I recently wrote a number of articles for a client about ways to keep your website interesting and getting people to come back to your website. I got some great feedback about these articles so I thought I would start a series of “how to” posts and hopefully give you some good ideas for your own websites. Part 1 of this series is about adding new content to your website, and why blogging is the easiest way for you to do this…

I am a writer and editor, but I am also a mum to two active toddlers. Sometimes, it seems like there is no way I can get any work done while I am home with them; there is just so much to do. But work pays the bills so I need to carve out some time for it, right? Working from home is great in a lot of ways: I save money not having to commute, I get to spend time with my kids, I make my own hours. But there are a few drawbacks: I don’t spend a lot of time talking to other adults, I often have to stop work to do something with the boys, and there can be a lot of distractions. So, I thought that today I would post some methods I use to keep myself focused when I am working to a deadline.

Most writers can benefit from spending time doing writing exercises. These exercises can help you hone your writing skills and help you ensure you are communicating as effectively as possible. One such exercise that is good to try out is writing instructions. Many people take for granted the work that goes into simple instructions, but it’s harder than it looks. You might be an expert in your field, but if you have to explain the process to someone else, can you do it? Here’s a link to some helpful hints and tips to get you started.

So I think the best thing to do with this blog is to post some information that I think is useful to those who plan to write but need some more resources. If you′re interested in a specific topic, let me know and I’ll see what I can come up with. So first things first: Here are some book recommendations for those of you interested in the craft of writing.

- The Elements of Style, Fourth Edition, by William Strunk & E. B. White. This book is a must-have for anyone who needs to do any writing, creative or otherwise. It takes you through the basics of composition, grammar, word usage, and writing style. I first got it in my 10th grade English class, and it has been invaluable.

- Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation by Lynne Truss. This is a fantastic book about how to use (and how not to use) various forms of punctuation. It sounds like it would be a very dry subject, but Truss does a great job at making her subject matter interesting and amusing.

- On Writing, by Stephen King. Most people wouldn’t think that the “Master of Horror” would have much to say on the subject of writing, but this book is a wonderful addition to your library if you are an aspiring writer. The first half of the book is an autobiography that takes you through King’s evolution as a writer, and the second half is the “writers’ toolkit” which gives you all the lessons you need to start on your way to being a good writer. He gives you writing assignments, advice on plot and character, how to build a paragraph, and lots of other useful instruction. King used to teach English, and you can tell he was a good teacher.