If you are at University reading a degree or a PhD then at some point you will be expected to write a lengthy dissertation as a part of your studies. To achieve this it will be necessary to prepare a research proposal.
A research proposal is a short document designed to provide a detailed outline of your project. Although it can appear daunting if you have not attempted a proposal previously, if you take the time to understand what is expected of you and then logically explain each step then you will be able to write an acceptable research proposal. This article will help to explain what is expected in the proposal and how you should attempt to structure it.
The purpose of a research proposal is to help the tutor establish some key areas of your dissertation. Primarily, the paper needs to demonstrate that you have a purposeful research question and that you have a firm understanding of the literature that surrounds the question. You need to be aware of all the major debates related to the topic and provide a convincing need to ask the proposed questions.
Most Universities will also need to be convinced that the research question can be suitably matched with a member of the academic staff that has the relevant knowledge. Finally, the paper must produce a reasonable plan of action for the duration of the proposed research and an estimated completion date. With all this in mind, you need to consider the following questions. Why is my research question relevant to the current debate and how will I develop my argument? To address this you should structure the proposal using the following headings.
Title: This is obviously an important part of the process. You need to engage the reader with a short, relevant title that clearly demonstrates what the problem is and why this is important.
Abstract: This should be a few short paragraphs that identifies the key questions above about the importance of your research question. Make sure that you are able to relate the specific question to the general discipline.
Literature Review: After you have established the importance of the question, you need to provide a comprehensive understanding of the research that has been carried in the field to date. It is important that you fully demonstrate your knowledge of the topic as this will allow you to argue the need for your specific research.
The Research Question: Having argued the need for further research, you should then write down the clear hypothesis of the study. Clearly define what the purpose of the research is and the goals that you intend to achieve.
Methodology: This is a critical part of the research proposal. You need to identify how you plan to carry out the research and discuss any potential problems. The methods used will vary from project to project, but should demonstrate knowledge of the relevant techniques. You need to explain how you plan to record data and how that data will be analyzed.
Ethics: Dependent on the subject, you may need to address any possible issues related to ethics. These may be simply ensuring that you have consent to use certain data for your project.
Timeframe: You should provide a brief outline of the estimated time needed to complete each section of the research.
Bibliography: Finally, you need to provide a brief bibliography of the reading that you have done at this stage of the project. This should not be a wish list, you must only include resources that you have genuinely used and reference them according to your university's guidelines.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - research paper writing
http://www.essaytown.com/proposal_research_proposals.html - research proposals
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Monday, June 30, 2008
How to Find Research Paper Writing Topics
Just about every student discovers that they must write a research paper while they are in school. The research paper is a way for teaches to confirm that students are learning what they are supposed to while in their class. A research paper is also an excellent way to encourage students to take on independent research on a topic that interests them.
As you write a research paper, consider how you can make your paper as original as it can possibly be. There are many common subjects that someone would write about when it comes to writing about Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. This popular tragic romance is one that many people know. To stand out from the crowd, think of how you could make your paper unique and special. Start this thinking from the very beginning as you select your thesis statement. Try to take a different way of thinking about the material. Look for unusual research sources. Your teacher will be impressed with your hard work and originality.
The first step to writing a research paper is to create a thesis statement. Your thesis statement is simply something that your research paper will attempt to prove. Sometimes during the course of your research, you discover that your thesis statement will not be proven to be a positive statement. If this is the case, you can speak with your teacher and tell them what your research has uncovered and ask them if you can change your thesis statement.
Many teachers are pleased that you are working hard to do the research for your research paper and they will be happy to have you change this statement. They will be interested to learn about your research and most likely will ask you some questions about how you performed your research.
When writing a research paper an important step is doing your research. It is critical to pay attention to any guidelines your teacher has given about what type of resources you must use. If the teacher has said, "please do not use the Internet" then you must obey this. If the teacher has said "no magazine articles" then you must follow this instruction. By not paying attention to the instructions, you are putting your grade at risk, even if your research paper is excellent. Take the time to read the instructions carefully to be sure you following them to the letter.
Once you have done your research, it is time to organize your research. There may be certain research you would like to begin your research paper with. Try to create some type of outline using the research you have collected. While you may have created an original outline for your paper, your outline after you have done your research may be a bit different.
Organize your paper with the research well in mind. You want the structure of the paper to compliment the research and hard work you have done. You want to be able to show off the research skills you have learned in class and the information that you have found. Very often, how you have done the research is part of your grade.
Learning how to write a research paper simply takes practice and skill. Once you have mastered research techniques you will feel more confident with how to write this type of paper. Research papers are an important part of any students learning process in school.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - research paper
http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - research paper topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
As you write a research paper, consider how you can make your paper as original as it can possibly be. There are many common subjects that someone would write about when it comes to writing about Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet. This popular tragic romance is one that many people know. To stand out from the crowd, think of how you could make your paper unique and special. Start this thinking from the very beginning as you select your thesis statement. Try to take a different way of thinking about the material. Look for unusual research sources. Your teacher will be impressed with your hard work and originality.
The first step to writing a research paper is to create a thesis statement. Your thesis statement is simply something that your research paper will attempt to prove. Sometimes during the course of your research, you discover that your thesis statement will not be proven to be a positive statement. If this is the case, you can speak with your teacher and tell them what your research has uncovered and ask them if you can change your thesis statement.
Many teachers are pleased that you are working hard to do the research for your research paper and they will be happy to have you change this statement. They will be interested to learn about your research and most likely will ask you some questions about how you performed your research.
When writing a research paper an important step is doing your research. It is critical to pay attention to any guidelines your teacher has given about what type of resources you must use. If the teacher has said, "please do not use the Internet" then you must obey this. If the teacher has said "no magazine articles" then you must follow this instruction. By not paying attention to the instructions, you are putting your grade at risk, even if your research paper is excellent. Take the time to read the instructions carefully to be sure you following them to the letter.
Once you have done your research, it is time to organize your research. There may be certain research you would like to begin your research paper with. Try to create some type of outline using the research you have collected. While you may have created an original outline for your paper, your outline after you have done your research may be a bit different.
Organize your paper with the research well in mind. You want the structure of the paper to compliment the research and hard work you have done. You want to be able to show off the research skills you have learned in class and the information that you have found. Very often, how you have done the research is part of your grade.
Learning how to write a research paper simply takes practice and skill. Once you have mastered research techniques you will feel more confident with how to write this type of paper. Research papers are an important part of any students learning process in school.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - research paper
http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - research paper topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
What\s a Diva: Demon or Darling?
The Encarta Encyclopedia defines the word diva as a spoilt brat, attention-seeker, show-off or bragger. Derived from the Italian, the word diva used to mean "goddess" or "exceptional female singer" but over the years the word has become known in popular culture to describe a very difficult, hard to handle woman or man. Wikipedia calls a diva "manipulative, highly strung, privileged and demanding. He or she does not believe the law and accepted rules of courtesy apply to him or her." Another designation I would add is prima donna.
Just for fun, I decided to see what my computer search engine would come up with when I typed in the word diva. Not surprisingly, the first names to pop up in the MSN Search were Celine Dion, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey, Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti!
The people listed are all definitely known for being fussy and perhaps even fiendish. I've worked in the entertainment business for a long time, both in front of the footlights and behind them, and encountered my share of divas, to be sure. However, even if you don't work in the theatre or the diva populated worlds of film, television, or opera, I'm sure you have a diva or two you've run across. Sitting at my hairdresser's one morning, the lady next to me found out that I was writing about divas, and remarked: "I could use some advice about my teenage daughters. They're both divas and impossible to handle!" People talk to me about their kids, mother-in-laws, ex-wives, and bosses. But are all divas demons?
I think it's a mistake to lump all the divas of the world into one category. I agree that the great soprano Maria Callas was known to be a very demanding lady, but what a glorious voice she had! I personally knew the lovely opera diva Beverly Sills. Did you know that her nickname was Bubbles? Does that sound like a name for a fiendish diva? She was one of the kindest ladies I've ever met.
Divas get a bad rap because many strive for perfection. That's where the line between nice gal and conceited maniac get blurry. The following story about tenor Luciano Pavarotti is a perfect example: A number of years ago Luciano took a limousine to an opera house where he arrived to sing that night. He instructed the driver to return at a designated spot and time after his performance. The driver complied. Because the singer had to greet his fans after the opera was over, he didn't reach the limousine until late into the night. When Luciano finally arrived, walking in the crisp, icy evening air to the limousine, he immediately chastised the driver for not having the car warmed up. The driver was shocked at the prima donna's outrage, but the singer quickly explained: "I expect to ride in a warmed up car as my voice is my career and without it I am nothing."
What seemed like a tantrum, and indeed, it was a tantrum, was justified.
I'm not saying that those divas we love to read about in the magazines aren't sometimes over the top with their demands. Jennifer Lopez use to demand that her dressing room only be decorated in all white. That included the walls and any rugs, chairs, and flowers. Rock musicians ask that all brown M&Ms be removed from their candy dishes or they won't go on stage. The list goes on and on. But I do understand the demands on many divas to perform as close to perfection as possible. We the public have put celebrities on a pedestal, making it almost impossible for them not to eventually fall. No wonder they are picky and grumpy. You would be too if your every move was
I say give the divas of our lives a break. At least until the next tantrum which we will then be psychoanalyzing on national television until the cows come home. I love the freedom of the press!
About the Author:
Shelley G. Anderson is the personal assistant to self-help author Louise L. Hay, and writes the column Dear Miss Know It All. She is the author of Dealing With Divas: A Survivor's Kit for the Celebrity Personal Assistant (or Anyone with a Pushy Boss). To learn more about her, visit http://www.dealingwithdivas.com.
Keyword tags: divas, celebrities, Madonna, Luciano Pavraotti, Beverly Sills, stars, Mariah Carey
Just for fun, I decided to see what my computer search engine would come up with when I typed in the word diva. Not surprisingly, the first names to pop up in the MSN Search were Celine Dion, Madonna, Whitney Houston, Barbra Streisand, Mariah Carey, Maria Callas and Luciano Pavarotti!
The people listed are all definitely known for being fussy and perhaps even fiendish. I've worked in the entertainment business for a long time, both in front of the footlights and behind them, and encountered my share of divas, to be sure. However, even if you don't work in the theatre or the diva populated worlds of film, television, or opera, I'm sure you have a diva or two you've run across. Sitting at my hairdresser's one morning, the lady next to me found out that I was writing about divas, and remarked: "I could use some advice about my teenage daughters. They're both divas and impossible to handle!" People talk to me about their kids, mother-in-laws, ex-wives, and bosses. But are all divas demons?
I think it's a mistake to lump all the divas of the world into one category. I agree that the great soprano Maria Callas was known to be a very demanding lady, but what a glorious voice she had! I personally knew the lovely opera diva Beverly Sills. Did you know that her nickname was Bubbles? Does that sound like a name for a fiendish diva? She was one of the kindest ladies I've ever met.
Divas get a bad rap because many strive for perfection. That's where the line between nice gal and conceited maniac get blurry. The following story about tenor Luciano Pavarotti is a perfect example: A number of years ago Luciano took a limousine to an opera house where he arrived to sing that night. He instructed the driver to return at a designated spot and time after his performance. The driver complied. Because the singer had to greet his fans after the opera was over, he didn't reach the limousine until late into the night. When Luciano finally arrived, walking in the crisp, icy evening air to the limousine, he immediately chastised the driver for not having the car warmed up. The driver was shocked at the prima donna's outrage, but the singer quickly explained: "I expect to ride in a warmed up car as my voice is my career and without it I am nothing."
What seemed like a tantrum, and indeed, it was a tantrum, was justified.
I'm not saying that those divas we love to read about in the magazines aren't sometimes over the top with their demands. Jennifer Lopez use to demand that her dressing room only be decorated in all white. That included the walls and any rugs, chairs, and flowers. Rock musicians ask that all brown M&Ms be removed from their candy dishes or they won't go on stage. The list goes on and on. But I do understand the demands on many divas to perform as close to perfection as possible. We the public have put celebrities on a pedestal, making it almost impossible for them not to eventually fall. No wonder they are picky and grumpy. You would be too if your every move was
I say give the divas of our lives a break. At least until the next tantrum which we will then be psychoanalyzing on national television until the cows come home. I love the freedom of the press!
About the Author:
Shelley G. Anderson is the personal assistant to self-help author Louise L. Hay, and writes the column Dear Miss Know It All. She is the author of Dealing With Divas: A Survivor's Kit for the Celebrity Personal Assistant (or Anyone with a Pushy Boss). To learn more about her, visit http://www.dealingwithdivas.com.
Keyword tags: divas, celebrities, Madonna, Luciano Pavraotti, Beverly Sills, stars, Mariah Carey
How I Entered the Book Market
In this article, I would like to recall how I got my manuscript through to the publisher's desk.
First, of course, I had to write a saleable book, a book that could attract a broad readership. Many of the historical events described in my book, RETURN TO THE MIDDLE KINGDOM: One Family, Three Revolutionaries, and the Birth of Modern China, have been recorded in numerous books and articles. Reading them helped me form the big picture, and through the family history my late husband, Jack, recounted to me, I found each of the Chens' place in this big picture. My task was to let the readers see them as real people, real human beings, warts and all, whom the readers can identify with. This also applies to the supporting characters in this story, including historical figures such as Chiang Kaishek and Zhou Enlai. Some of them I knew, some of them I got to know through talks with my family and friends who had known them and some of them were described to me by Jack. Throughout the book, I present revealing anecdotes about these supporting characters, so they could spring to life and become three-dimensional.
By blending biography with history in this way, I believed I could make the characters and places come alive, and dramatize the facts, so the book would read like an intriguing history fused with an extraordinary three-generation family saga.
Second, it is important to work with a literary agent who sees something in what I intend to write. My agent, Regina Ryan, is based in New York, a fact I consider important. New York is the center of publishing world. She was the one to guide my manuscript to a publisher whom she thought most suitable for my book. It was not plain-sailing. My manuscript nearly got drowned in a storm when the first publisher who accepted it suddenly went out of business. I could not possibly salvage it since I knew next to nothing about the publishing world. It was Regina who finally negotiated my manuscript out of the first publisher and found a new, good home for it.
At some stage I needed to work with an editor. Again Regina knew which editor might like my type of book and put me in touch with Michael Denneny. Michael started by helping me write the book proposal. A good book proposal is key to a publisher's door. During the process of writing the book proposal, I discovered Regina had found me an editor with whom, for the most part, I could see eye to eye. Michael helped me articulate my intention and coached me with understanding, imagination and skill.
As soon as the manuscript reached its final destination, Regina advised me to buy a few how-to books about publicity. Publicity is essential to making the book sell, and I take it very seriously. I decide to do my best bit, although my publisher is really pushing for my book. Nowadays, internet campaign is king, and I use it to spread the information about the new book as far and as wide as I can.
About the Author:
Yuan-tsung was born in China, and immigrated to USA in 1972. Her first book, THE DRAGON'S VILLAGE, (was published by Pantheon, and) its Penguin paperback sells an average of 3,000 copies per year since 1981. Her latest book (nonfiction), RETURN TO THE MIDDLE KINGDOM, is now available through the Union Square Press of Sterling Publishing. Visit http://www.yuantsungchen.com.
Keyword tags: publishing, books, authors, getting published, agents, publishers, editors, book proposals
First, of course, I had to write a saleable book, a book that could attract a broad readership. Many of the historical events described in my book, RETURN TO THE MIDDLE KINGDOM: One Family, Three Revolutionaries, and the Birth of Modern China, have been recorded in numerous books and articles. Reading them helped me form the big picture, and through the family history my late husband, Jack, recounted to me, I found each of the Chens' place in this big picture. My task was to let the readers see them as real people, real human beings, warts and all, whom the readers can identify with. This also applies to the supporting characters in this story, including historical figures such as Chiang Kaishek and Zhou Enlai. Some of them I knew, some of them I got to know through talks with my family and friends who had known them and some of them were described to me by Jack. Throughout the book, I present revealing anecdotes about these supporting characters, so they could spring to life and become three-dimensional.
By blending biography with history in this way, I believed I could make the characters and places come alive, and dramatize the facts, so the book would read like an intriguing history fused with an extraordinary three-generation family saga.
Second, it is important to work with a literary agent who sees something in what I intend to write. My agent, Regina Ryan, is based in New York, a fact I consider important. New York is the center of publishing world. She was the one to guide my manuscript to a publisher whom she thought most suitable for my book. It was not plain-sailing. My manuscript nearly got drowned in a storm when the first publisher who accepted it suddenly went out of business. I could not possibly salvage it since I knew next to nothing about the publishing world. It was Regina who finally negotiated my manuscript out of the first publisher and found a new, good home for it.
At some stage I needed to work with an editor. Again Regina knew which editor might like my type of book and put me in touch with Michael Denneny. Michael started by helping me write the book proposal. A good book proposal is key to a publisher's door. During the process of writing the book proposal, I discovered Regina had found me an editor with whom, for the most part, I could see eye to eye. Michael helped me articulate my intention and coached me with understanding, imagination and skill.
As soon as the manuscript reached its final destination, Regina advised me to buy a few how-to books about publicity. Publicity is essential to making the book sell, and I take it very seriously. I decide to do my best bit, although my publisher is really pushing for my book. Nowadays, internet campaign is king, and I use it to spread the information about the new book as far and as wide as I can.
About the Author:
Yuan-tsung was born in China, and immigrated to USA in 1972. Her first book, THE DRAGON'S VILLAGE, (was published by Pantheon, and) its Penguin paperback sells an average of 3,000 copies per year since 1981. Her latest book (nonfiction), RETURN TO THE MIDDLE KINGDOM, is now available through the Union Square Press of Sterling Publishing. Visit http://www.yuantsungchen.com.
Keyword tags: publishing, books, authors, getting published, agents, publishers, editors, book proposals
Give Us This Day
About three or four years ago I worked a contract that required me to drive through a less than desirable part of town. One particular freeway underpass housed the man I would later come to know as Harley.
I think Harley was about my age, maybe even a little younger. He certainly could not have survived these conditions if he were much older than 50. He had lost most of teeth. He couldn't seem to stand fully erect and when he walked to a car to accept a hand out his movement was restrained as though each step towards the charity caused him physical and emotional pain.
In the 30 seconds or so that one must endure witnessing these daily dramatics, I would think about giving something to the guy. But it always seemed the light would change before this bedraggled weary figure could reach my vehicle. Sometimes I would wave and enunciate a "Catch ya next time" as I drove passed him. But mostly, it saddens me to say, I would just try to put the whole image behind me.
Finally, after about two months, I got up the courage to actually try and interact with Harley. IF the stop light gods would just position me appropriately, I was going to hand him a twenty dollar bill. I approached the underpass and sure enough the light went from green to yellow to red placing me first in the line of potential donors. I rolled down the window and Harley came up to me, smiling a hideous but somehow engaging toothless grin. I extended the twenty but Harley pulled back.
"Oh no brother, that's too much" he said.
"No, it's not. Please take it!" I insisted.
"I can't my friend. I just don't need that much," he replied.
"What do you mean? Come on, I want to help," I retorted.
Just then the light changed and Harley stepped back onto the curb out of reach. "God Bless you brother! You better get going. Five's my limit," he said as he held up the five gnarled fingers of his right hand. Cars began to honk at me so I had to drive away. How could this guy turn down twenty bucks? I thought about stopping my car and walking back to talk to him, but there was really no place close enough or safe enough to pull over. Besides, it would have made me late for work. So I resolved that tomorrow, I would just give this guy four fives. Clearly, he was too addled to know it was the same as a twenty.
The next day came and the lights were with me again. I held out the four fives to the approaching Harley, he pulled one of them from my hand and said, "That will get me a meal and night in the shelter. God Bless you brother!"
"Well, take them all so you can have 3 more nights in the shelter!" I replied. Harley stopped smiling, took on a more professorial air and pronounced, "I couldn't do that. If I die tomorrow then you will have wasted all that money. You just give the rest to somebody who needs it today."
Over the next few weeks, I managed to get about a half dozen more fives into Harley's hand then he wasn't there anymore. I figured he had found a better spot to collect his daily allowance. When the homemade cross appeared at the intersection with the words, "God Bless You Harley," I knew I was right.
About the Author:
B.L. Lindstrom is a highly paid and sought after systems janitor and author in multiple media. His latest communications can always be found on his Blog Authorian Adventures in the Ether, http://www.SoIWroteThisBook.com. If you want to know more about his work you can visit http://www.BLLindstrom.com.
Keyword tags: books, authors, writing tips, characters, plot, story development, publishing, fiction
I think Harley was about my age, maybe even a little younger. He certainly could not have survived these conditions if he were much older than 50. He had lost most of teeth. He couldn't seem to stand fully erect and when he walked to a car to accept a hand out his movement was restrained as though each step towards the charity caused him physical and emotional pain.
In the 30 seconds or so that one must endure witnessing these daily dramatics, I would think about giving something to the guy. But it always seemed the light would change before this bedraggled weary figure could reach my vehicle. Sometimes I would wave and enunciate a "Catch ya next time" as I drove passed him. But mostly, it saddens me to say, I would just try to put the whole image behind me.
Finally, after about two months, I got up the courage to actually try and interact with Harley. IF the stop light gods would just position me appropriately, I was going to hand him a twenty dollar bill. I approached the underpass and sure enough the light went from green to yellow to red placing me first in the line of potential donors. I rolled down the window and Harley came up to me, smiling a hideous but somehow engaging toothless grin. I extended the twenty but Harley pulled back.
"Oh no brother, that's too much" he said.
"No, it's not. Please take it!" I insisted.
"I can't my friend. I just don't need that much," he replied.
"What do you mean? Come on, I want to help," I retorted.
Just then the light changed and Harley stepped back onto the curb out of reach. "God Bless you brother! You better get going. Five's my limit," he said as he held up the five gnarled fingers of his right hand. Cars began to honk at me so I had to drive away. How could this guy turn down twenty bucks? I thought about stopping my car and walking back to talk to him, but there was really no place close enough or safe enough to pull over. Besides, it would have made me late for work. So I resolved that tomorrow, I would just give this guy four fives. Clearly, he was too addled to know it was the same as a twenty.
The next day came and the lights were with me again. I held out the four fives to the approaching Harley, he pulled one of them from my hand and said, "That will get me a meal and night in the shelter. God Bless you brother!"
"Well, take them all so you can have 3 more nights in the shelter!" I replied. Harley stopped smiling, took on a more professorial air and pronounced, "I couldn't do that. If I die tomorrow then you will have wasted all that money. You just give the rest to somebody who needs it today."
Over the next few weeks, I managed to get about a half dozen more fives into Harley's hand then he wasn't there anymore. I figured he had found a better spot to collect his daily allowance. When the homemade cross appeared at the intersection with the words, "God Bless You Harley," I knew I was right.
About the Author:
B.L. Lindstrom is a highly paid and sought after systems janitor and author in multiple media. His latest communications can always be found on his Blog Authorian Adventures in the Ether, http://www.SoIWroteThisBook.com. If you want to know more about his work you can visit http://www.BLLindstrom.com.
Keyword tags: books, authors, writing tips, characters, plot, story development, publishing, fiction
Some Article Marketing Tips 4U
Article marketing has turned out to be the most promising tool in today's online home based business. Marketing with quality article is crucial for online business success and helps to drive massive amount of traffic to a web site.
A beneficial marketing strategy is to provide quality articles in a web site and submitting them to article directories. Having quality articles is one of the most significant powerful tools to attract large number of readers to a site.
With the help of articles, a web site owner can drive much traffic to the web site, get high ranking in major search engines and thus, boost the site earnings.
Article marketing is not merely writing articles and posting them on blogs or web sites. An article has to be effective, easy to read and understand, have attention-grabbing headline, interesting content and regular prospective readers.
However, if a site owner posts articles just for the sake of posting content and the articles do not have any interesting points, the site is of no use.
Tips for Article Marketing:
Below discussed are effective article marketing tips that a web site needs to consider for long-term benefits and drive massive amount of traffic generation:
Use Effective Keywords:
While writing article, it is essential to use targeted keywords. Usually, readers look for something more specific and type those keywords in search engines, which are simple and sound familiar. Hence, articles need to have simple and familiar wordings or phrases to target customers.
Write articles related to the web site. For instance, if a site is all about dogs and dog training, then include articles about pets, dogs and methods of training. However, do bit of research for beneficial keywords, before writing articles.
Check Keyword Density:
Keyword density is crucial for the search engines to accept the articles. After finalizing the keywords for an article, it is necessary to use them effectively. It is highly beneficial to have a keyword density between 10% and 15%. For instance, if the article is of 500 words, then keywords need to appear at least 10 to 15 times.
Excessive amount of keywords look like spamming and fail to attract more number of readers. On the other hand, search engines ignore articles having little amount of keywords. Hence, use keywords efficiently, so that not only search engines recognize the articles but also, readers find them informative.
Good quality Content:
In article marketing, content plays a crucial role in driving massive traffic generation. Write good quality content articles and make them more interesting, so that readers after reading once, come back to that site time after time. Informative articles also help to gain the trust of readers and increase traffic, resulting in an increase in the sales and earnings.
Overview:
While submitting an article to the article directories, remember to include a web site link at its end. If the article is very informative and accurate, readers will certainly click on the web link and buy the promoted product.
To sum up, article marketing is one of the most beneficial ways to attract the traffic flow, gain the confidence of customers and earn good amount of money.
About the Author:
David O Connell: How to write high quality articles fast and turn them into high residual incomes http://www.articlewritingsecrets.net/ Auto Submit your articles to over 4,100 article directories and sites http://www.marketer.top5submitters.com
Keyword tags: article marketing, advertising articles, how to write an article, publishing articles, article,
A beneficial marketing strategy is to provide quality articles in a web site and submitting them to article directories. Having quality articles is one of the most significant powerful tools to attract large number of readers to a site.
With the help of articles, a web site owner can drive much traffic to the web site, get high ranking in major search engines and thus, boost the site earnings.
Article marketing is not merely writing articles and posting them on blogs or web sites. An article has to be effective, easy to read and understand, have attention-grabbing headline, interesting content and regular prospective readers.
However, if a site owner posts articles just for the sake of posting content and the articles do not have any interesting points, the site is of no use.
Tips for Article Marketing:
Below discussed are effective article marketing tips that a web site needs to consider for long-term benefits and drive massive amount of traffic generation:
Use Effective Keywords:
While writing article, it is essential to use targeted keywords. Usually, readers look for something more specific and type those keywords in search engines, which are simple and sound familiar. Hence, articles need to have simple and familiar wordings or phrases to target customers.
Write articles related to the web site. For instance, if a site is all about dogs and dog training, then include articles about pets, dogs and methods of training. However, do bit of research for beneficial keywords, before writing articles.
Check Keyword Density:
Keyword density is crucial for the search engines to accept the articles. After finalizing the keywords for an article, it is necessary to use them effectively. It is highly beneficial to have a keyword density between 10% and 15%. For instance, if the article is of 500 words, then keywords need to appear at least 10 to 15 times.
Excessive amount of keywords look like spamming and fail to attract more number of readers. On the other hand, search engines ignore articles having little amount of keywords. Hence, use keywords efficiently, so that not only search engines recognize the articles but also, readers find them informative.
Good quality Content:
In article marketing, content plays a crucial role in driving massive traffic generation. Write good quality content articles and make them more interesting, so that readers after reading once, come back to that site time after time. Informative articles also help to gain the trust of readers and increase traffic, resulting in an increase in the sales and earnings.
Overview:
While submitting an article to the article directories, remember to include a web site link at its end. If the article is very informative and accurate, readers will certainly click on the web link and buy the promoted product.
To sum up, article marketing is one of the most beneficial ways to attract the traffic flow, gain the confidence of customers and earn good amount of money.
About the Author:
David O Connell: How to write high quality articles fast and turn them into high residual incomes http://www.articlewritingsecrets.net/ Auto Submit your articles to over 4,100 article directories and sites http://www.marketer.top5submitters.com
Keyword tags: article marketing, advertising articles, how to write an article, publishing articles, article,
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Explode Your Profits With Small Reports
Because the internet is the primary tool people use to find information, offering an information product and promoting it online is truly an ideal way to build wealth. So think about this, if you have precisely the information someone needs, they will buy it.
Now, you may be thinking that writing reports takes time, research and energy and that's true, but we're not talking about creating a 300 page book, this is about creating a small but comprehensive 10-20 page report, and the truth is ...it makes money like nothing else!
The reason it works so well is because you are giving people information they are interested in. People are always in need of how to do things themselves, how to resolve problems, how to find more time, how to save more money or how to feel better. If you can resolve these issues and others like it, you are in business.
Small reports can also be used as valuable marketing tools. They can be given away as a free add-on bonus, product promotions or as an incentive for a newsletter or ezine sign-up.
If you're beginning to see the potential that small reports can give you with regard to profiting online, then keep reading for some essential tips on how you can get started.
1. Find a Topic
Think about problems people encounter every day. How-to or do-it-yourself books are very popular. For example, things like how to sell your own home, how to get into the stock market safely, how to buy a computer, etc. Create a small report that addresses a problem and then provide a realistic solution on how to resolve it. Don't let your lack of experience or knowledge become a deterrent, you can always have your document written for you. Remember this is something you will do once and sell forever, the cost of having it written for you will pay for itself many times.
2. Get Ideas on What to Write
Once you have a topic, you need to come up with ideas on what to write about. It helps to talk to others for ideas. This can be friends, relatives or business partners. Simply ask people what they would be most interested in knowing about regarding your specific topic. In addition to getting ideas from others include your own personal knowledge or personal experiences that might contribute to your information. For additional information pick up a book or two on the topic, collect ideas, visit topic related forums or set up an interview with an expert.
3. Get Organized
You won't get far if you are not organized. Getting organized means outlining the focus of your report and what the message is that you want to deliver. Next, create and order the categories you will be covering. Determine what research you will be doing and conduct it in an orderly fashion.
4. Create an Outline
Don't be so eager to begin writing that you don't organize your thoughts. Begin by jotting down ideas and then organize them into a logical flow. Don't think about writing perfectly at this point. Simply jot down ideas. As you begin to write your report you will easily be able to create a paragraph or two for each idea.
5. Have a Unique Approach
Don't worry about competition; many writers are in very competitive markets. What sets them apart is their unique approach or their angle? For example, how can you present your information in your own unique way? Perhaps you offer cheaper or faster solutions or perhaps you offer more personalized service. Stress your benefits and give your audience a reason to buy from you. They need to feel that you are their best source for whatever it is they are looking for.
6. Provide Quality Information
Create a report that delivers quality. Your report may have a cost value but it should also have a worth value and it should be worth more than it costs. More simply put, always deliver value first. Don't fill a report with information that can be found anywhere or is common knowledge. Deliver information that a reader can use. Personal tips, secrets or handy and unusual ways to do things are what benefits the reader. If you provide information that a reader can get anywhere or offer secrets that are not really secrets, your credibility will be tarnished and your refunds will be more than your sales.
7. Spread the Word
Once you have created your report it's time to spread the word. Here are several great ways to promote your report. They are all fairly easy to implement and are designed to generate lots of traffic for your report.
- Your Ezine
If you publish an ezine, promote your report to your subscriber list on a periodic basis.
- Forums
Include a link to your report in your signature file on your favorite forums, and then every time you make a post it will include the link to your free report.
- Your Website and/or Blog
Display your free report on each page of your website or blog. You can also create a free report that you can use to encourage people to sign up for newsletter, ezine or opt-in list. If you have a blog, make occasional posts promoting your free report.
- Your eBay Auctions
Use a free report as an incentive to get visitors to bid on your eBay auctions.
- Articles
If you write articles, include a text link in your byline that directs your readers to your report. This is an excellent way to bring free traffic to your site and get your report in front of thousands of readers.
- Your Email Signature File
Whoever you send emails to, personal or business include a P.S. that contains a link to your report.
- Your Social Networking pages
Create profiles on your favorite social networking pages that include a link to your report.
- Get Others to Help You Promote
Create an affiliate program for your report and offer a percentage for each sale. This is a perfect way to encourage others to promote your report and increase sales tenfold.
Don't underestimate the income and marketing potential of creating small reports. But the best part is, you do the work once and reap the benefits forever.
About the Author:
For more tips on writing internet content, creating small reports and ebooks, visit http://www.homenotion.com/writers_corner.html
Keyword tags: small reports, writing
Now, you may be thinking that writing reports takes time, research and energy and that's true, but we're not talking about creating a 300 page book, this is about creating a small but comprehensive 10-20 page report, and the truth is ...it makes money like nothing else!
The reason it works so well is because you are giving people information they are interested in. People are always in need of how to do things themselves, how to resolve problems, how to find more time, how to save more money or how to feel better. If you can resolve these issues and others like it, you are in business.
Small reports can also be used as valuable marketing tools. They can be given away as a free add-on bonus, product promotions or as an incentive for a newsletter or ezine sign-up.
If you're beginning to see the potential that small reports can give you with regard to profiting online, then keep reading for some essential tips on how you can get started.
1. Find a Topic
Think about problems people encounter every day. How-to or do-it-yourself books are very popular. For example, things like how to sell your own home, how to get into the stock market safely, how to buy a computer, etc. Create a small report that addresses a problem and then provide a realistic solution on how to resolve it. Don't let your lack of experience or knowledge become a deterrent, you can always have your document written for you. Remember this is something you will do once and sell forever, the cost of having it written for you will pay for itself many times.
2. Get Ideas on What to Write
Once you have a topic, you need to come up with ideas on what to write about. It helps to talk to others for ideas. This can be friends, relatives or business partners. Simply ask people what they would be most interested in knowing about regarding your specific topic. In addition to getting ideas from others include your own personal knowledge or personal experiences that might contribute to your information. For additional information pick up a book or two on the topic, collect ideas, visit topic related forums or set up an interview with an expert.
3. Get Organized
You won't get far if you are not organized. Getting organized means outlining the focus of your report and what the message is that you want to deliver. Next, create and order the categories you will be covering. Determine what research you will be doing and conduct it in an orderly fashion.
4. Create an Outline
Don't be so eager to begin writing that you don't organize your thoughts. Begin by jotting down ideas and then organize them into a logical flow. Don't think about writing perfectly at this point. Simply jot down ideas. As you begin to write your report you will easily be able to create a paragraph or two for each idea.
5. Have a Unique Approach
Don't worry about competition; many writers are in very competitive markets. What sets them apart is their unique approach or their angle? For example, how can you present your information in your own unique way? Perhaps you offer cheaper or faster solutions or perhaps you offer more personalized service. Stress your benefits and give your audience a reason to buy from you. They need to feel that you are their best source for whatever it is they are looking for.
6. Provide Quality Information
Create a report that delivers quality. Your report may have a cost value but it should also have a worth value and it should be worth more than it costs. More simply put, always deliver value first. Don't fill a report with information that can be found anywhere or is common knowledge. Deliver information that a reader can use. Personal tips, secrets or handy and unusual ways to do things are what benefits the reader. If you provide information that a reader can get anywhere or offer secrets that are not really secrets, your credibility will be tarnished and your refunds will be more than your sales.
7. Spread the Word
Once you have created your report it's time to spread the word. Here are several great ways to promote your report. They are all fairly easy to implement and are designed to generate lots of traffic for your report.
- Your Ezine
If you publish an ezine, promote your report to your subscriber list on a periodic basis.
- Forums
Include a link to your report in your signature file on your favorite forums, and then every time you make a post it will include the link to your free report.
- Your Website and/or Blog
Display your free report on each page of your website or blog. You can also create a free report that you can use to encourage people to sign up for newsletter, ezine or opt-in list. If you have a blog, make occasional posts promoting your free report.
- Your eBay Auctions
Use a free report as an incentive to get visitors to bid on your eBay auctions.
- Articles
If you write articles, include a text link in your byline that directs your readers to your report. This is an excellent way to bring free traffic to your site and get your report in front of thousands of readers.
- Your Email Signature File
Whoever you send emails to, personal or business include a P.S. that contains a link to your report.
- Your Social Networking pages
Create profiles on your favorite social networking pages that include a link to your report.
- Get Others to Help You Promote
Create an affiliate program for your report and offer a percentage for each sale. This is a perfect way to encourage others to promote your report and increase sales tenfold.
Don't underestimate the income and marketing potential of creating small reports. But the best part is, you do the work once and reap the benefits forever.
About the Author:
For more tips on writing internet content, creating small reports and ebooks, visit http://www.homenotion.com/writers_corner.html
Keyword tags: small reports, writing
Market Your Articles to Increase Sales
Article marketing is successful on the World Wide Web through supply of information. With many new businesses plying on the Internet recently, competition has become stiff. It is indeed a challenge to market any business online, which is likely to generate a prospective audience to it.
Article marketing has to be in such a way so it pulls readers attention to the writer's web site. It is essential to advertise articles capable of drawing target audience to that site for valuable information on particular topics. The prospective readers are ones you may persuade to enter a business.
People engaged in article marketing need to submit their articles to different article sites. Write on a particular business and make sure that information is informative and updated. Avoid hype in writing.
Benefits:
Article marketing has in store enough benefits for business owners who use this marketing strategy. From increased visibility on the Internet, to better rankings on the search engine, article marketing aims at promoting products, services, and programs of online businesses having limited marketing budget. Its benefits are as below:
1. Helps to build goodwill: Some business owners believe that revealing too much information, reduces credibility of their goods and services. Thus, they restrict their product knowledge to themselves. Writers, who provide enough information to readers on a particular product or service, are likely to gain attention for such services in future. The writer has to build a rapport with the customers through the supplied content and hence, the content has to be a masterpiece.
2. Favorable SEO effect: SEO, which stands for Search Engine Optimization, intends to make a web site frequently accessible for search engines. This enables the site to be indexed, found and shown for users performing a key-word specific search. SEO involves many techniques such as on-page and off-page. Article marketing has emerged as an important SEO tool, since it allows the user to combine the usage of keywords and associated links for better rankings for the web site. An author submitting an article on any online directory may choose to include an author biography or a resource box. A writer may also add a link to the web site within the resource box. The added link is sure to attract readers to that site and generate traffic. The writer may also use HTML for formatting the links so the same appear as a part of keywords.
3. Assists in maintaining credibility: Article marketing offers both name and fame and boosts the credibility of the writer. A writer needs to make available quality and concise information on products and services to attract large number of buyers to the web site. If a web site is successful in gaining prospective visitors, credibility of that site is likely to improve as never before.
Overview:
Article marketing is perhaps the most ignored concept in Internet marketing. Entrepreneurs spend inexhaustible amount of money in advertisements and other expensive methods. However, article marketing helps to attract huge traffic and is very affordable because individuals do not have to shell huge sum on it. Simply writing the articles and posting them in different sites, starts boosting the sale of the products almost immediately.
About the Author:
David O Connell: How to write high quality articles fast and turn them into
high residual incomes http://www.articlewritingsecrets.net/
Auto Submit your articles to over 4,100 article directories and sites
http://www.marketer.top5submitters.com
Keyword tags: article marketing, advertising articles, how to write an article, publishing articles, article,
Article marketing has to be in such a way so it pulls readers attention to the writer's web site. It is essential to advertise articles capable of drawing target audience to that site for valuable information on particular topics. The prospective readers are ones you may persuade to enter a business.
People engaged in article marketing need to submit their articles to different article sites. Write on a particular business and make sure that information is informative and updated. Avoid hype in writing.
Benefits:
Article marketing has in store enough benefits for business owners who use this marketing strategy. From increased visibility on the Internet, to better rankings on the search engine, article marketing aims at promoting products, services, and programs of online businesses having limited marketing budget. Its benefits are as below:
1. Helps to build goodwill: Some business owners believe that revealing too much information, reduces credibility of their goods and services. Thus, they restrict their product knowledge to themselves. Writers, who provide enough information to readers on a particular product or service, are likely to gain attention for such services in future. The writer has to build a rapport with the customers through the supplied content and hence, the content has to be a masterpiece.
2. Favorable SEO effect: SEO, which stands for Search Engine Optimization, intends to make a web site frequently accessible for search engines. This enables the site to be indexed, found and shown for users performing a key-word specific search. SEO involves many techniques such as on-page and off-page. Article marketing has emerged as an important SEO tool, since it allows the user to combine the usage of keywords and associated links for better rankings for the web site. An author submitting an article on any online directory may choose to include an author biography or a resource box. A writer may also add a link to the web site within the resource box. The added link is sure to attract readers to that site and generate traffic. The writer may also use HTML for formatting the links so the same appear as a part of keywords.
3. Assists in maintaining credibility: Article marketing offers both name and fame and boosts the credibility of the writer. A writer needs to make available quality and concise information on products and services to attract large number of buyers to the web site. If a web site is successful in gaining prospective visitors, credibility of that site is likely to improve as never before.
Overview:
Article marketing is perhaps the most ignored concept in Internet marketing. Entrepreneurs spend inexhaustible amount of money in advertisements and other expensive methods. However, article marketing helps to attract huge traffic and is very affordable because individuals do not have to shell huge sum on it. Simply writing the articles and posting them in different sites, starts boosting the sale of the products almost immediately.
About the Author:
David O Connell: How to write high quality articles fast and turn them into
high residual incomes http://www.articlewritingsecrets.net/
Auto Submit your articles to over 4,100 article directories and sites
http://www.marketer.top5submitters.com
Keyword tags: article marketing, advertising articles, how to write an article, publishing articles, article,
Join the Article Submission Craze and Get Your Articles Out There!
Article submission sites are a great way to generate extra traffic to your website. By submitting your article to article submission sites you also increase the back links to your website. This is a great way to get more notice to your website by the search engines. Search engines crave new content and popular content. If your website has a bunch of articles that all link back to your website or products on your website you increase your exposure.
By submitting your article to the article directory websites it allows others to copy your article and include it in their website for content. This gives you more back links to your website for sharing the content. By doing this your are helping to put your website marketing on auto pilot. Your article will get published on more and more sites creating a never ending stream of fresh back links.
If you are looking to build quality traffic to your website you should seriously consider writing an article about your niche and linking it to your website. By sharing your knowledge about the topics in common with your website you will be rewarded with new traffic because you are establishing yourself as an expert in your area. Article submission is just one of the many things you should be doing to increase your websites popularity in the world of (SEO) search engine optimization.
Quick tips on submitting articles: 1> Make sure you follow the sites rules when submitting an article. 2> Do not use all CAPITAL letters, it is like yelling at someone. 3> Do not use affiliate links in your article, this is a huge No No on most sites. 4> Don't copy other peoples articles and say that you wrote them. 5> Do not flood your articles with links, 2 or 3 links at most is generally acceptable, usually at the bottom of the article. 6> Proof read your articles and check for grammar and spelling. Grammar and spelling mistakes are a HUGE turn off to most people and make you look incompetent to them. 7> Make sure you are using search engine optimized terms to describe the product or service you are writing about. This will increase the chances your article has of being found. 8> Submit your article to as many sites as possible, you should try for 5-10 per week. 9> Double check your article before you submit it! 10> Double check your article before you submit it! This was intentionally repeated as once you submit your article and it gets indexed by the search engines it is difficult to get changed. Almost impossible if you are using and automatic submission service that submits your article to hundreds of sites.
For ideas on how to write a good article that is search engine optimized see our website: http://www.article-knowledge-base.com/?q=submitting+articles&page=search.
You can get started right now by submitting your article to our website here: http://www.article-knowledge-base.com/submit-articles.htm.
Feel free to redistribute this article as much as you like, keeping the resource links intact.
About the Author:
Your one-stop source for free articles. Do you need content to add to your web site? Or articles for use on your opt-in newsletters and e-zines? http://www.Article-Knowledge-Base.com has a huge collection of articles on various subjects.
Keyword tags: article submission, submit articles, articles, article search, article marketing
By submitting your article to the article directory websites it allows others to copy your article and include it in their website for content. This gives you more back links to your website for sharing the content. By doing this your are helping to put your website marketing on auto pilot. Your article will get published on more and more sites creating a never ending stream of fresh back links.
If you are looking to build quality traffic to your website you should seriously consider writing an article about your niche and linking it to your website. By sharing your knowledge about the topics in common with your website you will be rewarded with new traffic because you are establishing yourself as an expert in your area. Article submission is just one of the many things you should be doing to increase your websites popularity in the world of (SEO) search engine optimization.
Quick tips on submitting articles: 1> Make sure you follow the sites rules when submitting an article. 2> Do not use all CAPITAL letters, it is like yelling at someone. 3> Do not use affiliate links in your article, this is a huge No No on most sites. 4> Don't copy other peoples articles and say that you wrote them. 5> Do not flood your articles with links, 2 or 3 links at most is generally acceptable, usually at the bottom of the article. 6> Proof read your articles and check for grammar and spelling. Grammar and spelling mistakes are a HUGE turn off to most people and make you look incompetent to them. 7> Make sure you are using search engine optimized terms to describe the product or service you are writing about. This will increase the chances your article has of being found. 8> Submit your article to as many sites as possible, you should try for 5-10 per week. 9> Double check your article before you submit it! 10> Double check your article before you submit it! This was intentionally repeated as once you submit your article and it gets indexed by the search engines it is difficult to get changed. Almost impossible if you are using and automatic submission service that submits your article to hundreds of sites.
For ideas on how to write a good article that is search engine optimized see our website: http://www.article-knowledge-base.com/?q=submitting+articles&page=search.
You can get started right now by submitting your article to our website here: http://www.article-knowledge-base.com/submit-articles.htm.
Feel free to redistribute this article as much as you like, keeping the resource links intact.
About the Author:
Your one-stop source for free articles. Do you need content to add to your web site? Or articles for use on your opt-in newsletters and e-zines? http://www.Article-Knowledge-Base.com has a huge collection of articles on various subjects.
Keyword tags: article submission, submit articles, articles, article search, article marketing
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Article Marketing: What\s it All About?
Article marketing is all about writing brief articles related to any industry and further submitting those articles to distribution forms and article sites. The writer may finally include a bio piece in the article, revealing personal and professional identity and a link to the web site. The bio piece will auto include itself if anyone uses the article on their web site.
The writer needs to avoid revealing too many secrets or tips but has to make sure that the articles are helpful and informative. This increases the chance of prospective readers visiting the web site frequently for information on particular topics. The purpose of marketing articles is to draw new customers to a web site. Spam filters are no more a cause of worry since customers now directly come to the web site. Article marketing is an assured means for building confidence in the minds and hearts of the target audience.
Importance:
Hardly anyone doubts article marketing as a successful technique of online marketing. It aims at marketing a product for a business and building traffic for blogs or sites. It is a marketing strategy, which sends either a piece or a big group of articles on the Internet. The writer has to be good enough in expressing the opinions and expertise clearly, which may pass on and on around the Internet.
Article marketing is easy for bloggers writing their own contents. When a writer updates a blog in their own writing on a regular basis, it is supposed that the person has a flair for writing. It is possible to write articles of 300-600 words on a daily basis. A lazy writer may even hire a ghostwriter who writes at a low cost and maintains the content quality throughout the article.
Articles having the intention of marketing need not be of superior quality as in case of guest blogging. The articles have to provide information, which is to the point and does not appear as a sales copy. The motive is traffic building. Article marketing surely calls for hard work and strong determination. As such, chances are, most beginners either quit writing or get them on another fad in the process.
Internet marketers are familiar with the idea that potential buyers act on good content. Hence, the content has to be information specific, attracting more readers to it. Article marketing depends largely on pulling crowd to a web site by putting across a message. It makes available the right information for the target audience without any hype.
Honest Marketing:
Article marketing is a white-hat method, which search engines notice. It reaches the target market. If newsletter and web site owners publish the articles, the articles get relevant links that take these back to the web site of the writer. The business works for many. It is affordable and possible for any business no matter how big or small it is. Share knowledge on the Internet with people at the other end and get established in writing. Make available informative content on the web and double the chances of generating prospective readers to it and expanding the business. All online business owners would be wise to, and do very well to take a closer look at Article Marketing and implement this marketing technique on a consistent basis.
About the Author:
David O Connell: How to write high quality articles fast and turn them into
high residual incomes http://www.articlewritingsecrets.net/
Auto Submit your articles to over 4,100 article directories and sites
http://www.marketer.top5submitters.com
Keyword tags: article marketing, advertising articles, how to write an article, publishing articles, article writi
The writer needs to avoid revealing too many secrets or tips but has to make sure that the articles are helpful and informative. This increases the chance of prospective readers visiting the web site frequently for information on particular topics. The purpose of marketing articles is to draw new customers to a web site. Spam filters are no more a cause of worry since customers now directly come to the web site. Article marketing is an assured means for building confidence in the minds and hearts of the target audience.
Importance:
Hardly anyone doubts article marketing as a successful technique of online marketing. It aims at marketing a product for a business and building traffic for blogs or sites. It is a marketing strategy, which sends either a piece or a big group of articles on the Internet. The writer has to be good enough in expressing the opinions and expertise clearly, which may pass on and on around the Internet.
Article marketing is easy for bloggers writing their own contents. When a writer updates a blog in their own writing on a regular basis, it is supposed that the person has a flair for writing. It is possible to write articles of 300-600 words on a daily basis. A lazy writer may even hire a ghostwriter who writes at a low cost and maintains the content quality throughout the article.
Articles having the intention of marketing need not be of superior quality as in case of guest blogging. The articles have to provide information, which is to the point and does not appear as a sales copy. The motive is traffic building. Article marketing surely calls for hard work and strong determination. As such, chances are, most beginners either quit writing or get them on another fad in the process.
Internet marketers are familiar with the idea that potential buyers act on good content. Hence, the content has to be information specific, attracting more readers to it. Article marketing depends largely on pulling crowd to a web site by putting across a message. It makes available the right information for the target audience without any hype.
Honest Marketing:
Article marketing is a white-hat method, which search engines notice. It reaches the target market. If newsletter and web site owners publish the articles, the articles get relevant links that take these back to the web site of the writer. The business works for many. It is affordable and possible for any business no matter how big or small it is. Share knowledge on the Internet with people at the other end and get established in writing. Make available informative content on the web and double the chances of generating prospective readers to it and expanding the business. All online business owners would be wise to, and do very well to take a closer look at Article Marketing and implement this marketing technique on a consistent basis.
About the Author:
David O Connell: How to write high quality articles fast and turn them into
high residual incomes http://www.articlewritingsecrets.net/
Auto Submit your articles to over 4,100 article directories and sites
http://www.marketer.top5submitters.com
Keyword tags: article marketing, advertising articles, how to write an article, publishing articles, article writi
Learn How to Write a Book Report
Many students discover that they must write a book report while in school. While some inwardly groan at the task of writing a book report on Johnny Seagull, writing a book report is an opportunity to express your opinions and also to become a more effective writer. The smart student knows that book reports are very much a part of their education.
Writing a great book report doesn't have to be difficult. The first step to writing a book report is to follow any instructions given by the teacher or instructor. Some teachers give a specific page length or word count. They may also give a list of questions that they would like addressed within the book report itself. The teacher always gives a "due date" for the book report and to ignore this would be to also not follow the instructions.
Reading the book for the book report is also important. While this may seem like a very simple statement: it isn't. Some students have been known to skim a book and to thus miss important parts of the book. Take the time to read and absorb the book fully. An excellent idea is to first read the directions given by your teacher and then to read the book.
Keep a piece of notebook paper next to you while you are reading, so you can take down notes as they come to you during reading. Be sure to mention the page numbers that correspond to what you feel is important. This simple tip will help you write a much more effective book report.
Owning your own copy of the book is extremely helpful also. When you are reading a library or borrowed copy, you know that you cannot take notes in it. If you are reading your own copy of the book, you can highlight or take small notes within the margins of the book as your read. Being able to personalize your copy of this book is quite helpful for this book report project.
While reading the book it is also useful to notice the role of each character in the story. What does each character represent? What do your feel the writer is trying to say about life or society with these characters? As you read, look for quotes that best represent this story and these characters. Mentioning these quotes in your book report can often make your book report stronger.
A book report is also not complete without your opinion. What have you thought of the book? While answering the question, pay attention to the related questions that your teacher has asked you, as they may want you to focus on a certain aspect of the book. Everyone that reads a book has a different opinion. Your sharing of your opinion is what makes a book report unique and all its own work. Otherwise, your report would simply be a research project.
Writing a book report is often a great learning experience for a student. Books can teach you about how society viewed people at that particular time. It can also teach you how people thought or do think today. Every book has a unique voice, just as you have your own voice to share your opinion. There is much you can learn by writing a book report.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Book Report http://www.essaytown.com/proposal_research_proposals.html - Research Proposal
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Writing a great book report doesn't have to be difficult. The first step to writing a book report is to follow any instructions given by the teacher or instructor. Some teachers give a specific page length or word count. They may also give a list of questions that they would like addressed within the book report itself. The teacher always gives a "due date" for the book report and to ignore this would be to also not follow the instructions.
Reading the book for the book report is also important. While this may seem like a very simple statement: it isn't. Some students have been known to skim a book and to thus miss important parts of the book. Take the time to read and absorb the book fully. An excellent idea is to first read the directions given by your teacher and then to read the book.
Keep a piece of notebook paper next to you while you are reading, so you can take down notes as they come to you during reading. Be sure to mention the page numbers that correspond to what you feel is important. This simple tip will help you write a much more effective book report.
Owning your own copy of the book is extremely helpful also. When you are reading a library or borrowed copy, you know that you cannot take notes in it. If you are reading your own copy of the book, you can highlight or take small notes within the margins of the book as your read. Being able to personalize your copy of this book is quite helpful for this book report project.
While reading the book it is also useful to notice the role of each character in the story. What does each character represent? What do your feel the writer is trying to say about life or society with these characters? As you read, look for quotes that best represent this story and these characters. Mentioning these quotes in your book report can often make your book report stronger.
A book report is also not complete without your opinion. What have you thought of the book? While answering the question, pay attention to the related questions that your teacher has asked you, as they may want you to focus on a certain aspect of the book. Everyone that reads a book has a different opinion. Your sharing of your opinion is what makes a book report unique and all its own work. Otherwise, your report would simply be a research project.
Writing a book report is often a great learning experience for a student. Books can teach you about how society viewed people at that particular time. It can also teach you how people thought or do think today. Every book has a unique voice, just as you have your own voice to share your opinion. There is much you can learn by writing a book report.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Book Report http://www.essaytown.com/proposal_research_proposals.html - Research Proposal
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Writing and Submitting Articles
The importance of writing and submitting articles is the fact that you won't get the word out about what you believe in strongly enough to put on paper, unless someone is there to read it.
Writing your articles means that you have to submit it to search engines, article submission sites and article directories for it to be seen and noticed.
Writers are always in demand and so are articles. Website owners love fresh content and so does the search engine. Magazines, newsletters, newspapers, websites, blogs, and journals all demand original content and articles are the method used to fill those pages with content. Without content, there would be no magazines, no newsletters, no newspapers, no websites, now blogs, no search engines and no journals.
Content is king and is necessary. There is no doubt about that. Submitting articles is also key because an article sitting in a folder and on a computer has no value to anyone who cannot read it. So concentrating on getting the article out to the reader is vitally important to the article writing and submission process.
Most of the time the content that fill these pages are well written, well researched and well thought out. These may be topics that people know about and write about and submit to the article directories for exposure. You can find potential in almost every topic or subject, so to write and submit articles on a subject you love would not be hard to do.
The importance of writing and submitting articles is evident because most Internet Marketers are using it to sell their product or service. Internet Marketers are even employing the service of professional writers to write and submit articles for them. Through many article distribution services, Internet Marketers are taking a piece of the article marketing strategy to increase traffic to their websites and increase their profits.
If we took the time to write and submit at least one article per week, we would be able to contribute our individual point of view to the world. That is probably the most important reason to write and submit articles. People love good information and articles are the way to contribute your expertise, knowledge and skill to people who are looking for such information.
It's up to the writer, and the importance each person puts on their own work will determine its potential to be published. You can write and submit an article to a website, or write an article to a magazine. Whichever you prefer, you can't give up writing articles. Even when you don't succeed at first, you can find a publication where you're article will fit.
You should think about the fact that if you don't credit your own work with any importance, how do you expect anyone else to? It is important to hold yourself to your own high standards, write an article, submit the article, and see what happens. Before you know it you can contribute to the content you see online every day. Now that is important.
About the Author:
Ben Heart is an Article Marketing specialists from ArticlesBase. ArticlesBase is a free articles directory, http://www.articlesbase.com answers all your article submission needs. Learn more about Article Marketing from The Entrepreneur's Guide to Article Marketing - http://www.articlesmarketing.info
Keyword tags: find articles, submit articles, article marketing, article submission, articles directory
Writing your articles means that you have to submit it to search engines, article submission sites and article directories for it to be seen and noticed.
Writers are always in demand and so are articles. Website owners love fresh content and so does the search engine. Magazines, newsletters, newspapers, websites, blogs, and journals all demand original content and articles are the method used to fill those pages with content. Without content, there would be no magazines, no newsletters, no newspapers, no websites, now blogs, no search engines and no journals.
Content is king and is necessary. There is no doubt about that. Submitting articles is also key because an article sitting in a folder and on a computer has no value to anyone who cannot read it. So concentrating on getting the article out to the reader is vitally important to the article writing and submission process.
Most of the time the content that fill these pages are well written, well researched and well thought out. These may be topics that people know about and write about and submit to the article directories for exposure. You can find potential in almost every topic or subject, so to write and submit articles on a subject you love would not be hard to do.
The importance of writing and submitting articles is evident because most Internet Marketers are using it to sell their product or service. Internet Marketers are even employing the service of professional writers to write and submit articles for them. Through many article distribution services, Internet Marketers are taking a piece of the article marketing strategy to increase traffic to their websites and increase their profits.
If we took the time to write and submit at least one article per week, we would be able to contribute our individual point of view to the world. That is probably the most important reason to write and submit articles. People love good information and articles are the way to contribute your expertise, knowledge and skill to people who are looking for such information.
It's up to the writer, and the importance each person puts on their own work will determine its potential to be published. You can write and submit an article to a website, or write an article to a magazine. Whichever you prefer, you can't give up writing articles. Even when you don't succeed at first, you can find a publication where you're article will fit.
You should think about the fact that if you don't credit your own work with any importance, how do you expect anyone else to? It is important to hold yourself to your own high standards, write an article, submit the article, and see what happens. Before you know it you can contribute to the content you see online every day. Now that is important.
About the Author:
Ben Heart is an Article Marketing specialists from ArticlesBase. ArticlesBase is a free articles directory, http://www.articlesbase.com answers all your article submission needs. Learn more about Article Marketing from The Entrepreneur's Guide to Article Marketing - http://www.articlesmarketing.info
Keyword tags: find articles, submit articles, article marketing, article submission, articles directory
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tips For Writing Article to Promote Your Business
Promoting any business through writing articles has become a really powerful and an effective tool, there are many website actually each of the successful websites are planning article writing to promote their business online.
There are certain tips that should be kept in mind once you have decided to write an article to promote your business. These tips are:
1) Don't advertise through them: the articles that you write to generate links and traffic should not be written in a way that they seem to give an impression of being advertisement. People search for articles not advertisements, make them interesting but not marketing or advertisements so that they give information and don't simply market your product.
2) SEO writing is one way that can attract a lot of traffic on your website, this type of writing is simply identifying a keyword that is searched by lot of people and if it relates your theme, or the theme of your business then write an article by the optimum use of such keyword and make the best use of it. This will automatically place your site on a good rank in the search engines thus giving you more hits and generate a good traffic.
3) Readers should get interested in your articles more and more, they are mostly bothered about themselves so giving them the best information and best idea for what they are searching is very important so be sure to give them these required things and guarantee a good response.
4) Articles writing should also be done on a regular basis (Easy to read and Easy to understand). Make your article interesting (It's very important), there are many ways to do it, you can tell a story, and even quotes from famous people that would enhance your article quality and you would be able to utilize the best of the space available.
5) Device a strong theme for your article and stick you it, readers would be more interested in your articles if you use a strong theme. A strong theme attracts attention and this would give you the desired traffic and good customer response too.
6) Set the tone of your article right and also be friendly with the reader it creates lot of customer attention and even awareness. The tone is what set the pulse of an article and would give you the best feed from people and customer response.
7) The best articles are the ones that provide the reader with the best possible advice and give him or her hints as to where he can go for help.
8) If you cannot give proper advice then stick to telling a story, at times it helps in improving the quality and customer response.
9) Whenever you give any advice try to keep it short and simple.
Article writing is a methodical task and proper methods will lead you to success proper ways needs to be followed so that you get the best out of every possible article attract the customer and get good links and visitors for your site.
About the Author:
http://www.100biz.net (Article Directory - Submit article or Find Free Content for website) http://www.elistz.net (http://Elistz.net - Free Classifieds, Post 100% Free Ads.)
Keyword tags: promote, article writing, article marketing, business writing, write article
There are certain tips that should be kept in mind once you have decided to write an article to promote your business. These tips are:
1) Don't advertise through them: the articles that you write to generate links and traffic should not be written in a way that they seem to give an impression of being advertisement. People search for articles not advertisements, make them interesting but not marketing or advertisements so that they give information and don't simply market your product.
2) SEO writing is one way that can attract a lot of traffic on your website, this type of writing is simply identifying a keyword that is searched by lot of people and if it relates your theme, or the theme of your business then write an article by the optimum use of such keyword and make the best use of it. This will automatically place your site on a good rank in the search engines thus giving you more hits and generate a good traffic.
3) Readers should get interested in your articles more and more, they are mostly bothered about themselves so giving them the best information and best idea for what they are searching is very important so be sure to give them these required things and guarantee a good response.
4) Articles writing should also be done on a regular basis (Easy to read and Easy to understand). Make your article interesting (It's very important), there are many ways to do it, you can tell a story, and even quotes from famous people that would enhance your article quality and you would be able to utilize the best of the space available.
5) Device a strong theme for your article and stick you it, readers would be more interested in your articles if you use a strong theme. A strong theme attracts attention and this would give you the desired traffic and good customer response too.
6) Set the tone of your article right and also be friendly with the reader it creates lot of customer attention and even awareness. The tone is what set the pulse of an article and would give you the best feed from people and customer response.
7) The best articles are the ones that provide the reader with the best possible advice and give him or her hints as to where he can go for help.
8) If you cannot give proper advice then stick to telling a story, at times it helps in improving the quality and customer response.
9) Whenever you give any advice try to keep it short and simple.
Article writing is a methodical task and proper methods will lead you to success proper ways needs to be followed so that you get the best out of every possible article attract the customer and get good links and visitors for your site.
About the Author:
http://www.100biz.net (Article Directory - Submit article or Find Free Content for website) http://www.elistz.net (http://Elistz.net - Free Classifieds, Post 100% Free Ads.)
Keyword tags: promote, article writing, article marketing, business writing, write article
Sunday, June 22, 2008
How Thesis Writing Applies to Graduate School
If you are in graduate school, you will need to write a thesis. A thesis project is an independent study on a topic of great interest. The most common thesis is a written thesis. Writing your thesis at times may seem like a daunting task. With some practical preparation techniques: you can confidently climb this "paper mountain". Before long, you'll have your graduate degree and those impressive letters of M.A., M.B.A. or M.S. behind your name.
There is a popular old saying "a stitch in time saves nine" and many of us don't even think about what this means, even though we've heard this repeatedly. This saying is quite true when it comes to writing your thesis. The first step to writing your thesis is to create a thesis statement. The ideal thesis statement is one that intrigues you and makes you want to research it further.
It is also quite important that your thesis statement have enough research to support it: you can come up with a fascinating thesis statement that simply does not have enough research to write a strong thesis. Begin by finding the thesis statement and then delve into your preliminary research to understand if there will be enough facts to support what you believe.
When doing preliminary research it is important to use every resource available to you. Try books, journal articles, magazines, newspapers and also the Internet. Depending on your thesis statement, you may discover unique sources available on the Internet that support your statement that you'd like to include. Many thesis programs will accept online sources as long as they are credited appropriately. Cast a wide net when looking for other sources including books to try for out-of-print books you may be able to locate through an out-of-print bookseller. This preliminary research will assist you in deciding if this thesis is the one you wish to pursue.
Your thesis adviser will either approve or disapprove of your preliminary research and your thesis statement. If you receive approval, then you are ready to enter into deeper research on your project. If you receive disapproval, then you must create a new thesis statement and begin once more with your thesis preliminary research. Keeping your thesis adviser "in the loop" about what you are doing is critical: without their approval, you cannot move forward. The entire goal is to be able to move forward to the next step.
Assuming you have approval, further research will be done at this stage. Some that write a thesis find it most useful to actually begin writing their thesis and to research at the same time. Others feel that they need to do all of the research first. Do what you feel would be the most practical. Even if you feel you are completely done with all of the research, you may discover once you begin writing that you need another source or two.
In writing your thesis, it is critical that you stick to the format that you have been given by your thesis advisor and/or committee. One of the most popular writing formats is the APA format. While learning a writing format is not difficult, if your thesis is not presented in the proper writing format it will not be accepted. Writing a one hundred to three hundred page thesis can feel simply overwhelming at times.
The little details sometimes may escape you as you work on this large project. Finding a fellow student or friend to edit your thesis is quite valuable as they can insure that you have followed the format. If your thesis is handed in and does not follow format this can delay your graduating on time. Consider hiring someone to edit your thesis if no helping hands volunteer for this task.
Writing your thesis is a task, which you should be quite proud of accomplishing. Not everyone can say that they have written a thesis. Writing a thesis is very much like taking on a "paper marathon" and often it is about simply covering the miles. This is not a task that can be done quickly; your thesis will take you months and perhaps even a year.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Book Reports http://www.essaytown.com/thesis_help_thesis.html - Thesis Writing
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
There is a popular old saying "a stitch in time saves nine" and many of us don't even think about what this means, even though we've heard this repeatedly. This saying is quite true when it comes to writing your thesis. The first step to writing your thesis is to create a thesis statement. The ideal thesis statement is one that intrigues you and makes you want to research it further.
It is also quite important that your thesis statement have enough research to support it: you can come up with a fascinating thesis statement that simply does not have enough research to write a strong thesis. Begin by finding the thesis statement and then delve into your preliminary research to understand if there will be enough facts to support what you believe.
When doing preliminary research it is important to use every resource available to you. Try books, journal articles, magazines, newspapers and also the Internet. Depending on your thesis statement, you may discover unique sources available on the Internet that support your statement that you'd like to include. Many thesis programs will accept online sources as long as they are credited appropriately. Cast a wide net when looking for other sources including books to try for out-of-print books you may be able to locate through an out-of-print bookseller. This preliminary research will assist you in deciding if this thesis is the one you wish to pursue.
Your thesis adviser will either approve or disapprove of your preliminary research and your thesis statement. If you receive approval, then you are ready to enter into deeper research on your project. If you receive disapproval, then you must create a new thesis statement and begin once more with your thesis preliminary research. Keeping your thesis adviser "in the loop" about what you are doing is critical: without their approval, you cannot move forward. The entire goal is to be able to move forward to the next step.
Assuming you have approval, further research will be done at this stage. Some that write a thesis find it most useful to actually begin writing their thesis and to research at the same time. Others feel that they need to do all of the research first. Do what you feel would be the most practical. Even if you feel you are completely done with all of the research, you may discover once you begin writing that you need another source or two.
In writing your thesis, it is critical that you stick to the format that you have been given by your thesis advisor and/or committee. One of the most popular writing formats is the APA format. While learning a writing format is not difficult, if your thesis is not presented in the proper writing format it will not be accepted. Writing a one hundred to three hundred page thesis can feel simply overwhelming at times.
The little details sometimes may escape you as you work on this large project. Finding a fellow student or friend to edit your thesis is quite valuable as they can insure that you have followed the format. If your thesis is handed in and does not follow format this can delay your graduating on time. Consider hiring someone to edit your thesis if no helping hands volunteer for this task.
Writing your thesis is a task, which you should be quite proud of accomplishing. Not everyone can say that they have written a thesis. Writing a thesis is very much like taking on a "paper marathon" and often it is about simply covering the miles. This is not a task that can be done quickly; your thesis will take you months and perhaps even a year.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Book Reports http://www.essaytown.com/thesis_help_thesis.html - Thesis Writing
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Easy To Follow Essay Writing Tips
Many styles of writing exist and there are plenty of ways to format an essay. For example, academic writing and informal writing are two different types of styles that both require careful attention. One difference between the two essays is that academic writing tends to put more emphasis on how the essay is physically structured, such as in the format and layout, as well as on how the words are organized. In contrast, informal writing, such as speeches for political events, are not scrutinized as much since the only thing that's really looked at is the content of the essay speech.
Nevertheless, if you are just starting to write essays for college or you are putting one together for another reason, there are three basic parts to an essay that should go in every one. Each one will be broken down in detail, but first, one should start with an introduction. Second, the body of the paragraph should be laid out. Finally, the conclusion or recap of the essay should be written.
The Introduction: Introductions are one of the most important parts to any essay that you're writing. Not only do essays briefly cover the topics that one will be writing about throughout the whole paper, but it is also meant to capture the thesis statement of the entire paper. The thesis, which is only one or two sentences and is the claim for your paper, essentially lays out your whole paper's format. In other words, one's thesis should be their guide, being sure that each paragraph connects somehow to their claim.
The Body of an Essay: After the introduction has been written the body of the essay is written next. The body of one's essay is essentially the meat and potatoes or filling of the whole essay. Said another way, whoever is reading or listening to your essay actually wants to hear what you have to say in the body of your essay.
While writing it, it's very important that each paragraph has something to do with your thesis, as mentioned above. In addition, each paragraph of the body should begin with a topic sentence, which can be thought of as a little mini-thesis that gets backed up by everything that is written in the paragraph you're working on. The body of an essay usually has three paragraphs, but can contain more if you have more items or proofs to back up your thesis.
The Ending: Finally, the conclusion of the paragraph goes next and is the final step of writing an essay. In essence, the conclusion is perhaps one of the easier parts of writing an essay because all that has to be done is the summarization of the entire paper. After you have written your introduction and body of the essay you will want to provide a brief and concise summary of everything you have discussed and of all the major points, as well as connect it back to your original thesis statement. Since the items that many people remember about essays are the last, your conclusion should be powerful enough to reach out to any doubters of your audience.
Everything laid out here is very important to tackle when writing as essay for high school, college, or even if you're giving a speech in your adult life. Each part of the essay, the introduction, body, and conclusion, are all important to an essay and nothing in them should be left out. If followed, the steps to take while writing an essay can be easy and rewarding in the end!
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Essay http://www.essaytown.com/free_paper.html - Free Essays
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Nevertheless, if you are just starting to write essays for college or you are putting one together for another reason, there are three basic parts to an essay that should go in every one. Each one will be broken down in detail, but first, one should start with an introduction. Second, the body of the paragraph should be laid out. Finally, the conclusion or recap of the essay should be written.
The Introduction: Introductions are one of the most important parts to any essay that you're writing. Not only do essays briefly cover the topics that one will be writing about throughout the whole paper, but it is also meant to capture the thesis statement of the entire paper. The thesis, which is only one or two sentences and is the claim for your paper, essentially lays out your whole paper's format. In other words, one's thesis should be their guide, being sure that each paragraph connects somehow to their claim.
The Body of an Essay: After the introduction has been written the body of the essay is written next. The body of one's essay is essentially the meat and potatoes or filling of the whole essay. Said another way, whoever is reading or listening to your essay actually wants to hear what you have to say in the body of your essay.
While writing it, it's very important that each paragraph has something to do with your thesis, as mentioned above. In addition, each paragraph of the body should begin with a topic sentence, which can be thought of as a little mini-thesis that gets backed up by everything that is written in the paragraph you're working on. The body of an essay usually has three paragraphs, but can contain more if you have more items or proofs to back up your thesis.
The Ending: Finally, the conclusion of the paragraph goes next and is the final step of writing an essay. In essence, the conclusion is perhaps one of the easier parts of writing an essay because all that has to be done is the summarization of the entire paper. After you have written your introduction and body of the essay you will want to provide a brief and concise summary of everything you have discussed and of all the major points, as well as connect it back to your original thesis statement. Since the items that many people remember about essays are the last, your conclusion should be powerful enough to reach out to any doubters of your audience.
Everything laid out here is very important to tackle when writing as essay for high school, college, or even if you're giving a speech in your adult life. Each part of the essay, the introduction, body, and conclusion, are all important to an essay and nothing in them should be left out. If followed, the steps to take while writing an essay can be easy and rewarding in the end!
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Essay http://www.essaytown.com/free_paper.html - Free Essays
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Saturday, June 21, 2008
A Dollar in Change For a Pound of Cure
I went to my local grocery store the other day. I needed some shaved deli meat for my famous "Killer Roast Beef Sandwiches." The deli counter is right there when you walk in and the scene was a typical early evening gotta-get-somethin-for-dinner rush. I counted six people ahead of me but when I pulled my number I found myself the twelfth seeker of the hand sliced grail. A large woman jostled me out of her line-of-display-case site, whining something about not being able to see the Gorgonzola.
As she maneuvered for the right viewing position I almost knocked over a free standing touch screen. What was this? Hiding there in plain sight was a brand new interface to the e-deli. A quick read of the electric pink sign taped to it revealed that I could scan my shopper's card, enter my deli order, and return in 15 minutes to pick it up. Further, the next time I came in I could just scan my card and it would remember my previous orders. I turned to see if anyone else was considering this too-good-to-be-true option, but the throng of 30-somethings waiting behind me seemed enthralled by Ms. Gorgonzola's demand for 4 slices of this and a quarter pound of that.
I boldly scanned my card, ordered a pound and a half of prime and retrieved my receipt from the robot clerk. The magic paper indicated that I could return in just 12 minutes to obtain dinner's main ingredient. Hoping to inspire the herd to follow me to this nirvana, in a rather loud voice I exclaimed, "Wow, is this cool!" But no one dared move, Ms G. had moved on to Prosciutto.
I moved toward the freshly baked rolls wondering if I had been duped, but perfectly content to sacrifice 12 minutes of my time to test this new-fangled idea. I walked through the aisles picking up chips and a bottle of the incredible Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Barbecue Sauce, elixir of the gods. I turned the corner toward the dairy section and there was Jim. I hadn't seen Jim since we both retired from Motorola five years earlier. I didn't even know he was still in Arizona. I shook his hand and wrote his new email address on the back of my deli receipt. We talked for awhile but he had to go. He was under strict orders to get milk and eggs and get home.
I grabbed the dip for the chips and headed back to the e-deli almost colliding with the cart of the rotund Ms Gorgonzola. Then, miracle of miracles, there, just behind the e-deli stand, was a tray with my order in it. Attached to my package was a dollar off coupon, just for trying the new system.
The faces of the deli traditionalists, already grim from their seemingly endless wait, appeared to turn angry as they realized the steam engine had clearly out delivered the pony express. I fully expected someone to shout, "Git a rope" as I carried my prized possession through the mob. Yet none of them made a move toward the electronic change agent standing ready, willing and able to improve their situation.
About the Author:
B.L. Lindstrom is a highly paid and sought after systems janitor and author in multiple media. His latest communications can always be found on his Blog Authorian Adventures in the Ether, http://www.SoIWroteThisBook.com. If you want to know more about his work you can visit http://www.BLLindstrom.com.
Keyword tags: authors, books, publishing, stories, technology, deli, waiting in line, fiction
As she maneuvered for the right viewing position I almost knocked over a free standing touch screen. What was this? Hiding there in plain sight was a brand new interface to the e-deli. A quick read of the electric pink sign taped to it revealed that I could scan my shopper's card, enter my deli order, and return in 15 minutes to pick it up. Further, the next time I came in I could just scan my card and it would remember my previous orders. I turned to see if anyone else was considering this too-good-to-be-true option, but the throng of 30-somethings waiting behind me seemed enthralled by Ms. Gorgonzola's demand for 4 slices of this and a quarter pound of that.
I boldly scanned my card, ordered a pound and a half of prime and retrieved my receipt from the robot clerk. The magic paper indicated that I could return in just 12 minutes to obtain dinner's main ingredient. Hoping to inspire the herd to follow me to this nirvana, in a rather loud voice I exclaimed, "Wow, is this cool!" But no one dared move, Ms G. had moved on to Prosciutto.
I moved toward the freshly baked rolls wondering if I had been duped, but perfectly content to sacrifice 12 minutes of my time to test this new-fangled idea. I walked through the aisles picking up chips and a bottle of the incredible Sweet Baby Ray's Honey Barbecue Sauce, elixir of the gods. I turned the corner toward the dairy section and there was Jim. I hadn't seen Jim since we both retired from Motorola five years earlier. I didn't even know he was still in Arizona. I shook his hand and wrote his new email address on the back of my deli receipt. We talked for awhile but he had to go. He was under strict orders to get milk and eggs and get home.
I grabbed the dip for the chips and headed back to the e-deli almost colliding with the cart of the rotund Ms Gorgonzola. Then, miracle of miracles, there, just behind the e-deli stand, was a tray with my order in it. Attached to my package was a dollar off coupon, just for trying the new system.
The faces of the deli traditionalists, already grim from their seemingly endless wait, appeared to turn angry as they realized the steam engine had clearly out delivered the pony express. I fully expected someone to shout, "Git a rope" as I carried my prized possession through the mob. Yet none of them made a move toward the electronic change agent standing ready, willing and able to improve their situation.
About the Author:
B.L. Lindstrom is a highly paid and sought after systems janitor and author in multiple media. His latest communications can always be found on his Blog Authorian Adventures in the Ether, http://www.SoIWroteThisBook.com. If you want to know more about his work you can visit http://www.BLLindstrom.com.
Keyword tags: authors, books, publishing, stories, technology, deli, waiting in line, fiction
The Synopsis -- An Editors View
Imagine for a moment that you have just been hired as an acquisitions editor a small publishing company that publishes romance. Your task is to find a romantic suspense novel to fill a gaping hole in the publisher's schedule. You are excited, thinking you have just landed your dream job. After all, you'll get to read all day, something you love to do anyway, and you'll get paid!
You're shown to your office and logged onto your computer system. You open your email and are pleased to find several submissions already waiting for you. Books you get to read and don't have to pay for! Does it get any better than this?
You open the first email submission and click on the single attachment to open the file. The file that opens has the author's name address and phone number, but there is no letter and no synopsis. You think this is a bit odd, but figure that you were hired to read manuscripts so you settle into your chair and begin to read. The story opens strongly and you are drawn into the world of the heroine who is being chased down a dark alley. You're on the edge of your seat, hanging on every word, wondering what will happen to the heroine. Will she escape the man who is chasing her? You turn pages, faster and faster, remembering that you're supposed to be finding a romantic suspense novel. Now you are on page 60 and though the story has kept you on the edge of your seat and turning pages, there is no hero in sight and your heroine is still running for her life. You begin to wonder where the hero is, and when he'll show up. You begin to wonder whether this book is a romantic suspense at all. Maybe it's a straight suspense, there was no synopsis to tell you. You decide to read a few more pages to see if the hero turns up. A few more pages down the road there is still no hero in sight, and you decide that this manuscript really doesn't work as a romantic suspense so you draft the rejection letter informing the author that the piece doesn't work as a romantic suspense because it lacks a hero and a romantic element.
You're now on to submission number two. Your boss has stuck her head in the door twice to see how you're doing and to inquire whether you've found any promising candidates to fill that looming spot in the schedule.
You open submission number two and are pleased to find that this submission has a cover letter and a synopsis. The cover letter gushes that you'll love the surprise ending the author has crafted for her heroine. You read through the synopsis and find that the hero and heroine meet early in the story, they have both a strong attraction and a strong conflict which keeps them at loggerheads through most of the story. You are just about to jump for joy thinking maybe you've found the piece to plug the hole in the publishing schedule when you read that the hero gets shot and the heroine goes off with the bad guy in the end. So much for loving the surprise ending! You open Word and craft your letter to the author telling her that though you loved the first part of the story as she'd described it, you weren't blown away by the ending. You suggest that the heroine ending up with the hero at the end might be a better ending for the story and suggest that she resubmit if she decides to revise.
Well, it hasn't been a grand day. This acquisitions stuff is harder than it looks. Your boss is getting jumpy now. She's stuck her head in the door twice and keeps casting meaningful looks at the publishing schedule thumb tacked to your cubicle wall. You know you have to find a piece, and find it fast.
You open up submission #3, scan it quickly. It's another submission that jumps straight into chapter one. You'd love to read it, but you wonder if it'll be like the other one, start off great but not really work for you. You decide that you don't really have time to read it right now. You need to find a romantic suspense to fill the spot in your schedule before your boss comes back. You close submission #3 and move on, looking for something that looks promising.
You open submission #4 and scan it quickly, mentally checking off the aspects of the story that you think will work for your readers. The hero and heroine meet early in the story, they have a strong reason to be together and an even stronger one to want to be apart. You cheer mentally thinking that the conflict will certainly be strong. The villain is a strong character in his own right with a good reason to want the hero and heroine out of the picture. More cheering. The author has led you to a scene where the hero and heroine have just jumped off a cliff and are plunging into the icy river below. At this point the synopsis ends with the words, I hope you enjoy my novel.
Far from enjoying the novel, you want to strangle this author. You now have no way of knowing whether the story ends happily ever after or whether the hero dies and the heroine goes off with the villain in a surprise ending. You really don't have time to find out right now, so you push the manuscript aside, into the growing file of ones you'll read when you have more time.
Time passes, the day is growing more and more hectic and you are feeling despair wondering whether you will ever find the perfect romantic suspense manuscript to fill the spot in the publishing schedule.
Finally, you open submission number #9. Silently blessing the author who has been kind enough to include a synopsis. You scan the synopsis looking for the elements that make a strong romantic suspense novel. The hero and heroine meet early on in the story. They are instantly both attracted and at odds with each other. The villain is strong and well motivated. As you read through the sub- mission you can see that the characters internal and external conflicts work together to propel the story. You can follow the path the characters take, you can see the situation getting worse and worse for them as both their relationship and their physical safety are put at risk.
You begin to feel hopeful as you approach that portion of the synopsis where the hero and heroine are facing their final showdown with the villain. You breathe a sigh of relief when the villain is captured, noting that the author has so far hit every mark for a romantic suspense. You keep reading, fingers crossed, hoping that this author delivers the happily ever after ending required by the sub- genre. When the hero and heroine melt happily into each others arms you sigh, feeling that just maybe you've found the romantic suspense novel to fill the open spot in the publishing schedule. You will still have to read the novel to be sure the writing is up to par, but at least you know that the plot works.
About the Author:
Laurie Sanders is Editor and CEO at Black Velvet Seductions. The company publishes romance, erotic romance, and romantic suspense. The company offers a free newsletter for authors of romance and gives away free books each Friday. Visit http://www.blackvelvetseductions.com to check it out.
Keyword tags: synopsis, synopsis writing, writing a synopsis, how to write a synopsis, manuscript preparation
You're shown to your office and logged onto your computer system. You open your email and are pleased to find several submissions already waiting for you. Books you get to read and don't have to pay for! Does it get any better than this?
You open the first email submission and click on the single attachment to open the file. The file that opens has the author's name address and phone number, but there is no letter and no synopsis. You think this is a bit odd, but figure that you were hired to read manuscripts so you settle into your chair and begin to read. The story opens strongly and you are drawn into the world of the heroine who is being chased down a dark alley. You're on the edge of your seat, hanging on every word, wondering what will happen to the heroine. Will she escape the man who is chasing her? You turn pages, faster and faster, remembering that you're supposed to be finding a romantic suspense novel. Now you are on page 60 and though the story has kept you on the edge of your seat and turning pages, there is no hero in sight and your heroine is still running for her life. You begin to wonder where the hero is, and when he'll show up. You begin to wonder whether this book is a romantic suspense at all. Maybe it's a straight suspense, there was no synopsis to tell you. You decide to read a few more pages to see if the hero turns up. A few more pages down the road there is still no hero in sight, and you decide that this manuscript really doesn't work as a romantic suspense so you draft the rejection letter informing the author that the piece doesn't work as a romantic suspense because it lacks a hero and a romantic element.
You're now on to submission number two. Your boss has stuck her head in the door twice to see how you're doing and to inquire whether you've found any promising candidates to fill that looming spot in the schedule.
You open submission number two and are pleased to find that this submission has a cover letter and a synopsis. The cover letter gushes that you'll love the surprise ending the author has crafted for her heroine. You read through the synopsis and find that the hero and heroine meet early in the story, they have both a strong attraction and a strong conflict which keeps them at loggerheads through most of the story. You are just about to jump for joy thinking maybe you've found the piece to plug the hole in the publishing schedule when you read that the hero gets shot and the heroine goes off with the bad guy in the end. So much for loving the surprise ending! You open Word and craft your letter to the author telling her that though you loved the first part of the story as she'd described it, you weren't blown away by the ending. You suggest that the heroine ending up with the hero at the end might be a better ending for the story and suggest that she resubmit if she decides to revise.
Well, it hasn't been a grand day. This acquisitions stuff is harder than it looks. Your boss is getting jumpy now. She's stuck her head in the door twice and keeps casting meaningful looks at the publishing schedule thumb tacked to your cubicle wall. You know you have to find a piece, and find it fast.
You open up submission #3, scan it quickly. It's another submission that jumps straight into chapter one. You'd love to read it, but you wonder if it'll be like the other one, start off great but not really work for you. You decide that you don't really have time to read it right now. You need to find a romantic suspense to fill the spot in your schedule before your boss comes back. You close submission #3 and move on, looking for something that looks promising.
You open submission #4 and scan it quickly, mentally checking off the aspects of the story that you think will work for your readers. The hero and heroine meet early in the story, they have a strong reason to be together and an even stronger one to want to be apart. You cheer mentally thinking that the conflict will certainly be strong. The villain is a strong character in his own right with a good reason to want the hero and heroine out of the picture. More cheering. The author has led you to a scene where the hero and heroine have just jumped off a cliff and are plunging into the icy river below. At this point the synopsis ends with the words, I hope you enjoy my novel.
Far from enjoying the novel, you want to strangle this author. You now have no way of knowing whether the story ends happily ever after or whether the hero dies and the heroine goes off with the villain in a surprise ending. You really don't have time to find out right now, so you push the manuscript aside, into the growing file of ones you'll read when you have more time.
Time passes, the day is growing more and more hectic and you are feeling despair wondering whether you will ever find the perfect romantic suspense manuscript to fill the spot in the publishing schedule.
Finally, you open submission number #9. Silently blessing the author who has been kind enough to include a synopsis. You scan the synopsis looking for the elements that make a strong romantic suspense novel. The hero and heroine meet early on in the story. They are instantly both attracted and at odds with each other. The villain is strong and well motivated. As you read through the sub- mission you can see that the characters internal and external conflicts work together to propel the story. You can follow the path the characters take, you can see the situation getting worse and worse for them as both their relationship and their physical safety are put at risk.
You begin to feel hopeful as you approach that portion of the synopsis where the hero and heroine are facing their final showdown with the villain. You breathe a sigh of relief when the villain is captured, noting that the author has so far hit every mark for a romantic suspense. You keep reading, fingers crossed, hoping that this author delivers the happily ever after ending required by the sub- genre. When the hero and heroine melt happily into each others arms you sigh, feeling that just maybe you've found the romantic suspense novel to fill the open spot in the publishing schedule. You will still have to read the novel to be sure the writing is up to par, but at least you know that the plot works.
About the Author:
Laurie Sanders is Editor and CEO at Black Velvet Seductions. The company publishes romance, erotic romance, and romantic suspense. The company offers a free newsletter for authors of romance and gives away free books each Friday. Visit http://www.blackvelvetseductions.com to check it out.
Keyword tags: synopsis, synopsis writing, writing a synopsis, how to write a synopsis, manuscript preparation
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Important Need To Know College Essay Concepts
When it comes to writing a college essay there are several components and issues that one definitely needs to know how to master. Whether you find yourself writing about the proper way to store plants so that they'll grow sufficiently or writing about why illegal drugs should be legalized, there are right and wrong ways to format and write a college essay.
Opinion College Essay Papers: One time of college essay is an opinion-style format. These are the kind of college essays that require an individual to have an opinion on some issue and provide reasons to back up your opinion, however right or wrong they may be. These types of college essays usually have no right or wrong answer, but are usually graded on the completeness of the opinion throughout the paper, as well as how clearly the student conveyed his or her message.
Persuasive Essay Papers: On the other hand, a completely different type of college paper is the persuasive or argumentative essay. These papers are meant to have a solid structure with the thesis statement at the beginning of the paper, and the whole rest of the college essay is meant to support and back up the thesis.
The six main components of a persuasive college essay paper include the introduction, the thesis statement, the first, second, and third supporting paragraphs, and finally the conclusion of the paper. For these types of college papers the student will have to master writing a concise and to-the-point thesis statement, as well as forming supporting claims that have substance and proof.
When being written, all college essays have three main parts: the introduction, body, as well as conclusion. The type of college essay that is being written will determine what types of information goes in each section, but the trick and success in writing a great college essay lies in providing the right type of information, but also in being concise and to the point. In other words, there is no room for "fluff" in a college paper, and a student should be careful to write with simple words that they and their audience can easily understand.
Getting Help with College Essays: Virtually all college students need to take two basic writing courses no matter what college or university they attend. Usually these classes will teach each student how to form and write college essays, and these two courses basically lay foundations for all of the other types of academic writing that one will experience and be required to do throughout one's college career. If you find yourself in trouble, however, when beginning a college essay that you are not too sure about, there are a few places where one can definitely get help.
First, colleges and universities are usually always equipped with tutor centers where students are able to get help writing college essays and papers. These tutor centers should be able to help students form their introductions and thesis statements in order to make them clearer, as well as help them with their essays in general if they need help. Other resources for getting help with college papers include brothers and sisters that may have gone through college before them, as well as private tutors that can usually be found throughout college campuses.
All in all, writing a college essay is not all that difficult once one decides what he or she will actually write about. All it takes to write a college essay is organization and determination to be able to put words in writing and have success with a college essay.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - College Essay
http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - Term Paper Topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Opinion College Essay Papers: One time of college essay is an opinion-style format. These are the kind of college essays that require an individual to have an opinion on some issue and provide reasons to back up your opinion, however right or wrong they may be. These types of college essays usually have no right or wrong answer, but are usually graded on the completeness of the opinion throughout the paper, as well as how clearly the student conveyed his or her message.
Persuasive Essay Papers: On the other hand, a completely different type of college paper is the persuasive or argumentative essay. These papers are meant to have a solid structure with the thesis statement at the beginning of the paper, and the whole rest of the college essay is meant to support and back up the thesis.
The six main components of a persuasive college essay paper include the introduction, the thesis statement, the first, second, and third supporting paragraphs, and finally the conclusion of the paper. For these types of college papers the student will have to master writing a concise and to-the-point thesis statement, as well as forming supporting claims that have substance and proof.
When being written, all college essays have three main parts: the introduction, body, as well as conclusion. The type of college essay that is being written will determine what types of information goes in each section, but the trick and success in writing a great college essay lies in providing the right type of information, but also in being concise and to the point. In other words, there is no room for "fluff" in a college paper, and a student should be careful to write with simple words that they and their audience can easily understand.
Getting Help with College Essays: Virtually all college students need to take two basic writing courses no matter what college or university they attend. Usually these classes will teach each student how to form and write college essays, and these two courses basically lay foundations for all of the other types of academic writing that one will experience and be required to do throughout one's college career. If you find yourself in trouble, however, when beginning a college essay that you are not too sure about, there are a few places where one can definitely get help.
First, colleges and universities are usually always equipped with tutor centers where students are able to get help writing college essays and papers. These tutor centers should be able to help students form their introductions and thesis statements in order to make them clearer, as well as help them with their essays in general if they need help. Other resources for getting help with college papers include brothers and sisters that may have gone through college before them, as well as private tutors that can usually be found throughout college campuses.
All in all, writing a college essay is not all that difficult once one decides what he or she will actually write about. All it takes to write a college essay is organization and determination to be able to put words in writing and have success with a college essay.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - College Essay
http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - Term Paper Topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Writing a Proper College Term Paper
Two of the most important parts of a college term paper are the thesis statement and the introduction. You will want to follow these helpful hints before jumping in and writing your paper. The most important part of your college term paper is the thesis statement. In essence, it is the justification for its existence. A good thesis statement should contain the following two elements: the basic argument and a blueprint for the organization of the details that will support your thesis.
At the beginning of your brainstorming session, you will more than likely choose a topic for your essay; this is the particular subject that you plan to address regarding your assignment. When you formulate a thesis, you find a specific statement that you want to make about your topic.
Rather than just making a statement that revolves around an opinion, your argument must be centered around textual evidence. You cannot simply restate what your source tells you. Your thought must be original that arises from some interesting point, vagary or contradiction within the material.
When you write your statement, pinpoint what you are arguing and do not just make a broad generalization. Those who read your essay should know from your thesis exactly what specific arguments you have. You also want to take into consideration the length that you want your paper to be. Make sure you allow yourself plenty of room to fully develop your argument.
Perhaps the most important point of all is to make your argument controversial. In your paper, if you want to prove something that is already a given, it will not only prove to be uninteresting and dull but entirely pointless. Your paper should inspire others to want to read it and perhaps come up with a totally different interpretation of the subject.
The thesis of your college term paper should act like a blueprint. Not only should it state your argument but it should give an indication of the specific components. Don't think that your thesis has to be just one sentence. You can break it up into a complex thesis and avoid any run-on sentences.
When you have decided upon your thesis, you must be able to couch it in such a way that it will be an effective entry into your paper. You can have an awfully good argument, but it will not do very much good if no one wants to read it. Therefore, your introduction should serve as not only a grabber but as a justification.
Here are some basic guidelines when writing your introduction:
1. Do not summarize: It gets to be very dull when all you do is provide a synopsis of the texts that you are writing about. It may be easy to do this so don't fall into this trap.
2. Do not keep reiterating your thesis: In your college essay, your thesis should be in your introduction and should be the culmination of previous thoughts. You do not want to just keep restating your thesis to fill up space in your paragraphs.
3. Ask yourself questions: You want to know why your thesis is relevant. What is the relevancy to your thesis and the rest of your paper?
4. Be creative: Make your paper as interesting as possible so it will tantalize your subjects to want to read it.
There you have it. You need to have a good, well rounded thesis as well as an attention grabbing introduction. With these on your side, you will have a great college term paper.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - College Term Paper
http://www.essaytown.com/free_paper.html - Free Term Paper
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
At the beginning of your brainstorming session, you will more than likely choose a topic for your essay; this is the particular subject that you plan to address regarding your assignment. When you formulate a thesis, you find a specific statement that you want to make about your topic.
Rather than just making a statement that revolves around an opinion, your argument must be centered around textual evidence. You cannot simply restate what your source tells you. Your thought must be original that arises from some interesting point, vagary or contradiction within the material.
When you write your statement, pinpoint what you are arguing and do not just make a broad generalization. Those who read your essay should know from your thesis exactly what specific arguments you have. You also want to take into consideration the length that you want your paper to be. Make sure you allow yourself plenty of room to fully develop your argument.
Perhaps the most important point of all is to make your argument controversial. In your paper, if you want to prove something that is already a given, it will not only prove to be uninteresting and dull but entirely pointless. Your paper should inspire others to want to read it and perhaps come up with a totally different interpretation of the subject.
The thesis of your college term paper should act like a blueprint. Not only should it state your argument but it should give an indication of the specific components. Don't think that your thesis has to be just one sentence. You can break it up into a complex thesis and avoid any run-on sentences.
When you have decided upon your thesis, you must be able to couch it in such a way that it will be an effective entry into your paper. You can have an awfully good argument, but it will not do very much good if no one wants to read it. Therefore, your introduction should serve as not only a grabber but as a justification.
Here are some basic guidelines when writing your introduction:
1. Do not summarize: It gets to be very dull when all you do is provide a synopsis of the texts that you are writing about. It may be easy to do this so don't fall into this trap.
2. Do not keep reiterating your thesis: In your college essay, your thesis should be in your introduction and should be the culmination of previous thoughts. You do not want to just keep restating your thesis to fill up space in your paragraphs.
3. Ask yourself questions: You want to know why your thesis is relevant. What is the relevancy to your thesis and the rest of your paper?
4. Be creative: Make your paper as interesting as possible so it will tantalize your subjects to want to read it.
There you have it. You need to have a good, well rounded thesis as well as an attention grabbing introduction. With these on your side, you will have a great college term paper.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - College Term Paper
http://www.essaytown.com/free_paper.html - Free Term Paper
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Freelance Writing For Magazines
Writing for magazines is a great place to freelance because you can earn a good paycheck writing cover stories, features, how-to articles, interview pieces, product or travel destination reviews, and other types of articles. Plus, your byline will promote yourself as a freelance writer to the public.
Follow these tips:
TIP #1: Most of the articles you will write for magazines will be between 800-1500 words.
TIP #2: Know the magazine before you submit your article. There's nothing worse than submitting an article with the wrong style, topic, or editorial slant to an editor who doesn't publish that kind of article.
TIP #3: If you aren't familiar with the magazine editor and the editor isn't familiar with you, then submit a non-seasonal article (not specific to a time frame) for consideration.
TIP #4: Once you have written your article, study the Internet for the best possible way to write query letters or proposals.
TIP #5: Plan out your article in a well-organized, thoughtful manner. Editors want strong openings and fantastic conclusions.
TIP #6: Pitch an article or query letter to one of the many departments in the magazine. Writing short articles for departments or topic-specific sections is easier to break into.
TIP #7: Articles for print must be better than the articles you write for the web, especially SEO content. Editors expect exceptional work. These days editors expect you to interview sources, gather facts from newsworthy sources, and provide photos or illustrations to accentuate your article. However, with more and more newbie editors coming onto the scene to start a magazine with family money, try to keep your options limited to magazines with good, stable editors who know the business. For instance, freelance writers consider established newsstand magazines as the upper echelon of magazines in the industry. Approach them first. The pay will be better and so will the exposure for you as a writer.
TIP #8: Know your audience. If you don't know your audience, you will not be able to write material aimed at the magazine's readership.
TIP #9: Know what will interest your readers. For example, High Roller Magazine does initiate sales from High Rollers, or at least people who consider themselves to be high rollers. Covering articles on choice destinations with great rooms or a highly profiled tournament should appeal to an editor of a magazine such as this.
TIP #10: Know what topics are highest in demand.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
For detailed submission guidelines of many magazine, F&W Publications publishes annual market directories, such as the popular Writer's Market. These annual directories can offer some submission guidelines. I recommend you subscribe to Writer's Market Online, where the publishers routinely update listings and guidelines for magazines and other markets. If you want to sell what you write and make money as a freelance writer, you need Writer's Market Online. In addition to listing magazines that are open for submissions, Writer's Market Online also lists writing opportunities for syndicate services, websites, annual specialty magazines, and special one-shot publications. FreelanceWriting.com also maintains a free database of magazines that pay freelance writers for articles.
You can use Google to find magazines, websites, and other media outlets that hire freelance writers. Use the phrase "writer's guidelines" and/or "submission guidelines" in the search box. You may also want to add a modifier to your search, such as "pets," or "travel," or "technology," etc., depending on what markets you want to find.
By knowing the names of editors and publishers, how to contact them, and what their current editorial needs are, you are that much closer to selling your articles. Furthermore, these directories provide hints and tips on how to submit your material. Each editor and each magazine has different editorial needs and how they accept pitches from outside freelance writers.
Since offline magazines receive hundreds of submissions a month from writers, you must submit your work professionally. If you don't know what editors look for in their submissions, you need to read a couple of the issues. Most, if not all, magazines are available at your local bookstore or supermarket. Buy a copy. Visit each magazine's website (all of them have one) to review their editorial calendar, articles they have recently published, and what they are covering in their next issue and future issues. Each magazine's website will give you valuable hints and insight about what editors are publishing and what they are looking for.
Print magazines are not your only market to sell your articles. Many online magazines are sprouting up on the Internet, and their editorial needs are the same as print publications. The field is wide open.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
Follow these tips:
TIP #1: Most of the articles you will write for magazines will be between 800-1500 words.
TIP #2: Know the magazine before you submit your article. There's nothing worse than submitting an article with the wrong style, topic, or editorial slant to an editor who doesn't publish that kind of article.
TIP #3: If you aren't familiar with the magazine editor and the editor isn't familiar with you, then submit a non-seasonal article (not specific to a time frame) for consideration.
TIP #4: Once you have written your article, study the Internet for the best possible way to write query letters or proposals.
TIP #5: Plan out your article in a well-organized, thoughtful manner. Editors want strong openings and fantastic conclusions.
TIP #6: Pitch an article or query letter to one of the many departments in the magazine. Writing short articles for departments or topic-specific sections is easier to break into.
TIP #7: Articles for print must be better than the articles you write for the web, especially SEO content. Editors expect exceptional work. These days editors expect you to interview sources, gather facts from newsworthy sources, and provide photos or illustrations to accentuate your article. However, with more and more newbie editors coming onto the scene to start a magazine with family money, try to keep your options limited to magazines with good, stable editors who know the business. For instance, freelance writers consider established newsstand magazines as the upper echelon of magazines in the industry. Approach them first. The pay will be better and so will the exposure for you as a writer.
TIP #8: Know your audience. If you don't know your audience, you will not be able to write material aimed at the magazine's readership.
TIP #9: Know what will interest your readers. For example, High Roller Magazine does initiate sales from High Rollers, or at least people who consider themselves to be high rollers. Covering articles on choice destinations with great rooms or a highly profiled tournament should appeal to an editor of a magazine such as this.
TIP #10: Know what topics are highest in demand.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
For detailed submission guidelines of many magazine, F&W Publications publishes annual market directories, such as the popular Writer's Market. These annual directories can offer some submission guidelines. I recommend you subscribe to Writer's Market Online, where the publishers routinely update listings and guidelines for magazines and other markets. If you want to sell what you write and make money as a freelance writer, you need Writer's Market Online. In addition to listing magazines that are open for submissions, Writer's Market Online also lists writing opportunities for syndicate services, websites, annual specialty magazines, and special one-shot publications. FreelanceWriting.com also maintains a free database of magazines that pay freelance writers for articles.
You can use Google to find magazines, websites, and other media outlets that hire freelance writers. Use the phrase "writer's guidelines" and/or "submission guidelines" in the search box. You may also want to add a modifier to your search, such as "pets," or "travel," or "technology," etc., depending on what markets you want to find.
By knowing the names of editors and publishers, how to contact them, and what their current editorial needs are, you are that much closer to selling your articles. Furthermore, these directories provide hints and tips on how to submit your material. Each editor and each magazine has different editorial needs and how they accept pitches from outside freelance writers.
Since offline magazines receive hundreds of submissions a month from writers, you must submit your work professionally. If you don't know what editors look for in their submissions, you need to read a couple of the issues. Most, if not all, magazines are available at your local bookstore or supermarket. Buy a copy. Visit each magazine's website (all of them have one) to review their editorial calendar, articles they have recently published, and what they are covering in their next issue and future issues. Each magazine's website will give you valuable hints and insight about what editors are publishing and what they are looking for.
Print magazines are not your only market to sell your articles. Many online magazines are sprouting up on the Internet, and their editorial needs are the same as print publications. The field is wide open.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
How to Write For New Magazines as a Freelance Writer
Roughly 1,000 magazines are launched every year, according to Samir "Mr. Magazine" Husni, a magazine consultant and chair of the journalism department at the University of Mississippi. Nearly 20,000 consumer and trade publications exist in North America, according to the National Directory of Magazines. These statistics don't include many of the small, independent start-up magazines.
New magazines can be a goldmine to dig up freelance work. Editors of new magazines are eager to find freelance talent to write regularly or to pitch articles and column ideas for at least four to six issues in advance, depending on the magazine's frequency. New magazines can offer you, the freelance writer, an easier and quicker way to break into magazine writing.
I use various sources to uncover new magazines. My favorite is Ulrichsweb.com, an online directory of magazine serials. Before a magazine launches, the publisher or publishing company applies for an ISSN # and Ulrich's records the ISSN #, along with the publication's information, such as launch date, frequency, category, and contact information. Ulrichsweb.com is useful if you want to locate publications before they launch and before they publicly announce their debut via the newswires.
If you do not want to pay for a subscription to Ulrichsweb.com, you can use other free resources, such as MagazineLaunch.com and MrMagazine.com. These free resources track new magazine start-ups by researching the newswires and subscribing to press release services.
Writing for new magazines has some downsides. Firstly, circulation is usually at the low end and so is the magazine's exposure in the marketplace. Secondly, the pay rate usually isn't competitive with similar magazines. Thirdly, editors usually won't pay you until after they publish your piece, instead of paying you on acceptance. Fourthly, many new magazines fail within the first year and it is possible the magazine could fleece you.
HOW TO BREAK IN AND SELL YOUR ARTICLES
Whether the publication or website has writer's guidelines or not, your aim is to pitch your query letter, article idea, proposal, or full article to the editor. Most writers prefer writing a query letter and sending it to the editor. Follow this process:
1) Go to the publication's website. See if the website posts its writer's guidelines. If not, go to the Contact Us page. Contact the editor or the editorial director. On smaller start-up publications, contact the publisher as he usually plays dual roles. Request the publication's writer's guidelines. Make sure you address the editor or publisher by full name. Do not send an e-mail with "To Editor" as the subject. It will get deleted.
In addition to requesting writer's guidelines, I advise you to make a short sales pitch in your e-mail, and include a brief bio. under your name with any relevant qualifications and skills as a writer. If you have a website, include a link to it. If an editor sees your sales pitch, he may want to know more about what you can offer.
2) If the editor's response is they don't provide writer's guidelines, then you need to take a "marketing" approach. You'll need to craft a query letter and pitch your article idea (or your availability as a freelance writer).
3) If you can't break in, don't move on just yet! Mail (yes, snail mail!) the editor your business card and a brief letter about yourself, your qualifications, references, and where to find samples of your work online. Explain how using you as a freelance writer can increase readership for the publication. Explain some of the topics you can cover, who you can interview, and any exclusive information you can obtain regularly.
Many writers e-mail the editor their information to keep on file; however, I also find that mailing my correspondence to the editor gets results. You force the editor to read and touch your correspondence, and this increases the chances of him remembering who you are and what you can provide.
Convincing an editor to outsource work to you or accept your articles for publication has a lot to do with how well you pitch and present yourself and your ideas. This is why writing a near perfect query letter is vital to getting work.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
New magazines can be a goldmine to dig up freelance work. Editors of new magazines are eager to find freelance talent to write regularly or to pitch articles and column ideas for at least four to six issues in advance, depending on the magazine's frequency. New magazines can offer you, the freelance writer, an easier and quicker way to break into magazine writing.
I use various sources to uncover new magazines. My favorite is Ulrichsweb.com, an online directory of magazine serials. Before a magazine launches, the publisher or publishing company applies for an ISSN # and Ulrich's records the ISSN #, along with the publication's information, such as launch date, frequency, category, and contact information. Ulrichsweb.com is useful if you want to locate publications before they launch and before they publicly announce their debut via the newswires.
If you do not want to pay for a subscription to Ulrichsweb.com, you can use other free resources, such as MagazineLaunch.com and MrMagazine.com. These free resources track new magazine start-ups by researching the newswires and subscribing to press release services.
Writing for new magazines has some downsides. Firstly, circulation is usually at the low end and so is the magazine's exposure in the marketplace. Secondly, the pay rate usually isn't competitive with similar magazines. Thirdly, editors usually won't pay you until after they publish your piece, instead of paying you on acceptance. Fourthly, many new magazines fail within the first year and it is possible the magazine could fleece you.
HOW TO BREAK IN AND SELL YOUR ARTICLES
Whether the publication or website has writer's guidelines or not, your aim is to pitch your query letter, article idea, proposal, or full article to the editor. Most writers prefer writing a query letter and sending it to the editor. Follow this process:
1) Go to the publication's website. See if the website posts its writer's guidelines. If not, go to the Contact Us page. Contact the editor or the editorial director. On smaller start-up publications, contact the publisher as he usually plays dual roles. Request the publication's writer's guidelines. Make sure you address the editor or publisher by full name. Do not send an e-mail with "To Editor" as the subject. It will get deleted.
In addition to requesting writer's guidelines, I advise you to make a short sales pitch in your e-mail, and include a brief bio. under your name with any relevant qualifications and skills as a writer. If you have a website, include a link to it. If an editor sees your sales pitch, he may want to know more about what you can offer.
2) If the editor's response is they don't provide writer's guidelines, then you need to take a "marketing" approach. You'll need to craft a query letter and pitch your article idea (or your availability as a freelance writer).
3) If you can't break in, don't move on just yet! Mail (yes, snail mail!) the editor your business card and a brief letter about yourself, your qualifications, references, and where to find samples of your work online. Explain how using you as a freelance writer can increase readership for the publication. Explain some of the topics you can cover, who you can interview, and any exclusive information you can obtain regularly.
Many writers e-mail the editor their information to keep on file; however, I also find that mailing my correspondence to the editor gets results. You force the editor to read and touch your correspondence, and this increases the chances of him remembering who you are and what you can provide.
Convincing an editor to outsource work to you or accept your articles for publication has a lot to do with how well you pitch and present yourself and your ideas. This is why writing a near perfect query letter is vital to getting work.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
Freelance Writing For Trade Magazines
The most visible magazines are mainstream magazines sold on newsstands and in bookstores to the public. Trade magazines, on the other hand, are more exclusive; they are not sold to the public at retail chains and they usually circulate to the magazine's elite class of subscribers and members. Just as there are countless mainstream magazines on sports, pets, travel, weddings, and lifestyle, you can also find just as many trade magazines that cover the same subjects. Writing for trade magazines pays well (sometimes higher than mainstream magazines) and they regularly use freelance writers.
Breaking into trade magazines as a freelance writer can be tricky. Many editors of trade magazines choose not to list their writer's guidelines. Editors of trade magazines are extremely busy and short-staffed. These editors avoid having an open call for submissions to avoid a ceaseless cycle of reviewing, critiquing and rejecting unsolicited articles and query letters sent in by writers, non-writers and their moms. You will not find their writer's guidelines in Writer's Marketplace and they may not post their guidelines online at their website. Many freelance writers break into trade magazines by pitching an idea to the editor or contacting the editor directly. These freelance writers pitch brilliant article ideas, they've reviewed the magazine in advance, and they aggressively market themselves and their work with confidence.
Here are some frequently asked questions about freelance writing for trade magazines:
Question # 1: What are some advantages of writing for trade magazines, as opposed to writing for mainstream (newsstand) magazines?
Answer: The first advantage is the smaller number of competitors (other freelance writers). Many writers, especially amateurs, don't routinely research trade magazines for potential writing assignments. However, this also means it's often up to you, the writer, to educate an editor on the advantage of using your work.
The second advantage is that trade magazines are usually understaffed. When an editor finds a good freelancer, they not only accept the initial story but also ask the writer to accept future assignments.
A third advantage is the reputation you develop when you write for trade magazines within that industry. As your reputation builds, you often experience unexpected opportunities, such as referrals and writing assignments from other editors.
Question # 2: What's the best research method to uncover hard-to-find trade magazines?
Answer: The best method is to find a Standard Rate & Data for business publications (http://www.srds.com). This directory contains almost every trade magazine published in the U.S. Second, find out what your friends and neighbors read in their business. Do they have any copies you can borrow? What about the mechanic who just fixed your car? What trades are on his waiting room table? How about the barber? How about the manager of that gift store near your house? How about the restaurant manager? A real estate agent? A roofing contractor? A bricklayer? A computer programmer? Your tax accountant? The third way is the Internet. Find trade magazines at Freebizmag.com, tradepub.com and freetradepubs.com.
Question #3: What's the best way to pitch an article to a trade magazine?
Answer: Call the editor, tell him what you have in mind, and get feedback. Otherwise, you can send an email query. Once you have some credits, the best approach is calling the editor. Even if the editor doesn't need the story you are pitching, he may have one he would like to see, but haven't found anyone to do it.
Question #4: What do you do if the trade magazine doesn't have writer's guidelines?
Answer: Less than 10 percent of trade magazines have writers' guidelines. If you don't have a copy of the magazine you want to pitch to, find a way to get one and then go through it to see how the headlines are put together and how long the articles run. Check the masthead for full-time staff and the number of contributors. Are the contributors industry gurus or independent writers like yourself? How much of the magazine is staff written? If the trade magazine has one editor and he's written more than 60 percent of the magazine, then he probably needs a good freelance writer from time to time.
Question # 5: What are some challenges freelance writers might face with trade magazines?
Answer: The first challenge is finding the people with the right information. Specialization is a good idea for a trade journalist just as it is for a mainstream journalist. You write based on "who" you know. A second challenge is learning to leverage what you've developed. If you specialize in writing on construction, you can also tie this topic to other industries, such as restaurant management, small hospital management, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, golf course management, etc.
Another challenge is to learn discretion. Businesses have secrets they don't want their competitors to know about; they do have techniques or practices or processes that give them an edge. To maintain your contacts' trust, you must develop good judgment about just how much information you can pass along in your article and how much you can't. Never cheat your contacts. Be fair with them and they will be fair with you. They may get mad occasionally when they get called on a mistake, but as long as it's a fair call, then you'll keep them.
Question # 6: What other types of articles do trade magazines find popular?
Answer: The most popular type of article in trade magazines is: "Who did what, and why?" Readers love to get ideas by seeing what others in their industry are doing. They also want to see who's doing what so they can decide if the article subject might be a potential customer. "List" articles are another favorite. Trade magazines are where people go to talk shop and to see who's who, who's new, and what's new.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
Breaking into trade magazines as a freelance writer can be tricky. Many editors of trade magazines choose not to list their writer's guidelines. Editors of trade magazines are extremely busy and short-staffed. These editors avoid having an open call for submissions to avoid a ceaseless cycle of reviewing, critiquing and rejecting unsolicited articles and query letters sent in by writers, non-writers and their moms. You will not find their writer's guidelines in Writer's Marketplace and they may not post their guidelines online at their website. Many freelance writers break into trade magazines by pitching an idea to the editor or contacting the editor directly. These freelance writers pitch brilliant article ideas, they've reviewed the magazine in advance, and they aggressively market themselves and their work with confidence.
Here are some frequently asked questions about freelance writing for trade magazines:
Question # 1: What are some advantages of writing for trade magazines, as opposed to writing for mainstream (newsstand) magazines?
Answer: The first advantage is the smaller number of competitors (other freelance writers). Many writers, especially amateurs, don't routinely research trade magazines for potential writing assignments. However, this also means it's often up to you, the writer, to educate an editor on the advantage of using your work.
The second advantage is that trade magazines are usually understaffed. When an editor finds a good freelancer, they not only accept the initial story but also ask the writer to accept future assignments.
A third advantage is the reputation you develop when you write for trade magazines within that industry. As your reputation builds, you often experience unexpected opportunities, such as referrals and writing assignments from other editors.
Question # 2: What's the best research method to uncover hard-to-find trade magazines?
Answer: The best method is to find a Standard Rate & Data for business publications (http://www.srds.com). This directory contains almost every trade magazine published in the U.S. Second, find out what your friends and neighbors read in their business. Do they have any copies you can borrow? What about the mechanic who just fixed your car? What trades are on his waiting room table? How about the barber? How about the manager of that gift store near your house? How about the restaurant manager? A real estate agent? A roofing contractor? A bricklayer? A computer programmer? Your tax accountant? The third way is the Internet. Find trade magazines at Freebizmag.com, tradepub.com and freetradepubs.com.
Question #3: What's the best way to pitch an article to a trade magazine?
Answer: Call the editor, tell him what you have in mind, and get feedback. Otherwise, you can send an email query. Once you have some credits, the best approach is calling the editor. Even if the editor doesn't need the story you are pitching, he may have one he would like to see, but haven't found anyone to do it.
Question #4: What do you do if the trade magazine doesn't have writer's guidelines?
Answer: Less than 10 percent of trade magazines have writers' guidelines. If you don't have a copy of the magazine you want to pitch to, find a way to get one and then go through it to see how the headlines are put together and how long the articles run. Check the masthead for full-time staff and the number of contributors. Are the contributors industry gurus or independent writers like yourself? How much of the magazine is staff written? If the trade magazine has one editor and he's written more than 60 percent of the magazine, then he probably needs a good freelance writer from time to time.
Question # 5: What are some challenges freelance writers might face with trade magazines?
Answer: The first challenge is finding the people with the right information. Specialization is a good idea for a trade journalist just as it is for a mainstream journalist. You write based on "who" you know. A second challenge is learning to leverage what you've developed. If you specialize in writing on construction, you can also tie this topic to other industries, such as restaurant management, small hospital management, manufacturing, hospitality, real estate, golf course management, etc.
Another challenge is to learn discretion. Businesses have secrets they don't want their competitors to know about; they do have techniques or practices or processes that give them an edge. To maintain your contacts' trust, you must develop good judgment about just how much information you can pass along in your article and how much you can't. Never cheat your contacts. Be fair with them and they will be fair with you. They may get mad occasionally when they get called on a mistake, but as long as it's a fair call, then you'll keep them.
Question # 6: What other types of articles do trade magazines find popular?
Answer: The most popular type of article in trade magazines is: "Who did what, and why?" Readers love to get ideas by seeing what others in their industry are doing. They also want to see who's doing what so they can decide if the article subject might be a potential customer. "List" articles are another favorite. Trade magazines are where people go to talk shop and to see who's who, who's new, and what's new.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Freelance Writing For Ad Agencies Can Make You Rich
All businesses are in constant demand for marketing materials to increase traffic, boost profit, and raise their own awareness to the public. Although most businesses, large and small, have their own marketing departments, they still rely on ad agencies to assist with their marketing efforts, especially before and during busy seasons. Ad agencies hire freelance copywriters to work on marketing materials, such as writing brochures, direct mail, press releases, ads, sales letters, etc.; as opposed to writing strictly editorial content, such as feature articles and how-to articles for magazines.
If you land a gig with an ad agency as a freelance copywriter, you can expect excellent pay and repeat work if you do a good job. Average hourly rates range between $25 and $45 per hour for a copywriter who has three or more years of experience; copywriters with a decade or more of experience can command $55 to $75 per hour (sometimes higher). The downside is you do not get a byline and most ad agencies outsource work as "work for hire," meaning you do not own what you create.
Most ad agencies will not hire amateurs. You need to be a professional copywriter with related experience and have a portfolio of relevant samples. Many amateur copywriters break into writing for ad agencies by interning or temping first, working on small projects, or teaming up with a freelance graphic designer; then they use that first experience as a stepping stone to get a freelance gig.
To locate freelance copywriting jobs, your first step is to go to Indeed.com, a job search engine that pulls jobs from all over the Internet. You can also search CraigsList.com. Many ad agencies post their "help wanted ads" on CraigsList because CraigsList specializes in "locality." As you will discover, some ad agencies require you to work locally. Type in the phrase "freelance copywriter" (without the quotes) and see what results come up. You can also use the phrase "ad agency" for a broader search. Peruse through the listings to see if your copywriting skills match up with any of the ad agencies seeking freelance copywriters.
Don't be disappointed if you don't find a match with an ad agency that matches your skills or specialization. Sometimes it will take patience. You will need to repeat the same search over again each day or at least once a week.
If you yield no results, the next step is to market yourself and create your own opportunities. Securing work is more about how well you can market yourself and make yourself known to ad agencies, than it is to replying to random job posts. Professional copywriters are master marketers. Most professional copywriters secure work and repeat business by networking, word of mouth, and constantly marketing their services with online and offline promotional material.
Go to Google.com and type in the phrase "advertising agency" + (your specialization or skillset) in the search field. Google will list all ad agencies that may match your specialization or skillset. Also, search using the phrase "marketing agency" + (your specialization or skillset) as this will come up with more results. Visit each website and contact the person in charge (usually it is the creative director or owner). Send an e-mail addressed to the person, stating that you are a professional freelance copywriter who can assist with their overload and you can exceed their expectations. To make this work effectively, you should have your own professional website that includes samples of your work, results of your work, client list, references, and testimonials. If you do it right, the creative director will either contact you for immediate consideration or tell you he will keep your information on file for future consideration. Whatever the outcome is, you should always follow up by mailing a letter of introduction and your business card to the creative director.
Google won't spit out everything for you. The other way to generate freelance copywriting work is to find it locally. Locality gives you an advantage anyway. Ad agencies are more likely to outsource work to you if you live locally or nearby.
Using an online directory or your local Yellow Pages, you can locate ad agencies in local cities. Contact every ad agency and e-mail the creative director an inquiry, proposal, or your contact information with a resume. For Google, I use the keywords "New Jersey" (plus) "advertising agencies," and Google will pull up results of ad agencies in New Jersey. I can also use the keywords "Atlantic City" (plus) "advertising agencies" and Google will give me results of ad agencies in this city.
Ad agencies are always evolving. They are constantly losing clients and gaining new clients. The best way to secure immediate work is by either replying to a help wanted ad or finding out when an ad agency wins a new client (also referred to as a "new account"). Usually when an ad agency wins a new account, they begin hiring more employees or outsourcing more work to freelancers to assist with the account. PR Newswire publishes a weekly feature called "Agency Roster Lead," a weekly roundup of news releases highlighting account wins at public relations, investor relations and advertising agencies. To read this roster, go to Google News and type in "Agency Roster Lead" + PR Newswire and click on the current Agency Roster.
While you are at Google News, type in "advertising agency" and this will bring up results of ad agencies with new accounts. Make sure Google sorts the results by relevance, not by date. Now that you know which ad agencies have won new accounts, see if there is a match with your services. If so, locate the ad agency's website and contact the owner or creative director. Pitch yourself as the copywriter who can fulfill all of their needs and desires.
I recommend three books to help you with freelancing as a copywriter. The first book is "Secrets of a Freelance Writer, Third Edition: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More" by Robert W. Bly. The first edition, published in the early 1990's, is the one book that helped me break into freelance copywriting. It will help you too. Also buy Bly's book, "The Copywriter's Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Copy That Sells." All freelance copywriters own this book. It shows you exactly how to write different types of copy for clients. The third book I recommend is "The Well-Fed Writer" by Peter Bowerman. This is another excellent book on freelance copywriting.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
If you land a gig with an ad agency as a freelance copywriter, you can expect excellent pay and repeat work if you do a good job. Average hourly rates range between $25 and $45 per hour for a copywriter who has three or more years of experience; copywriters with a decade or more of experience can command $55 to $75 per hour (sometimes higher). The downside is you do not get a byline and most ad agencies outsource work as "work for hire," meaning you do not own what you create.
Most ad agencies will not hire amateurs. You need to be a professional copywriter with related experience and have a portfolio of relevant samples. Many amateur copywriters break into writing for ad agencies by interning or temping first, working on small projects, or teaming up with a freelance graphic designer; then they use that first experience as a stepping stone to get a freelance gig.
To locate freelance copywriting jobs, your first step is to go to Indeed.com, a job search engine that pulls jobs from all over the Internet. You can also search CraigsList.com. Many ad agencies post their "help wanted ads" on CraigsList because CraigsList specializes in "locality." As you will discover, some ad agencies require you to work locally. Type in the phrase "freelance copywriter" (without the quotes) and see what results come up. You can also use the phrase "ad agency" for a broader search. Peruse through the listings to see if your copywriting skills match up with any of the ad agencies seeking freelance copywriters.
Don't be disappointed if you don't find a match with an ad agency that matches your skills or specialization. Sometimes it will take patience. You will need to repeat the same search over again each day or at least once a week.
If you yield no results, the next step is to market yourself and create your own opportunities. Securing work is more about how well you can market yourself and make yourself known to ad agencies, than it is to replying to random job posts. Professional copywriters are master marketers. Most professional copywriters secure work and repeat business by networking, word of mouth, and constantly marketing their services with online and offline promotional material.
Go to Google.com and type in the phrase "advertising agency" + (your specialization or skillset) in the search field. Google will list all ad agencies that may match your specialization or skillset. Also, search using the phrase "marketing agency" + (your specialization or skillset) as this will come up with more results. Visit each website and contact the person in charge (usually it is the creative director or owner). Send an e-mail addressed to the person, stating that you are a professional freelance copywriter who can assist with their overload and you can exceed their expectations. To make this work effectively, you should have your own professional website that includes samples of your work, results of your work, client list, references, and testimonials. If you do it right, the creative director will either contact you for immediate consideration or tell you he will keep your information on file for future consideration. Whatever the outcome is, you should always follow up by mailing a letter of introduction and your business card to the creative director.
Google won't spit out everything for you. The other way to generate freelance copywriting work is to find it locally. Locality gives you an advantage anyway. Ad agencies are more likely to outsource work to you if you live locally or nearby.
Using an online directory or your local Yellow Pages, you can locate ad agencies in local cities. Contact every ad agency and e-mail the creative director an inquiry, proposal, or your contact information with a resume. For Google, I use the keywords "New Jersey" (plus) "advertising agencies," and Google will pull up results of ad agencies in New Jersey. I can also use the keywords "Atlantic City" (plus) "advertising agencies" and Google will give me results of ad agencies in this city.
Ad agencies are always evolving. They are constantly losing clients and gaining new clients. The best way to secure immediate work is by either replying to a help wanted ad or finding out when an ad agency wins a new client (also referred to as a "new account"). Usually when an ad agency wins a new account, they begin hiring more employees or outsourcing more work to freelancers to assist with the account. PR Newswire publishes a weekly feature called "Agency Roster Lead," a weekly roundup of news releases highlighting account wins at public relations, investor relations and advertising agencies. To read this roster, go to Google News and type in "Agency Roster Lead" + PR Newswire and click on the current Agency Roster.
While you are at Google News, type in "advertising agency" and this will bring up results of ad agencies with new accounts. Make sure Google sorts the results by relevance, not by date. Now that you know which ad agencies have won new accounts, see if there is a match with your services. If so, locate the ad agency's website and contact the owner or creative director. Pitch yourself as the copywriter who can fulfill all of their needs and desires.
I recommend three books to help you with freelancing as a copywriter. The first book is "Secrets of a Freelance Writer, Third Edition: How to Make $100,000 a Year or More" by Robert W. Bly. The first edition, published in the early 1990's, is the one book that helped me break into freelance copywriting. It will help you too. Also buy Bly's book, "The Copywriter's Handbook: A Step-By-Step Guide To Writing Copy That Sells." All freelance copywriters own this book. It shows you exactly how to write different types of copy for clients. The third book I recommend is "The Well-Fed Writer" by Peter Bowerman. This is another excellent book on freelance copywriting.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
How to Bid on Freelance Writing Jobs Through Online Marketplaces
Professional freelance writers usually use five steps to generate a steady flow of work. The five step process is: 1) bidding on work through online services marketplaces; 2) searching for jobs daily on job meta-search engines; 3) browsing online job boards to find jobs; 4) pitching query letters, proposals and article ideas to media outlets, such as magazines and websites; 5) marketing -- which includes offline and online promotion, networking and blogging.
This article will discuss how to successfully bid on freelance writing jobs through online marketplaces.
Elance.com and Guru.com are two popular online services marketplaces. Both offer writing assignments and projects, ranging from feature articles, keyword articles, website content, corporate copywriting, how-to manuals, and ebooks.
Many writers, such as my friend, Peter Callahan, are successful in bidding on projects through Elance.com because of the way they write their proposals. Peter's winning proposals always offer the client several initiatives to hire him. First, he can provide samples of his work proving he knows what he is talking about. These samples speak as actions and support his words that he can write intelligently on topics within his specialization. Secondly, his bids are far more appealing to the client because he has already established himself as an authority in his specialization. He has writing credits in popular trade and newsstand magazines. Finally, he quotes his writing services competitively as it relates to his experience.
Guru.com and Elance.com are two of the best places for writers to find work. As a writer, you can sign up with these two websites to bid on jobs. Both will provide you with plenty of freelance work. In addition to Guru.com and Elance.com, freelance writers use a handful of other job marketplaces to find work. Guru.com, Elance.com and other sites list freelance writing opportunities for writers to bid on at their leisure.
On these sites, writers write a proposal to win a bid for the freelance gig. The person (i.e. client) who had posted the project will select the bid and proposal based on what he likes best; he will then award the project to the writer with the best proposal. The idea, of course, is for the writer to write a winning proposal with a price that satisfies the client's budget.
As a writer, you need to realize several things to bid on jobs through these job marketplaces:
1. If you are a freelance writer specializing in a specific industry, then your bid should be higher than a "general" writer who bids on everything from cooking tips to great travel destinations. Even if you are a writer who writes on many topics, you should charge more if you know your industry and know it well.
2. Freelance writers hired through Elance.com and Guru.com will often bid against the clock so to speak. Often, a team of writers work together to complete projects. They will bid on a 10-article project and promise it within a week. You come along, bid on the same project and promise delivery within 6 weeks, and lose the project even though you bid the same price. Don't worry. It happens and there will be other projects. Secondly, chances are the buyer just bought himself 10 articles written by people who have no idea about the topic. Wait for the better jobs and establish yourself as an authority on the subject. The better jobs will present themselves to you when you least expect it.
3. Different individuals from all over the world will hire you on these job marketplaces. These individuals include affiliates, businesses, website owners, editors, magazine publishers, ad agencies, and so on. Be sure both you and your clients are happy with the terms.
4. Try to establish some consistency in how you bid on your jobs. You can base your bids (and price) on a client-by-client basis for a while; eventually you'll need to know how much you want to charge per word or per page so you can price competitively and price what you are worth.
Many online job marketplaces have writers bidding on jobs who are not professional writers. To become a professional writer, follow these tips:
TIP #1: You should meet all final deadlines.
TIP #2: You should deliver your work, upon final delivery, in a polished, well-written format and edited to the best of your ability.
TIP #3: You don't need to hire an editor unless you are writing books for publication. Still, you should review your work numerous times before sending it to the client.
TIP #4: Understand, even the best writers will still have typos. If the client catches something you didn't, you should correct it promptly. As a writer with true expertise on the subject matter, you should write clearly and with knowledge on the subject.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
This article will discuss how to successfully bid on freelance writing jobs through online marketplaces.
Elance.com and Guru.com are two popular online services marketplaces. Both offer writing assignments and projects, ranging from feature articles, keyword articles, website content, corporate copywriting, how-to manuals, and ebooks.
Many writers, such as my friend, Peter Callahan, are successful in bidding on projects through Elance.com because of the way they write their proposals. Peter's winning proposals always offer the client several initiatives to hire him. First, he can provide samples of his work proving he knows what he is talking about. These samples speak as actions and support his words that he can write intelligently on topics within his specialization. Secondly, his bids are far more appealing to the client because he has already established himself as an authority in his specialization. He has writing credits in popular trade and newsstand magazines. Finally, he quotes his writing services competitively as it relates to his experience.
Guru.com and Elance.com are two of the best places for writers to find work. As a writer, you can sign up with these two websites to bid on jobs. Both will provide you with plenty of freelance work. In addition to Guru.com and Elance.com, freelance writers use a handful of other job marketplaces to find work. Guru.com, Elance.com and other sites list freelance writing opportunities for writers to bid on at their leisure.
On these sites, writers write a proposal to win a bid for the freelance gig. The person (i.e. client) who had posted the project will select the bid and proposal based on what he likes best; he will then award the project to the writer with the best proposal. The idea, of course, is for the writer to write a winning proposal with a price that satisfies the client's budget.
As a writer, you need to realize several things to bid on jobs through these job marketplaces:
1. If you are a freelance writer specializing in a specific industry, then your bid should be higher than a "general" writer who bids on everything from cooking tips to great travel destinations. Even if you are a writer who writes on many topics, you should charge more if you know your industry and know it well.
2. Freelance writers hired through Elance.com and Guru.com will often bid against the clock so to speak. Often, a team of writers work together to complete projects. They will bid on a 10-article project and promise it within a week. You come along, bid on the same project and promise delivery within 6 weeks, and lose the project even though you bid the same price. Don't worry. It happens and there will be other projects. Secondly, chances are the buyer just bought himself 10 articles written by people who have no idea about the topic. Wait for the better jobs and establish yourself as an authority on the subject. The better jobs will present themselves to you when you least expect it.
3. Different individuals from all over the world will hire you on these job marketplaces. These individuals include affiliates, businesses, website owners, editors, magazine publishers, ad agencies, and so on. Be sure both you and your clients are happy with the terms.
4. Try to establish some consistency in how you bid on your jobs. You can base your bids (and price) on a client-by-client basis for a while; eventually you'll need to know how much you want to charge per word or per page so you can price competitively and price what you are worth.
Many online job marketplaces have writers bidding on jobs who are not professional writers. To become a professional writer, follow these tips:
TIP #1: You should meet all final deadlines.
TIP #2: You should deliver your work, upon final delivery, in a polished, well-written format and edited to the best of your ability.
TIP #3: You don't need to hire an editor unless you are writing books for publication. Still, you should review your work numerous times before sending it to the client.
TIP #4: Understand, even the best writers will still have typos. If the client catches something you didn't, you should correct it promptly. As a writer with true expertise on the subject matter, you should write clearly and with knowledge on the subject.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
Monday, June 16, 2008
How to Choose a PhD Dissertation Topic
You have finally come almost full circle. You are now going to be writing your PhD dissertation. This is none other than a formal, lengthy document that you will be arguing in the defense of a specific thesis. A thesis is defined as a hypothesis or conjecture.
First of all, you are going to have to do research that will support your particular thesis. The research must be original and substantial, and your dissertation must prove that it is so. To put it another way, a dissertation will highlight all original contributions.
You will usually begin with the scientific method before actually writing your dissertation. This means that you will begin with a hypothesis and then collect data to either support of deny its claim. This is the hardest part of writing your paper that of organizing the evidence and all of the associated discussions into a logical form.
The main substance of a dissertation does not lie in the experimental data but in critical thinking. The main things that are at the heart of a dissertation are analysis and concepts. When you write a dissertation you are concentrating on principles. You are stating the lessons that are learned from the principles and not just the facts behind them.
Generally speaking, each statement in a dissertation should be supported by either an original work or by a reference to scientific literature that has been published. Moreover, you should just not be content with repeating the details of analysis and critical thinking found in published sources. You must use the results as fact and then refer your readers to the source in order for them to gain further knowledge.
You must always be sure to use correct grammar in a dissertation. Your paper must also satisfy the rules of formal grammar. Therefore, you should use no contractions, no slurs, no hidden jokes, no colloquialisms, no technical jargon that cannot be defined and no slang. You must be explicitly clear as you write your dissertation. The words that you use in your dissertation must convey exactly the meaning that is intended. Each statement must also be correct and defensible in a scientific and logical sense. The discussions in your paper must be able to satisfy stringent rules of logic that are applied to science and mathematics.
What One Should Learn From Writing a Dissertation: There is a need for scientists to communicate discoveries. When you write a PhD dissertation, this provides training so that you are able to communicate with other scientists. This process also requires you to organize technical discussion, being able to think deeply, to follow rules for the formal presentation of arguments as well as discussions and to try to come up with arguments that will convince others of the relevancy of your thesis.
The committee that will look at your dissertation will consist of approximately four to nine researchers both in and outside of your designated field. Each committee member has a certain duty to fulfill.
Make sure that you take the constructive criticism of your thesis adviser to heart. He or she has a very important job. It is to give you assurance that you will do just fine. If you make sure to follow the helpful suggestions outlined above, you will be successful at delivering your dissertation.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Custom Essay http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - Dissertation Topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
First of all, you are going to have to do research that will support your particular thesis. The research must be original and substantial, and your dissertation must prove that it is so. To put it another way, a dissertation will highlight all original contributions.
You will usually begin with the scientific method before actually writing your dissertation. This means that you will begin with a hypothesis and then collect data to either support of deny its claim. This is the hardest part of writing your paper that of organizing the evidence and all of the associated discussions into a logical form.
The main substance of a dissertation does not lie in the experimental data but in critical thinking. The main things that are at the heart of a dissertation are analysis and concepts. When you write a dissertation you are concentrating on principles. You are stating the lessons that are learned from the principles and not just the facts behind them.
Generally speaking, each statement in a dissertation should be supported by either an original work or by a reference to scientific literature that has been published. Moreover, you should just not be content with repeating the details of analysis and critical thinking found in published sources. You must use the results as fact and then refer your readers to the source in order for them to gain further knowledge.
You must always be sure to use correct grammar in a dissertation. Your paper must also satisfy the rules of formal grammar. Therefore, you should use no contractions, no slurs, no hidden jokes, no colloquialisms, no technical jargon that cannot be defined and no slang. You must be explicitly clear as you write your dissertation. The words that you use in your dissertation must convey exactly the meaning that is intended. Each statement must also be correct and defensible in a scientific and logical sense. The discussions in your paper must be able to satisfy stringent rules of logic that are applied to science and mathematics.
What One Should Learn From Writing a Dissertation: There is a need for scientists to communicate discoveries. When you write a PhD dissertation, this provides training so that you are able to communicate with other scientists. This process also requires you to organize technical discussion, being able to think deeply, to follow rules for the formal presentation of arguments as well as discussions and to try to come up with arguments that will convince others of the relevancy of your thesis.
The committee that will look at your dissertation will consist of approximately four to nine researchers both in and outside of your designated field. Each committee member has a certain duty to fulfill.
Make sure that you take the constructive criticism of your thesis adviser to heart. He or she has a very important job. It is to give you assurance that you will do just fine. If you make sure to follow the helpful suggestions outlined above, you will be successful at delivering your dissertation.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Custom Essay http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - Dissertation Topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
The Amazon Battle, Continued: An Interview With BookLocker\s Angela Hoy
Amazon is a big piece to our success and as they continue to change their model, how we market and sell our books needs to change as well. It's no secret that Angela Hoy of BookLocker and WritersWeekly has been very vocal about the recent move on Amazon's part to get all their POD publishers to print books through BookSurge. You can see some of her past posts on this topic by clicking over to her WritersWeekly site.
Amidst the media firestorm Angela is in, she's taken some time to answer our questions related to this topic:
1) You just filed a lawsuit against Amazon. Why did you decide to do this?
We believe what they're doing violates anti-trust laws and puts us and other POD publishers and authors at risk. Somebody had to stand up and cry foul.
2) Can you discuss the nature of this lawsuit?
There is a link to a PDF file of the actual lawsuit here: http://antitrust.booklocker.com/.
3) Do you think you can win against this giant?
Yes, I absolutely do.
4) Many people have talked about Amazon being a monopoly, do you feel the same way and is there anything that can be done against this giant?
The only way to stop this type of action by a company that dominates the online book selling market is to take them to court. That's what they have forced us to do.
5) There's been some scuttle recently that Amazon might have aspirations on being a publisher. Do you think that will ever happen? What are the ramifications of this if it does happen?
Amazon already is a publisher. They not only became a publisher when they purchased BookSurge, but Amazon also admits in its 10-K filing with the SEC, that publishers are their competitors.
6) So many individual authors with their own imprints have been affected by this decision, many of them don't even realize the ramifications of this BookSurge push. What can one book author do to fight this giant?
What many authors don't realize is that some POD publishers may already be working with Amazon (the confidentiality clause in the Amazon/BookSurge contract appears to prevent them from disclosing the relationship) and that those authors' books may soon be printed by BookSurge without their knowledge. Authors who have researched BookSurge online may have grave concerns about the quality of BookSurge books that have the author's name printed on it.
I, personally, would never let BookSurge print a book with our name on it. We have a history with BookSurge that involved quality problems.
Just to check up on them, I purchased a book from Amazon/BookSurge last month and the quality was horrible. The back cover was off-center, some of the photos were so dark the people were completely unrecognizable (black shadows is the best way to describe it), there was a gross glue glob on the cover, and more.
7) What else can we do to fight this online giant?
Authors and POD publishers need to speak out about this situation now, and need to keep speaking out about it. Amazon may be hoping things will just simmer down and that people will forget all about this someday.
Unfortunately, when that someday arrives, some POD publishers and self-publishing authors may be out of business because of Amazon's actions today.
8) If Amazon is allowed to do this, what do you think will happen in the future? Will their next announcement be a roll-out of their publishing model?
They've already rolled out their publishing model and they've already taken action. The buy buttons for Publish America books (estimated at 30K titles) have already been turned off by Amazon.
9) What has surprised you most about this process?
It didn't take any forethought at all for us to decide to fight this. It's wrong and somebody has to do something about it. We expected some press in the writing and publishing industry publications and blogs. What we didn't expect was the overwhelming support we received on a global scale from authors, publishers and book buyers. People are furious with Amazon. I've done more interviews in the past six weeks than I've done cumulatively my entire life. In addition, we've received far more emails about this topic than about any other topic we've covered in the past 11 years in WritersWeekly.
Every voice counts and you CAN make a difference! Believe me. Amazon is reading what people are saying!
About the Author:
Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a book marketing and media relations expert whose company has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. Visit http://www.amarketingexpert.com AME.
Keyword tags: Amazon, writing, publishing, books, book sales, POD, antitrust, BookSurge, Angela Hoy
Amidst the media firestorm Angela is in, she's taken some time to answer our questions related to this topic:
1) You just filed a lawsuit against Amazon. Why did you decide to do this?
We believe what they're doing violates anti-trust laws and puts us and other POD publishers and authors at risk. Somebody had to stand up and cry foul.
2) Can you discuss the nature of this lawsuit?
There is a link to a PDF file of the actual lawsuit here: http://antitrust.booklocker.com/.
3) Do you think you can win against this giant?
Yes, I absolutely do.
4) Many people have talked about Amazon being a monopoly, do you feel the same way and is there anything that can be done against this giant?
The only way to stop this type of action by a company that dominates the online book selling market is to take them to court. That's what they have forced us to do.
5) There's been some scuttle recently that Amazon might have aspirations on being a publisher. Do you think that will ever happen? What are the ramifications of this if it does happen?
Amazon already is a publisher. They not only became a publisher when they purchased BookSurge, but Amazon also admits in its 10-K filing with the SEC, that publishers are their competitors.
6) So many individual authors with their own imprints have been affected by this decision, many of them don't even realize the ramifications of this BookSurge push. What can one book author do to fight this giant?
What many authors don't realize is that some POD publishers may already be working with Amazon (the confidentiality clause in the Amazon/BookSurge contract appears to prevent them from disclosing the relationship) and that those authors' books may soon be printed by BookSurge without their knowledge. Authors who have researched BookSurge online may have grave concerns about the quality of BookSurge books that have the author's name printed on it.
I, personally, would never let BookSurge print a book with our name on it. We have a history with BookSurge that involved quality problems.
Just to check up on them, I purchased a book from Amazon/BookSurge last month and the quality was horrible. The back cover was off-center, some of the photos were so dark the people were completely unrecognizable (black shadows is the best way to describe it), there was a gross glue glob on the cover, and more.
7) What else can we do to fight this online giant?
Authors and POD publishers need to speak out about this situation now, and need to keep speaking out about it. Amazon may be hoping things will just simmer down and that people will forget all about this someday.
Unfortunately, when that someday arrives, some POD publishers and self-publishing authors may be out of business because of Amazon's actions today.
8) If Amazon is allowed to do this, what do you think will happen in the future? Will their next announcement be a roll-out of their publishing model?
They've already rolled out their publishing model and they've already taken action. The buy buttons for Publish America books (estimated at 30K titles) have already been turned off by Amazon.
9) What has surprised you most about this process?
It didn't take any forethought at all for us to decide to fight this. It's wrong and somebody has to do something about it. We expected some press in the writing and publishing industry publications and blogs. What we didn't expect was the overwhelming support we received on a global scale from authors, publishers and book buyers. People are furious with Amazon. I've done more interviews in the past six weeks than I've done cumulatively my entire life. In addition, we've received far more emails about this topic than about any other topic we've covered in the past 11 years in WritersWeekly.
Every voice counts and you CAN make a difference! Believe me. Amazon is reading what people are saying!
About the Author:
Penny C. Sansevieri, CEO and founder of Author Marketing Experts, Inc., is a book marketing and media relations expert whose company has developed some of the most cutting-edge book marketing campaigns. Visit http://www.amarketingexpert.com AME.
Keyword tags: Amazon, writing, publishing, books, book sales, POD, antitrust, BookSurge, Angela Hoy
Seven Things Authors Must Know to Be Successful
Publishing is a very competitive business and the choices for getting a manuscript into print are numerous. Everyone who writes has to make a decision on what's best for them and their manuscript or book, but the decision should be based on their personal goals and not what someone else is trying to sell you. There are plenty of so-called "experts" who only have themselves in mind, so choose wisely and keep in mind these seven crucial points.
First: Publishing and marketing of books is a business. It's about making money and the last thing you want as an author is to have the "experts" taking money out of your pocket selling you products and services that can't hold water in the marketplace for bookselling.
Second: If you decide that New York is where you want to be as an author and you find an agent, the business is interested in good stories, not great writing. Having the talent to string words together in a way that defies description is wonderful, but that alone doesn't sell. Publishers are looking for good stories: the only thing they can sell.
Third: There care clearly two parts to being an author. The first is improving your storytelling skills to the point where you are ready to publish. Secondly, you have to be willing to actively market and promote your book. Publishers require it, your audience demands it, and there is no other way around it. If you want to do nothing but write, keep your day job because that is not the road to success in publishing.
Fourth: Place yourself in a position to succeed. Become a student of the marketplace so you can speak intelligently about the business. Bookstores are your laboratory, visit regularly and observe. The more you visit the quicker you will start to see changes in the market. Read your competition, not the bestsellers but the authors you never heard of who occupy a place on bookstore shelves in the category in which you write.
Fifth: You have choices on how to publish your work; don't be foolish, but follow your heart. Your choice depends on your personal goals, so follow your dream.. Anything is possible. It takes information, knowledge of the market, and learning how to evaluate what makes sense and what doesn't. The more information you obtain, the better decisions you will make.
Sixth: It is very easy to get published, but extremely difficult to market and sell books. Make good decisions based on solid information, and you will not fall victim to the "experts" looking to make a buck on your vulnerability. Spend a little for professional advice before you invest time and money in a venture that won't get you where you want to go.
Seventh: There are no guarantees in publishing, never, not one. Anyone who tells you there are has only one thing in mind, to sell you something you probably don't need. Stay as far away from these "experts" as possible, they are looking to take advantage of an unsuspecting writer and capitalize on your dreams which they don't care about.
It's not about just getting published, it's about getting published correctly, in a way that makes sense in the marketplace, and fits your personal goals as an author. We're not launching rockets, just publishing books. However, follow the successful path, seek expert advice before you make decisions, and you'll save both time and money in the process. Remember, as an author the possibilities are endless and the opportunities boundless. You can become anything you want with the right information.
About the Author:
Jerry D. Simmons is the author of WHAT WRITERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PUBLISHING. He is the creator of TIPS for WRITING from the PUBLISHING INSIDER an eNewsletter that can be found at http://WritersReaders.com. He is also the founder of the leading social networking website for writers, authors and readers http://www.NothingBinding.com. For comments or questions you can reach Jerry via email jerry@writersreaders.com.
Keyword tags: authors, books, writing, publishing, agents, self publishing, book marketing, bookstores
First: Publishing and marketing of books is a business. It's about making money and the last thing you want as an author is to have the "experts" taking money out of your pocket selling you products and services that can't hold water in the marketplace for bookselling.
Second: If you decide that New York is where you want to be as an author and you find an agent, the business is interested in good stories, not great writing. Having the talent to string words together in a way that defies description is wonderful, but that alone doesn't sell. Publishers are looking for good stories: the only thing they can sell.
Third: There care clearly two parts to being an author. The first is improving your storytelling skills to the point where you are ready to publish. Secondly, you have to be willing to actively market and promote your book. Publishers require it, your audience demands it, and there is no other way around it. If you want to do nothing but write, keep your day job because that is not the road to success in publishing.
Fourth: Place yourself in a position to succeed. Become a student of the marketplace so you can speak intelligently about the business. Bookstores are your laboratory, visit regularly and observe. The more you visit the quicker you will start to see changes in the market. Read your competition, not the bestsellers but the authors you never heard of who occupy a place on bookstore shelves in the category in which you write.
Fifth: You have choices on how to publish your work; don't be foolish, but follow your heart. Your choice depends on your personal goals, so follow your dream.. Anything is possible. It takes information, knowledge of the market, and learning how to evaluate what makes sense and what doesn't. The more information you obtain, the better decisions you will make.
Sixth: It is very easy to get published, but extremely difficult to market and sell books. Make good decisions based on solid information, and you will not fall victim to the "experts" looking to make a buck on your vulnerability. Spend a little for professional advice before you invest time and money in a venture that won't get you where you want to go.
Seventh: There are no guarantees in publishing, never, not one. Anyone who tells you there are has only one thing in mind, to sell you something you probably don't need. Stay as far away from these "experts" as possible, they are looking to take advantage of an unsuspecting writer and capitalize on your dreams which they don't care about.
It's not about just getting published, it's about getting published correctly, in a way that makes sense in the marketplace, and fits your personal goals as an author. We're not launching rockets, just publishing books. However, follow the successful path, seek expert advice before you make decisions, and you'll save both time and money in the process. Remember, as an author the possibilities are endless and the opportunities boundless. You can become anything you want with the right information.
About the Author:
Jerry D. Simmons is the author of WHAT WRITERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PUBLISHING. He is the creator of TIPS for WRITING from the PUBLISHING INSIDER an eNewsletter that can be found at http://WritersReaders.com. He is also the founder of the leading social networking website for writers, authors and readers http://www.NothingBinding.com. For comments or questions you can reach Jerry via email jerry@writersreaders.com.
Keyword tags: authors, books, writing, publishing, agents, self publishing, book marketing, bookstores
The People Versus
Tough as a tire iron and proud as a parson in paradise, Jeff Sanders, Private Investigator, was good at his job, always cool and always composed, never rancorous or rattled on the witness stand. Fit at 40, he was a wiz at bending the truth toward the side that hired him, but he never blatantly lied. "No yellow Jellyfish, that Jeff Sanders," the Chief of Police always said. He should see me now, Jeff thought.
Jeff had often sat on a marble bench in the hall outside a courtroom. But this time it was different. This time he slouched, head hanging down, bristled chin in hand, eyes closed waiting his turn to testify. His palms were as wet as his mouth was dry; his pallor merged seamlessly with his only rumpled white shirt, the one he reserved for court appearances. This time, there'd be no run-of-the-mill, roll-me-over-in–the-clover testimony.
Jeff was eyewitness to a horrifying homicide, called by the DA to testify for the People Versus Jimmy "Weasel" Ingra, the Godfather's hit man from Detroit and the Godfather himself. The Godfather got word to Jeff promising a long and languishing death if he ratted. The DA swished Jeff into witness protection. Bodyguards chaperoned him everywhere. It made dates with Alice pretty clumsy.
Even in guarded witness protection a crooked cop had come to see him. "The mob has bruisers bad as bloodhounds at search and destroy," the cop told him. "They can find a mite in a mile-high pile of muck and smash it into a droplet of dew on a dam. Everyone likes you, Sanders. Try to stay alive." Jeff had swallowed hard.
The great oak courtroom door opened. A cherubic face with double chin and dark curly hair appeared. "You're up next, Jeff. About 10 minutes," the bailiff said.
"Thanks, Herby," Jeff replied. "I'm about as ready as I'm ever going to be." Jeff knew that wasn't true.
The ten minutes that followed were the longest Jeff had ever known.
* * *
"The whole thing's a fluke," Jeff had told Alice at dinner last week. His petite blond girlfriend reached to take his hand in hers and squeezed it gently.
"Alice, I just want to get out of this alive and not hunted by hoods or wanted by the FBI. It's a fluke! I thought it was an ordinary climb –the-fire-escape-and–get-pictures-of-the- dame-in-bed-with-a-lover and what do I see? The weasel was sitting on this DEA drug agent's face while the Godfather walloped the guy's ribs with a steel club 'til they're turned to sand. Then he makes mince meat of the guy's manhood. I got so scared I forgot to film it. The DA thinks I did take pictures and burned them. Honest, Alice, I didn't do that. But I did see it pretty clearly. If I hadn't lost my keys at the scene, the DA wouldn't know I was there." He squeezed her hand. "Aw, honey. I just want to get out alive and marry you." Alice forced a scared smile. The uniformed cop standing over by the door chuckled.
* * *
Jeff's heartbeat resonated rhythmically in his ears, a thumping metronome unable to distract him from his dreadful dilemma. He felt as vulnerable as a vulture on a weather vane.
Ten minutes to show time, Jeff told himself. I got to figure out what I'm gonna do. I'm not ready to die, but dammit, somebody's got to stop the mob. I tell it like it is, the Godfather goes down and his lieutenants come after me. I can say maybe I didn't see it all clearly. I was twenty-five yards away and the window was dirty. My glasses were smudged. How could I be sure beyond the shadow of a doubt? After all It was, night. It was cloudy. No moon. They were in a dark corner of a large room, from where I watched. I'd had a couple a beers before climbing that fire escape. I hadn't slept for a couple a days. He could bend the testimony in favor of the Godfather.
Jeff thought about his father. He didn't know why for sure, but he could see his father telling him, "When you lie, Jeff, you have to remember every detail or you'll get caught up in it." Jeff remembered his dad. In the dark he could still see himself sitting on his dad's knee, twirling dad's graying locks between the thumb and forefinger of one hand while sucking his thumb on the other. "Daddy, I don't want to tell any lies." He felt his throat choking, his eyes beginning to tear. He suppressed sobs..
Now he heard the screaming; the bones breaking; the explosive fart when the Godfather smashed the bat across the guy's belly. He smelled the sickening smell and heard the last yelp of the victim. Surely he died with that blow, Jeff thought.
Daddy, where are you? I need you, daddy, he thought. What should I do daddy? Daddy, I'm scared.
Then Alice jumped into his mind's eye. "I love you, Jeff," he could hear her saying. He could hear her voice cracking; see her eyes searching his soul. He felt her warm breath on his chest."I want you with me forever, Jeff."
"You can be a real hero, Jeff." Now it was the DA. "We got a good shot at putting these bastards so far away you'd need a space searching telescope to find them. Tell what you saw, Jeff. Just the truth."
"You have to remember your lie or you get caught in it, Jeff. Better, don't lie." It was his dad. Jeff rolled his left thumb against his forefinger and put he his right thumb in his mouth.
* * *
The bailiff's hand on his shoulder jolted Jeff back to reality. He looked up to see the policeman who guarded him unsnap the flap on his holster so the gun would come out easily. He rose. He pursed his lips, pulled down the back skirt of his jacket and then straightened his tie. "OK," he said. "Let's boogey."
Flanked by the bailiff and the policeman, Jeff stood straight and tall walking down the aisle. The back rows of the courtroom were filled with mostly shabby looking spectators. Some whispered as he walked by. "Nail 'em, Mr. Sanders. Give 'em hell" and things like that. Jeff recognized a few mobsters scattered in the crowd. They looked at him and shook their heads slowly. One of them raised his forefinger to his lips and nodded. Jeff clenched his teeth.
The bailiff opened the gate in front of the spectators' section and Jeff passed between two large desks covered with folders and files. The DA and his staff sat in wooden captain's chairs behind the desk to the left. Their suits had "Men's Warehouse" written all over them. The defense team sat on his right. Imported Italian duds, Jeff thought. The Godfather stared at Jeff and pursed his lips into an upside down smile. He looked like a fashion plate out of Gentlemen's Quarterly.
Then he saw Alice. Second to the left in the third row. She put on her stoic face made up perfectly as if her cosmetics were painted by numbers. No smile. No tears. A little like the Mona Lisa, Jeff thought. She glows. She always glows. A giant glob of molasses seemed to have gotten caught between Jeff's heavy heart and stiffened stomach.
At the witness stand Jeff stood. "Put your left hand on the bible, Mr. Sanders, and raise your right hand," the bailiff said. Jeff forced a smiled and complied. The bailiff spoke slowly:
"Jeffery Sanders, do you solemnly swear . . .?"
About the Author:
Melvin M. Harter is a retired physician. He specialized in evaluation of the causes and extent of injury and disability. He has become a freelance writer and author of the novel, Some Kind of Angel. This sci-fi thriller explores the world of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and genocide. For more, visit http://www.somekindofangel.com and view the video trailer.
Keyword tags: fiction, crime, novels, authors, books, publishing, mobsters, story telling, character development
Jeff had often sat on a marble bench in the hall outside a courtroom. But this time it was different. This time he slouched, head hanging down, bristled chin in hand, eyes closed waiting his turn to testify. His palms were as wet as his mouth was dry; his pallor merged seamlessly with his only rumpled white shirt, the one he reserved for court appearances. This time, there'd be no run-of-the-mill, roll-me-over-in–the-clover testimony.
Jeff was eyewitness to a horrifying homicide, called by the DA to testify for the People Versus Jimmy "Weasel" Ingra, the Godfather's hit man from Detroit and the Godfather himself. The Godfather got word to Jeff promising a long and languishing death if he ratted. The DA swished Jeff into witness protection. Bodyguards chaperoned him everywhere. It made dates with Alice pretty clumsy.
Even in guarded witness protection a crooked cop had come to see him. "The mob has bruisers bad as bloodhounds at search and destroy," the cop told him. "They can find a mite in a mile-high pile of muck and smash it into a droplet of dew on a dam. Everyone likes you, Sanders. Try to stay alive." Jeff had swallowed hard.
The great oak courtroom door opened. A cherubic face with double chin and dark curly hair appeared. "You're up next, Jeff. About 10 minutes," the bailiff said.
"Thanks, Herby," Jeff replied. "I'm about as ready as I'm ever going to be." Jeff knew that wasn't true.
The ten minutes that followed were the longest Jeff had ever known.
* * *
"The whole thing's a fluke," Jeff had told Alice at dinner last week. His petite blond girlfriend reached to take his hand in hers and squeezed it gently.
"Alice, I just want to get out of this alive and not hunted by hoods or wanted by the FBI. It's a fluke! I thought it was an ordinary climb –the-fire-escape-and–get-pictures-of-the- dame-in-bed-with-a-lover and what do I see? The weasel was sitting on this DEA drug agent's face while the Godfather walloped the guy's ribs with a steel club 'til they're turned to sand. Then he makes mince meat of the guy's manhood. I got so scared I forgot to film it. The DA thinks I did take pictures and burned them. Honest, Alice, I didn't do that. But I did see it pretty clearly. If I hadn't lost my keys at the scene, the DA wouldn't know I was there." He squeezed her hand. "Aw, honey. I just want to get out alive and marry you." Alice forced a scared smile. The uniformed cop standing over by the door chuckled.
* * *
Jeff's heartbeat resonated rhythmically in his ears, a thumping metronome unable to distract him from his dreadful dilemma. He felt as vulnerable as a vulture on a weather vane.
Ten minutes to show time, Jeff told himself. I got to figure out what I'm gonna do. I'm not ready to die, but dammit, somebody's got to stop the mob. I tell it like it is, the Godfather goes down and his lieutenants come after me. I can say maybe I didn't see it all clearly. I was twenty-five yards away and the window was dirty. My glasses were smudged. How could I be sure beyond the shadow of a doubt? After all It was, night. It was cloudy. No moon. They were in a dark corner of a large room, from where I watched. I'd had a couple a beers before climbing that fire escape. I hadn't slept for a couple a days. He could bend the testimony in favor of the Godfather.
Jeff thought about his father. He didn't know why for sure, but he could see his father telling him, "When you lie, Jeff, you have to remember every detail or you'll get caught up in it." Jeff remembered his dad. In the dark he could still see himself sitting on his dad's knee, twirling dad's graying locks between the thumb and forefinger of one hand while sucking his thumb on the other. "Daddy, I don't want to tell any lies." He felt his throat choking, his eyes beginning to tear. He suppressed sobs..
Now he heard the screaming; the bones breaking; the explosive fart when the Godfather smashed the bat across the guy's belly. He smelled the sickening smell and heard the last yelp of the victim. Surely he died with that blow, Jeff thought.
Daddy, where are you? I need you, daddy, he thought. What should I do daddy? Daddy, I'm scared.
Then Alice jumped into his mind's eye. "I love you, Jeff," he could hear her saying. He could hear her voice cracking; see her eyes searching his soul. He felt her warm breath on his chest."I want you with me forever, Jeff."
"You can be a real hero, Jeff." Now it was the DA. "We got a good shot at putting these bastards so far away you'd need a space searching telescope to find them. Tell what you saw, Jeff. Just the truth."
"You have to remember your lie or you get caught in it, Jeff. Better, don't lie." It was his dad. Jeff rolled his left thumb against his forefinger and put he his right thumb in his mouth.
* * *
The bailiff's hand on his shoulder jolted Jeff back to reality. He looked up to see the policeman who guarded him unsnap the flap on his holster so the gun would come out easily. He rose. He pursed his lips, pulled down the back skirt of his jacket and then straightened his tie. "OK," he said. "Let's boogey."
Flanked by the bailiff and the policeman, Jeff stood straight and tall walking down the aisle. The back rows of the courtroom were filled with mostly shabby looking spectators. Some whispered as he walked by. "Nail 'em, Mr. Sanders. Give 'em hell" and things like that. Jeff recognized a few mobsters scattered in the crowd. They looked at him and shook their heads slowly. One of them raised his forefinger to his lips and nodded. Jeff clenched his teeth.
The bailiff opened the gate in front of the spectators' section and Jeff passed between two large desks covered with folders and files. The DA and his staff sat in wooden captain's chairs behind the desk to the left. Their suits had "Men's Warehouse" written all over them. The defense team sat on his right. Imported Italian duds, Jeff thought. The Godfather stared at Jeff and pursed his lips into an upside down smile. He looked like a fashion plate out of Gentlemen's Quarterly.
Then he saw Alice. Second to the left in the third row. She put on her stoic face made up perfectly as if her cosmetics were painted by numbers. No smile. No tears. A little like the Mona Lisa, Jeff thought. She glows. She always glows. A giant glob of molasses seemed to have gotten caught between Jeff's heavy heart and stiffened stomach.
At the witness stand Jeff stood. "Put your left hand on the bible, Mr. Sanders, and raise your right hand," the bailiff said. Jeff forced a smiled and complied. The bailiff spoke slowly:
"Jeffery Sanders, do you solemnly swear . . .?"
About the Author:
Melvin M. Harter is a retired physician. He specialized in evaluation of the causes and extent of injury and disability. He has become a freelance writer and author of the novel, Some Kind of Angel. This sci-fi thriller explores the world of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and genocide. For more, visit http://www.somekindofangel.com and view the video trailer.
Keyword tags: fiction, crime, novels, authors, books, publishing, mobsters, story telling, character development
More About Inserting Explanatory Text in Writing Novels
In a recent article, I stated: "I found that three or four pages of explanatory text usually are quite well received." I also stated: "It may not be totally acceptable to a few readers, but overall, most will enjoy learning something new and, if the material is adequately condensed and included as part of the overall story, as it must be, it often is enjoyed enough to be favorably mentioned in reviews."
If you are going to present a character that is unusual for any number of reasons, or provide circumstances that are different, you must be prepared to provide explanatory material. A tale involving a period of social upheaval will be little understood, if you do not offer some explanation why actions result in the reactions that occur. A story dealing with the period of the Industrial Revolution, for example, would be difficult in the extreme to tell without some recounting of the effect it had upon the gentry and their mores.
As another example, let us examine the introduction of a 'different' type of character. To do so, let me suggest a look at El Tigre.
Stories of immigrants to the United States have included those of Irish families escaping the potato famine, and Germans and French fleeing from religious persecution. They also have told of some English who came to America for the same reason, and of others to escape prison. The stories of Jewish, Chinese, and assorted others' journey to this country have been set forth for numerous reasons, not the least of which was to discover gold. Stories of any of these characters, therefore, are not new and need no explanatory pages.
Johan Heinrich von Manfred, the man who becomes El Tigre, is different. He is of the Prussian Aristocratic class. Both his position and the circumstances of his entrance to school must be explained. An explanation of the weapons of the time also must be provided. It was an era when the sword and knife still were important weapons. Firearms were single shot muskets and pistols. When Johann finally obtains one of the first revolving weapons, a description of the unique difference is of great importance to the following episodes.
As the young man moves into Spain to fight in the 1st Carlist War, his activities are meaningless without an explanation of the political maneuvering that led up to the confrontation. Similarly, the story does not develop without the reasons being given for the precarious position of his mentor in Spain. When he moves on to America, an understanding of the often only alluded to basic problems leading to Texas' fight for independence, adds immeasurably to the story line.
So, to reiterate, there are certain times when introduction of information drops are necessary to the story line, and with respect to this material "often being enjoyed enough to be favorably mentioned in reviews," let me provide specific examples. I said that "it may not be totally compatible to a few readers." An unsigned review for the Magazine of the Western Writers of America did not like the "huge information drops," but admitted "the subject matter is intriguing" and that "(the book) is an interesting look at a type of immigrant not often written about." However, all of the other reviewers either did not find the inclusion of the explanatory material in any way bothersome, or actually made a point of including favorable remarks about it. The review by the main book reviewer in the monthly Chronicle of the 80,000 member Single Action Shooting Society printed in its entirety on my web page, is a case in point. The 5 star review by Mel Kligman in Amazon, the review by the AC Peoples Media Co. Review Editor, Louise Harris, and the full review by the well-known Gun Columnist John Taffin provide similar endorsement of the inclusions.
The general consensus, therefore, certainly would seem to be in favor of including explanatory material if the author believes it is necessary to, or will enhance, the story line.
About the Author:
John H. Manhold is a retired professor and scientific journal editor. He is an author of several textbooks, a lexicon in four languages and now novels that often require extensive research. He provides coaching on various types and phases of writing. Please see http://www.johnhmanhold.com/ for more information, and an address.
Keyword tags: history, historical novels, books, research, authors, publishing, writing tips, reviews, book review
If you are going to present a character that is unusual for any number of reasons, or provide circumstances that are different, you must be prepared to provide explanatory material. A tale involving a period of social upheaval will be little understood, if you do not offer some explanation why actions result in the reactions that occur. A story dealing with the period of the Industrial Revolution, for example, would be difficult in the extreme to tell without some recounting of the effect it had upon the gentry and their mores.
As another example, let us examine the introduction of a 'different' type of character. To do so, let me suggest a look at El Tigre.
Stories of immigrants to the United States have included those of Irish families escaping the potato famine, and Germans and French fleeing from religious persecution. They also have told of some English who came to America for the same reason, and of others to escape prison. The stories of Jewish, Chinese, and assorted others' journey to this country have been set forth for numerous reasons, not the least of which was to discover gold. Stories of any of these characters, therefore, are not new and need no explanatory pages.
Johan Heinrich von Manfred, the man who becomes El Tigre, is different. He is of the Prussian Aristocratic class. Both his position and the circumstances of his entrance to school must be explained. An explanation of the weapons of the time also must be provided. It was an era when the sword and knife still were important weapons. Firearms were single shot muskets and pistols. When Johann finally obtains one of the first revolving weapons, a description of the unique difference is of great importance to the following episodes.
As the young man moves into Spain to fight in the 1st Carlist War, his activities are meaningless without an explanation of the political maneuvering that led up to the confrontation. Similarly, the story does not develop without the reasons being given for the precarious position of his mentor in Spain. When he moves on to America, an understanding of the often only alluded to basic problems leading to Texas' fight for independence, adds immeasurably to the story line.
So, to reiterate, there are certain times when introduction of information drops are necessary to the story line, and with respect to this material "often being enjoyed enough to be favorably mentioned in reviews," let me provide specific examples. I said that "it may not be totally compatible to a few readers." An unsigned review for the Magazine of the Western Writers of America did not like the "huge information drops," but admitted "the subject matter is intriguing" and that "(the book) is an interesting look at a type of immigrant not often written about." However, all of the other reviewers either did not find the inclusion of the explanatory material in any way bothersome, or actually made a point of including favorable remarks about it. The review by the main book reviewer in the monthly Chronicle of the 80,000 member Single Action Shooting Society printed in its entirety on my web page, is a case in point. The 5 star review by Mel Kligman in Amazon, the review by the AC Peoples Media Co. Review Editor, Louise Harris, and the full review by the well-known Gun Columnist John Taffin provide similar endorsement of the inclusions.
The general consensus, therefore, certainly would seem to be in favor of including explanatory material if the author believes it is necessary to, or will enhance, the story line.
About the Author:
John H. Manhold is a retired professor and scientific journal editor. He is an author of several textbooks, a lexicon in four languages and now novels that often require extensive research. He provides coaching on various types and phases of writing. Please see http://www.johnhmanhold.com/ for more information, and an address.
Keyword tags: history, historical novels, books, research, authors, publishing, writing tips, reviews, book review
Friday, June 13, 2008
Tips to Ghostwrite Books For Yourself or For Clients
Serious freelance writers know their income may come from other sources, not just writing articles for magazines or clients. Ultimately, their freelance writing leads to writing books or e-books for themselves or as ghostwrites. If you decide to ghostwrite e-books and trade paperbacks, consider the following:
If a client hires you as a "work-for-hire" ghostwriter, then the client pays you for your work, and he owns all rights. Make sure: 1) You receive a 50% retainer before you begin the work; and 2) You receive the balance at or right before delivery. That's it. If the book turns out to be a great success, great! That's wonderful! You should be extremely proud — but from a distance! To be a successful ghostwriter, you must enjoy your glory as a ghostwriter in the shadows. Many ghostwriters prefer it that way.
TIP #1: As a ghostwriter, you should always try to meet the needs of the true "author" of the work. Cover the content they want and do your best to make the client happy.
TIP #2: As with writing any book, ghostwriting involves lot of revisions and changes as far out as two months, especially if the book needs to go through an editor or publisher. You should make changes as needed. However, don't wait on final payment if your client hasn't received final approval from his publisher.
TIP #3: Always write your ghostwrites as if they are your own. Write with quality and professionalism in mind.
TIP #4: Never sign a non-compete contract on the subject of gaming or poker. It is crazy for the client to ask but crazier for you to do it. If a client asks for one, walk away. You have your own work to protect as well as the client's work.
TIP #5: You owe the client exceptional work and the client you work for owes you money for a job well done.
TIP #6: If your client is dissatisfied with the end result, even after he's paid you, make it right for the client. Satisfied clients usually become repeat clients; they will bring you steady work and referrals.
TIP #7: Consider using a pen name as a ghostwriter.
My friend, Shelly Unger, a freelance writer and ghostwriter, said she uses a pen name when she ghostwrites. She said, "I've written most of my ghostwrites and presented them to my clients under a pen name. First, if someone decides to spam me, there's no harm done to the name for which I write my own work under. Secondly, when I write for a client, I have no idea what the client will do to the work, after all it is his work once it leaves my hands. The client may add content which I may not like or he may write something that is not my style of writing." This is something to remember if you write for clients as ghostwrites. The client hires you to do a job and the client owns the work after it leaves your hands.
You can find many ghostwriting gigs on FreelanceWriting.com, Elance.com, Guru.com, GetAFreelancer.com, Indeed.com, and CraigsList.com. The other way is to create your own ghostwriting gigs by networking and marketing.
If you choose to write your own books and e-books, then follow these tips:
TIP # 1: Know your market and know where you can gain the most readership.
TIP # 2: Remember, non-fiction typically outsells fiction.
TIP # 3: Have your manuscript ready before you approach a publisher for electronic submissions or for trade submissions.
TIP # 4: As you are writing your manuscript, begin searching for markets where you will want to submit your work.
TIP # 5: Buy a Writer's Market book so you can read over the markets and decide the best market for your manuscript.
TIP # 6: Avoid work-for-hire contracts from publishers. Sure, what publisher wouldn't prefer to pay an up-front fee to a writer in lieu of royalties? Go for the royalties and take a chance on your own talents.
TIP # 7: Know your topic.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags:
If a client hires you as a "work-for-hire" ghostwriter, then the client pays you for your work, and he owns all rights. Make sure: 1) You receive a 50% retainer before you begin the work; and 2) You receive the balance at or right before delivery. That's it. If the book turns out to be a great success, great! That's wonderful! You should be extremely proud — but from a distance! To be a successful ghostwriter, you must enjoy your glory as a ghostwriter in the shadows. Many ghostwriters prefer it that way.
TIP #1: As a ghostwriter, you should always try to meet the needs of the true "author" of the work. Cover the content they want and do your best to make the client happy.
TIP #2: As with writing any book, ghostwriting involves lot of revisions and changes as far out as two months, especially if the book needs to go through an editor or publisher. You should make changes as needed. However, don't wait on final payment if your client hasn't received final approval from his publisher.
TIP #3: Always write your ghostwrites as if they are your own. Write with quality and professionalism in mind.
TIP #4: Never sign a non-compete contract on the subject of gaming or poker. It is crazy for the client to ask but crazier for you to do it. If a client asks for one, walk away. You have your own work to protect as well as the client's work.
TIP #5: You owe the client exceptional work and the client you work for owes you money for a job well done.
TIP #6: If your client is dissatisfied with the end result, even after he's paid you, make it right for the client. Satisfied clients usually become repeat clients; they will bring you steady work and referrals.
TIP #7: Consider using a pen name as a ghostwriter.
My friend, Shelly Unger, a freelance writer and ghostwriter, said she uses a pen name when she ghostwrites. She said, "I've written most of my ghostwrites and presented them to my clients under a pen name. First, if someone decides to spam me, there's no harm done to the name for which I write my own work under. Secondly, when I write for a client, I have no idea what the client will do to the work, after all it is his work once it leaves my hands. The client may add content which I may not like or he may write something that is not my style of writing." This is something to remember if you write for clients as ghostwrites. The client hires you to do a job and the client owns the work after it leaves your hands.
You can find many ghostwriting gigs on FreelanceWriting.com, Elance.com, Guru.com, GetAFreelancer.com, Indeed.com, and CraigsList.com. The other way is to create your own ghostwriting gigs by networking and marketing.
If you choose to write your own books and e-books, then follow these tips:
TIP # 1: Know your market and know where you can gain the most readership.
TIP # 2: Remember, non-fiction typically outsells fiction.
TIP # 3: Have your manuscript ready before you approach a publisher for electronic submissions or for trade submissions.
TIP # 4: As you are writing your manuscript, begin searching for markets where you will want to submit your work.
TIP # 5: Buy a Writer's Market book so you can read over the markets and decide the best market for your manuscript.
TIP # 6: Avoid work-for-hire contracts from publishers. Sure, what publisher wouldn't prefer to pay an up-front fee to a writer in lieu of royalties? Go for the royalties and take a chance on your own talents.
TIP # 7: Know your topic.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags:
How to Set Your Freelance Writing Rates
As a freelance writer, you will compete against many writers who are just as talented as you are. You will also compete against writers who write poorly and who offer their writing services at ridiculously low fees. These writers can and do get jobs. Many times you will tempt yourself to lower your rates to match or beat the bids to snag the project. Don't do it! You are a professional. Professional writers don't lower their rates or work for next to nothing.
Many individuals who lack writing skills drive down rates, way below what professional writers can rightfully charge. If the true professionals do not keep up their prices, this will become an even bigger problem. Just because writers from other countries want to work for eight or nine American dollars per hour, this doesn't mean you should. As a writer, you can earn far more than many freelance writers -- and certainly more than freelance writers who speak little English but still bid on the English-speaking jobs at much lower rates.
Visit any writer's marketplace and scan through the projects. You will discover all types of bid prices and proposals. What you won't see is how these writers came up with their bid prices or how they decided what and what not to include in their bid proposals. Often times these writers don't know how they came up with their fees for bidding either. It becomes obvious when you see the same project posting listed under different genres or price ranges. Some of the same writers will bid on the same projects with a large spread in proposed bids. It is quite comical.
If you want prospective clients to take you seriously, you need to do three things: 1) You need a website that lists your rates; 2) You need to be consistent with your rates; and 3) You need to collect a retainer up front before you start.
Freelance writers need to know what they can charge based on the job at hand. This can vary depending on the marketplace. When it comes down to freelance writing, here is the truth in a nutshell: You can charge whatever it is you want to charge. You can base your fees on whatever you want to base your fees. The trick is finding someone to pay it who believes it is a fair price.
Freelance writers are a rare breed. Many of them are quite difficult. There is no need to be one of them. Decide on your fees and stick to them. Keeping your fees consistent enables you to keep your bookkeeping simple. You are a writer, not an accountant. Simplicity in accounting should appeal to you. Regardless of how much work you find, keep yourself grounded. Make your job fun. Take things in stride. The money will come.
The following information will help you set your rates. These rates may vary according to your experience and specialization.
WHAT TO CHARGE
Many writers will charge way too much for their services while others will charge way too little. You can find current market rates in Writer's Market. You can also use the following as a guideline until you feel you have a good sense of what you want to charge. Remember, you can charge anything you want to charge. Always ask yourself what your time and skills are worth. More importantly, do clients feel you are worth what you are charging?
Take a look:
• News Articles ( web related ): $15-50 per page
• E-books:$15-25 per page
• Novels and Books: $75 per page
• Radio Commentary: $200 per hour
• Magazine articles: Expect anywhere from $600-$2000 per article
• Articles for web content, not related to news: $10-$50 per article based on word count and other aspects of the job (such as keywords, etc.)
Some writers prefer to charge by the word too. This is slightly different as it varies on several factors. If you are going to charge on a per word basis, decide how much that is and stick with it on all your projects of varying lengths. Often the rate per word charge fluctuates by writer depending on what the writer is writing (article, book, and web content).
Whatever you choose to charge, consider the time you spend creating the work. Remember, if you are an educated writer in your field, you should be able to realize anywhere from $30-$75 per hour.
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER ABOUT RATES
You cannot please everyone all of the time. You will find publishers, editors, and clients who hire you on a fast turn around. Even though they expect quality, they also expect you to write top-notch, award-winning material.
If a client tells you up front the deadline is important, be realistic in your talents and realize you are at a disadvantage before you start. If you have a demanding buyer with demanding deadlines, then realize you may feel you cannot craft the best copy you can. You should know your own pace and when you know you can't deliver your best manuscript. If this is the case, then ask the client for more time.
Also watch for up and coming savvy trade book publishers who hire writers to write an e-book and fully intend to market it as a trade paperback. Know this before you take the job. In fact, when you bid on e-books, expect it. If you want to charge more based on that possibility, then build it into your bid. Often, if you approach a potential client by e-mail, they will respond with a request for an author to pen an e-book for them. Many times this ghostwritten book will end up on the shelves. As long as you did your job and you got paid, what do you care? Sure, the client may have used a less than honest approach, but as a writer, you will see this every day on the freelance postings. These clients are trying to save money and this is why they do this. You can't really blame them. The client wants to turn a book over quickly too. If they were to present a ghostwriter with a writing opportunity to write a manuscript for publication, it would take much longer and cost a lot more for their manuscript.
Even though many people work with a rate sheet as their guide, others realize it is sometimes impossible to stick to their rates. You should establish some parameters when varying from your rates if you decide to offer a discount to a client. If you are working within a tight deadline, don't vary much because 18 hour days can be part of your reality when you're up against a tight web content deadline. By the end of those jobs, you want clients to pay you. Writers should stick to a rate sheet for their services. When pushed to turn out a job quickly, you should never discount a project, but instead raise your rates!
Another subject has come up in many incidences on the subject of whether the writer should charge for re-writes. Many writers do charge for re-writes, especially if the client is unreasonable. If you provide re-writes for a client, make sure the client has paid you in full for the project.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
Many individuals who lack writing skills drive down rates, way below what professional writers can rightfully charge. If the true professionals do not keep up their prices, this will become an even bigger problem. Just because writers from other countries want to work for eight or nine American dollars per hour, this doesn't mean you should. As a writer, you can earn far more than many freelance writers -- and certainly more than freelance writers who speak little English but still bid on the English-speaking jobs at much lower rates.
Visit any writer's marketplace and scan through the projects. You will discover all types of bid prices and proposals. What you won't see is how these writers came up with their bid prices or how they decided what and what not to include in their bid proposals. Often times these writers don't know how they came up with their fees for bidding either. It becomes obvious when you see the same project posting listed under different genres or price ranges. Some of the same writers will bid on the same projects with a large spread in proposed bids. It is quite comical.
If you want prospective clients to take you seriously, you need to do three things: 1) You need a website that lists your rates; 2) You need to be consistent with your rates; and 3) You need to collect a retainer up front before you start.
Freelance writers need to know what they can charge based on the job at hand. This can vary depending on the marketplace. When it comes down to freelance writing, here is the truth in a nutshell: You can charge whatever it is you want to charge. You can base your fees on whatever you want to base your fees. The trick is finding someone to pay it who believes it is a fair price.
Freelance writers are a rare breed. Many of them are quite difficult. There is no need to be one of them. Decide on your fees and stick to them. Keeping your fees consistent enables you to keep your bookkeeping simple. You are a writer, not an accountant. Simplicity in accounting should appeal to you. Regardless of how much work you find, keep yourself grounded. Make your job fun. Take things in stride. The money will come.
The following information will help you set your rates. These rates may vary according to your experience and specialization.
WHAT TO CHARGE
Many writers will charge way too much for their services while others will charge way too little. You can find current market rates in Writer's Market. You can also use the following as a guideline until you feel you have a good sense of what you want to charge. Remember, you can charge anything you want to charge. Always ask yourself what your time and skills are worth. More importantly, do clients feel you are worth what you are charging?
Take a look:
• News Articles ( web related ): $15-50 per page
• E-books:$15-25 per page
• Novels and Books: $75 per page
• Radio Commentary: $200 per hour
• Magazine articles: Expect anywhere from $600-$2000 per article
• Articles for web content, not related to news: $10-$50 per article based on word count and other aspects of the job (such as keywords, etc.)
Some writers prefer to charge by the word too. This is slightly different as it varies on several factors. If you are going to charge on a per word basis, decide how much that is and stick with it on all your projects of varying lengths. Often the rate per word charge fluctuates by writer depending on what the writer is writing (article, book, and web content).
Whatever you choose to charge, consider the time you spend creating the work. Remember, if you are an educated writer in your field, you should be able to realize anywhere from $30-$75 per hour.
SOMETHING TO CONSIDER ABOUT RATES
You cannot please everyone all of the time. You will find publishers, editors, and clients who hire you on a fast turn around. Even though they expect quality, they also expect you to write top-notch, award-winning material.
If a client tells you up front the deadline is important, be realistic in your talents and realize you are at a disadvantage before you start. If you have a demanding buyer with demanding deadlines, then realize you may feel you cannot craft the best copy you can. You should know your own pace and when you know you can't deliver your best manuscript. If this is the case, then ask the client for more time.
Also watch for up and coming savvy trade book publishers who hire writers to write an e-book and fully intend to market it as a trade paperback. Know this before you take the job. In fact, when you bid on e-books, expect it. If you want to charge more based on that possibility, then build it into your bid. Often, if you approach a potential client by e-mail, they will respond with a request for an author to pen an e-book for them. Many times this ghostwritten book will end up on the shelves. As long as you did your job and you got paid, what do you care? Sure, the client may have used a less than honest approach, but as a writer, you will see this every day on the freelance postings. These clients are trying to save money and this is why they do this. You can't really blame them. The client wants to turn a book over quickly too. If they were to present a ghostwriter with a writing opportunity to write a manuscript for publication, it would take much longer and cost a lot more for their manuscript.
Even though many people work with a rate sheet as their guide, others realize it is sometimes impossible to stick to their rates. You should establish some parameters when varying from your rates if you decide to offer a discount to a client. If you are working within a tight deadline, don't vary much because 18 hour days can be part of your reality when you're up against a tight web content deadline. By the end of those jobs, you want clients to pay you. Writers should stick to a rate sheet for their services. When pushed to turn out a job quickly, you should never discount a project, but instead raise your rates!
Another subject has come up in many incidences on the subject of whether the writer should charge for re-writes. Many writers do charge for re-writes, especially if the client is unreasonable. If you provide re-writes for a client, make sure the client has paid you in full for the project.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Is Freelance Proofreading For Me?
Did it ever cross your mind that maybe those amazing authors whose work gets lapped up by the New Yorker can't write or spell nearly as well as those five-star reviews suggest? Or that editors often miss crucial spelling errors and word omissions that can make a work seem amateurish? If so, you're thinking of the realm of the mystical proofreader who often makes published material look perfect and impeccable.
Proofreaders are the final line of defense before publication of material. Even though their lot is often lumped in with that of copywriters and editors, they are in fact a different breed altogether. After initial editing for clarity and coherence, and typesetting of a manuscript, the publishers rely on freelance proofreaders to check for formatting, spelling and manuscript errors/omissions. Freelance proofreaders hone an impeccable sense of grammar, and their spelling is second to none. More importantly, they pay attention to minuscule details. They carefully read every line and cross-reference with the original manuscript. Proofreaders make all the difference between a perfect run and a thousand disseminated copies of an error-riddled manuscript. Elsewhere, proof-readers pore over web content, brochures, and just about anything that requires error-checking.
Error-correction requires one of two things, depending on for whom and for what medium the finished product is being generated. Don't panic, however, as the requirements to become a successful freelance proofreading are not nearly as prolific as one might imagine.
If one is proofreading for hard copy, such as a book, then the publisher requires you to know the correct "mark-up" conventions, as dictated by the chosen Style Manual of the employer. Consult the Chicago Manual of Style as a baseline for all other Style Manuals. Many big publishers will have their own bastardized style format which they will introduce to you during the process of undertaking a proof-reading position. Corrections you mark for would be implemented or reviewed by another party and the final manuscript would move to the next stage of publication.
However, if you find yourself employed within a less formal setting, then you are both the one to mark and correct a manuscript. Manuals of style are much less important here, and you may find that your role cross-pollinates somewhat with that of a freelance copywriter, as text may require rewrites under your guidance.
Gaining work to proofread and write may be initially difficult, as your abilities remain unproven. A few good ways to build an impressive CV include finding part-time work with a facility that already provides proof reading services, and a degree or diploma with a focus on formal editing will help (but this is by no means necessary) to impress skeptical clients. Forming relationships with established copywriters and proof-readers (as well as SEO technicians), will lead to trickle-down benefits as overflow from their successes comes to you. As always, the local community (particularly restaurants and other service-type establishments) is a viable source of income and networking, and offers gigs to rewrite menus and advertising content.
Volunteer positions on websites and an online blog that showcases your writing and/or abilities can also be helpful. Never forget to take advantage of unorthodox opportunities like contacting websites and organizations about poorly written or extremely typo-riddled print. Offer to produce new copy and give them a sample of a rewritten passage from their published text as proof of your viability. While this may not work all the time, you may just impress enough to get your foot in the door, and that's all you need.
While your job description may be radically different depending on the expectations of those who employ you, with the proviso that you bring high-level language skills and a beady editor's eye for detail to the table, appreciation for your work skills is assured. Here your best hope for steady employment lies with being fluid and adaptable. Ready yourself to fill roles wherever and whenever they pop up, and you're sure to succeed.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
Proofreaders are the final line of defense before publication of material. Even though their lot is often lumped in with that of copywriters and editors, they are in fact a different breed altogether. After initial editing for clarity and coherence, and typesetting of a manuscript, the publishers rely on freelance proofreaders to check for formatting, spelling and manuscript errors/omissions. Freelance proofreaders hone an impeccable sense of grammar, and their spelling is second to none. More importantly, they pay attention to minuscule details. They carefully read every line and cross-reference with the original manuscript. Proofreaders make all the difference between a perfect run and a thousand disseminated copies of an error-riddled manuscript. Elsewhere, proof-readers pore over web content, brochures, and just about anything that requires error-checking.
Error-correction requires one of two things, depending on for whom and for what medium the finished product is being generated. Don't panic, however, as the requirements to become a successful freelance proofreading are not nearly as prolific as one might imagine.
If one is proofreading for hard copy, such as a book, then the publisher requires you to know the correct "mark-up" conventions, as dictated by the chosen Style Manual of the employer. Consult the Chicago Manual of Style as a baseline for all other Style Manuals. Many big publishers will have their own bastardized style format which they will introduce to you during the process of undertaking a proof-reading position. Corrections you mark for would be implemented or reviewed by another party and the final manuscript would move to the next stage of publication.
However, if you find yourself employed within a less formal setting, then you are both the one to mark and correct a manuscript. Manuals of style are much less important here, and you may find that your role cross-pollinates somewhat with that of a freelance copywriter, as text may require rewrites under your guidance.
Gaining work to proofread and write may be initially difficult, as your abilities remain unproven. A few good ways to build an impressive CV include finding part-time work with a facility that already provides proof reading services, and a degree or diploma with a focus on formal editing will help (but this is by no means necessary) to impress skeptical clients. Forming relationships with established copywriters and proof-readers (as well as SEO technicians), will lead to trickle-down benefits as overflow from their successes comes to you. As always, the local community (particularly restaurants and other service-type establishments) is a viable source of income and networking, and offers gigs to rewrite menus and advertising content.
Volunteer positions on websites and an online blog that showcases your writing and/or abilities can also be helpful. Never forget to take advantage of unorthodox opportunities like contacting websites and organizations about poorly written or extremely typo-riddled print. Offer to produce new copy and give them a sample of a rewritten passage from their published text as proof of your viability. While this may not work all the time, you may just impress enough to get your foot in the door, and that's all you need.
While your job description may be radically different depending on the expectations of those who employ you, with the proviso that you bring high-level language skills and a beady editor's eye for detail to the table, appreciation for your work skills is assured. Here your best hope for steady employment lies with being fluid and adaptable. Ready yourself to fill roles wherever and whenever they pop up, and you're sure to succeed.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
Freelancing as a Translator
Language is not logical, as even those behind the very best attempts at machine translation will happily attest to. Indeed, if I were to try and decode this article into German using something akin to Babel Fish, I'd end up with something closer to Fermat's Last Theorem than a guide on how to be a butt-kicking, name-taking freelance translator.
For prose in one language to reach another without it being cruelly and sometimes hilariously mangled, it needs that human touch. Many people understand translation is spending long hours burning the midnight oil with a dictionary in either hand, but that simply is not so. Being bi-lingual is one thing; being fluent and understanding the connotations and implications of prose in each language is an entirely different thing. And let's not forget about all that comes with working to be a skilled writer, as a complex and difficult personal enterprise.
Taking all of the above into account, as a freelance translator, your job will lie not in the hard, fast and loose distilling of basic meaning from one language to another, as in real-time verbal translation. No, instead you'll be faced with taking a written manuscript (be it technical or classical) and carefully translating it into the target language.
Sounds difficult? Certainly, but it's also rewarding! A writer who wants to rise to the top of his or her craft does well to take the time to not only write well, by the standards of their peers, but also to intimately comprehend the syntax and grammar of their chosen language.
One of the most oft-recommended pathways to marked improvement in an area like freelance translation is to dedicate yourself to intimately learning a second language beside your own mother-tongue. Besides the infinitely rewarding consequences (whether you're looking for new social connections, a complex intellectual challenge or simply a way to qualify for far-flung international work), it can also act as a doorway to lucrative employment. As with most things, the more work you do, the better you get, the more work you get to do.
Why? Not only are translators rare, but they act in themselves as gateways to new markets. Right now, you're reading this article in English. While the native audience for the language is huge, an even greater percentage of the literate world has no access to it for a lack of English-language skills. Unlocking that massive percentile can mean a vastly improved gross turnover for any organization with a significantly established interest.
So, if one presumes you've got a serious handle on at least two languages and an eye for the written word, how do you go about cultivating a successful career from such a useful skill? Firstly, you build up your portfolio, and you make a name for yourself. Find magazine or newspaper articles and translate them (with all original credit attached, of course), and then post them to a free blog you can set up through online services such as Google's Blogger and Wordpress' blogging platforms.
As a step up, translate book prose from small or local book and magazine publishers, and attempt to get in touch with the appropriate publishers about producing a translated work. Never underestimate the value of pro-bono work. If it comes to that, look for restaurants and businesses that deal or sell using your languages of choice, and offer to provide them with the appropriate alternate signage should they be lacking it, or, alternately, should you find it lacking.
Websites often will accept offers to translate their content into new languages to increase their appeal. Trawling the SourceForge or FreshMeat databases for projects to fan-translate older video games scripts or to produce official translated versions of open-source software can net you with impressive credentials when you look to accept contract work from larger organizations.
Don't forget to practice technical translation, since we all know how prolific those little user-instruction booklets bundled with your latest microwave or vacuum cleaner are. You know, the ones with the seventeen different sets of translated instructions?
It won't be unusual to discover your writing skills can be just as in demand as those that power your incredible translation abilities. Always keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to combine the skill-sets of a writer and translator, as one who not only writes the original material but then goes on to translate it!
Translators often have to actively sell their skills to the market through cold calling and constant inquisitiveness regarding any potential need to produce translated material. Always draw the line at begging; but by the same token, don't be afraid to go in for the hard sell when you think it's appropriate. Impress with your willingness to seek out work and to prove yourself, and you can often find yourself already in the door.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
For prose in one language to reach another without it being cruelly and sometimes hilariously mangled, it needs that human touch. Many people understand translation is spending long hours burning the midnight oil with a dictionary in either hand, but that simply is not so. Being bi-lingual is one thing; being fluent and understanding the connotations and implications of prose in each language is an entirely different thing. And let's not forget about all that comes with working to be a skilled writer, as a complex and difficult personal enterprise.
Taking all of the above into account, as a freelance translator, your job will lie not in the hard, fast and loose distilling of basic meaning from one language to another, as in real-time verbal translation. No, instead you'll be faced with taking a written manuscript (be it technical or classical) and carefully translating it into the target language.
Sounds difficult? Certainly, but it's also rewarding! A writer who wants to rise to the top of his or her craft does well to take the time to not only write well, by the standards of their peers, but also to intimately comprehend the syntax and grammar of their chosen language.
One of the most oft-recommended pathways to marked improvement in an area like freelance translation is to dedicate yourself to intimately learning a second language beside your own mother-tongue. Besides the infinitely rewarding consequences (whether you're looking for new social connections, a complex intellectual challenge or simply a way to qualify for far-flung international work), it can also act as a doorway to lucrative employment. As with most things, the more work you do, the better you get, the more work you get to do.
Why? Not only are translators rare, but they act in themselves as gateways to new markets. Right now, you're reading this article in English. While the native audience for the language is huge, an even greater percentage of the literate world has no access to it for a lack of English-language skills. Unlocking that massive percentile can mean a vastly improved gross turnover for any organization with a significantly established interest.
So, if one presumes you've got a serious handle on at least two languages and an eye for the written word, how do you go about cultivating a successful career from such a useful skill? Firstly, you build up your portfolio, and you make a name for yourself. Find magazine or newspaper articles and translate them (with all original credit attached, of course), and then post them to a free blog you can set up through online services such as Google's Blogger and Wordpress' blogging platforms.
As a step up, translate book prose from small or local book and magazine publishers, and attempt to get in touch with the appropriate publishers about producing a translated work. Never underestimate the value of pro-bono work. If it comes to that, look for restaurants and businesses that deal or sell using your languages of choice, and offer to provide them with the appropriate alternate signage should they be lacking it, or, alternately, should you find it lacking.
Websites often will accept offers to translate their content into new languages to increase their appeal. Trawling the SourceForge or FreshMeat databases for projects to fan-translate older video games scripts or to produce official translated versions of open-source software can net you with impressive credentials when you look to accept contract work from larger organizations.
Don't forget to practice technical translation, since we all know how prolific those little user-instruction booklets bundled with your latest microwave or vacuum cleaner are. You know, the ones with the seventeen different sets of translated instructions?
It won't be unusual to discover your writing skills can be just as in demand as those that power your incredible translation abilities. Always keep your eyes peeled for opportunities to combine the skill-sets of a writer and translator, as one who not only writes the original material but then goes on to translate it!
Translators often have to actively sell their skills to the market through cold calling and constant inquisitiveness regarding any potential need to produce translated material. Always draw the line at begging; but by the same token, don't be afraid to go in for the hard sell when you think it's appropriate. Impress with your willingness to seek out work and to prove yourself, and you can often find yourself already in the door.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is a freelance writer for http://www.FreelanceWriting.com, a free website offering freelance writing jobs and hundreds of writer's guidelines to paying magazines. Read his blog for freelance writers at http://workingwritersnewsletter.blogspot.com
Keyword tags: freelance writing, freelance writer, freelancing, writing career, writing jobs, freelance jobs
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Book Review: Differentiating Reading Instruction by Laura Robb
OK, so maybe this book does not have mass appeal. It is written by a teacher and aimed at other teachers, the plot, how to entice school kids to read. Reading is the very cornerstone of learning. Without the skill life is pretty darn hard for a school kid, and even worse for an adult.
I am an avid reader, and have been since a very small child. I read for fun then, and I read for fun now. Reading is escapism, reading is learning, reading is the gateway to knowledge. Alas it is also often treated as a boring subject by both teachers and pupils. I know that during my Grammar School (High School in the US) days I hated English Lit, it was taught in an incredibly boring fashion. I defy any 14 year old to get excited about Thomas Hardy's 'The Mayor Of Casterbridge,' or just about anything by William Shakespeare. Kids don't want to read these books, they are too difficult. With Shakespeare you have to deal with archaic language and metaphors that even well read adults have problems grasping, Thomas Hardy on the other hand just wears you down, page after boring page of dreary narrative!
Maybe the high spot of my school career was Orwell and '1984,' but even this classic was reduced to nothing. It was about 5 years after I finished school that I actually picked up a book for fun. The fun had been beaten out of me by the ridiculous approach taken by the school system.
Robb is an educator and innovator who has used her teaching experience to create a format where reading can be once again fun. Reading is maybe the most important aspect of teaching, it matters little what the subject is, the pupil needs to be able to read to learn.
One of the biggest issues facing any educator is the wide spectrum of abilities with the kids in the classroom, it may be grade 8, but there will be some kids that read at grade 4 level, there may even be some at grade 10. To aim only at the grade level results in only teaching to a small percentage of the class. Some will be lost and not able to keep up, while others will be bored, not feeling challenged, and generally frustrated.
The key, Robb explains is to develop techniques where everyone wins. Why does the entire class have to read the same book? Why not use a theme rather than a text? And why not engage the class in talking about the theme? By making the class thematic and using multiple texts suddenly you can gear material to the varied abilities of the class, a win-win situation, everyone can operate within their comfort zone, and learn!
Even when it is necessary from a curriculum standpoint to use a standard text, by being creative in your teaching methods everyone can gain.
I am not a teacher, well not by the traditional definition, but I am peripherally involved in the adult literacy arena, and many of Robb's ideas could be converted to work in the adult world. One of the biggest problems I find with many poor readers is that they can read the words, but cannot assimilate the words into a cohesive idea. Differentiating Reading Instruction is chock full to the brim with strategies to resolve this problem.
This should be a must read book for anyone working within the teaching profession, the ideas are applicable in just about every subject.
You can get your copy of Differentiating Reading Instruction from Amazon.
About the Author:
Simon Barrett is an adult educator in Calgary, Alberta. With the 11 months a year of winter, he reads a lot of books! He is also a contributing editor for http://www.bloggernews.net and maintains a personal blog at http://zzsimonb.blogspot.com.
Keyword tags: reading, teaching reading, reading instruction, school, school practices, books, book reviews
I am an avid reader, and have been since a very small child. I read for fun then, and I read for fun now. Reading is escapism, reading is learning, reading is the gateway to knowledge. Alas it is also often treated as a boring subject by both teachers and pupils. I know that during my Grammar School (High School in the US) days I hated English Lit, it was taught in an incredibly boring fashion. I defy any 14 year old to get excited about Thomas Hardy's 'The Mayor Of Casterbridge,' or just about anything by William Shakespeare. Kids don't want to read these books, they are too difficult. With Shakespeare you have to deal with archaic language and metaphors that even well read adults have problems grasping, Thomas Hardy on the other hand just wears you down, page after boring page of dreary narrative!
Maybe the high spot of my school career was Orwell and '1984,' but even this classic was reduced to nothing. It was about 5 years after I finished school that I actually picked up a book for fun. The fun had been beaten out of me by the ridiculous approach taken by the school system.
Robb is an educator and innovator who has used her teaching experience to create a format where reading can be once again fun. Reading is maybe the most important aspect of teaching, it matters little what the subject is, the pupil needs to be able to read to learn.
One of the biggest issues facing any educator is the wide spectrum of abilities with the kids in the classroom, it may be grade 8, but there will be some kids that read at grade 4 level, there may even be some at grade 10. To aim only at the grade level results in only teaching to a small percentage of the class. Some will be lost and not able to keep up, while others will be bored, not feeling challenged, and generally frustrated.
The key, Robb explains is to develop techniques where everyone wins. Why does the entire class have to read the same book? Why not use a theme rather than a text? And why not engage the class in talking about the theme? By making the class thematic and using multiple texts suddenly you can gear material to the varied abilities of the class, a win-win situation, everyone can operate within their comfort zone, and learn!
Even when it is necessary from a curriculum standpoint to use a standard text, by being creative in your teaching methods everyone can gain.
I am not a teacher, well not by the traditional definition, but I am peripherally involved in the adult literacy arena, and many of Robb's ideas could be converted to work in the adult world. One of the biggest problems I find with many poor readers is that they can read the words, but cannot assimilate the words into a cohesive idea. Differentiating Reading Instruction is chock full to the brim with strategies to resolve this problem.
This should be a must read book for anyone working within the teaching profession, the ideas are applicable in just about every subject.
You can get your copy of Differentiating Reading Instruction from Amazon.
About the Author:
Simon Barrett is an adult educator in Calgary, Alberta. With the 11 months a year of winter, he reads a lot of books! He is also a contributing editor for http://www.bloggernews.net and maintains a personal blog at http://zzsimonb.blogspot.com.
Keyword tags: reading, teaching reading, reading instruction, school, school practices, books, book reviews
Book Review: Succession by Herbert Lobsenz
I have my finger in many different pies, and one of those pies is an adult literacy program. Although I am only peripherally involved. I am always on the lookout for suitable material. Every book I read gets pigeonholed into one of three categories, beginner, intermediate, and advanced. There is no doubt in my mind that Succession belongs in the Advanced group.
The writing style reminded me of a genre that was popular in the late 60's and early 70's, and during that period many authors fell for the lure. John LeCarre for example released The Naive And Sentimental Lover, while critically acclaimed it did not sell well, it was too complex in structure for many readers.
Succession is complex in its structure, the language is simple enough, but the concepts and constructs are involved. It is not so much a flowing story, but rather a series of sometimes disjointed vignettes that the reader must assimilate themselves. That is not meant as a criticism, merely an observation.
Herbert Lobsenz like his books is a complex subject. There are few authors that win a coveted Harper Prize (1960) and then decide to abandon writing in favor of the corporate world only to return over 40 years later.
Let's talk about the book. Succession has at its core Jake Garrison who some years prior had abandoned the business world in favor of becoming a writer. Alas his genre, Civil War 'faction' does not seem to be garnering the acclaim and kudos from the publishers that he thinks he deserves.
The turning point for Jake arrives when his father is taken ill, and is obviously not long for this earth. With the elder Garrison fading away in hospital Jake makes the discovery that his father does not have the money to cover his bills. Jake comes from honorable stock, and the his 'honorable' gene takes him from his writing back into the murky world of business as a way of covering the growing expenses.
His old acquaintance Carnusty is happy to loan the money to Jake, but there are catches. Jake once again becomes embroiled in industry, this time checking out a failing typewriter company. But rather than operating on the up and up, Jake is forced to go undercover in the guise of being the new editor of the company newsletter.
Through very short vignettes author Herbert Lobsenz takes us on a wild ride inside Jakes mind. His insecurity at home, his insecurity with the relationship between his wife and Carnusty, his thoughts about his father. All of these prey on Jake, the doubts reaching ear splitting volume when his wife announces that she is pregnant.
Can he resolve these issues?
Well only you can decide, and you can do that by buying your copy from Amazon. The author also maintains a blog with his recollections from the past at Old Time Writer.
(Originally published at Blogger News Network, and reprinted with permission of the author, Simon Barrett).
About the Author:
Simon Barrett is an adult educator in Calgary, Alberta. With the 11 months a year of winter, he reads a lot of books! He is also a contributing editor for http://www.bloggernews.net and maintains a personal blog at http://zzsimonb.blogspot.com.
Keyword tags: literature, books, authors, book reviews, literary fiction, New York City, 1960\\\'s
The writing style reminded me of a genre that was popular in the late 60's and early 70's, and during that period many authors fell for the lure. John LeCarre for example released The Naive And Sentimental Lover, while critically acclaimed it did not sell well, it was too complex in structure for many readers.
Succession is complex in its structure, the language is simple enough, but the concepts and constructs are involved. It is not so much a flowing story, but rather a series of sometimes disjointed vignettes that the reader must assimilate themselves. That is not meant as a criticism, merely an observation.
Herbert Lobsenz like his books is a complex subject. There are few authors that win a coveted Harper Prize (1960) and then decide to abandon writing in favor of the corporate world only to return over 40 years later.
Let's talk about the book. Succession has at its core Jake Garrison who some years prior had abandoned the business world in favor of becoming a writer. Alas his genre, Civil War 'faction' does not seem to be garnering the acclaim and kudos from the publishers that he thinks he deserves.
The turning point for Jake arrives when his father is taken ill, and is obviously not long for this earth. With the elder Garrison fading away in hospital Jake makes the discovery that his father does not have the money to cover his bills. Jake comes from honorable stock, and the his 'honorable' gene takes him from his writing back into the murky world of business as a way of covering the growing expenses.
His old acquaintance Carnusty is happy to loan the money to Jake, but there are catches. Jake once again becomes embroiled in industry, this time checking out a failing typewriter company. But rather than operating on the up and up, Jake is forced to go undercover in the guise of being the new editor of the company newsletter.
Through very short vignettes author Herbert Lobsenz takes us on a wild ride inside Jakes mind. His insecurity at home, his insecurity with the relationship between his wife and Carnusty, his thoughts about his father. All of these prey on Jake, the doubts reaching ear splitting volume when his wife announces that she is pregnant.
Can he resolve these issues?
Well only you can decide, and you can do that by buying your copy from Amazon. The author also maintains a blog with his recollections from the past at Old Time Writer.
(Originally published at Blogger News Network, and reprinted with permission of the author, Simon Barrett).
About the Author:
Simon Barrett is an adult educator in Calgary, Alberta. With the 11 months a year of winter, he reads a lot of books! He is also a contributing editor for http://www.bloggernews.net and maintains a personal blog at http://zzsimonb.blogspot.com.
Keyword tags: literature, books, authors, book reviews, literary fiction, New York City, 1960\\\'s
Sunday, June 8, 2008
How To Write Great Children\s Poetry & Rhyming Stories
Children love rhyme. The rhythm of the text, the way the words bounce off the tongue can be especially appealing to young children who are mastering language and reading. There are two vehicles for verse in the children's market: poetry and rhyming stories. Both have special guidelines.
* Rhyming Stories. Often at writers' conferences editors will say they don't like stories with rhyming text. That's not exactly true — rhyming stories are published all the time. What these editors are really objecting to is bad rhyming text. Too many writers try to copy Dr. Seuss, the master of the rhymed story. They imitate the form of his work but not the substance. The rhyme is a vehicle to tell the story, not the other way around. It must still follow all the rules of a good picture book: a strong opening, believable characters, an interesting plot, a satisfying ending. Every word must advance the story - you can't throw in extra phrases simply to complete the rhyme. Consider the opening lines of The Cat in the Hat. In eight short lines Dr. Seuss establishes setting, mood and conflict. Few books written in prose do so much with so little.
Roy Gerrard is another author who writes engaging stories in rhyme. His text is more sophisticated and appeals to slightly older children. Rosie and the Rustlers, an old West adventure story, begins like this:
Where the mountains meet the prairie, where the men are wild and hairy, There's a little ranch where Rosie Jones is boss. It's a place that's neat and cozy, and the boys employed by Rosie Work extremely hard, to stop her getting cross.
Again, the opening lines tell us a lot about the setting and establish Rosie as the main character. The droll tone of the book is evident by the end of line one.
Notice that the meter differs in the above examples. It doesn't matter what meter you choose to tell your story, as long as it fits the subject and reading level.
What's more important is that the meter has some kind of pattern — these books must work when read out loud. A good test is to have someone unfamiliar with your story read it into a tape recorder. Note where this person stumbles over lines or has to stretch words to fit the pattern. These are the places that need revision.
* Poetry. Children's poems tell little stories or highlight moments of life. The best poems evoke strong visual images or emotions. If your poem is funny (children love humorous poetry) give it a punch line at the end that surprises the reader.
Don't try to do too much with a poem. Pick a little event from a child's day (catching the school bus in a rainstorm, taking a math test) and explore feelings involved.
Take an ordinary situation and turn it into an extraordinary episode (as Shel Silverstein did in "Jimmy Jet and His TV Set," a poem about a boy who turned into a television). For funny poems, action is key.
If your poems are quieter you can add more description, but don't get so caught up in flowery language that you lose your reader.
The best way to learn how to write good poetry is to read it. Some books to study: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein; Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne; The Random House Book of Poetry for Children selected by Jack Prelutsky.
Writing poetry can be a great warm-up for writing prose because every word is so crucial. And remember, your poems must sound good when read aloud as well as look good on the page, so use the tape recorder test as you did for your rhymed stories.
About the Author:
Laura Backes publishes Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Writers. For info about writing children's books, free articles, market tips, insider secrets & more, visit http://Write4kids.com. Visit the Write4Kids blog for many more articles by visiting http://write4kids.com/blog
Keyword tags: poetry, poems, children\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s poetry, rhyme, rhyming stories, children\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s books
* Rhyming Stories. Often at writers' conferences editors will say they don't like stories with rhyming text. That's not exactly true — rhyming stories are published all the time. What these editors are really objecting to is bad rhyming text. Too many writers try to copy Dr. Seuss, the master of the rhymed story. They imitate the form of his work but not the substance. The rhyme is a vehicle to tell the story, not the other way around. It must still follow all the rules of a good picture book: a strong opening, believable characters, an interesting plot, a satisfying ending. Every word must advance the story - you can't throw in extra phrases simply to complete the rhyme. Consider the opening lines of The Cat in the Hat. In eight short lines Dr. Seuss establishes setting, mood and conflict. Few books written in prose do so much with so little.
Roy Gerrard is another author who writes engaging stories in rhyme. His text is more sophisticated and appeals to slightly older children. Rosie and the Rustlers, an old West adventure story, begins like this:
Where the mountains meet the prairie, where the men are wild and hairy, There's a little ranch where Rosie Jones is boss. It's a place that's neat and cozy, and the boys employed by Rosie Work extremely hard, to stop her getting cross.
Again, the opening lines tell us a lot about the setting and establish Rosie as the main character. The droll tone of the book is evident by the end of line one.
Notice that the meter differs in the above examples. It doesn't matter what meter you choose to tell your story, as long as it fits the subject and reading level.
What's more important is that the meter has some kind of pattern — these books must work when read out loud. A good test is to have someone unfamiliar with your story read it into a tape recorder. Note where this person stumbles over lines or has to stretch words to fit the pattern. These are the places that need revision.
* Poetry. Children's poems tell little stories or highlight moments of life. The best poems evoke strong visual images or emotions. If your poem is funny (children love humorous poetry) give it a punch line at the end that surprises the reader.
Don't try to do too much with a poem. Pick a little event from a child's day (catching the school bus in a rainstorm, taking a math test) and explore feelings involved.
Take an ordinary situation and turn it into an extraordinary episode (as Shel Silverstein did in "Jimmy Jet and His TV Set," a poem about a boy who turned into a television). For funny poems, action is key.
If your poems are quieter you can add more description, but don't get so caught up in flowery language that you lose your reader.
The best way to learn how to write good poetry is to read it. Some books to study: Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein; Now We Are Six by A.A. Milne; The Random House Book of Poetry for Children selected by Jack Prelutsky.
Writing poetry can be a great warm-up for writing prose because every word is so crucial. And remember, your poems must sound good when read aloud as well as look good on the page, so use the tape recorder test as you did for your rhymed stories.
About the Author:
Laura Backes publishes Children's Book Insider, the Newsletter for Children's Writers. For info about writing children's books, free articles, market tips, insider secrets & more, visit http://Write4kids.com. Visit the Write4Kids blog for many more articles by visiting http://write4kids.com/blog
Keyword tags: poetry, poems, children\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s poetry, rhyme, rhyming stories, children\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s books
Thursday, June 5, 2008
How I Constructed Some Kind Of Angel
Authors are frequently asked how they conceive and create a story. There may be almost as many ways as there are authors: outline; write ending and work up to it; precise factual experience or observation ("creative non-fiction;") whatever comes into your head; emotional idea; paper or audio notes; etc., etc. I can only speak for myself.
IDENTIFY ONE OR TWO EXCITING EXPERIENCES
For Some Kind of Angel, I drew on my long years as a disability evaluation doctor, mostly assessing injured workers within the framework of California workers compensation law. I was especially impressed with death cases and the special way the law dealt with them.
About the time I was ready to write we entered the post 9/11 period. War on terror was declared and the search for what turned out to be invisible or non-existent weapons of mass destruction. So, a two themes and a couple of plots were born.
CREATE GOOD CHARACTERS, HEROES AND VILLAINS
I needed engaging characters, people with outstanding values, to be drawn into the story and turned upside down in the chase. I needed a villain motivated by controversial, but nevertheless real moral issues. I needed characters so well defined that they wrote most of the story. And I had to know them better than I knew my siblings. So, I generated several character back story pages. For each character I wrote and rewrote a very intimate and personal biography. Each had, in addition to interesting physical attributes, such an emotional value-driven personality that there was rarely a time they behaved other than predictably, that is, until they made life-altering choices in a virtual dramatic pressure cooker.
All this being done, I sat down and wrote my heart out. What my heart wrote were 120,000 words encompassing two very good but awkwardly overlapping plots and an large number of subplots. The theme of exposing white collar crooks, doctors and lawyers alike, and bringing justice to workers compensation was exciting enough for one novel. Fighting a war on terror, WMD's, genocide, corporate criminality, and deceiving elected leaders, many of moral turpitude, comprised enough for another. I chose the latter.
After deciding which story to develop I eliminated the tedious (well written!) back stories and worked what I needed of that into action scenes, into credible dialogue. Remember "Show, Don't Tell?"
As I again read this clumsy text it became clear to me that I needed to use my brain in the rewrites — and there were several rewrites. It needed more serious pruning. I had to "kill my babies."
First, I had to find and write "the hook." If this was truly to be a thriller it had to be so from the first sentence. I think the opening prologue accomplished this. It told enough to engage my readers as all the while it withheld enough to keep them curious.
After accomplishing these preliminary tasks it became easier to pull my hooked readers into many blind alleys. This abetted the process of deductive diagnosis without boredom.
After about four years of occasionally revisiting the manuscript, I had successfully converted 120,000 words of garble into 54,000 words of excitement..
Paraphrasing what Mark Twain said, "I would have written a much shorter story if I'd had more time."
About the Author:
Melvin M. Harter is a retired physician. He specialized in evaluation of the causes and extent of injury and disability. He has become a freelance writer and author of the novel, Some Kind of Angel. This sci-fi thriller explores the world of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and genocide. For more, visit http://www.somekindofangel.com and view the video trailer.
Keyword tags: writing tips, authors, books, writing advice, publishing, writing style, writing methods
IDENTIFY ONE OR TWO EXCITING EXPERIENCES
For Some Kind of Angel, I drew on my long years as a disability evaluation doctor, mostly assessing injured workers within the framework of California workers compensation law. I was especially impressed with death cases and the special way the law dealt with them.
About the time I was ready to write we entered the post 9/11 period. War on terror was declared and the search for what turned out to be invisible or non-existent weapons of mass destruction. So, a two themes and a couple of plots were born.
CREATE GOOD CHARACTERS, HEROES AND VILLAINS
I needed engaging characters, people with outstanding values, to be drawn into the story and turned upside down in the chase. I needed a villain motivated by controversial, but nevertheless real moral issues. I needed characters so well defined that they wrote most of the story. And I had to know them better than I knew my siblings. So, I generated several character back story pages. For each character I wrote and rewrote a very intimate and personal biography. Each had, in addition to interesting physical attributes, such an emotional value-driven personality that there was rarely a time they behaved other than predictably, that is, until they made life-altering choices in a virtual dramatic pressure cooker.
All this being done, I sat down and wrote my heart out. What my heart wrote were 120,000 words encompassing two very good but awkwardly overlapping plots and an large number of subplots. The theme of exposing white collar crooks, doctors and lawyers alike, and bringing justice to workers compensation was exciting enough for one novel. Fighting a war on terror, WMD's, genocide, corporate criminality, and deceiving elected leaders, many of moral turpitude, comprised enough for another. I chose the latter.
After deciding which story to develop I eliminated the tedious (well written!) back stories and worked what I needed of that into action scenes, into credible dialogue. Remember "Show, Don't Tell?"
As I again read this clumsy text it became clear to me that I needed to use my brain in the rewrites — and there were several rewrites. It needed more serious pruning. I had to "kill my babies."
First, I had to find and write "the hook." If this was truly to be a thriller it had to be so from the first sentence. I think the opening prologue accomplished this. It told enough to engage my readers as all the while it withheld enough to keep them curious.
After accomplishing these preliminary tasks it became easier to pull my hooked readers into many blind alleys. This abetted the process of deductive diagnosis without boredom.
After about four years of occasionally revisiting the manuscript, I had successfully converted 120,000 words of garble into 54,000 words of excitement..
Paraphrasing what Mark Twain said, "I would have written a much shorter story if I'd had more time."
About the Author:
Melvin M. Harter is a retired physician. He specialized in evaluation of the causes and extent of injury and disability. He has become a freelance writer and author of the novel, Some Kind of Angel. This sci-fi thriller explores the world of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and genocide. For more, visit http://www.somekindofangel.com and view the video trailer.
Keyword tags: writing tips, authors, books, writing advice, publishing, writing style, writing methods
Selecting A Genre In Which To Write
A short time ago, I suggested to other retired workaholics the idea of attempting to write a novel. Granted, the idea was not an original one, but rather suggested to me by my wife because I was a little at loose ends after my ten to twelve-hour days began to shrink. I suggested that the idea would be especially appealing to anyone whose business had been in research, teaching or similar vocations.
I had suggested writing in the historical genre because it happened to be a personal favorite. The others available are legion, of course, and some require little to no research. Chick-lit was an overwhelming favorite for some time (although I understand it is waning today) and required no research whatsoever. I believe the genre would be quite a far stretch for the retiree, however.
If you want to stick to genre writing, Mysteries, Romance and Adventure always are a good bet. Mysteries probably are the toughest to tackle. They require an agile mind that can come up with twisting plots and believable characters. They have moved far from the old 'the butler did it' days.
Today, sophisticated techniques, including DNA sequencing, are quite generally understood by the public and are expected to be used. A working knowledge of police work and their procedures also is mandatory. Police lieutenants, for example, more usually do not go around investigating crimes. By the time they reach this rank, they really are in an executive position. There can be exceptions, of course. The lieutenant may be new to the precinct and may be making the rounds when a murder occurs. If he were young, his tendency could well be to become more personally involved. You would need to explain a situation of this nature, however. Mystery story readers are a dedicated breed who know the rules and will severely chastise anyone who does not follow them.
Adventure tales are a good choice, if the writer has a good imagination, or has been fortunate, or unfortunate, enough to experience adventure of various sorts. Once again, I cannot express strongly enough the need for thoroughly researching the place, time and people involved. A recent book review I read pointed out a specific error in the novel where a brazier was part of a costume in a period of time several years before the undergarment was manufactured.
Another fault often encountered is lack of attention to detail. I recently was chugging along happily in an adventure story when suddenly the rifle the man was carrying was referred to as a shotgun and two pages later again reverted to a rifle. Mistakes of this nature give the reader an unpleasant jolt, and if they occur in any number, discourage a reader from looking for more offerings by the same writer. Quoting from a recent review with respect to another book, "The author's attention to detail is superb – it is one of the qualities I look for in a truly good book." Most reviewers look for the same.
Romance, of course is the genre that has had the greatest lasting power. It might be said to have begun with Jayne Eyre and Wurthering Heights in the 1840's. Before that, reading of novels was considered morally wrong, especially for young ladies 'whose passions might be unnecessarily excited.' Religious readings and the writings of Bulwer-Lytton (most notably, The Last Days of Pompeii) were those recommended.
However, it was not long before novels by Victor Hugo, and others, began to appear in abundance and it appeared that the seeds of the 'Romance Novel' had taken root. And the heroine changed dramatically. The heroine of Alexander Dumas Fils' Camille, was a prostitute. Mrs. Henry Wood's novel East Lynne, published a little later, depicted adultery, bigamy, double identity and murder. From here, the run was on, and today's publishers rarely will turn down a good romance novel. The one problem with the genre, is you've got to think that way. However, if you can, you're pretty sure of having a career as an author.
About the Author:
John H. Manhold is a retired professor and scientific journal editor. He is an author of several textbooks, a lexicon in four languages and now novels that often require extensive research. He provides coaching on various types and phases of writing. Please see http://www.johnhmanhold.com/ for more information, and an address.
Keyword tags: writing tips, authors, books, writing advice, publishing, writing style, writing methods
I had suggested writing in the historical genre because it happened to be a personal favorite. The others available are legion, of course, and some require little to no research. Chick-lit was an overwhelming favorite for some time (although I understand it is waning today) and required no research whatsoever. I believe the genre would be quite a far stretch for the retiree, however.
If you want to stick to genre writing, Mysteries, Romance and Adventure always are a good bet. Mysteries probably are the toughest to tackle. They require an agile mind that can come up with twisting plots and believable characters. They have moved far from the old 'the butler did it' days.
Today, sophisticated techniques, including DNA sequencing, are quite generally understood by the public and are expected to be used. A working knowledge of police work and their procedures also is mandatory. Police lieutenants, for example, more usually do not go around investigating crimes. By the time they reach this rank, they really are in an executive position. There can be exceptions, of course. The lieutenant may be new to the precinct and may be making the rounds when a murder occurs. If he were young, his tendency could well be to become more personally involved. You would need to explain a situation of this nature, however. Mystery story readers are a dedicated breed who know the rules and will severely chastise anyone who does not follow them.
Adventure tales are a good choice, if the writer has a good imagination, or has been fortunate, or unfortunate, enough to experience adventure of various sorts. Once again, I cannot express strongly enough the need for thoroughly researching the place, time and people involved. A recent book review I read pointed out a specific error in the novel where a brazier was part of a costume in a period of time several years before the undergarment was manufactured.
Another fault often encountered is lack of attention to detail. I recently was chugging along happily in an adventure story when suddenly the rifle the man was carrying was referred to as a shotgun and two pages later again reverted to a rifle. Mistakes of this nature give the reader an unpleasant jolt, and if they occur in any number, discourage a reader from looking for more offerings by the same writer. Quoting from a recent review with respect to another book, "The author's attention to detail is superb – it is one of the qualities I look for in a truly good book." Most reviewers look for the same.
Romance, of course is the genre that has had the greatest lasting power. It might be said to have begun with Jayne Eyre and Wurthering Heights in the 1840's. Before that, reading of novels was considered morally wrong, especially for young ladies 'whose passions might be unnecessarily excited.' Religious readings and the writings of Bulwer-Lytton (most notably, The Last Days of Pompeii) were those recommended.
However, it was not long before novels by Victor Hugo, and others, began to appear in abundance and it appeared that the seeds of the 'Romance Novel' had taken root. And the heroine changed dramatically. The heroine of Alexander Dumas Fils' Camille, was a prostitute. Mrs. Henry Wood's novel East Lynne, published a little later, depicted adultery, bigamy, double identity and murder. From here, the run was on, and today's publishers rarely will turn down a good romance novel. The one problem with the genre, is you've got to think that way. However, if you can, you're pretty sure of having a career as an author.
About the Author:
John H. Manhold is a retired professor and scientific journal editor. He is an author of several textbooks, a lexicon in four languages and now novels that often require extensive research. He provides coaching on various types and phases of writing. Please see http://www.johnhmanhold.com/ for more information, and an address.
Keyword tags: writing tips, authors, books, writing advice, publishing, writing style, writing methods
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Tips For Writing A Mba Thesis
Now that you have graduated college with either a BS or a BA degree, it is now time to focus on graduate school and the MBA Thesis you are going to have to write. What purpose does an MBA thesis have? It helps you to have a strong belief about a certain subject or topic. Within the beginning of your thesis, you are going to have to officially declare this belief on the topic you have chosen.
You must be able to describe the process whereby you intend to prove this belief, you must be able to outline and carry out that process and finally you are to describe the results of the process. After that, you must write your own conclusions. Below are some tips to help you research and lead to a good preparation of an MBA Thesis.
First of all, you should choose a research topic that you are very interested in. You are going to have to come to the realization that if you are going to write a successful MBA Dissertation or MBA Thesis, this is going to take a great deal of time, dedication and hard work! The beauty of the MBA Thesis is that you are able to choose your own ideas about a certain subject. You are going to have to prove just how correct your ideas are. It won't seem so much like work if you truly love the subject you are working on.
When you perform your research, try to be thorough and creative. In order to support your basic argument, you are going to be required to get an incredible amount of research so that enough relevant data may be compiled to support you basic argument. Try to be creative as you collect your data. This data should not be from only very mundane sources. With the technological age exploding all around us, you will be able to compile data in more ways than one.
To have a really successful MBA Thesis, you should integrate knowledge between the different subjections of your thesis as much as possible. Knowledge building upon knowledge this is the mark of a good MBA Thesis.
Try your best to integrate knowledge between subsections. The mark that distinguishes a B or C thesis from an A thesis is that the writer was able to use knowledge to build upon knowledge. Some sound advice is to integrate, integrate and integrate some more.
Recheck all of your facts and details You must realize that the MBA Thesis is probably the most important paper you will turn in. You must get into the habit to check ands re-check every fact and number of details of you paper. If you just put a little bit of faulty data in your thesis, it could ruin the whole paper.
Once you have finished your thesis, go back and thoroughly proofread it for mistakes and fact checking. If you want to have a successful MBA Thesis, then you must travel a long, difficult road. Prepare yourself to put in a lot of work.
When at last you have the final revision of your thesis in hand, you can proudly turn in your many hours of long work. When you see the final grade on your MBA Thesis, all the hard work will turn into self-satisfaction for a job well done.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Thesis Writing
http://www.essaytown.com/subjects_l.html - Thesis Topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
You must be able to describe the process whereby you intend to prove this belief, you must be able to outline and carry out that process and finally you are to describe the results of the process. After that, you must write your own conclusions. Below are some tips to help you research and lead to a good preparation of an MBA Thesis.
First of all, you should choose a research topic that you are very interested in. You are going to have to come to the realization that if you are going to write a successful MBA Dissertation or MBA Thesis, this is going to take a great deal of time, dedication and hard work! The beauty of the MBA Thesis is that you are able to choose your own ideas about a certain subject. You are going to have to prove just how correct your ideas are. It won't seem so much like work if you truly love the subject you are working on.
When you perform your research, try to be thorough and creative. In order to support your basic argument, you are going to be required to get an incredible amount of research so that enough relevant data may be compiled to support you basic argument. Try to be creative as you collect your data. This data should not be from only very mundane sources. With the technological age exploding all around us, you will be able to compile data in more ways than one.
To have a really successful MBA Thesis, you should integrate knowledge between the different subjections of your thesis as much as possible. Knowledge building upon knowledge this is the mark of a good MBA Thesis.
Try your best to integrate knowledge between subsections. The mark that distinguishes a B or C thesis from an A thesis is that the writer was able to use knowledge to build upon knowledge. Some sound advice is to integrate, integrate and integrate some more.
Recheck all of your facts and details You must realize that the MBA Thesis is probably the most important paper you will turn in. You must get into the habit to check ands re-check every fact and number of details of you paper. If you just put a little bit of faulty data in your thesis, it could ruin the whole paper.
Once you have finished your thesis, go back and thoroughly proofread it for mistakes and fact checking. If you want to have a successful MBA Thesis, then you must travel a long, difficult road. Prepare yourself to put in a lot of work.
When at last you have the final revision of your thesis in hand, you can proudly turn in your many hours of long work. When you see the final grade on your MBA Thesis, all the hard work will turn into self-satisfaction for a job well done.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Thesis Writing
http://www.essaytown.com/subjects_l.html - Thesis Topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Tips For Writing An A+ Term Paper
There are eight basic steps to writing a good term paper. Incidentally, term paper and research paper are really one in the same so I may take the liberty of using both of these terms interchangeably. The real start to writing a term paper of an A+ ranking is to believe that you are capable of achieving it. Keep a positive attitude as you develop your research paper and set your sights high.
Choose A Topic: Try to choose a topic which genuinely interests as well as challenges you. If you really like the topic, then you will naturally put a lot of enthusiasm and effort into you term paper. Once you have narrowed your topic down, get your teacher's approval for it before embarking head over heels on full-scale research.
Select a topic that you can easily manage. At all costs, you want to avoid subjects that are too specialized, technical or learned. If your topic has very limited source materials, then you had better go back to the drawing board and choose something else.
Find Information: There are many places where you can find information. The library is still an excellent source for research materials. They have encyclopedias, magazines, periodicals and books.
With the Internet becoming increasingly popular, you can check out different materials that are available online. You must learn how to evaluate websites with a critical eye. By searching the Internet effectively you will be able to eliminate irrelevant sites so that your time will not be wasted.
State Your Thesis: This may involve some critical thinking on your part in order to write your thesis statement in one sentence. The vast majority of your term paper will consist of arguments to defend and support your thesis.
Make A Tentative Outline: You should all know how to make an outline for your term paper. In the opening capital Roman Numeral, you must make sure that all of the points you have mentioned will relate to it.
The main purpose of having an outline is to help you think through your subject with care and organize it in a logical manner before you begin writing. Your outline should have an introduction, a body and finally a conclusion.
Organize Your Notes: Organize the information that you have gathered according to the outline you have prepared. You must now check your data for accuracy and verify that all of your information you have gathered is up-to-date, factual and correct. Include no data that is not relevant to your topic. Remember not to plagiarize.
Write Your First Draft: You should write your first draft of your term paper according to the organization of your outline. For each idea that you plan to include in your term paper either write summaries, quotations or paraphrases.
Revise And Outline: Go over your term paper for any content errors. Make sure that your facts and figures are correct. Arrange all of your ideas to follow your outline. You must always keep your readers in mind as well as the purpose of your paper.
Type Final Paper: Since your term paper is a formal report, it should be typewritten. Most of us these days have a printer to go along with our computer. Proofread you final paper for spelling, missing or duplicated words and punctuation. Make sure that your term paper is tidy, clean, neat and attractive.
Try to turn in your term paper early. Pride yourself in your work and know that you did your very best. I am sure you will swell with pride when you see your final grade!
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com College Term Papers http://www.essaytown.com/subjects_t.html Term Paper Topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Choose A Topic: Try to choose a topic which genuinely interests as well as challenges you. If you really like the topic, then you will naturally put a lot of enthusiasm and effort into you term paper. Once you have narrowed your topic down, get your teacher's approval for it before embarking head over heels on full-scale research.
Select a topic that you can easily manage. At all costs, you want to avoid subjects that are too specialized, technical or learned. If your topic has very limited source materials, then you had better go back to the drawing board and choose something else.
Find Information: There are many places where you can find information. The library is still an excellent source for research materials. They have encyclopedias, magazines, periodicals and books.
With the Internet becoming increasingly popular, you can check out different materials that are available online. You must learn how to evaluate websites with a critical eye. By searching the Internet effectively you will be able to eliminate irrelevant sites so that your time will not be wasted.
State Your Thesis: This may involve some critical thinking on your part in order to write your thesis statement in one sentence. The vast majority of your term paper will consist of arguments to defend and support your thesis.
Make A Tentative Outline: You should all know how to make an outline for your term paper. In the opening capital Roman Numeral, you must make sure that all of the points you have mentioned will relate to it.
The main purpose of having an outline is to help you think through your subject with care and organize it in a logical manner before you begin writing. Your outline should have an introduction, a body and finally a conclusion.
Organize Your Notes: Organize the information that you have gathered according to the outline you have prepared. You must now check your data for accuracy and verify that all of your information you have gathered is up-to-date, factual and correct. Include no data that is not relevant to your topic. Remember not to plagiarize.
Write Your First Draft: You should write your first draft of your term paper according to the organization of your outline. For each idea that you plan to include in your term paper either write summaries, quotations or paraphrases.
Revise And Outline: Go over your term paper for any content errors. Make sure that your facts and figures are correct. Arrange all of your ideas to follow your outline. You must always keep your readers in mind as well as the purpose of your paper.
Type Final Paper: Since your term paper is a formal report, it should be typewritten. Most of us these days have a printer to go along with our computer. Proofread you final paper for spelling, missing or duplicated words and punctuation. Make sure that your term paper is tidy, clean, neat and attractive.
Try to turn in your term paper early. Pride yourself in your work and know that you did your very best. I am sure you will swell with pride when you see your final grade!
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com College Term Papers http://www.essaytown.com/subjects_t.html Term Paper Topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
How To Write An Excellent College Term Paper
Writing college term papers are a very common requirement when you reach the upper-division courses. You will find that it counts as an influential part of your final grade. Remember that you are no longer in high school. Gone are the times when you could turn in just a mediocre term paper and come out on top with a good grade. Here are some guidelines for you to follow to assure that you will receive an A on your college term paper.
1. Getting Started: Make sure that you understand all of the directions that your professor gives. If something is not clear, do not hesitate to ask for clarification. If you just go your own way and turn in a paper that does not meet the instructor's wants, then you may really feel dumb!
2. Don't Procrastinate: A good college term paper requires careful preparation, critical thinking, research and writing. You must also allow time for the unexpected. Your computer may crash, files may somehow get erased, you may run out of ink or personal crises may arise.
3. Choosing a Topic: Try to pick an interesting subject that fulfills the assignment the professor gave you. It will help if you pick a topic that interests you. Make sure that your paper is a reasonable length. If your subject is too broad, consider narrowing the focus. Your main source of research will most likely be your local or campus library.
4. Research: The foundation or your college term paper is good research. If you build a paper without a solid foundation, that paper will inevitably be weak. You should make sure that you use a good variation of the most specific, expert and up-to-date resources. The first place to do research is your library.
5. Research Resources: There are many types of resources that can be utilized to do your research. One of the first places to visit is probably the reference room. You can begin to structure the basic outline for your college term paper right in the reference room. Some other reference materials are, of course, books and scholarly journal articles.
6. Organizing the Paper: The keys to having an effective college term paper are good organization as well as presentation of ideas. In order to have a good plan for your paper, you must organize all of your material in an outline. This will serve to lay out the structure of your paper to ensure that your paper is logical and complete and will prevent you from getting off the track.
7. Writing the Paper: You should always have clarity in writing. You must use good communication skills in order to bring your points home. You may even submit drafts to your professor well ahead of the deadline so that he or she may be able to help you refine your topic, identify resources and avoid pitfalls.
8. Citations and References: A good research paper will rely on information that has been compiled by and analysis that has been done by others. A research paper MUST cite other's works. You do not want to be guilty of plagiarism.
9. Presenting the Paper: You must now prepare for the physical presentation of your paper. Unless you were otherwise told, your paper should be typed by double-spacing with one-inch margins on every side of your page. Your college term paper should have a title page, the main body of the paper followed by the bibliography and then by Works Cited, or References.
Even a paper that contain cogent analysis, impeccable research and brilliant writing will still elicit a negative reaction from the one who is reading your paper if it happens to be wrinkled or barely readable. After reading over your term paper for the last time and proclaiming that it is free from errors, go home relax and grab a pizza.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - College Term Papers http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - Term Paper Topic
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
1. Getting Started: Make sure that you understand all of the directions that your professor gives. If something is not clear, do not hesitate to ask for clarification. If you just go your own way and turn in a paper that does not meet the instructor's wants, then you may really feel dumb!
2. Don't Procrastinate: A good college term paper requires careful preparation, critical thinking, research and writing. You must also allow time for the unexpected. Your computer may crash, files may somehow get erased, you may run out of ink or personal crises may arise.
3. Choosing a Topic: Try to pick an interesting subject that fulfills the assignment the professor gave you. It will help if you pick a topic that interests you. Make sure that your paper is a reasonable length. If your subject is too broad, consider narrowing the focus. Your main source of research will most likely be your local or campus library.
4. Research: The foundation or your college term paper is good research. If you build a paper without a solid foundation, that paper will inevitably be weak. You should make sure that you use a good variation of the most specific, expert and up-to-date resources. The first place to do research is your library.
5. Research Resources: There are many types of resources that can be utilized to do your research. One of the first places to visit is probably the reference room. You can begin to structure the basic outline for your college term paper right in the reference room. Some other reference materials are, of course, books and scholarly journal articles.
6. Organizing the Paper: The keys to having an effective college term paper are good organization as well as presentation of ideas. In order to have a good plan for your paper, you must organize all of your material in an outline. This will serve to lay out the structure of your paper to ensure that your paper is logical and complete and will prevent you from getting off the track.
7. Writing the Paper: You should always have clarity in writing. You must use good communication skills in order to bring your points home. You may even submit drafts to your professor well ahead of the deadline so that he or she may be able to help you refine your topic, identify resources and avoid pitfalls.
8. Citations and References: A good research paper will rely on information that has been compiled by and analysis that has been done by others. A research paper MUST cite other's works. You do not want to be guilty of plagiarism.
9. Presenting the Paper: You must now prepare for the physical presentation of your paper. Unless you were otherwise told, your paper should be typed by double-spacing with one-inch margins on every side of your page. Your college term paper should have a title page, the main body of the paper followed by the bibliography and then by Works Cited, or References.
Even a paper that contain cogent analysis, impeccable research and brilliant writing will still elicit a negative reaction from the one who is reading your paper if it happens to be wrinkled or barely readable. After reading over your term paper for the last time and proclaiming that it is free from errors, go home relax and grab a pizza.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - College Term Papers http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - Term Paper Topic
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Writing An Essay Is Easier Than You Think
Even though essays have many purposes, the basic structure remains the same. You may be writing your paper to explain the steps needed to complete a task or you may be arguing for a particular paint. No matter which kind of essay you choose to write, the format will remain essentially the same.
By only following a few simple steps, you will see that your essay will almost write itself. The only thing you will be responsible for is for supplying the ideas which is the main meat of the essay. Do not let the thought of putting your pen to the paper overwhelm you. You must simply choose to get started. Below are some steps that will serve as your guide as you write your essay:
1. Decide A Topic: You may not have a choice as to what your topic is to be. That is all up to the teacher who assigns the essay. Think about what kind of paper you will be expected to produce. Should you prepare a general overview or should it be narrowed down to a specific analysis of the topic?
2. Prepare an Outline of Ideas: The main purpose of a diagram or an outline is to jot down your ideas about the topic on paper in a loosely organized format. You may still have to change this before your essay is complete, so don't lose sleep over this point.
3. Write A Thesis Statement: This statement tells the reader exactly what the essay will be about and the point that you the author, will be making. You already know what your essay will be about since you had chosen that topic to write about.
Now you must take a look at you outline and decide what point you will make. Take a look at your outline again. What do the main ideas as well as the supporting ideas say about your topic?
4. Write the Body of Your Essay: Now that you have chosen your topic, it has to be described, explained or argued. Each main idea that you jotted down in your outline will become one of the main body paragraphs. In the body of your essay you are going to write about the main points, the subpoints and even elaborate on each of the subpoints.
5. Write the Introduction: Before you essay is finished, you must write the introduction as well as the conclusion. With the introduction, you want to attract the reader's attention and give him or her an idea of the focus of the essay. You may even think about beginning your essay with an attention grabber.
6. Write Conclusion: This brings a sense of closure to the reader. You are able to sum up your points or provide a final perspective on your subject. You only have to have three or four strong sentences in your conclusion. If you can end your essay in a useful way with an anecdote, then by all means use it.
7. Finishing Touches: Before you can consider that your essay is finished, you must think about how you are going to format your paper. Make sure the order of your paragraphs makes sense. Make sure to check your writing. Does your computer have a grammar checker or a spell checker? Make sure that your sentences flow smoothly.
All of these points will make sure that you will have a very good essay to turn in if you follow them. If you are given two weeks to complete your essay, don't try to save it for the last minute and expect to get a good grade. Not many of us can pull that off. Allow yourself plenty of time and pace yourself for a good grade.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Essay Writing http://www.essaytown.com/free_paper.html - Free Essays
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
By only following a few simple steps, you will see that your essay will almost write itself. The only thing you will be responsible for is for supplying the ideas which is the main meat of the essay. Do not let the thought of putting your pen to the paper overwhelm you. You must simply choose to get started. Below are some steps that will serve as your guide as you write your essay:
1. Decide A Topic: You may not have a choice as to what your topic is to be. That is all up to the teacher who assigns the essay. Think about what kind of paper you will be expected to produce. Should you prepare a general overview or should it be narrowed down to a specific analysis of the topic?
2. Prepare an Outline of Ideas: The main purpose of a diagram or an outline is to jot down your ideas about the topic on paper in a loosely organized format. You may still have to change this before your essay is complete, so don't lose sleep over this point.
3. Write A Thesis Statement: This statement tells the reader exactly what the essay will be about and the point that you the author, will be making. You already know what your essay will be about since you had chosen that topic to write about.
Now you must take a look at you outline and decide what point you will make. Take a look at your outline again. What do the main ideas as well as the supporting ideas say about your topic?
4. Write the Body of Your Essay: Now that you have chosen your topic, it has to be described, explained or argued. Each main idea that you jotted down in your outline will become one of the main body paragraphs. In the body of your essay you are going to write about the main points, the subpoints and even elaborate on each of the subpoints.
5. Write the Introduction: Before you essay is finished, you must write the introduction as well as the conclusion. With the introduction, you want to attract the reader's attention and give him or her an idea of the focus of the essay. You may even think about beginning your essay with an attention grabber.
6. Write Conclusion: This brings a sense of closure to the reader. You are able to sum up your points or provide a final perspective on your subject. You only have to have three or four strong sentences in your conclusion. If you can end your essay in a useful way with an anecdote, then by all means use it.
7. Finishing Touches: Before you can consider that your essay is finished, you must think about how you are going to format your paper. Make sure the order of your paragraphs makes sense. Make sure to check your writing. Does your computer have a grammar checker or a spell checker? Make sure that your sentences flow smoothly.
All of these points will make sure that you will have a very good essay to turn in if you follow them. If you are given two weeks to complete your essay, don't try to save it for the last minute and expect to get a good grade. Not many of us can pull that off. Allow yourself plenty of time and pace yourself for a good grade.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Essay Writing http://www.essaytown.com/free_paper.html - Free Essays
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Monday, June 2, 2008
What\s Killing Your Publishing Career?
With the large increase of books being published by self-publishers, and the up-rise of print on demand, there is still a lot of death taking place in the publishing industry. In the United States, over 291,920 books were published in 2006, per Bowker.
Are you a part of this population? There are many aspects that make up these individuals. However, let us target just three that are undeniable to anyone reading this article.
As in anything we do, a large portion of it is about taking risks. Are you a risk taker? You've completed your manuscript or just published your novel; it is time to open the entrepreneur portion of your brain.
Risk takers do not mind the possible end result because the thought of success in pure motivation. Many writers and authors remain reclusive within the safe haven of their creativity. What makes this ideology costly? It is the slow return on their investment.
Are you wondering if you fit into this population of authors? Sure you have published your work for the whole world to read, even critique. But that is just the beginning of this venture. What makes you any different than the other hundreds of thousands of writers and authors?
Sure you can play it safe and hope your extraordinary opportunity hits you over your head. Why not become a risk taker and take it by authority?
Becoming a risk taker you must be:
--- persistent
--- creative
--- passionate
Another obvious bludgeon death is the lack of knowledge.
Yes it is lovely to remain in your creative world and just produce book after book. Can you imagine leaving all the other hoopla for others to sort out?
No one whose a true business person would dare allow themselves to walk blind in their business. Prime examples are Oprah, Donald Trump and Bill Gates. However, many writers and authors are just that, blind.
In order to be successful, you need to be savvy on all levels in the literary industry. If you are not, just like buying a car, you are going to get taken every time. Do your homework, rather than relying on third party hearsay. Why would you find knowing unimportant? For example, POD (print on demand) writers. Many have shouted foul play. The pitch is knowing the short and long term of POD. Before signing any contract, may it be for a car, house, student loan, or what have you, the rule of thumb is to know what it says. If you do not know, you will swing at a curve ball because the only pitch you anticipated was the fastball.
To become knowledgeable:
--- ask questions
--- take the time to research
--- make sure you understand
Lastly, the beast of all beasts, is marketing. It is amazing how many authors who are not marketing exhaustively.
This reverts back to the second point: lack of knowledge. Too many authors belief that a publisher will sign them and they will promote and market their book. Happy to inform you, that is not always the case.
This is your business and these publishers have invested enough in you, such as, advance, printing, and a brief promotion run. After this, it is the author's job to build a website, create news releases, get interviews and so on.
There are many authors and writers out there with published works who are at a lost. Many assume self-published authors must deal with marketing and promoting. If no one has informed you, allow me: that is not true. All published authors, in any realm must market themselves.
How else will your book or novel sell without getting out to the masses? Your readers?
To market, you must:
--- think-outside-the-box
--- market everyday on some level
--- address all angles of your novel or book
--- have a user friendly website
Take a look at where you are and where you desire to be in this literary world. Determine if you are killing your publishing career.
This is going to be a challenge, but you have to have enough energy, passion, and juice to make it past the trying moments.
As a writer or author, make sure you are multi-dimensional. You are becoming an entrepreneur, so know where your hats are and when to wear them.
About the Author:
C.F. Jackson has been interviewed on The Sumter Television Show, The Louie Jones Show, Millionaire Monday Series by John DiLemme and Atlanta's WVEE (V-103 FM), to name a few. Download your free Website Makeover 101 at http://www.WebsiteMakeoverWorkshop.com - Learn the two things a website must do.
Keyword tags: writers workshops, writers resources, book publishing, free, free online writers resources, how to
Are you a part of this population? There are many aspects that make up these individuals. However, let us target just three that are undeniable to anyone reading this article.
As in anything we do, a large portion of it is about taking risks. Are you a risk taker? You've completed your manuscript or just published your novel; it is time to open the entrepreneur portion of your brain.
Risk takers do not mind the possible end result because the thought of success in pure motivation. Many writers and authors remain reclusive within the safe haven of their creativity. What makes this ideology costly? It is the slow return on their investment.
Are you wondering if you fit into this population of authors? Sure you have published your work for the whole world to read, even critique. But that is just the beginning of this venture. What makes you any different than the other hundreds of thousands of writers and authors?
Sure you can play it safe and hope your extraordinary opportunity hits you over your head. Why not become a risk taker and take it by authority?
Becoming a risk taker you must be:
--- persistent
--- creative
--- passionate
Another obvious bludgeon death is the lack of knowledge.
Yes it is lovely to remain in your creative world and just produce book after book. Can you imagine leaving all the other hoopla for others to sort out?
No one whose a true business person would dare allow themselves to walk blind in their business. Prime examples are Oprah, Donald Trump and Bill Gates. However, many writers and authors are just that, blind.
In order to be successful, you need to be savvy on all levels in the literary industry. If you are not, just like buying a car, you are going to get taken every time. Do your homework, rather than relying on third party hearsay. Why would you find knowing unimportant? For example, POD (print on demand) writers. Many have shouted foul play. The pitch is knowing the short and long term of POD. Before signing any contract, may it be for a car, house, student loan, or what have you, the rule of thumb is to know what it says. If you do not know, you will swing at a curve ball because the only pitch you anticipated was the fastball.
To become knowledgeable:
--- ask questions
--- take the time to research
--- make sure you understand
Lastly, the beast of all beasts, is marketing. It is amazing how many authors who are not marketing exhaustively.
This reverts back to the second point: lack of knowledge. Too many authors belief that a publisher will sign them and they will promote and market their book. Happy to inform you, that is not always the case.
This is your business and these publishers have invested enough in you, such as, advance, printing, and a brief promotion run. After this, it is the author's job to build a website, create news releases, get interviews and so on.
There are many authors and writers out there with published works who are at a lost. Many assume self-published authors must deal with marketing and promoting. If no one has informed you, allow me: that is not true. All published authors, in any realm must market themselves.
How else will your book or novel sell without getting out to the masses? Your readers?
To market, you must:
--- think-outside-the-box
--- market everyday on some level
--- address all angles of your novel or book
--- have a user friendly website
Take a look at where you are and where you desire to be in this literary world. Determine if you are killing your publishing career.
This is going to be a challenge, but you have to have enough energy, passion, and juice to make it past the trying moments.
As a writer or author, make sure you are multi-dimensional. You are becoming an entrepreneur, so know where your hats are and when to wear them.
About the Author:
C.F. Jackson has been interviewed on The Sumter Television Show, The Louie Jones Show, Millionaire Monday Series by John DiLemme and Atlanta's WVEE (V-103 FM), to name a few. Download your free Website Makeover 101 at http://www.WebsiteMakeoverWorkshop.com - Learn the two things a website must do.
Keyword tags: writers workshops, writers resources, book publishing, free, free online writers resources, how to
Sunday, June 1, 2008
Three Rules Of Publishing
The business of publishing is old world, mature, and has changed only incrementally over the past fifty years. One thing that can be said about publishing is that the biggest companies lead and the rest tend to follow. This is why little has changed in the way these publishers conduct business. The biggest are the most stodgy and the result is an industry that continues to shrink, while technology and the new marketing of the 21st century speed ahead.
Book are published, marketed, sold and distributed the same way they have been since the birth of the business. Certainly prices have changed dramatically, shipments are better coordinated, cover designs have evolved, merchandising has improved, but the basic business rules have not. Today there are still three general rules that apply to the business of publishing.
Rule number one: Every book is guaranteed to the bookseller, meaning, if they don't sell at the bookstore, the publisher guarantees they'll take them back. Returned books are as common place as paper and ink. Books have always been returnable. There are few if any retailers still in existence that will purchase newly published non-returnable books. The fallacy of this is that today, 2008, there are still some publishers that force their authors to pay several hundred dollars for the right to have their book considered returnable. Returnable books should be standard for any book contract. This is a clear example of how some publishers are not fluent in the ways of the business, and as a result they take advantage and prey on the pocketbooks of unsuspecting, and uninformed authors.
Rule number two: The business is about revenue, selling books. However there are two ways to look at revenue. For the Independent publishers and authors, revenue is when a book is sold and the money changes hands, that is a sale and represents the cleanest form of revenue. For the biggest publishers and all the others that want to compete in the marketplace, revenue is both gross and net. Gross is the number of copies multiplied by the cover price. This does not account for the returns that will eventually arrive at the publisher's warehouse. The net price is what is left after all those books have been returned and counted. The big companies play with these numbers in a variety of ways and if you plan to compete in this market, you must be aware of this fact.
Rule number three: Bookseller real estate is for lease. When you walk into a bookstore and notice all those wonderful displays with multiple copies of the bestsellers, then you stroll down the aisles and look at the covers laying face up on the tables, keep in mind -- this is not accidental. These retailers aren't doing any favors. All of that space has been leased by the publisher of those titles for a specified period of time. In fact, virtually all of the floor space is for lease, if you can afford the price. Typically the front of the store is the most expensive real estate and the price goes down slightly as you move to the back of the store. Bottom line, retail space in major retailers, including bookstores and mass merchants, is for lease.
If you want to compete in the traditional marketplace, you must keep these three rules in mind: It's how the business operates.
About the Author:
Jerry D. Simmons is the author of WHAT WRITERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PUBLISHING. He is the creator of TIPS for WRITING from the PUBLISHING INSIDER an eNewsletter that can be found at http://WritersReaders.com. He is also the founder of the leading social networking website for writers, authors and readers http://www.NothingBinding.com. For comments or questions you can reach Jerry via email jerry@writersreaders.com.
Keyword tags: publishing, books, authors, print on demand, writing tips, writing advice, book marketing
Book are published, marketed, sold and distributed the same way they have been since the birth of the business. Certainly prices have changed dramatically, shipments are better coordinated, cover designs have evolved, merchandising has improved, but the basic business rules have not. Today there are still three general rules that apply to the business of publishing.
Rule number one: Every book is guaranteed to the bookseller, meaning, if they don't sell at the bookstore, the publisher guarantees they'll take them back. Returned books are as common place as paper and ink. Books have always been returnable. There are few if any retailers still in existence that will purchase newly published non-returnable books. The fallacy of this is that today, 2008, there are still some publishers that force their authors to pay several hundred dollars for the right to have their book considered returnable. Returnable books should be standard for any book contract. This is a clear example of how some publishers are not fluent in the ways of the business, and as a result they take advantage and prey on the pocketbooks of unsuspecting, and uninformed authors.
Rule number two: The business is about revenue, selling books. However there are two ways to look at revenue. For the Independent publishers and authors, revenue is when a book is sold and the money changes hands, that is a sale and represents the cleanest form of revenue. For the biggest publishers and all the others that want to compete in the marketplace, revenue is both gross and net. Gross is the number of copies multiplied by the cover price. This does not account for the returns that will eventually arrive at the publisher's warehouse. The net price is what is left after all those books have been returned and counted. The big companies play with these numbers in a variety of ways and if you plan to compete in this market, you must be aware of this fact.
Rule number three: Bookseller real estate is for lease. When you walk into a bookstore and notice all those wonderful displays with multiple copies of the bestsellers, then you stroll down the aisles and look at the covers laying face up on the tables, keep in mind -- this is not accidental. These retailers aren't doing any favors. All of that space has been leased by the publisher of those titles for a specified period of time. In fact, virtually all of the floor space is for lease, if you can afford the price. Typically the front of the store is the most expensive real estate and the price goes down slightly as you move to the back of the store. Bottom line, retail space in major retailers, including bookstores and mass merchants, is for lease.
If you want to compete in the traditional marketplace, you must keep these three rules in mind: It's how the business operates.
About the Author:
Jerry D. Simmons is the author of WHAT WRITERS NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PUBLISHING. He is the creator of TIPS for WRITING from the PUBLISHING INSIDER an eNewsletter that can be found at http://WritersReaders.com. He is also the founder of the leading social networking website for writers, authors and readers http://www.NothingBinding.com. For comments or questions you can reach Jerry via email jerry@writersreaders.com.
Keyword tags: publishing, books, authors, print on demand, writing tips, writing advice, book marketing
Common Errors Writers Make Part 2: Kill A Good Story
From Rita Jamison's Freelance Writing Workshop; Adult Education, Los Altos, CA, 2005
Your plot's great. Your theme is awesome. You have a beginning, middle and end with interesting characters — No problem sitting and writing a story; no writer's block — But it bombs. No one reads beyond page one or two. Who killed it? Probably you! You probably didn't polish and buff the finish. You wrote with your heart but didn't rewrite with your brain.
What should your brain do for you when you rewrite? What are the common pitfalls you absolutely must avoid?
TELLING INSTEAD OF SHOWING:
Remember Creative Writing 101? Remember the most frequent error a writer makes? Remember SDT ("Show, Don't Tell.") Show how your characters react with Visceral and Layered Description; Describe the character's uncontrollable response to her location and conflict with some or all of her five senses, mood and feelings. The most banal physical object imparts this set of body reactions and all of us recognize and relate to if you, the author use your brain to rewrite.
For example: "There was a pencil on the table.") (Not very interesting) vs. "Straight as a warrior's arrow the sharp pencil on the table pointed at Charles. He picked it up and put the point in his mouth. It tasted metallic, tinny; the shaft smelled like sawdust in butcher shops of yore, when he was a boy. How the pencil screeched as he wrote the words that completely relaxed him: "I am not afraid of Mr. Hollerhan."
Don't you want to know more?
NARRATION VS. DIALOGUE AND INCIDENT
(Another "Show, Don't Tell.") Tell your story through conversation and action.
Above all, Do not preach; Do not patronize; Avoid homily!
There is probably a place for narration in an instruction manual, personal journal, scientific and philosophical treatise or theses — and maybe there are more — but there's little use for it in your story. It will make a good outline in your first heart-driven draft. That's why writers have brains. Use the brain in rewrite and keep on rewriting until you've eliminated the bland and the boring and replaced it all with exciting, colorful exposition flowing out of dialogue and incident.
BE ORIGINAL
Avoid clichés. Unless a cliché is used in dialogue to help define a witless character, I can't think of any good use of it. You are a creative writer. There's nothing creative about clichés. They are the identification tag of an amateur — and a poor one at that.
Avoid excessive punctuation. How much is excessive? I don't know. But I can feel it. This, however, is really a meaty subject for a whole other article, which I expect to produce and share with you very soon.
USE STRONG VERBS, COLORFUL ADJECTIVES, NO ADVERBS: For example:
"Joe sat quietly thinking of revenge." vs. "Joe sank onto a bench. Dry-mouthed and wet-palmed he obsessed in silence as he wove his plan to get even."
SIMILES SPARKLE USE GOOD, ORIGINAL SIMILES. They bring poetry to your prose.(No clichés, please!)
Ed. Note: Need a stronger verb? If you're using MS Word, to find good synonyms place curser on the word you want to improve on (for verb, infinitive is best) and right-click. Click on Synonyms) in drop down box.
About the Author:
Melvin M. Harter is a retired physician. He specialized in evaluation of the causes and extent of injury and disability. He has become a freelance writer and author of the novel, Some Kind of Angel. This sci-fi thriller explores the world of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and genocide. For more, visit http://www.somekindofangel.com and view the video trailer.
Keyword tags: writing tips, authors, books, writing advice, publishing, writing style, writing methods
Your plot's great. Your theme is awesome. You have a beginning, middle and end with interesting characters — No problem sitting and writing a story; no writer's block — But it bombs. No one reads beyond page one or two. Who killed it? Probably you! You probably didn't polish and buff the finish. You wrote with your heart but didn't rewrite with your brain.
What should your brain do for you when you rewrite? What are the common pitfalls you absolutely must avoid?
TELLING INSTEAD OF SHOWING:
Remember Creative Writing 101? Remember the most frequent error a writer makes? Remember SDT ("Show, Don't Tell.") Show how your characters react with Visceral and Layered Description; Describe the character's uncontrollable response to her location and conflict with some or all of her five senses, mood and feelings. The most banal physical object imparts this set of body reactions and all of us recognize and relate to if you, the author use your brain to rewrite.
For example: "There was a pencil on the table.") (Not very interesting) vs. "Straight as a warrior's arrow the sharp pencil on the table pointed at Charles. He picked it up and put the point in his mouth. It tasted metallic, tinny; the shaft smelled like sawdust in butcher shops of yore, when he was a boy. How the pencil screeched as he wrote the words that completely relaxed him: "I am not afraid of Mr. Hollerhan."
Don't you want to know more?
NARRATION VS. DIALOGUE AND INCIDENT
(Another "Show, Don't Tell.") Tell your story through conversation and action.
Above all, Do not preach; Do not patronize; Avoid homily!
There is probably a place for narration in an instruction manual, personal journal, scientific and philosophical treatise or theses — and maybe there are more — but there's little use for it in your story. It will make a good outline in your first heart-driven draft. That's why writers have brains. Use the brain in rewrite and keep on rewriting until you've eliminated the bland and the boring and replaced it all with exciting, colorful exposition flowing out of dialogue and incident.
BE ORIGINAL
Avoid clichés. Unless a cliché is used in dialogue to help define a witless character, I can't think of any good use of it. You are a creative writer. There's nothing creative about clichés. They are the identification tag of an amateur — and a poor one at that.
Avoid excessive punctuation. How much is excessive? I don't know. But I can feel it. This, however, is really a meaty subject for a whole other article, which I expect to produce and share with you very soon.
USE STRONG VERBS, COLORFUL ADJECTIVES, NO ADVERBS: For example:
"Joe sat quietly thinking of revenge." vs. "Joe sank onto a bench. Dry-mouthed and wet-palmed he obsessed in silence as he wove his plan to get even."
SIMILES SPARKLE USE GOOD, ORIGINAL SIMILES. They bring poetry to your prose.(No clichés, please!)
Ed. Note: Need a stronger verb? If you're using MS Word, to find good synonyms place curser on the word you want to improve on (for verb, infinitive is best) and right-click. Click on Synonyms) in drop down box.
About the Author:
Melvin M. Harter is a retired physician. He specialized in evaluation of the causes and extent of injury and disability. He has become a freelance writer and author of the novel, Some Kind of Angel. This sci-fi thriller explores the world of terrorism, weapons of mass destruction and genocide. For more, visit http://www.somekindofangel.com and view the video trailer.
Keyword tags: writing tips, authors, books, writing advice, publishing, writing style, writing methods
Researching The Historical Novel, Part II
I have mentioned previously that the Romance genre is almost a sure bet, and that mystery stories are a pretty close second. I also included adventure in the popular list, but particularly dwell on the historical novel because it not only has remained popular through the years, but recently has experienced somewhat of a growth period, as has the formerly almost dormant western.
I also have intimated that in no other genre, is research the most dominant requirement. A historical novel, above all else, must be accurate in its historical details. In my previous discussion, I covered some of the problems encountered in researching the historical novel.
There are a number of others, with which one must contend. If one selects a period in antiquity, such as Costain's previously mentioned The Black Rose, one will find a great deal of confusion and overlapping descriptions of both terrain and the people living there. A prime example, is offered by wandering groups of marauding nomads who invaded China's northwestern borders in the waning B.C. years. Reportedly, their depredations were so annoying as to cause erection of the first part of the Great Wall in Gansu. These Xiongnu were described and often called "Huns," by early eighteenth century writers. The grave confusion occurs because the Chinese destroyed the Xiongnu in the second century A.D., and no evidence ever has surfaced that there had ever been any westward migration of the Xiongnu. Attila, the Hun, and his hoards, did not appear and begin their devastating raids in Europe until some two hundred years later.
This is just one of the myriad problems one can experience in attempting to set a story in such a out-of-the-way time and place. The research must be thorough, because if it is not, someone is going to spot it. Before starting a novel in this era, I might suggest perusal of Frances Wood's, The Silk Road, as an excellent place to begin. It is well researched and beautifully written. Also, a novel by Sam Barone, entitled Dawn of Empire, is a well-written example of a fairly recently published novel set in a similar early era.
Another factor that I mentioned briefly in an earlier discussion, is that of geography. I recalled the tremendous change that had taken place in the seashore area just outside of Marbella, Spain in just a few short years. These changes are not unique. All of Europe has, and is, changed quite drastically. Certain, mostly desert parts, of Morocco and Algiers have changed little except for the eternal movement of the sands. The rest provides horrendous mixes of the new with the old. Parts of Ireland remain pretty much as they were, but even the once remote Ring of Kerry has encountered much change.
If one is to write about the United States, one must remember the tremendous changes that have taken place here, as well. One has only to remember, for a graphic example, some of the recent motion pictures depicting New York City at the turn of the century. Other changes that are more difficult to remember, and perhaps picture, are the 'Great American Desert' that once covered much of the southwestern part of the country, and the once untenanted Llano Estacado that now is heavily populated and even contains whole cities.
Characterization is a third major factor that one must consider in the historical genre. Individual personalities, perhaps have changed little. Anger, jealousy, pettiness, fear, magnanimity, have all existed for eons of time. However, the mores of the various societies in which these personalities live, have undergone a tremendous revolution. Those of the ancients contrast sharply with those of the Renaissance, the Elizabethan, and every other marked period of history, as they do from nationality to nationality; viz, the duena system of courtship in Spanish society, or the Creole institution of placage in Old New Orleans.
So, if one wishes to write in the historical genre, each and every one of these factors must be carefully considered and researched. It is not an easy task if one does not enjoy spending countless hours perusing numerous sources. However, if you enjoy such pursuits, you will find many rewards well worth the time.
About the Author:
John H. Manhold is a retired professor and scientific journal editor. He is an author of several textbooks, a lexicon in four languages and now novels that often require extensive research. He provides coaching on various types and phases of writing. Please see http://www.johnhmanhold.com/ for more information, and an address.
Keyword tags: history, historical novels, books, research, authors, publishing, writing tips
I also have intimated that in no other genre, is research the most dominant requirement. A historical novel, above all else, must be accurate in its historical details. In my previous discussion, I covered some of the problems encountered in researching the historical novel.
There are a number of others, with which one must contend. If one selects a period in antiquity, such as Costain's previously mentioned The Black Rose, one will find a great deal of confusion and overlapping descriptions of both terrain and the people living there. A prime example, is offered by wandering groups of marauding nomads who invaded China's northwestern borders in the waning B.C. years. Reportedly, their depredations were so annoying as to cause erection of the first part of the Great Wall in Gansu. These Xiongnu were described and often called "Huns," by early eighteenth century writers. The grave confusion occurs because the Chinese destroyed the Xiongnu in the second century A.D., and no evidence ever has surfaced that there had ever been any westward migration of the Xiongnu. Attila, the Hun, and his hoards, did not appear and begin their devastating raids in Europe until some two hundred years later.
This is just one of the myriad problems one can experience in attempting to set a story in such a out-of-the-way time and place. The research must be thorough, because if it is not, someone is going to spot it. Before starting a novel in this era, I might suggest perusal of Frances Wood's, The Silk Road, as an excellent place to begin. It is well researched and beautifully written. Also, a novel by Sam Barone, entitled Dawn of Empire, is a well-written example of a fairly recently published novel set in a similar early era.
Another factor that I mentioned briefly in an earlier discussion, is that of geography. I recalled the tremendous change that had taken place in the seashore area just outside of Marbella, Spain in just a few short years. These changes are not unique. All of Europe has, and is, changed quite drastically. Certain, mostly desert parts, of Morocco and Algiers have changed little except for the eternal movement of the sands. The rest provides horrendous mixes of the new with the old. Parts of Ireland remain pretty much as they were, but even the once remote Ring of Kerry has encountered much change.
If one is to write about the United States, one must remember the tremendous changes that have taken place here, as well. One has only to remember, for a graphic example, some of the recent motion pictures depicting New York City at the turn of the century. Other changes that are more difficult to remember, and perhaps picture, are the 'Great American Desert' that once covered much of the southwestern part of the country, and the once untenanted Llano Estacado that now is heavily populated and even contains whole cities.
Characterization is a third major factor that one must consider in the historical genre. Individual personalities, perhaps have changed little. Anger, jealousy, pettiness, fear, magnanimity, have all existed for eons of time. However, the mores of the various societies in which these personalities live, have undergone a tremendous revolution. Those of the ancients contrast sharply with those of the Renaissance, the Elizabethan, and every other marked period of history, as they do from nationality to nationality; viz, the duena system of courtship in Spanish society, or the Creole institution of placage in Old New Orleans.
So, if one wishes to write in the historical genre, each and every one of these factors must be carefully considered and researched. It is not an easy task if one does not enjoy spending countless hours perusing numerous sources. However, if you enjoy such pursuits, you will find many rewards well worth the time.
About the Author:
John H. Manhold is a retired professor and scientific journal editor. He is an author of several textbooks, a lexicon in four languages and now novels that often require extensive research. He provides coaching on various types and phases of writing. Please see http://www.johnhmanhold.com/ for more information, and an address.
Keyword tags: history, historical novels, books, research, authors, publishing, writing tips
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