Before you write your first sentence there are a number of important decisions that you must make. You can still start off by asking yourself what kind of book do I want to write? And what category or genre will it fit into? If you are not sure about where you want to go with your book it may be a good idea to obtain a list of subjects that are available and popular, for example;
Diet and weight loss
Gardening
Recipe books
Marriage and relationships
Child rearing
Health and fitness
Biographies or autobiographies
If the first part of the list does not hold your attention or create any excitement in your mind, you need to move on until you find what you are looking for, trust me, when you find it you will know. Your eyes will widen, your heart will beat faster and you will develop the odd habit of talking to yourself. Don't be alarmed this will be one of the best experiences you will ever have, in fact it will compare favorably with another experience that is much too delicate to be mentioned in this article. When this happens you are on your way.
The second category of books that you may want to check on are;
Text books
Children's adventure stories
American historical (political)
World historical (political)
Travel
History of slavery (America)
History of slavery (the world)
Religion (Christianity)
Religion (Islam)
Religion (Hinduism)
Religion (Buddhism)
If the bells are not ringing in your head so far you can take a deep breath and move on, and by the way, I would recommend a recognized bookstore for this type of search (Barnes and Noble, Borders etc). Browsing the shelves of a bookstore or library is a habit I developed many moons ago, and I have always considered them to be a superior alternative to a computer insofar as the search for inspiration is concerned. You will find eye-catching titles, beautiful covers, and interesting information about the books and their authors. Time spent in library or a bookstore is time well spent.
If you are in the process of writing a book or planning to do it, it is a reasonable assumption that you enjoy reading and that you are well read. My suggestions should be viewed from the perspective of focus. To put it bluntly you are hunting for that part of your psyche that had lain dormant for some time but is now demanding attention. You must find the environment that will nourish your inner being and you will blossom and grow from strength to strength.
The final category happens to be my favorite;
Action adventure
Spy stories
Crime and true crime, and
Terrorists, danger and death
This genre covers a multitude of sins and I crafted a novel to create a mix of American and Middle Eastern warriors with differing positions, beliefs, and points of view. The characters that you will need to lend credibility to your story must be carefully created and easily recognized. Most authors consciously or subconsciously fall back in their personal experiences when they are writing any kind of book. Childhood experiences will influence the story line and the characters. The same goes for the Gardener who will share his skills with the readers and the politician who will inject many private and personal experiences into his or her memories. It is natural to do so and it adds flavor and interest to your work. A highly respected and admired employee was murdered on my watch many years ago, and I was unable to resist the temptation to add a disguised version of her story along with others to my book.
About the Author:
Bernard Steele is a veteran law enforcement officer (operational and administrative), now retired. He was the former chief security officer of the National Banking System of Guyana S.A. To learn about his new book visit http://www.deathinsmalldoses.com.
Keyword tags: books, authors, publishing, book titles, genres, writing advice, writing tips
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
What is New in My Book?
Some of what is new in my book, RETURN TO THE MIDDLE KINGDOM, reveals historical details about China unknown in the West, or even in China itself, for that matter. For example, I highlight my late father-in-law Eugene Chen's role in the "Russia-oriented" policy of Sun Yatsen. Eugene was the key, the historical hinge, that led to the alliance of Sun Yatsen's Kuomintang (Nationalist Party) and the Communist Party in early 1920s. This policy opened the door for communists, including Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai, to join the Kuomintang; it also gave the governed, for the first time in Chinese history, the right to have their say in the governing, and this began to unleash a power in the vast peasant population never seen before.
For another example, through Jack's and my experiences in the purge called Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), this book sheds light on the infighting between the Party moderates led by Zhou Enlai and the hardliners led by Mao Zedong, thus challenging the unanimous view among scholars and historians that Zhou was a yes man to Mao. Toward the end of 1969, my husband Jack had a pretty clear idea of what the purge was about: Should China join the international community or keep its door closed. He wrote to Zhou Enlai, applying for exit visas to go on the long overdue speech tour in the United States, to speak about China's wish to co-exist in peace and trade with the West.
Zhou granted the exit visas, but the Red Guards, Mao's creation, exiled us to Upper Felicity Village in Henan Province, cut off our recourse for help and plotted to kill us in this backwoods. For nine months we lived as though on death row, struggling minute by minute, to dodge the summary execution. By the fall of 1970, Zhou Enlai intervened. He went to the Foreign Languages Bureau himself and told the Red Guards flatly that they were attacking him through Jack Chen. Case closed, and we returned to Beijing and prepared to leave for Hong Kong.
My experience in the Cultural Revolution was not like any others.' I did not lie low and let the storm blow over my head. I fought back tooth and nail against the Red Guards. I nearly died several times. But it was worth it. I fought my way out and I, who, never got one word published during Mao's reign, have found a publisher in my adopted country.
This is not my only gratification. I have more freedom to move around and broaden my horizons. I went to Spain, and for the first time I swam in the Sea of my Dreams, the Mediterranean. The blue of the Mediterranean is not like the color of any other sea; its magic hue can match Heaven's own blue. While traveling and learning and absorbing different cultures, I went on an internal journey and discovered my strength and frailty. The more I know about myself, the less judgmental I am. I hope that will help me become a better person and better writer.
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: China, China-US relations, world history, Olympic Games, Beijing 2008 Olympics
For another example, through Jack's and my experiences in the purge called Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), this book sheds light on the infighting between the Party moderates led by Zhou Enlai and the hardliners led by Mao Zedong, thus challenging the unanimous view among scholars and historians that Zhou was a yes man to Mao. Toward the end of 1969, my husband Jack had a pretty clear idea of what the purge was about: Should China join the international community or keep its door closed. He wrote to Zhou Enlai, applying for exit visas to go on the long overdue speech tour in the United States, to speak about China's wish to co-exist in peace and trade with the West.
Zhou granted the exit visas, but the Red Guards, Mao's creation, exiled us to Upper Felicity Village in Henan Province, cut off our recourse for help and plotted to kill us in this backwoods. For nine months we lived as though on death row, struggling minute by minute, to dodge the summary execution. By the fall of 1970, Zhou Enlai intervened. He went to the Foreign Languages Bureau himself and told the Red Guards flatly that they were attacking him through Jack Chen. Case closed, and we returned to Beijing and prepared to leave for Hong Kong.
My experience in the Cultural Revolution was not like any others.' I did not lie low and let the storm blow over my head. I fought back tooth and nail against the Red Guards. I nearly died several times. But it was worth it. I fought my way out and I, who, never got one word published during Mao's reign, have found a publisher in my adopted country.
This is not my only gratification. I have more freedom to move around and broaden my horizons. I went to Spain, and for the first time I swam in the Sea of my Dreams, the Mediterranean. The blue of the Mediterranean is not like the color of any other sea; its magic hue can match Heaven's own blue. While traveling and learning and absorbing different cultures, I went on an internal journey and discovered my strength and frailty. The more I know about myself, the less judgmental I am. I hope that will help me become a better person and better writer.
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: China, China-US relations, world history, Olympic Games, Beijing 2008 Olympics
Aluminum Tubes Are Available in Abundance
Aluminum tubes have many applications, and correspondingly, are available in various shapes and sizes. They are found as round tubing, triangular tubes, square tubes and if required, it is possible to have aluminum tubes made in unique shape combinations.
Besides differing in their shapes, aluminum tubes are also different in terms of their wall thickness. You have to choose the size, shape and wall thickness of the aluminum tube, based on what you intend to use the tube for.
Though most metals can be made into tubes, it is the characteristics of aluminum that makes it the preferred choice for most industries. These characteristics include its resistance to corrosion, it being a ductile metal and its affordability.
The marine industry needs aluminum tubes
In fact, it is in the past few years that big industries have started using aluminum tubes, because it is possible to create the required design and shape with these aluminum tubes and because it is possible to create aluminum tubes with the right wall thickness and diameter, as per specifications.
Aluminum tubes have wide scale applications in various fields. The high strength aluminum tubes are used in the marine industry, and in the production of nuclear weapons. It is used in the manufacture of huge ferries, submarines, boats, ships and other aquatic vehicles and equipment.
It is not only the many characteristics of aluminum that make aluminum tubes the preferred choice in industries. It is also because these huge industries require huge metal resources to construct their structures. And with aluminum being one of the most widely available metals of the world, it is cheaply available and just right for use in these industries.
Use the internet to order aluminum tubes to your specifications
There are many industries that cater to the manufacture and shipping needs of aluminum tubes. And one way you can find them is through the internet. It is better to work with the more famous and reputed companies as you are insured of receiving the best from them. Your business partners are also great people to ask for referrals for aluminum tube manufacturers.
Just ensure that you state your requirements and specifications properly when placing your order, so that you receive the right aluminum tubes. Of course, clarify payment and shipping issues and charges, so that there are no complications over the shipment of your aluminum tubes.
So varied are the applications of aluminum tubes. They are used for their strength in the manufacture of aircraft frames and in the bodies of rocket launchers. In the meantime, they also have applications in computers, because of heat conductivity of aluminum.
And it is because of its malleability that it is used by designers in the door and window frames of houses and buildings, and its high resistance to corrosion makes them the perfect choice for the transport of mining waste from mine fields. What more reason is required to prove that aluminum tubes are the chosen choice in most industries.
About the Author:
http://www.alfiniti.com
Keyword tags: aluminium tube
Besides differing in their shapes, aluminum tubes are also different in terms of their wall thickness. You have to choose the size, shape and wall thickness of the aluminum tube, based on what you intend to use the tube for.
Though most metals can be made into tubes, it is the characteristics of aluminum that makes it the preferred choice for most industries. These characteristics include its resistance to corrosion, it being a ductile metal and its affordability.
The marine industry needs aluminum tubes
In fact, it is in the past few years that big industries have started using aluminum tubes, because it is possible to create the required design and shape with these aluminum tubes and because it is possible to create aluminum tubes with the right wall thickness and diameter, as per specifications.
Aluminum tubes have wide scale applications in various fields. The high strength aluminum tubes are used in the marine industry, and in the production of nuclear weapons. It is used in the manufacture of huge ferries, submarines, boats, ships and other aquatic vehicles and equipment.
It is not only the many characteristics of aluminum that make aluminum tubes the preferred choice in industries. It is also because these huge industries require huge metal resources to construct their structures. And with aluminum being one of the most widely available metals of the world, it is cheaply available and just right for use in these industries.
Use the internet to order aluminum tubes to your specifications
There are many industries that cater to the manufacture and shipping needs of aluminum tubes. And one way you can find them is through the internet. It is better to work with the more famous and reputed companies as you are insured of receiving the best from them. Your business partners are also great people to ask for referrals for aluminum tube manufacturers.
Just ensure that you state your requirements and specifications properly when placing your order, so that you receive the right aluminum tubes. Of course, clarify payment and shipping issues and charges, so that there are no complications over the shipment of your aluminum tubes.
So varied are the applications of aluminum tubes. They are used for their strength in the manufacture of aircraft frames and in the bodies of rocket launchers. In the meantime, they also have applications in computers, because of heat conductivity of aluminum.
And it is because of its malleability that it is used by designers in the door and window frames of houses and buildings, and its high resistance to corrosion makes them the perfect choice for the transport of mining waste from mine fields. What more reason is required to prove that aluminum tubes are the chosen choice in most industries.
About the Author:
http://www.alfiniti.com
Keyword tags: aluminium tube
The Many Uses of Aluminium Extrusions
Designers and constructors prefer using aluminium extrusions for the many benefits it offers in both its manufacture and for its qualities, making them perfect for use in construction.
The process of making aluminium extrusions is a very economical means of creating parts with a constant cross section as designers can use them wherever required. It is expensive to fabricate different shapes by welding as each piece has to be welded, where there is no reduction in cost with volume. In fact, sometimes, using a welding jig is much more expensive than using an aluminium extrusion die used for creating the same shape.
Aluminium extrusions are cheap to manufacture
Roll forming dies are much more expensive to use than extrusion dies. In addition to this, it is not possible to use roll forming in structures where there is varying wall thickness. This is because its thickness remains constant even after bending.
If sand and permanent mould casting is used in construction, the resultant product has to undergo extensive finishing before being used. However in the case of aluminium extrusions, wrought structures are created that have close dimensional control.
Moreover, aluminium extrusion dies are cheap and cost about a few hundred dollars and are finished with less lead time than the forming and casting dies. Moreover, these dies cost thousands of dollars.
Aluminium extrusion machines are cheap to install
Another benefit of aluminium extrusions is that its extruder machines stores and maintains dies without any additional expenses on your side. Moreover, these long lasting dies can be installed in presses quickly, with nominal set up charges. Though it is possible to extrude all metals, aluminium is the most popular option for extrusion for its unique combination properties.
Aluminium extrusions are preferred in construction because it has a high strength to weight ratio. In fact, its weight is about a third of the weight of copper, steel or brass but it is equally strong.
It also exhibits corrosion resistance properties with the protection of its own thin and transparent oxide film. It is also possible to enhance the protective properties and color of aluminium with the help of chemical or electrochemical means.
Aluminums extrusions can be bonded with adhesives too
Aluminium extrusions are preferred in construction as they can easily be soldered, brazed, welded, fastened mechanically by stakin, nuts, bolts and rivets. They can also be bonded using adhesives if required.
Conventional equipment is sufficient to form and bend extruded shapes from aluminium extrusions. However the composition of the alloy, its temper, shape and wall thickness all factor in the minimum radii and other features of the resultant aluminium extrusion.
Aluminium extrusions are fine heat shields
When compared to copper weight wise, aluminium conducts twice the amount of electricity. However if you compare them based on size, aluminium can carry two-thirds the amount of electricity copper carries.
In addition to being a good conductor of electricity, aluminium is also a good heat conductor and reflector, making a wise choice in heat transfer applications. Aluminium extrusions are also great for using as a heat shield; as it is highly light reflective.
About the Author:
http://www.alfiniti.com
Keyword tags: aluminium extrusion
The process of making aluminium extrusions is a very economical means of creating parts with a constant cross section as designers can use them wherever required. It is expensive to fabricate different shapes by welding as each piece has to be welded, where there is no reduction in cost with volume. In fact, sometimes, using a welding jig is much more expensive than using an aluminium extrusion die used for creating the same shape.
Aluminium extrusions are cheap to manufacture
Roll forming dies are much more expensive to use than extrusion dies. In addition to this, it is not possible to use roll forming in structures where there is varying wall thickness. This is because its thickness remains constant even after bending.
If sand and permanent mould casting is used in construction, the resultant product has to undergo extensive finishing before being used. However in the case of aluminium extrusions, wrought structures are created that have close dimensional control.
Moreover, aluminium extrusion dies are cheap and cost about a few hundred dollars and are finished with less lead time than the forming and casting dies. Moreover, these dies cost thousands of dollars.
Aluminium extrusion machines are cheap to install
Another benefit of aluminium extrusions is that its extruder machines stores and maintains dies without any additional expenses on your side. Moreover, these long lasting dies can be installed in presses quickly, with nominal set up charges. Though it is possible to extrude all metals, aluminium is the most popular option for extrusion for its unique combination properties.
Aluminium extrusions are preferred in construction because it has a high strength to weight ratio. In fact, its weight is about a third of the weight of copper, steel or brass but it is equally strong.
It also exhibits corrosion resistance properties with the protection of its own thin and transparent oxide film. It is also possible to enhance the protective properties and color of aluminium with the help of chemical or electrochemical means.
Aluminums extrusions can be bonded with adhesives too
Aluminium extrusions are preferred in construction as they can easily be soldered, brazed, welded, fastened mechanically by stakin, nuts, bolts and rivets. They can also be bonded using adhesives if required.
Conventional equipment is sufficient to form and bend extruded shapes from aluminium extrusions. However the composition of the alloy, its temper, shape and wall thickness all factor in the minimum radii and other features of the resultant aluminium extrusion.
Aluminium extrusions are fine heat shields
When compared to copper weight wise, aluminium conducts twice the amount of electricity. However if you compare them based on size, aluminium can carry two-thirds the amount of electricity copper carries.
In addition to being a good conductor of electricity, aluminium is also a good heat conductor and reflector, making a wise choice in heat transfer applications. Aluminium extrusions are also great for using as a heat shield; as it is highly light reflective.
About the Author:
http://www.alfiniti.com
Keyword tags: aluminium extrusion
Why Aluminum Tubings Have Extensive Uses
Aluminum tubings have many applications in both commercial and industrial fields. The main reason for the increased demand for aluminum tubings is because of the durability, strength and versatility of aluminum. Moreover, as aluminum is a malleable metal, it can easily be machined into aluminum tubings.
In fact, it is possible to use any form of metal fabrication technique, ranging from roll forming to stamping on aluminum. In fact, most types of aluminum tubings are also corrosion resistant, because of the thin oxide skin that forms on the tubing with exposure to the atmosphere.
It is this oxide coating that provides protection against the extreme wear and tear conditions to ensure that the aluminum tubing remains intact unless and up till it is exposed to excessive temperatures or chemicals.
Choose your aluminum tubing according to its use
As various types of alkali, and some metals are effective in starting a degradation of oxide coating or galvanic corrosion on aluminum, you have to choose your aluminum tubing carefully based on the metals and substances it will come in contact with in its application.
Aluminum tubings have extensive uses in aerospace, chemical and food processing industries. Despite their reduced resistance to corrosion, there are some copper enhanced aluminum alloys around that make these tubings great for use in aerospace applications because of their additional strength.
To make it easy for you to choose your aluminum alloy tubings, these alloys are divided by numbers like 2024 and 7075.
Each of these different numbers represent a specific composition in an alloy.
Aluminum tubings can be created to any desired shape
Aluminum tubings have wide applications in automotive components, sensor systems, some types of marine construction and in medical equipment. The reason for the wide applications of aluminum tubings is because it is available in various shapes like circular, rectangular and square tubing.
Moreover, this tubing is available in various bends and angles. And if you have any custom tubing solutions, there are many machine shops that can create your aluminum tubing in any irregular shape you may require. These shops use roll-forming devices, numerous cutting and welding tools and CNC machining centers to create aluminum tubings.
Aluminum tubings bring you your TV shows
If you want your aluminum tubing in any particular color to match your appliance, it is possible to do so using anodizers. It is possible to dye aluminum into various colors and increase the resistance capability of the outer coating of the aluminum tubing with the help of anodizing.
As manufacturing plants need large equipments and have a huge production and assembly line, this equipment has to be sturdy and durable for all these actions, and affordable for the company. It is for all these reasons that these companies prefer using aluminum tubing in the manufacture of this equipment and assembly line.
You have to be thankful to aluminum tubings for providing the TV shows that you watch everyday. This is because the antenna that is used for capturing and translating these TV signals into images is made using aluminum tubings.
It can thus be said that aluminum tubings have and will remain an important part in most of our day to day activities.
About the Author:
http://www.alfiniti.com
Keyword tags: aluminium tubing
In fact, it is possible to use any form of metal fabrication technique, ranging from roll forming to stamping on aluminum. In fact, most types of aluminum tubings are also corrosion resistant, because of the thin oxide skin that forms on the tubing with exposure to the atmosphere.
It is this oxide coating that provides protection against the extreme wear and tear conditions to ensure that the aluminum tubing remains intact unless and up till it is exposed to excessive temperatures or chemicals.
Choose your aluminum tubing according to its use
As various types of alkali, and some metals are effective in starting a degradation of oxide coating or galvanic corrosion on aluminum, you have to choose your aluminum tubing carefully based on the metals and substances it will come in contact with in its application.
Aluminum tubings have extensive uses in aerospace, chemical and food processing industries. Despite their reduced resistance to corrosion, there are some copper enhanced aluminum alloys around that make these tubings great for use in aerospace applications because of their additional strength.
To make it easy for you to choose your aluminum alloy tubings, these alloys are divided by numbers like 2024 and 7075.
Each of these different numbers represent a specific composition in an alloy.
Aluminum tubings can be created to any desired shape
Aluminum tubings have wide applications in automotive components, sensor systems, some types of marine construction and in medical equipment. The reason for the wide applications of aluminum tubings is because it is available in various shapes like circular, rectangular and square tubing.
Moreover, this tubing is available in various bends and angles. And if you have any custom tubing solutions, there are many machine shops that can create your aluminum tubing in any irregular shape you may require. These shops use roll-forming devices, numerous cutting and welding tools and CNC machining centers to create aluminum tubings.
Aluminum tubings bring you your TV shows
If you want your aluminum tubing in any particular color to match your appliance, it is possible to do so using anodizers. It is possible to dye aluminum into various colors and increase the resistance capability of the outer coating of the aluminum tubing with the help of anodizing.
As manufacturing plants need large equipments and have a huge production and assembly line, this equipment has to be sturdy and durable for all these actions, and affordable for the company. It is for all these reasons that these companies prefer using aluminum tubing in the manufacture of this equipment and assembly line.
You have to be thankful to aluminum tubings for providing the TV shows that you watch everyday. This is because the antenna that is used for capturing and translating these TV signals into images is made using aluminum tubings.
It can thus be said that aluminum tubings have and will remain an important part in most of our day to day activities.
About the Author:
http://www.alfiniti.com
Keyword tags: aluminium tubing
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
So You Want to Write a Book
The other night I was in a workshop with a lovely lady we'll call Marie who was a cancer survivor. She began to tell different stories about her life - not just about her journey with cancer, but other parts of her world that captivated me and everyone else in the room. I said, "You should write a book!" Marie replied, "That's what people tell me." But it was clear Marie had no burning desire to go do that.
This was an unusual exchange, since most people I encounter can't wait to pick my brain about how I wrote and published my book. Everyone I meet these days seems to want to write a book. The other day, while having a routine exam, my dentist told me his wife wanted to write a book. How did I go about getting it published, he wondered, as I opened my mouth to say "Ah."
It seems to me that it's natural for people to want to put down on paper (or in these modern times, on computer) their story. With the ease of finding out anything we want to know about anybody by just a click of our computer mouse on a search engine, comes a desire to be part of the global community. If they can blog about topic x, so can I. Yes you can!
The first thing to do is to get clear on your topic. Take a stroll through a book store and notice all the different headings: fiction, self-help, sci-fi, biography, music, health, cooking, love, history, success, psychology, literature, etc. The variety is endless. Once you've chosen your genre, just start to write. Try to write at the same time every day. This is training yourself to spend time just for you and your book. This is the step that most people never take! They have a great idea and can tell you all about it, but when you ask if they've started writing any of their thoughts down, the usual response is "Oh, I don't have any time."
Years ago I worked for a very successful businessman who had also written a very successful book. It had been translated in many different languages. If he wished, he never had to write another book again. However, he got up every morning at 6:00 am and wrote for one hour, then came into the office. Writing was his passion. I admired his tenacity.
If you're writing about a certain period of history or a particular part of the world, you might want to do research about that time or place to help bring out the spirit of that atmosphere in your writing. Research can also inspire you and help you see your story from a different perspective.
The old adage that you should write about what you know isn't so far off the mark. I recently published a book about my experiences as a celebrity personal assistant. Having never written much of anything before that, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. My life is comprised of a series of events which I turned into a book which is a reflection of my contemplation of what that all means in today's working environment. That was a mouthful!
Once you feel your book is ready to show a publisher, I suggest you first give it to someone in your inner circle to proofread. We get so close to our own product that it helps to have new eyes look for spelling and grammatical errors. Nothing drives publishers and their editors crazier than to receive a manuscript that is riddled with misspellings! Nowadays with computer spell check programs as part of all word processing programs, there's no excuse to ever send out any written piece with errors.
Now that you've written your book, checked it over for errors, and maybe gotten feedback from the friends you've given the manuscript to read, you're ready to submit it to a publisher. Being published by a traditional big house publisher is a great goal. If you're luck enough to snag a contract with a company, be prepared to wait to see your book in print. Most publishing companies once they sign an author to do a book with them, schedule the book release for 2 years or more from the date of the signing of the contract! You're put at the end of the line of the other authors that already signed up ahead of you.
The more realistic goal is to publish it yourself. Personally, I highly recommend going directly to a print on demand publisher. There are many different self publishing companies. The cost is not as much as you might think. All have professional staffs that guide you through the steps of having your book edited, a cover designed and finally printed. From start to finish, my book took less than a year from the time I submitted it to my publisher to the time it was on available on Amazon.
Nothing is more thrilling than the day your published book arrives and you're holding it in your hand. The process may seem daunting – doing the research on your subject, getting up every day and writing, getting up every day and not writing, agonizing as you wait to hear what your family and friends think about your book, finding a publisher, collaborating with editors to make changes to make your story more readable, writing marketing material, choosing a cover design, and finally, having the book printed – but if you keep your eye on the prize: you're sense of satisfaction for having followed through with your dream - it's all worth it. Go for it! Start writing today.
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: books, authors, publishing, writing advice, contracts, manuscript
This was an unusual exchange, since most people I encounter can't wait to pick my brain about how I wrote and published my book. Everyone I meet these days seems to want to write a book. The other day, while having a routine exam, my dentist told me his wife wanted to write a book. How did I go about getting it published, he wondered, as I opened my mouth to say "Ah."
It seems to me that it's natural for people to want to put down on paper (or in these modern times, on computer) their story. With the ease of finding out anything we want to know about anybody by just a click of our computer mouse on a search engine, comes a desire to be part of the global community. If they can blog about topic x, so can I. Yes you can!
The first thing to do is to get clear on your topic. Take a stroll through a book store and notice all the different headings: fiction, self-help, sci-fi, biography, music, health, cooking, love, history, success, psychology, literature, etc. The variety is endless. Once you've chosen your genre, just start to write. Try to write at the same time every day. This is training yourself to spend time just for you and your book. This is the step that most people never take! They have a great idea and can tell you all about it, but when you ask if they've started writing any of their thoughts down, the usual response is "Oh, I don't have any time."
Years ago I worked for a very successful businessman who had also written a very successful book. It had been translated in many different languages. If he wished, he never had to write another book again. However, he got up every morning at 6:00 am and wrote for one hour, then came into the office. Writing was his passion. I admired his tenacity.
If you're writing about a certain period of history or a particular part of the world, you might want to do research about that time or place to help bring out the spirit of that atmosphere in your writing. Research can also inspire you and help you see your story from a different perspective.
The old adage that you should write about what you know isn't so far off the mark. I recently published a book about my experiences as a celebrity personal assistant. Having never written much of anything before that, I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was. My life is comprised of a series of events which I turned into a book which is a reflection of my contemplation of what that all means in today's working environment. That was a mouthful!
Once you feel your book is ready to show a publisher, I suggest you first give it to someone in your inner circle to proofread. We get so close to our own product that it helps to have new eyes look for spelling and grammatical errors. Nothing drives publishers and their editors crazier than to receive a manuscript that is riddled with misspellings! Nowadays with computer spell check programs as part of all word processing programs, there's no excuse to ever send out any written piece with errors.
Now that you've written your book, checked it over for errors, and maybe gotten feedback from the friends you've given the manuscript to read, you're ready to submit it to a publisher. Being published by a traditional big house publisher is a great goal. If you're luck enough to snag a contract with a company, be prepared to wait to see your book in print. Most publishing companies once they sign an author to do a book with them, schedule the book release for 2 years or more from the date of the signing of the contract! You're put at the end of the line of the other authors that already signed up ahead of you.
The more realistic goal is to publish it yourself. Personally, I highly recommend going directly to a print on demand publisher. There are many different self publishing companies. The cost is not as much as you might think. All have professional staffs that guide you through the steps of having your book edited, a cover designed and finally printed. From start to finish, my book took less than a year from the time I submitted it to my publisher to the time it was on available on Amazon.
Nothing is more thrilling than the day your published book arrives and you're holding it in your hand. The process may seem daunting – doing the research on your subject, getting up every day and writing, getting up every day and not writing, agonizing as you wait to hear what your family and friends think about your book, finding a publisher, collaborating with editors to make changes to make your story more readable, writing marketing material, choosing a cover design, and finally, having the book printed – but if you keep your eye on the prize: you're sense of satisfaction for having followed through with your dream - it's all worth it. Go for it! Start writing today.
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: books, authors, publishing, writing advice, contracts, manuscript
Website Submission - Using The Internet Effectively
Anyone who has gained an understanding of the opportunities available on the internet can also use website submission to expand those opportunities and make the business even more profitable.
Moving an existing business to the global market offered on the internet, or developing a brand new business with a virtual address allows you to reach buyers and customers that would not be possible under any other scenario. Although allowing the information about your products to spread organically, without an expensive advertising campaign can be successful, few entrepreneurs have the resources to fund a long term slow sales period, especially at the beginning of the business life. You can speed up the process tremendously by utilization of website submission to the search engines in order to index your website.
Search Engines and Spiders
Search engine spiders are a different type of 'computer bug' and one which is usually positive rather than undesirable. Each of the search engines on the internet relies on advertising dollars directly or indirectly in order to provide a service for people desirous of finding certain information on the internet. With millions of internet pages encompassing billions of bits of information, you could never find all the information available on even a small, narrow in scope subject. Search engines allow you to place a query and receive an answer within seconds, of pages where information about the specific question you asked can be found. Website submission is one way in which the search engine knows which pages have the needed information.
Search engine results page (SERP)
When a search places one or more words in a search engine query, the top results are turned in seconds with the most likely results listed at the top of the list page and results that are less significant or older are placed further down the list. The page ranking of each of the websites are the structure which determines the priority of each of the applicable web pages. Website submission is prioritized in order to return useful information listed according to the page ranking developed by the search engine.
Page Ranking
The page ranking developed by the search engine site for your own business or commercial web page is a somewhat objective method of describing how well the page does when compared with others. Each search engine has different factors and weights assigned to the factors used to arrive at the final number that represents the page ranking. Website submissions improve the page ranking in two ways. First, it gets your website noticed by the search engines so that the page is indexed. Second, the indexed pages show up with searchers is looking for answers. This helps to bring a targeted audience to your web site to purchase your products or services.
Targeted Audience
Website submission used as part of an overall search engine optimization plan will help your website show up on search engine indexes with a higher page ranking. The higher the page ranking, the more likely you are to be on the early pages of a search engine results page (SERP). This means that people looking for the type of product or service that you provide will see your website displayed near the top of the results.
About the Author:
Learn the best methods and practices for making your Website Submission do the job you intended for it by visiting the website located at http://www.goodinternetmoney.com/Directory-Submission.php .
Keyword tags: Website submission
Moving an existing business to the global market offered on the internet, or developing a brand new business with a virtual address allows you to reach buyers and customers that would not be possible under any other scenario. Although allowing the information about your products to spread organically, without an expensive advertising campaign can be successful, few entrepreneurs have the resources to fund a long term slow sales period, especially at the beginning of the business life. You can speed up the process tremendously by utilization of website submission to the search engines in order to index your website.
Search Engines and Spiders
Search engine spiders are a different type of 'computer bug' and one which is usually positive rather than undesirable. Each of the search engines on the internet relies on advertising dollars directly or indirectly in order to provide a service for people desirous of finding certain information on the internet. With millions of internet pages encompassing billions of bits of information, you could never find all the information available on even a small, narrow in scope subject. Search engines allow you to place a query and receive an answer within seconds, of pages where information about the specific question you asked can be found. Website submission is one way in which the search engine knows which pages have the needed information.
Search engine results page (SERP)
When a search places one or more words in a search engine query, the top results are turned in seconds with the most likely results listed at the top of the list page and results that are less significant or older are placed further down the list. The page ranking of each of the websites are the structure which determines the priority of each of the applicable web pages. Website submission is prioritized in order to return useful information listed according to the page ranking developed by the search engine.
Page Ranking
The page ranking developed by the search engine site for your own business or commercial web page is a somewhat objective method of describing how well the page does when compared with others. Each search engine has different factors and weights assigned to the factors used to arrive at the final number that represents the page ranking. Website submissions improve the page ranking in two ways. First, it gets your website noticed by the search engines so that the page is indexed. Second, the indexed pages show up with searchers is looking for answers. This helps to bring a targeted audience to your web site to purchase your products or services.
Targeted Audience
Website submission used as part of an overall search engine optimization plan will help your website show up on search engine indexes with a higher page ranking. The higher the page ranking, the more likely you are to be on the early pages of a search engine results page (SERP). This means that people looking for the type of product or service that you provide will see your website displayed near the top of the results.
About the Author:
Learn the best methods and practices for making your Website Submission do the job you intended for it by visiting the website located at http://www.goodinternetmoney.com/Directory-Submission.php .
Keyword tags: Website submission
Before You Submit Article Essential Tips
Here are some must- know tips on how to submit article. Ensure you read this page before you submit your articles to ezines.
Your money is hard earned and must be put to the best use. So, if you are thinking about investing this money for your article marketing purposes then you must do so with extreme caution. When you submit article; keeping a few tips in mind won't go remiss and what's more they might not only help you save money, but also make your article marketing campaign more effective.
Editing the Articles
No matter, how good a writer you are, or the kind of experience you have, you must always proof read your articles before you submit article. There is no shame in giving your articles a once over, as you are doing so for the betterment of your articles. There are quite a number of people who try and avoid the whole process of editing the articles after they have been written, as they find the process tedious and boring. However, the whole point of exercise of editing is to remove typos, grammatical errors and make sure that the article is all that you wanted it to be. So do give your article a second look before you submit.
Make Article Search Engine Friendly
Before you submit article, you need to make it search engine friendly. How do you do this? Incorporating various search engine optimization strategies within the article like, using keywords, keywords phrases etc. Only if the article has been optimized to meet the requirements of the search engine can it be found on Google. Moreover, when readers are searching for specific articles, they will be able to come across you articles easily.
Respect Google
Google is considered the be all and end all of search engines. If you satisfy the requirements of Google then you are home free, otherwise, you will need to keep working on your articles before you submit article. Moreover, Google has specific rules and regulations that need to be followed, with regards to article marketing campaigns. Violate these rules, and your article marketing endeavor will end in failure. When you go for article submission through article submission service providers, you must make sure that they understand all the aspects of Google and its requirements.
This means that they must avoid sending out too many articles at one go. Never try fooling Google.
Plan your Approach
Before you submit article, you need to plan in advance in terms of topics, article submission service and various associated costs. Many people don't do this and they suffer. You also need a specific objective in mind. Until and unless you don't have a clear cut objective in terms of amount traffic to be attracted, sales generation, you really won't know how to go about doing things.
When it comes to article submission, a clear purpose must be outlined in your head. This way you can also track the results of your efforts and evolve an effective strategy over time. Keep these tips in mind before you go for article submission. They will definitely come in handy.
About the Author:
Once you follow these tips it will be easy to Submit Article to directories. For more details, click on http://www.goodinternetmoney.com/Articles-Submission.php to learn more about Article Submission and its Benefits.
Keyword tags: Submit article
Your money is hard earned and must be put to the best use. So, if you are thinking about investing this money for your article marketing purposes then you must do so with extreme caution. When you submit article; keeping a few tips in mind won't go remiss and what's more they might not only help you save money, but also make your article marketing campaign more effective.
Editing the Articles
No matter, how good a writer you are, or the kind of experience you have, you must always proof read your articles before you submit article. There is no shame in giving your articles a once over, as you are doing so for the betterment of your articles. There are quite a number of people who try and avoid the whole process of editing the articles after they have been written, as they find the process tedious and boring. However, the whole point of exercise of editing is to remove typos, grammatical errors and make sure that the article is all that you wanted it to be. So do give your article a second look before you submit.
Make Article Search Engine Friendly
Before you submit article, you need to make it search engine friendly. How do you do this? Incorporating various search engine optimization strategies within the article like, using keywords, keywords phrases etc. Only if the article has been optimized to meet the requirements of the search engine can it be found on Google. Moreover, when readers are searching for specific articles, they will be able to come across you articles easily.
Respect Google
Google is considered the be all and end all of search engines. If you satisfy the requirements of Google then you are home free, otherwise, you will need to keep working on your articles before you submit article. Moreover, Google has specific rules and regulations that need to be followed, with regards to article marketing campaigns. Violate these rules, and your article marketing endeavor will end in failure. When you go for article submission through article submission service providers, you must make sure that they understand all the aspects of Google and its requirements.
This means that they must avoid sending out too many articles at one go. Never try fooling Google.
Plan your Approach
Before you submit article, you need to plan in advance in terms of topics, article submission service and various associated costs. Many people don't do this and they suffer. You also need a specific objective in mind. Until and unless you don't have a clear cut objective in terms of amount traffic to be attracted, sales generation, you really won't know how to go about doing things.
When it comes to article submission, a clear purpose must be outlined in your head. This way you can also track the results of your efforts and evolve an effective strategy over time. Keep these tips in mind before you go for article submission. They will definitely come in handy.
About the Author:
Once you follow these tips it will be easy to Submit Article to directories. For more details, click on http://www.goodinternetmoney.com/Articles-Submission.php to learn more about Article Submission and its Benefits.
Keyword tags: Submit article
Monday, July 28, 2008
Five Mistakes to Avoid When Writing a Research Proposal
If you are interested in furthering your education and decide to undertake a PhD then you can expect to have to produce a high quality research proposal in order for your application to be accepted. Application for PhD's across all faculties is very competitive and as such only the best students can expect to be selected. With this in mind it is important that you understand some of the common mistakes that applicants make on their research proposals. It is hoped that by reading the information below that you can avoid these errors and submit a successful research proposal.
Before you begin researching and writing a proposal, it is very important that you take the time to check there is a professor or other suitably qualified teacher at the University of your choice that shares similar research interests. Ideally your research proposal will share some similarities with the teaching expertise of someone within the school. It is amazing how many students do not check this small fact, but every year candidates are rejected not on the basis of their work, but by the fact that no-one is qualified to supervise their thesis.
The basis of your thesis will be constructed within your research proposal and so it is important to make sure that it is well written, is grammatical correct and expresses succinctly the key points of the proposal. So many research proposals are rejected because the applicant failed to take the time to present a balanced view of the existing literature within the area of research. Moreover, they are also unable to argue the need for further research.
Perhaps the most common mistake that students make is a complete misjudgment of the importance of the topic that they want to study. In other words, your research needs to demonstrate why it is important for further study to take place. What does the original research miss and what questions remain unanswered? You do not have to discover a ground-breaking theory or create controversy with your research, just consider the evidence and then present a logical and well argued proposal for further research.
Many students will find that the methodology that they plan to use is not suitable for the type of research that is available. Often, a research proposal is rejected because the candidate does not understand the importance of the methodology, nor do they grasp the need to fully demonstrate how they plan to test the hypothesis that they have declared within the proposal.
It is therefore important that you fully research what kind of methodology is available for the proposed study and if you are unsure you should seek advice from someone within the faculty.
The last mistake that many students make centers on the conclusion. If you write a short and vague conclusion that fails to link the previous research and the need for further study then you can expect the research proposal to be rejected. A conclusion needs to review the important parts of the proposal so that the reader can logical see how you have understood the debates and the existing research, identified a need to develop this and finally demonstrated how you plan to achieve your results. This last section is crucial as it must avoid any ambiguity about what it is that you intend to research.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - research paper
http://www.essaytown.com/proposal_research_proposals.html - research proposal
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Before you begin researching and writing a proposal, it is very important that you take the time to check there is a professor or other suitably qualified teacher at the University of your choice that shares similar research interests. Ideally your research proposal will share some similarities with the teaching expertise of someone within the school. It is amazing how many students do not check this small fact, but every year candidates are rejected not on the basis of their work, but by the fact that no-one is qualified to supervise their thesis.
The basis of your thesis will be constructed within your research proposal and so it is important to make sure that it is well written, is grammatical correct and expresses succinctly the key points of the proposal. So many research proposals are rejected because the applicant failed to take the time to present a balanced view of the existing literature within the area of research. Moreover, they are also unable to argue the need for further research.
Perhaps the most common mistake that students make is a complete misjudgment of the importance of the topic that they want to study. In other words, your research needs to demonstrate why it is important for further study to take place. What does the original research miss and what questions remain unanswered? You do not have to discover a ground-breaking theory or create controversy with your research, just consider the evidence and then present a logical and well argued proposal for further research.
Many students will find that the methodology that they plan to use is not suitable for the type of research that is available. Often, a research proposal is rejected because the candidate does not understand the importance of the methodology, nor do they grasp the need to fully demonstrate how they plan to test the hypothesis that they have declared within the proposal.
It is therefore important that you fully research what kind of methodology is available for the proposed study and if you are unsure you should seek advice from someone within the faculty.
The last mistake that many students make centers on the conclusion. If you write a short and vague conclusion that fails to link the previous research and the need for further study then you can expect the research proposal to be rejected. A conclusion needs to review the important parts of the proposal so that the reader can logical see how you have understood the debates and the existing research, identified a need to develop this and finally demonstrated how you plan to achieve your results. This last section is crucial as it must avoid any ambiguity about what it is that you intend to research.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - research paper
http://www.essaytown.com/proposal_research_proposals.html - research proposal
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Common Challenges With Research Papers
Just about every student needs to write research papers during their educational career. The research paper is a very classic assignment that first shows up in grade school. Many students first see research papers in the first or second grade. When students think of the phrase, "The dog ate my homework" many of them are most likely thinking of their research papers and what that famous dog could have helped them escape doing!
Many students feel challenged by research papers. Lots of students have problems with research papers. These students may be bright or may even be considered "slow" having a challenge with a research paper is not a problem that seems to discriminate. Learning strong research paper skills is something that will be useful to a student throughout their educational career.
Learn how to research. This is often where many students feel the most challenged. They actually do not know how to research a topic. While they may have been in the school library, or on the Internet they feel simply stumped when it comes to researching that paper that is due. Learning strong research skills takes practice. One of the most important skills is discerning if a source is good for your research paper. The best way to do this is to read the Table of Contents and the Reference notes in the back used to find exact information. When you see your exact topic listed in both of these places, then this is a great source for you to use for your research paper.
Do not only use the Internet as your source. Some students feel the Internet is the "best" source of information and what they mean is that it is actually the most convenient. They don't want to spend the time to go to the library at school or across town to the town library. It is much easier to surf at home and find sources that way. However, some sources are more easily located in a school or college library as books, magazines or journals that may not be accessible online.
Keep in mind also that not everything published online can be taken as accurate: there are many people that have created hobby websites about topics and they may not be completely 100% accurate on your topic. The best way to combat that is to view at least two websites on the Internet and to see if both have the same information.
Stay organized with your project. It is human nature: many of us put off what we don't want to do. When you are a student and you have a research paper due, it is critical that you start it as early as possible. This is especially important when you have a research paper on a topic you are less than confident about, or perhaps you know that your research skills are not strong. Starting early is a great key to success. Keep in mind that many students will be going to the library, and your starting early will mean that you discover the best books on the subject first before they have been picked over.
Have someone you trust read your research paper. Before you turn your research paper in, ask a friend or family member to read your research paper. Try to ask someone whose opinion you trust and someone that you consider to be intelligent. Ask this person to read and critique your research paper. They may make suggestions and we suggest that you be grateful if they do: they could help you get a much better grade. This friend or family member pointing something out now could save you from handing in a research paper that is not quite ready for your teacher's eyes.
Research papers do not have to be so challenging. Learning to be organized and developing strong research skills will help you become more confident. These skills can take some practice and any student can only improve. Research papers can be a valuable part of one's learning experience.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - research papers
http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - research paper topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Many students feel challenged by research papers. Lots of students have problems with research papers. These students may be bright or may even be considered "slow" having a challenge with a research paper is not a problem that seems to discriminate. Learning strong research paper skills is something that will be useful to a student throughout their educational career.
Learn how to research. This is often where many students feel the most challenged. They actually do not know how to research a topic. While they may have been in the school library, or on the Internet they feel simply stumped when it comes to researching that paper that is due. Learning strong research skills takes practice. One of the most important skills is discerning if a source is good for your research paper. The best way to do this is to read the Table of Contents and the Reference notes in the back used to find exact information. When you see your exact topic listed in both of these places, then this is a great source for you to use for your research paper.
Do not only use the Internet as your source. Some students feel the Internet is the "best" source of information and what they mean is that it is actually the most convenient. They don't want to spend the time to go to the library at school or across town to the town library. It is much easier to surf at home and find sources that way. However, some sources are more easily located in a school or college library as books, magazines or journals that may not be accessible online.
Keep in mind also that not everything published online can be taken as accurate: there are many people that have created hobby websites about topics and they may not be completely 100% accurate on your topic. The best way to combat that is to view at least two websites on the Internet and to see if both have the same information.
Stay organized with your project. It is human nature: many of us put off what we don't want to do. When you are a student and you have a research paper due, it is critical that you start it as early as possible. This is especially important when you have a research paper on a topic you are less than confident about, or perhaps you know that your research skills are not strong. Starting early is a great key to success. Keep in mind that many students will be going to the library, and your starting early will mean that you discover the best books on the subject first before they have been picked over.
Have someone you trust read your research paper. Before you turn your research paper in, ask a friend or family member to read your research paper. Try to ask someone whose opinion you trust and someone that you consider to be intelligent. Ask this person to read and critique your research paper. They may make suggestions and we suggest that you be grateful if they do: they could help you get a much better grade. This friend or family member pointing something out now could save you from handing in a research paper that is not quite ready for your teacher's eyes.
Research papers do not have to be so challenging. Learning to be organized and developing strong research skills will help you become more confident. These skills can take some practice and any student can only improve. Research papers can be a valuable part of one's learning experience.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - research papers
http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - research paper topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Stress Free Term Paper Writing
Many students feel great stress when they discover they need to write a term paper. Term papers are often a great part of any student's grade. A term paper can show a student's comprehension of the class subject at hand. An excellent term paper can only help you. A poor term paper typically can cause you challenges, especially at grade time.
However, students can learn to feel less stress when they are faced with a term paper. Term papers do not have to be a cause of frustration and grief. When a student is well organized and confident about their skill level, often they can tackle just about any term paper topic that is put in front of them. Managing one's stress is critical to a student's success when writing term papers.
Begin with strong research. Every term paper involves doing some research. Make yours the very best it can be. When research is something, you are less confident in, try asking the librarian or even your teacher for extra help. Even searching through the library's computer system can often easily help a student discover excellent research sources. Starting one's research early is key: as many students will often be researching the exact same subject. You don't want to get to the library to discover that all of the books on this topic have been taken out by other students. Start early and start strong to make your research the best for your term paper writing.
Have a unique topic. For some term paper topics, you are given the exact topic. Other term papers give you some room to create the exact topic you can discover exactly what it is about this subject that appeals to you the most. Starting your research early will give you confidence to discover exactly what you like most about this subject. A key topic tip: learn to select a topic that is just a little different from everyone else's. This will help you stand out from the pile of papers your professor has to grade. Your professor will certainly appreciate your uniqueness. This also shows your dedication to research and studying this topic.
Create an outline. An excellent way to organize your term paper writing is to begin by creating an outline. This will help you see the direction of your term paper, even before you start the actual writing. As you create your outline, you may discover other areas that you'd like to write about. Use your outline as you write to stay on target and stay organized to write the best paper you can.
Write a great first draft. The next step is to begin writing your term paper. By following your outline as you write, you already have a clear idea of what you will write. Keep your research sources on hand, as you write. This will keep information fresh and original in your mind. It is ideal if you can write your first draft all in one sitting, while you are in the flow of writing. You can always correct your spelling and grammar in the next sitting.
Proofread your paper carefully. This is the final step before turning it in. Correct your spelling and grammar. Do not simply rely on any computer's spelling or grammar check, as often these do not catch every slip we may make. Ask a friend or a parent to read your paper and give them your opinion. Try reading your paper aloud and see how it sounds. Once you are pleased with the results, you know your paper is completed.
Term papers do not need to be stressful. Often students make these assignments more stressful than they need to be. Staying organized and on-target helps to create a successful term paper. Every student can only improve their term paper skills.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - term paper writing
http://www.essaytown.com/free_paper.html - free term papers
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
However, students can learn to feel less stress when they are faced with a term paper. Term papers do not have to be a cause of frustration and grief. When a student is well organized and confident about their skill level, often they can tackle just about any term paper topic that is put in front of them. Managing one's stress is critical to a student's success when writing term papers.
Begin with strong research. Every term paper involves doing some research. Make yours the very best it can be. When research is something, you are less confident in, try asking the librarian or even your teacher for extra help. Even searching through the library's computer system can often easily help a student discover excellent research sources. Starting one's research early is key: as many students will often be researching the exact same subject. You don't want to get to the library to discover that all of the books on this topic have been taken out by other students. Start early and start strong to make your research the best for your term paper writing.
Have a unique topic. For some term paper topics, you are given the exact topic. Other term papers give you some room to create the exact topic you can discover exactly what it is about this subject that appeals to you the most. Starting your research early will give you confidence to discover exactly what you like most about this subject. A key topic tip: learn to select a topic that is just a little different from everyone else's. This will help you stand out from the pile of papers your professor has to grade. Your professor will certainly appreciate your uniqueness. This also shows your dedication to research and studying this topic.
Create an outline. An excellent way to organize your term paper writing is to begin by creating an outline. This will help you see the direction of your term paper, even before you start the actual writing. As you create your outline, you may discover other areas that you'd like to write about. Use your outline as you write to stay on target and stay organized to write the best paper you can.
Write a great first draft. The next step is to begin writing your term paper. By following your outline as you write, you already have a clear idea of what you will write. Keep your research sources on hand, as you write. This will keep information fresh and original in your mind. It is ideal if you can write your first draft all in one sitting, while you are in the flow of writing. You can always correct your spelling and grammar in the next sitting.
Proofread your paper carefully. This is the final step before turning it in. Correct your spelling and grammar. Do not simply rely on any computer's spelling or grammar check, as often these do not catch every slip we may make. Ask a friend or a parent to read your paper and give them your opinion. Try reading your paper aloud and see how it sounds. Once you are pleased with the results, you know your paper is completed.
Term papers do not need to be stressful. Often students make these assignments more stressful than they need to be. Staying organized and on-target helps to create a successful term paper. Every student can only improve their term paper skills.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - term paper writing
http://www.essaytown.com/free_paper.html - free term papers
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
How to Write a Good Essay
The chances are that if you need to write an essay for college or university then you will need to follow some advice in order to give yourself the best chance of achieving a high grade. If you are writing it for the first time, an essay can appear to be a daunting task. Often the tutor or teacher will ask that you write an essay on a particular subject and will require that you answer the question in a specific number of words.
Thankfully there is plenty of good advice out there that can help you to grasp a basic understanding of what is expected from an essay. Read on to discover why research skills and good planning are key ingredients to writing that good essay.
The first step you should take is to decide upon a topic or focus on a particular question or issue. This will help you to focus and to narrow the essay down to a set number of points that are manageable for you.
The second and most important step you should take before writing the essay is to carry out good research. Without this your essay will not have a good foundation and will surely lack quality and coherence. Visit the college library or use the internet to collect relevant source materials that will help to develop your understanding of the key arguments.
Once this is complete you should be relatively confident about how you plan to write the essay. Using the information that you have acquired, you now need to develop a basic plan or structure of the essay. Some people like to brainstorm in order to facilitate the flow of ideas but as long as you can construct a plan that organizes the essay, you should be fine.
Once you are confident that you know what is expected of the essay and you have completed your outline then you can begin writing.
The essay should begin with the introduction. In this paragraph you should introduce the topic and the related issues or problems. You should define key or obscure terms in order to give clarity to your later work. The main part of the essay should address the key points logically and concisely. Once you have addressed this you should then proceed to answer the main question in the essay. The final part should conclude the essay by explaining the main points and arguments and then summing this up with an overview of the solutions or relevant responses.
There are a few essential elements of writing that must be adhered to if you are to write a good essay. Common sense will tell you that you need to write using the correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. But so many students take this for granted that they then lose out on easy marks. Therefore it is crucial that you take the time to ensure that the essay is checked for errors.
In addition you should make sure that you use paragraphs and follow the guidelines set out for the use of primary and secondary sources. Most colleges and universities will expect you to reference these correctly and will mark accordingly.
Finally, once the essay is written you should check it completely for any of the above errors. Read it and then ask friends or family members to do the same so that you have a second opinion. You should also check the original essay question to ensure that you have stayed on track and answered it completely.
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Thankfully there is plenty of good advice out there that can help you to grasp a basic understanding of what is expected from an essay. Read on to discover why research skills and good planning are key ingredients to writing that good essay.
The first step you should take is to decide upon a topic or focus on a particular question or issue. This will help you to focus and to narrow the essay down to a set number of points that are manageable for you.
The second and most important step you should take before writing the essay is to carry out good research. Without this your essay will not have a good foundation and will surely lack quality and coherence. Visit the college library or use the internet to collect relevant source materials that will help to develop your understanding of the key arguments.
Once this is complete you should be relatively confident about how you plan to write the essay. Using the information that you have acquired, you now need to develop a basic plan or structure of the essay. Some people like to brainstorm in order to facilitate the flow of ideas but as long as you can construct a plan that organizes the essay, you should be fine.
Once you are confident that you know what is expected of the essay and you have completed your outline then you can begin writing.
The essay should begin with the introduction. In this paragraph you should introduce the topic and the related issues or problems. You should define key or obscure terms in order to give clarity to your later work. The main part of the essay should address the key points logically and concisely. Once you have addressed this you should then proceed to answer the main question in the essay. The final part should conclude the essay by explaining the main points and arguments and then summing this up with an overview of the solutions or relevant responses.
There are a few essential elements of writing that must be adhered to if you are to write a good essay. Common sense will tell you that you need to write using the correct grammar, punctuation and spelling. But so many students take this for granted that they then lose out on easy marks. Therefore it is crucial that you take the time to ensure that the essay is checked for errors.
In addition you should make sure that you use paragraphs and follow the guidelines set out for the use of primary and secondary sources. Most colleges and universities will expect you to reference these correctly and will mark accordingly.
Finally, once the essay is written you should check it completely for any of the above errors. Read it and then ask friends or family members to do the same so that you have a second opinion. You should also check the original essay question to ensure that you have stayed on track and answered it completely.
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Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Steps to Great Thesis Writing
Many college and graduate students discover that they need to write a thesis. Some are intimidated by the idea of tackling such a project. Fortunately, writing your thesis is something that most can do if they stay organized and respect deadlines. Here are some practical steps to assist in great thesis writing.
Create a schedule and stick to it. A thesis is a large project and every large project deserves to have a proper schedule. Your schedule will help to keep you on-target. Keeping you on-target will make sure you get things done on time and don't stress or fuss over your project. Be sure to add in extra time to your schedule to get everything done. It is important to build a schedule that is practical and suits your life. Don't make something unrealistic that you won't actually stick to.
Begin with your thesis statement. Your thesis statement needs to be thought provoking, powerful and interesting. Try to come up with something original that no one else has thought of. Even if you are looking at a very popular or common topic, give this a good "twist" to make it all your own. So many that write about Romeo & Juliet focus on the love relationship why not write about the parent relationships? Do something different and unique to make your thesis really stand out.
Take your time with research. Every thesis needs Grade A research behind it. Once you have found your thesis statement, you'll do research to support it. Don't just use the Internet. Look in journals, books, magazines and newspapers. There are many sources of interesting research that you can use for your research. Be sure to use at least the minimum required research sources for your thesis. It is important to follow the rules.
Write your first draft. Now that your research is done, it is time to write your first draft. You may wish to outline your thesis to help organize your writing. Confirm that you have all of the research sources that you need for your project on hand. Copying documents and keeping them in folders will make your project go much smoother. Take your time writing your first draft, this will be the skeleton of your project. You can easily improve your spelling and grammar the second go-around.
Proofread and create your second draft. Give your first draft a day or two to sit and take a break. This is important so that you come back to your project with fresh eyes. Your fresh eyes will easily notice things about your thesis. Proofread your thesis and correct your spelling and grammar. Add in proper footnotes. Make any necessary changes.
Submit it to professors for approval. Once you have completed your thesis, it is time to submit it to your professors for approval. Sometimes your professors will get back to you quickly and other times it may take several weeks to get back to you. At some schools, you need to do a presentation about your thesis, take the time to prepare this if this is necessary.
At this point your thesis project is almost done. Congratulate yourself for getting this hard work completed. A thesis is a project that is well worth the effort and you should be very proud of yourself!
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Create a schedule and stick to it. A thesis is a large project and every large project deserves to have a proper schedule. Your schedule will help to keep you on-target. Keeping you on-target will make sure you get things done on time and don't stress or fuss over your project. Be sure to add in extra time to your schedule to get everything done. It is important to build a schedule that is practical and suits your life. Don't make something unrealistic that you won't actually stick to.
Begin with your thesis statement. Your thesis statement needs to be thought provoking, powerful and interesting. Try to come up with something original that no one else has thought of. Even if you are looking at a very popular or common topic, give this a good "twist" to make it all your own. So many that write about Romeo & Juliet focus on the love relationship why not write about the parent relationships? Do something different and unique to make your thesis really stand out.
Take your time with research. Every thesis needs Grade A research behind it. Once you have found your thesis statement, you'll do research to support it. Don't just use the Internet. Look in journals, books, magazines and newspapers. There are many sources of interesting research that you can use for your research. Be sure to use at least the minimum required research sources for your thesis. It is important to follow the rules.
Write your first draft. Now that your research is done, it is time to write your first draft. You may wish to outline your thesis to help organize your writing. Confirm that you have all of the research sources that you need for your project on hand. Copying documents and keeping them in folders will make your project go much smoother. Take your time writing your first draft, this will be the skeleton of your project. You can easily improve your spelling and grammar the second go-around.
Proofread and create your second draft. Give your first draft a day or two to sit and take a break. This is important so that you come back to your project with fresh eyes. Your fresh eyes will easily notice things about your thesis. Proofread your thesis and correct your spelling and grammar. Add in proper footnotes. Make any necessary changes.
Submit it to professors for approval. Once you have completed your thesis, it is time to submit it to your professors for approval. Sometimes your professors will get back to you quickly and other times it may take several weeks to get back to you. At some schools, you need to do a presentation about your thesis, take the time to prepare this if this is necessary.
At this point your thesis project is almost done. Congratulate yourself for getting this hard work completed. A thesis is a project that is well worth the effort and you should be very proud of yourself!
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Great Essay Writing Tips
Writing an essay can be frustrating and difficult. However, if planned properly and chosen wisely, your essay can stand out from the crowd because of its quality and richness in content.
The first thing your essay should have is an introductory paragraph. This paragraph has to be able to show exactly what your essay is about in only a couple of sentences. A great opening paragraph of an essay will show the reader exactly what they are going to read about and capture their interest straight away. This paragraph is also known as a thesis statement.
The next parts of your essay are the supporting paragraphs. These particular paragraphs make up the formation and the body of your written essay, and should be able to link together the different points you are making. A good tip here is to make a simple list of the points you are making in your essay. You can then develop your essay from this list by creating a supporting paragraph for every point made.
The final part of your essay should be the summary. This summary will conclude everything you have just written about in a few sentences. It differs from the introductory paragraph as that tells you what you are going to read; the summary paragraph tells the reader what they have already read.
You may already have your topic assigned to you for your essay or you may have to choose yourself. If you choose yourself, it is very important to be able to write fluently and confidently about your subject. Don't pick a subject you know nothing about or are not very confident of. So, brainstorm a few ideas and pick your topic for your essay.
Then, prepare an outline or a diagram of your topic and any ideas you have for your specific essay. This structures your ideas and your essay by giving it a clear and well defined path to follow. If you feel that the structure you have prepared doesn't work, don't be afraid to tweak it here and there to make it work for you and your topic.
Write your thesis statement/opening paragraph and tell the readers what you as the writer are going to be showing them throughout your essay. What they will learn from it and the point you are trying to make within your essay.
Then you write your supporting paragraphs that make up your points list that you made earlier. Make a paragraph for each point and show your findings clearly and with solid facts, and possibly quotations or interviews.
Write the conclusion at the end, not during or at the beginning. Many people make the mistake of writing the conclusion before they have even finished and read through the final draft of the essay. Never do this as you may have written something else or become aware of other facts and figures later on in the essay writing process.
Once you have done all of this, you can go on to proofread what you have written. If you have the ability to do so, leave the essay overnight or for a couple of days and back to it with fresh eyes. This makes it easier to spot any spelling, grammatical or any other errors you may have made. If you can, let someone else go through it and proof it for you.
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The first thing your essay should have is an introductory paragraph. This paragraph has to be able to show exactly what your essay is about in only a couple of sentences. A great opening paragraph of an essay will show the reader exactly what they are going to read about and capture their interest straight away. This paragraph is also known as a thesis statement.
The next parts of your essay are the supporting paragraphs. These particular paragraphs make up the formation and the body of your written essay, and should be able to link together the different points you are making. A good tip here is to make a simple list of the points you are making in your essay. You can then develop your essay from this list by creating a supporting paragraph for every point made.
The final part of your essay should be the summary. This summary will conclude everything you have just written about in a few sentences. It differs from the introductory paragraph as that tells you what you are going to read; the summary paragraph tells the reader what they have already read.
You may already have your topic assigned to you for your essay or you may have to choose yourself. If you choose yourself, it is very important to be able to write fluently and confidently about your subject. Don't pick a subject you know nothing about or are not very confident of. So, brainstorm a few ideas and pick your topic for your essay.
Then, prepare an outline or a diagram of your topic and any ideas you have for your specific essay. This structures your ideas and your essay by giving it a clear and well defined path to follow. If you feel that the structure you have prepared doesn't work, don't be afraid to tweak it here and there to make it work for you and your topic.
Write your thesis statement/opening paragraph and tell the readers what you as the writer are going to be showing them throughout your essay. What they will learn from it and the point you are trying to make within your essay.
Then you write your supporting paragraphs that make up your points list that you made earlier. Make a paragraph for each point and show your findings clearly and with solid facts, and possibly quotations or interviews.
Write the conclusion at the end, not during or at the beginning. Many people make the mistake of writing the conclusion before they have even finished and read through the final draft of the essay. Never do this as you may have written something else or become aware of other facts and figures later on in the essay writing process.
Once you have done all of this, you can go on to proofread what you have written. If you have the ability to do so, leave the essay overnight or for a couple of days and back to it with fresh eyes. This makes it easier to spot any spelling, grammatical or any other errors you may have made. If you can, let someone else go through it and proof it for you.
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Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
How to Write a College Term Paper
Take note of these great tips to help you and your fellow students write fantastic term papers for college. It isn't something to be ashamed of if you do need a little help with writing your college term paper. You are certainly not alone if you do require a little guidance. There are a few common mistakes that people make when writing college term papers and the jump from high school standard to the expected college standard can sometimes leave a huge gap.
The first thing to take note of is what your college teachers actually want from you in terms of content. You will be given a sheet detailing your assignment and you must read this very carefully indeed. Just in case, get someone else to read over it and to pinpoint what you need to do. They may spot something you had otherwise missed. Reading it aloud can also make sure that you are reading exactly what needs to be done and not just skimming over the details.
The second thing you must do is to brainstorm ideas for your assignment and college term paper. Instead of writing about the same thing everyone else is writing, make your term paper stand out head and shoulders above everyone else's assignments. Write of something unique, interesting to you and the readers and put on your creative cap!
Thirdly, and one of the most important parts of writing a really good and well thought out term paper; is to create an outline of your term paper. You don't have to rigidly stick to the guidelines you have made, but this creates a structure, which in turn makes it easier to follow when writing. It may be a good idea to show your projected guidelines to your teacher to see if they think what you have come up will work. Creating a guideline will also show that you have organizational skills and you can think ahead of time.
If you are including facts and figures in your term paper, you must be able to show where you found these resources and this information. You must always have enough evidence to back up any claims you happen to make in your paper. If you cannot back up what you have said, what you have said loses a certain amount of credibility and substance. It could also look like you haven't worked hard enough on your term paper.
When you are writing your introduction to your term paper, make it as creative as possible. You want to make it read like if someone doesn't read your term paper, they will be missing out on something huge! You could start with a social anecdote or a piece of vital information, or even a statistic that is quite startling. An imagination is never a disadvantage when writing your introduction.
You should only ever use credible sources when using them to quote certain facts, figures or quotations in your term paper. Finding those elusive good sources mean a really good college term paper; so, it is definitely worth the time and effort it will take to find those sources when you see your A grade.
Writing a term paper doesn't have to be overly difficult; not if you choose your assignment carefully and research it as much as you possibly can in the time you have been allotted.
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The first thing to take note of is what your college teachers actually want from you in terms of content. You will be given a sheet detailing your assignment and you must read this very carefully indeed. Just in case, get someone else to read over it and to pinpoint what you need to do. They may spot something you had otherwise missed. Reading it aloud can also make sure that you are reading exactly what needs to be done and not just skimming over the details.
The second thing you must do is to brainstorm ideas for your assignment and college term paper. Instead of writing about the same thing everyone else is writing, make your term paper stand out head and shoulders above everyone else's assignments. Write of something unique, interesting to you and the readers and put on your creative cap!
Thirdly, and one of the most important parts of writing a really good and well thought out term paper; is to create an outline of your term paper. You don't have to rigidly stick to the guidelines you have made, but this creates a structure, which in turn makes it easier to follow when writing. It may be a good idea to show your projected guidelines to your teacher to see if they think what you have come up will work. Creating a guideline will also show that you have organizational skills and you can think ahead of time.
If you are including facts and figures in your term paper, you must be able to show where you found these resources and this information. You must always have enough evidence to back up any claims you happen to make in your paper. If you cannot back up what you have said, what you have said loses a certain amount of credibility and substance. It could also look like you haven't worked hard enough on your term paper.
When you are writing your introduction to your term paper, make it as creative as possible. You want to make it read like if someone doesn't read your term paper, they will be missing out on something huge! You could start with a social anecdote or a piece of vital information, or even a statistic that is quite startling. An imagination is never a disadvantage when writing your introduction.
You should only ever use credible sources when using them to quote certain facts, figures or quotations in your term paper. Finding those elusive good sources mean a really good college term paper; so, it is definitely worth the time and effort it will take to find those sources when you see your A grade.
Writing a term paper doesn't have to be overly difficult; not if you choose your assignment carefully and research it as much as you possibly can in the time you have been allotted.
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Writing a College Essay is Easy
Writing essays for college is a big part of the education process. There are certain skills that need to be applied when writing college essays and we will go over some of them here.
Choosing the topic for your college essay is probably the most important decision in the essay writing process. After all, this is the essay that needs to show your capabilities and your abilities in that chosen subject. Your chosen subject for your essay should also be able to show your creativity, your mental processes, your reasoning skills, and your ability to show organizational skills and your English skills.
You should always pick a subject that your proficient in. there is no point picking an essay type that you have no knowledge of. Would you pick a science subject if you know little about science? Or would you pick a Shakespeare book to write about if you have never picked up Shakespeare in your life? You need to show your strengths and your abilities within your chosen essay, so, never pick a subject that is your weakness rather than your strength.
There are a few things you need to do within your essay for potential colleges. The essay should always prove at least one point or a particular thesis. Going into too many subjects within one essay may be too complicated and difficult to read unless of course you can bring all of those points and theories together perfectly. The essay has to show who you are and what your values are, so try to keep the essay rich with content and not overdone.
You have to be able to develop your ideas for your college essays specifically and theoretically. Make real and specific quotations if needed, points of view that are explained, real events and facts and so on. Instead of following the normal clichs, use rich content that is specific rather than general.
Some college essays can end up sounding like a resume rather than an actual essay. Avoid this by never duplicating information that can be found in your college application. Also, another good point to remember is this; don't use 100 words when you can say what needs to be said in only 5. Write the essay first, go through it again and eliminate all the words or unnecessary parts that don't need to be there.
If you can, get someone you know who is proficient in English skills to proofread what you have written. Proofread it yourself first, then pass it on to someone else to read. They may be able to point out parts that maybe don't make sense or have been repeated. Some writers find it difficult to see certain mistakes as they read what they think has been written and not what is actually on the page. That is why someone else can be a godsend when it comes to reading what you have written.
Some of the best college essays are those that are different from the normal essay the readers see. Many colleges say that they read lots of essays about how much value a doctor can bring to society, how they want to eradicate terrorism and so on. Why not think outside the box and write something that no one will have ever read before. Be careful when being controversial as it could sometimes work against you.
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Keyword tags: thesis writing,term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers
Choosing the topic for your college essay is probably the most important decision in the essay writing process. After all, this is the essay that needs to show your capabilities and your abilities in that chosen subject. Your chosen subject for your essay should also be able to show your creativity, your mental processes, your reasoning skills, and your ability to show organizational skills and your English skills.
You should always pick a subject that your proficient in. there is no point picking an essay type that you have no knowledge of. Would you pick a science subject if you know little about science? Or would you pick a Shakespeare book to write about if you have never picked up Shakespeare in your life? You need to show your strengths and your abilities within your chosen essay, so, never pick a subject that is your weakness rather than your strength.
There are a few things you need to do within your essay for potential colleges. The essay should always prove at least one point or a particular thesis. Going into too many subjects within one essay may be too complicated and difficult to read unless of course you can bring all of those points and theories together perfectly. The essay has to show who you are and what your values are, so try to keep the essay rich with content and not overdone.
You have to be able to develop your ideas for your college essays specifically and theoretically. Make real and specific quotations if needed, points of view that are explained, real events and facts and so on. Instead of following the normal clichs, use rich content that is specific rather than general.
Some college essays can end up sounding like a resume rather than an actual essay. Avoid this by never duplicating information that can be found in your college application. Also, another good point to remember is this; don't use 100 words when you can say what needs to be said in only 5. Write the essay first, go through it again and eliminate all the words or unnecessary parts that don't need to be there.
If you can, get someone you know who is proficient in English skills to proofread what you have written. Proofread it yourself first, then pass it on to someone else to read. They may be able to point out parts that maybe don't make sense or have been repeated. Some writers find it difficult to see certain mistakes as they read what they think has been written and not what is actually on the page. That is why someone else can be a godsend when it comes to reading what you have written.
Some of the best college essays are those that are different from the normal essay the readers see. Many colleges say that they read lots of essays about how much value a doctor can bring to society, how they want to eradicate terrorism and so on. Why not think outside the box and write something that no one will have ever read before. Be careful when being controversial as it could sometimes work against you.
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Keyword tags: thesis writing,term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers
Writing a Research Paper For College
There are a few major steps that need to be taken when writing a research paper for any purpose or in any subject. These major steps represent your ability to produce a great research paper that is full of facts and shows your ability to research and write up your findings.
Research papers are a lot of hard work and require a lot of patience on your part. Done well, a research paper can show a great deal of information and will give you a lot of satisfaction when done well. After writing a successful research paper, you will have come to a fork in your academic career and will have a great deal of very useful skills to take into the working world.
The first step is to look at the genre you are going to be writing in. Research papers can also be known as essays, and when you first arrive the point when you need to write a research paper you need to know the difference between a research paper and essays you may have completed previously. Although a research paper follows the same guidelines as a normal essay, it also includes some other bits and pieces you may have not come across before.
When writing a research paper the word research is the key. You have to be able to put a lot of research into your chosen topic by reading and taking bits of information and compiling it properly. Your information sources can be a variety of places such as books, the Internet, magazines, papers and peoples eye view accounts. Interviews can be a great input for research papers and can provide solid facts and pieces of information that can make a research essay fantastic.
In research essays you will also have document everywhere you get your information from. These can be included in footnotes in your essays or in end notes. This allows the reader to see exactly where the information is from and whether or not the information compiled is an accurate source.
When you first start your research paper you have to choose and determine your topic. Find a topic that truly interests you rather than something you have no passion for. You will enjoy writing and researching your subject if you really enjoy it and that will make your research paper much better.
Brainstorm before you start by thinking of all the interesting subjects you like and would like to write about. This makes it easier for you to realize what you would like to write about. If after brainstorming you have an idea what you want to research and write about, narrow it down to a specific part in that area. Narrowing it down will make it more concise and easier to research and read.
The sources of information you use will make the difference between a good research paper and a bad one. The library is a fantastic, and free, resource that you should be taking advantage of. You can usually access the Internet for free in the library and will only be charged if you need to print something out. The library will also have a wealth of informative books and encyclopedias with lots of great information in.
Always keep a bibliography and a list of where you take any and all bits of information from.
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Research papers are a lot of hard work and require a lot of patience on your part. Done well, a research paper can show a great deal of information and will give you a lot of satisfaction when done well. After writing a successful research paper, you will have come to a fork in your academic career and will have a great deal of very useful skills to take into the working world.
The first step is to look at the genre you are going to be writing in. Research papers can also be known as essays, and when you first arrive the point when you need to write a research paper you need to know the difference between a research paper and essays you may have completed previously. Although a research paper follows the same guidelines as a normal essay, it also includes some other bits and pieces you may have not come across before.
When writing a research paper the word research is the key. You have to be able to put a lot of research into your chosen topic by reading and taking bits of information and compiling it properly. Your information sources can be a variety of places such as books, the Internet, magazines, papers and peoples eye view accounts. Interviews can be a great input for research papers and can provide solid facts and pieces of information that can make a research essay fantastic.
In research essays you will also have document everywhere you get your information from. These can be included in footnotes in your essays or in end notes. This allows the reader to see exactly where the information is from and whether or not the information compiled is an accurate source.
When you first start your research paper you have to choose and determine your topic. Find a topic that truly interests you rather than something you have no passion for. You will enjoy writing and researching your subject if you really enjoy it and that will make your research paper much better.
Brainstorm before you start by thinking of all the interesting subjects you like and would like to write about. This makes it easier for you to realize what you would like to write about. If after brainstorming you have an idea what you want to research and write about, narrow it down to a specific part in that area. Narrowing it down will make it more concise and easier to research and read.
The sources of information you use will make the difference between a good research paper and a bad one. The library is a fantastic, and free, resource that you should be taking advantage of. You can usually access the Internet for free in the library and will only be charged if you need to print something out. The library will also have a wealth of informative books and encyclopedias with lots of great information in.
Always keep a bibliography and a list of where you take any and all bits of information from.
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Keyword tags: thesis writing,term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers
Different Ways of Writing a Dissertation
Dissertation writing is one of the most important writing skills a college student can have under their belt. These skills will enable the student to research, write and aptly show people their understanding of certain subjects.
The first thing that a dissertation should include is that of the statement. In the dissertation statement, this part shows the readers your intention to research certain subjects that will be included in the paper. This provides the student with a solid and reasonable foundation in which to start their paper and their research. Some students like to input a personal opinion or knowledge into this section.
There is no definite structure to a dissertation, however, it is easier to write and stay on top of if you do follow a set structure. The structure should look something like the following:
Title Page: This reflects the nature of the work and the research going into it, your name as the author, a statement about the specific program that you paper is submitted within in. Finally it should contain the date of the actual submission.
Abstract: This is a summary of your particular objectives within your paper and what you hope to achieve by researching the subject. It should also include the methodology that you have used and also what you have found by researching your subject.
Content List: This part of the dissertation should include all of your chapters and sub chapters within your dissertation paper.
Additional List: This list has to include any illustrations, diagrams or tables that you within your dissertation paper.
Acknowledgement: This section is for any acknowledgments that need to be made.
Main Text: This is the body of your dissertation and should include sections for all of your points made and research found. IT should also have the appropriate headings within.
References: This is the section where all the citations will be found as you have made them through your paper. It is easier to write this as you write your paper. Then double check you have included them all as your proofread your final draft of the dissertation.
Appendices: This final part of your dissertation is to include all the different parts of the writing that don't make actual and direct input to the main text.
It is always worthwhile making time for setting out the structure properly before you actually start writing your dissertation. This enables you to complete it quicker as you are properly organized and prepared. You could always look at other completed dissertations to see how they have structured it and take ideas for your own structure. This helps to make it clearer when creating your own.
Dissertation writing is laborious and can take some patience and a lot of time. However, if planned properly, you may find you are able to complete it quicker than those that don't plan ahead of time.
Concentration is the key to writing a great dissertation. Find somewhere quiet that you can take the time to peruse your writing without distractions. Distractions may cause you to lose the plot when writing and forget the point you were trying to make. This is also a good time to write a plan and write specific points in shorthand as you write the main dissertation. This stops you from forgetting what you have already written about and stops you from repeating yourself.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com
Keyword tags: thesis writing,term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers
The first thing that a dissertation should include is that of the statement. In the dissertation statement, this part shows the readers your intention to research certain subjects that will be included in the paper. This provides the student with a solid and reasonable foundation in which to start their paper and their research. Some students like to input a personal opinion or knowledge into this section.
There is no definite structure to a dissertation, however, it is easier to write and stay on top of if you do follow a set structure. The structure should look something like the following:
Title Page: This reflects the nature of the work and the research going into it, your name as the author, a statement about the specific program that you paper is submitted within in. Finally it should contain the date of the actual submission.
Abstract: This is a summary of your particular objectives within your paper and what you hope to achieve by researching the subject. It should also include the methodology that you have used and also what you have found by researching your subject.
Content List: This part of the dissertation should include all of your chapters and sub chapters within your dissertation paper.
Additional List: This list has to include any illustrations, diagrams or tables that you within your dissertation paper.
Acknowledgement: This section is for any acknowledgments that need to be made.
Main Text: This is the body of your dissertation and should include sections for all of your points made and research found. IT should also have the appropriate headings within.
References: This is the section where all the citations will be found as you have made them through your paper. It is easier to write this as you write your paper. Then double check you have included them all as your proofread your final draft of the dissertation.
Appendices: This final part of your dissertation is to include all the different parts of the writing that don't make actual and direct input to the main text.
It is always worthwhile making time for setting out the structure properly before you actually start writing your dissertation. This enables you to complete it quicker as you are properly organized and prepared. You could always look at other completed dissertations to see how they have structured it and take ideas for your own structure. This helps to make it clearer when creating your own.
Dissertation writing is laborious and can take some patience and a lot of time. However, if planned properly, you may find you are able to complete it quicker than those that don't plan ahead of time.
Concentration is the key to writing a great dissertation. Find somewhere quiet that you can take the time to peruse your writing without distractions. Distractions may cause you to lose the plot when writing and forget the point you were trying to make. This is also a good time to write a plan and write specific points in shorthand as you write the main dissertation. This stops you from forgetting what you have already written about and stops you from repeating yourself.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com
Keyword tags: thesis writing,term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers
How to Write Articles For Todays Internet Marketing Audience
Learn how to write articles
Anyone doing any kind of internet marketing should write articles. But first a few tips.
Before Al Gore invented most internet or publising writers would use a typewriter to publish articles or books. They would feverishly type the subject matter and clank away. If they needed to start over or didn't like the page they would simply turn the roller and zip out the paper, crunch it up and shoot the wad of paper into the nearby trash can.
Now days you just turn the computer on and use your favorite editor and type away. If the article page isn't to your liking you can hit the delete key or re-edit over and over until it is just right. Man I love technology don't you?
There is no excuse not to write. Always write about your passion your knowledge and what you want to convey to your visitors, customers, friends and colleagues. Always write naturally and above all be yourself.
Be yourself when writing
You do not have to be a Rhodes scholar to write articles now days. You only need basic english, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Did you know most Internet readers read at the 8th grade level....yea this is an amazing statistic. If you don't believe me google "reading level of the average american audiende.
The most important part about writing is the same as public speaking. Be yourself...just write as if you were speaking to me directly. Try to add some humor in your writing and don't just write crap. Write what your website or blog is about be passionate and above all have fun writing.
Practice writing.
Writing articles can sometimes be a bit intimidating. All kinds of questions can creep up in your mind. What if nobody likes them? It's embarassing if someone reads my writing?
Here are a few tips that have helped my writing.
Write your article then leave for a couple of hours. Come back and re-read again. You will probably find mistakes or make corrections. Use a spell-checker or search for spell checkers to help you with your spelling.
Do your best to develop your own style...don't try to be "Ernest Hemingway". Don't be afraid about what others might say. The more you practice writing the better you'll get. The subject matter should always be what you are passionate about.
Delete any unnecessary or contradictory information.
Eliminate anything that is just taking up space. Don't fill your work with fluff. If you need to do more research, go ahead and research further.
Take some courses at your community college in both non-fiction and fiction writing. Not only will teachers and professors help you, but they can also make contacts in the business by getting to know your fellow writers. This will really help your overall writing ability.
Rememer to write what you are feeling directly through your senses. Are you feeling good about yourself, are you depressed, whatever you are feeling just write it and then the rest will flow naturally.
It is best if you write something everyday, the more you write about your subject matter the better your writing skills will improve.
About the Author:
Paul Guzman is the author of this article you can visit his website at: http://www.goodcontentwebsites.com
Keyword tags: writing articles,articles,how to write articles, articles for marketing,internet marketing articles
Anyone doing any kind of internet marketing should write articles. But first a few tips.
Before Al Gore invented most internet or publising writers would use a typewriter to publish articles or books. They would feverishly type the subject matter and clank away. If they needed to start over or didn't like the page they would simply turn the roller and zip out the paper, crunch it up and shoot the wad of paper into the nearby trash can.
Now days you just turn the computer on and use your favorite editor and type away. If the article page isn't to your liking you can hit the delete key or re-edit over and over until it is just right. Man I love technology don't you?
There is no excuse not to write. Always write about your passion your knowledge and what you want to convey to your visitors, customers, friends and colleagues. Always write naturally and above all be yourself.
Be yourself when writing
You do not have to be a Rhodes scholar to write articles now days. You only need basic english, grammar, spelling and punctuation. Did you know most Internet readers read at the 8th grade level....yea this is an amazing statistic. If you don't believe me google "reading level of the average american audiende.
The most important part about writing is the same as public speaking. Be yourself...just write as if you were speaking to me directly. Try to add some humor in your writing and don't just write crap. Write what your website or blog is about be passionate and above all have fun writing.
Practice writing.
Writing articles can sometimes be a bit intimidating. All kinds of questions can creep up in your mind. What if nobody likes them? It's embarassing if someone reads my writing?
Here are a few tips that have helped my writing.
Write your article then leave for a couple of hours. Come back and re-read again. You will probably find mistakes or make corrections. Use a spell-checker or search for spell checkers to help you with your spelling.
Do your best to develop your own style...don't try to be "Ernest Hemingway". Don't be afraid about what others might say. The more you practice writing the better you'll get. The subject matter should always be what you are passionate about.
Delete any unnecessary or contradictory information.
Eliminate anything that is just taking up space. Don't fill your work with fluff. If you need to do more research, go ahead and research further.
Take some courses at your community college in both non-fiction and fiction writing. Not only will teachers and professors help you, but they can also make contacts in the business by getting to know your fellow writers. This will really help your overall writing ability.
Rememer to write what you are feeling directly through your senses. Are you feeling good about yourself, are you depressed, whatever you are feeling just write it and then the rest will flow naturally.
It is best if you write something everyday, the more you write about your subject matter the better your writing skills will improve.
About the Author:
Paul Guzman is the author of this article you can visit his website at: http://www.goodcontentwebsites.com
Keyword tags: writing articles,articles,how to write articles, articles for marketing,internet marketing articles
Friday, July 25, 2008
Blogs are Just Copywriting
Technology confuses as often as it clarifies.
Take blogs.
A bizarre word that only the Internet could have given birth to, blog is a shortening of the word Web log. Meaning it is a log, or diary, or personal commentary that happens to take place in a digital medium.
But no matter where a piece of copywriting appears, the rules and demands of persuasive and vibrant writing are the same. So while their odd name and the digital medium make blogs appear something exotic and special, demanding some sort of newfangled writing rules, they're not and they don't. They're just copywriting. And they obey all the rules of copywriting.
All copywriting must use living language rather than dead language. That means – OK I'll make it real complicated – fresh, colorful, precise and unexpected words: GOOD. Dead, clichéd, tired and imprecise words: BAD.
All copywriting must be animated by a clear purpose and a central theme. Flabby writing means flabby thinking. A central theme organizes writing the way iron filings line up in a magnetic field. You start the reader with a premise at Word One, you take them on a trip, then you kiss them goodbye, and you've led them on a clear and single-minded journey. That is good writing.
Finally, all copywriting must have the reader in mind. And that's where a blog can get a little complicated. We all know that an ad or brochure has the mission of persuasion, so it's obvious it must be about the reader. When an ad is about the writer having fun, enjoying creative freedom and delighting in the whimsy of words, he or she is writing an ad that fails.
So why would a blog follow the same rule, when a blog isn't an ad, with the mission of persuasion? A blog is a personal "log" or commentary, right? The answer is: a blog is an ad.
Wow. That is a profound thought. Everything you write is advertising something. It may be your point of view, your belief, your argument, your experience, but you are advertising it, because you want to control the reader's experience. You are intended and precise about the takeaway in the reader's mind. And so, the content of the blog is about you. But the writing must be about the reader, or they will get blogged down. And leave.
The laws, rules and secrets of turning words into lethal weapons are described in entertaining detail in my book Maximun Strength Copywriting. But one of the central revelations must be stated here: media may vary. But the laws of persuasive writing don't.
So go ahead and blog away. Talk about your day, your dog, your political opinions, your experiences as a whitewater kayaker, anything you want. You will be joining what blog search engine Technorati estimated as 112 million blogs by the end of 2007. Everybody's got an opinion, and everybody's got a story.
But as you write your blog, keep your emphasis on the writing part. Because a blog is writing. With a funny name.
About the Author:
Paul Wolfe, who has written famous campaigns for dozens of world-class clients like Levi's, Volvo and BMW and was named Writer of the Year twice by Adweek magazine, has just penned the ultimate copywriting book. Click here http://maximumstrengthcopywriting.com/msca/?1 and transform your success.
Keyword tags: blogging, blogs, blog writing, copywriting, writing blogs, blogger
Take blogs.
A bizarre word that only the Internet could have given birth to, blog is a shortening of the word Web log. Meaning it is a log, or diary, or personal commentary that happens to take place in a digital medium.
But no matter where a piece of copywriting appears, the rules and demands of persuasive and vibrant writing are the same. So while their odd name and the digital medium make blogs appear something exotic and special, demanding some sort of newfangled writing rules, they're not and they don't. They're just copywriting. And they obey all the rules of copywriting.
All copywriting must use living language rather than dead language. That means – OK I'll make it real complicated – fresh, colorful, precise and unexpected words: GOOD. Dead, clichéd, tired and imprecise words: BAD.
All copywriting must be animated by a clear purpose and a central theme. Flabby writing means flabby thinking. A central theme organizes writing the way iron filings line up in a magnetic field. You start the reader with a premise at Word One, you take them on a trip, then you kiss them goodbye, and you've led them on a clear and single-minded journey. That is good writing.
Finally, all copywriting must have the reader in mind. And that's where a blog can get a little complicated. We all know that an ad or brochure has the mission of persuasion, so it's obvious it must be about the reader. When an ad is about the writer having fun, enjoying creative freedom and delighting in the whimsy of words, he or she is writing an ad that fails.
So why would a blog follow the same rule, when a blog isn't an ad, with the mission of persuasion? A blog is a personal "log" or commentary, right? The answer is: a blog is an ad.
Wow. That is a profound thought. Everything you write is advertising something. It may be your point of view, your belief, your argument, your experience, but you are advertising it, because you want to control the reader's experience. You are intended and precise about the takeaway in the reader's mind. And so, the content of the blog is about you. But the writing must be about the reader, or they will get blogged down. And leave.
The laws, rules and secrets of turning words into lethal weapons are described in entertaining detail in my book Maximun Strength Copywriting. But one of the central revelations must be stated here: media may vary. But the laws of persuasive writing don't.
So go ahead and blog away. Talk about your day, your dog, your political opinions, your experiences as a whitewater kayaker, anything you want. You will be joining what blog search engine Technorati estimated as 112 million blogs by the end of 2007. Everybody's got an opinion, and everybody's got a story.
But as you write your blog, keep your emphasis on the writing part. Because a blog is writing. With a funny name.
About the Author:
Paul Wolfe, who has written famous campaigns for dozens of world-class clients like Levi's, Volvo and BMW and was named Writer of the Year twice by Adweek magazine, has just penned the ultimate copywriting book. Click here http://maximumstrengthcopywriting.com/msca/?1 and transform your success.
Keyword tags: blogging, blogs, blog writing, copywriting, writing blogs, blogger
Great Copywriting Starts Before a Words is Written
There's a wonderful saying in theater: "If it's not on the page, it's not on the stage."
It means that no matter how great the acting and direction, it's the idea at the core of the play that matters. In fact, all the crying and costumes and smoke and mirrors are just an embodiment of an idea that begins in the mind of the creator. If there is no idea, it's just a lot of smoke and mirrors. (Remind you of some action movies you've seen lately?)
Uh, thanks for telling me all this, Paul, but I sell wholesale meat. I create software. I manage a financial management company. So you might want to chat with my cousin Harvey about all artsy theater stuff, but I'm a little busy.
Hang on. I'm talking about selling soap, here. I'm talking about building brands here. I'm talking about ruthless and hard-headed marketing.
There are many rules to powerful, effective copywriting. (They're described in fascinating detail in my book Maximum Strength Copywriting.) But the first secret to effective copywriting is to put your pencil down. Now, I hardly think you write with a pencil and paper, so what I really mean is, take those fingers off that keyboard and do a lot less typing and lot more thinking.
If it's not on the page, it's not on the stage. Meaning, if your selling proposition is not clear in your mind, and burning in your cells before you even begin to write, don't bother writing. In advertising, it's called a strategy. It is a clear positioning for the product, a clear personality for the brand, and a clear proposition for the particular ad. Once that's clear, an effective ad, website, or brochure can be written.
Conversely, if you really don't know what you want to say. Or you want to say 16 things. Or you want to say three things but you're not sure which is the most important. Or you're certain your widget is ground-breaking but you're not exactly sure why. Or you know every molecular molecule about your product and by George, you're going to put your head down and pour them all onto paper….
If any of these scenarios are the case: STOP!
I've often said an ad is the answer to a question. If the question is clearly stated, the answer will be clear. If the question is muddy and unclear, so will the answer. You know those brochures and ads that make you go: Huh? They are examples of the question not being clear so the answer is a pile of unintelligible nonsense.
What do you want to say? What is the Unique Selling Proposition (a grand old term in advertising) of your good or service?
What is the argument. The first, the best, the most. It must be clear and it must be distinguishing. Put that pencil down until you're clear.
And then make sure the intention to persuade burns in every cell, and informs every word you write.
Because if it's not on the page, it's not on the stage
Or, if it's not in the strategy, it's a tragedy.
About the Author:
Paul Wolfe, who has written famous campaigns for dozens of world-class clients like Levi's, Volvo and BMW and was named Writer of the Year twice by Adweek magazine, has just penned the ultimate copywriting book. Click here http://maximumstrengthcopywriting.com/msca/?1 and transform your success.
Keyword tags: copywriting, selling, copywriter, how to sell, marketing, online copywriting, copy, sales pages
It means that no matter how great the acting and direction, it's the idea at the core of the play that matters. In fact, all the crying and costumes and smoke and mirrors are just an embodiment of an idea that begins in the mind of the creator. If there is no idea, it's just a lot of smoke and mirrors. (Remind you of some action movies you've seen lately?)
Uh, thanks for telling me all this, Paul, but I sell wholesale meat. I create software. I manage a financial management company. So you might want to chat with my cousin Harvey about all artsy theater stuff, but I'm a little busy.
Hang on. I'm talking about selling soap, here. I'm talking about building brands here. I'm talking about ruthless and hard-headed marketing.
There are many rules to powerful, effective copywriting. (They're described in fascinating detail in my book Maximum Strength Copywriting.) But the first secret to effective copywriting is to put your pencil down. Now, I hardly think you write with a pencil and paper, so what I really mean is, take those fingers off that keyboard and do a lot less typing and lot more thinking.
If it's not on the page, it's not on the stage. Meaning, if your selling proposition is not clear in your mind, and burning in your cells before you even begin to write, don't bother writing. In advertising, it's called a strategy. It is a clear positioning for the product, a clear personality for the brand, and a clear proposition for the particular ad. Once that's clear, an effective ad, website, or brochure can be written.
Conversely, if you really don't know what you want to say. Or you want to say 16 things. Or you want to say three things but you're not sure which is the most important. Or you're certain your widget is ground-breaking but you're not exactly sure why. Or you know every molecular molecule about your product and by George, you're going to put your head down and pour them all onto paper….
If any of these scenarios are the case: STOP!
I've often said an ad is the answer to a question. If the question is clearly stated, the answer will be clear. If the question is muddy and unclear, so will the answer. You know those brochures and ads that make you go: Huh? They are examples of the question not being clear so the answer is a pile of unintelligible nonsense.
What do you want to say? What is the Unique Selling Proposition (a grand old term in advertising) of your good or service?
What is the argument. The first, the best, the most. It must be clear and it must be distinguishing. Put that pencil down until you're clear.
And then make sure the intention to persuade burns in every cell, and informs every word you write.
Because if it's not on the page, it's not on the stage
Or, if it's not in the strategy, it's a tragedy.
About the Author:
Paul Wolfe, who has written famous campaigns for dozens of world-class clients like Levi's, Volvo and BMW and was named Writer of the Year twice by Adweek magazine, has just penned the ultimate copywriting book. Click here http://maximumstrengthcopywriting.com/msca/?1 and transform your success.
Keyword tags: copywriting, selling, copywriter, how to sell, marketing, online copywriting, copy, sales pages
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Power Writing Skills: What\s Your Readability Score?
We’re all familiar with the maxim that says, “That which gets measured, gets done.” In the same vein, I’d like to offer another important maxim; this one falls under the heading of power writing skills. The new maxim goes like this: “If you want results from your writing, first you must be read.”
In other words, you may write fine memos, reports, or literally any other kind of document. But, if no one reads what you’ve written, there is no chance you’ll get your audience to respond. Quite simply, people in your audience must read what you’ve written before they can act or think in the way you’ve asked them to.
And, one of the key elements in getting them to read is to write at level that’s appropriate. For general audiences, you likely will aim at the reading ability level of a high school audience. That’s where most newspapers and magazines head.
Let me give you an example from my own writing. The first draft of a business communication article I’d written had a rating of 49 on the Flesch readability index (created by Rudolph Flesch, a pioneer in the concept of readability and its improvement). That meant it would be readily understood by someone who reads at the level expected of college students in their early years.
To get the score, I used the statistical tools in a stand-alone spelling program. And, once I'd seen the score, I wanted to bring it down to at least a senior high school level.
How?
When working with the Flesch index, we bring the score down using one or more of these techniques:
• reducing the proportion of passive verbs
• cutting back on the average number of words per sentence
• reducing the average number of letters per word
• using fewer words with three or more syllables.
In the first edit, I replaced passive verbs (is, are, were, be) with active verbs (verbs that imply an action or thought). Wherever I found the words 'is', 'are', or 'be' I tried to rewrite using an active verb. Not to necessarily get rid of them all, but to stay below the 10% level. And, here’s a helpful hint: Use the Find & Replace function of your word processor to find the passive verbs.
In subsequent edits, I looked for sentences I could break in two, and I replaced longer words with shorter words. Normally, that's not much of a challenge, although I need to be careful not to end up with a series of choppy sentences that all use the same structure.
After making the edits described above, the article had a readability score of 59. That means a person with a high school education should be able to understand it. The editing process involved:
• reducing the number of words/sentence from 16 to 13
• increasing the number of sentences from 31 to 34
• reducing the number of words with at least three syllables from 17% to 16%
• reduced the number of passive verbs (but didn’t get a count).
All of this took about 15 minutes of editing time. Another hour or less would likely have allowed me to push the score down further, perhaps into the junior high school level. But, even with that quick series of edits, I made the article accessible to a much larger audience, increasing the odds the article would be read, and readers would respond in the way I’d recommended in the article.
In summary, add the concept of readability to your power writing skills toolbox. By increasing readability, you immediately increase the number of potential readers, and increase the odds that readers will respond as you’ve requested.
About the Author:
Robert F. Abbott is also the author of 3 Easy Ways to Power Up Your Writing, a booklet that will enhance your power writing skills, to make your words more persuasive and more likely to get results. Visit http://www.effective-communication.com/3easy.html to learn more.
Keyword tags: power writing skills, readability
In other words, you may write fine memos, reports, or literally any other kind of document. But, if no one reads what you’ve written, there is no chance you’ll get your audience to respond. Quite simply, people in your audience must read what you’ve written before they can act or think in the way you’ve asked them to.
And, one of the key elements in getting them to read is to write at level that’s appropriate. For general audiences, you likely will aim at the reading ability level of a high school audience. That’s where most newspapers and magazines head.
Let me give you an example from my own writing. The first draft of a business communication article I’d written had a rating of 49 on the Flesch readability index (created by Rudolph Flesch, a pioneer in the concept of readability and its improvement). That meant it would be readily understood by someone who reads at the level expected of college students in their early years.
To get the score, I used the statistical tools in a stand-alone spelling program. And, once I'd seen the score, I wanted to bring it down to at least a senior high school level.
How?
When working with the Flesch index, we bring the score down using one or more of these techniques:
• reducing the proportion of passive verbs
• cutting back on the average number of words per sentence
• reducing the average number of letters per word
• using fewer words with three or more syllables.
In the first edit, I replaced passive verbs (is, are, were, be) with active verbs (verbs that imply an action or thought). Wherever I found the words 'is', 'are', or 'be' I tried to rewrite using an active verb. Not to necessarily get rid of them all, but to stay below the 10% level. And, here’s a helpful hint: Use the Find & Replace function of your word processor to find the passive verbs.
In subsequent edits, I looked for sentences I could break in two, and I replaced longer words with shorter words. Normally, that's not much of a challenge, although I need to be careful not to end up with a series of choppy sentences that all use the same structure.
After making the edits described above, the article had a readability score of 59. That means a person with a high school education should be able to understand it. The editing process involved:
• reducing the number of words/sentence from 16 to 13
• increasing the number of sentences from 31 to 34
• reducing the number of words with at least three syllables from 17% to 16%
• reduced the number of passive verbs (but didn’t get a count).
All of this took about 15 minutes of editing time. Another hour or less would likely have allowed me to push the score down further, perhaps into the junior high school level. But, even with that quick series of edits, I made the article accessible to a much larger audience, increasing the odds the article would be read, and readers would respond in the way I’d recommended in the article.
In summary, add the concept of readability to your power writing skills toolbox. By increasing readability, you immediately increase the number of potential readers, and increase the odds that readers will respond as you’ve requested.
About the Author:
Robert F. Abbott is also the author of 3 Easy Ways to Power Up Your Writing, a booklet that will enhance your power writing skills, to make your words more persuasive and more likely to get results. Visit http://www.effective-communication.com/3easy.html to learn more.
Keyword tags: power writing skills, readability
Monday, July 21, 2008
Writing a Wedding Speech Made Easy
Before we go into the nitty-gritty of how to prepare a wedding speech, you must keep the following basics in mind:
1. Your speech has to be short, say 5-7 minutes at the most.
2. Make your speech humorous – everyone will love it.
3. Focus the speech on the couple, not on yourself or on your pet dog's lover.
4. The couple's parents will be present – so, no off-color and honeymoon jokes please!
5. Rehearse the speech a few times before you deliver it, and deliver it in a style that has a lot of drama, action and emotion built into it.
6. Don't drink before you deliver your speech.
7. Remember to look good when you're on the podium. Finish your rest room tasks before you begin.
8. If you're not good at reading written speeches, then carry cue cards and keep your speech informal. Read a cue card, look at the audience mood and then talk impromptu.
Now, here's how you prepare the speech:
1. Does the audience know you? If not, prepare a small paragraph that introduces you to them and explains your relationship with the couple.
2. Next, heap praises on the emotion-charged wedding ceremony and about how marriages are made in heaven, and so on.
3. Prepare two paragraphs that talk about the sterling qualities of the couple, one paragraph devoted to the bride (ladies first!) and the other to the groom.
4. Now it's time to talk how the couple got together, some personal trivia that can be made public, why they love each other, why their love will last forever, and a little about their families. This section can be about 2 paragraphs.
5. Though humor works well, don't force it in and don't include it if you cannot talk funny with a straight face.
6. Lace your speech with memorable quotes – you'll find loads of quotes on the Internet.
7. Don't talk about ex-boyfriends/girlfriends or spouses of the couple.
8. Refrain from talking about any plans the couple has told you about.
9. The last paragraph must be motivating. Take an example of a successful-in-life-and-still-together couple and draw parallels.
10. Once done, ask all to raise a toast to the couple. Cheers!
Finally, remember that you have to be, or at least act, confident while delivering your speech with a clear voice that doesn't spew words like a machine gun spews bullets. Speak at a slow, measured pace and try your best to hold the attention of all the guests. If you are running out of time or just so busy to write your own speech, you can surely find someone to write a wedding speech for you. In so many ways it can help you save your time and will free you from stress of finding an appropriate words to write to make your speech entertaining. Make sure to enjoy on delivering your speech because no matter how joyful your speech was if you appeared boring you won't get the satisfaction that you want from the listeners.
About the Author:
For more information on wedding speeches visit http://howdoisolve.com/weddingspeech4u.html
Keyword tags: wedding speech
1. Your speech has to be short, say 5-7 minutes at the most.
2. Make your speech humorous – everyone will love it.
3. Focus the speech on the couple, not on yourself or on your pet dog's lover.
4. The couple's parents will be present – so, no off-color and honeymoon jokes please!
5. Rehearse the speech a few times before you deliver it, and deliver it in a style that has a lot of drama, action and emotion built into it.
6. Don't drink before you deliver your speech.
7. Remember to look good when you're on the podium. Finish your rest room tasks before you begin.
8. If you're not good at reading written speeches, then carry cue cards and keep your speech informal. Read a cue card, look at the audience mood and then talk impromptu.
Now, here's how you prepare the speech:
1. Does the audience know you? If not, prepare a small paragraph that introduces you to them and explains your relationship with the couple.
2. Next, heap praises on the emotion-charged wedding ceremony and about how marriages are made in heaven, and so on.
3. Prepare two paragraphs that talk about the sterling qualities of the couple, one paragraph devoted to the bride (ladies first!) and the other to the groom.
4. Now it's time to talk how the couple got together, some personal trivia that can be made public, why they love each other, why their love will last forever, and a little about their families. This section can be about 2 paragraphs.
5. Though humor works well, don't force it in and don't include it if you cannot talk funny with a straight face.
6. Lace your speech with memorable quotes – you'll find loads of quotes on the Internet.
7. Don't talk about ex-boyfriends/girlfriends or spouses of the couple.
8. Refrain from talking about any plans the couple has told you about.
9. The last paragraph must be motivating. Take an example of a successful-in-life-and-still-together couple and draw parallels.
10. Once done, ask all to raise a toast to the couple. Cheers!
Finally, remember that you have to be, or at least act, confident while delivering your speech with a clear voice that doesn't spew words like a machine gun spews bullets. Speak at a slow, measured pace and try your best to hold the attention of all the guests. If you are running out of time or just so busy to write your own speech, you can surely find someone to write a wedding speech for you. In so many ways it can help you save your time and will free you from stress of finding an appropriate words to write to make your speech entertaining. Make sure to enjoy on delivering your speech because no matter how joyful your speech was if you appeared boring you won't get the satisfaction that you want from the listeners.
About the Author:
For more information on wedding speeches visit http://howdoisolve.com/weddingspeech4u.html
Keyword tags: wedding speech
Sunday, July 20, 2008
An Interview With John Manhold About His New Book El Tigre
El Tigre is John Manhold's first immersion into the world of novels, but it his not his first book, he has something like 6 textbooks and a lexicon in four languages under his belt. I really enjoyed El Tigre. I don't usually get very excited about Historical Fiction, or the 'Wild West,' El Tigre has an allure to it though. I love history, and this book is steeped in it, John Manhold artfully melds fact with fiction. One way of looking at it is, if you buy this book you get a great work of fiction, and you will walk away afterwards understanding some very complex historical issues.
Maybe you could tell us a little about yourself, a quick bout on Google shows that you have a pretty interesting resume?
I've always been restless and would think maybe attention deficit, except I can zero in on something I enjoy and take it to a conclusion. However, activity in any one area for too long a period does bore me. I grew up in Rochester, N. Y., when it had only a couple hundred thousand people, and enjoyed many hours of hunting small game and fishing the Genesee River. My father was quite a hunter and fisherman and we would go after deer and bear in the southern tier of Pennsylvania, Northern Maine and Canada. We used to tramp the pot holes for duck in the old Montezuma Swamp Area back in the days when your limit of duck was more than you could carry. High School, college and graduate schools were routine, although even here, I bounced around.
Majored in Elizabethan and 17th Century Poets, progressed to study dentistry and then medical pathology and finally picked up an advanced degree in psychology. Taught pathology at three different schools, but became interested in Psychosomatic Medicine. Did some unusual research that got me an invitation to Russia in the days before glasnost. Elected president of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine and between this discipline and my research in both dental and medical fields bounced around giving lectures in many places in the world.
For recreation, I played soccer, wrestled, played golf, and did some fencing. Later, played club golf and some international. Became interested in boating, earned U.S.C.G. Captain's and Master's papers, finally bought a 48-foot Marine Trader trawler which my wife (who became a graduate diesel mechanic for the trip) and I took on a 6000 mile trip from Florida up the east coast to the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi to the Tennessee, the Tombigbee and back home across the Gulf. Went out to the islands a couple of times also. Got interested in sculpture, studied with a couple of famous people and received some prizes and commissions.
I Served in WWII and the Korean Action where, among other things, taught knife fighting to recruits after being indoctrinated by an old fencing opponent who needed help and convinced the CO I would be the person.
I have also published 6 textbooks and a lexicon in 4 languages and served as a scientific editor for J. B. Lippincott for 12 years.
What made you move into the world of historical fiction?
I did a great deal of research for several pharmaceutical houses while at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and continued after retiring. They would send me data that I would analyze and return. A couple of years ago, I assume the powers-that-be began to worry about how much longer I would be available and the request for my services began to decline. Being somewhat of a workaholic, I began to grouse and my wife said "why don't you go write a novel?" I was amused but the idea began to take hold, so I did it.
El Tigre is very well put together, fictional characters against a historical background, but not just one set of events, which is the standard fare, but several events spanning countries and continents. The amount of research needed to do this boggles my mind. How long did it take to research and write El Tigre?
The actual time to research and write El T. took 9 months. However, I had a great head start. My lectures and consultations for years have taken me to many places in the world; my whole life has been in research; the web saves huge amounts of travel time and I had a grandfather who was a graduate of the Prussian Kriegsakademie and was awarded medals in the Franco-Prussian War. I also had a couple of uncles who were gunfighters in the Nebraska Territory.
The idea of my characters participating in more than one series of events stems from the fact that every conference or meeting one attends, where 'westerns' or 'historical fiction' are discussed, stresses the necessity for 'something different' if the genres are to survive. No one does anything about it. I decided to do something.
Where did you get the idea for El Tigre from?
I am a member of the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) where every member is required to select an alias that is registered as specific to him or her. I always have been interested in old Mexico and have spent some time in it back in the days when it was pleasant and laid back and the girls would stroll in the parks with their duenas and the boys in their groups while a lousy band played in the retreata. I took the name of El Tigre Viejo (the Tiger, but an old one, because of my age) because I could dress for our formal dinner, which always ends a competition, as an old Spanish Don – one of the types of suits may be seen on my web page.
As I understand it, and the picture on the back flap of the dustcover seems to prove it, you have a real interest in early guns, can you tell us a little about that?
I had my first single shot .22 rifle when I was about 8 years old. My father taught me, as the marines stressed later in life, that there is no accident with a gun. Anything that happens is carelessness and is not to be tolerated. In the marines, an 'accident' produces jail time. Anyway, I would get on the streetcar with my rifle and ammunition, ride to the end of the line, walk a short way to an embankment, do my shooting and get back on the streetcar to come back home. Can you image today?
Following this, my father bought me a lever action Marlin .22, and a single shot 20 gauge shotgun, both of which I still have, and a Winchester 30-30 for deer and we began hunting. Through the years the interest continued and I moved into skeet shooting and other competitive shooting sports.
Novels work a lot different from text books. With a text book, you have pretty much a captive audience. With a novel, it is up to the whim of the would be reader. A novel is a risky business, shelf space in the book store is at a premium, and for the most part the traditional book store only stocks what it knows will sell (Tom Clancy, Steven King, and the rest of the grossly over edited, and in my mind over rated authors), how are you finding the battlefield for space?
Actually you have hit upon one of the big problems facing authors today. The big publishers won't even look at something that does not come through an agent, and the agents are, for the most part, not particularly interested in a new author. For this reason, the new author more frequently ends up with a small publisher and the brick and mortar houses are not particularly interested in either. The big boys can offer too many incentives, put more money into advertising and provide the 'name' authors. So, to get to the personal level, as an unknown author, published by a small publisher and writing in a genre that occupies a very small piece of the pie, it is tough. Since El Tigre garnered two awards in the 2008 National Indie Excellence Awards, and has received so many kind words from so many nice people, Barnes & Noble have decided to give it another look, as to stocking – it is distributed by Baker & Taylor and thus listed in B&N for order, but not stocked at the stores.
I am probably not like the average reader. I have picked up some very bad habits. It is only as a result of the fact that I read so many books. I hated English Lit in school, I hated, and still do hate, picking a book apart. While I don't look for deeper meaning, I do look for execution. El Tigre is very well put together. You must have had some damn fine proof readers and editors, either that, or you are the most gifted author I have ever met.
I sincerely thank you for such a compliment, and am most pleased to hear the manner in which you look at a book. I, too, read voraciously and believe a book is to be enjoyed. The text must flow and if I mix tenses occasionally, or pull some other bonehead grammatical mistake, as long as it does not interfere with the flow, I let it go, and have received criticism from editors for it. But, if I don't think it will detract from the story, I leave it alone. I had an editor with El T who was a good editor. However, most of her changes I rewrote. El T was a Prussian Junker, an aristocrat who I would not allow to become another 'cowboy.' His actions were different as was his speech. He was a man who, because of his prowess, could fit into any masculine situation. However, he still could enjoy the life of Spanish Nobility and had the sentimentality to understand the trauma suffered by Lolita and her need for understanding.
There are two schools of thought about historical fiction, one says it's easy, the plot is already there, just slot your characters in, and you have a book. The other schools says it is very hard, the historical aspect is set in stone, you must weave your story into an intractable situation. What is your view?
I believe that, to be well done, a historical novel must weave its way through the facts. Your time line must be accurate, your geography must be the geography of the period, and the mores of each society treated must be proper to the time and place. I enjoy history and I respect it, and, as weird as it may sound, I can project myself back into the time and almost feel the reactions of the people. I remember visiting Masada in Israel several years ago and standing in the remains of the old fortress city where the thousand defenders committed suicide rather than surrender and just being almost overwhelmed by 'rejecting myself' to the action. Crazy, I know, but you've got to be to write, I think.
What can we expect next from John Manhold?
I have two books pretty much ready to go, before finishing El Tigre II which is half done in the first draft.
The Elymais Coin is a modern mystery/adventure that involves a search for a 3000-year-old-coin that becomes involved with several murders, a clash with forces of al-Qaida and a subversive plot to undermine the United States from its very core.
The second is LOBO, the story of a young Ohio farm boy who survives a massacre, Indian captivity, rescue and travel to England with education at Eton and life with the aristocracy before being forced to flee to the States to find a beautiful Creole paramour in New Orleans, be caught up in the Civil War, the Reconstruction Era and beyond.
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: authors, books, publishing, westerns, El Tigre, historical fiction
Maybe you could tell us a little about yourself, a quick bout on Google shows that you have a pretty interesting resume?
I've always been restless and would think maybe attention deficit, except I can zero in on something I enjoy and take it to a conclusion. However, activity in any one area for too long a period does bore me. I grew up in Rochester, N. Y., when it had only a couple hundred thousand people, and enjoyed many hours of hunting small game and fishing the Genesee River. My father was quite a hunter and fisherman and we would go after deer and bear in the southern tier of Pennsylvania, Northern Maine and Canada. We used to tramp the pot holes for duck in the old Montezuma Swamp Area back in the days when your limit of duck was more than you could carry. High School, college and graduate schools were routine, although even here, I bounced around.
Majored in Elizabethan and 17th Century Poets, progressed to study dentistry and then medical pathology and finally picked up an advanced degree in psychology. Taught pathology at three different schools, but became interested in Psychosomatic Medicine. Did some unusual research that got me an invitation to Russia in the days before glasnost. Elected president of the Academy of Psychosomatic Medicine and between this discipline and my research in both dental and medical fields bounced around giving lectures in many places in the world.
For recreation, I played soccer, wrestled, played golf, and did some fencing. Later, played club golf and some international. Became interested in boating, earned U.S.C.G. Captain's and Master's papers, finally bought a 48-foot Marine Trader trawler which my wife (who became a graduate diesel mechanic for the trip) and I took on a 6000 mile trip from Florida up the east coast to the Great Lakes, down the Mississippi to the Tennessee, the Tombigbee and back home across the Gulf. Went out to the islands a couple of times also. Got interested in sculpture, studied with a couple of famous people and received some prizes and commissions.
I Served in WWII and the Korean Action where, among other things, taught knife fighting to recruits after being indoctrinated by an old fencing opponent who needed help and convinced the CO I would be the person.
I have also published 6 textbooks and a lexicon in 4 languages and served as a scientific editor for J. B. Lippincott for 12 years.
What made you move into the world of historical fiction?
I did a great deal of research for several pharmaceutical houses while at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey and continued after retiring. They would send me data that I would analyze and return. A couple of years ago, I assume the powers-that-be began to worry about how much longer I would be available and the request for my services began to decline. Being somewhat of a workaholic, I began to grouse and my wife said "why don't you go write a novel?" I was amused but the idea began to take hold, so I did it.
El Tigre is very well put together, fictional characters against a historical background, but not just one set of events, which is the standard fare, but several events spanning countries and continents. The amount of research needed to do this boggles my mind. How long did it take to research and write El Tigre?
The actual time to research and write El T. took 9 months. However, I had a great head start. My lectures and consultations for years have taken me to many places in the world; my whole life has been in research; the web saves huge amounts of travel time and I had a grandfather who was a graduate of the Prussian Kriegsakademie and was awarded medals in the Franco-Prussian War. I also had a couple of uncles who were gunfighters in the Nebraska Territory.
The idea of my characters participating in more than one series of events stems from the fact that every conference or meeting one attends, where 'westerns' or 'historical fiction' are discussed, stresses the necessity for 'something different' if the genres are to survive. No one does anything about it. I decided to do something.
Where did you get the idea for El Tigre from?
I am a member of the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) where every member is required to select an alias that is registered as specific to him or her. I always have been interested in old Mexico and have spent some time in it back in the days when it was pleasant and laid back and the girls would stroll in the parks with their duenas and the boys in their groups while a lousy band played in the retreata. I took the name of El Tigre Viejo (the Tiger, but an old one, because of my age) because I could dress for our formal dinner, which always ends a competition, as an old Spanish Don – one of the types of suits may be seen on my web page.
As I understand it, and the picture on the back flap of the dustcover seems to prove it, you have a real interest in early guns, can you tell us a little about that?
I had my first single shot .22 rifle when I was about 8 years old. My father taught me, as the marines stressed later in life, that there is no accident with a gun. Anything that happens is carelessness and is not to be tolerated. In the marines, an 'accident' produces jail time. Anyway, I would get on the streetcar with my rifle and ammunition, ride to the end of the line, walk a short way to an embankment, do my shooting and get back on the streetcar to come back home. Can you image today?
Following this, my father bought me a lever action Marlin .22, and a single shot 20 gauge shotgun, both of which I still have, and a Winchester 30-30 for deer and we began hunting. Through the years the interest continued and I moved into skeet shooting and other competitive shooting sports.
Novels work a lot different from text books. With a text book, you have pretty much a captive audience. With a novel, it is up to the whim of the would be reader. A novel is a risky business, shelf space in the book store is at a premium, and for the most part the traditional book store only stocks what it knows will sell (Tom Clancy, Steven King, and the rest of the grossly over edited, and in my mind over rated authors), how are you finding the battlefield for space?
Actually you have hit upon one of the big problems facing authors today. The big publishers won't even look at something that does not come through an agent, and the agents are, for the most part, not particularly interested in a new author. For this reason, the new author more frequently ends up with a small publisher and the brick and mortar houses are not particularly interested in either. The big boys can offer too many incentives, put more money into advertising and provide the 'name' authors. So, to get to the personal level, as an unknown author, published by a small publisher and writing in a genre that occupies a very small piece of the pie, it is tough. Since El Tigre garnered two awards in the 2008 National Indie Excellence Awards, and has received so many kind words from so many nice people, Barnes & Noble have decided to give it another look, as to stocking – it is distributed by Baker & Taylor and thus listed in B&N for order, but not stocked at the stores.
I am probably not like the average reader. I have picked up some very bad habits. It is only as a result of the fact that I read so many books. I hated English Lit in school, I hated, and still do hate, picking a book apart. While I don't look for deeper meaning, I do look for execution. El Tigre is very well put together. You must have had some damn fine proof readers and editors, either that, or you are the most gifted author I have ever met.
I sincerely thank you for such a compliment, and am most pleased to hear the manner in which you look at a book. I, too, read voraciously and believe a book is to be enjoyed. The text must flow and if I mix tenses occasionally, or pull some other bonehead grammatical mistake, as long as it does not interfere with the flow, I let it go, and have received criticism from editors for it. But, if I don't think it will detract from the story, I leave it alone. I had an editor with El T who was a good editor. However, most of her changes I rewrote. El T was a Prussian Junker, an aristocrat who I would not allow to become another 'cowboy.' His actions were different as was his speech. He was a man who, because of his prowess, could fit into any masculine situation. However, he still could enjoy the life of Spanish Nobility and had the sentimentality to understand the trauma suffered by Lolita and her need for understanding.
There are two schools of thought about historical fiction, one says it's easy, the plot is already there, just slot your characters in, and you have a book. The other schools says it is very hard, the historical aspect is set in stone, you must weave your story into an intractable situation. What is your view?
I believe that, to be well done, a historical novel must weave its way through the facts. Your time line must be accurate, your geography must be the geography of the period, and the mores of each society treated must be proper to the time and place. I enjoy history and I respect it, and, as weird as it may sound, I can project myself back into the time and almost feel the reactions of the people. I remember visiting Masada in Israel several years ago and standing in the remains of the old fortress city where the thousand defenders committed suicide rather than surrender and just being almost overwhelmed by 'rejecting myself' to the action. Crazy, I know, but you've got to be to write, I think.
What can we expect next from John Manhold?
I have two books pretty much ready to go, before finishing El Tigre II which is half done in the first draft.
The Elymais Coin is a modern mystery/adventure that involves a search for a 3000-year-old-coin that becomes involved with several murders, a clash with forces of al-Qaida and a subversive plot to undermine the United States from its very core.
The second is LOBO, the story of a young Ohio farm boy who survives a massacre, Indian captivity, rescue and travel to England with education at Eton and life with the aristocracy before being forced to flee to the States to find a beautiful Creole paramour in New Orleans, be caught up in the Civil War, the Reconstruction Era and beyond.
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: authors, books, publishing, westerns, El Tigre, historical fiction
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Learning to Write Through a RPG Game
For a long time people have been afraid of what are known as "Role Playing Games" as there are some negative biases around those who play them. However, that is because most people are thinking of the old D&D type, or the newer World of Warcraft and similar games. But what about a game that can improve your writing skills, and enable you to be creative and also think critically? Such games do exist. They are not the click and play style, but rather more like a short story that is interactive. Known mostly as post by post, some variants have developed to be a bit more interactive.
Take for consideration http://mafia-station.com's MSRP III game. In this game you are launched into a world of crime without anything but the clothes on your back. You must basically write your way up the ladder, while avoiding being killed. When you have written something and post it, you then submit it to the staff for what is called judgment. You can play for fun, or you can play with goals in mind for improvement. What happens next is that the staff will read it, and will give an analysis over it, whether or not you are playing for fun or for goals. They will point out any spelling and/or grammar mistakes you may have made (which do not count against you, but are for you to do better) and then they will give you an analysis of whether what you posted is possible.
As an example, you write up how you started to earn a little money in this mafia-world and started doing small things, and actually writing out what you did just as any short story would. If it all flies well, your character is actually rewarded with whatever it is your goal was, be it some game cash, or some item. That can then be put in your "Bio" or biography post, and can be used later if you can carry it with you. However, let's say you made a few mistakes - the judgment will likely point those out, and then three things may happen. The first and most common is a simple closed judgment, the second is an opportunity to post an additional addendum to fix what was missed, and the third would be a counter.
A counter means that the judge will actually write a story of their own countering what you wrote, and presenting you with a situation that you must find a way out of, or a way to benefit for you. This enables further creativity upon the player's part, and also adds to the critical thinking aspect of the game itself. Most veterans of the game can attest to writing better than they did before they began playing, and it takes very little time to do compared to a game such as World of Warcraft in which you spend hours in a virtual world without engaging your imagination.
A further aspect of the game is player to player interaction, whether that is negative and combative to positive and cooperative. If you join a syndicate or family, you are joining more players and will likely get to intertwine your story with theirs, and participate in what they are doing too. However, there can also be situations where other players will want to (if they have a solid and valid reason) attack you, or even try to kill you. If that happens you get a full 48 hours to write up what is called a 'counter', where what you do is write your own story, based upon a hole in theirs, or just starting from a point during theirs to launch off of, and fight back. If yours is of superior quality and logically sound, you will survive and it is likely that they will not. However if yours is less than theirs, you'll be pushing up daisies and need to make a new player account.
Every person on this site is also welcome to other aspects too, such as the out of game forums and the arcade, in case you don't feel like writing. Every player gets one out of game account, and two in game player accounts (which gives you a backup just in case the unforeseeable happens to one). In the end, the entire point is to have fun while bettering your writing skills and to use that often neglected aspect of the human mind: imagination.
About the Author:
Jacob is a member of http://www.mafia-station.com and has been writing there for many years. He has watched as he went from a crummy writer to someone who really found his niche and really enjoys the things he writes.
Keyword tags: writing,role playing,learning to write
Take for consideration http://mafia-station.com's MSRP III game. In this game you are launched into a world of crime without anything but the clothes on your back. You must basically write your way up the ladder, while avoiding being killed. When you have written something and post it, you then submit it to the staff for what is called judgment. You can play for fun, or you can play with goals in mind for improvement. What happens next is that the staff will read it, and will give an analysis over it, whether or not you are playing for fun or for goals. They will point out any spelling and/or grammar mistakes you may have made (which do not count against you, but are for you to do better) and then they will give you an analysis of whether what you posted is possible.
As an example, you write up how you started to earn a little money in this mafia-world and started doing small things, and actually writing out what you did just as any short story would. If it all flies well, your character is actually rewarded with whatever it is your goal was, be it some game cash, or some item. That can then be put in your "Bio" or biography post, and can be used later if you can carry it with you. However, let's say you made a few mistakes - the judgment will likely point those out, and then three things may happen. The first and most common is a simple closed judgment, the second is an opportunity to post an additional addendum to fix what was missed, and the third would be a counter.
A counter means that the judge will actually write a story of their own countering what you wrote, and presenting you with a situation that you must find a way out of, or a way to benefit for you. This enables further creativity upon the player's part, and also adds to the critical thinking aspect of the game itself. Most veterans of the game can attest to writing better than they did before they began playing, and it takes very little time to do compared to a game such as World of Warcraft in which you spend hours in a virtual world without engaging your imagination.
A further aspect of the game is player to player interaction, whether that is negative and combative to positive and cooperative. If you join a syndicate or family, you are joining more players and will likely get to intertwine your story with theirs, and participate in what they are doing too. However, there can also be situations where other players will want to (if they have a solid and valid reason) attack you, or even try to kill you. If that happens you get a full 48 hours to write up what is called a 'counter', where what you do is write your own story, based upon a hole in theirs, or just starting from a point during theirs to launch off of, and fight back. If yours is of superior quality and logically sound, you will survive and it is likely that they will not. However if yours is less than theirs, you'll be pushing up daisies and need to make a new player account.
Every person on this site is also welcome to other aspects too, such as the out of game forums and the arcade, in case you don't feel like writing. Every player gets one out of game account, and two in game player accounts (which gives you a backup just in case the unforeseeable happens to one). In the end, the entire point is to have fun while bettering your writing skills and to use that often neglected aspect of the human mind: imagination.
About the Author:
Jacob is a member of http://www.mafia-station.com and has been writing there for many years. He has watched as he went from a crummy writer to someone who really found his niche and really enjoys the things he writes.
Keyword tags: writing,role playing,learning to write
Article Marketing – is Your Article Headline Killing Your Article?
As you may know I wrote about this topic before in one of my other articles, but I feel it's important that I'm going to bring it up again.
Headlines like "Money" are what make's the world go around. We've become so busy and limited with our time nowadays that we usually pick and choose what we read usually because of an interesting article title.
Take any of the current newspapers or women's magazines as an example. If you stroll past your local newsstand you'll see numerous magazines and papers screaming out read me, read me!
The funny thing is the majority of them have the exact same celebrity story or major news event in them but a great article headline on one paper or magazine can make it stand out from the rest and grab your attention.
Now bring that idea back to your article in an article directory. Like the newsstand there are numerous articles on various topics all screaming out read me, read me!
Probably all containing the same content more or less but the headlines on some articles are what make the winners stand out from the losers.
So what can you do to put the odds in your favor and also should you write your article headline like you would an offline headline?
To take the second part of the question first the answer is NO and for two reasons.
1. If you've written your article to be more search engine friendly you really should be putting the major keywords of your article in the first 3-4 words.
Take my articles title as an example "Article Marketing – Is Your Article Headline Killing Your Article?" the major keywords I'm after is "Article Marketing" so this is the first words my headline begins with, plus I've used the one of my keywords again further down the headline to reinforce my keywords.
2. Not only does it help with search engines anyone doing a quick scroll through the various article in an article directory would read the first 2 words and know that my article is on article marketing.
They don't have to read the full headline and they also don't have to work out a cryptic headline that could be vague and miss leading.
It's the same idea as most sales letter online. They may begins with a question like "Are you overweight?" if I'm overweight and looking for a solution I'll probably read it if not I'll just move on the next thing.
The thing you need to remember is that not everyone's going to read your article but if you focus it toward your target market you'll read the right people reading it.
Now back to first part of my question. How do you put the odds in your favor?
How? Do a keyword search for what people in your target market are looking for in the search engines. Are they looking for "How to" information or "Tips"?
Find out what they're looking for and then just give it to them. For example if I was doing another article on "Article Marketing" I could write an article headline like "Article Marketing – How to write a great article that gets passed around."
Remember "how to" and "tips" are what people want the most readers are looking for help on how to do something or are looking for tips or advice to do something faster or cheaper.
Then when you have a rough guide line of an article title go to (www.aminstitute.com/headline/) and use their free tool to analyze your headline.
This simple tool give you a score for how good your headline is (the higher the number the stronger the headline.)
You'll be amazed at the results you can get just from changing your words around or putting in a new word here or there.
Finally,
All this may sound a pain to do but when you consider that this article is going to be online for years to come sending traffic to your site you can see it worth doing well. Plus once you send that article out there there's no way you can get that article back. If it's got a lousy headline it's always going to have a lousy headline.
So your lesson for the day...Be kind to your articles and send them out into cyber space with a headline they can be proud of!
About the Author:
For some of the best article headlines visit http://www.ItWasSoEasy.com and see what other people are doing with their articles. Plus submit your article to us and we'll do our best to send you as much lovely FREE traffic to your site as possible...its what we're he
Keyword tags: articles,article marketing,traffic generating,internet,website traffic
Headlines like "Money" are what make's the world go around. We've become so busy and limited with our time nowadays that we usually pick and choose what we read usually because of an interesting article title.
Take any of the current newspapers or women's magazines as an example. If you stroll past your local newsstand you'll see numerous magazines and papers screaming out read me, read me!
The funny thing is the majority of them have the exact same celebrity story or major news event in them but a great article headline on one paper or magazine can make it stand out from the rest and grab your attention.
Now bring that idea back to your article in an article directory. Like the newsstand there are numerous articles on various topics all screaming out read me, read me!
Probably all containing the same content more or less but the headlines on some articles are what make the winners stand out from the losers.
So what can you do to put the odds in your favor and also should you write your article headline like you would an offline headline?
To take the second part of the question first the answer is NO and for two reasons.
1. If you've written your article to be more search engine friendly you really should be putting the major keywords of your article in the first 3-4 words.
Take my articles title as an example "Article Marketing – Is Your Article Headline Killing Your Article?" the major keywords I'm after is "Article Marketing" so this is the first words my headline begins with, plus I've used the one of my keywords again further down the headline to reinforce my keywords.
2. Not only does it help with search engines anyone doing a quick scroll through the various article in an article directory would read the first 2 words and know that my article is on article marketing.
They don't have to read the full headline and they also don't have to work out a cryptic headline that could be vague and miss leading.
It's the same idea as most sales letter online. They may begins with a question like "Are you overweight?" if I'm overweight and looking for a solution I'll probably read it if not I'll just move on the next thing.
The thing you need to remember is that not everyone's going to read your article but if you focus it toward your target market you'll read the right people reading it.
Now back to first part of my question. How do you put the odds in your favor?
How? Do a keyword search for what people in your target market are looking for in the search engines. Are they looking for "How to" information or "Tips"?
Find out what they're looking for and then just give it to them. For example if I was doing another article on "Article Marketing" I could write an article headline like "Article Marketing – How to write a great article that gets passed around."
Remember "how to" and "tips" are what people want the most readers are looking for help on how to do something or are looking for tips or advice to do something faster or cheaper.
Then when you have a rough guide line of an article title go to (www.aminstitute.com/headline/) and use their free tool to analyze your headline.
This simple tool give you a score for how good your headline is (the higher the number the stronger the headline.)
You'll be amazed at the results you can get just from changing your words around or putting in a new word here or there.
Finally,
All this may sound a pain to do but when you consider that this article is going to be online for years to come sending traffic to your site you can see it worth doing well. Plus once you send that article out there there's no way you can get that article back. If it's got a lousy headline it's always going to have a lousy headline.
So your lesson for the day...Be kind to your articles and send them out into cyber space with a headline they can be proud of!
About the Author:
For some of the best article headlines visit http://www.ItWasSoEasy.com and see what other people are doing with their articles. Plus submit your article to us and we'll do our best to send you as much lovely FREE traffic to your site as possible...its what we're he
Keyword tags: articles,article marketing,traffic generating,internet,website traffic
Article Marketing Tips: 6 Ways to Get the Best Results From Your Articles
Here are 6 ways to help you get the most results from your article writing...
1. Is Your Article Relevant?
Before beginning your article for your chosen niche, have you done any research on what you're going to write about you? Could be writing an article that nobody wants?
So how do you find the hot topics?
• Visit a forum for problems that your chosen niche is having or tips they may be looking for.
• Browse through the top article directories and find out what the most popular articles are in your niche and use them for a brainstorming your next article.
• Do a quick keyword research and just give them more or what they're looking for. If weight loss tips comes up why not write an article on that.
2. Write An Article On Something Current Or In The News.
By writing an article that's up to date with what's happening in the world you can help stand out from the crowd and show you're in touch with what's going on.
So how do you keep up to date?
• Sign up for Google news and have reminders sent to your inbox when something about your niche gets posted online. This is a great way of having the latest news coming to you rather then trawling through site after site for fresh information.
• Visit Amazon and find out if there are any new products or books on your chosen niche. For example if a new diet book came out you could use it for your next article idea.
3. Create A Sequel Article.
Why not follow the idea of Hollywood, if you've written an article that really did well, why not write a sequel (Part 2).
How?
• Is there anything more you could add to that last article that you couldn't fit in?
• Maybe things or techniques have changed so is there any new information that you could use to freshen up that article and make it more up to date.
4. Make Your Article Viral.
Even though you're up to speed with article marketing and using articles there are other people who aren't. A newbie may come across your site like an article you've written and possible want to use it on their site. They could contact you and ask for you permission by why have them do that. At the bottom of the article why not write a short blurb saying that this article is free to use as long as the content isn't changes in any way.
Or if you have affiliates working for you why not write article for them to use. Its simple to do and it free's you up because they do all the work of submitting them to the article directories and it also gives them free content to use on their site that's relevant to their business.
5. Write 2 Articles To Increase Your Website Traffic.
Why not write 2 article that are closely linked. For example you could write 2 article with "20 Weight Loss Tips". You send the first article (with the first 10 tips)to the article directories but in your resource box say that part 2 with the other 10 tips is only available to be read at your site.
Anyone who reads the article of course wanting to know more would click the link and visit your site. After that it's up to you whether you use Google adsense, an opt in box or whatever, to get the most from your traffic.
(I'd love to say this article idea was mine buts it came from the internet marketing master Jimmy D Brown.)
6. Promote Your Other Articles.
You've sent a lot of time writing other articles so why not promote them in your next article. Someone reading your article might not know that you have 10-15 or more articles out there, so why not tell them.
How?
• Mention in your resource box that you have many other great free articles on your website or blog that are related to this article.
This helps to make the reader feel that if you're written so much on this topic you really must know what you're talking about and could be worth listening to or buying from now or in the future.
About the Author:
Need lots of lovely FREE traffic for your new website? Visit http://www.ItWasSoEasy.com and give us your articles. We'll do our best to get as much FREE traffic to your site as possible...its what we're here for!
Keyword tags: article marketing,writing articles,article marketing tips
1. Is Your Article Relevant?
Before beginning your article for your chosen niche, have you done any research on what you're going to write about you? Could be writing an article that nobody wants?
So how do you find the hot topics?
• Visit a forum for problems that your chosen niche is having or tips they may be looking for.
• Browse through the top article directories and find out what the most popular articles are in your niche and use them for a brainstorming your next article.
• Do a quick keyword research and just give them more or what they're looking for. If weight loss tips comes up why not write an article on that.
2. Write An Article On Something Current Or In The News.
By writing an article that's up to date with what's happening in the world you can help stand out from the crowd and show you're in touch with what's going on.
So how do you keep up to date?
• Sign up for Google news and have reminders sent to your inbox when something about your niche gets posted online. This is a great way of having the latest news coming to you rather then trawling through site after site for fresh information.
• Visit Amazon and find out if there are any new products or books on your chosen niche. For example if a new diet book came out you could use it for your next article idea.
3. Create A Sequel Article.
Why not follow the idea of Hollywood, if you've written an article that really did well, why not write a sequel (Part 2).
How?
• Is there anything more you could add to that last article that you couldn't fit in?
• Maybe things or techniques have changed so is there any new information that you could use to freshen up that article and make it more up to date.
4. Make Your Article Viral.
Even though you're up to speed with article marketing and using articles there are other people who aren't. A newbie may come across your site like an article you've written and possible want to use it on their site. They could contact you and ask for you permission by why have them do that. At the bottom of the article why not write a short blurb saying that this article is free to use as long as the content isn't changes in any way.
Or if you have affiliates working for you why not write article for them to use. Its simple to do and it free's you up because they do all the work of submitting them to the article directories and it also gives them free content to use on their site that's relevant to their business.
5. Write 2 Articles To Increase Your Website Traffic.
Why not write 2 article that are closely linked. For example you could write 2 article with "20 Weight Loss Tips". You send the first article (with the first 10 tips)to the article directories but in your resource box say that part 2 with the other 10 tips is only available to be read at your site.
Anyone who reads the article of course wanting to know more would click the link and visit your site. After that it's up to you whether you use Google adsense, an opt in box or whatever, to get the most from your traffic.
(I'd love to say this article idea was mine buts it came from the internet marketing master Jimmy D Brown.)
6. Promote Your Other Articles.
You've sent a lot of time writing other articles so why not promote them in your next article. Someone reading your article might not know that you have 10-15 or more articles out there, so why not tell them.
How?
• Mention in your resource box that you have many other great free articles on your website or blog that are related to this article.
This helps to make the reader feel that if you're written so much on this topic you really must know what you're talking about and could be worth listening to or buying from now or in the future.
About the Author:
Need lots of lovely FREE traffic for your new website? Visit http://www.ItWasSoEasy.com and give us your articles. We'll do our best to get as much FREE traffic to your site as possible...its what we're here for!
Keyword tags: article marketing,writing articles,article marketing tips
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Persuasive Writing Techniques: Pull-Quotes
Have you noticed, when reading magazines or newsletters, that excerpts from the article have been copied from the main body and put into a special box?
That's called a pull-quote, and it's a useful persuasive writing technique for anyone who writes -- and not just for magazine editors.
For example, I use them in one client's newsletters to break up the text. This newsletter has no graphics, such as photos or clip art, so the pull-quote is a simple, expedient way of making the page more inviting and more reader-friendly. But, it's more than a decorative addition in this case; it's also a useful persuasive writing technique because it increases the odds readers will find the article less intimidating (not such a high wall of text). That makes readers more likely to start reading, and once started, keep reading.
Let's dig a little deeper here: Most documents are structured so that the key request comes at the end. In a sales letter, that's where the offer is made. In a political brochure, that's where they'll ask for your vote. Generally, headlines should draw you into the first paragraph, the first paragraph should lead you into the second, and so on. And, at each stage, persuasive writing techniques make or bolster the argument. Theoretically, by the time you get to the end of document, all of a reader's questions or objections have been answered, and he or she does what the writer requests.
Getting back to my client's newsletter, I put a pull-quote on the front page. It's usually 15 to 25 words, and placed in a 2 inch wide box, horizontally centered about a third of the way down the page. It also has horizontal lines (technically, they're called rules) above and below the text. And, text from the main body of the article, in two columns, flows around it.
Another persuasive writing technique sees the pull-quote highlighting a key piece of information in the article, to tease readers into reading it. In this case, the pull-quote works like a headline, but in a more subtle way. Again, we're looking for ways to get the reader started, and once started, to keep reading.
Now, for most of your communication you likely won't use a page-layout program, which would allow you to create sophisticated pull-quotes like those in magazines and newsletters. But, you can highlight bits of text in various ways. For example, by using lines of equal signs above and below a piece of text you can...
====================
draw attention to the words between them.
====================
You can find more examples in text newsletters you receive by email. But remember, a little of this kind of formatting goes a long way, so don't overdo it.
In summary, a pull quote is a helpful persuasive writing technique, one that allows you break up long stretches of plain text, or allows you to highlight certain quotations. The eye is automatically drawn to pull quotes, and the mind follows, increasing chances the reader will read the rest of the page.
About the Author:
Robert F. Abbott is also the author of 3 Easy Ways to Power Up Your Writing, a quick and easy writing course that gives you a focused set of three persuasive writing techniques, at http://www.effective-communication.com/3easy.html
Keyword tags: persuasive writing techniques, written communication
That's called a pull-quote, and it's a useful persuasive writing technique for anyone who writes -- and not just for magazine editors.
For example, I use them in one client's newsletters to break up the text. This newsletter has no graphics, such as photos or clip art, so the pull-quote is a simple, expedient way of making the page more inviting and more reader-friendly. But, it's more than a decorative addition in this case; it's also a useful persuasive writing technique because it increases the odds readers will find the article less intimidating (not such a high wall of text). That makes readers more likely to start reading, and once started, keep reading.
Let's dig a little deeper here: Most documents are structured so that the key request comes at the end. In a sales letter, that's where the offer is made. In a political brochure, that's where they'll ask for your vote. Generally, headlines should draw you into the first paragraph, the first paragraph should lead you into the second, and so on. And, at each stage, persuasive writing techniques make or bolster the argument. Theoretically, by the time you get to the end of document, all of a reader's questions or objections have been answered, and he or she does what the writer requests.
Getting back to my client's newsletter, I put a pull-quote on the front page. It's usually 15 to 25 words, and placed in a 2 inch wide box, horizontally centered about a third of the way down the page. It also has horizontal lines (technically, they're called rules) above and below the text. And, text from the main body of the article, in two columns, flows around it.
Another persuasive writing technique sees the pull-quote highlighting a key piece of information in the article, to tease readers into reading it. In this case, the pull-quote works like a headline, but in a more subtle way. Again, we're looking for ways to get the reader started, and once started, to keep reading.
Now, for most of your communication you likely won't use a page-layout program, which would allow you to create sophisticated pull-quotes like those in magazines and newsletters. But, you can highlight bits of text in various ways. For example, by using lines of equal signs above and below a piece of text you can...
====================
draw attention to the words between them.
====================
You can find more examples in text newsletters you receive by email. But remember, a little of this kind of formatting goes a long way, so don't overdo it.
In summary, a pull quote is a helpful persuasive writing technique, one that allows you break up long stretches of plain text, or allows you to highlight certain quotations. The eye is automatically drawn to pull quotes, and the mind follows, increasing chances the reader will read the rest of the page.
About the Author:
Robert F. Abbott is also the author of 3 Easy Ways to Power Up Your Writing, a quick and easy writing course that gives you a focused set of three persuasive writing techniques, at http://www.effective-communication.com/3easy.html
Keyword tags: persuasive writing techniques, written communication
Sunday, July 13, 2008
No Blind Aye in Team
Several years back my boss' boss walked into my office and declared me to be an outlaw-rebel-maverick. I thanked her, which was clearly not what she wanted. But what did she expect from an unbranded individual who frequently strayed from the herd?
As I recall this particular issue called for me to give up on the idea of a PC on every desktop and just accept a couple of shared resources that would be placed in a public area. I kid you not. The powers that were, wanted to put two "personal" computers in a room for 30+ people to share. The absurdity of such a request was lost on these executives who held that a terminal view of mainframe processing was all the computing power that was needed (Pun totally intended).
In 1984, (no joke), I stood up and stated we should be giving everyone some processing power of their very own. We should use the mainframe network to share our individual accomplishments until such time as a faster more efficient method is developed. And everyone in the company should be given an email address.
The level of executive outrage and defiance that reigned down upon me was matched only by the number of people who lost their jobs as this company struggled to keep up with their competition while using outdated, slow responding, ever more expensive central computing systems, locked away in an enormous squeaky clean expanse. While I did not lose my job over this, the wasted resources and missed opportunities embraced by those who just wanted to git along like little dogies drove me and every other outlaw-rebel-maverick that remained at this company, out.
Years later I was approached by a group of trail bosses from this organization asking me to return to the fold, to rejoin the team, to help them blaze new trails and find greener pastures. I did not oblige them. As Gomer Pyle once warned, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me." This wisdom was well heeded for shortly after that recruiting session, the company imploded.
The point is, those of you who are (or were once) outlaw-rebel-mavericks should never give up your independent spirit in the name of team unity. If you disagree with the direction the team is taking you have an obligation to the larger organization to stand your ground until you are convinced that theirs is the better way or they are convinced that yours is or there can be found some alternate solution on which you can all agree. If the team proceeds without your consent and everything works out, it's okay to admit you were wrong but don't let that stop you from standing up the next time. If things go seriously wrong with their approach, don't say anything, just help fix it. If they proceed successfully down your path share the glory with the team.
If your path leads to disaster, accept the defeat, find the root cause, fix the problem and adjust your thinking accordingly. You may have to work twice as hard to convince them of your next proposal's merit, but your integrity will be unquestioned. Those of you who are not outlaw-rebel-mavericks should learn from those who are. Don't be afraid to ask your questions. Challenge the prevailing opinion, regardless of its source. Be heard, not herd. Of course if you simply agree with the direction of the team, then you still need to contribute always mindful that, having no "I" in team is not an excuse for taking YOUR eye off of innovation and improvement.
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: teamwork, office, corporate world, authors, books, publishing
As I recall this particular issue called for me to give up on the idea of a PC on every desktop and just accept a couple of shared resources that would be placed in a public area. I kid you not. The powers that were, wanted to put two "personal" computers in a room for 30+ people to share. The absurdity of such a request was lost on these executives who held that a terminal view of mainframe processing was all the computing power that was needed (Pun totally intended).
In 1984, (no joke), I stood up and stated we should be giving everyone some processing power of their very own. We should use the mainframe network to share our individual accomplishments until such time as a faster more efficient method is developed. And everyone in the company should be given an email address.
The level of executive outrage and defiance that reigned down upon me was matched only by the number of people who lost their jobs as this company struggled to keep up with their competition while using outdated, slow responding, ever more expensive central computing systems, locked away in an enormous squeaky clean expanse. While I did not lose my job over this, the wasted resources and missed opportunities embraced by those who just wanted to git along like little dogies drove me and every other outlaw-rebel-maverick that remained at this company, out.
Years later I was approached by a group of trail bosses from this organization asking me to return to the fold, to rejoin the team, to help them blaze new trails and find greener pastures. I did not oblige them. As Gomer Pyle once warned, "Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice shame on me." This wisdom was well heeded for shortly after that recruiting session, the company imploded.
The point is, those of you who are (or were once) outlaw-rebel-mavericks should never give up your independent spirit in the name of team unity. If you disagree with the direction the team is taking you have an obligation to the larger organization to stand your ground until you are convinced that theirs is the better way or they are convinced that yours is or there can be found some alternate solution on which you can all agree. If the team proceeds without your consent and everything works out, it's okay to admit you were wrong but don't let that stop you from standing up the next time. If things go seriously wrong with their approach, don't say anything, just help fix it. If they proceed successfully down your path share the glory with the team.
If your path leads to disaster, accept the defeat, find the root cause, fix the problem and adjust your thinking accordingly. You may have to work twice as hard to convince them of your next proposal's merit, but your integrity will be unquestioned. Those of you who are not outlaw-rebel-mavericks should learn from those who are. Don't be afraid to ask your questions. Challenge the prevailing opinion, regardless of its source. Be heard, not herd. Of course if you simply agree with the direction of the team, then you still need to contribute always mindful that, having no "I" in team is not an excuse for taking YOUR eye off of innovation and improvement.
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: teamwork, office, corporate world, authors, books, publishing
Opportuning
Years ago we were running laps at the end of practice. As we started our fifth lap, Coach walked out to center court dribbling the mystical orb, as he always did. He watched for the leaders to approach the end of lap five and then, without a moment's hesitation he would hurl the ball towards the basket behind him. The arc was so perfect in spite of the historical evidence we always believed, this time, he would make it. But the shot would always rim out or careen off the backboard, and our next five laps would begin.
During those next five laps coach would tell us about things to watch out for in the next game, about our well played scrimmage or about a former player who just became a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher. As the leaders approached the end of lap ten he would joke about some of us looking too fresh and maybe needing another ten. Then, without a moment's hesitation he would, again, hurl the ball towards the basket behind him. And we would all stop running to watch because, this time, despite the incredible odds against it, we knew, the shot was going in. Coach would always holler "Why are you guys stopping?" To which came the obligatory unified response, "Because you never miss the same shot twice!" followed by the swish of the lesson learned.
Much to my father's dismay, I stopped playing basketball after seventh grade, finding football more appealing to me than the sport that made my dad a legend. But I never forgot the wisdom of Coach Newsome and his unbelievable string of second-chance-basket-behind-him-midcourt shots.
A few years later, I was playing in a championship football game. We had overcome two horrendous calls made by the clearly biased refs and a much more athletic team of adversaries. With less than two minutes to go, we were in the lead and they were 80 yards from a go ahead score with no timeouts. Forty years have not been able to wipe the memory of the next play from my psyche. They lined up in the formation I had seen so many times on film and the chalk board.
I drew a bead on the halfback that would surely get the ball. But at the snap, I began to move in slow motion. I was perfectly positioned to intercept the lateral bound for my man. Yet, when it came, the ball seemed to pass right through me and end up in the hands of my opponent. I turned to tackle him, but my arms passed through him as though he were a ghost. I watched as each of my teammates tried to stop this illusion from reaching the goal line. But they were all as seemingly powerless as I. With 90 seconds to go, we drove back down field and my best friend inexplicably dropped a perfectly thrown ball in the end zone as time ran out.
Our "fans" blamed him for the loss and he took it very hard. In the locker room after the game, I announced to the team that this loss was my fault not his. If I had just made that interception or that tackle, we wouldn't have needed another touchdown. One by one each of my teammates stepped forward and announced the mistakes that they had made throughout the contest. Soon we were all feeling as miserable as the one who made the last mistake.
Coach Newsome had come in to console his good friends on the football staff. Somebody shouted, "This ain't basketball coach. We don't get a second shot at this." Coach turned and said, "Well, I'm certainly proud that after three and half years of High School, Mr. Chomski knows that he hasn't been playing basketball." Some of us smiled. "Boys, I'm not going to stand here and tell you that losing a game like this shouldn't hurt. And I'm certainly not going to tell you that this wasn't a once in a life time opportunity. It was. Now, I don't know why you weren't allowed to win here tonight. But I will tell you this. Just like the guys that are whooping it up over there in the other locker room. You're going to remember this game for the rest of your life. And because you'll remember what could have been if-you-had-just. When you're next once-in- lifetime-opportunity comes along, and believe me, you'll all see at a lot more of them, you will adjust and put yourself in a better position to emerge victorious. The important thing to remember is missing a shot does not make you a loser."
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, sports, basketball, football, teamwork, sportsmanship, life lessons
During those next five laps coach would tell us about things to watch out for in the next game, about our well played scrimmage or about a former player who just became a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher. As the leaders approached the end of lap ten he would joke about some of us looking too fresh and maybe needing another ten. Then, without a moment's hesitation he would, again, hurl the ball towards the basket behind him. And we would all stop running to watch because, this time, despite the incredible odds against it, we knew, the shot was going in. Coach would always holler "Why are you guys stopping?" To which came the obligatory unified response, "Because you never miss the same shot twice!" followed by the swish of the lesson learned.
Much to my father's dismay, I stopped playing basketball after seventh grade, finding football more appealing to me than the sport that made my dad a legend. But I never forgot the wisdom of Coach Newsome and his unbelievable string of second-chance-basket-behind-him-midcourt shots.
A few years later, I was playing in a championship football game. We had overcome two horrendous calls made by the clearly biased refs and a much more athletic team of adversaries. With less than two minutes to go, we were in the lead and they were 80 yards from a go ahead score with no timeouts. Forty years have not been able to wipe the memory of the next play from my psyche. They lined up in the formation I had seen so many times on film and the chalk board.
I drew a bead on the halfback that would surely get the ball. But at the snap, I began to move in slow motion. I was perfectly positioned to intercept the lateral bound for my man. Yet, when it came, the ball seemed to pass right through me and end up in the hands of my opponent. I turned to tackle him, but my arms passed through him as though he were a ghost. I watched as each of my teammates tried to stop this illusion from reaching the goal line. But they were all as seemingly powerless as I. With 90 seconds to go, we drove back down field and my best friend inexplicably dropped a perfectly thrown ball in the end zone as time ran out.
Our "fans" blamed him for the loss and he took it very hard. In the locker room after the game, I announced to the team that this loss was my fault not his. If I had just made that interception or that tackle, we wouldn't have needed another touchdown. One by one each of my teammates stepped forward and announced the mistakes that they had made throughout the contest. Soon we were all feeling as miserable as the one who made the last mistake.
Coach Newsome had come in to console his good friends on the football staff. Somebody shouted, "This ain't basketball coach. We don't get a second shot at this." Coach turned and said, "Well, I'm certainly proud that after three and half years of High School, Mr. Chomski knows that he hasn't been playing basketball." Some of us smiled. "Boys, I'm not going to stand here and tell you that losing a game like this shouldn't hurt. And I'm certainly not going to tell you that this wasn't a once in a life time opportunity. It was. Now, I don't know why you weren't allowed to win here tonight. But I will tell you this. Just like the guys that are whooping it up over there in the other locker room. You're going to remember this game for the rest of your life. And because you'll remember what could have been if-you-had-just. When you're next once-in- lifetime-opportunity comes along, and believe me, you'll all see at a lot more of them, you will adjust and put yourself in a better position to emerge victorious. The important thing to remember is missing a shot does not make you a loser."
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, sports, basketball, football, teamwork, sportsmanship, life lessons
Book Review: Alive! By Eileen P. DeClemente
This is a powerful book, and also a very sad one.
I run a Computer Lab, we offer free classes, and we offer free internet access. It is based in a large homeless shelter, probably the largest shelter in North America, we offer beds to over 1,100 people every night. Who are these people? Well some recent surveys show that approximately 1/3 are addicts, booze, drugs, or gambling. Another 1/3 suffer from some kind of mental health issue, and the vast majority of all of the people involved have some kind of anti social tendencies.
I was intrigued by Eileen DeClemente's book, it hit close to home. Yesterday, I had a client go into seizure in the lab, while it is not an everyday occurrence, it is not something that is rare. The first time I witnessed a seizure I was horrified. The brain short circuits, the victim literally freezes, crashes to the floor, and often twitches and convulses. It is not a pretty sight.
In Alive! A Courageous Story Of Addiction, True Love, and Forgiveness Eileen DeClemente tells her life story of addiction and recovery. It is not a pretty story. Eileen started with booze at the tender age of 11, as an adult she added prescription drugs, and street drugs. At one point her daily intake was in the region of 90 pills, a bottle vodka, and a couple of cases of beer.
The problem is, the more you do, the harder it is to get the high, and Eileen was the expert. The highs became less and less, in fact the highs went away, she needed to "use" just to maintain.
Eventually Eileen, as every addict does, crashed hard. One last seizure, one last abuse of her position as mother and wife, and one last realization that she had taken the wrong path.
Recovery is not easy, physical dependency creates physical and mental problems. We glibly refer to 'withdrawal symptoms,' they are not just symptoms, they are facts, they are a bone crushing reality.
It is estimated that 30% of people living in the US either are addicts, or know an addict. Alive! should be on every high schools reading curriculum, it reveals the story from the inside out.
Eileen was one of the lucky ones, at age 34 she woke up, but years of addiction have taken their toll. She is now 55 and diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and she freely admits that it is likely a result of her addictions.
This book is written from the heart, and includes letters from Eileen's two daughters and her pharmacist as well as facts about addiction and recovery – for addicts and their families. Topics include: growing up in a dysfunctional home; coping mechanisms; making better choices; relationships, friendship, significant others and family dynamics; parenting, healing, forgiving and loving unconditionally; seeking help and not being afraid.
This is a book that I plan on recommending to my co-workers, and a book that I recommend everyone should read. You can get your own copy from Amazon, and you can also get more information from Eileen's web site.
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: book reviews, authors, publishing, alcoholism, addiction, recovery, Alzheimer\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s
I run a Computer Lab, we offer free classes, and we offer free internet access. It is based in a large homeless shelter, probably the largest shelter in North America, we offer beds to over 1,100 people every night. Who are these people? Well some recent surveys show that approximately 1/3 are addicts, booze, drugs, or gambling. Another 1/3 suffer from some kind of mental health issue, and the vast majority of all of the people involved have some kind of anti social tendencies.
I was intrigued by Eileen DeClemente's book, it hit close to home. Yesterday, I had a client go into seizure in the lab, while it is not an everyday occurrence, it is not something that is rare. The first time I witnessed a seizure I was horrified. The brain short circuits, the victim literally freezes, crashes to the floor, and often twitches and convulses. It is not a pretty sight.
In Alive! A Courageous Story Of Addiction, True Love, and Forgiveness Eileen DeClemente tells her life story of addiction and recovery. It is not a pretty story. Eileen started with booze at the tender age of 11, as an adult she added prescription drugs, and street drugs. At one point her daily intake was in the region of 90 pills, a bottle vodka, and a couple of cases of beer.
The problem is, the more you do, the harder it is to get the high, and Eileen was the expert. The highs became less and less, in fact the highs went away, she needed to "use" just to maintain.
Eventually Eileen, as every addict does, crashed hard. One last seizure, one last abuse of her position as mother and wife, and one last realization that she had taken the wrong path.
Recovery is not easy, physical dependency creates physical and mental problems. We glibly refer to 'withdrawal symptoms,' they are not just symptoms, they are facts, they are a bone crushing reality.
It is estimated that 30% of people living in the US either are addicts, or know an addict. Alive! should be on every high schools reading curriculum, it reveals the story from the inside out.
Eileen was one of the lucky ones, at age 34 she woke up, but years of addiction have taken their toll. She is now 55 and diagnosed with Alzheimer's, and she freely admits that it is likely a result of her addictions.
This book is written from the heart, and includes letters from Eileen's two daughters and her pharmacist as well as facts about addiction and recovery – for addicts and their families. Topics include: growing up in a dysfunctional home; coping mechanisms; making better choices; relationships, friendship, significant others and family dynamics; parenting, healing, forgiving and loving unconditionally; seeking help and not being afraid.
This is a book that I plan on recommending to my co-workers, and a book that I recommend everyone should read. You can get your own copy from Amazon, and you can also get more information from Eileen's web site.
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: book reviews, authors, publishing, alcoholism, addiction, recovery, Alzheimer\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\'s
An Interview With Dan Ronco About Unholy Domain
I really enjoyed Dan Ronco's latest book, Unholy Domain, it is set in the near future, and paints a bleak picture of what might happen in the aftermath of a computer virus that spreads through the Internet. More and more the net is becoming part of the worlds infrastructure. Email is no longer a luxury, it is a necessity. If you look at 20 bill boards advertising companies you will find that 19 of them will have a www address rather than a phone number. Our reliance and acceptance of the Internet is all consuming. But is our reliance on the net too much?
I had the opportunity to ask Dan Ronco.
Being an Internet kind of a guy, I Googled you. You seem to have a pretty interesting history. Maybe you can tell us a little about yourself?
I was born into a tough neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, I learned powerful lessons about family, friendship and violence. I survived, so I consider my childhood a success. My escape was fiction, and I spent many hours reading in the local library. Nurturing a passion for technology, I went on to gain a BS in Chemical Engineering from NJIT. Not enough challenge. Always fascinated by new technologies, I was awarded a full fellowship at Columbia University and gained a MS in Nuclear Engineering. Although I designed submarine nuclear reactors for three years, I discovered I enjoyed software development more than reactor design, so I changed career direction and achieved a second MS; this one in Computer Science from RPI.
Fascinated by virtually all areas of software development, my expertise grew to include coding, design, project management, quality improvement and finally, general management. My niche was software consulting and my team assisted many large corporations and governmental organizations. Always looking for a bigger challenge, I built and managed several consulting practices. I'm especially proud of two accomplishments – assisting AT&T greatly improve the quality of the first commercial UNIX release and helping Microsoft to create a world class consulting organization. Positions held during my consulting years included Senior Principal with an international accounting/consulting firm, President, Software Technology Management Inc. and General Manager with Microsoft.
That's a pretty good bird's eye view of my career before the writing fever hit.
What was the defining moment that caused you to abandon an obviously lucrative career to become a writer?
If you ask that question to most writers, they will tell you about their first short story written at age eleven. Or nine. How they always knew they would become writers. Not me. Although I loved reading fiction at the local library, the thought of writing novels never crossed my mind. I spent an entire career in the IT business and I loved it, but as the years went by the work turned stale. And when your career becomes boring, it's time to do something else.
Anyway, I was sitting in my office at Microsoft one night, frustrated by a couple of emerging problems: the increasing number of virus attacks on my client's systems and the ongoing litigation with the Department of Justice. The more I thought about these problems, the more frustrated I became. Suddenly the obvious solution hit me – get out of this business and write a novel.
What if a great (fictional) software company lost an anti-trust lawsuit and was ripped apart by the DOJ? What if the leaders of this once-great company decided to have their revenge by building an intelligent, deadly software predator into their flagship software product? That's the premise of PeaceMaker, my first novel.
I liked the concept behind Unholy Domain, it was very cleverly put together. Also in many ways it is timely. Much has been made of hackers attacking government sites, and there has been much grumbling about 'what if' they went after a power generating station, particularly a nuclear one. Are we in danger?
Yes, but not with current technologies. Something like PeaceMaker is inevitable – but not for at least another five to ten years. Remember, PeaceMaker is speculative fiction. No existing artificial intelligence (excluding niche applications such as playing chess) can plan and execute at a level approaching human capabilities. In my novel, PeaceMaker has the ability to shut down the host computer, change or destroy data, send warning messages to its master, destroy hardware and attack anyone interfering with its objectives. A software predator could be developed today to perform many of these acts, but not with such sophisticated, adaptive decision-making abilities; one with PeaceMaker-level intelligence is still quite a few years away. I set the novel in 2012 because that's probably the earliest point such a predator could emerge (based upon my thinking in 2003). The critical breakthroughs are speech recognition and very complex modeling; once that happens, we're on the fast track to the software predator described in PeaceMaker.
In Unholy Domain you portray the Government of the day as ineffectual. Brow beaten into regulating technology. It is an interesting idea. We only have to look at the fall out from 9/11 to see steps backward being taken. International relations are at an all time low. Suddenly everyone is suspect, even traditionally friendly border crossings by Canadians or Brits have become a battle of paper, fingerprints, and distrust. A battle that friendly countries feel that they have no option but to play tit for tat. The Brits won't let Martha Stewart in, so the US responds by not giving a visa to Boy George! I view it as childish. Is making the border harder to cross (as CNN's resident idiot Lou Dobbs advocates) the answer?
Although we should exercise reasonable control over our borders, that's not the major risk factor. It's fracken (love Battlestar Galactica) technology regulation that may do us in. Government, especially Congress, is way out of its league trying to regulate technology. Or just about anything else. That's not a brilliant conclusion of mine; very few Americans believe Congress — Republican or Democrat — can provide pragmatic, competent regulation.
For example, think about what Congress has done to nuclear power. Thirty years ago nuclear power was an up and coming technology destined to provide the US with the lion's share of its energy. The Three Mile Island power station near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania changed all that. In 1979 a cooling malfunction caused part of the core to melt in the # 2 reactor at Three Mile Island. Some radioactive gas was released, but not enough to cause any dose above background levels to local residents.
Although there were no injuries or adverse health effects from the accident, poor communications in Congress and the media contributed to a sense of panic among the public, leading to a virtual ban on construction of nuclear plants lasting to this day. This despite an excellent safety record for power plants in the USA for thirty years. I am not minimizing the serious problems at Three Mile Island, but the construction of nuclear power plants should never have been halted. If we generated eighty percent of our energy through nuclear power, as France does, we would not have to depend upon unreliable kingdoms in the Middle East. And we wouldn't be filling our gas tanks with four-bucks-a-gallon (soon to go higher) gasoline.
I'll let you in on a few other brilliant moves fostered by our government. We are the only nation with huge reserves of oil that doesn't allow drilling. And to complete the hat trick, we have not built a new oil refining plant in thirty years. As a result, we have to buy oil from countries that are hostile, such as Venezuela, or with uncertain friendship, such as Saudi Arabia. With a government like this, who needs enemies? The overregulation described in Unholy Domain isn't really much of a stretch, is it?
As I understand it, Unholy Domain is the second book in a trilogy. I have not yet had a chance to read Peacemaker (hint hint) but do plan on tracking it down. When can we expect to see the final book? And can you tell us a little about it?
It is clear that technological change will turn our society upside down within the next few decades. Humans will have to adapt rapidly to gain the advantages of evolving social and technological innovations. Indeed, we will have to adapt rapidly just to survive.
I scoped out a trilogy of novels to expose three oncoming challenges; computer viruses enhanced with artificial intelligence (set in 2012), the oncoming clash between religion and technology concerning what it means to be human (2022), and the beginnings of the integration of human and artificial intelligence into a network entity (2032). Each novel is written as a thriller – packed with adventure, sex, greed and romance – as well as realistic science, technology, and government intervention. The three leading characters – Dianne Morgan, a female mega-billionaire obsessed with power; Ray Brown, her onetime lover and a brilliant software architect; and David Brown, Ray's genetically gifted son – are fascinating and all too human.
PeaceMaker, my first novel, was released in August, 2004 and Unholy Domain, was released April 2, 2008 by Kunati Books. The final novel of the trilogy, tentatively entitled Tomorrow's Children, should be released in 2009. Although the novels are consistent in world building, character and plot development, each is a stand-alone story, so they may be read in any sequence.
Genetic engineering and artificial intelligence continue to rapidly evolve in Tomorrow's Children, touching off a human uprising based in Africa against the Domain. Ray Brown leads the African tribes in their war against the increasingly human androids of Dianne Morgan's Domain. When David Brown evolves to the brink of integration with Sentinel, the most advanced AI developed by the Domain, Ray has one last chance to save his son and maintain humanity as a distinct species.
Have we become a society too reliant on technology? I ponder this question often. I wander around downtown and everywhere I look I see security cams, George Orwell had it right in 1984, he just got the date wrong. What are your thoughts?
Our modern technological society provides us with an incredibly high standard of living, but there is a price to pay. As a society, we have decided the trade-offs — reduced privacy, government intervention, complexity, etc — are acceptable. In general, I'm okay with that. Not thrilled, but realistic.
The breaking point is the combination of technology and single-minded fanaticism. Fanatics have always been dangerous, because they are ready to die to impose their beliefs on society. A century earlier, a small group of fanatics might be able to kill a few dozen people with dynamite or guns. Now, a terrorist with a weapon of mass destruction might kill hundreds of thousands. Technology empowers fanatics. To defend itself, society must employ technology. Maybe those security cams will help track down terrorists.
There's no going back. People are not willing to give up the benefits of technology, nor should they. Regulation won't stop the spread of advanced, potentially dangerous sciences such as AI, nanotechnology and genetic engineering. Fanatics have access to technology, and they are planning to use it. First question: will we be able to stop the fanatics from using WMD? Second question: how far are we willing to go to defend ourselves?
Tough issues. Since 911, there has not been another devastating attack, but maybe we've been lucky. Or maybe Homeland Security is finally doing something right (choke). The balance between safety and oppression is difficult – go too far in either direction and we're screwed. Bin Laden or Big Brother?
Thanks For chatting with us Dan. Oh and you can bet I will be keeping my eyes peeled for the last book in this trilogy.
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: book reviews, authors, publishing, technology, computers, science fiction, thrillers
I had the opportunity to ask Dan Ronco.
Being an Internet kind of a guy, I Googled you. You seem to have a pretty interesting history. Maybe you can tell us a little about yourself?
I was born into a tough neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey, I learned powerful lessons about family, friendship and violence. I survived, so I consider my childhood a success. My escape was fiction, and I spent many hours reading in the local library. Nurturing a passion for technology, I went on to gain a BS in Chemical Engineering from NJIT. Not enough challenge. Always fascinated by new technologies, I was awarded a full fellowship at Columbia University and gained a MS in Nuclear Engineering. Although I designed submarine nuclear reactors for three years, I discovered I enjoyed software development more than reactor design, so I changed career direction and achieved a second MS; this one in Computer Science from RPI.
Fascinated by virtually all areas of software development, my expertise grew to include coding, design, project management, quality improvement and finally, general management. My niche was software consulting and my team assisted many large corporations and governmental organizations. Always looking for a bigger challenge, I built and managed several consulting practices. I'm especially proud of two accomplishments – assisting AT&T greatly improve the quality of the first commercial UNIX release and helping Microsoft to create a world class consulting organization. Positions held during my consulting years included Senior Principal with an international accounting/consulting firm, President, Software Technology Management Inc. and General Manager with Microsoft.
That's a pretty good bird's eye view of my career before the writing fever hit.
What was the defining moment that caused you to abandon an obviously lucrative career to become a writer?
If you ask that question to most writers, they will tell you about their first short story written at age eleven. Or nine. How they always knew they would become writers. Not me. Although I loved reading fiction at the local library, the thought of writing novels never crossed my mind. I spent an entire career in the IT business and I loved it, but as the years went by the work turned stale. And when your career becomes boring, it's time to do something else.
Anyway, I was sitting in my office at Microsoft one night, frustrated by a couple of emerging problems: the increasing number of virus attacks on my client's systems and the ongoing litigation with the Department of Justice. The more I thought about these problems, the more frustrated I became. Suddenly the obvious solution hit me – get out of this business and write a novel.
What if a great (fictional) software company lost an anti-trust lawsuit and was ripped apart by the DOJ? What if the leaders of this once-great company decided to have their revenge by building an intelligent, deadly software predator into their flagship software product? That's the premise of PeaceMaker, my first novel.
I liked the concept behind Unholy Domain, it was very cleverly put together. Also in many ways it is timely. Much has been made of hackers attacking government sites, and there has been much grumbling about 'what if' they went after a power generating station, particularly a nuclear one. Are we in danger?
Yes, but not with current technologies. Something like PeaceMaker is inevitable – but not for at least another five to ten years. Remember, PeaceMaker is speculative fiction. No existing artificial intelligence (excluding niche applications such as playing chess) can plan and execute at a level approaching human capabilities. In my novel, PeaceMaker has the ability to shut down the host computer, change or destroy data, send warning messages to its master, destroy hardware and attack anyone interfering with its objectives. A software predator could be developed today to perform many of these acts, but not with such sophisticated, adaptive decision-making abilities; one with PeaceMaker-level intelligence is still quite a few years away. I set the novel in 2012 because that's probably the earliest point such a predator could emerge (based upon my thinking in 2003). The critical breakthroughs are speech recognition and very complex modeling; once that happens, we're on the fast track to the software predator described in PeaceMaker.
In Unholy Domain you portray the Government of the day as ineffectual. Brow beaten into regulating technology. It is an interesting idea. We only have to look at the fall out from 9/11 to see steps backward being taken. International relations are at an all time low. Suddenly everyone is suspect, even traditionally friendly border crossings by Canadians or Brits have become a battle of paper, fingerprints, and distrust. A battle that friendly countries feel that they have no option but to play tit for tat. The Brits won't let Martha Stewart in, so the US responds by not giving a visa to Boy George! I view it as childish. Is making the border harder to cross (as CNN's resident idiot Lou Dobbs advocates) the answer?
Although we should exercise reasonable control over our borders, that's not the major risk factor. It's fracken (love Battlestar Galactica) technology regulation that may do us in. Government, especially Congress, is way out of its league trying to regulate technology. Or just about anything else. That's not a brilliant conclusion of mine; very few Americans believe Congress — Republican or Democrat — can provide pragmatic, competent regulation.
For example, think about what Congress has done to nuclear power. Thirty years ago nuclear power was an up and coming technology destined to provide the US with the lion's share of its energy. The Three Mile Island power station near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania changed all that. In 1979 a cooling malfunction caused part of the core to melt in the # 2 reactor at Three Mile Island. Some radioactive gas was released, but not enough to cause any dose above background levels to local residents.
Although there were no injuries or adverse health effects from the accident, poor communications in Congress and the media contributed to a sense of panic among the public, leading to a virtual ban on construction of nuclear plants lasting to this day. This despite an excellent safety record for power plants in the USA for thirty years. I am not minimizing the serious problems at Three Mile Island, but the construction of nuclear power plants should never have been halted. If we generated eighty percent of our energy through nuclear power, as France does, we would not have to depend upon unreliable kingdoms in the Middle East. And we wouldn't be filling our gas tanks with four-bucks-a-gallon (soon to go higher) gasoline.
I'll let you in on a few other brilliant moves fostered by our government. We are the only nation with huge reserves of oil that doesn't allow drilling. And to complete the hat trick, we have not built a new oil refining plant in thirty years. As a result, we have to buy oil from countries that are hostile, such as Venezuela, or with uncertain friendship, such as Saudi Arabia. With a government like this, who needs enemies? The overregulation described in Unholy Domain isn't really much of a stretch, is it?
As I understand it, Unholy Domain is the second book in a trilogy. I have not yet had a chance to read Peacemaker (hint hint) but do plan on tracking it down. When can we expect to see the final book? And can you tell us a little about it?
It is clear that technological change will turn our society upside down within the next few decades. Humans will have to adapt rapidly to gain the advantages of evolving social and technological innovations. Indeed, we will have to adapt rapidly just to survive.
I scoped out a trilogy of novels to expose three oncoming challenges; computer viruses enhanced with artificial intelligence (set in 2012), the oncoming clash between religion and technology concerning what it means to be human (2022), and the beginnings of the integration of human and artificial intelligence into a network entity (2032). Each novel is written as a thriller – packed with adventure, sex, greed and romance – as well as realistic science, technology, and government intervention. The three leading characters – Dianne Morgan, a female mega-billionaire obsessed with power; Ray Brown, her onetime lover and a brilliant software architect; and David Brown, Ray's genetically gifted son – are fascinating and all too human.
PeaceMaker, my first novel, was released in August, 2004 and Unholy Domain, was released April 2, 2008 by Kunati Books. The final novel of the trilogy, tentatively entitled Tomorrow's Children, should be released in 2009. Although the novels are consistent in world building, character and plot development, each is a stand-alone story, so they may be read in any sequence.
Genetic engineering and artificial intelligence continue to rapidly evolve in Tomorrow's Children, touching off a human uprising based in Africa against the Domain. Ray Brown leads the African tribes in their war against the increasingly human androids of Dianne Morgan's Domain. When David Brown evolves to the brink of integration with Sentinel, the most advanced AI developed by the Domain, Ray has one last chance to save his son and maintain humanity as a distinct species.
Have we become a society too reliant on technology? I ponder this question often. I wander around downtown and everywhere I look I see security cams, George Orwell had it right in 1984, he just got the date wrong. What are your thoughts?
Our modern technological society provides us with an incredibly high standard of living, but there is a price to pay. As a society, we have decided the trade-offs — reduced privacy, government intervention, complexity, etc — are acceptable. In general, I'm okay with that. Not thrilled, but realistic.
The breaking point is the combination of technology and single-minded fanaticism. Fanatics have always been dangerous, because they are ready to die to impose their beliefs on society. A century earlier, a small group of fanatics might be able to kill a few dozen people with dynamite or guns. Now, a terrorist with a weapon of mass destruction might kill hundreds of thousands. Technology empowers fanatics. To defend itself, society must employ technology. Maybe those security cams will help track down terrorists.
There's no going back. People are not willing to give up the benefits of technology, nor should they. Regulation won't stop the spread of advanced, potentially dangerous sciences such as AI, nanotechnology and genetic engineering. Fanatics have access to technology, and they are planning to use it. First question: will we be able to stop the fanatics from using WMD? Second question: how far are we willing to go to defend ourselves?
Tough issues. Since 911, there has not been another devastating attack, but maybe we've been lucky. Or maybe Homeland Security is finally doing something right (choke). The balance between safety and oppression is difficult – go too far in either direction and we're screwed. Bin Laden or Big Brother?
Thanks For chatting with us Dan. Oh and you can bet I will be keeping my eyes peeled for the last book in this trilogy.
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: book reviews, authors, publishing, technology, computers, science fiction, thrillers
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Writing Reviews Online Can Be Profitable
Writing reviews for blogs and websites is a lucrative online business option if you enjoy writing. Everyday new films, books and products are launched. Most of us always wait for a review before actually trying out something new. There are many websites that are dedicated towards providing reviews and comparisons to people and prospective buyers. For example, www.mouthshut.com, www.about.com, etc provide comprehensive reviews of products starting from cameras to tour packages. In fact various websites that sell products or provide online auctions also require reviews for the products on sale.
Although many such sites use the regular visitors and website members to contribute their reviews as personal experiences and are mostly non-paid services, there are websites that actively employ freelance writers to write reviews. While writing reviews seem to be an apparently easy task, it is important to understand that for reviews to be well-received by the audience and to have a loyal follower base for your reviews, your writing must be precise. It is not about thrashing a certain product or just eulogizing it – it is more about striking the right balance.
Here are some tips that can help you in writing online reviews:
·First and foremost, remember that the media of communication that you are using is online. People mostly resort to online content when they are in a hurry and want to catch some information on go. This should dictate your content and your write-up. The key is to keep it succinct and to the point. In this jet age no one has time to read for pages.
·Secondly, remember to understand your target audience and modify your language accordingly. If you are writing a review for a high-end digital SLR camera, use the vocabulary that suits the target audience – professional and serious photographers and do not use words that you may use while writing a food review.
·Review is about critically evaluating a product. Very rarely would you come across a product that is perfect or completely useless. So your review should strike the right balance. Point out the positive qualities of the product and remember to highlight the negative points as well, if an. Give the prospective buyer a work-around the negative qualities – this is called value-addition.
·Finally, it is not absolutely necessary that you must try each product before writing a review on it. But what you must do is study the features of each product thoroughly and understand the various functionalities. You must be able to conceptualize how a particular feature of a product may help the buyer and write accordingly. However when it comes it films or food reviews, the suggestion would be to try it before writing a review. Generally readers can also differentiate between a genuine feature and a fake one.
The best part about writing reviews is that if your writing is credible and your audience enjoys your features, you will soon earn a name for yourself which will help you immensely in furthering your business.
About the Author:
Larry McCullough has been marketing and writing on the internet for over 10 years. Owner of various websites. http://6fig.com Blog: http://clubblogger.com
Keyword tags: hosting,blogging,bloggers,marketing,internet,make money,business,home business,work at home,writing,
Although many such sites use the regular visitors and website members to contribute their reviews as personal experiences and are mostly non-paid services, there are websites that actively employ freelance writers to write reviews. While writing reviews seem to be an apparently easy task, it is important to understand that for reviews to be well-received by the audience and to have a loyal follower base for your reviews, your writing must be precise. It is not about thrashing a certain product or just eulogizing it – it is more about striking the right balance.
Here are some tips that can help you in writing online reviews:
·First and foremost, remember that the media of communication that you are using is online. People mostly resort to online content when they are in a hurry and want to catch some information on go. This should dictate your content and your write-up. The key is to keep it succinct and to the point. In this jet age no one has time to read for pages.
·Secondly, remember to understand your target audience and modify your language accordingly. If you are writing a review for a high-end digital SLR camera, use the vocabulary that suits the target audience – professional and serious photographers and do not use words that you may use while writing a food review.
·Review is about critically evaluating a product. Very rarely would you come across a product that is perfect or completely useless. So your review should strike the right balance. Point out the positive qualities of the product and remember to highlight the negative points as well, if an. Give the prospective buyer a work-around the negative qualities – this is called value-addition.
·Finally, it is not absolutely necessary that you must try each product before writing a review on it. But what you must do is study the features of each product thoroughly and understand the various functionalities. You must be able to conceptualize how a particular feature of a product may help the buyer and write accordingly. However when it comes it films or food reviews, the suggestion would be to try it before writing a review. Generally readers can also differentiate between a genuine feature and a fake one.
The best part about writing reviews is that if your writing is credible and your audience enjoys your features, you will soon earn a name for yourself which will help you immensely in furthering your business.
About the Author:
Larry McCullough has been marketing and writing on the internet for over 10 years. Owner of various websites. http://6fig.com Blog: http://clubblogger.com
Keyword tags: hosting,blogging,bloggers,marketing,internet,make money,business,home business,work at home,writing,
Friday, July 11, 2008
Why Use a Freelance Copywriter?
Content is king
The phrase 'content is king' originated on the web, reminding us that information is more valuable than visuals. But the principle holds true for every kind of communication. Although presentation and branding are important, what you way is ultimately more important than how you say it.
A copywriter helps you establish exactly what you're trying to say, and to whom. Then they find the words to express it as clearly as possible, in a way your audience will understand. So when people meet your marketing, they will immediately see why your product or service is important and relevant to them. Making this first, basic connection is far more important than trying to impress people with flashy design.
A sound investment
Content comes remarkably cheap, considering how crucial it is. Even if you're just creating a basic leaflet, your design and print will cost far more than a freelance copywriter.
Moreover, your copy can live on and on. For example, a concise summary of what your business does might work very well on your website's home page, welcoming visitors and confirming that they've found what they were searching for. But it could also be used in leaflets, brochures, presentations, reports, directory listings and sales letters. In fact, it's an indispensable part of your marketing, and will pay for itself many times over.
Don't do it yourself
While you probably can't print your own brochure or build your own website, you can certainly do your own copywriting. The tools of the trade are in your hands right now. We write all the time at work, then blog in our spare time. Couldn't you just write it yourself and save the money?
Of course you could. Many people do, and the results are all around us: dull websites, unread sales letters and confusing presentations. And those who get professional help with their copywriting are grateful, because it means they stand out from the crowd. As Red Adair said: 'If you think hiring a professional is expensive, try hiring an amateur.'
Not sexy enough?
Some of the reluctance to hire freelance copywriters may be to do with product perceptions. Designers can dazzle you with their visual invention. Web developers can grant you access to a password-protected secret garden where your new site is being carefully cultivated. Print reps can bring in boxes of your wonderful, shiny new brochure. But copywriters just email you a boring old Word document.
You need to think carefully about the business value of what you're buying. While it's important to reach the appropriate quality standard, marketing should not be a creative love-in where you just indulge your own sensory whims. Every component of the marketing machine should perform as well as it can.
The view from outside
It is very easy to get too close to a communication project. The result is too much focus on in-house concerns, or a lack of essential background. There's a danger of overestimating what the audience knows - or how much they care. A freelance copywriter can help by taking the part of the audience and ensuring the fundamentals are covered.
By asking very basic questions, the copywriter can sometimes find new angles and approaches, or uncover key issues that need to be addressed. In fact, a willingness to look a bit stupid can be a real asset to a writer. As Zen master Shunryu Suzuki put it: 'In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.'
Making ideas real
Creative dialogue can help to firm up the details of a new product, service or business plan. Some clients value this 'strategic conversation' with a freelance writer more than the words themselves. In the early stages, writing down an idea is a crucial step towards making it real. But it's essential to choose your words carefully if you want that idea to develop in the right direction.
Working with a copywriter brings focus to that process. Since good writing is about achieving clarity and avoiding ambiguity, involving a copywriter often forces the client to resolve conflicts and choose between mutually exclusive options. This can help to get projects on the right track.
Words are very powerful, shaping the way we think about ourselves and the world. On one level, the company description discussed above is just content to fill up your home page. But on another, it's the essence of how you want your business to be perceived – by your people, your customers and the world at large. Since this goes to the very heart of your strategy as a business, it's easy to see why freelance copywriters who can add value in this area are so appreciated by their clients.
About the Author:
Visit http://www.abccopywriting.com for more information on freelance copywriter services.
Keyword tags: freelance copywriter, copywriting, copywriting services
The phrase 'content is king' originated on the web, reminding us that information is more valuable than visuals. But the principle holds true for every kind of communication. Although presentation and branding are important, what you way is ultimately more important than how you say it.
A copywriter helps you establish exactly what you're trying to say, and to whom. Then they find the words to express it as clearly as possible, in a way your audience will understand. So when people meet your marketing, they will immediately see why your product or service is important and relevant to them. Making this first, basic connection is far more important than trying to impress people with flashy design.
A sound investment
Content comes remarkably cheap, considering how crucial it is. Even if you're just creating a basic leaflet, your design and print will cost far more than a freelance copywriter.
Moreover, your copy can live on and on. For example, a concise summary of what your business does might work very well on your website's home page, welcoming visitors and confirming that they've found what they were searching for. But it could also be used in leaflets, brochures, presentations, reports, directory listings and sales letters. In fact, it's an indispensable part of your marketing, and will pay for itself many times over.
Don't do it yourself
While you probably can't print your own brochure or build your own website, you can certainly do your own copywriting. The tools of the trade are in your hands right now. We write all the time at work, then blog in our spare time. Couldn't you just write it yourself and save the money?
Of course you could. Many people do, and the results are all around us: dull websites, unread sales letters and confusing presentations. And those who get professional help with their copywriting are grateful, because it means they stand out from the crowd. As Red Adair said: 'If you think hiring a professional is expensive, try hiring an amateur.'
Not sexy enough?
Some of the reluctance to hire freelance copywriters may be to do with product perceptions. Designers can dazzle you with their visual invention. Web developers can grant you access to a password-protected secret garden where your new site is being carefully cultivated. Print reps can bring in boxes of your wonderful, shiny new brochure. But copywriters just email you a boring old Word document.
You need to think carefully about the business value of what you're buying. While it's important to reach the appropriate quality standard, marketing should not be a creative love-in where you just indulge your own sensory whims. Every component of the marketing machine should perform as well as it can.
The view from outside
It is very easy to get too close to a communication project. The result is too much focus on in-house concerns, or a lack of essential background. There's a danger of overestimating what the audience knows - or how much they care. A freelance copywriter can help by taking the part of the audience and ensuring the fundamentals are covered.
By asking very basic questions, the copywriter can sometimes find new angles and approaches, or uncover key issues that need to be addressed. In fact, a willingness to look a bit stupid can be a real asset to a writer. As Zen master Shunryu Suzuki put it: 'In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities; in the expert's mind there are few.'
Making ideas real
Creative dialogue can help to firm up the details of a new product, service or business plan. Some clients value this 'strategic conversation' with a freelance writer more than the words themselves. In the early stages, writing down an idea is a crucial step towards making it real. But it's essential to choose your words carefully if you want that idea to develop in the right direction.
Working with a copywriter brings focus to that process. Since good writing is about achieving clarity and avoiding ambiguity, involving a copywriter often forces the client to resolve conflicts and choose between mutually exclusive options. This can help to get projects on the right track.
Words are very powerful, shaping the way we think about ourselves and the world. On one level, the company description discussed above is just content to fill up your home page. But on another, it's the essence of how you want your business to be perceived – by your people, your customers and the world at large. Since this goes to the very heart of your strategy as a business, it's easy to see why freelance copywriters who can add value in this area are so appreciated by their clients.
About the Author:
Visit http://www.abccopywriting.com for more information on freelance copywriter services.
Keyword tags: freelance copywriter, copywriting, copywriting services
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
How to Publish a Best Selling Book
Having a book published is every writers dream. Whether it is a fiction book or a non-fiction or educational book that has been written; most people write a book in order to get it published. So, if you are a writer and you have just written "The End" on your novel or literature, how do you go about getting a book published?
Well, there are a few different methods that you might want to try. The first is self publishing. Self publishing is the process of publishing a book without having an agent, and without using a publisher that will distribute your book into stores. If you choose to self publish a book, you need to find a printer that does specialize in printing books. You also have to be aware that when you self publish a book, you are responsible for promoting and selling the book. You can contact local book stores that are not branded to get your book into shops. You can also sell them on the Internet on your own website, or ask others to sell and promote for you.
Some people believe that self publishing is an easy way to get your book in print it may be easy to get it into print, but it is extremely difficult for an unknown writer to sell their book and get it into stores when it is self published. Some writers are opting for self publishing rather than any other way, as they wish to get rid of the need for an agent or to find a publisher that will publish a book without an agent.
The more traditional way of getting a book published is to find a literary agent first. This stops the writer having to come up with deals with publishers, finding stores to take the book and to eliminate the stress of printing and approving the book. This gives the writer much more time to do what they do best... write.
To find an agent, a writer will normally have to send in a covering letter about themselves, a synopsis of the book they have written, which will detail the basic plot line of the book, and two or three chapters of the book usually the first three. Most agents won't accept email submissions from writers, particularly new ones, and they will require you to send it through the post in hard copy.
The agents are your direct line to the giant publishers that command the literary world. They have inside contacts usually with the highest person at the publishers and they can discuss and negotiate a deal for you that would be much better if you were to contact the publisher direct. Of course, if you do find an agent to represent you, they will expect a fee for their work. After all, it is the agent that got you to where you are is it not? The fee can vary greatly depending on what agent you choose to go with.
If after sending your work in the agents are really keen on representing you, you could try negotiating the price of their fee down. If they are keen to have you and spot real talent, they will not want you to go to another agent and take your success with you. Having a book published is a wonderful thing for any writer! Choose your agent wisely and keep going.
About the Author:
http://www.book-template.com book template
http://www.ebook-template.com ebook template
Keyword tags: book template,self publish,self publish book,print on demand,writing,word template
Well, there are a few different methods that you might want to try. The first is self publishing. Self publishing is the process of publishing a book without having an agent, and without using a publisher that will distribute your book into stores. If you choose to self publish a book, you need to find a printer that does specialize in printing books. You also have to be aware that when you self publish a book, you are responsible for promoting and selling the book. You can contact local book stores that are not branded to get your book into shops. You can also sell them on the Internet on your own website, or ask others to sell and promote for you.
Some people believe that self publishing is an easy way to get your book in print it may be easy to get it into print, but it is extremely difficult for an unknown writer to sell their book and get it into stores when it is self published. Some writers are opting for self publishing rather than any other way, as they wish to get rid of the need for an agent or to find a publisher that will publish a book without an agent.
The more traditional way of getting a book published is to find a literary agent first. This stops the writer having to come up with deals with publishers, finding stores to take the book and to eliminate the stress of printing and approving the book. This gives the writer much more time to do what they do best... write.
To find an agent, a writer will normally have to send in a covering letter about themselves, a synopsis of the book they have written, which will detail the basic plot line of the book, and two or three chapters of the book usually the first three. Most agents won't accept email submissions from writers, particularly new ones, and they will require you to send it through the post in hard copy.
The agents are your direct line to the giant publishers that command the literary world. They have inside contacts usually with the highest person at the publishers and they can discuss and negotiate a deal for you that would be much better if you were to contact the publisher direct. Of course, if you do find an agent to represent you, they will expect a fee for their work. After all, it is the agent that got you to where you are is it not? The fee can vary greatly depending on what agent you choose to go with.
If after sending your work in the agents are really keen on representing you, you could try negotiating the price of their fee down. If they are keen to have you and spot real talent, they will not want you to go to another agent and take your success with you. Having a book published is a wonderful thing for any writer! Choose your agent wisely and keep going.
About the Author:
http://www.book-template.com book template
http://www.ebook-template.com ebook template
Keyword tags: book template,self publish,self publish book,print on demand,writing,word template
Monday, July 7, 2008
Love is an Eleven Letter Word
Have you ever been so in love that the rest of the world seemed to be at a standstill? When the object of your affection is right in front of you or as far as a step across the street, nothing else matters. The sunlight glistens in such a way on your beloved that the sparkle from the reflection drenches your face and dazzles your vision, making you oblivious to everything around you.
Looking out my window, I see the love of my life, sitting there just a few yards away, serenely waiting for me. I'll never forget the documentary film maker from London who, after an hour long interview with me, met you and was obviously enamored. He literally was speechless as he stared at you. When he tried to say something witty, I interrupted with, "Beautiful, isn't she?" I think he was genuinely embarrassed and not sure how to reply. Previously he had been so eloquent in his questions about my work as a celebrity personal assistant. Now he was dumbfounded. Love does that to people. Well, in his case it wasn't love, it was down right lust.
Suddenly, I'm in a trance, dreaming about the all the times we've spent together, and all the heads we've turned over the years.
Remember that leisurely drive up the Southern California coast, Josh Groban's song Alla Luce del Sole blasting from the stereo? We stopped to watch the waves softly kiss the shore in Santa Barbara. The breeze was wafting through my hair, feeling like a gentle caress. A light rain began to fall, covering us both with tiny beads of water. Instead of running for cover, we remain, transfixed, as droplets continue to fall, unaware of our surroundings, drinking in the moment.
What is it about love that can do this to a person? Songs have been sung, poems have been written, art has been created, and empires have fallen over the love of one. I don't profess to be a conqueror, composer, painter, or poet, but I do know that I'm a lover. Today my beloved is waiting for me.
Love is an eleven letter word: convertible. This sensuous Lexus SC430 silver convertible with satellite radio, custom alloy wheels, and -- sigh, seat warmers, is, truth be told, owned by my boss. But due to a series of events too complicated to explain here, this car has become my daily transportation for the last nine months. It's just one of the benefits of being a celebrity personal assistant. People often assume celebrity personal assistants get to enjoy many perks because they work for famous people. Yes, there's a plus side, but I want you to know that I don't think of driving the boss's car as a mere perk. It's so much more than that. It's a thrill. It's bliss. It's ecstasy. It's rapture. For want of a better word, it's kismet.
Well, I need to go now. I have a date with my own (okay, it's really my owner's) true love.
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: celebrity, personal assistant, job perks, Lexus, divas, California
Looking out my window, I see the love of my life, sitting there just a few yards away, serenely waiting for me. I'll never forget the documentary film maker from London who, after an hour long interview with me, met you and was obviously enamored. He literally was speechless as he stared at you. When he tried to say something witty, I interrupted with, "Beautiful, isn't she?" I think he was genuinely embarrassed and not sure how to reply. Previously he had been so eloquent in his questions about my work as a celebrity personal assistant. Now he was dumbfounded. Love does that to people. Well, in his case it wasn't love, it was down right lust.
Suddenly, I'm in a trance, dreaming about the all the times we've spent together, and all the heads we've turned over the years.
Remember that leisurely drive up the Southern California coast, Josh Groban's song Alla Luce del Sole blasting from the stereo? We stopped to watch the waves softly kiss the shore in Santa Barbara. The breeze was wafting through my hair, feeling like a gentle caress. A light rain began to fall, covering us both with tiny beads of water. Instead of running for cover, we remain, transfixed, as droplets continue to fall, unaware of our surroundings, drinking in the moment.
What is it about love that can do this to a person? Songs have been sung, poems have been written, art has been created, and empires have fallen over the love of one. I don't profess to be a conqueror, composer, painter, or poet, but I do know that I'm a lover. Today my beloved is waiting for me.
Love is an eleven letter word: convertible. This sensuous Lexus SC430 silver convertible with satellite radio, custom alloy wheels, and -- sigh, seat warmers, is, truth be told, owned by my boss. But due to a series of events too complicated to explain here, this car has become my daily transportation for the last nine months. It's just one of the benefits of being a celebrity personal assistant. People often assume celebrity personal assistants get to enjoy many perks because they work for famous people. Yes, there's a plus side, but I want you to know that I don't think of driving the boss's car as a mere perk. It's so much more than that. It's a thrill. It's bliss. It's ecstasy. It's rapture. For want of a better word, it's kismet.
Well, I need to go now. I have a date with my own (okay, it's really my owner's) true love.
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: celebrity, personal assistant, job perks, Lexus, divas, California
Got Gift? Don\t Worry You\ll Get It
Imagine a twelve year old boy about to experience his coming of age ritual. He is told that among his peers in this ceremony, he and he alone must not neglect the gift he has for it was given him by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon him.
"What gift?" he cries. But his desperate query is met only with the all knowing smiles of those around him. A redirect of "No, seriously what is my gift?" produces no further response. A final, "How am I supposed to not neglect it, if I don't know what it is?" yields nothing as the rite of passage begins.
So goes my story from some 43 years ago. When the mystical command from First Timothy 4:14 was inscribed in my bible on the day of my confirmation into the Lutheran Church. Back then my attention span was, well, that of a twelve year old. Thoughts of food, music, TV, movies, sports, cars and, suddenly, even girls quickly supplanted this call to pursue my true calling.
A few years later I was packing for college. I spied that bible on my sparsely populated book shelf. "What was that verse again?" I found the inscription and read the passage anew, still nothin'. Pastor L, the minister who stuck me with the words, had left our church and our area. So I couldn't very well ask him about it now. Ah well, it would keep. I placed the book back on the shelf and left for school. I would have plenty of new books to study. Besides I had thoughts of food, music, girls, sports, studying, living on my own and, suddenly, young women to occupy my brain.
Some thirty-five years later, I was unpacking our household as we moved into our new home and there in my hand was that bible. Oh ya, First Timothy and the gift again. This time I set out to find Pastor L. If I had been neglecting this gift for 40 years, I was going to be in big trouble with those prophetic elders. I had to find him. Google and People Finder generated a full name, a physical address and, more importantly, an email address. "Dear Pastor L. NOW will you tell me what my gift is?" A few days went by and the reply came. "You probably want my dad I wasn't even born in 1966. He's in the process of moving. I will forward your information to him as soon as he gets settled." Thoughts of food, a new job, a new house, movies, sports and grand children quickly supplanted my desire to fulfill my destiny.
About 18 months ago, at the age of 54, I determined that while the software industry had been very, very good to me it was time for me to think about a different career. As I entered my second adulthood, I identified five new career paths to investigate. My research and related activities lead me to write a 92,000 word novel about a utopian community built on the premise of, what else, not neglecting our gifts. Then, hand to God, the hand of God delivered two things to me on February 15th, 2008. The first was ten "proof" copies of my paperback book. The second, an email from Pastor L asking, among other things, when he was going to see my name associated with a book or a movie or a television show.
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: utopia, pursuing your passion, dreams, talent, prophecy, coming of age
"What gift?" he cries. But his desperate query is met only with the all knowing smiles of those around him. A redirect of "No, seriously what is my gift?" produces no further response. A final, "How am I supposed to not neglect it, if I don't know what it is?" yields nothing as the rite of passage begins.
So goes my story from some 43 years ago. When the mystical command from First Timothy 4:14 was inscribed in my bible on the day of my confirmation into the Lutheran Church. Back then my attention span was, well, that of a twelve year old. Thoughts of food, music, TV, movies, sports, cars and, suddenly, even girls quickly supplanted this call to pursue my true calling.
A few years later I was packing for college. I spied that bible on my sparsely populated book shelf. "What was that verse again?" I found the inscription and read the passage anew, still nothin'. Pastor L, the minister who stuck me with the words, had left our church and our area. So I couldn't very well ask him about it now. Ah well, it would keep. I placed the book back on the shelf and left for school. I would have plenty of new books to study. Besides I had thoughts of food, music, girls, sports, studying, living on my own and, suddenly, young women to occupy my brain.
Some thirty-five years later, I was unpacking our household as we moved into our new home and there in my hand was that bible. Oh ya, First Timothy and the gift again. This time I set out to find Pastor L. If I had been neglecting this gift for 40 years, I was going to be in big trouble with those prophetic elders. I had to find him. Google and People Finder generated a full name, a physical address and, more importantly, an email address. "Dear Pastor L. NOW will you tell me what my gift is?" A few days went by and the reply came. "You probably want my dad I wasn't even born in 1966. He's in the process of moving. I will forward your information to him as soon as he gets settled." Thoughts of food, a new job, a new house, movies, sports and grand children quickly supplanted my desire to fulfill my destiny.
About 18 months ago, at the age of 54, I determined that while the software industry had been very, very good to me it was time for me to think about a different career. As I entered my second adulthood, I identified five new career paths to investigate. My research and related activities lead me to write a 92,000 word novel about a utopian community built on the premise of, what else, not neglecting our gifts. Then, hand to God, the hand of God delivered two things to me on February 15th, 2008. The first was ten "proof" copies of my paperback book. The second, an email from Pastor L asking, among other things, when he was going to see my name associated with a book or a movie or a television show.
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: utopia, pursuing your passion, dreams, talent, prophecy, coming of age
Start Your Own Blog and Add Some Spice to Your Retirement
It's so easy to start up and doesn't cost a penny. Thousands are doing it…many of them retirees…and having the time of their lives. How about you?
First, let's lay to rest the principal myths that are holding you back:
• I don't have the technical skills or knowledge
• It probably costs more than I can afford
• I'm not a real news junkie
• I don't have the time to spend adding new items
Hogwash! Anyone with a modicum of intelligence, a bit of curiosity and two or three hours a week can turn out a fine blog and have an enriching experience doing it. And it's free. With easy-to-follow guides like Google's www.blogger.com, you can have your blog up and running within an hour. What a great way to keep your mind active by writing after retirement and to develop contacts with others who share your interests.
Write on Your Favorite Subject
Blogs are circulated on almost any subject you can imagine. At the end of this article, you will find a listing of several blog directories that will show you the broad cross-section of topics discussed. It will also help you find and view other blogs that deal with the subject you've chosen. That way, you can get a better idea of how others are presenting information. Some blogs are simply personal ramblings and diaries. Others tackle serious issues from politics to hobbies. There are no restrictions. It's up to you.
Today there are in the area of 30 million active blogs worldwide. In addition to personalized diaries, they represent a key source of news, knowledge and opinion. They are stealing readership from newspapers and print magazines. They have become major selling tools for businesses and excellent sources of information for surfers.
The blogosphere is magical. Despite the massive number of blogs in existence, you can attract large numbers of readers to your own. You have the opportunity of competing with your biggest and wealthiest competitors because with this great, no-cost innovation, the playing field has been leveled.
Obviously, it requires a good deal of time and effort to make yours one of the leaders of the blogosphere. The top bloggers constantly research current events and trends and post daily. Some do it hourly to compete with other news media. But unless yours is a news or political blog, there is no need to post that frequently.
You can reach out to literally millions of viewers on the World Wide Web with a schedule of one posting a week or better yet two or three. But you have to be willing to maintain that routine meticulously.
For example, I post once a week to my blog www.retirement-writing.com/blog and include four posts covering news of the publishing industry plus an instructional column in writing and publishing. If I preferred, I could have reduced the number of articles I add at a single posting, but increase the number of times I post to three or four a week. I tell you this only to demonstrate the flexibility you have as a blogger. But whatever schedule you select, you must follow it exactly.
Setting It Up
As I pointed out earlier, launching a blog can be simple and cost free. Click onto www.blogger.com to find Google's do-it-yourself guide. With just the few easy steps, you can create your own unique blog. If you're unsure of your ability to do this or want your blog to have a more professional appearance, you can choose to hire a professional designer to set it up.
Enter "Blog Designers" on your favorite search engine to find professionals to assist you. I have used Premiss Design (Philadelphia, PA) and My Computer Guy (Tampa, FL) for some of my work. They are very cooperative, highly skilled and their fees are modest.
Ten Ideas to Help You Gain the Most from Your Blog
Content Rules No matter what else you do to make your blog appealing, the key is the quality of your content. Keep it relevant or you'll lose readers. As an expert in your field, you should have no problem finding ideas for articles. As an author you should have no difficulty presenting them in an interesting and easy-to-read manner.
Provide the Information Readers Want The blog is an amazing place to find information because posts are archived. But it is up to you, the writer, to be sure the information you include has real meaning.
Keep it informal The key is to relate personally to your readers, try and keep your copy relaxed and informal as you write. It should reflect you and the way you think and talk. No hard sell even though one of the principal reasons for maintaining your blog may be to sell books (or e-books, coaching, etc). The blog is not the place for heavy promotion. It is more a center for information, exchange of ideas and a link to your web site.
Brand Yourself The blog is a great tool to establish your credibility and demonstrate your expertise on the topic you have chosen to discuss.
Personalize Your Business The purpose of what I suggest in the above paragraphs is to personalize your business, to create an intimacy, to break down the barrier between the reader (potential buyer) and you (salesperson). The result should be a greater degree of confidence on the part of the reader for your integrity and knowledge.
Offer Interactivity Make sure your blog offers your readers the chance to comment on your post. I also encourage readers to send in questions on any aspect of writing, publishing or promoting either through a post or by writing to one of my e-mail addresses charles@retirement-writing.com. We try and answer within 24 hours.
Send Potential Buyers to Your Web Site Mentioning your products in places where they relate to the subject you are writing about is fine. But keep it soft sell, and refer your readers to your web site for the heavy push. You can promote on your blog, but do it with a light touch, not a hammer. As an example, when I moved a large box promoting my new book The Writer Within You from the main section of my blog, decreased the size and boldness appreciably and relegated the promo to a column on the side of the page, sales increased. That may conflict with many of advertising's basic premises, but the blog is a unique place where readers are looking for opinion and information.
Post Often Regardless of how difficult it may be to add content continuously to your blog, it is essential if you are to keep readers coming back. Major blogs update throughout the day. But this isn't necessary if you aren't aiming your blog at news junkies. Three times a week is a very comfortable schedule. I post a new blog weekly.
Don't Wander People reading your blog are specifically interested in the subject you cover. Don't wander off to other issues. Stay on topic. However, whenever you can, hook your topic to some current happening to make it even more interesting to your reader. The hook may be the result of an event of major importance, it may be the weather, a holiday, whatever. But it must be relevant.
Become Active Now that you are a member of the blogging community, participate actively. Make a list of blogs that relate to your topic, and periodically view them and post comments. (Find them by perusing the list of blog directories at the end of this article.) As you participate, you'll find your own blog will gain more attention. Having your name on a comment in a highly successful blog with a wide audience will motivate a portion of that blog's readers to see what you are all about.
Follow these suggestions and when you become more skilled, you can install an RSS feed and even bookmark some of your posts with sites like Digg or Del.icio.us.
To help you locate blogs that cover your subject, try these blog search engines.
www.blogsearch.google.com,
www.globeofblogs.com,
www.blogcatalog.com
About the Author:
Visit the web site of Charles Jacobs, author and book coach, for free articles and e-books http://www.retirement-writing.com. His latest book "The Writer Within You" received six awards as one of the Best Books of the Year. Learn more and buy it at http://www.retireandwrite.com.
Keyword tags: retirement, retirees, write
First, let's lay to rest the principal myths that are holding you back:
• I don't have the technical skills or knowledge
• It probably costs more than I can afford
• I'm not a real news junkie
• I don't have the time to spend adding new items
Hogwash! Anyone with a modicum of intelligence, a bit of curiosity and two or three hours a week can turn out a fine blog and have an enriching experience doing it. And it's free. With easy-to-follow guides like Google's www.blogger.com, you can have your blog up and running within an hour. What a great way to keep your mind active by writing after retirement and to develop contacts with others who share your interests.
Write on Your Favorite Subject
Blogs are circulated on almost any subject you can imagine. At the end of this article, you will find a listing of several blog directories that will show you the broad cross-section of topics discussed. It will also help you find and view other blogs that deal with the subject you've chosen. That way, you can get a better idea of how others are presenting information. Some blogs are simply personal ramblings and diaries. Others tackle serious issues from politics to hobbies. There are no restrictions. It's up to you.
Today there are in the area of 30 million active blogs worldwide. In addition to personalized diaries, they represent a key source of news, knowledge and opinion. They are stealing readership from newspapers and print magazines. They have become major selling tools for businesses and excellent sources of information for surfers.
The blogosphere is magical. Despite the massive number of blogs in existence, you can attract large numbers of readers to your own. You have the opportunity of competing with your biggest and wealthiest competitors because with this great, no-cost innovation, the playing field has been leveled.
Obviously, it requires a good deal of time and effort to make yours one of the leaders of the blogosphere. The top bloggers constantly research current events and trends and post daily. Some do it hourly to compete with other news media. But unless yours is a news or political blog, there is no need to post that frequently.
You can reach out to literally millions of viewers on the World Wide Web with a schedule of one posting a week or better yet two or three. But you have to be willing to maintain that routine meticulously.
For example, I post once a week to my blog www.retirement-writing.com/blog and include four posts covering news of the publishing industry plus an instructional column in writing and publishing. If I preferred, I could have reduced the number of articles I add at a single posting, but increase the number of times I post to three or four a week. I tell you this only to demonstrate the flexibility you have as a blogger. But whatever schedule you select, you must follow it exactly.
Setting It Up
As I pointed out earlier, launching a blog can be simple and cost free. Click onto www.blogger.com to find Google's do-it-yourself guide. With just the few easy steps, you can create your own unique blog. If you're unsure of your ability to do this or want your blog to have a more professional appearance, you can choose to hire a professional designer to set it up.
Enter "Blog Designers" on your favorite search engine to find professionals to assist you. I have used Premiss Design (Philadelphia, PA) and My Computer Guy (Tampa, FL) for some of my work. They are very cooperative, highly skilled and their fees are modest.
Ten Ideas to Help You Gain the Most from Your Blog
Content Rules No matter what else you do to make your blog appealing, the key is the quality of your content. Keep it relevant or you'll lose readers. As an expert in your field, you should have no problem finding ideas for articles. As an author you should have no difficulty presenting them in an interesting and easy-to-read manner.
Provide the Information Readers Want The blog is an amazing place to find information because posts are archived. But it is up to you, the writer, to be sure the information you include has real meaning.
Keep it informal The key is to relate personally to your readers, try and keep your copy relaxed and informal as you write. It should reflect you and the way you think and talk. No hard sell even though one of the principal reasons for maintaining your blog may be to sell books (or e-books, coaching, etc). The blog is not the place for heavy promotion. It is more a center for information, exchange of ideas and a link to your web site.
Brand Yourself The blog is a great tool to establish your credibility and demonstrate your expertise on the topic you have chosen to discuss.
Personalize Your Business The purpose of what I suggest in the above paragraphs is to personalize your business, to create an intimacy, to break down the barrier between the reader (potential buyer) and you (salesperson). The result should be a greater degree of confidence on the part of the reader for your integrity and knowledge.
Offer Interactivity Make sure your blog offers your readers the chance to comment on your post. I also encourage readers to send in questions on any aspect of writing, publishing or promoting either through a post or by writing to one of my e-mail addresses charles@retirement-writing.com. We try and answer within 24 hours.
Send Potential Buyers to Your Web Site Mentioning your products in places where they relate to the subject you are writing about is fine. But keep it soft sell, and refer your readers to your web site for the heavy push. You can promote on your blog, but do it with a light touch, not a hammer. As an example, when I moved a large box promoting my new book The Writer Within You from the main section of my blog, decreased the size and boldness appreciably and relegated the promo to a column on the side of the page, sales increased. That may conflict with many of advertising's basic premises, but the blog is a unique place where readers are looking for opinion and information.
Post Often Regardless of how difficult it may be to add content continuously to your blog, it is essential if you are to keep readers coming back. Major blogs update throughout the day. But this isn't necessary if you aren't aiming your blog at news junkies. Three times a week is a very comfortable schedule. I post a new blog weekly.
Don't Wander People reading your blog are specifically interested in the subject you cover. Don't wander off to other issues. Stay on topic. However, whenever you can, hook your topic to some current happening to make it even more interesting to your reader. The hook may be the result of an event of major importance, it may be the weather, a holiday, whatever. But it must be relevant.
Become Active Now that you are a member of the blogging community, participate actively. Make a list of blogs that relate to your topic, and periodically view them and post comments. (Find them by perusing the list of blog directories at the end of this article.) As you participate, you'll find your own blog will gain more attention. Having your name on a comment in a highly successful blog with a wide audience will motivate a portion of that blog's readers to see what you are all about.
Follow these suggestions and when you become more skilled, you can install an RSS feed and even bookmark some of your posts with sites like Digg or Del.icio.us.
To help you locate blogs that cover your subject, try these blog search engines.
www.blogsearch.google.com,
www.globeofblogs.com,
www.blogcatalog.com
About the Author:
Visit the web site of Charles Jacobs, author and book coach, for free articles and e-books http://www.retirement-writing.com. His latest book "The Writer Within You" received six awards as one of the Best Books of the Year. Learn more and buy it at http://www.retireandwrite.com.
Keyword tags: retirement, retirees, write
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Simple Ways For You to Make Big Money Online
Trying to make money online can be a frustrating and humbling experience. All of the advertisements and rumors of making fast cash with minimal work, are well, a bunch of crap. Sure, a few people may have hit pay dirt not doing much but I don't know any of them. Most of the people I know that are successful online, spend time researching their options, creating a plan and then working that plan. With that being said, there are various ways to earn online. I will discuss some of the best ways below.
1. Affiliate Marketing: Affiliate marketing is a fast way to start making money quickly. Because you don't have to worry about creating or designing your own product, you can get started quickly. You are a given a link to a completed website and the only thing that you have to do is to promote it. While this used to be far easier a few years ago, it can still be very profitable. It will just take a little bit more work. Consider creating a simple website that provides information on the same topic as the affiliate product you are trying to sell. Be sure to collect email addresses, as you may be able to market other products to this same group. Market affiliate products using articles, social networking sites, forums and pay-per-click.
2. Selling Your Own Product: Selling your product is another great way to make money online. Depending on how you go about your product development, this could be a fast or slow process. One way to speed it up, if this is a concern, is to purchase PLR rights. Often times Private Label Rights come with a ready made website. For a few bucks, you have your very own e-book and website to sell it from. However, this method has its' disadvantages, namely, other people will be selling the product and perhaps for cheaper. To combat this, consider, re-writing the sales letter and purchasing new graphics. Also add special and unique bonuses to make your offer appear more attractive.
3. Ebay: Many people are still making money on Ebay. Ebay has cracked down on digital products. However, you can still sell them, just put them on CD and send them out. You can also use the classified ad format listing to sell digital products. I use it and have had some success. If you want to sell physical products, find a good drop shipper or wholesaler.
4. Offering Services: If you have a marketable service, this is a good way to make money. Many people make money by writing articles, Press releases and site reviews for other webmasters. Other people offer coding and web design.
5. Blogging: Blogging can be a fun way to make a lot of money. The way to accomplish this is to first, monetize your blog. You can do this by selling affiliate products, your own products, selling advertising space or placing Adsense like ads on your blog. Also be sure to optimize your blog for the search engines just like you would a website. Next you need drive traffic to your blog and develop a following. Writing press releases, articles, joining forums and pay-per-click, are all ways to get traffic to your blog.
About the Author:
Larry McCullough has been marketing and writing on the internet for over 10 years. Owner of various websites http://6fig.com http://clubblogger.com
Keyword tags: blog,blogging,bloggers,marketing,internet,make money,business,home business,work at home,writing,
1. Affiliate Marketing: Affiliate marketing is a fast way to start making money quickly. Because you don't have to worry about creating or designing your own product, you can get started quickly. You are a given a link to a completed website and the only thing that you have to do is to promote it. While this used to be far easier a few years ago, it can still be very profitable. It will just take a little bit more work. Consider creating a simple website that provides information on the same topic as the affiliate product you are trying to sell. Be sure to collect email addresses, as you may be able to market other products to this same group. Market affiliate products using articles, social networking sites, forums and pay-per-click.
2. Selling Your Own Product: Selling your product is another great way to make money online. Depending on how you go about your product development, this could be a fast or slow process. One way to speed it up, if this is a concern, is to purchase PLR rights. Often times Private Label Rights come with a ready made website. For a few bucks, you have your very own e-book and website to sell it from. However, this method has its' disadvantages, namely, other people will be selling the product and perhaps for cheaper. To combat this, consider, re-writing the sales letter and purchasing new graphics. Also add special and unique bonuses to make your offer appear more attractive.
3. Ebay: Many people are still making money on Ebay. Ebay has cracked down on digital products. However, you can still sell them, just put them on CD and send them out. You can also use the classified ad format listing to sell digital products. I use it and have had some success. If you want to sell physical products, find a good drop shipper or wholesaler.
4. Offering Services: If you have a marketable service, this is a good way to make money. Many people make money by writing articles, Press releases and site reviews for other webmasters. Other people offer coding and web design.
5. Blogging: Blogging can be a fun way to make a lot of money. The way to accomplish this is to first, monetize your blog. You can do this by selling affiliate products, your own products, selling advertising space or placing Adsense like ads on your blog. Also be sure to optimize your blog for the search engines just like you would a website. Next you need drive traffic to your blog and develop a following. Writing press releases, articles, joining forums and pay-per-click, are all ways to get traffic to your blog.
About the Author:
Larry McCullough has been marketing and writing on the internet for over 10 years. Owner of various websites http://6fig.com http://clubblogger.com
Keyword tags: blog,blogging,bloggers,marketing,internet,make money,business,home business,work at home,writing,
Writing The Next Academy Award Winner
Have you ever thought to yourself after seeing the latest Academy Award winning film that you could write something better than that? You probably could, today anyone has a chance at writing an award winning film, and it's a game that's strictly for studios anymore. Just look at Diablo Cody who wrote the Oscar winning film Juno, she was a stripper and blogger before getting her film made.
Writing a movie script isn't that hard once you have an idea that is sure to be a winner. There are a few basic steps to follow to get your idea onto paper and, lucky for us, there is now a lot of help available online to help you get your script critiqued and seen by Hollywood professionals.
All plots consist of three simple things, a beginning, middle and end. The beginning is the expository part of the plot, it serves to introduce the major characters, to set the time and place of the film and define the problem which is the heart of any drama or love story.
In a movie script there is usually one main hero, the man or woman who the story will revolve around. The hero serves to be the focal point of the film and the audience should find this character interesting and be able to sympathize with his problem, be it finding love or saving the world from ruthless invaders.
The time and place where a movie takes place sets the mood and tempo of the film. A modern urban setting means that if it's an action film, the pace will be fast and the technology will be modern. In a love story, the time and place of a film can be a long-ago romantic drama or an upbeat urban comedy. For scriptwriters, description can be left to a minimum because once the film goes into production; the descriptive elements will be fleshed out by the director and art director.
The middle of the script is where the drama happens, this is where the problem faced by the hero climaxes and becomes seemingly insurmountable. A scriptwriter wants to take the characters he's created and be cruel to them, make their dreams and goals seem impossible. The audience will have connected with the characters by them and this will serve to draw them into the story and pull for the hero to win.
The end of the story is where the hero either wins or loses; usually wins because audiences like happy endings. This is where the hero proves himself to the world and saves the day and wins the love of the girl of his dreams. In this portion of the script, the writer must tie up all the loose ends to create a satisfactory ending which answers all the questions and solves all the problems that have been brought up in the plot.
Once you have a rough draft plotted out that contains the three main story plot sections, it's now a good time to have your work looked over by fresh eyes, this is where the internet can come in handy.
There are websites that let you post your rough draft online, with all rights protected, to allow other writers, producers and agents look over your work and give you feedback based on their firsthand experience in film production.
Once you have the feedback, it's time to go back and fine tune your script. Remember that writing works in stages; nobody sits down and writes a full length film from start to finish. Get your original idea on paper, set up the basic plot, submit your work for critique, and go back and finish it. It takes a whole crew to film a picture and it takes more than one person to write the script.
About the Author:
Ray Subs works with Make'n Movies as a public relations consultant. More information can be found at http://www.makenmovies.com
Keyword tags: scriptwriting, movie writing, film writing
Writing a movie script isn't that hard once you have an idea that is sure to be a winner. There are a few basic steps to follow to get your idea onto paper and, lucky for us, there is now a lot of help available online to help you get your script critiqued and seen by Hollywood professionals.
All plots consist of three simple things, a beginning, middle and end. The beginning is the expository part of the plot, it serves to introduce the major characters, to set the time and place of the film and define the problem which is the heart of any drama or love story.
In a movie script there is usually one main hero, the man or woman who the story will revolve around. The hero serves to be the focal point of the film and the audience should find this character interesting and be able to sympathize with his problem, be it finding love or saving the world from ruthless invaders.
The time and place where a movie takes place sets the mood and tempo of the film. A modern urban setting means that if it's an action film, the pace will be fast and the technology will be modern. In a love story, the time and place of a film can be a long-ago romantic drama or an upbeat urban comedy. For scriptwriters, description can be left to a minimum because once the film goes into production; the descriptive elements will be fleshed out by the director and art director.
The middle of the script is where the drama happens, this is where the problem faced by the hero climaxes and becomes seemingly insurmountable. A scriptwriter wants to take the characters he's created and be cruel to them, make their dreams and goals seem impossible. The audience will have connected with the characters by them and this will serve to draw them into the story and pull for the hero to win.
The end of the story is where the hero either wins or loses; usually wins because audiences like happy endings. This is where the hero proves himself to the world and saves the day and wins the love of the girl of his dreams. In this portion of the script, the writer must tie up all the loose ends to create a satisfactory ending which answers all the questions and solves all the problems that have been brought up in the plot.
Once you have a rough draft plotted out that contains the three main story plot sections, it's now a good time to have your work looked over by fresh eyes, this is where the internet can come in handy.
There are websites that let you post your rough draft online, with all rights protected, to allow other writers, producers and agents look over your work and give you feedback based on their firsthand experience in film production.
Once you have the feedback, it's time to go back and fine tune your script. Remember that writing works in stages; nobody sits down and writes a full length film from start to finish. Get your original idea on paper, set up the basic plot, submit your work for critique, and go back and finish it. It takes a whole crew to film a picture and it takes more than one person to write the script.
About the Author:
Ray Subs works with Make'n Movies as a public relations consultant. More information can be found at http://www.makenmovies.com
Keyword tags: scriptwriting, movie writing, film writing
Are You a Novice Author Befuddled by the Complexities of the Publishing World?
You struggled for months to hone your new book to a level of perfection that would please even the pickiest literary agent or publisher. But when you proudly offered your masterpiece to the market, you struck out. Some first time authors have broken the barrier and found a publisher, but you haven't been that fortunate, and you don't know why.
Selecting the Best Method to Publish Your Book
The publishing world is complex and may seem impenetrable to a start-up writer, but determining the best method to publish your book is not as daunting as it seems
Unfortunately, publishing just ain't what it used to be. Not too long ago the industry was composed of editors and publishers devoted to the preservation of quality literature. People who would take risks to introduce new talents and new ideas. Sadly, those lofty principles have fallen victim to the new standard – the bottom line.
Proud publishers, respected throughout the literary world, have lost their identity and their commitment as they have been swallowed up by huge publishing conglomerates. Today, major publishing houses seldom take risks. They place their money behind sure bets, books about or by show biz celebrities, political figures or other notables, often bypassing highly talented new writers.
The Traditional Route
Traditional publishing is a three-way partnership between author, literary agent and publisher. The number of layers involved makes this a slow and ponderous process that can take as long as two years before you see your book in print. In addition, many feel it is as difficult to finding an agent as it is finding a traditional publisher, perhaps harder.
The national book tours, elegant publication parties and other promotional efforts that were once the hallmark of traditional publishing are now offered only to top level star-studded authors. All the rest of us are expected to finance our own promotional efforts out of meager royalties (usually 5% on net sales), adding strongly to the trend away from traditional publishing.
Nonetheless, this is by far the most prestigious method of publishing your book. It makes challenges like obtaining reviews and gaining access to bookstores and book club rolls far easier. If you are willing to wait patiently for your book to come off the press and if prestige is important enough to you to sacrifice control of your book during production, then traditional publishing is the road you should follow.
There Are Alternatives
A growing number of dedicated smaller publishers have become alternatives to the majors, and are maintaining impressive standards. Just a year ago, the Book Industry Study Group, the prestigious monitor of industry trends, described these independent small publishers as "sizable and growing with surging numbers."
In addition, dramatic advances in printing technology over the last decade have spawned a brand new industry, Publishing on Demand (POD). These advances have also made possible cost effective printing for short press runs, and that has opened the door to easy, relatively inexpensive self-publishing. Beginning writers are no longer at the mercy of costly vanity presses that required them to accept large press runs of books that then remained unsold in moldy basements and garages.
This fledgling POD industry has finally overcome the stigma that surrounded it in its earliest days when the rest of the publishing world demeaned it and reviewers refused to consider books it produced. With their books beginning to capture awards and reach best seller levels, they have gained substantial respect, and represent a very effective way for a newcomer to publish what you write.
If you decide to go this route, study the fine print of your POD contract before signing. Be aware that POD houses promise you total control over your book throughout the publishing process. However, that is not completely true. In the vast majority of cases, the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) belongs to the POD house, not the author, and the entity that owns the ISBN controls all financial aspects of the book. Decisions on key factors like pricing and profit are made by the house, not by you.
Making Life Easy
Nonetheless, POD offers real benefits to the wannabe author who has never experienced the complexities of publishing a book. The house assumes all the responsibilities of production and basic distribution. In addition to the ISBN and bar codes, the house will obtain a copyright and catalog your book with the Library of Congress.
It will produce an attractive cover for the book and format the interior text to equal the quality of books produced by traditional publishers. Once all of the nitty gritty of pre-publication is completed, the house will arrange for printing and list the book with a major distributor.
However, don't rely on your POD publisher to promote your book. That's your job. Stay away from the alleged promotional programs offered for an additional price by POD publishers. They basically add up to nothing more than a release that is essentially ineffective distributed to the press.
Self-Publishing
More and more authors now choose to follow the self-publishing route. The advances in technology have made doing it yourself a great deal easier and faster than following the traditional route. Excellent books have been published to guide you through the experience. I strongly recommend Dan Poynter's classic Self-Publishing Manual and Patricia Fry's The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.
While one can argue that the prestige of publication by one of the majors is inducement enough, a simple dollars and cents (perhaps better yet dollars and sense) analysis demonstrates how much more beneficial it is to collect all the profit from self-publishing than to receive a minuscule 5% royalty from a traditional house with little or no help on promotional expenses.
Today's fledgling authors have these four options as they seek to publish their first book: major or independent traditional house, POD or self-publishing. Of course, there are pros and cons when you analyze each of them, so it is important that you understand the process and whether it is suitable for your needs.
If prestige is what you seek and you are willing to sacrifice speed in production and minuscule returns, the traditional route is yours to take. If speed is a factor because your book is timely or if you are an unsure beginner, POD may be the answer. If pride of self accomplishment and/or higher profits intrigue you, then perhaps your best choice is self-publishing.
About the Author:
Let author Charles Jacobs help you become a published writer. Click onto http://www.retirement-writing.com for free articles and info on his coaching programs. Charles' latest book "The Writer Within You," was chosen as a Best Books of the Year by five organizations. It will guide you through writing and publishing your work. Order a discounted copy at http://www.retireandwrite.com.
Keyword tags: publishyourbook, publishing, self-publishing, POD,author
Selecting the Best Method to Publish Your Book
The publishing world is complex and may seem impenetrable to a start-up writer, but determining the best method to publish your book is not as daunting as it seems
Unfortunately, publishing just ain't what it used to be. Not too long ago the industry was composed of editors and publishers devoted to the preservation of quality literature. People who would take risks to introduce new talents and new ideas. Sadly, those lofty principles have fallen victim to the new standard – the bottom line.
Proud publishers, respected throughout the literary world, have lost their identity and their commitment as they have been swallowed up by huge publishing conglomerates. Today, major publishing houses seldom take risks. They place their money behind sure bets, books about or by show biz celebrities, political figures or other notables, often bypassing highly talented new writers.
The Traditional Route
Traditional publishing is a three-way partnership between author, literary agent and publisher. The number of layers involved makes this a slow and ponderous process that can take as long as two years before you see your book in print. In addition, many feel it is as difficult to finding an agent as it is finding a traditional publisher, perhaps harder.
The national book tours, elegant publication parties and other promotional efforts that were once the hallmark of traditional publishing are now offered only to top level star-studded authors. All the rest of us are expected to finance our own promotional efforts out of meager royalties (usually 5% on net sales), adding strongly to the trend away from traditional publishing.
Nonetheless, this is by far the most prestigious method of publishing your book. It makes challenges like obtaining reviews and gaining access to bookstores and book club rolls far easier. If you are willing to wait patiently for your book to come off the press and if prestige is important enough to you to sacrifice control of your book during production, then traditional publishing is the road you should follow.
There Are Alternatives
A growing number of dedicated smaller publishers have become alternatives to the majors, and are maintaining impressive standards. Just a year ago, the Book Industry Study Group, the prestigious monitor of industry trends, described these independent small publishers as "sizable and growing with surging numbers."
In addition, dramatic advances in printing technology over the last decade have spawned a brand new industry, Publishing on Demand (POD). These advances have also made possible cost effective printing for short press runs, and that has opened the door to easy, relatively inexpensive self-publishing. Beginning writers are no longer at the mercy of costly vanity presses that required them to accept large press runs of books that then remained unsold in moldy basements and garages.
This fledgling POD industry has finally overcome the stigma that surrounded it in its earliest days when the rest of the publishing world demeaned it and reviewers refused to consider books it produced. With their books beginning to capture awards and reach best seller levels, they have gained substantial respect, and represent a very effective way for a newcomer to publish what you write.
If you decide to go this route, study the fine print of your POD contract before signing. Be aware that POD houses promise you total control over your book throughout the publishing process. However, that is not completely true. In the vast majority of cases, the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) belongs to the POD house, not the author, and the entity that owns the ISBN controls all financial aspects of the book. Decisions on key factors like pricing and profit are made by the house, not by you.
Making Life Easy
Nonetheless, POD offers real benefits to the wannabe author who has never experienced the complexities of publishing a book. The house assumes all the responsibilities of production and basic distribution. In addition to the ISBN and bar codes, the house will obtain a copyright and catalog your book with the Library of Congress.
It will produce an attractive cover for the book and format the interior text to equal the quality of books produced by traditional publishers. Once all of the nitty gritty of pre-publication is completed, the house will arrange for printing and list the book with a major distributor.
However, don't rely on your POD publisher to promote your book. That's your job. Stay away from the alleged promotional programs offered for an additional price by POD publishers. They basically add up to nothing more than a release that is essentially ineffective distributed to the press.
Self-Publishing
More and more authors now choose to follow the self-publishing route. The advances in technology have made doing it yourself a great deal easier and faster than following the traditional route. Excellent books have been published to guide you through the experience. I strongly recommend Dan Poynter's classic Self-Publishing Manual and Patricia Fry's The Right Way to Write, Publish and Sell Your Book.
While one can argue that the prestige of publication by one of the majors is inducement enough, a simple dollars and cents (perhaps better yet dollars and sense) analysis demonstrates how much more beneficial it is to collect all the profit from self-publishing than to receive a minuscule 5% royalty from a traditional house with little or no help on promotional expenses.
Today's fledgling authors have these four options as they seek to publish their first book: major or independent traditional house, POD or self-publishing. Of course, there are pros and cons when you analyze each of them, so it is important that you understand the process and whether it is suitable for your needs.
If prestige is what you seek and you are willing to sacrifice speed in production and minuscule returns, the traditional route is yours to take. If speed is a factor because your book is timely or if you are an unsure beginner, POD may be the answer. If pride of self accomplishment and/or higher profits intrigue you, then perhaps your best choice is self-publishing.
About the Author:
Let author Charles Jacobs help you become a published writer. Click onto http://www.retirement-writing.com for free articles and info on his coaching programs. Charles' latest book "The Writer Within You," was chosen as a Best Books of the Year by five organizations. It will guide you through writing and publishing your work. Order a discounted copy at http://www.retireandwrite.com.
Keyword tags: publishyourbook, publishing, self-publishing, POD,author
Saturday, July 5, 2008
The Thrill of Seeing Your Name in Print
Whether you're a teenager eager to become an author or someone a bit older who chose to retire and write, there is little to compare to the thrill of seeing your byline in your favorite magazine or your name on the cover of a book.
That may sound like the impossible, but it's within the grasp of anyone who can speak the English language, spell adequately well and know at least basic grammar. Of course, you have to know what you're talking about and compose informative copy.
Call on Your Background
Begin by thinking of your own experiences. Think of the possibilities they open up. Ideas for articles and books surround you, so it's often wise to begin by writing on subjects you know and understand. Write about issues you deal with every day. For example:
• You're a housewife. You can easily become an expert on topics like home decorating, a cooking specialty, raising children, perhaps even caring for pets. Your article can be humorous or it can be a highly informative, serious piece. Whatever you choose, first spend some time reading several of the women's magazines carefully. You'll be amazed to find that much of the writing is really mediocre. That should give you confidence that you can probably do as well.
• You're now employed. Spend a little time reviewing the trade publications in your field. In many of those, you'll find the writing is even worse than in the women's magazines. That's because editors of trade publications are hungry for new articles that offer worthwhile information to their readers. To these editors, your knowledge of the subject is far more important than your writing skills.
• You're retired and want to write. What a perfect time in your life to begin this new pastime (or career) of retirement writing. A time to reflect on your life and write a memoir. Perhaps you'd like to maintain some contact with your former career. Trade publications would love to hear from you. Better yet, now that you have the time, perhaps you'd like to tackle an entire book, if that has been your dream. However, I recommend starting with a few articles.
They can always be expanded into books.
Building Your Portfolio
There's no question you are at a disadvantage since you have no portfolio of your work to show an editor. But that doesn't have to mean you've come up against an insurmountable barrier.
Periodicals come in many different levels. Generally they are classified by the size of their circulation base, but there are a fair number of specialty magazines that offer a small, but very targeted, readership. And there are lots of community newspapers to help you begin building your portfolio.
I strongly suggest starting at the bottom. Think of this as climbing the rungs of a ladder. Begin by offering articles to your community newspaper. After several have been accepted and published, step up to your local newspaper or small regional or town magazine. Clip and save everything you write and publish. Move up the ladder to larger regionals and even to state-wide publications before you tackle a national magazine.
A great way to open the door at larger magazines is to write short pieces for the front of the magazine. Most have these, and are often looking for content. Some nationals maintain a regional section where acceptance is somewhat easier for a relative unknown. With that background, you should have little trouble eventually landing a major feature in one of the top publications.
Taking the First Step
Once you have confidence in your ability, don't be afraid to take a major step upward. Plan your approach carefully, calling upon your experiences and your accomplishments, as I suggested above. You've raised four children, one with dyslexia. Bolstered by a little research, you are a specialist in the way to guide and encourage your child as he/she fights to overcome this disadvantage during school years. Furthermore, you're a highly experienced parent, and can select a number of different subjects on the issue of child rearing to write about.
On paper, chart out the advantages you offer an editor. Expand on each category with a short paragraphs of a few sentences. Sort through all of them, and decide which ones you feel are the most convincing. These are for your own use. Don't send them to an editor.
Head to the library or to your computer and start a search in your subject you've chosen. When you feel you have amassed enough information to write well on the subject, refine your thoughts to determine the approach you want to take to make what you write interesting and informative. This is called developing an "angle" or a "hook."
Moving On
When all of this is organized and totally clear in your mind, you're ready to write. In essence, you've planned out your entire article either in your head or on paper. I do suggest the latter, at least in your early attempts. That simplifies the writing, and keeps you on track.
You know what you want to say, so let the words flow. Don't stop and puzzle over the way you've express each thought. You can always return later and revise. For now, don't interrupt the "roll" you are on.
Since you are just beginning to write, I suggest completing the article before you consider contacting an editor. Later on, you will learn to query an editor with an idea before taking the time to write it completely. But for now, you are going to need the completed article to convince the editor that you can produce what the magazine needs.
Where to Publish,
Next you must decide where to send your queries and your manuscripts. There are lots of fine directories of magazines and newspapers that you can find in the reference room of your library. I recommend Writer's Market for start-up authors. It offers a wealth of information that will help you choose the best periodical for your piece.
The listings are filed under general categories. Review all of the magazines listed under the topic that best matches yours. Writer's Market will tell you the right person to contact and how to approach that editor. You will learn which subjects interest the editor, the article length preferred, the pay scale, the waiting period between acceptance and publication and a great deal of other helpful information. If you continue to write, I recommend you buy your own personal copy of Writer's Market.
You may find that writing articles suits your schedule and your desires perfectly. It is an ideal way to expand your knowledge as you write on a wide variety of topics. Many authors whose names are household words have never crafted a book. But they have established great reputations. There's no reason you can't join their ranks.
About the Author:
Let author Charles Jacobs help you become a published writer. Click onto http://www.retirement-writing.com for free articles plus info on his coaching programs. Charles' latest book "The Writer Within You," was chosen as a Best Books of the Year by six organizations. Covers everything you need to know to write and publish your work. Order a discounted copy at http://www.retireandwrite.com
Keyword tags: retireandwrite, retired, memoir
That may sound like the impossible, but it's within the grasp of anyone who can speak the English language, spell adequately well and know at least basic grammar. Of course, you have to know what you're talking about and compose informative copy.
Call on Your Background
Begin by thinking of your own experiences. Think of the possibilities they open up. Ideas for articles and books surround you, so it's often wise to begin by writing on subjects you know and understand. Write about issues you deal with every day. For example:
• You're a housewife. You can easily become an expert on topics like home decorating, a cooking specialty, raising children, perhaps even caring for pets. Your article can be humorous or it can be a highly informative, serious piece. Whatever you choose, first spend some time reading several of the women's magazines carefully. You'll be amazed to find that much of the writing is really mediocre. That should give you confidence that you can probably do as well.
• You're now employed. Spend a little time reviewing the trade publications in your field. In many of those, you'll find the writing is even worse than in the women's magazines. That's because editors of trade publications are hungry for new articles that offer worthwhile information to their readers. To these editors, your knowledge of the subject is far more important than your writing skills.
• You're retired and want to write. What a perfect time in your life to begin this new pastime (or career) of retirement writing. A time to reflect on your life and write a memoir. Perhaps you'd like to maintain some contact with your former career. Trade publications would love to hear from you. Better yet, now that you have the time, perhaps you'd like to tackle an entire book, if that has been your dream. However, I recommend starting with a few articles.
They can always be expanded into books.
Building Your Portfolio
There's no question you are at a disadvantage since you have no portfolio of your work to show an editor. But that doesn't have to mean you've come up against an insurmountable barrier.
Periodicals come in many different levels. Generally they are classified by the size of their circulation base, but there are a fair number of specialty magazines that offer a small, but very targeted, readership. And there are lots of community newspapers to help you begin building your portfolio.
I strongly suggest starting at the bottom. Think of this as climbing the rungs of a ladder. Begin by offering articles to your community newspaper. After several have been accepted and published, step up to your local newspaper or small regional or town magazine. Clip and save everything you write and publish. Move up the ladder to larger regionals and even to state-wide publications before you tackle a national magazine.
A great way to open the door at larger magazines is to write short pieces for the front of the magazine. Most have these, and are often looking for content. Some nationals maintain a regional section where acceptance is somewhat easier for a relative unknown. With that background, you should have little trouble eventually landing a major feature in one of the top publications.
Taking the First Step
Once you have confidence in your ability, don't be afraid to take a major step upward. Plan your approach carefully, calling upon your experiences and your accomplishments, as I suggested above. You've raised four children, one with dyslexia. Bolstered by a little research, you are a specialist in the way to guide and encourage your child as he/she fights to overcome this disadvantage during school years. Furthermore, you're a highly experienced parent, and can select a number of different subjects on the issue of child rearing to write about.
On paper, chart out the advantages you offer an editor. Expand on each category with a short paragraphs of a few sentences. Sort through all of them, and decide which ones you feel are the most convincing. These are for your own use. Don't send them to an editor.
Head to the library or to your computer and start a search in your subject you've chosen. When you feel you have amassed enough information to write well on the subject, refine your thoughts to determine the approach you want to take to make what you write interesting and informative. This is called developing an "angle" or a "hook."
Moving On
When all of this is organized and totally clear in your mind, you're ready to write. In essence, you've planned out your entire article either in your head or on paper. I do suggest the latter, at least in your early attempts. That simplifies the writing, and keeps you on track.
You know what you want to say, so let the words flow. Don't stop and puzzle over the way you've express each thought. You can always return later and revise. For now, don't interrupt the "roll" you are on.
Since you are just beginning to write, I suggest completing the article before you consider contacting an editor. Later on, you will learn to query an editor with an idea before taking the time to write it completely. But for now, you are going to need the completed article to convince the editor that you can produce what the magazine needs.
Where to Publish,
Next you must decide where to send your queries and your manuscripts. There are lots of fine directories of magazines and newspapers that you can find in the reference room of your library. I recommend Writer's Market for start-up authors. It offers a wealth of information that will help you choose the best periodical for your piece.
The listings are filed under general categories. Review all of the magazines listed under the topic that best matches yours. Writer's Market will tell you the right person to contact and how to approach that editor. You will learn which subjects interest the editor, the article length preferred, the pay scale, the waiting period between acceptance and publication and a great deal of other helpful information. If you continue to write, I recommend you buy your own personal copy of Writer's Market.
You may find that writing articles suits your schedule and your desires perfectly. It is an ideal way to expand your knowledge as you write on a wide variety of topics. Many authors whose names are household words have never crafted a book. But they have established great reputations. There's no reason you can't join their ranks.
About the Author:
Let author Charles Jacobs help you become a published writer. Click onto http://www.retirement-writing.com for free articles plus info on his coaching programs. Charles' latest book "The Writer Within You," was chosen as a Best Books of the Year by six organizations. Covers everything you need to know to write and publish your work. Order a discounted copy at http://www.retireandwrite.com
Keyword tags: retireandwrite, retired, memoir
The Interview – It’s Really a Piece of Cake
Your research is almost done. Just the dreaded interviews with two experts remain before you start writing your article or book. Like so many other writers, you quiver at the thought of interviewing. I'm not really sure why, but that fear of a one-on-one exchange intimidates almost all novice writers and many who are far more experienced.
Even some of the folks who are part of my retire-write programs are intimidated despite the fact that they have conducted interviews time and again during their working years. There seems to be some mystery about talking with an alleged expert that causes so many writers to lose their confidence.
Actually, the interview is no more than a discussion between two people, the kind you have every day at work, socializing at a cocktail party or just leaning over the fence and chatting with your neighbor.
Think of your interview in terms of a social exchange, a relaxed give and take conversation. You're seeking some information that the other party has, so it's a matter of asking the right questions and placing them in a context that's comfortable and easy for the person you are interviewing.
Preparation Is Key
As foolish as it sounds, far too many inexperienced authors stumble because they haven't taken the time to analyze exactly what it is they are seeking from the expert. The success or failure of an interview really depends upon understanding that.
The next step is to create a list of questions that address every aspect of the subject. The list has a double purpose. It is the tool to ferret out all of the information you need and to keep the interview on track.
As you formulate your list, avoid questions that elicit a simple yes or no response. All of your questions should be "open." They should require the expert to respond with broad answers. For example, if you ask, "Do you enjoy watching a baseball game?" the answer will be a simple yes or no. But if you ask, "What is it about watching a ballgame that fascinates you?" the answer may go on for several minutes.
Contacting Your Expert
When you invite an expert to be interviewed, you are complimenting him/her. You're saying in essence "I think you are important and knowledgeable, and I want to learn from you." What expert wouldn't be flattered by that? Furthermore, you are offering your expert exposure. So don't think of your request as a one-sided arrangement. Both you and your expert will benefit from it.
The purpose of your first contact is to schedule a time to meet. Try and arrange for at least an hour together. I much prefer personal one-on-one sessions to interviewing by telephone. But of course, the expert may be located too far away to make that possible.
Explain what it is that you are writing, and try to give a very brief but effective picture of your own qualifications to write this so your expert realizes he/she is dealing with a professional, not some unskilled amateur.
If you haven't been able to develop quality contacts from your research or your past experience, finding them is quite easy. Most colleges and universities maintain lists of experts who are available in a wide variety of topics. Contact the public relations department to help you set up interviews.
Perhaps you want an expert who is more hands-on than an academician. Head to the local library's reference room where you will find directories like the Encyclopedia of Associations. It lists 135,000 organizations dealing with many different topics. The organizations will be happy to direct you to experts in their field. The Yearbook of Experts produced by Broadcast Interview Source (www.expertclick.com) is another outstanding source.
Face to Face
Your goal in the opening moments of the interview is to set your expert at ease. The best way to do this is to learn as much as possible about the person. You might commend him/her for some unique achievement. At the very least, discuss some of the facts you have learned about your expert's accomplishments and/or interests.
Don't hesitate to take out the list of questions you have prepared. Your guru will be pleased to see you have approached this interview carefully and will not waste his/her time. Ask whether he/she has any objection to taping the interview. Explain that it is a precaution to ensure you don't misquote in any way.
The recorder serves you in several ways. It is an unassailable record of what was said, should your expert ever complain about your article after publication. It also allows you to concentrate on what the interviewee is saying by eliminating the distraction of taking word-by-word notes. However, I urge you to back up the recorder with some general notes on the most important statements of the interview just in case you later discover a malfunction in the recorder. That does occasionally happen.
While the original sequence of questions on your list undoubtedly makes a great deal of sense, it is almost inevitable that you will be forced to readjust during the interview as a result of the answers you receive and the probability that your expert will discuss issues you never considered.
When all of your questions have been answered, ask your expert whether he/she wishes to add something that has not yet been covered. That might open up a related area or perhaps an angle that you have not considered.
Be sure to jot down a reminder of any outstanding features of the expert's appearance and dress. Take a few notes on the setting in which the interview is being conducted. Injecting these into your article will give the reader a greater sense of being present and a better picture of your expert.
As you continue to interview for your writing, you will soon shed any reluctance and come to enjoy this chance to meet fascinating people and expand your knowledge. You'll also discover that interviewing can be lots of fun.
About the Author:
Let author Charles Jacobs help you become a published writer. Click onto http://www.retirement-writing.com for free articles plus info on his coaching programs. Charles' latest book "The Writer Within You," was chosen as a Best Books of the Year by five organizations. The complete guide to writing and publishing your work. Order a discounted copy at http://www.retireandwrite.com.
Keyword tags:
Even some of the folks who are part of my retire-write programs are intimidated despite the fact that they have conducted interviews time and again during their working years. There seems to be some mystery about talking with an alleged expert that causes so many writers to lose their confidence.
Actually, the interview is no more than a discussion between two people, the kind you have every day at work, socializing at a cocktail party or just leaning over the fence and chatting with your neighbor.
Think of your interview in terms of a social exchange, a relaxed give and take conversation. You're seeking some information that the other party has, so it's a matter of asking the right questions and placing them in a context that's comfortable and easy for the person you are interviewing.
Preparation Is Key
As foolish as it sounds, far too many inexperienced authors stumble because they haven't taken the time to analyze exactly what it is they are seeking from the expert. The success or failure of an interview really depends upon understanding that.
The next step is to create a list of questions that address every aspect of the subject. The list has a double purpose. It is the tool to ferret out all of the information you need and to keep the interview on track.
As you formulate your list, avoid questions that elicit a simple yes or no response. All of your questions should be "open." They should require the expert to respond with broad answers. For example, if you ask, "Do you enjoy watching a baseball game?" the answer will be a simple yes or no. But if you ask, "What is it about watching a ballgame that fascinates you?" the answer may go on for several minutes.
Contacting Your Expert
When you invite an expert to be interviewed, you are complimenting him/her. You're saying in essence "I think you are important and knowledgeable, and I want to learn from you." What expert wouldn't be flattered by that? Furthermore, you are offering your expert exposure. So don't think of your request as a one-sided arrangement. Both you and your expert will benefit from it.
The purpose of your first contact is to schedule a time to meet. Try and arrange for at least an hour together. I much prefer personal one-on-one sessions to interviewing by telephone. But of course, the expert may be located too far away to make that possible.
Explain what it is that you are writing, and try to give a very brief but effective picture of your own qualifications to write this so your expert realizes he/she is dealing with a professional, not some unskilled amateur.
If you haven't been able to develop quality contacts from your research or your past experience, finding them is quite easy. Most colleges and universities maintain lists of experts who are available in a wide variety of topics. Contact the public relations department to help you set up interviews.
Perhaps you want an expert who is more hands-on than an academician. Head to the local library's reference room where you will find directories like the Encyclopedia of Associations. It lists 135,000 organizations dealing with many different topics. The organizations will be happy to direct you to experts in their field. The Yearbook of Experts produced by Broadcast Interview Source (www.expertclick.com) is another outstanding source.
Face to Face
Your goal in the opening moments of the interview is to set your expert at ease. The best way to do this is to learn as much as possible about the person. You might commend him/her for some unique achievement. At the very least, discuss some of the facts you have learned about your expert's accomplishments and/or interests.
Don't hesitate to take out the list of questions you have prepared. Your guru will be pleased to see you have approached this interview carefully and will not waste his/her time. Ask whether he/she has any objection to taping the interview. Explain that it is a precaution to ensure you don't misquote in any way.
The recorder serves you in several ways. It is an unassailable record of what was said, should your expert ever complain about your article after publication. It also allows you to concentrate on what the interviewee is saying by eliminating the distraction of taking word-by-word notes. However, I urge you to back up the recorder with some general notes on the most important statements of the interview just in case you later discover a malfunction in the recorder. That does occasionally happen.
While the original sequence of questions on your list undoubtedly makes a great deal of sense, it is almost inevitable that you will be forced to readjust during the interview as a result of the answers you receive and the probability that your expert will discuss issues you never considered.
When all of your questions have been answered, ask your expert whether he/she wishes to add something that has not yet been covered. That might open up a related area or perhaps an angle that you have not considered.
Be sure to jot down a reminder of any outstanding features of the expert's appearance and dress. Take a few notes on the setting in which the interview is being conducted. Injecting these into your article will give the reader a greater sense of being present and a better picture of your expert.
As you continue to interview for your writing, you will soon shed any reluctance and come to enjoy this chance to meet fascinating people and expand your knowledge. You'll also discover that interviewing can be lots of fun.
About the Author:
Let author Charles Jacobs help you become a published writer. Click onto http://www.retirement-writing.com for free articles plus info on his coaching programs. Charles' latest book "The Writer Within You," was chosen as a Best Books of the Year by five organizations. The complete guide to writing and publishing your work. Order a discounted copy at http://www.retireandwrite.com.
Keyword tags:
Headlines Can Make or Break Your Article
A web based article, with a powerful written targeted headline, will not only improve your search engine ranking for your target keyword phrases but will also attract the right kind of visitor from the search engines. The headlines of your content page must have the ability to attract your visitors. The tips are as follows:
Ask questions :
Your written headline must be question oriented. In other words, your headline must be in the form of a question so that readers are forced to ask themselves something. You are making a statement which a person will not be able to forget immediately. The reason why I am saying this is because if your headline is in a question form, then it means that you are forcing readers to think. Write several examples of question based headlines for your target audience.
For example:
1) Are you tired of your office routine work schedule?
2) Do you want to give more time for your family?
The above two questions focus the problem, in front of the target audience. You generally make a headline, even more powerful when a problem is posed in front of the target audience rather than giving the solution.
Bringing curiousness:
You must add a curiosity factor to your headline. This will get the reader hooked into reading about your offer. Using numbers for explanation is also considered as a powerful medium for convincing a person. You can use numbers to imply more than one reason to read on. For example, you can apply the following sample headlines which are as follows:
Want to know 3 simple ways to earn free home base income?
Want to know the two free valuable gifts that you get on joining the home base income program?
You can apply the above mentioned methods to write powerful, targeted headlines. You will then not only be able to improve your search engine ranking but will be able to attract the right kind of visitors from the search engines too.
Offering a solution to the problem:
Now, you can then offer a solution to the problem that you have just mentioned before. For example:
You can earn home based income and make time for your family and for yourself too.
You can visit my website which will teach you steps of earning home based income.
The above two examples are for headlines which provide solutions to the present money making issue.
Your headlines should be good enough to be able to identify the topic for the content.
Also your main content must also be equally good. There are people who play more attention to the content of the written matter.
There is never a website without content. Content refers to the text body of the website. A user will not visit your website unless the content in the website is relevant, technical, well articulated and well presented. Doing that always is not easy. You may have the best ideas and technical expertise, but to put that down in words that is easily understandable for the readers and the users may often become a challenge.
However, when it comes to the headlines, they may not give more importance. You must never forget that headlines are also equally important.
About the Author:
Larry McCullough has been marketing and writing on the internet for over 10 years. Owner of various websites. http://6fig.com http://clubblogger.com and others.
Keyword tags: blog,blogging,bloggers,marketing,internet,make money,business,home business,work at home,writing,
Ask questions :
Your written headline must be question oriented. In other words, your headline must be in the form of a question so that readers are forced to ask themselves something. You are making a statement which a person will not be able to forget immediately. The reason why I am saying this is because if your headline is in a question form, then it means that you are forcing readers to think. Write several examples of question based headlines for your target audience.
For example:
1) Are you tired of your office routine work schedule?
2) Do you want to give more time for your family?
The above two questions focus the problem, in front of the target audience. You generally make a headline, even more powerful when a problem is posed in front of the target audience rather than giving the solution.
Bringing curiousness:
You must add a curiosity factor to your headline. This will get the reader hooked into reading about your offer. Using numbers for explanation is also considered as a powerful medium for convincing a person. You can use numbers to imply more than one reason to read on. For example, you can apply the following sample headlines which are as follows:
Want to know 3 simple ways to earn free home base income?
Want to know the two free valuable gifts that you get on joining the home base income program?
You can apply the above mentioned methods to write powerful, targeted headlines. You will then not only be able to improve your search engine ranking but will be able to attract the right kind of visitors from the search engines too.
Offering a solution to the problem:
Now, you can then offer a solution to the problem that you have just mentioned before. For example:
You can earn home based income and make time for your family and for yourself too.
You can visit my website which will teach you steps of earning home based income.
The above two examples are for headlines which provide solutions to the present money making issue.
Your headlines should be good enough to be able to identify the topic for the content.
Also your main content must also be equally good. There are people who play more attention to the content of the written matter.
There is never a website without content. Content refers to the text body of the website. A user will not visit your website unless the content in the website is relevant, technical, well articulated and well presented. Doing that always is not easy. You may have the best ideas and technical expertise, but to put that down in words that is easily understandable for the readers and the users may often become a challenge.
However, when it comes to the headlines, they may not give more importance. You must never forget that headlines are also equally important.
About the Author:
Larry McCullough has been marketing and writing on the internet for over 10 years. Owner of various websites. http://6fig.com http://clubblogger.com and others.
Keyword tags: blog,blogging,bloggers,marketing,internet,make money,business,home business,work at home,writing,
Book Review: Some Kind of Angel – a Sneetz and Muldoon Thriller by Melvin M. Harter
It is that time of year where you want to stock up on some books to read while on your summer vacation. Some Kind Of Angel might be one to put on your list.
Melvin Harter is a retired doctor and Some Kind Of Angel is his debut into the wild world of books. In this book we get acquainted with his main characters Sneetz and Muldoon, and I suspect that we are going to see more of this duo in future books.
Gilbert 'Sneetz' Schnetele is a retired heart surgeon, retired due to a DIY home improvement problem that involved a power saw lopping off a valuable digit. Unable to wield a scalpel he has become a legal/medical consultant evaluating 'on the job' injuries.
Albert Muldoon is an aging weather worn journalist who has seen it all. Young enough to have faced the wrath of McCarthyism, old enough to have survived and thrived. Thrived to the extent that now retired he officially just writes books, unofficially he is part of the President's inner circle.
A series of multiple killing across the globe occur, there seems to be no connection, but all share some strange similarities, there are no signs of a struggle, the bodies are in perfect, almost mummified condition, and death seems to have been instantaneous.
The mystery deepens and takes a much more sinister turn when the President receives what is tantamount to a ransom demand, pull out of Iraq, and everywhere else there is a US armed forces presence, or face mass murder close to home in Washington DC.
With no idea what the weapon of mass destruction is, or how it has been delivered, they are in a quandary.
Sneetz meanwhile has been retained to look at a death on the job case, a young janitor at a remote Air Force research lab is dead, yet there seems to be no reason for the death. It is by his poking around that he comes to the attention of the US government, and in particular Muldoon. Sneetz is brought into the very close knit family fighting the unknown terrorist group.
What will they find? How will they defeat an unknown adversary?
Well, you can find out by getting your own copy from Amazon, or by checking out Melvin Harter's web site.
At 160 pages this is a very quick read, it certainly moves right along though, and there is action on every page. If I had a criticism, it likely would be the length, the plot line is rich, and I think the book could have been another 100 pages longer, in order to explore some of the subplots in greater detail. Book length is a really hard call to make, it is so dependent on the richness of the plot, but this book has that! Some authors on the other hand waffle on until you are ready to disembowel yourself with a plastic butter knife, Tom Clancy is probably the worst offender with his absolutely unreadable Executive Orders, it could have been written in 250 pages and been a fun read, instead he produced a 1000 pages of boring techno yawn.
I am looking forward to more Melvin Harter, he has his feet wet now, and I think the future looks bright. As the Shania Twain song says "Up, Up, Up."
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: authors, books, book reviews, science fiction, thriller, WMD, summer reading
Melvin Harter is a retired doctor and Some Kind Of Angel is his debut into the wild world of books. In this book we get acquainted with his main characters Sneetz and Muldoon, and I suspect that we are going to see more of this duo in future books.
Gilbert 'Sneetz' Schnetele is a retired heart surgeon, retired due to a DIY home improvement problem that involved a power saw lopping off a valuable digit. Unable to wield a scalpel he has become a legal/medical consultant evaluating 'on the job' injuries.
Albert Muldoon is an aging weather worn journalist who has seen it all. Young enough to have faced the wrath of McCarthyism, old enough to have survived and thrived. Thrived to the extent that now retired he officially just writes books, unofficially he is part of the President's inner circle.
A series of multiple killing across the globe occur, there seems to be no connection, but all share some strange similarities, there are no signs of a struggle, the bodies are in perfect, almost mummified condition, and death seems to have been instantaneous.
The mystery deepens and takes a much more sinister turn when the President receives what is tantamount to a ransom demand, pull out of Iraq, and everywhere else there is a US armed forces presence, or face mass murder close to home in Washington DC.
With no idea what the weapon of mass destruction is, or how it has been delivered, they are in a quandary.
Sneetz meanwhile has been retained to look at a death on the job case, a young janitor at a remote Air Force research lab is dead, yet there seems to be no reason for the death. It is by his poking around that he comes to the attention of the US government, and in particular Muldoon. Sneetz is brought into the very close knit family fighting the unknown terrorist group.
What will they find? How will they defeat an unknown adversary?
Well, you can find out by getting your own copy from Amazon, or by checking out Melvin Harter's web site.
At 160 pages this is a very quick read, it certainly moves right along though, and there is action on every page. If I had a criticism, it likely would be the length, the plot line is rich, and I think the book could have been another 100 pages longer, in order to explore some of the subplots in greater detail. Book length is a really hard call to make, it is so dependent on the richness of the plot, but this book has that! Some authors on the other hand waffle on until you are ready to disembowel yourself with a plastic butter knife, Tom Clancy is probably the worst offender with his absolutely unreadable Executive Orders, it could have been written in 250 pages and been a fun read, instead he produced a 1000 pages of boring techno yawn.
I am looking forward to more Melvin Harter, he has his feet wet now, and I think the future looks bright. As the Shania Twain song says "Up, Up, Up."
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: authors, books, book reviews, science fiction, thriller, WMD, summer reading
Friday, July 4, 2008
Writing in Retirement is an Ideal Way to Share Life Experiences With Your Loved Ones
Long before your retiring, you dreamed of becoming a writer. You're not alone. The Gallup Organization found that 81% of mature adults dream of writing a book.
You've never attempted more than the basic writing required by your career—letters, perhaps a report, even a grant application. Now at last, as a retiree you have the time to fulfill your long-cherished dream, to begin retirement writing. But the task seems a bit overwhelming. You agonize over how best to start.
Sharing the highlights of your life can be most rewarding for either a novice or an advanced writer. It's a gift your loved ones and close friends will always welcome. Crafting a memoir is an ideal way to venture into the joys of retirement writing.
Many wanna-be authors find that creating a memoir is a relatively easy way to begin their writing experience. It doesn't demand the formality of a novel or play script. The subject matter, if handled with complete objectivity, can replace the need to develop a plot. And it is a comfortable way to reveal your opinions and deep-seated emotions.
Integrity and Objectivity
After the unpleasant disclosures in recent years of fabrications and distortions in some best-selling memoirs, it is essential that every effort be made to remain objective and completely honest as you recount family histories, describe other characters in your story and write about your own alleged accomplishments.
Over time, the human mind tends to forget less pleasant details. You can distort the description of a person or a relationship when seen strictly from your own private point of view. Therefore, it is imperative that you as the memoirist reach out to anyone who has first hand knowledge of the period, event or persons you are writing about.
You must also remember that the process of selecting people and events for your memoir is highly subjective. There is no real way to overcome this bias other than to make a concerted effort to strive for objectivity. Expert memoirist Lawrence P Gouldrup, PhD, writes, "As we experience life, we mentally distinguish between those events and personalities that are insignificant trivia and those that have been important and memorable to us….we constantly bring our own private experiences into focus by seeing events and people in certain patterns."
That doesn't mean, however, that while striving for balance and accuracy, the memoirist shouldn't add greater depth and meaning to an incident by personalizing its impact. Whether a situation elicited joy, sorrow, anger or raised the writer's consciousness humanizes the story and invites the reader to empathize with him/her. Whenever it is possible to detail the reactions of others with accuracy, you will strengthen your story still further
Getting Started
While remembering and sorting out the relevant experiences of your life may seem like an insurmountable task at first, I have counseled a number of successful memoirists to spend one hour or so every day for a week sitting alone and quietly and reaching back for significant memories.
Clear your mind completely of distractions, as you would if you were meditating. Reach back for special family events, dinners, holidays, vacations, etc. The recollection of a unique piece of clothing—a dress or suit you absolutely loved when six-years-old—can trigger wonderful memories of the special event at which you wore it. A favorite family food tradition, even the color of your house, perhaps the first day of school. There are so many diverse memories that combine to help you develop the overall theme and story line of your book.
Shaping Your Story
The next step before finalizing your outline and sitting down to write is determining your audience. Ask yourself these important questions. Will this be a book available only to close friends and family members? Or do you plan to market the book widely? Are you targeting a specific age group that is familiar with the time period in which you set your tale? Is your planned audience composed of members of one sex?
A second major consideration is the viewpoint from which you are writing. Are you planning a family history in which you are just one of many cogs in the wheel? Or are you framing the story around your own experiences and making yourself the focal point of the piece? The viewpoint from which you write must be determined before a single word goes into the computer.
All of these concerns must be factored into the way you plan your story well before you face your empty computer screen. If you have done your preparation properly and answered these basic questions, you will find that the actual writing of the memoir becomes the proverbial "piece of cake.
Researching and preparing the memoir can be done rather easily because the subject matter is so familiar to you. You are writing about YOU, and once you master doing that with balance and objectivity and even a degree of detachment, you will find this exercise a fabulous launch pad for future success as an author. It is an ideal stepping stone to crafting either fiction or nonfiction in the future.
Do you need a support system to help jump start your writing career? See what's available free on http://www.retirement-writing.com. the web site of writing coach and author Charles Jacobs. His latest book "The Writer Within You" is a Best Books of 2007 honoree, a 5-star choice on Amazon, B&N and Borders and a selection of the Writer's Digest Book Club. Find detailed info and order it at a substantial discount by clicking on http://www.retireandwrite.com
About the Author:
Find free articles and eBooks on http://www.retirement-writing.com. the web site of writing coach and author Charles Jacobs. His latest book "The Writer Within You" is a Best Books of the Year honoree. Click on http://www.retireandwrite.com to order it at a substantial discount.
Keyword tags: retirementwriting, retirement, retiring, retiree,author
You've never attempted more than the basic writing required by your career—letters, perhaps a report, even a grant application. Now at last, as a retiree you have the time to fulfill your long-cherished dream, to begin retirement writing. But the task seems a bit overwhelming. You agonize over how best to start.
Sharing the highlights of your life can be most rewarding for either a novice or an advanced writer. It's a gift your loved ones and close friends will always welcome. Crafting a memoir is an ideal way to venture into the joys of retirement writing.
Many wanna-be authors find that creating a memoir is a relatively easy way to begin their writing experience. It doesn't demand the formality of a novel or play script. The subject matter, if handled with complete objectivity, can replace the need to develop a plot. And it is a comfortable way to reveal your opinions and deep-seated emotions.
Integrity and Objectivity
After the unpleasant disclosures in recent years of fabrications and distortions in some best-selling memoirs, it is essential that every effort be made to remain objective and completely honest as you recount family histories, describe other characters in your story and write about your own alleged accomplishments.
Over time, the human mind tends to forget less pleasant details. You can distort the description of a person or a relationship when seen strictly from your own private point of view. Therefore, it is imperative that you as the memoirist reach out to anyone who has first hand knowledge of the period, event or persons you are writing about.
You must also remember that the process of selecting people and events for your memoir is highly subjective. There is no real way to overcome this bias other than to make a concerted effort to strive for objectivity. Expert memoirist Lawrence P Gouldrup, PhD, writes, "As we experience life, we mentally distinguish between those events and personalities that are insignificant trivia and those that have been important and memorable to us….we constantly bring our own private experiences into focus by seeing events and people in certain patterns."
That doesn't mean, however, that while striving for balance and accuracy, the memoirist shouldn't add greater depth and meaning to an incident by personalizing its impact. Whether a situation elicited joy, sorrow, anger or raised the writer's consciousness humanizes the story and invites the reader to empathize with him/her. Whenever it is possible to detail the reactions of others with accuracy, you will strengthen your story still further
Getting Started
While remembering and sorting out the relevant experiences of your life may seem like an insurmountable task at first, I have counseled a number of successful memoirists to spend one hour or so every day for a week sitting alone and quietly and reaching back for significant memories.
Clear your mind completely of distractions, as you would if you were meditating. Reach back for special family events, dinners, holidays, vacations, etc. The recollection of a unique piece of clothing—a dress or suit you absolutely loved when six-years-old—can trigger wonderful memories of the special event at which you wore it. A favorite family food tradition, even the color of your house, perhaps the first day of school. There are so many diverse memories that combine to help you develop the overall theme and story line of your book.
Shaping Your Story
The next step before finalizing your outline and sitting down to write is determining your audience. Ask yourself these important questions. Will this be a book available only to close friends and family members? Or do you plan to market the book widely? Are you targeting a specific age group that is familiar with the time period in which you set your tale? Is your planned audience composed of members of one sex?
A second major consideration is the viewpoint from which you are writing. Are you planning a family history in which you are just one of many cogs in the wheel? Or are you framing the story around your own experiences and making yourself the focal point of the piece? The viewpoint from which you write must be determined before a single word goes into the computer.
All of these concerns must be factored into the way you plan your story well before you face your empty computer screen. If you have done your preparation properly and answered these basic questions, you will find that the actual writing of the memoir becomes the proverbial "piece of cake.
Researching and preparing the memoir can be done rather easily because the subject matter is so familiar to you. You are writing about YOU, and once you master doing that with balance and objectivity and even a degree of detachment, you will find this exercise a fabulous launch pad for future success as an author. It is an ideal stepping stone to crafting either fiction or nonfiction in the future.
Do you need a support system to help jump start your writing career? See what's available free on http://www.retirement-writing.com. the web site of writing coach and author Charles Jacobs. His latest book "The Writer Within You" is a Best Books of 2007 honoree, a 5-star choice on Amazon, B&N and Borders and a selection of the Writer's Digest Book Club. Find detailed info and order it at a substantial discount by clicking on http://www.retireandwrite.com
About the Author:
Find free articles and eBooks on http://www.retirement-writing.com. the web site of writing coach and author Charles Jacobs. His latest book "The Writer Within You" is a Best Books of the Year honoree. Click on http://www.retireandwrite.com to order it at a substantial discount.
Keyword tags: retirementwriting, retirement, retiring, retiree,author
Book Review: Unholy Domain by Dan Ronco
There are a plethora of sci-fi books that have explored what the Earth would be like after the apocalypse, and generally the apocalypse in question is a nuclear war, or some sort of plague.
Unholy Domain takes this genre in a new and very thought provoking direction. One only has to spend a couple of minutes researching the history and growth of the Internet to realize how in the space of just a few years it was woven itself into the very fabric of our world. We have near instantaneous communication via email, we have access to enormous repositories of information, it has become a part of our day to day life. I could not live without it!
Unfortunately there is a potential dark side to the technology. Increasingly it is also the backbone used by basic infrastructures, power generation, transportation, law enforcement, and a lot more. There have already been rumblings in the press about what might happen if hackers gained control of a power generating plant, or other basic service.
In Unholy Domain Dan Ronco takes us to a world where a decade previously (2010) a virus had decimated the Internet. Because of the disruption to basic services over a million people died. What would the world look like under these circumstances?
Dan Ronco takes us to a world that has become a fractured society, the technos and the religious zealots. In the aftermath of the disaster the government has regulated technology, stifling innovation, this has resulted in an economic situation rivaling the great depression. Without advancing technology the world has not just stagnated it has regressed to an earlier time.
Technology has become an underground industry, a black market more lucrative than drugs. The technos are run by a shady organization known simply as The Domain.
The opposing force are the fanatical Army of God, the paramilitary wing of The Church of Natural Humans. Their leader Adam Jordan is on the outside a charismatic speaker, but is also a man with a single minded hatred for technology and those who would use it.
Our hero in Unholy Domain is David Brown, a young student who has the dubious honor of being the son of the man accused of unleashing the deadly virus.
When David receives a message sent 10 years previously from his father he begins to have doubts about his fathers guilt and decides to investigate for himself. David is walking a tightrope, he has enemies in high places, neither The Domain, nor the Army of God are enamored by his presence, for different reasons, though one does become his unseen temporary protector with an ulterior motive in mind.
This is a fast paced techno thriller which I can pretty much guarantee you will not want to put down, I know I didn't! Set close enough in the future (2020) that most of the 'props' are believable, it paints a dark picture of one potential future scenario for mankind.
This is a book that is worth searching out, I liked the style of writing a great deal. Each chapter begins with some quotes, some old and real, other from books yet to be written. A very cute touch. You don't have to be a hard core Sci-Fi fan for this one, just a lover of a great story.
You can pick up your own copy of Unholy Domain from Amazon, he also has a web site with additional information.
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: science fiction, technology, Internet, thriller, techno, books, authors, book reviews, publishing
Unholy Domain takes this genre in a new and very thought provoking direction. One only has to spend a couple of minutes researching the history and growth of the Internet to realize how in the space of just a few years it was woven itself into the very fabric of our world. We have near instantaneous communication via email, we have access to enormous repositories of information, it has become a part of our day to day life. I could not live without it!
Unfortunately there is a potential dark side to the technology. Increasingly it is also the backbone used by basic infrastructures, power generation, transportation, law enforcement, and a lot more. There have already been rumblings in the press about what might happen if hackers gained control of a power generating plant, or other basic service.
In Unholy Domain Dan Ronco takes us to a world where a decade previously (2010) a virus had decimated the Internet. Because of the disruption to basic services over a million people died. What would the world look like under these circumstances?
Dan Ronco takes us to a world that has become a fractured society, the technos and the religious zealots. In the aftermath of the disaster the government has regulated technology, stifling innovation, this has resulted in an economic situation rivaling the great depression. Without advancing technology the world has not just stagnated it has regressed to an earlier time.
Technology has become an underground industry, a black market more lucrative than drugs. The technos are run by a shady organization known simply as The Domain.
The opposing force are the fanatical Army of God, the paramilitary wing of The Church of Natural Humans. Their leader Adam Jordan is on the outside a charismatic speaker, but is also a man with a single minded hatred for technology and those who would use it.
Our hero in Unholy Domain is David Brown, a young student who has the dubious honor of being the son of the man accused of unleashing the deadly virus.
When David receives a message sent 10 years previously from his father he begins to have doubts about his fathers guilt and decides to investigate for himself. David is walking a tightrope, he has enemies in high places, neither The Domain, nor the Army of God are enamored by his presence, for different reasons, though one does become his unseen temporary protector with an ulterior motive in mind.
This is a fast paced techno thriller which I can pretty much guarantee you will not want to put down, I know I didn't! Set close enough in the future (2020) that most of the 'props' are believable, it paints a dark picture of one potential future scenario for mankind.
This is a book that is worth searching out, I liked the style of writing a great deal. Each chapter begins with some quotes, some old and real, other from books yet to be written. A very cute touch. You don't have to be a hard core Sci-Fi fan for this one, just a lover of a great story.
You can pick up your own copy of Unholy Domain from Amazon, he also has a web site with additional information.
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: science fiction, technology, Internet, thriller, techno, books, authors, book reviews, publishing
Book Review: El Tigre by John H. Manhold
There are two very different schools of thought about historical fiction. One school rationalizes that it is an easy genre to write, the plot already exists, all you have to do is put it in your own words. The second school says that this genre is very hard to work in, much of the story line is cast in stone, the author needs to weave his characters into the fabric of the historical facts.
I am a member of the latter group, I believe that good historical fiction is very difficult to write. John H. Manhold has done a magnificent job with El Tigre, combining fast action into a very well researched and historically accurate canvas.
El Tigre is set in the early and mid 1800's and chronicles the life of Johann Heinrich von Manfred, born of Prussian aristocracy at the age of 16 he finds himself without friends, family, or country following an unfortunate event at the prestigious military academy he was attending.
We follow Johann on his odyssey of discovery. It takes almost no time before young Johann has his first adventure, assisting a band of Roma that are being blackmailed by an unscrupulous mayor. Then it is on to Spain where he is enlisted in the support of Don Carlos, The Royal Pretender To The throne. He may be young, but he has a natural instinct for the art of war, and rapidly proves his value. Alas his cause becomes a failing one, his patron is killed, and it looks like Don Carlos had a hand in it. Once more he resumes his nomadic quest.
Europe seems to offer little in the way of sanctuary and Johann opts for the potential riches of the New World.
Starting in Florida and Georgia, Johann first becomes a jailer of Indians, and soon learns the harsh reality of the culture clash between the settlers and the native bands. Unhappy to be part of this inhumanity he next moves to Texas, and once more finds himself embroiled in controversy, this time with the establishment of the Republic of Texas. Problems with Indians, problems with Mexico, Problems with Spain, and even problems with the United States all lead to frustration and bloodshed. Johan however has by now become a seasoned veteran of conflict, and quickly makes a name for himself not only for his fighting abilities, but also his selflessness, along the way earning the respect of all, and the nickname El Tigre (The Panther).It is not long before the tales of El Tigre spread across the land.
His final journey is to California, where he discovers ranching, romance, and gold. Has he found he finally found his Shangri-La?
While I am not a huge fan of books about the wild west, Manhold has written a captivating novel, and one that will keep you glued to the pages. What I particularly admire is his attention to historical detail. This book was clearly very well, and extensively researched. That combined with a story line that moves at a break neck pace this book should appeal to a very wide audience.
Grab yourself a copy of El Tigre from Amazon or from John Manhold's web site, you will not be disappointed.
(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: historical fiction, Old West, El Tigre, books, book reviews, authors, publishing
I am a member of the latter group, I believe that good historical fiction is very difficult to write. John H. Manhold has done a magnificent job with El Tigre, combining fast action into a very well researched and historically accurate canvas.
El Tigre is set in the early and mid 1800's and chronicles the life of Johann Heinrich von Manfred, born of Prussian aristocracy at the age of 16 he finds himself without friends, family, or country following an unfortunate event at the prestigious military academy he was attending.
We follow Johann on his odyssey of discovery. It takes almost no time before young Johann has his first adventure, assisting a band of Roma that are being blackmailed by an unscrupulous mayor. Then it is on to Spain where he is enlisted in the support of Don Carlos, The Royal Pretender To The throne. He may be young, but he has a natural instinct for the art of war, and rapidly proves his value. Alas his cause becomes a failing one, his patron is killed, and it looks like Don Carlos had a hand in it. Once more he resumes his nomadic quest.
Europe seems to offer little in the way of sanctuary and Johann opts for the potential riches of the New World.
Starting in Florida and Georgia, Johann first becomes a jailer of Indians, and soon learns the harsh reality of the culture clash between the settlers and the native bands. Unhappy to be part of this inhumanity he next moves to Texas, and once more finds himself embroiled in controversy, this time with the establishment of the Republic of Texas. Problems with Indians, problems with Mexico, Problems with Spain, and even problems with the United States all lead to frustration and bloodshed. Johan however has by now become a seasoned veteran of conflict, and quickly makes a name for himself not only for his fighting abilities, but also his selflessness, along the way earning the respect of all, and the nickname El Tigre (The Panther).It is not long before the tales of El Tigre spread across the land.
His final journey is to California, where he discovers ranching, romance, and gold. Has he found he finally found his Shangri-La?
While I am not a huge fan of books about the wild west, Manhold has written a captivating novel, and one that will keep you glued to the pages. What I particularly admire is his attention to historical detail. This book was clearly very well, and extensively researched. That combined with a story line that moves at a break neck pace this book should appeal to a very wide audience.
Grab yourself a copy of El Tigre from Amazon or from John Manhold's web site, you will not be disappointed.
(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: historical fiction, Old West, El Tigre, books, book reviews, authors, publishing
Successful Term Paper Writing Tips and Strategies
Most likely, every student writes some term papers while in school. These assignments can be interesting and at times can also be stressful or challenging. Learning to write a successful term paper is a useful school skill. Students will simply progress with their writing to write even more papers as their grade level increases.
Following directions is important. Some students are so eager to begin the assignment that they do not stop to read the information given by their teacher about the assignment. Some term papers need to be hand written or double-spaced. Other term papers may require that a student use certain resources or even a certain minimum number of resources. By not following the directions, these students can put themselves in danger of not receiving a passing grade on this project.
Using top-notch resources for a term paper is something many students should pay attention to. Some students will rush through an assignment and use resources that are quickly at-hand. Sometimes the best resources are ones that they need to locate at the library such as older magazine issues, journal issues or books on the topic. Many research sources can now be found on the Internet as well; however, some schools will not permit students to use this as their primary or only source.
Allowing enough time for the assignment is critical as well. Some students are very well organized and begin an assignment the minute they receive it. While others wait until the night before an assignment is due to do it and they rush through it as quickly as they can. Rushing through an assignment often causes mistakes made through simple carelessness. It also does not allow the opportunity for one's best work. It can be frustrating that most students today are under the "homework crunch" with many assignments due at the same time. Learning to juggle assignments confidently is a skill every student must learn.
Writing term papers is often a skill that students become better with as time develops. Learning stronger research skills can make any student become more confident about the term paper project that lies ahead. This is often the top challenge about term papers, which students will comment on. Any student can learn more about researching by visiting the school library and asking for some suggestions on how to researching. Even learning how to research a favorite subject will develop research skills as this student will assist their skills.
Teachers use term papers often to gage how students understand the material in class. They also use term papers to measure students writing and research abilities. Term papers are a very popular way for teachers to test students skills. They easily demonstrate students skills in a variety of ways.
With some practice, students can learn to become better at term papers. While they may not jump for joy at the sight of a term paper assignment, they will look at this as an opportunity to show that they understand the current class lessons. Term papers are a very useful class tool.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Term Paper Writing http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - Term Paper Topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Following directions is important. Some students are so eager to begin the assignment that they do not stop to read the information given by their teacher about the assignment. Some term papers need to be hand written or double-spaced. Other term papers may require that a student use certain resources or even a certain minimum number of resources. By not following the directions, these students can put themselves in danger of not receiving a passing grade on this project.
Using top-notch resources for a term paper is something many students should pay attention to. Some students will rush through an assignment and use resources that are quickly at-hand. Sometimes the best resources are ones that they need to locate at the library such as older magazine issues, journal issues or books on the topic. Many research sources can now be found on the Internet as well; however, some schools will not permit students to use this as their primary or only source.
Allowing enough time for the assignment is critical as well. Some students are very well organized and begin an assignment the minute they receive it. While others wait until the night before an assignment is due to do it and they rush through it as quickly as they can. Rushing through an assignment often causes mistakes made through simple carelessness. It also does not allow the opportunity for one's best work. It can be frustrating that most students today are under the "homework crunch" with many assignments due at the same time. Learning to juggle assignments confidently is a skill every student must learn.
Writing term papers is often a skill that students become better with as time develops. Learning stronger research skills can make any student become more confident about the term paper project that lies ahead. This is often the top challenge about term papers, which students will comment on. Any student can learn more about researching by visiting the school library and asking for some suggestions on how to researching. Even learning how to research a favorite subject will develop research skills as this student will assist their skills.
Teachers use term papers often to gage how students understand the material in class. They also use term papers to measure students writing and research abilities. Term papers are a very popular way for teachers to test students skills. They easily demonstrate students skills in a variety of ways.
With some practice, students can learn to become better at term papers. While they may not jump for joy at the sight of a term paper assignment, they will look at this as an opportunity to show that they understand the current class lessons. Term papers are a very useful class tool.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Term Paper Writing http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - Term Paper Topics
Keyword tags: term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
A Guide to Writing Successful Research Proposals
Often PhD candidates find that they must write a research proposal. A research proposal is a very important step towards completing your degree and graduation. Successful research is the sign of a keen PhD candidate.
One begins the research proposal project with a research hypothesis. This is most often a single sentence. You know you have a "winning" research proposal when you can put it into a single phrase or sentence. Your research hypothesis is one, which is an idea or thought that you believe in firmly. It is also one that you are passionate about researching. This is for good reason: the typical research proposal is hundreds of pages long. It makes good sense to select a research hypothesis that gets you excited and that you are intrigued to find the answer to.
Many students spend a great deal of time discovering exactly the right research hypothesis. They may discard various research hypothesis statements as they go about this process. Finding the best statement that suits your research is critical, as this directs all of your research and your entire project. There are times you can even begin your research with one research hypothesis and wind up changing your research hypothesis as the research uncovers something else you would like to explore instead.
Now that you have found your research hypothesis, you then need to conduct your research. Research is critical to your research proposal. It is important that you follow the appropriate methodology for your school or university. Follow the guidelines that you have been given by your advisor for this project.
Different majors also require that you follow various formats for your research. Some majors demand that their students use the APA, American Psychology Association style and others request the Chicago Manual of Style. Using the wrong format for your research is a quick way to have your research proposal turned down, as you are not following the rules.
After your research is completed, you will need to confirm that the idea you have come up with have not been explored before by another PhD candidate or student. This is also a critical part to your process. While some students think that a research proposal is simply about your idea, research and then writing -- it is so much more than this. It is also about researching your idea to see if others have thought of this idea before to understand if your idea is truly an original one.
Following these steps as they are given by your school is critical to the success of your project. Different schools and universities may give additional instructions for the success of your research proposal. Things such as formatting your proposal or the way you cite your research are just as important as the actual research and your writing are to this project.
Writing a research proposal is an exciting step for a PhD candidate. Most consider this a rite of passage. Writing your research proposal can be a bit exciting for some and even a little intimidating. Once this project is completed, you'll be Ph.D.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Term Paper Writing
http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - Term Paper Topics
Keyword tags: : term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
One begins the research proposal project with a research hypothesis. This is most often a single sentence. You know you have a "winning" research proposal when you can put it into a single phrase or sentence. Your research hypothesis is one, which is an idea or thought that you believe in firmly. It is also one that you are passionate about researching. This is for good reason: the typical research proposal is hundreds of pages long. It makes good sense to select a research hypothesis that gets you excited and that you are intrigued to find the answer to.
Many students spend a great deal of time discovering exactly the right research hypothesis. They may discard various research hypothesis statements as they go about this process. Finding the best statement that suits your research is critical, as this directs all of your research and your entire project. There are times you can even begin your research with one research hypothesis and wind up changing your research hypothesis as the research uncovers something else you would like to explore instead.
Now that you have found your research hypothesis, you then need to conduct your research. Research is critical to your research proposal. It is important that you follow the appropriate methodology for your school or university. Follow the guidelines that you have been given by your advisor for this project.
Different majors also require that you follow various formats for your research. Some majors demand that their students use the APA, American Psychology Association style and others request the Chicago Manual of Style. Using the wrong format for your research is a quick way to have your research proposal turned down, as you are not following the rules.
After your research is completed, you will need to confirm that the idea you have come up with have not been explored before by another PhD candidate or student. This is also a critical part to your process. While some students think that a research proposal is simply about your idea, research and then writing -- it is so much more than this. It is also about researching your idea to see if others have thought of this idea before to understand if your idea is truly an original one.
Following these steps as they are given by your school is critical to the success of your project. Different schools and universities may give additional instructions for the success of your research proposal. Things such as formatting your proposal or the way you cite your research are just as important as the actual research and your writing are to this project.
Writing a research proposal is an exciting step for a PhD candidate. Most consider this a rite of passage. Writing your research proposal can be a bit exciting for some and even a little intimidating. Once this project is completed, you'll be Ph.D.
About the Author:
http://www.essaytown.com - Term Paper Writing
http://www.essaytown.com/subjects.html - Term Paper Topics
Keyword tags: : term papers,research papers,essay writing,dissertations,college term papers,college essays
Thursday, July 3, 2008
How to Write a Product Review
Writing a product review is by far the best way to endorse or promote a product or service. Whether it is your own product or one that you promote, writing a candid, personal review is what most often makes the sale and sets you apart from other, less ambitious marketers.
Of course, it goes without saying that the best product review comes from someone who has personal experience with the product. Having used a product yourself makes your endorsement much more believable and your review will reflect that.
Among other things a good product review will note how well the product delivers on its promises, how well it achieves its goals and if it's really a good value.
Here are a few additional tips that will help you write a product review that is not only persuasive but also gives the reader useful information:
1. This Is Not A Sales Pitch
First of all, a product review should never be "salesy" or full of hype, instead, include honest to goodness feelings, benefits and considerations.
2. Use a friendly, relaxed writing style
Write as if you're writing a letter to a friend. Keep it simple, light and in your own words.
If you were talking to your neighbor or friend about a product you purchased, you wouldn't be making a sales pitch; instead you would be telling them just what you experienced.
3. Clearly and Accurately Describe the Product or Service
This should be about what the product does and how it works. Include features and benefits but keep your focus on the benefits.
You can include itemized features but for anyone promoting other people's products, describing the features is better left for the product's sales page.
Your audience is better served by highlighting the benefits and how the product helped you personally.
4. Promote with Authority and Experience
If you are experienced in your trade or business and are promoting a product related to your business, then remind your readers of who you are and how long you've been in your position doing what you do. This gives credence to why your opinion matters and it will carry more weight.
5. Highlight the problems and Build up the solution
If you're promoting a product that resolves a problem, try describing the problem by building emotion around it by making the reader feel the discomfort of the problem. Once you've made your viewer feel the pain, so to speak, then begin to show them how the product can come to their rescue.
For example, let's say you're promoting article submission software. Begin by describing in some detail the problems and obstacles you've encountered when submitting articles manually.
Include points that your reader can really relate to like all the work involved, the additional time required and the hardships those problems presented. If you can, include a personal story that your reader can identify with.
Once you've described the problem and built emotion with your reader, begin to introduce the product and how it has resolved those problems for you. This is very effective in getting your reader to feel the pain and then appreciate the solution.
6. Use Product Comparisons
Product reviews work very well when comparing products or services.
For example, you may have used two or three similar products but perhaps you found one product stood out among the rest. Writing a comparative review of these products by making a clear distinction on how they differ and noting the benefits works very well.
If you can be clear on the differences and be specific as to why you liked one product over the other, you can often tip potential buyers into actually making a purchase.
7. Describe exactly who the product is for
Clearly describe what type of person or business might use the product. If the product or service requires a particular knowledge or prerequisite before purchasing, be clear about that. Your viewers won't be misled and they will appreciate your honesty.
8. Describe what you Don't Like
A good product review isn't all perfect and wonderful. That's not realistic, there's always room for improvement. Of course the improvements should be minor and not impact the use or effectiveness of the product, however touching on small imperfections gives your review a more realistic approach. Again, your readers will appreciate your candid honesty.
9. In Conclusion
Sum up your experiences and thoughts on the product. How has the product or service added to your bottom line? Did the product deliver on its goals and promises? Was it a good value for the money?
If the product offers a free trial, free shipping or money back guarantee, include those items as well.
10. Offer a Final Incentive
Once your product review is completed, it's a nice touch to close with a discount or coupon offer. If you are promoting someone else's product, check with the product creators and ask if they have any offers you can place in your review. This is often a nice incentive to help potential buyers make the purchase.
In summary, your goal in delivering an effective product review is to give your reader as much honest, realistic information on how the product or service will help them by showing how valuable it's been for you.
About the Author:
Elizabeth is a seasoned internet marketer focused on helping anyone interested in building a home internet business by providing free marketing advice, marketing product reviews, free courses and motivation at http://www.homenotion.com
Keyword tags: how to write a product review
Of course, it goes without saying that the best product review comes from someone who has personal experience with the product. Having used a product yourself makes your endorsement much more believable and your review will reflect that.
Among other things a good product review will note how well the product delivers on its promises, how well it achieves its goals and if it's really a good value.
Here are a few additional tips that will help you write a product review that is not only persuasive but also gives the reader useful information:
1. This Is Not A Sales Pitch
First of all, a product review should never be "salesy" or full of hype, instead, include honest to goodness feelings, benefits and considerations.
2. Use a friendly, relaxed writing style
Write as if you're writing a letter to a friend. Keep it simple, light and in your own words.
If you were talking to your neighbor or friend about a product you purchased, you wouldn't be making a sales pitch; instead you would be telling them just what you experienced.
3. Clearly and Accurately Describe the Product or Service
This should be about what the product does and how it works. Include features and benefits but keep your focus on the benefits.
You can include itemized features but for anyone promoting other people's products, describing the features is better left for the product's sales page.
Your audience is better served by highlighting the benefits and how the product helped you personally.
4. Promote with Authority and Experience
If you are experienced in your trade or business and are promoting a product related to your business, then remind your readers of who you are and how long you've been in your position doing what you do. This gives credence to why your opinion matters and it will carry more weight.
5. Highlight the problems and Build up the solution
If you're promoting a product that resolves a problem, try describing the problem by building emotion around it by making the reader feel the discomfort of the problem. Once you've made your viewer feel the pain, so to speak, then begin to show them how the product can come to their rescue.
For example, let's say you're promoting article submission software. Begin by describing in some detail the problems and obstacles you've encountered when submitting articles manually.
Include points that your reader can really relate to like all the work involved, the additional time required and the hardships those problems presented. If you can, include a personal story that your reader can identify with.
Once you've described the problem and built emotion with your reader, begin to introduce the product and how it has resolved those problems for you. This is very effective in getting your reader to feel the pain and then appreciate the solution.
6. Use Product Comparisons
Product reviews work very well when comparing products or services.
For example, you may have used two or three similar products but perhaps you found one product stood out among the rest. Writing a comparative review of these products by making a clear distinction on how they differ and noting the benefits works very well.
If you can be clear on the differences and be specific as to why you liked one product over the other, you can often tip potential buyers into actually making a purchase.
7. Describe exactly who the product is for
Clearly describe what type of person or business might use the product. If the product or service requires a particular knowledge or prerequisite before purchasing, be clear about that. Your viewers won't be misled and they will appreciate your honesty.
8. Describe what you Don't Like
A good product review isn't all perfect and wonderful. That's not realistic, there's always room for improvement. Of course the improvements should be minor and not impact the use or effectiveness of the product, however touching on small imperfections gives your review a more realistic approach. Again, your readers will appreciate your candid honesty.
9. In Conclusion
Sum up your experiences and thoughts on the product. How has the product or service added to your bottom line? Did the product deliver on its goals and promises? Was it a good value for the money?
If the product offers a free trial, free shipping or money back guarantee, include those items as well.
10. Offer a Final Incentive
Once your product review is completed, it's a nice touch to close with a discount or coupon offer. If you are promoting someone else's product, check with the product creators and ask if they have any offers you can place in your review. This is often a nice incentive to help potential buyers make the purchase.
In summary, your goal in delivering an effective product review is to give your reader as much honest, realistic information on how the product or service will help them by showing how valuable it's been for you.
About the Author:
Elizabeth is a seasoned internet marketer focused on helping anyone interested in building a home internet business by providing free marketing advice, marketing product reviews, free courses and motivation at http://www.homenotion.com
Keyword tags: how to write a product review
Taking Blogging to a New Level
Gone are the days when blogs used to be more of personal diaries – of random thoughts and ramblings. Today, we all know that blogging is a good source of income. How? Well it's simple! Write relevant content, generate traffic for your blog and earn money through advertisements. Although it reads simple, is it really that simple? There are millions of blogs floating in this virtual world. What makes your blog so special that people would visit your blog again and again? It's also not just about having loyal visitors, it's also about generating new traffic. How do you do that?
Here are some tips on blogging – how to keep it interesting, keep it growing and how to ensure a regular traffic and keep building on that.
Choose a topic that is of relevance to you. Something that you understand and are confident about. You can generate dependable content for the topic and will be considered a knowledgeable source for the relevant topic. Such topics could be as simple as gardening, plumbing or even political discussions – anything that may interest you.
Present your information in a lucid, easily understandable way. Your reader should find interest in what you are writing. Break the information into smaller chunks for easier comprehension. Try and avoid long sentences and flowery language.
Keep your blog up-to-date. Keep a tab on the latest happenings in your field. Share your opinion and guide the reader. Provide relevant links and associate information portals in your blog entries.
Visit other blogs and leave relevant comments. Your opinion should be interesting and helpful for the blog writer. This will generate not just the writer's interest to visit your blog but also that of the readers of the blog. Just as you are advised to leave comments at the same time, ensure that you respond to the comments received in your blog entries as well. It is important that you build a social network.
Have your blog registered with Search Engines – people should be able to find it through the most popular search engines. More the visibility, steadier is the flow of traffic to your blog.
Remember to advertise your blog in different forums, forums that discuss same interests as your blog. Let your friend circle know – mail them regularly about the updates in your blog, encourage them to subscribe to your blog. If your content is good, people will be interested in your blog.
Once you make your mark, you can start writing for others or jointly publish content with someone else. This has given visibility to many bloggers in the past. There are incidents where bloggers have been picked up by publishing houses, newspapers and magazines to write for them.
The opportunities in the field of blogging are enormous – it is something that one enjoys doing and also earns something out of it. If you keep the above tips in mind, chances are you will start generating revenue from your blog very soon.
About the Author:
Larry McCullough has been marketing and writing on the internet for over 10 years. Owner of various websites. http://6fig.com Blog: http://clubblogger.com
Keyword tags: blog,blogging,bloggers,marketing,internet,make money,business,home business,work at home,writing,
Here are some tips on blogging – how to keep it interesting, keep it growing and how to ensure a regular traffic and keep building on that.
Choose a topic that is of relevance to you. Something that you understand and are confident about. You can generate dependable content for the topic and will be considered a knowledgeable source for the relevant topic. Such topics could be as simple as gardening, plumbing or even political discussions – anything that may interest you.
Present your information in a lucid, easily understandable way. Your reader should find interest in what you are writing. Break the information into smaller chunks for easier comprehension. Try and avoid long sentences and flowery language.
Keep your blog up-to-date. Keep a tab on the latest happenings in your field. Share your opinion and guide the reader. Provide relevant links and associate information portals in your blog entries.
Visit other blogs and leave relevant comments. Your opinion should be interesting and helpful for the blog writer. This will generate not just the writer's interest to visit your blog but also that of the readers of the blog. Just as you are advised to leave comments at the same time, ensure that you respond to the comments received in your blog entries as well. It is important that you build a social network.
Have your blog registered with Search Engines – people should be able to find it through the most popular search engines. More the visibility, steadier is the flow of traffic to your blog.
Remember to advertise your blog in different forums, forums that discuss same interests as your blog. Let your friend circle know – mail them regularly about the updates in your blog, encourage them to subscribe to your blog. If your content is good, people will be interested in your blog.
Once you make your mark, you can start writing for others or jointly publish content with someone else. This has given visibility to many bloggers in the past. There are incidents where bloggers have been picked up by publishing houses, newspapers and magazines to write for them.
The opportunities in the field of blogging are enormous – it is something that one enjoys doing and also earns something out of it. If you keep the above tips in mind, chances are you will start generating revenue from your blog very soon.
About the Author:
Larry McCullough has been marketing and writing on the internet for over 10 years. Owner of various websites. http://6fig.com Blog: http://clubblogger.com
Keyword tags: blog,blogging,bloggers,marketing,internet,make money,business,home business,work at home,writing,
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