This version is only 28 words. Which of above do you prefer? Actually this is another trick question in two ways.

First, it's wrong question. You should be asking what your readers prefer. The better question is which of three versions best makes point clear to your readers? And which will they find easiest to read?

Second, what you prefer does not matter. That's just personal reading taste. What does matter is which of above better fits way you want to write.

I might use original form to introduce a topic. Then follow up with a paragraph or two about each of key points included or implied in sentence. However, Revision #1 is stronger, and usually my choice.

5) Use Bulleted Text

Revision #2 is a bit blunt. It doesn't flow well from beginning to end. If your writing tends to be in this form, use lots of bulleted text. In this format, brief works great. Further, there's no requirement for even complete sentences.

Subheadings ...

> Flow from headline

> Reveal a major benefit to reader

> Collectively describe page content

> Are often all your visitors sees when scanning

Bulletting allows brevity. And it makes it easy for your readers to follow. One thing I love about this format is that it adds more space to page. It helps to erase that sense of great black globs of text.

6) Edit and rewrite. Then do it again. And again.

Editing often lifts modest work to first rate. But to make this happen, think of this fundamental task as more than editing. Think of it as rewriting. Do so routinely, and your work will improve with every piece you write. Always seek ...

> A better word than one you have used, and a simpler one is best

> Try to replace several words with fewer

> Rewrite an entire sentence, even a paragraph, if you can find a way to make your point more clearly and/or briefly

Wrapping Up

You can beef up your writing just as you can improve any skill. All it takes is time. In above, need for rewriting part of your work is item most often overlooked.

It's tough to impossible to keep all such ideas in mind as you seek to communicate your thoughts. One effective approach is to focus on one idea each time you begin writing.

If you seek to improve one aspect of your work in each writing session, then edit and rewrite, your work will constantly improve. Try it. And see for yourself.

While you are regularly pitching, you also have to be surfing Net as much as possible for opportunities. My daily surfing task entails checking status for my project bids at OnVia.com, Ants.com, and ELance.com once you set up a free account with these sites, you are regularly updated by email on status of projects that you applied for. Imagine how much time you'll save with these tools!

You ought to keep surfing because you'll never know what turns up. My favorites are WriteforCash.com and freelance job opportunities at DotcomMommies.com, HomeWorkers.org, and WritersWeekly.com. Remember that these opportunities are gone instantly, so apply fast. If you don't, most likely there'll be at least a hundred other writers ahead of you as a rule of thumb. It would also help to have a well-crafted form letter for this purpose but I don't recommend this approach for pitches.

Finally, establish a way of tracking your deadlines in your Filofax to maximize your billable hours. If, say, your target is to earn $2,000 every month from freelancing, you have to consider check cut off dates from websites you work for. WriteForCash.com, for example, pays first week of next month after month that you completed work and they also have a 30-article limit.

Making most of these constraints mean that if you're paid $20 for each of 30 articles, most that you can earn in a month is $600 (i.e., 30 x $20/article)which means you still have $1,400 to worry about for your monthly freelancing. Also consider that you won't get your $600 check within month that your articles got accepted.

Here are more examples for anticipating your freelance income. If you write for WriteforCash.com it's not impossible to realize earnings of $400 per month if you write efficiently.

Always do math and you can never go wrong. Never waste you time on non-revenue generating activities such as sites that either don't pay or pay very little unless you are doing this to help advertise your craft or you have extra time in your hands. If however, you can't find sites that will pay you $100 per article or higher during any given month, aim your guns towards small fry for time being in order to cover your projected shortfall. You will notice that no month is same as you obtain your earnings from many different sources, big and small.

Of course, it never hurts to have some regulars up your sleeves likes of Sloot.com where I cover telecommunications beat. Though I am not allowed to discuss my rate here per article, I must say it's a pretty good rate and editor that I work with is so professional. Work on developing these contacts which will provide you with a regular income stream.

How to get these regulars? I must say strategy requires a combination of good old detective work (translation: surf a lot) coupled with effective niching, which is concentrating on kind of writing that you do best (i.e., How To's; poetry; Children's books, etc.). You have more chances pitching for subject you are an expert at rather than a subject where you currently have zero knowledge.

Look carefully into details of your pitch. Make your query letter look as professional as possible, which means you have to know name of editor; include your full contact information; and, make every effort to make your own voice come through (translation: your own style of writing, including way you would express yourself if you wrote article you are proposing).

Let me end with what I consider most important tip in pitching. Do your homework; always look for writer's submission guidelines found in nearly every site that needs help with their content. I learned this hard way. Plus, always read sample articles to familiarize you with kind of content needed.

If you write regularly, you do reach that point where it feels like somebody is whispering you words to write. But if you put a sense of strategy into task, you may be hitting beaches in Hawaii more often than you think!