We’re looking for someone who:
1. Wants to help others learn a topic. We are writing training manuals that aren’t about you, the author, they are about the reader and you should have a passion for helping your readers learn.
2. Has a sense of Head First Books style (go to this site for more info http://headfirstlabs.com/readme.php ). Our writer requires a sense of narrative and pacing, a pinch of humor and a dash of hipness. (Please note we are not affiliated with Head First, but we like their style).
3. Has a design sense. Our books are not created by a production team after you’ve written the text, they are hand crafted by the authors. You should be comfortable with the idea of doing basic page layouts like you see in the Head First books.
4. Can Make It Visual. Images are far more memorable than words alone, and make learning much more effective (up to 89% improvement in recall and transfer studies). It also makes things more understandable. Put the words within or near the graphics they relate to, rather than on the bottom or on another page, and learners will be up to twice as likely to solve problems related to the content. So you will need to incorporate graphics with your text.
5. Can Use a conversational and personalized style. In recent studies, students performed up to 40% better on post-learning tests if the content spoke directly to the reader, using a first-person, conversational style rather than taking a formal tone. Tell stories instead of lecturing. Use casual language. Don’t take yourself too seriously. Which would you pay more attention to: a stimulating dinner party companion, or a lecture?
6. Can get the learner to think more deeply. In other words, unless you actively flex your neurons, nothing much happens in your head. A reader has to be motivated, engaged, curious, and inspired to solve problems, draw conclusions, and generate new knowledge. And for that, you need challenges, exercises, and thought-provoking questions, and activities that involve both sides of the brain and multiple senses.
7. Can Get—and keep—the reader’s attention. We’ve all had the “I really want to learn this but I can’t stay awake past page one” experience. Your brain pays attention to things that are out of the ordinary, interesting, strange, eye-catching, and unexpected. Learning a new, tough, technical topic doesn’t have to be boring. Your brain will learn much more quickly if it’s not.
8. Can touch their emotions. We now know that your ability to remember something is largely dependent on its emotional content. You remember what you care about. You remember when you feel something. No, we’re not talking heart-wrenching stories about a boy and his dog. We’re talking emotions like surprise, curiosity, fun, “what the…?” , and the feeling of “I Rule!” that comes when you solve a puzzle, learn something everybody else thinks is hard, or realize you know something that “I’m more technical than thou” Bob from engineering doesn’t.
9. Can write a book at a quick pace. Meeting deadlines is important.
10. Is truly passionate about a topic.
About this project:
Produce a series of training manuals to help people start their own business.
This is a travel agency and entertainment ticket business opportunity.
You will be provided with research material, including other how to books, articles and videos.
A lot of the material has already been written but it will need to be re-written in the “Head First” style.
In total there should be 5 “modules” and their should be about 400-500 pages when complete.
The modules include:
1. Starting Your Business (general start your own business material)
Business Plan
Setting up home office, etc.
etc…(we have about 100 pages that need rewriting)
2. Travel Agency Business
overview of industry
how independent contractors work
commissions
niches
selling
Tours, Cruises, etc
Groups
Travel Suppliers
Agent Benefits
etc (we have about 100 pages that need re-writing)
3. Cruises
general cruise business
(we have about 60 pages but need about 40 more and re-writing)
4. Marketing
specific marketing info for travel business
(we have about 50 pages but need about 50 more and re-writing)
5. Entertainment Tickets
(need about 50-75 new content)
Please send a sample of a one page “how to” type article on any starting your own business topic using the “Head First” style.
A non-disclosure document will need to be signed before work begins.
Please give an approximate time frame for completion of the project.
Ideally we would like someone local who would be interested in turning this project into a full time position in our office. We are located in the Tampa/Clearwater Florida area. We are seeking a copywriter to work not only on this project but many more and update our web sites and newsletters.
