Constant Content

Okay fellow writers, another month is nearly upon us. So far, we've worked on premium content and conciseness. This month's challenge: Shining Short Summaries.

The rules:
1. Make those short summaries shine! No more treating short summaries as an afterthought or a chore in order to get your article improved. Instead, it's time for a new mindset. First impressions count and our short summaries are our first impression! For the month of May, challengers will prioritize ALL public and on-spec short summaries submitted. Private requests are optional; however, your customer may want to use a short blurb to introduce your piece, so consider writing up a short summary for your customer's use. Not only will this help you focus on summarizing content, it could add value to your customer.

2. Each week, each challenger shall evaluate and rewrite one to three older short summaries. We all have terrific articles that have yet to find a home. Could it be that customers haven't clicked beyond our short summaries? Here's our chance to revisit, tweak, and perfect. If you want to rewrite more, that's fine too.

The reward? Impressing our customers and enticing them to read further - and buy our articles.

Feel free to post before and after blurbs in this thread or tell us about a short summary that you're particularly proud of. If you're impressed by another writer's summary, don't hesitate to acknowledge it here. As always, no one loses with this challenge. Who's in? (Should be fun!)

For more information about how to get the most out of your short summaries:

http://www.constant-content.com/forum/v ... =9&t=14308

(Love this challenge.)

I always want to write my short summaries in a voice like the guy who does movie voice-overs for previews. You know the guy I'm talking about.

(In a world where man's very survival depends on the good graces of his masters. A world where women hold the leash, and men still don't know not to pull on it. Will man ever learn to shut up, smile and nod?)

I have to agree with Barry. I always slip into "cheesy salesperson" mode when I write my summaries.

I do try to give them the attention they deserve. You're not just explaining what is in the article, you are telling a browsing customer why they need to buy it.

Sometimes I add suggestions for usage, such as "This list-style type of article makes excellent link bait", or "This article is short and concise; perfect for a web audience."

Well, I'm not working at all right now, but I love this idea, and my short summaries are seriously weak links.

Ok, Here is a before and after short summary. I wrote this article in my first couple of months on the site for a public request, but it never sold.

Here is the original short summary:
This article gives 7 tips to brides in planning their wedding day. The tips include not doing too much, allowing time to chat with guests, adding in personal touches, and hiring a wedding coordinator.

Here is the one I wrote today:
A wedding is such a special celebration of love, but many brides feel so exhausted at the end of the day because they are trying to fit too much in to one day, and to take control of all the little details of the wedding. Any prospective bride should find this article helpful with seven easy to implement ideas to make your wedding day special, and stress free.

Any suggestions on how to improve it further would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Hayley

No comma here:
fit too much in to one day, and to take control of all the little details of the wedding.

or here:

your wedding day special, and stress free

Second sentence:
Any prospective bride will (more definite) find this article helpful with seven easy-to-implement (compound adj. that describes ideas, requires hyphens) ideas to make *her* wedding day special and stress free.

Remember, the bride isn't reading the summary, the customer who wants brides to click on his site is.

Thanks Ed, I will fix it now.

Hayley

Hayley,
I so want to wear red after reading your latest short summary!

Guess what I am wearing today! Thanks for noticing - I did put a bit of effort into that summary. Good challenge! I also sold my blog entry from April's challenge today, so I am even happier.

Yay for challenge success! I sold my blog entry last week too, but I'm pretty sure that it was to that fraudulent guy so I don't think that counts :(

Short summaries have really improved. Seeing these as an opportunity to make a powerful first impression, rather than as a low-value chore, has made a difference, yes?

I've noticed quite a few enticing ones! Haven't had a chance to submit anything new the last few days but I have polished up a few of my older summaries. It's kind of fun.

Hi all,

Just wanted to say I really liked Meggie Hardy's short summary on the home decor article - How to make a small room look larger - or something like that! It was enticing and certainly made me want to read the article. Well done Meggie.

Hayley

The month is flying and the short summaries are shining! Time to start thinking about June's challenge. I like Audrabianca's mention that she likes to seek out alternative angles for articles.

For example, an article on "Benefits of Yoga" might discuss strength training, flexibility, breathing, spirtual connections, clearing the mind, etc, right? So, if a requester asks for such an article, most of us would cover these more obvious benefits. What if you were to write two articles: one covering the benefits (so that you fulfill the customer's request) and another exploring a different angle or a more specific focus? Perhaps an article on "Benefits of Yoga for the Elderly" or "Prenatal Yoga." Okay, still a little on the benefits side, but still different enough to allow your article to stand out from the crowd. What about "Common Yoga Injuries," "Yoga Extremists," or an article answering questions such as "Do I have to become a vegetarian if I practice yoga?" While these different articles might not be what the customer had in mind, they could be of interest. If nothing else, you'll have a set of unique articles that go beyond the run-of-the-mill and will likely eventually find a home.

Thoughts? Other ideas for the June challenge?