you have to be determined, and you have to be selfish."

Writing to Sell? Weird Words and Crazy Phrases To Avoid

This is a blog post unlike any other.

The Trials and Tribulations of the Freelance Holiday

As a freelance writer, taking a break is always a challenge. But I push on through the guilt, and here's why.

How to Write a Review (That's Actually Useful)

Reviews get read, because people assume they might be useful. Don't disappoint them!

The Magic of Kismet Marketing

Has your marketing strategy got room for some unexpected magic?

What We Learn from Other People's Blogs

Some surprising insights about blogging...

SEO Copywriting (and Other Ways to Make Your Business Sound Boring)

Don't write for search engines, write for people.

How to Begin (And Make Progress With) Your Book, Blog, or Story

There's a magic ingredient that will help you start a new writing project, and see it right through to its rewarding end.

Are you too modest to write a book?

If you've always wanted to write a book, but were put off by the people who already have - help is at hand!

OK, so you got a six-figure business. That don't impress me much

Where's the value in empty business gurus?

How to avoid copywriting cliches...like the plague

Being original is easy as pie.

So, what do you do? How (not) to introduce yourself at networking events

Do you rely on a rehearsed networking pitch?

Transform your career...with help from the humble Creme Egg

How do you eat yours?

Is your business preaching to the converted?

How to sell your amazing ideas to a brand-new audience.

The foolproof formula for blogging success

How regular blogging will boost your business - as if by magic!

Top profile clichés – are you guilty?

Are you an easy-going enabler of success who thrives in a fast-paced environment?

Social media bragging - yay or nay?

How to get away with bragging...without bragging about it.

The Art of the Written Compliment

If you're too embarrassed to give (or receive!) compliments, writing it all down can work wonders

Looking for a way to beat the January blues? Start with a letter

It's Universal Letter Writing Week - how will you celebrate?

Don’t let outrage ruin your career!

What really works you up about work?

Kick-start your writing in 2019 (with a little help from me!)

I’ve gathered together some of my most-read blog posts, tips and tools to help you get writing.

Five Fantastic New Year's Resolutions for Freelancers

Five easy resolutions to help your freelancing career thrive in 2019 - promise!

Stuck in a career rut? Get someone else to write your CV – and thrive!

"The right person will help you come across as yourself, but in a prouder, more polished, 'look what I’ve achieved' kind of way"

Straight from the heart: how to write irresistible words

When you give people a piece of yourself, you will naturally engage them.

How to give good interview (whatever side of the desk you’re on!)

Simple tips to help you breeze through any interview scenario.

How to choose the right coach or training course – at the right time

"If you like someone, you might be tempted to look for excuses to work with them, even if their particular skills aren’t what you need."

The rights, and wrongs, of my favourite punctuation marks!!

Why punctuation is your great ally in the quest to ‘sound’ natural in words.

Why giving up on social media is a mistake...

Easy tips to help you fit social media nicely into your life - no mindfulness seminars required.

Beware of the flowers: why customers don't care about your business

Focus on telling interesting business stories that reflect your ideal customers’ lives back to them.

If you can’t take criticism, don’t be a writer!*

You can always learn from other people's insights - good or bad

Finding your freelancing tribe: be uncompromising (and don’t be too nice!)

My advice to freelancers: never lose sight of what freelancing is all about!

When it comes to recruitment, manners cost nothing

Recruitment moves so fast, and so stressfully, that I think we forget how it feels to be treated like we matter.

Ramp up your summer content to reap winter rewards

Keep your summer content fresh and updated to be remembered all year long.

Your Business Body: how to stay healthy

"For my business to function well, I would just try to think of it as a living, breathing person that needs regular nourishment to survive."

If you want change, what's your excuse?

Do you talk yourself out of trying new things?

Appreciate your freelancers, and be rewarded with their best work

How to become every freelancer's favourite client!

Why a degree doesn't equal real-world competence

Sometimes, just putting the work in is enough.

Relax: a “no” for a freelance job can be a good thing!

Know what you're good at, and rejection won't seem so bad!

How to write a eulogy

How to pay a warm and lasting tribute to someone you love

The key to blogging confidence: just do it!

Regular blogging will increase your confidence and help you build a following

Talk confidently about something you love: set a speaking challenge!

How setting a speaking challenge forced me to talk confidently about the work I love.

Freelance reflections in the snow

Just like building the perfect snowman, carving out your freelance identity can be tough!

Why spelling and grammar don't matter

Don't let bad spelling put you off writing the next bestseller!

What's in a name? Captivate and connect with simple business stories

Finding the 'what's', 'whys' and 'hows' of your business will help people connect with you.

Break free from your CV: career transformation tips for 2018

Don't let your CV hold you back this year - it's time to think big!

How a Crème Egg can help your career thrive in 2018

How do you eat yours?

Five New Year's Resolutions for Freelancers

Forget losing weight or giving up smoking - if you're a freelancer, here's where you need to focus!

Are your social media posts crushing your business?

Don't use skills you haven't got to promote those you have!

Lone wolf or team worker - which is best?

Do you really work well "on my own and in a team?"

How to write interesting content for any business (even yours)

It's easy to think your business is boring if you do the same thing day in, day out. See your work through customers' eyes and draw them in!

What are your customers really saying about you?

What sort of business do you really want to win?

You're writing great content. So why aren't people reading it?

It takes time to craft compelling copy, or an engaging blog post. Do it right, and get it seen!

Got a book or blog to write? Beat the block and get it done!

November means #NaNoWriMo - so whatever you're working on, it's time to get it done!

Get ahead: by hiring a writer who doesn't understand your business!

A writer who doesn't understand your industry can be a great asset in business.

How will I sound like me, when you're doing the writing?

Ironically, it's when you're writing about yourself that you will sound least like you. Hiring a writer to do it for you can bring a whole host of benefits.

Are you really ready to 'just be yourself'?

Is being 'you' the right thing all the time?

Do you really want to be a writer?

Thinking about finally getting started with a writing project? Here's what you need to do.

Why storytelling is your secret weapon in business (and how to do it properly)

Learn how to live happily ever after through the power of storytelling

Why I Hate Having My Picture Taken

Let me count the reasons...

How coffee and cake can change your career!

How involving others will help expand your career horizons.

Decoding the mystery of SEO

"SEO" is an often confusing term for those not well-versed in website maintenance. In reality, it's not quite as confusing as you might think!

Blog post ideas - how to stay regular!

Starting a blog is usually no problem. Staying regular can be! If you're struggling to come up with ideas, take a look at these hints and tips...and never feel stuck again.

How to begin a career change

Take charge of your career dreams - by starting slow and steady.

Five words that strike fear into every freelancer's heart (and how to overcome them!)

How should you charge people who only ask for "five minutes" of your time?

Why writing short copy takes a long time

Writing short copy is often much more frustrating than long tomes! Get started on something short and snappy with these tips.

Take control of your career this summer

Take advantage of summer downtime to learn and grow in your career - or discover a new one!

Why being old is great for business

Age aint nothing but a number, right? Wrong - here's how getting older can be great for business.

How to brief your copywriter

Trusting someone else with your words can be one of the best things you do for your business - but it has to be done properly!

Why you definitely shouldn't write a book in a weekend!

Writing books is big business - or at least it can be, if you get it right. For starters, this means not rushing the process!

Lessons learned from my first year in the writing business

So I've been in business for a whole year! Responding to a question I was asked on Facebook, I'm sharing a few lessons and reflections about the freelance writing life.

I'm one year old this week!

I've been Nina The Writer for a year this week. To celebrate, here's a blog post I wrote this time last year, when I had no idea what was going to happen...

The Ultimate Guide to... the Ultimate Guide!

A how-to guide for writing the ultimate downloadable guide for your business.

Try this simple formula to create a killer profile headline!

Headlines are always difficult to write, so here's an easy way to craft something original for your personal and professional profiles.

Do you like reading? Are you opinionated? Then read on...

Would you like to test-read some of my new book?

What do successful entrepreneurs and guests on the Jeremy Kyle Show have in common?

There's a lot of vague career advice out there, so if you're looking for insight that goes beyond "be yourself and follow your passion" you may have to leap before you look!

Read this before you publish you're next blog post!

Do you edit your work before you publish it?

How to beat those pre-presentation jitters

Standing up and presenting to a group of people is something that strikes fear into the hearts of even the most confident people - so if you're an introvert like me, it can really be the stuff of nightmares! Here's how I tackle my nerves head-on, with some careful preparation and relatable content.

Create a schedule you can stick to (it's not as hard as you think!)

Creating a schedule can be a difficult task, especially when you're planning for work you're not being paid for - or that nobody is expecting! Here's how to get started on crafting a time plan that will work for you.

Copywriting for beginners

Whether you want to hire a copywriter, or just want to give it a go yourself, it can be hard to know where to begin. My experience on the copywriting trail has helped me discover a few handy insights.

The challenge of taking a 'proper' Easter break

Enjoying downtime can be hard when you work for yourself, with requests constantly flowing in. Take some control and your time can be yours again - here's how to get started (and Happy Easter!)

On creating a writer's life

This week I'm responding to the questions people have asked since my Careershifters' Success Story was published recently - all about creating a writer's life.

Home truths for aspiring remote workers

Remote working is on the increase - so here's some advice on how to work it well!

Discovering your unique writer's voice is easier than you think

You don't have to be a professional writer to discover a unique writing voice that speaks to its readers. Finding your own voice is often easier than you might think, and it all starts when you write from the heart.

Real-life lessons I learned from changing my career

I'm a 'Success Story'! My career change journey was featured on Careershifters' website this week, and I'm incredibly proud of it. But I wouldn't want anybody to think changing my career has been easy. And so this is a reflection of sorts, on where I was when I began, and how I've ended up where I am now.

For that special person who has everything, give the gift of words

If you know someone who already has everything, give them something truly unique - special words.

No job for life? How a tailored approach to job-hopping can win your next career move

Did you know that so-called 'job-hopping' can be an asset to your career search? Whether you prefer stability or excitement in your career, planning your next move is all about packaging your skills and making the right kind of approach.

Why it's sometimes OK to turn down freelance work

Going freelance doesn't mean you have to accept every piece of work that comes your way. Being discerning with your time and effort will help you reap the rewards of being your own boss...and you'll get to work with some great people too!

The truth about blogging for business

Are you reading this over coffee, or maybe as you wait for a late train? Blogging for business is a handy way to keep in regular contact with your followers and show them the human side of your company, but it can be difficult to keep it going once you've started. It's worth it, though - so here are a few tips to keep your blog posts consistent and entertaining.

How to write your first CV

Writing a CV is tough enough when you've got years of experience under your belt, but when you're just leaving education it often feels like you haven't got anything to shout about. Here's how to write a first CV that will stand out from all those bland lists of education dates and shop jobs!

“Telling it like it is” – giving effective feedback in writing

There's a new trend sweeping Silicon Valley - giving honest and direct feedback to your colleagues. Before you go rushing in, focus your message by writing it down first...your colleagues and your career will thank you for it!

Share your expertise - write a business book!

All those celebrated business gurus had to start somewhere...and the most successful ones know how to tell their stories in a relatable way that inspires others to act on their dreams and ideas. By writing a business book, you can do just that yourself!

Read this before you write your next recruitment ad!

Writing a recruitment ad is often a rushed activity, with the words used ones you've read many times before ("dynamic" anyone?) Here's how the Banks children managed to recruit their ideal candidate - Mary Poppins! - by using clear and creative words that stood out.

How is a job like a relationship? Let us count the ways!

Because it's January and it's cold and it's grey, I wanted to write something a bit more fun this week. Here's the result - how your job is surprisingly similar to your relationship!

The bracing benefits of a car-free business life

What better way to kick off a new year by getting out into the fresh air? Here's how I manage a busy working life as a non-driver - and it's not as hard as you might think!

‘CV Greatest Hits’ Countdown – 10 ultimate CV tips to prepare you for the Great 2017 Job Hunt!

'Greatest Hits' countdowns are rife at this time of year - so now, here's one featuring the best CV advice. This list will give you the ultimate steer if you're looking to get your CV on track for the new year job hunt. Wishing you a very happy 2017!

Give yourself a special Christmas gift...a happy working life in 2017!

If you're stuck in a job you don't particularly like, mindlessly searching job boards for something else, it can be hard to dredge up any enthusiasm to make a change. But that little bit of rest time between Christmas and a brand new year beginning is perfect for considering exactly what you want, and how to take the very first step towards making 2017 your happy work year!

How to write your life story

With a new year on the horizon, why not make a resolution to tell your life story? Committing your personal tales to paper can be a rich and rewarding experience for you to write and others to read...for generations to come. Here's how to get started.

Writing to get what you want at work!

Have you ever thought that making a few tweaks to your working life would help make living it much easier? Harness the power of well-chosen words to state your case and win better work-life balance in the process.

How to pinpoint useful e-information for your business…without going crazy in the crowd!

Are you often left with the feeling that you don't quite know enough about all the online tools you can use to promote your business? How about website analytics...shouldn't you be checking them every five minutes just like the experts say? Relax - here's how to take advantage of all the advice available online, by defining exactly what YOU want to know.

Fitting in ‘me’ projects – five panic-free time management tips for the professionally overwhelmed

Is time getting the better of you? With a growing business, several passion projects on the go, books to read and friends I'd quite like to see, I was starting to feel overwhelmed...until I decided to take a closer look at planning my time more effectively. Here's how you can do the same.

Use your sense of style to build trust and win business!

Looking for ways to sound consistent and authentic in your written communications? Here are a few tried, tested and original ways to do just that.

Ghost stories…how shadowy script can light up your life and work

BOO! Like a ripe pumpkin Hallowe'en has rolled around yet again, so what better time to extol the benefits of ghostwriting, definitely not just the province of bargain-bin bound celebrities.

"I'm a Quiet Revolutionary..." she whispered

I'm very proud indeed to be featured as this week's 'Quiet Revolutionary' - a celebration of all things introverted.

How I escaped the corporate cage and set myself firmly on the ‘write’ career path!

An encounter with a corporate headhunter made me question my career - why was I still doing something I didn't love? Here's how I formulated my corporate escape plan and found a career I truly enjoy.

STOP! Attention-grabbing writing – made easy

Everybody's busy these days - far too busy to read all the words that come their way. Get the right people to read YOURS by honing in on your ideal audience and creating compelling copy that will get them hooked.

Personal copywriting - attract a new boss AND a new relationship with the perfect profile!

Are your online profiles a bit lacklustre? Don't waste a perfect opportunity to speak directly to the boss or partner of your dreams - use the power of personal copywriting to describe what makes you, you - and get ready to reap the rewards!

The (Not-So) Secret Life of an HR Manager

Ever wonder what your HR Manager is really thinking, or what they do all day? I worked in this oft-misunderstood profession for a number of years and now I'm safely out of it, I'm free to vent!

Going it alone - surviving self-employment

Going it alone, releasing yourself from the shackles of a traditional nine-to-five, is exhilarating. It's also incredibly scary! To celebrate my first quarter-year in business, here are some of the most important lessons I've learned from the front line.

Blogging - not just for hipsters and sicksters*

Regular blog posts - especially if you run a business - can drastically increase your following, as well as helping you beat the competition by describing how you do things your way. Read on for a few more great reasons why you should join the blogging revolution!

Whatever your A Level grades, relish the future that begins here

I remember the day I went to collect my A Level results like it was yesterday (though trust me, it wasn't!) - and how it felt like my future had suddenly become a scary and uncertain place. This is my story of that day and how everything began from there.

Plan a memorable speech...in three easy steps!

Great speeches vary in tone and content, but they all consider the same elements - who they're for, what they're about and why they're being heard. Here's how to plan yours effectively, so you can conquer any nerves and make your speech memorable for all the right reasons!

Hi, I'm Nina

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