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Many of these tools and resources come from our seminars and consulting projects.
We change them regularly, so check back.
Better yet, we can let you know whenever we post something new. Just sign up for our e-mail newsletter.
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Resources
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| • | 10 Tips for Launching Anything
Here's Susan West's presentation to the Left Coast Writers about launching a magazine, a website, an article, a book, a career... (3/15/10) | | | | • | Perfecting the Paragraph
Structure these building blocks for maximum clarity and impact. More tips from an editing seminar. (11/16/07) | | | | • | The Well-Structured Sentence
Great articles are built of great sentences. Here's some assembly advice from a recent editing workshop. (10/22/07) | | | | • | The Rewrite Letter
First drafts almost always need revisions. This model letter will help you get a strong second draft from your freelance writer. (6/10/07) | | | | • | Time to Reposition?
Here are six signs that your magazine may need an editorial overhaul. (3/18/06) | | | | • | Map Your Competitors
A simple tool can help you see where your magazine stands in the competitive landscape. (4/21/05) | | | | • | Clarify Your Magazine's Mission Statement
From Susan West's January 2005 talk to the Independent Press Association. (2/24/05) | | | | • | Get the Best from Freelancers
Five strategies for working effectively with freelance writers. (1/7/05) | | | | • | The Assignment Letter
The best way to get the article you want. (6/16/04) | | | | • | Checklist for Good Structure
To untangle that morass of a first draft, follow these steps. (3/23/04) | | | | • | Packaging Toolkit
Turn an article into a package that hooks readers with many entry points and provides at-a-glance summaries. (2/3/04) | | |
 | | | | | West Gold E-mail Newsletter >>
Sign up for bulletins about new resources, upcoming workshops, jobs, and other news. | | | | | Sites >>
Links to help you follow industry trends, build editorial skills, and more. | | | | | Books >>
Good references on writing and editing for publications, with links to sellers. | | | |
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| • | How to Survive as a Writer in the New Media World
On Nov. 13 and 14, Laura Fraser, Susan West, and Michael Gold present a workshop in San Francisco on the craft of writing and the promotional tools of social media. (8/30/10) | | | | • | Wanted: Content Director for Non-Profit Site
Generocity, a new website focusing on non-profit organizations and community involvement, seeks a senior level writer/editor with experience
managing online operations to direct the development of content. (8/20/10) | | | | • | Guerilla User Testing: Quickly Check Your Site's Usability
Here's a simple do-it-yourself routine to help you spot the most critical problems. (4/6/10) | | | | • | Tapping the Power of Social Media - MagsU 2009
These are slide handouts from Michael Gold's discussion of Twitter, Facebook, and crowd-sourcing as online strategies for magazines. (Mags University 2009) (6/4/09) | | | | • | Successful Site Redesign - MagsU 2009
Here are the slide handouts from Michael Gold's presentation on how to plan a smooth, successful Web site renovation. (Mags University 2009) (6/4/09) | | | | • | How to Write Text Links
Online links have the same power that display copy has in print, which is why Web writers and editors should give them special consideration. (5/14/08) | | | | • | Nine Steps to a Successful Redesign
Here's how to set up a process and navigate around the politics—so you won't have redesign again in three months. (2/19/08) | | | | • | User-Friendly Screen Shots
Smart navigation, clear labels, buried content, orphan pages.... Learn the dos and don'ts of site usability in these downloadable screen shots. (updated 12/20/06) | | | | • | Why Publishers Need RSS
Despite the clunky name, it's a powerful tool for Web publishers—and it's going mainstream. (3/18/06) | | | | • | DIY: Tap Into RSS Feeds
Here's a step-by-step guide to setting up and using an RSS feed reader. (3/18/06) | | | | • | Make Your Content Work on the Web
Editing for this specialized environment is very different from working in print. (4/21/05) | | | | • | Check Your Speed
The worst thing a Web site can be is slow. (3/7/05) | | | | • | Give Your Site a Checkup
This one-hour routine for assessing your site includes a simple 10-question scorecard. (updated 6/2/04) | | |
| | | | | West Gold E-mail Newsletter >>
Sign up for bulletins about new resources, upcoming workshops, jobs, and other news. | | | | | Sites >>
Links to help you learn HTML and design basics, keep up with industry changes, and more. | | | | | Books >>
Good references on usability, design, and writing for the Web, with links to sellers. | | | |
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