Most writers don't realize that getting into full-time writing depends mostly on their marketing skills. Yes, there is a secret to marketing. It is in reading multiples of magazines and choosing the right target… in other words – choosing a target that markets the kinds of articles/stories you have to sell.
If, for example, you like to write mysteries, don't waste your time submitting to Better Homes and Gardens, or Woman's World. Submit mysteries to a magazine that buys mysteries. You may think that would go without saying, but you'd be surprised how many writers try to sell to the wrong markets, or to magazines they haven't even read. (NEVER try to sell to a magazine you haven't read.)
If you want help in finding the right market, arm yourself with the right information. I highly recommend buying the online version at www.writersmarket.com for $39 a year. This is one purchase you really need to make. Invest in yourself. You can also buy it in the hard copy, but the online version is updated daily, whereas the hard copy is updated annually.
Let's say you want to sell your mystery story. To find good markets for it, log in to Writer's Market and go through the process of narrowing the fields on the search page. It is pretty self-explanatory.
Ultimately, you will wind up with a list of magazines you have never heard of and probably have not read (but that sound right for your story or article). Select magazines that are at least 75% freelance written. (Writer's Market will give you that information.) When you have arrived at the best magazine market for your article, make another investment and buy three consecutive (recent) copies of it.
When you receive the copies (four to six weeks later), go to the page that show the names of the editors and staff (in the front), and match up the names of the editors and staff with the names of the articles in the magazine.
When you have identified which articles belong to paid staff and which ones belong to freelance writers, you are on the right trail. Read the articles that are written by freelancers. When you find an article where you think to yourself, "I could write that," you have found your needle in the haystack. This is the market you want to sell to.
Next, create a folder on the Writer's Market and label it with the name of the article you have in mind. If, for example, you wrote an article entitled The Mystery of River Run, make a folder (on Writer's Market) with that name. As you find the names of magazines that you think are good markets for that story, file them in that folder. (Fear not - the Writer's Market gives easy directions on how to do this.) When you get that far, yer cookin' with gas!
Now go through the markets one at a time and make notes. After you have read the top two or three magazines that you think would be your best markets, submit your story to the one that pays the highest.
When your story has been accepted and you know when it will be published (or thereabouts), begin the reselling process of the same story by resubmitting it to the next market in line. (Reselling is the key to being a full-time writer, but resales only earn half what you received on your first sale.)
It is absolutely imperative to keep a good set of books that will show when you submitted an article, the name of the article, the magazine you submitted it to, and whether it was accepted or rejected. (Writer's Market also supplies a place for that.)
And now you know why writing is such hard work. Nevertheless, if it is the real passion in your life, you'll stick with it. In doing so, you'll learn more and more tools of the trade.
About the Author:
Compliments of http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com and Deborah Owen. To register for The Writer's Choice, the school's newsletter, write to deborahowen@cwinst.com.
Keyword tags: writing,classes,courses,marketing,student,school,
Showing newest 21 of 46 posts from September 2008. Show older posts
Showing newest 21 of 46 posts from September 2008. Show older posts
Monday, September 29, 2008
Write and Read Articles Online: Why You Should Do it Too
Do you have a lot to say but don't know how to get people to listen? Do you need information about a particular subject, but don't know the best way to find it? The answers are right in front of you and they are free and easy to find.
If you are a writer wanting to be heard, write online articles. If you are a reader looking for information about certain subjects, read online articles. It's that simple. Millions of people have discovered the benefits of writing and reading articles online. So, what is the big attraction and what's in it for you?
Write Online Articles
If you have a business, product or service you want to promote, the best way to do it is to write online articles about it and get them widely read. That is where companies called article marketers, who publish your articles come in to play.
Publishing online articles with an article marketing website allows you to get your name and what you are promoting out there. The beauty of it is you don't have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on marketing and promotional tools. Writing articles online gives you the benefit of free advertising and promotion.
The best method to successfully write online articles is to focus on the key features of what you are trying to promote. Then, write an article summing up those features and detailing why they would be of benefit to your prospective buyers. You will not only get your name and product or service out there, but you will also build yourself a reputation as an authority figure on your particular subject.
Benefits of Writing Online Articles
* Get more clicks on your links
* Raise your ranking in the search engines
* Attract your target audiences and traffic
* Improve your Internet presence
* Gain recognition as an expert
* Increase your sales
* Take advantage of free advertising
* Repeat traffic
Read Online Articles
There is also much to gain when you read online articles. If you are trying to start a business, you have a lot of research ahead of you. You will save a lot of time and energy by reading about what others have done in your situation. You can find out what works and what doesn't. You can learn the best methods to go about certain tasks through someone else's trial and error.
Online articles in the form of trade publications give you the latest information in your industry. This information includes details on subjects like:
* Latest industry trends
* Current customer needs
* Most popular product lines
* Successful marketing strategies of your competitors
* Upcoming trade show information
* Contact information about suppliers
* Upcoming new products from competitors
The more you read online articles, the more prepared you will be when it comes time to launch your new business or latest product or service. The Internet is the number one venue for sales and marketing of any business. This even includes companies that do most of their business in person and offline.
The bottom line is this: The more you write articles online, the more free advertising you can take advantage of. The more you read articles online, the more prepared you will be to tackle your own business ups and downs. It is a win, win opportunity that is just an Internet page and a mouse click away. Why not take advantage of both free advertising and learning from someone else's mistakes? The only outcome you can expect is free and easy success. Who could ask for more than that?
About the Author:
This article was written by Jay Gaulard on behalf of http://www.articlehub.us, a popular article submission website.
Keyword tags: write online articles, read online articles, online articles, article submission
If you are a writer wanting to be heard, write online articles. If you are a reader looking for information about certain subjects, read online articles. It's that simple. Millions of people have discovered the benefits of writing and reading articles online. So, what is the big attraction and what's in it for you?
Write Online Articles
If you have a business, product or service you want to promote, the best way to do it is to write online articles about it and get them widely read. That is where companies called article marketers, who publish your articles come in to play.
Publishing online articles with an article marketing website allows you to get your name and what you are promoting out there. The beauty of it is you don't have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on marketing and promotional tools. Writing articles online gives you the benefit of free advertising and promotion.
The best method to successfully write online articles is to focus on the key features of what you are trying to promote. Then, write an article summing up those features and detailing why they would be of benefit to your prospective buyers. You will not only get your name and product or service out there, but you will also build yourself a reputation as an authority figure on your particular subject.
Benefits of Writing Online Articles
* Get more clicks on your links
* Raise your ranking in the search engines
* Attract your target audiences and traffic
* Improve your Internet presence
* Gain recognition as an expert
* Increase your sales
* Take advantage of free advertising
* Repeat traffic
Read Online Articles
There is also much to gain when you read online articles. If you are trying to start a business, you have a lot of research ahead of you. You will save a lot of time and energy by reading about what others have done in your situation. You can find out what works and what doesn't. You can learn the best methods to go about certain tasks through someone else's trial and error.
Online articles in the form of trade publications give you the latest information in your industry. This information includes details on subjects like:
* Latest industry trends
* Current customer needs
* Most popular product lines
* Successful marketing strategies of your competitors
* Upcoming trade show information
* Contact information about suppliers
* Upcoming new products from competitors
The more you read online articles, the more prepared you will be when it comes time to launch your new business or latest product or service. The Internet is the number one venue for sales and marketing of any business. This even includes companies that do most of their business in person and offline.
The bottom line is this: The more you write articles online, the more free advertising you can take advantage of. The more you read articles online, the more prepared you will be to tackle your own business ups and downs. It is a win, win opportunity that is just an Internet page and a mouse click away. Why not take advantage of both free advertising and learning from someone else's mistakes? The only outcome you can expect is free and easy success. Who could ask for more than that?
About the Author:
This article was written by Jay Gaulard on behalf of http://www.articlehub.us, a popular article submission website.
Keyword tags: write online articles, read online articles, online articles, article submission
Saturday, September 27, 2008
Time: Waiting in Vain
If you are a busy person trying to wait for the right time or enough time to write, then you may have a long wait.
Most authors today have to manage time to write around their day jobs, raising children, caring for a husband or other family members. So where does the time come from? When do you sleep? More importantly, when do you have time for just you?
Too often I hear someone say to me they don't have time to read. I want to punch their lights out. It's nonsense. Time is what you make it. No one ever said time management is always easy; it most assuredly is not.
My own writing career began when I was quite young and raising two kids of my own, and four of my husband's children. I was also working a full time job. Sometimes the time I spent writing was the only thing that saved my sanity.
For this to even be possible, I forced myself (yes, forced) to set aside two hours a day just for me, so I could write. Many times I had to work overtime on my other job or even work weekends, so my two hours was not always possible if I was to stay healthy with adequate sleep. Fortunately that didn't happen too often. The children were well warned by both me and their father that to interrupt me during those two hours just might be tantamount to committing suicide. We figured they didn't want to do that and we were quite right.
Staying focused on a story with a houseful of noisy kids is a challenge I wouldn't want to wish on anyone, but it can be done. If you're serious about writing, then do it. For many years I had to work this way. It took a great deal of energy and discipline. This is called leading a full life, I believe. Admittedly youth has flown now, but I'm still writing, running a business with four divisions and coordinating 50 to 80 authors at all times.
If you don't have the energy it takes, then it's recommended you have a close look at your nutritional habits. Proper nutrition is a must. Too much pizza, cokes, hamburgers, fries and chips will do nothing for you except make you fat and lethargic. Too much sugar fat and carbohydrates is detrimental to the brain's ability to function in top form. One multiple vitamin pill a day won't cut it either. I'm talking serious nutrition here.
To write well your mind must be clear and unfettered. That means if you set aside a certain time of the day to write, you must be adamant about enforcing your privacy. MAKE the time. You're the only one who can do that.
Maintaining Continuity
If you are working overtime on the job all week, then set aside two hours during your day(s) off when you are not to be disturbed. If you are unfortunate enough to have extremely limited time to write due to an outside job or demanding family, then how on earth can you keep the momentum going in your fiction writing? It was a problem for me in the beginning, but I soon learned I must conquer the problem or go nuts.
What worked for me, after trying several things, was by taking a tip from Ernest Hemingway. When he quit writing for the day, he typed a word or an unfinished sentence and left it there to find the next day. It helped him to refocus where he needed to go in the writing instead of sitting there staring at a blank page unable to get the trials of the day job or other distractions to clear his mind. He didn't forget where he wanted to go. Making himself finish that sentence, usually enabled him to keep writing for whatever time he had to spare that day. Very good advice and it worked for me.
Now and then I still use this tip, but it's not as necessary now because I've been doing this for so long it's almost second nature. No more kids around to distract me, these days, and when I'm writing I don't even answer the phone. It's death to an author's creativity to allow distractions during that time. Because I own and run this publishing company by myself, I have only Sundays in which to write. God help you if you interrupt me on that day. I'm bad. I'm really bad!
If Hemingway's tip doesn't work for you, sit in front of the computer and warm up by typing something like, The red fox jumped over the hedge and ate a cucumber that gave him gas, or anything impromptu and silly just to put words on paper. In a minute or two you'll be ready to go. You can even try the impromptu writing using the names of some of your characters in silly or not so silly ways to warm up. The point is, staring at a blank screen does not a writer make.
If you're young, raising children and the house catches fire, grab the kid in one arm and your computer hard drive in the other and get out fast. Never lose your computer and all of your hard work to a fire if it can be prevented. I'm saying, in a smart-aleck way, that your writing should be as precious to you as your family. It deserves to be very high indeed on your priority list. If it's not, then perhaps you are not really a writer, or you can't wrap your mind around the importance of that concept.
Spousal Help or Hindrance?
It would be remiss of me if I didn't mention this item. Does your spouse support your desire and time you set aside to write? Or is he/she completely incapable of relating to this facet of your very soul? A spouse can either make or break an author with regard to allowing time away from them to pursue the author's dreams of writing and getting published. This is fodder for an entire article all its own, so I will only touch on it here.
Authors who have non-supportive spouses where writing is concerned may as well have an anchor clamped to their neck, choking the life out of them with every step they take. If you're a writer, it's part of you and it must be free to create without ridicule from that person trying to kick your self-esteem down in the basement all the time. I had one like that once. He's history.
Authors who have supportive spouses, like me, are allowed the freedom to do what we must, just as I give my spouse the freedom he needs to do what he loves best. We are both very busy people, but the time we spend together is quality of the top drawer kind.
Choosing the Right Style
Will designating time for your writing change your lifestyle? Maybe. If so, you may be very resistant to making the necessary adjustments to do what your writer's mind urges you to do. Saying, "I don't have the time I need to write," is nonsense, just as it is for people to say they have no time to read. Folks we have the same number of hours in every day we've always had. So if you don't find the time to write, it's your lifestyle and/or your mindset interfering; it isn't that no time is available to you unless you make it so. Don't be a pussycat. Stand your ground and MAKE time. If I could raise six children, work a full-time day job and still make time to write for two hours a day, don't tell me you can't.
So get tough and make it happen. Guys and gals, time waits for no one and it won't wait for you either. C'mon now. How serious are you about making time to write?
About the Author:
Lee Emory is an author of ten novels, numerous short stories and articles, who is also a professional editor for 40 years. She is the owner of/Senior Editor for Treble Heart Books Publishing. Lee teaches writing workshops and speaks at numerous writers' conferences. Visit http://www.trebleheartbooks.com or email leeemory@earthlink.net to learn more.
Keyword tags: writing tips, authors, books, writing advice, publishing, writing style, writing methods
Most authors today have to manage time to write around their day jobs, raising children, caring for a husband or other family members. So where does the time come from? When do you sleep? More importantly, when do you have time for just you?
Too often I hear someone say to me they don't have time to read. I want to punch their lights out. It's nonsense. Time is what you make it. No one ever said time management is always easy; it most assuredly is not.
My own writing career began when I was quite young and raising two kids of my own, and four of my husband's children. I was also working a full time job. Sometimes the time I spent writing was the only thing that saved my sanity.
For this to even be possible, I forced myself (yes, forced) to set aside two hours a day just for me, so I could write. Many times I had to work overtime on my other job or even work weekends, so my two hours was not always possible if I was to stay healthy with adequate sleep. Fortunately that didn't happen too often. The children were well warned by both me and their father that to interrupt me during those two hours just might be tantamount to committing suicide. We figured they didn't want to do that and we were quite right.
Staying focused on a story with a houseful of noisy kids is a challenge I wouldn't want to wish on anyone, but it can be done. If you're serious about writing, then do it. For many years I had to work this way. It took a great deal of energy and discipline. This is called leading a full life, I believe. Admittedly youth has flown now, but I'm still writing, running a business with four divisions and coordinating 50 to 80 authors at all times.
If you don't have the energy it takes, then it's recommended you have a close look at your nutritional habits. Proper nutrition is a must. Too much pizza, cokes, hamburgers, fries and chips will do nothing for you except make you fat and lethargic. Too much sugar fat and carbohydrates is detrimental to the brain's ability to function in top form. One multiple vitamin pill a day won't cut it either. I'm talking serious nutrition here.
To write well your mind must be clear and unfettered. That means if you set aside a certain time of the day to write, you must be adamant about enforcing your privacy. MAKE the time. You're the only one who can do that.
Maintaining Continuity
If you are working overtime on the job all week, then set aside two hours during your day(s) off when you are not to be disturbed. If you are unfortunate enough to have extremely limited time to write due to an outside job or demanding family, then how on earth can you keep the momentum going in your fiction writing? It was a problem for me in the beginning, but I soon learned I must conquer the problem or go nuts.
What worked for me, after trying several things, was by taking a tip from Ernest Hemingway. When he quit writing for the day, he typed a word or an unfinished sentence and left it there to find the next day. It helped him to refocus where he needed to go in the writing instead of sitting there staring at a blank page unable to get the trials of the day job or other distractions to clear his mind. He didn't forget where he wanted to go. Making himself finish that sentence, usually enabled him to keep writing for whatever time he had to spare that day. Very good advice and it worked for me.
Now and then I still use this tip, but it's not as necessary now because I've been doing this for so long it's almost second nature. No more kids around to distract me, these days, and when I'm writing I don't even answer the phone. It's death to an author's creativity to allow distractions during that time. Because I own and run this publishing company by myself, I have only Sundays in which to write. God help you if you interrupt me on that day. I'm bad. I'm really bad!
If Hemingway's tip doesn't work for you, sit in front of the computer and warm up by typing something like, The red fox jumped over the hedge and ate a cucumber that gave him gas, or anything impromptu and silly just to put words on paper. In a minute or two you'll be ready to go. You can even try the impromptu writing using the names of some of your characters in silly or not so silly ways to warm up. The point is, staring at a blank screen does not a writer make.
If you're young, raising children and the house catches fire, grab the kid in one arm and your computer hard drive in the other and get out fast. Never lose your computer and all of your hard work to a fire if it can be prevented. I'm saying, in a smart-aleck way, that your writing should be as precious to you as your family. It deserves to be very high indeed on your priority list. If it's not, then perhaps you are not really a writer, or you can't wrap your mind around the importance of that concept.
Spousal Help or Hindrance?
It would be remiss of me if I didn't mention this item. Does your spouse support your desire and time you set aside to write? Or is he/she completely incapable of relating to this facet of your very soul? A spouse can either make or break an author with regard to allowing time away from them to pursue the author's dreams of writing and getting published. This is fodder for an entire article all its own, so I will only touch on it here.
Authors who have non-supportive spouses where writing is concerned may as well have an anchor clamped to their neck, choking the life out of them with every step they take. If you're a writer, it's part of you and it must be free to create without ridicule from that person trying to kick your self-esteem down in the basement all the time. I had one like that once. He's history.
Authors who have supportive spouses, like me, are allowed the freedom to do what we must, just as I give my spouse the freedom he needs to do what he loves best. We are both very busy people, but the time we spend together is quality of the top drawer kind.
Choosing the Right Style
Will designating time for your writing change your lifestyle? Maybe. If so, you may be very resistant to making the necessary adjustments to do what your writer's mind urges you to do. Saying, "I don't have the time I need to write," is nonsense, just as it is for people to say they have no time to read. Folks we have the same number of hours in every day we've always had. So if you don't find the time to write, it's your lifestyle and/or your mindset interfering; it isn't that no time is available to you unless you make it so. Don't be a pussycat. Stand your ground and MAKE time. If I could raise six children, work a full-time day job and still make time to write for two hours a day, don't tell me you can't.
So get tough and make it happen. Guys and gals, time waits for no one and it won't wait for you either. C'mon now. How serious are you about making time to write?
About the Author:
Lee Emory is an author of ten novels, numerous short stories and articles, who is also a professional editor for 40 years. She is the owner of/Senior Editor for Treble Heart Books Publishing. Lee teaches writing workshops and speaks at numerous writers' conferences. Visit http://www.trebleheartbooks.com or email leeemory@earthlink.net to learn more.
Keyword tags: writing tips, authors, books, writing advice, publishing, writing style, writing methods
Writing Away Diminishing Hopes: The Dark, Stark Realities
Remember when you were a brand new writer? Remember the stars in your eyes and the dollar signs floating through your imaginations? I do. If you're a new writer, look in the mirror and what do you see? If you're wearing rose colored glasses or your eyes are shining like laser beams from the enthusiasm you have for the manuscript you just completed, then listen up.
If you're an author who has been writing for a long time, then you have already experienced the many roadblocks thrown up in our paths. Most especially the last few years. Large publishing houses and large organizations such as Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime (the list goes on) have now passed clearly discriminatory bylaws prohibiting the acknowledgement of writers and their books unless their publishing houses print a thousand to however many thousand books of each title. Your publisher is no longer "approved." Despite how many awards they've won. This of course was done to eliminate small presses and POD (Print on Demand) publishers from their lists. Amazon has removed all their POD titles from their sales site unless the authors agree to have their POD books printed through them.
Add to this unpalatable stew, the large chain bookstores will rarely if ever allow small press, POD or self published authors to display their titles in their stores nowadays. It's much harder for small press authors to get book signings in one of them. They refuse to order directly from the small publishers unless they can order through Baker & Taylor or Ingram. Many of us small presses have our titles registered with those distributors, but the distributors do not warehouse small press books. So, when you go to a large chain store and want to do a signing, the clerk looks up in their database to see if your title is available at B&T or Ingram. When they don't find it in their database, it's because the books are not in the warehouse and therefore the store has no visibility as to the availability of the book. They tell the author the book is not available at B&T or Ingram. This is a brutal whirlwind that I, as a small press publisher, fight on a daily basis and have suffered through for years.
My less than assertive authors become deeply disturbed and discouraged by all this and consequently don't even try to market their books or try other ways and means to get their books and their names out there to the buying public. My more assertive, determined authors are selling well despite all these negatives. It takes guts and determination to make it work along with an unwavering belief in your ability as a writer to have something to say a customer will want to read. Sometimes marketing even takes an investment of money on the author's part. Of course no one has any money to spend on their own writing careers, so that's an absurd way to way to risk their precious dollars. What? Spend money on my own writing? There's no money to spare for that. If you haven't got the confidence in your own ability to risk spending what it takes to get your name out there, who else is going to do it for you? What guarantee do I have? None. There are no guarantees in this business. But nobody wins if they don't try. That truth IS set in concrete. Make no mistake.
Turning Dark into Light
People in the artistic fields will be the first to tell you there can be no light if there is no dark. In other words, your background must be dark before you can make light shine through. Painting light on light backgrounds will not work. Okay, so where is this going?
If you really are a writer, then you must write no matter what. Writing fills a deep emotional need inside us. Naturally we want to share our stories with others, and a little praise for a job well done now and then doesn't hurt either. As writers we all covet this.
So how can we combat all the negatives slamming us in the face in the current writing industry's negative, glutted atmosphere? In this atmosphere, writing a good book is the easy part. It's the marketing that's the largest challenge. You're the only one who can create a demand for your book, so how do you go about it? Let me count the ways.
Your book is of most interest to what genre(s)? If there is more than one, state which is your main focus; it's important to know all of your potential audience. Use other genre audiences in parallel with your main focus audience.
Prepublication Marketing:
Three to four months prior to publication, schedule presentations and talks about your book to various groups and organizations who might be interested in your genre.
A web-based marketing effort is also a must. If you don't have a web site, get one and start blogging. If you can, start a newsletter either monthly or bi-monthly.
Post Book Release Marketing:
If you can afford it, hire a highly referred publicist and start a campaign to create interest in your title, your genre; write articles for display on your web site to get your name out there often, again and again.
Submit your book to as many reviewers who review your genre as you can. Post any positive reviews on your web page and/or newsletter or blog.
Enter as many prestigious writing contests as your budget will allow. Be careful to enter it only in the right category and follow their rules for submission to the letter to avoid disqualification.
Transmit news of your book's release to every independent bookstore you can look up in the library lists or on the internet. Attractive postcards with your cover and brief synopsis or flyers work well for this. Yes, I know. It costs money for postage. Do it. It's a must.
Produce a web site blog or podcast and/or interviews where you will discuss your book and answer questions about it to those who show interest. This is called a Blog Tour. Participate in Q&A sessions on already established blog sites.
If you have no-cost air miles coming, use them to visit other cities where you can arrange several speaking engagements and book signing events at libraries, independent bookstores and the like. Be sure the events are advertised in their local newspapers prior to the event. Don't limit yourself to local places only.
Turning dark into light isn't impossible. It just takes hard work, determination to beat back the negatives of a glutted industry until they are bloody pulp. Today, at this moment, the greatest tool we small press authors have is the internet. There is no more vast audience. Learn all you can about utilizing its tools, ways and means. Be willing to spend a bit of money. Save for it if you must, and most of have to; make it a budget priority. This is your writing career. You must be willing and able to expend the energy and dogged belief in your work to make this work. Monetary rewards if any will be come slow and build with time as long as you don't give up.
If you're a smart author and have spent a great deal of time learning your craft before submitting, then you're ahead of the game at least that much. But, if you've been lazy or lax in learning the craft, then you can spend years slogging through piles of form rejections and disappointments even before you can paint a dark background so your light will shine through. Writing a good book is only the beginning of the journey. You, the author, must possess the passion and gutsy determination to become known as an excellent writer despite all the negatives others can throw at us. Write away those diminishing hopes. Market away the naysayers.
In closing one of the best pieces of advice I can give you, whether you're published in a large house or small, or still aspiring to be published, is to acquire a copy of RED HOT INTERNET PUBLICITY by Penny Sansevieri. If you don't have the book, get it. Study it from cover to cover. It will open your eyes to methods you never dreamed possible for marketing your work in today's environment.
About the Author:
Lee Emory is an author of ten novels, numerous short stories and articles, who is also a professional editor for 40 years. She is the owner of/Senior Editor for Treble Heart Books Publishing. Lee teaches writing workshops and speaks at numerous writers' conferences. Visit http://www.trebleheartbooks.com or email leeemory@earthlink.net to learn more.
Keyword tags: writing tips, authors, books, writing advice, publishing, book marketing, book publicity
If you're an author who has been writing for a long time, then you have already experienced the many roadblocks thrown up in our paths. Most especially the last few years. Large publishing houses and large organizations such as Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime (the list goes on) have now passed clearly discriminatory bylaws prohibiting the acknowledgement of writers and their books unless their publishing houses print a thousand to however many thousand books of each title. Your publisher is no longer "approved." Despite how many awards they've won. This of course was done to eliminate small presses and POD (Print on Demand) publishers from their lists. Amazon has removed all their POD titles from their sales site unless the authors agree to have their POD books printed through them.
Add to this unpalatable stew, the large chain bookstores will rarely if ever allow small press, POD or self published authors to display their titles in their stores nowadays. It's much harder for small press authors to get book signings in one of them. They refuse to order directly from the small publishers unless they can order through Baker & Taylor or Ingram. Many of us small presses have our titles registered with those distributors, but the distributors do not warehouse small press books. So, when you go to a large chain store and want to do a signing, the clerk looks up in their database to see if your title is available at B&T or Ingram. When they don't find it in their database, it's because the books are not in the warehouse and therefore the store has no visibility as to the availability of the book. They tell the author the book is not available at B&T or Ingram. This is a brutal whirlwind that I, as a small press publisher, fight on a daily basis and have suffered through for years.
My less than assertive authors become deeply disturbed and discouraged by all this and consequently don't even try to market their books or try other ways and means to get their books and their names out there to the buying public. My more assertive, determined authors are selling well despite all these negatives. It takes guts and determination to make it work along with an unwavering belief in your ability as a writer to have something to say a customer will want to read. Sometimes marketing even takes an investment of money on the author's part. Of course no one has any money to spend on their own writing careers, so that's an absurd way to way to risk their precious dollars. What? Spend money on my own writing? There's no money to spare for that. If you haven't got the confidence in your own ability to risk spending what it takes to get your name out there, who else is going to do it for you? What guarantee do I have? None. There are no guarantees in this business. But nobody wins if they don't try. That truth IS set in concrete. Make no mistake.
Turning Dark into Light
People in the artistic fields will be the first to tell you there can be no light if there is no dark. In other words, your background must be dark before you can make light shine through. Painting light on light backgrounds will not work. Okay, so where is this going?
If you really are a writer, then you must write no matter what. Writing fills a deep emotional need inside us. Naturally we want to share our stories with others, and a little praise for a job well done now and then doesn't hurt either. As writers we all covet this.
So how can we combat all the negatives slamming us in the face in the current writing industry's negative, glutted atmosphere? In this atmosphere, writing a good book is the easy part. It's the marketing that's the largest challenge. You're the only one who can create a demand for your book, so how do you go about it? Let me count the ways.
Your book is of most interest to what genre(s)? If there is more than one, state which is your main focus; it's important to know all of your potential audience. Use other genre audiences in parallel with your main focus audience.
Prepublication Marketing:
Three to four months prior to publication, schedule presentations and talks about your book to various groups and organizations who might be interested in your genre.
A web-based marketing effort is also a must. If you don't have a web site, get one and start blogging. If you can, start a newsletter either monthly or bi-monthly.
Post Book Release Marketing:
If you can afford it, hire a highly referred publicist and start a campaign to create interest in your title, your genre; write articles for display on your web site to get your name out there often, again and again.
Submit your book to as many reviewers who review your genre as you can. Post any positive reviews on your web page and/or newsletter or blog.
Enter as many prestigious writing contests as your budget will allow. Be careful to enter it only in the right category and follow their rules for submission to the letter to avoid disqualification.
Transmit news of your book's release to every independent bookstore you can look up in the library lists or on the internet. Attractive postcards with your cover and brief synopsis or flyers work well for this. Yes, I know. It costs money for postage. Do it. It's a must.
Produce a web site blog or podcast and/or interviews where you will discuss your book and answer questions about it to those who show interest. This is called a Blog Tour. Participate in Q&A sessions on already established blog sites.
If you have no-cost air miles coming, use them to visit other cities where you can arrange several speaking engagements and book signing events at libraries, independent bookstores and the like. Be sure the events are advertised in their local newspapers prior to the event. Don't limit yourself to local places only.
Turning dark into light isn't impossible. It just takes hard work, determination to beat back the negatives of a glutted industry until they are bloody pulp. Today, at this moment, the greatest tool we small press authors have is the internet. There is no more vast audience. Learn all you can about utilizing its tools, ways and means. Be willing to spend a bit of money. Save for it if you must, and most of have to; make it a budget priority. This is your writing career. You must be willing and able to expend the energy and dogged belief in your work to make this work. Monetary rewards if any will be come slow and build with time as long as you don't give up.
If you're a smart author and have spent a great deal of time learning your craft before submitting, then you're ahead of the game at least that much. But, if you've been lazy or lax in learning the craft, then you can spend years slogging through piles of form rejections and disappointments even before you can paint a dark background so your light will shine through. Writing a good book is only the beginning of the journey. You, the author, must possess the passion and gutsy determination to become known as an excellent writer despite all the negatives others can throw at us. Write away those diminishing hopes. Market away the naysayers.
In closing one of the best pieces of advice I can give you, whether you're published in a large house or small, or still aspiring to be published, is to acquire a copy of RED HOT INTERNET PUBLICITY by Penny Sansevieri. If you don't have the book, get it. Study it from cover to cover. It will open your eyes to methods you never dreamed possible for marketing your work in today's environment.
About the Author:
Lee Emory is an author of ten novels, numerous short stories and articles, who is also a professional editor for 40 years. She is the owner of/Senior Editor for Treble Heart Books Publishing. Lee teaches writing workshops and speaks at numerous writers' conferences. Visit http://www.trebleheartbooks.com or email leeemory@earthlink.net to learn more.
Keyword tags: writing tips, authors, books, writing advice, publishing, book marketing, book publicity
Friday, September 26, 2008
Revisiting the Right Stuff
Brace yourself. This is definitely one publisher's opinion piece. If you're an author over the age of 50, then you'll understand the points in this article, but if you're younger than 50, you may not have a clue or be able to relate to anything said here. ::Sigh::
Revisiting the right stuff. What is the right stuff?
There was a time when our vocabularies were more widely used in our writing. (I do not speak of five dollar words here, but common words used to vary sentences.) However, many of the books today reflect a disease I call Hollywood-itis. This disease encompasses using profanity in every other word of dialogue, or nearly so. Even many of our cartoons use inappropriate language and thus have become much less funny and some of them downright distasteful. Most of our current TV commercials are appallingly stupid, insulting anyone with even one side of their brain working and the other side dead. There is such a thing as producing something so stupid it's really not funny. It's pathetic. Have I ever purchased anything after watching one of those idiotic commercials? No. Never.
Many of the book signings and conferences I attend and participate in become great forums for hearing what the buying public wants. I constantly hear from people buying books that they are sick to death of filthy language, among other things. Many ask me about such content in my books before they'll buy and I don't blame them for asking. I'm glad they do. Many of them tell some of the books they've bought are not only offensive, but distracting. It yanks them right out of the story.
"Oh, but our culture has changed," some of you shout at me. "Our dialogue wouldn't sound real unless we incorporate trash language into our writing."
Nonsense.
Clear, concise writing and wordsmithing does not depend on profanity for its success.
"You are moralizing!" someone just shouted at me. I can hear you. Call it what you want. The fact is liberal profanity in any written work lacks class and intellect in the rendering. Good writers get their point across without the heavy overuse of it. You have only to read the classics to know the truth of this. They are still classics. Gee, I wonder why? Does it really take a genius to figure this out?
I once received a young adult submission that was so chock full of profanity, which is the way many young people speak today, that I insisted the author make revisions or it wouldn't be acceptable for publication in my company. Her argument was that the dialogue wouldn't sound real. Again I say nonsense. Do you mean to tell me that if a young person is reading a book full of exciting, active words showing them a story they're really getting into, that they miss hearing the filth? If it's a good book, chances are those young readers won't miss what's not there, but they will read and enjoy what IS there. If they can't enjoy a book without that sort of language, then what does that say for their upbringing, their mindset and education? Not a great deal to recommend it, I'd say. How much of that stuff are they hearing at home? This has become another facet of the breakdown of our education in America. But that's a whole other article.
Authors, you have the opportunity to "Revisit the Right Stuff" in your books. Show readers how really talented you are at crafting a wonderful, memorable book that won't have to be packaged in a plain brown wrapper and hidden from your children or your grandmother. Encourage all your author friends to use active verbs and engaging scenes in their works. Encourage all authors you know into getting back to CLASS writing. If you're showing anger, show it, don't shout it at the reader in the form of disgusting profanity to get your point across. Give your characters enough dialogue and animation to show us they are angry or in a rage. In today's environment, this is a challenge to many of you. Step up to it. Show us your right stuff.
The Exceptions
I envision a lot of tongues in cheeks out there at this point, so let me further clarify. When I speak of disgusting profanity, I am not talking about the occasional damn or hell used in dialogue. Those expletives do not conjure up demeaning or sexual images in a reader's mind and they are as common as apple pie. A helpmate to blowing off steam. One still does not have to use expletives, but these are far less distracting and offensive to a reader than some of the other profane words, which I will not mention here for obvious reasons. You've all heard and read them.
On the other side of the coin are authors and readers who tell me they are not bothered by foul language in books. Fine, but there are far more people who are, and why should we authors not try to write our very best for them instead of turning them off reading altogether? I've seen this happen too many times and it's heartbreaking; it's also damaging to the industry as a whole. People won't buy books, if they no longer read for the sheer want of quality books.
I'm not saying books have to be syrupy sweet. Not by any means. In certain suspense and thrillers, profane words occasionally spoken by the villain or antagonist can be sometimes tolerated, even by the most prudish reader, because those awful characters would most likely speak that way. But the key word here is occasionally. It is unnecessary to overuse foul language, even in our dastardly characters. Hone your vocabulary, instead, to draw your villain well without all that. However, your heroes and heroines will rarely use profanity or they won't sound like heroes and heroines.
One of the exceptions might be if a hero is about to be shot full of holes. He wouldn't say "Oh, shucky darn," would he? No, so let's be realistic here. In my thriller NIGHT FREEZE, the word my main character uses as an expletive appears only once in the entire book, and it's not the "F" word. Even my extremely warped serial killer comes across as one scary dude without my using a lot of profanity. A challenge to write indeed, but it can be done. As a publisher and senior editor I long to see higher quality writing that took some real thought, some real blood, sweat and tears To make it the right stuff.
About the Author:
Lee Emory is an author of ten novels, numerous short stories and articles, who is also a professional editor for 40 years. She is the owner of/Senior Editor for Treble Heart Books Publishing. Lee teaches writing workshops and speaks at numerous writers' conferences. Visit http://www.trebleheartbooks.com or email leeemory@earthlink.net to learn more.
Keyword tags: authors, books, writing tips, writing coach, thrillers, fiction, publishing
Revisiting the right stuff. What is the right stuff?
There was a time when our vocabularies were more widely used in our writing. (I do not speak of five dollar words here, but common words used to vary sentences.) However, many of the books today reflect a disease I call Hollywood-itis. This disease encompasses using profanity in every other word of dialogue, or nearly so. Even many of our cartoons use inappropriate language and thus have become much less funny and some of them downright distasteful. Most of our current TV commercials are appallingly stupid, insulting anyone with even one side of their brain working and the other side dead. There is such a thing as producing something so stupid it's really not funny. It's pathetic. Have I ever purchased anything after watching one of those idiotic commercials? No. Never.
Many of the book signings and conferences I attend and participate in become great forums for hearing what the buying public wants. I constantly hear from people buying books that they are sick to death of filthy language, among other things. Many ask me about such content in my books before they'll buy and I don't blame them for asking. I'm glad they do. Many of them tell some of the books they've bought are not only offensive, but distracting. It yanks them right out of the story.
"Oh, but our culture has changed," some of you shout at me. "Our dialogue wouldn't sound real unless we incorporate trash language into our writing."
Nonsense.
Clear, concise writing and wordsmithing does not depend on profanity for its success.
"You are moralizing!" someone just shouted at me. I can hear you. Call it what you want. The fact is liberal profanity in any written work lacks class and intellect in the rendering. Good writers get their point across without the heavy overuse of it. You have only to read the classics to know the truth of this. They are still classics. Gee, I wonder why? Does it really take a genius to figure this out?
I once received a young adult submission that was so chock full of profanity, which is the way many young people speak today, that I insisted the author make revisions or it wouldn't be acceptable for publication in my company. Her argument was that the dialogue wouldn't sound real. Again I say nonsense. Do you mean to tell me that if a young person is reading a book full of exciting, active words showing them a story they're really getting into, that they miss hearing the filth? If it's a good book, chances are those young readers won't miss what's not there, but they will read and enjoy what IS there. If they can't enjoy a book without that sort of language, then what does that say for their upbringing, their mindset and education? Not a great deal to recommend it, I'd say. How much of that stuff are they hearing at home? This has become another facet of the breakdown of our education in America. But that's a whole other article.
Authors, you have the opportunity to "Revisit the Right Stuff" in your books. Show readers how really talented you are at crafting a wonderful, memorable book that won't have to be packaged in a plain brown wrapper and hidden from your children or your grandmother. Encourage all your author friends to use active verbs and engaging scenes in their works. Encourage all authors you know into getting back to CLASS writing. If you're showing anger, show it, don't shout it at the reader in the form of disgusting profanity to get your point across. Give your characters enough dialogue and animation to show us they are angry or in a rage. In today's environment, this is a challenge to many of you. Step up to it. Show us your right stuff.
The Exceptions
I envision a lot of tongues in cheeks out there at this point, so let me further clarify. When I speak of disgusting profanity, I am not talking about the occasional damn or hell used in dialogue. Those expletives do not conjure up demeaning or sexual images in a reader's mind and they are as common as apple pie. A helpmate to blowing off steam. One still does not have to use expletives, but these are far less distracting and offensive to a reader than some of the other profane words, which I will not mention here for obvious reasons. You've all heard and read them.
On the other side of the coin are authors and readers who tell me they are not bothered by foul language in books. Fine, but there are far more people who are, and why should we authors not try to write our very best for them instead of turning them off reading altogether? I've seen this happen too many times and it's heartbreaking; it's also damaging to the industry as a whole. People won't buy books, if they no longer read for the sheer want of quality books.
I'm not saying books have to be syrupy sweet. Not by any means. In certain suspense and thrillers, profane words occasionally spoken by the villain or antagonist can be sometimes tolerated, even by the most prudish reader, because those awful characters would most likely speak that way. But the key word here is occasionally. It is unnecessary to overuse foul language, even in our dastardly characters. Hone your vocabulary, instead, to draw your villain well without all that. However, your heroes and heroines will rarely use profanity or they won't sound like heroes and heroines.
One of the exceptions might be if a hero is about to be shot full of holes. He wouldn't say "Oh, shucky darn," would he? No, so let's be realistic here. In my thriller NIGHT FREEZE, the word my main character uses as an expletive appears only once in the entire book, and it's not the "F" word. Even my extremely warped serial killer comes across as one scary dude without my using a lot of profanity. A challenge to write indeed, but it can be done. As a publisher and senior editor I long to see higher quality writing that took some real thought, some real blood, sweat and tears To make it the right stuff.
About the Author:
Lee Emory is an author of ten novels, numerous short stories and articles, who is also a professional editor for 40 years. She is the owner of/Senior Editor for Treble Heart Books Publishing. Lee teaches writing workshops and speaks at numerous writers' conferences. Visit http://www.trebleheartbooks.com or email leeemory@earthlink.net to learn more.
Keyword tags: authors, books, writing tips, writing coach, thrillers, fiction, publishing
Book Review: Life to the Max – Maxims For a Great Life by a Dog Named Max by Robin Reynolds
There are as many genres of books as there are readers. Life To The Max is hardly a children's book, yet there are aspects of it that I thought might appeal to the younger reader.
With that in mind, I decided to experiment. I have a niece, Maggie Coulon, she is only 9 years old, but she is smarter than many adults. I asked Maggie to read the book, and here is what she had to say:
What I Think by Maggie Coulon
I think that Life To The Max was a terrific book, but I also think it was sad. The dog was very sweet compared to what the story said, it did not deserve to die. Some people might really like this book or some will think otherwise. I think what was sad is that the dog had a disease, but even more sad Bernie and Max died.
Mom and dad were really sweet to the dogs, even Amber. They didn't care how much the vet cost, plus they got him from a center twice! And if I was an owner I would want to be like them.
About halfway through the book Maggie looked at me and asked, "I wonder who really wrote this book because I know it wasn't the dog."
Did Maggie get it right? She is only 9 years old. Maggie does not know what a maxim is. But she certainly knows good from bad.
Robin Reynolds clearly understands the difference between right and wrong. Life To The Max is one of those books that you pick up, you read, and most importantly you think about it. I give Robin high praise for having the guts, grit and sheer determination to put this book together. Dogs maybe labeled as man's best friend, yet often times they are thrown to the garbage when times get tough.
Life To The Max is a delightful, but maybe too short celebration of our canine friends. My niece may not understand what the word maxim means, she may not understand complex concepts (I'll bet a buck she does), but she does however understand good from bad. It was interesting to get Maggie's input. She is not as worldly wise as us older folks are, yet maybe she brings something to the table that we do not have? I am old and jaded, my views are set in stone.
Author Robin Reynolds has done a fine job with this book, she has had a long and industrious career writing, but I do believe this is her first foray into this kind of book and a very fine job she has done.
Life To The Max should appeal to kids of all ages, I am 52 and I liked it!
You can get your own copy from Amazon, well you can't have mine, I promised Maggie she could have it!
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: dogs, pets, man\\\'s best friend, pet loss, books, book reviews, authors
With that in mind, I decided to experiment. I have a niece, Maggie Coulon, she is only 9 years old, but she is smarter than many adults. I asked Maggie to read the book, and here is what she had to say:
What I Think by Maggie Coulon
I think that Life To The Max was a terrific book, but I also think it was sad. The dog was very sweet compared to what the story said, it did not deserve to die. Some people might really like this book or some will think otherwise. I think what was sad is that the dog had a disease, but even more sad Bernie and Max died.
Mom and dad were really sweet to the dogs, even Amber. They didn't care how much the vet cost, plus they got him from a center twice! And if I was an owner I would want to be like them.
About halfway through the book Maggie looked at me and asked, "I wonder who really wrote this book because I know it wasn't the dog."
Did Maggie get it right? She is only 9 years old. Maggie does not know what a maxim is. But she certainly knows good from bad.
Robin Reynolds clearly understands the difference between right and wrong. Life To The Max is one of those books that you pick up, you read, and most importantly you think about it. I give Robin high praise for having the guts, grit and sheer determination to put this book together. Dogs maybe labeled as man's best friend, yet often times they are thrown to the garbage when times get tough.
Life To The Max is a delightful, but maybe too short celebration of our canine friends. My niece may not understand what the word maxim means, she may not understand complex concepts (I'll bet a buck she does), but she does however understand good from bad. It was interesting to get Maggie's input. She is not as worldly wise as us older folks are, yet maybe she brings something to the table that we do not have? I am old and jaded, my views are set in stone.
Author Robin Reynolds has done a fine job with this book, she has had a long and industrious career writing, but I do believe this is her first foray into this kind of book and a very fine job she has done.
Life To The Max should appeal to kids of all ages, I am 52 and I liked it!
You can get your own copy from Amazon, well you can't have mine, I promised Maggie she could have it!
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: dogs, pets, man\\\'s best friend, pet loss, books, book reviews, authors
Must I Outline?
Is this a trick question? No, but it's one every new and aspiring writer should ask herself or himself. Stories come to authors in as many ways as there are ants in a hill and there is no one method used in a universal way to start at word one and finish with The End.
You've got an idea in your brain about a story you want to write. "I want to be a writer, but I just don't know how to get started."
Ever hear anyone say that to you? I have, all too frequently. If I had a buck for every time I signed books and someone standing in line waiting for me to sign one said, "I've always wanted to be a writer, but…" Then there are those who tell you, "I've got this great story idea…" and they proceed to try to tell you the entire storyline while others are patiently waiting, or not so patiently waiting, book in hand, to speak to you.
The person who wants to tell you the entire story, is someone who could produce a detailed outline. The other person wants to be known as a writer, an author, but has no real ambition to learn the craft and do all that is necessary to learn it or produce a novel. Most of them claim to be too busy to read, let alone spend months writing on a project.
How disciplined are you? Do you consider yourself in the Very Organized group of folks, or are you among the Somewhat Disorganized or Seriously Disorganized groups? Who you are dictates how you will tend to begin writing.
Very Organized Brain Group
This author will create a character history for each main character. They will know there characters inside and outside before this history is done. This gets put aside for reference material. Never dump this history into the book. Weave it in.
Then the author makes a plotline, usually formal and highly structured. For example, this happens here, that happens there, plot point (or twist) happens here, the black moment starts here and ends here, and so on.
What about a synopsis? Will this author write it before or after the book is written? The Very Organized writer often produces a synopsis before writing the actual ms. There are exceptions.
Now comes the outline. The organized writer will choose to outline each chapter and scene. (This is assuming all pertinent research is done, of course.) Only then does the author sit down to write the story. More often than not, they will follow their outline fastidiously, only allowing an occasional new idea to creep in to the work.
Somewhat Disorganized Brain Group
This author will sometimes have a beginning, middle and end event written out on a sheet of paper. They may even start developing characters' personality and background on another sheet.
They've decided where to start the book, and how they want it to end. It's a bare bones method and from then on they sit and fill in the gaps. This method cannot be called a full-fledged seat-of-the-pants kind of writer, though, because there is some scrap of where the book is going in the beginning.
The writer in this group often changes his/her mind about their initial beginning, middle and end, either in whole or in part. The disorganized groups often subject themselves to false starts, because they are unsure they really want to write the book the way they originally thought to write it. It's okay to change your mind, by the way, never think otherwise. But beware of practicing this ad nauseum. This writer needs a bit more focus to make the work go smoother. Unfortunately that takes discipline, an area where our Somewhat Disorganized folks are not terribly strong. Outlining can help a person focus, but not everyone is suited to outlining. The author must use what ever method works best in accordance with who they are. They frequently become frustrated with how the work is proceeding, or suffer writer's block.
Seriously Disorganized Brain Group
This person first needs to look in the mirror and be honest. "Do I really have what it takes to be a writer?" Sitting down to write and their brain going fifty directions at once with ideas floating like stars in the sky hardly qualifies as focus. So why would anybody with such a busy mind even consider such a career?
Believe it or not, there are many writers in this group who do write and even become a success at it. They are the dyed in the wool, seat-of-the-pants writers, and I am constantly amazed at what they do. But unless they at least make notes of the names of characters or gender of horses, they could make mistakes in starting out with a mare and ending up with a stallion. Inconsistencies are a constant problem with this type of writer. They wouldn't dream of outlining. They couldn't follow it anyway. It's too distracting and smothers their creativity. Their brain simply works differently from the other two types, and so what? Does the fact you don't outline a book mean it's going to turn out a candidate for the trash? Not necessarily, though it can, if you're in the learning stages and haven't figured out what works best for you.
In this case, it's recommended you try to write using each of these methods, at least for a while, until you discover the method most comfortable for you.
The No Name Group
I haven't mentioned the writer who falls somewhere in between these three types. I don't yet have a name for this one. This writer creates a history and personality profile for each main character. They may or may not know what is in the middle, though they know how the story is to begin, and they may or may not know how precisely to end the book. There is a nebulous idea floating out there that must cook in the author's brain for a while. That's okay.
No Name asks himself before he/she begins each chapter what they want to accomplish in only that chapter. What things do they want to happen and why? One chapter at a time is their motto. Instead of in-depth outlines they might write a few sentences in list form in a different color above the beginning of the chapter, and when the item or event gets incorporated, they erase the sentence off the list. When the list is complete, the chapter is done.
This method requires a strict chronological order between scene and sequel. And if there is a danger something important may be left out for a later time in the book, then it must be noted down so it's not forgotten. Remember those loose ends must be tied up by the end of the story.
Which method you choose, what sort of writer you become, isn't the real issue and there is no need to agonize over which you are. All these methods can work, outline or no outline. It simply depends on how your mind works. Don't fight what feels natural. Can you hold cohesive thoughts in your head long enough to be a pantser? Or must you have strict structure to keep you on track? The reader won't care as long as you deliver a great read and they don't feel they've wasted their money buying your book. Real writers write because they must; it's inside them and must come out on paper.
Wannabes, no matter what, are our readers, and should never be taken for granted.
About the Author:
Lee Emory is an author of ten novels, numerous short stories and articles, who is also a professional editor for 40 years. She is the owner of/Senior Editor for Treble Heart Books Publishing. Lee teaches writing workshops and speaks at numerous writers' conferences. Visit http://www.trebleheartbooks.com or email leeemory@earthlink.net to learn more.
Keyword tags: authors, books, publishing, writing technique, writing style, writing advice, writing coach
You've got an idea in your brain about a story you want to write. "I want to be a writer, but I just don't know how to get started."
Ever hear anyone say that to you? I have, all too frequently. If I had a buck for every time I signed books and someone standing in line waiting for me to sign one said, "I've always wanted to be a writer, but…" Then there are those who tell you, "I've got this great story idea…" and they proceed to try to tell you the entire storyline while others are patiently waiting, or not so patiently waiting, book in hand, to speak to you.
The person who wants to tell you the entire story, is someone who could produce a detailed outline. The other person wants to be known as a writer, an author, but has no real ambition to learn the craft and do all that is necessary to learn it or produce a novel. Most of them claim to be too busy to read, let alone spend months writing on a project.
How disciplined are you? Do you consider yourself in the Very Organized group of folks, or are you among the Somewhat Disorganized or Seriously Disorganized groups? Who you are dictates how you will tend to begin writing.
Very Organized Brain Group
This author will create a character history for each main character. They will know there characters inside and outside before this history is done. This gets put aside for reference material. Never dump this history into the book. Weave it in.
Then the author makes a plotline, usually formal and highly structured. For example, this happens here, that happens there, plot point (or twist) happens here, the black moment starts here and ends here, and so on.
What about a synopsis? Will this author write it before or after the book is written? The Very Organized writer often produces a synopsis before writing the actual ms. There are exceptions.
Now comes the outline. The organized writer will choose to outline each chapter and scene. (This is assuming all pertinent research is done, of course.) Only then does the author sit down to write the story. More often than not, they will follow their outline fastidiously, only allowing an occasional new idea to creep in to the work.
Somewhat Disorganized Brain Group
This author will sometimes have a beginning, middle and end event written out on a sheet of paper. They may even start developing characters' personality and background on another sheet.
They've decided where to start the book, and how they want it to end. It's a bare bones method and from then on they sit and fill in the gaps. This method cannot be called a full-fledged seat-of-the-pants kind of writer, though, because there is some scrap of where the book is going in the beginning.
The writer in this group often changes his/her mind about their initial beginning, middle and end, either in whole or in part. The disorganized groups often subject themselves to false starts, because they are unsure they really want to write the book the way they originally thought to write it. It's okay to change your mind, by the way, never think otherwise. But beware of practicing this ad nauseum. This writer needs a bit more focus to make the work go smoother. Unfortunately that takes discipline, an area where our Somewhat Disorganized folks are not terribly strong. Outlining can help a person focus, but not everyone is suited to outlining. The author must use what ever method works best in accordance with who they are. They frequently become frustrated with how the work is proceeding, or suffer writer's block.
Seriously Disorganized Brain Group
This person first needs to look in the mirror and be honest. "Do I really have what it takes to be a writer?" Sitting down to write and their brain going fifty directions at once with ideas floating like stars in the sky hardly qualifies as focus. So why would anybody with such a busy mind even consider such a career?
Believe it or not, there are many writers in this group who do write and even become a success at it. They are the dyed in the wool, seat-of-the-pants writers, and I am constantly amazed at what they do. But unless they at least make notes of the names of characters or gender of horses, they could make mistakes in starting out with a mare and ending up with a stallion. Inconsistencies are a constant problem with this type of writer. They wouldn't dream of outlining. They couldn't follow it anyway. It's too distracting and smothers their creativity. Their brain simply works differently from the other two types, and so what? Does the fact you don't outline a book mean it's going to turn out a candidate for the trash? Not necessarily, though it can, if you're in the learning stages and haven't figured out what works best for you.
In this case, it's recommended you try to write using each of these methods, at least for a while, until you discover the method most comfortable for you.
The No Name Group
I haven't mentioned the writer who falls somewhere in between these three types. I don't yet have a name for this one. This writer creates a history and personality profile for each main character. They may or may not know what is in the middle, though they know how the story is to begin, and they may or may not know how precisely to end the book. There is a nebulous idea floating out there that must cook in the author's brain for a while. That's okay.
No Name asks himself before he/she begins each chapter what they want to accomplish in only that chapter. What things do they want to happen and why? One chapter at a time is their motto. Instead of in-depth outlines they might write a few sentences in list form in a different color above the beginning of the chapter, and when the item or event gets incorporated, they erase the sentence off the list. When the list is complete, the chapter is done.
This method requires a strict chronological order between scene and sequel. And if there is a danger something important may be left out for a later time in the book, then it must be noted down so it's not forgotten. Remember those loose ends must be tied up by the end of the story.
Which method you choose, what sort of writer you become, isn't the real issue and there is no need to agonize over which you are. All these methods can work, outline or no outline. It simply depends on how your mind works. Don't fight what feels natural. Can you hold cohesive thoughts in your head long enough to be a pantser? Or must you have strict structure to keep you on track? The reader won't care as long as you deliver a great read and they don't feel they've wasted their money buying your book. Real writers write because they must; it's inside them and must come out on paper.
Wannabes, no matter what, are our readers, and should never be taken for granted.
About the Author:
Lee Emory is an author of ten novels, numerous short stories and articles, who is also a professional editor for 40 years. She is the owner of/Senior Editor for Treble Heart Books Publishing. Lee teaches writing workshops and speaks at numerous writers' conferences. Visit http://www.trebleheartbooks.com or email leeemory@earthlink.net to learn more.
Keyword tags: authors, books, publishing, writing technique, writing style, writing advice, writing coach
Book Review: My Seven Years in Captivity by Bill Seaton
I have lived in many places over the years, and there is no question in my mind that San Diego is my favorite city. It offers perfect weather, friendly people, and more tourist attractions than you can shake a fist at. One of the biggest tourist attractions is the San Diego Zoo. In physical size it is not the largest Zoo in the world, but, it does hold the record for number of different animals. Better still it is a Zoo that prides itself on removing the bars. Watching animals in a cage turns my blood cold, I would not want to be behind bars, and neither do animals.
Author Bill Seaton worked as the PR guy for the zoo in the 1960's, and My Seven Years In Captivity is a very personal look at the San Diego zoo. This is by no means a serious book, it is very much humor, yet there is an undertone that reveals the love that Bill has for this wonderful establishment and the love that those working at the zoo have for the animals.
For 10 years I was a season pass holder to the zoo. I have no idea how many hours we spent there, the kids knew their way around the zoo better than they knew the area that we lived in! The San Diego zoo, and the Animal Park some miles out of the city should be on everyone's 'must do' list.
Bill Seaton takes us behind the scenes of the San Diego zoo during the 1960's. This is a delightfully written book that permits the reader to become part of a wonderful organization. High on humor, we see that that old saying 'life is a zoo' is indeed true!
Few people understand just how difficult it is to run a zoo, animals it turns out are just as cantankerous as human beings. They have unique personalities, some are friendly, some are grumpy, and some are off the wall. Bill tells a wonderful story about a duck. This cranky bird got along fine with women but not men, if you were male you risked a serious pecking if you got near this duck.
Bill also manages to sneak in a recipe. I like this one so much, I have to share it with you:
Recipe For Elephant Stew
1 elephant (med size)
2 rabbits (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste
Brown gravy (lots)
Cut elephant into small, bite sized pieces. This will take about two months. Add brown gravy to cover. Cook over kerosene fire for about 4 weeks at 462 degrees.
This will serve 3,800 people. If more are expected, the two rabbits may be added, but do this only if necessary as most people do not like to find hare in their stew.
Although the book contains much humor it also reflects the dedication of the people working at the zoo. For many this is not a job, this is a lifestyle. Work and home life blur together. These men and women make great sacrifices so that we, the members of the public can enjoy seeing the animals.
My Seven Years In Captivity should be on everyone's 'to read' list, This is the ideal book for people that just want to read a few pages at a time. It is not one story, it is a series of stand alone vignettes of life.
You can pick up your copy from Amazon.
(Originally published at Blogger News Network and reprinted with permission from 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: book reviews, authors, publishing, books, zoo, San Diego Zoo, PR
Author Bill Seaton worked as the PR guy for the zoo in the 1960's, and My Seven Years In Captivity is a very personal look at the San Diego zoo. This is by no means a serious book, it is very much humor, yet there is an undertone that reveals the love that Bill has for this wonderful establishment and the love that those working at the zoo have for the animals.
For 10 years I was a season pass holder to the zoo. I have no idea how many hours we spent there, the kids knew their way around the zoo better than they knew the area that we lived in! The San Diego zoo, and the Animal Park some miles out of the city should be on everyone's 'must do' list.
Bill Seaton takes us behind the scenes of the San Diego zoo during the 1960's. This is a delightfully written book that permits the reader to become part of a wonderful organization. High on humor, we see that that old saying 'life is a zoo' is indeed true!
Few people understand just how difficult it is to run a zoo, animals it turns out are just as cantankerous as human beings. They have unique personalities, some are friendly, some are grumpy, and some are off the wall. Bill tells a wonderful story about a duck. This cranky bird got along fine with women but not men, if you were male you risked a serious pecking if you got near this duck.
Bill also manages to sneak in a recipe. I like this one so much, I have to share it with you:
Recipe For Elephant Stew
1 elephant (med size)
2 rabbits (optional)
Salt & pepper to taste
Brown gravy (lots)
Cut elephant into small, bite sized pieces. This will take about two months. Add brown gravy to cover. Cook over kerosene fire for about 4 weeks at 462 degrees.
This will serve 3,800 people. If more are expected, the two rabbits may be added, but do this only if necessary as most people do not like to find hare in their stew.
Although the book contains much humor it also reflects the dedication of the people working at the zoo. For many this is not a job, this is a lifestyle. Work and home life blur together. These men and women make great sacrifices so that we, the members of the public can enjoy seeing the animals.
My Seven Years In Captivity should be on everyone's 'to read' list, This is the ideal book for people that just want to read a few pages at a time. It is not one story, it is a series of stand alone vignettes of life.
You can pick up your copy from Amazon.
(Originally published at Blogger News Network and reprinted with permission from 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: book reviews, authors, publishing, books, zoo, San Diego Zoo, PR
Book Review: Considering SomeplacElse by B. L. Lindstrom
As a book reviewer I love to categorize books, but try as I might I cannot seem to find the right pigeonhole to put this book in. It has some aspects of Sci-Fi, some aspects of Science Fantasy, and even a little mythology, but it truly does not fit into any of those genres. The one thing I am sure about though is I did enjoy reading it. The story line is deceptively simple but Lindstrom pulls it off with such great panache you cannot but love every page.
The action takes place in Chandler, Arizona, and a less likely setting for utopia I cannot think of! A once homeless man wins a $200 million jackpot lottery and sets about creating a Utopian paradise, free housing, free medical, free transportation, in fact free everything. Better still the society is green and sustainable. Utopia indeed.
Or hero Norm Larson is an under achieving baby boomer who finds himself unemployed, unchallenged, and undervalued. A chance business card with the words 'Want some meaningful work?' written on it takes Norm on an odyssey of self discovery. The business card has a web site for SomeplacElse on it which Norm visits and fills out the application form.
Before he knows it he is whisked off by limo for an interview, but this is a job interview like none other he as ever had. There is no interest in his resume or his previous experience, in fact there are no questions at all. The folks at SomeplacElse want Norm to interview them. What is it that Norm would like to do? What is it that Norm can can contribute to this society? Would he prefer to teach, or invent, manufacture, design, or lead? These are confusing questions for our anti-hero.
The heat gets turned up a notch when Norm meets the founder of the organization, Mike. Part of Mike's philosophy is that no one, himself included, should remain working in the same position for more than 10 years, and his 10 years as Advocate has expired. How would Norm like the position of Advocate? "But I am no Mike," Norm pleads, "We don't need another Mike, we need an Advocate, we need your fresh ideas," is the reply.
The fly in the Utopian ointment though is the corrupt politician Adam Wainwright, who has his heart set of destroying SomeplacElse. Can Norm save the day?
With this backdrop Lindstrom takes us on a 5 day voyage of good verses evil, David verses Goliath.
I am not usually a big fan of Sci-Fi type books, but Considering SomeplacElse is cut from a different piece of cloth and well worth the effort of seeking it out. Lindstrom has a very chatty style of writing which works well with the story line. As I understand it, he has had considerable writing experience but this is his first foray into the world of fiction. Well I will give him a very high recommendation, and I look forward to reading more books authored by him. Maybe one of the allures for me in this book is his chatty style, it is very much the style I like to write in. In fact I will share a secret with you, when writing reviews I rarely refer to the author by his or her last name, I prefer to use the friendlier first name, but I have no idea what the 'B' in B. L. Lindstrom stands for! So I apologize B. L. but for this review you must remain Lindstrom
You can get your copy from Amazon.
(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: book reviews, authors, publishing, books, science fiction, fantasy, fiction
The action takes place in Chandler, Arizona, and a less likely setting for utopia I cannot think of! A once homeless man wins a $200 million jackpot lottery and sets about creating a Utopian paradise, free housing, free medical, free transportation, in fact free everything. Better still the society is green and sustainable. Utopia indeed.
Or hero Norm Larson is an under achieving baby boomer who finds himself unemployed, unchallenged, and undervalued. A chance business card with the words 'Want some meaningful work?' written on it takes Norm on an odyssey of self discovery. The business card has a web site for SomeplacElse on it which Norm visits and fills out the application form.
Before he knows it he is whisked off by limo for an interview, but this is a job interview like none other he as ever had. There is no interest in his resume or his previous experience, in fact there are no questions at all. The folks at SomeplacElse want Norm to interview them. What is it that Norm would like to do? What is it that Norm can can contribute to this society? Would he prefer to teach, or invent, manufacture, design, or lead? These are confusing questions for our anti-hero.
The heat gets turned up a notch when Norm meets the founder of the organization, Mike. Part of Mike's philosophy is that no one, himself included, should remain working in the same position for more than 10 years, and his 10 years as Advocate has expired. How would Norm like the position of Advocate? "But I am no Mike," Norm pleads, "We don't need another Mike, we need an Advocate, we need your fresh ideas," is the reply.
The fly in the Utopian ointment though is the corrupt politician Adam Wainwright, who has his heart set of destroying SomeplacElse. Can Norm save the day?
With this backdrop Lindstrom takes us on a 5 day voyage of good verses evil, David verses Goliath.
I am not usually a big fan of Sci-Fi type books, but Considering SomeplacElse is cut from a different piece of cloth and well worth the effort of seeking it out. Lindstrom has a very chatty style of writing which works well with the story line. As I understand it, he has had considerable writing experience but this is his first foray into the world of fiction. Well I will give him a very high recommendation, and I look forward to reading more books authored by him. Maybe one of the allures for me in this book is his chatty style, it is very much the style I like to write in. In fact I will share a secret with you, when writing reviews I rarely refer to the author by his or her last name, I prefer to use the friendlier first name, but I have no idea what the 'B' in B. L. Lindstrom stands for! So I apologize B. L. but for this review you must remain Lindstrom
You can get your copy from Amazon.
(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: book reviews, authors, publishing, books, science fiction, fantasy, fiction
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Why Can\t I Sell Stories And Articles?
Most authors write their stories and articles and then try to find a market for them. While their efforts are admirable, they are going about it the wrong way. Remember the old saying, "He who aims at nothing hits same"? That old adage applies to writing better than anything else.
I have old stories, good stories, sitting around and waiting for the right magazine to be invented. I have untold hours tied up in those abundant efforts, yet there they sit. If only one of my teachers had told me to target my market first and then write for it, it would have saved me hundreds of work hours and much discouragement. The same thing will happen to you if you don't target your market.
First of all, invest in a copy of The Writer's Market. This book is worth its weight in gold. It will cost about $39. Get the online version because it is updated monthly, whereas the hard copy is updated annually. If you can't afford that, go on Ebay and buy a copy of last year's edition. It will tell you pretty much the same thing.
With this book, you can see what a magazine is looking for. It will tell you what the distribution rate is, whether or not they accept a certain genre, how much they pay, and a lot of other information.
Let's say you like to write mystery stories. To find a good market for them, log in to Writer's Market online and go through the process of narrowing the fields on the search page. It is pretty self-explanatory and you will get through it with no trouble.
Ultimately, you will wind up with a list of magazines that buy mystery stories. Review each of them and select one that is at least 75% freelance written. (Writer's Market will give you that information.) Then, of course, look at what they pay. If you are not experienced, don't try for higher paying magazines. You'll be wasting your time. Writing is something you grow into. It isn't like skipping a grade in school.
When you have arrived at the best magazine market for your article, make another investment and buy three consecutive (recent) copies of that magazine. (Go online, look up the magazine, and write for three back copies.) Never, but never send a story to a magazine you haven't read well.
When you receive the magazines you ordered, go to the page that show the names of the editors and staff (in the front), and match them up with the names of the stories in the magazine. (The ones they write are called "in house" writing. If an article doesn't have anyone's name by it, it was probably written by staff.)
When you have identified which articles belong to paid staff and which ones belong to freelance writers, you are on the right trail. Especially read the stories that are written by freelancers. When you find a story where you think to yourself, "I could write that," you have found your needle in the haystack. This is the market you want to sell to.
Read all the stories again. Are they all written in the same voice (first, second or third person)? If so, write your mystery in that voice. See what other common characteristics the stories have. Pick those stories apart and compare them.
That is how you become a selling author. You write the story for the magazine. You don't write the story and then try to find a magazine that will buy it. For many years I resisted that kind of logic because I was determined to have my own voice. I thought that, in studying the style of other authors, I would lose my own style. I was determined to be separate and unique.
Your style will always be your style. The more literature you read, the more you will learn about writing. In the end, you will be the sum total of what you experience in life, and you will have your own unique way of expressing it.
I wish you the very best in your writing efforts.
About the Author:
Compliments of http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com and Deborah Owen. To register for The Writer's Choice, the school's newsletter, write to deborahowen@cwinst.com.
Keyword tags: writing,courses,classes,student,creative
I have old stories, good stories, sitting around and waiting for the right magazine to be invented. I have untold hours tied up in those abundant efforts, yet there they sit. If only one of my teachers had told me to target my market first and then write for it, it would have saved me hundreds of work hours and much discouragement. The same thing will happen to you if you don't target your market.
First of all, invest in a copy of The Writer's Market. This book is worth its weight in gold. It will cost about $39. Get the online version because it is updated monthly, whereas the hard copy is updated annually. If you can't afford that, go on Ebay and buy a copy of last year's edition. It will tell you pretty much the same thing.
With this book, you can see what a magazine is looking for. It will tell you what the distribution rate is, whether or not they accept a certain genre, how much they pay, and a lot of other information.
Let's say you like to write mystery stories. To find a good market for them, log in to Writer's Market online and go through the process of narrowing the fields on the search page. It is pretty self-explanatory and you will get through it with no trouble.
Ultimately, you will wind up with a list of magazines that buy mystery stories. Review each of them and select one that is at least 75% freelance written. (Writer's Market will give you that information.) Then, of course, look at what they pay. If you are not experienced, don't try for higher paying magazines. You'll be wasting your time. Writing is something you grow into. It isn't like skipping a grade in school.
When you have arrived at the best magazine market for your article, make another investment and buy three consecutive (recent) copies of that magazine. (Go online, look up the magazine, and write for three back copies.) Never, but never send a story to a magazine you haven't read well.
When you receive the magazines you ordered, go to the page that show the names of the editors and staff (in the front), and match them up with the names of the stories in the magazine. (The ones they write are called "in house" writing. If an article doesn't have anyone's name by it, it was probably written by staff.)
When you have identified which articles belong to paid staff and which ones belong to freelance writers, you are on the right trail. Especially read the stories that are written by freelancers. When you find a story where you think to yourself, "I could write that," you have found your needle in the haystack. This is the market you want to sell to.
Read all the stories again. Are they all written in the same voice (first, second or third person)? If so, write your mystery in that voice. See what other common characteristics the stories have. Pick those stories apart and compare them.
That is how you become a selling author. You write the story for the magazine. You don't write the story and then try to find a magazine that will buy it. For many years I resisted that kind of logic because I was determined to have my own voice. I thought that, in studying the style of other authors, I would lose my own style. I was determined to be separate and unique.
Your style will always be your style. The more literature you read, the more you will learn about writing. In the end, you will be the sum total of what you experience in life, and you will have your own unique way of expressing it.
I wish you the very best in your writing efforts.
About the Author:
Compliments of http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com and Deborah Owen. To register for The Writer's Choice, the school's newsletter, write to deborahowen@cwinst.com.
Keyword tags: writing,courses,classes,student,creative
Saturday, September 20, 2008
How to Write Better Headlines
If you want to sell more on your website or your client's website, then no piece of text is more important than your headline. Your sales copy still need to convince prospective buyers to buy, but if your headline is dull or ineffective, then people won't stay on your page to read what else you have to say. Many statistics show people will only look at a site for a few seconds before deciding whether to stay or go somewhere else.
Not only does your headline have to grab people's attention, but it also needs to identify things that make your product or service different or stand out from the competition.
While we are looking mainly at the main headline, these tips can also help with subheadings. Because most people will just scan your page before making their decision, subheadings will help capture their attention, build curiosity, or point out benefits.
New copywriters often find it difficult to come up with ideas for headlines. Remember you can use offline ideas online. Watch commercials and infomercials to get ideas. These advertisers spend big money on their ads, so they tend to have some of the strongest headlines. The first few words of a broadcast commercial are the equivalent of a headline, but this is not always the case as the visual element is present.
Even the evening news often uses a 'tease' to get you interested in an upcoming story - this is nothing more than a headline that uses curiosity. You can also study newspapers for headline ideas. By the same token, don't forget to look at the headlines on the covers of magazines, too. Again, all of these are designed to sell.
Another trick that will help you put zing into your headline is to start it with a verb or command.
The importance of your headline can't be stressed enough. Take the time to write down 20 to 100 different headline ideas before selecting the strongest one. That may seem like a lot, but a strong headline is vital to sales, and finding the right one rarely happens on the first few tries.
Just as with copywriting itself, there is some debate as to how long the ideal headline should be. Long or short? That depends on the audience and the strength of the headline, but what it really comes down to is this:
Headlines need to be just long enough to get people wanting to read more.
Here are three types of headlines that you can use.
Headline #1:
Bold claim: "Our Product Shows Anyone How To Lose Weight And Become A Millionaire"
When you use this headline, you are sure to capture people's attention. However, make sure the rest of your copy supports the headline. Bolder claims will require more proof. A downside to this type of headline is that it may turn off some people because it sounds too much like hype.
Headline # 2:
Empathy: "Tired Of Drowning In Debt?"
You can think of this headline as sharing the pain of your readers. Of course, your offer will eliminate their problem. This tactic will appeal to the targeted group of people who are experiencing the same problem. At the same time, it will eliminate those who don't have the problem, and wouldn't have taken your offer anyway.
To make an empathy headline more effective you need to keep building rapport with your reader. One way to do this is to tell the story of your struggle in a conversational tone. Let them know that you too have been there, but found a solution.
Headline # 3:
News report: "Former Truck Driver Quits Job After Discovering Million Dollar Secret"
People are programmed to accept news as factual, and this type of headline plays on that. This headline sounds informative, so the reader will want to read your page to learn more. You can continue your sales letter or advertorial to sound like a news item. This can be tricky because you have to strike the right balance of informing and selling.
The news report headline doesn't appeal to everyone, but if your product informs people or reveals something new, then a newslike tie-in can work.
Regardless of which headline you choose, you have to prove any claims it makes with the rest of your copy. Remember, a headline gets people to notice your message and gets people interested in reading more. One final tip: test and tweak your headlines to get the best results. A change of even a single word can have a large impact on your results.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is the author of the newly-released book/audio book, SOCIAL COPYWRITING 2.0, available at http://www.PaydayPublishing.com. Listen to free audio samples on copywriting for today's social media. Or sign up to our Affiliate Program and earn 50% commissions on our products!
Keyword tags: copywriting, freelance copywriting, freelance writing, SEO, business writing, freelancing
Not only does your headline have to grab people's attention, but it also needs to identify things that make your product or service different or stand out from the competition.
While we are looking mainly at the main headline, these tips can also help with subheadings. Because most people will just scan your page before making their decision, subheadings will help capture their attention, build curiosity, or point out benefits.
New copywriters often find it difficult to come up with ideas for headlines. Remember you can use offline ideas online. Watch commercials and infomercials to get ideas. These advertisers spend big money on their ads, so they tend to have some of the strongest headlines. The first few words of a broadcast commercial are the equivalent of a headline, but this is not always the case as the visual element is present.
Even the evening news often uses a 'tease' to get you interested in an upcoming story - this is nothing more than a headline that uses curiosity. You can also study newspapers for headline ideas. By the same token, don't forget to look at the headlines on the covers of magazines, too. Again, all of these are designed to sell.
Another trick that will help you put zing into your headline is to start it with a verb or command.
The importance of your headline can't be stressed enough. Take the time to write down 20 to 100 different headline ideas before selecting the strongest one. That may seem like a lot, but a strong headline is vital to sales, and finding the right one rarely happens on the first few tries.
Just as with copywriting itself, there is some debate as to how long the ideal headline should be. Long or short? That depends on the audience and the strength of the headline, but what it really comes down to is this:
Headlines need to be just long enough to get people wanting to read more.
Here are three types of headlines that you can use.
Headline #1:
Bold claim: "Our Product Shows Anyone How To Lose Weight And Become A Millionaire"
When you use this headline, you are sure to capture people's attention. However, make sure the rest of your copy supports the headline. Bolder claims will require more proof. A downside to this type of headline is that it may turn off some people because it sounds too much like hype.
Headline # 2:
Empathy: "Tired Of Drowning In Debt?"
You can think of this headline as sharing the pain of your readers. Of course, your offer will eliminate their problem. This tactic will appeal to the targeted group of people who are experiencing the same problem. At the same time, it will eliminate those who don't have the problem, and wouldn't have taken your offer anyway.
To make an empathy headline more effective you need to keep building rapport with your reader. One way to do this is to tell the story of your struggle in a conversational tone. Let them know that you too have been there, but found a solution.
Headline # 3:
News report: "Former Truck Driver Quits Job After Discovering Million Dollar Secret"
People are programmed to accept news as factual, and this type of headline plays on that. This headline sounds informative, so the reader will want to read your page to learn more. You can continue your sales letter or advertorial to sound like a news item. This can be tricky because you have to strike the right balance of informing and selling.
The news report headline doesn't appeal to everyone, but if your product informs people or reveals something new, then a newslike tie-in can work.
Regardless of which headline you choose, you have to prove any claims it makes with the rest of your copy. Remember, a headline gets people to notice your message and gets people interested in reading more. One final tip: test and tweak your headlines to get the best results. A change of even a single word can have a large impact on your results.
About the Author:
Brian Scott is the author of the newly-released book/audio book, SOCIAL COPYWRITING 2.0, available at http://www.PaydayPublishing.com. Listen to free audio samples on copywriting for today's social media. Or sign up to our Affiliate Program and earn 50% commissions on our products!
Keyword tags: copywriting, freelance copywriting, freelance writing, SEO, business writing, freelancing
Friday, September 19, 2008
8 Tips to Create a Blog Post That Gets Your Reader\s Attention
The biggest challenges facing most bloggers is not only creating content on a regular basis, but also writing posts that will actually get read by your target audience.
Have you ever landed on a blog and found yourself looking at a huge amount of text that looked like one big sentence? My guess is that you didn't bother to read that post.
Here are 8 helpful tips to write blog posts that get attention:
1. Perform keyword research but don't overuse your keywords.
Make a list of the keyword phrases that have the most search volume in your niche and write posts relevant to those keywords.
Include the keyword phrase you have selected in your headline and in the first sentence. Use variations of the keyword in the rest of the post and write naturally, avoiding repetition.
2. Use headlines that are catchy and arouse curiosity.
Your headline is the most important part of your post and is the most crucial single factor that will determine whether your post will get read.
It is a good idea to copy headlines that catch your eye and create a swipe file that you can use as a reference.
Your headline should appeal to the emotions of your reader, which leads us to the next point:
3. Know your reader.
This point is illustrated wonderfully by internet marketing expert Eben Pagan who said that when you write, try to picture your reader at home alone, sitting in front of their computer.
* What is this person thinking about?
* What are their problems, frustrations, fears, and needs?
* What solutions can you offer them?
There is a conversation already going on inside your readers' mind, try to enter into it by:
4. Writing to your reader as an individual.
Imagine that the person is sitting beside you and you are having a conversation. Simply record this conversation.
Or, think about how you would address a good friend if you were sending them an email offering advice or telling them about something that you thought was really cool.
5. Be clear and concise.
Most people read posts by quickly scanning so it is important to cut all unnecessary words and get to the point as fast and obviously as you can.
The important issue here is to proofread your posts with a fine-tooth comb. Always try to look for the briefest and most direct way to get your message across.
6. Make your posts easy to read with formatting techniques.
* make your sentences and paragraphs shorter
* use bullet points and numbered lists
* break up the text with graphics
* bold important points
7. Check your spelling and grammar.
Your credibility is at stake and nothing makes a poorer impression than spelling mistakes and poor grammar.
Remember that your writing is a reflection of you and this will directly affect your readers' opinion of you.
8. Use lots of links.
Providing your readers with additional resources will add to your credibility and authority in your niche.
Linking to other sites will also help you build a network within your niche as these sites will often end up linking to you as well.
The whole purpose of blogging is to have your posts read.
I hope that you find these tips helpful and I invite you to share any tips that you have found effective.
About the Author:
Mark McCullagh is the author of the http://www.NewSuccessOnline.com blog, where you can discover internet marketing strategies that work.
Keyword tags: blogs, blogging, content creation
Have you ever landed on a blog and found yourself looking at a huge amount of text that looked like one big sentence? My guess is that you didn't bother to read that post.
Here are 8 helpful tips to write blog posts that get attention:
1. Perform keyword research but don't overuse your keywords.
Make a list of the keyword phrases that have the most search volume in your niche and write posts relevant to those keywords.
Include the keyword phrase you have selected in your headline and in the first sentence. Use variations of the keyword in the rest of the post and write naturally, avoiding repetition.
2. Use headlines that are catchy and arouse curiosity.
Your headline is the most important part of your post and is the most crucial single factor that will determine whether your post will get read.
It is a good idea to copy headlines that catch your eye and create a swipe file that you can use as a reference.
Your headline should appeal to the emotions of your reader, which leads us to the next point:
3. Know your reader.
This point is illustrated wonderfully by internet marketing expert Eben Pagan who said that when you write, try to picture your reader at home alone, sitting in front of their computer.
* What is this person thinking about?
* What are their problems, frustrations, fears, and needs?
* What solutions can you offer them?
There is a conversation already going on inside your readers' mind, try to enter into it by:
4. Writing to your reader as an individual.
Imagine that the person is sitting beside you and you are having a conversation. Simply record this conversation.
Or, think about how you would address a good friend if you were sending them an email offering advice or telling them about something that you thought was really cool.
5. Be clear and concise.
Most people read posts by quickly scanning so it is important to cut all unnecessary words and get to the point as fast and obviously as you can.
The important issue here is to proofread your posts with a fine-tooth comb. Always try to look for the briefest and most direct way to get your message across.
6. Make your posts easy to read with formatting techniques.
* make your sentences and paragraphs shorter
* use bullet points and numbered lists
* break up the text with graphics
* bold important points
7. Check your spelling and grammar.
Your credibility is at stake and nothing makes a poorer impression than spelling mistakes and poor grammar.
Remember that your writing is a reflection of you and this will directly affect your readers' opinion of you.
8. Use lots of links.
Providing your readers with additional resources will add to your credibility and authority in your niche.
Linking to other sites will also help you build a network within your niche as these sites will often end up linking to you as well.
The whole purpose of blogging is to have your posts read.
I hope that you find these tips helpful and I invite you to share any tips that you have found effective.
About the Author:
Mark McCullagh is the author of the http://www.NewSuccessOnline.com blog, where you can discover internet marketing strategies that work.
Keyword tags: blogs, blogging, content creation
How to Self Publish a Book For Free
The internet and modern technology have made it very easy for anyone to self publish a book. But like everything else, to do something well and to do it profitably, it takes money. However, you can now self publish as many books as you want to – for free!
It's every writer's dream to be a published author; to sit and write books and have them published and selling all over the world.
How great would it be to be able to write as many books as you want to and know that they will all be published?
Can you imagine that?
If you could write and publish books for a living you could work from anywhere in the world. You could sit by a swimming pool and write, or sit on a warm tropical beach or hide away in a snowy log cabin while you churn out one great book after another, knowing that every single one of them will be published.
How fantastic would that life be?
Well you can now stop dreaming and make your life as a successful author a reality. And if you think you can't afford to publish all your own books, you're wrong. Because it's now possible to write and publish all your books for free.
So if you've written a book, edited and proof read your manuscript, then it's time to turn it into a published book. And there are several different ways that you can go about it.
The easiest way is to sell your book electronically (an eBook) as an instant download over the internet.
If you already have a web site you can sell your book from there by creating a sales page and a 'thank-you' page that includes the download instructions. You can then set up the payment process using an online payment company such as PayPal.
PayPal allows you to set up an account with them for free. Through this account you can set up a 'buy now' payment link that you can simply copy and paste onto your sales page.
Once a customer has made a purchase they are then directed to your 'thank-you' page where they can download your book.
If you don't have a web site, you can sign up for a free blog and sell your book from there the same way.
Or if you're really not that savvy at creating web pages, you don't have to have a web site or blog at all to sell your book.
You can use an online eBook company called MobiPocket who will supply you with free software so that you can upload your book file to their web site.
You can then set your own price and book description, etc, and MobiPocket will sell your eBook for you and take a percentage of each sale.
MobiPocket is owned by Amazon.com and so if you sign a publisher's agreement with MobiPocket, your book will also be available as an instant download through the Amazon stores too, as well as through over 100 other online eBook stores.
And if you want your book to be available in print form too, you can use LuLu.com.
LuLu.com is a free online POD publisher who will sell a printed copy of your book On Demand from their web site, as well as help you design a free book cover. All they ask in return is a percentage of every book sale.
So if you want to publish your book for free, try these simple ways and you can publish your book easily in only one afternoon and have it available as an eBook and printed book.
And then it's time to begin writing your next book, and the next, and the next…
About the Author:
Learn how to publish as many books as you want for as long as you want and from anywhere in the world. Become a successful self published author. http://selfpublishworldwide.com
Keyword tags: self publish a book, books, for free, published author, write books, great, price, print, printed,
It's every writer's dream to be a published author; to sit and write books and have them published and selling all over the world.
How great would it be to be able to write as many books as you want to and know that they will all be published?
Can you imagine that?
If you could write and publish books for a living you could work from anywhere in the world. You could sit by a swimming pool and write, or sit on a warm tropical beach or hide away in a snowy log cabin while you churn out one great book after another, knowing that every single one of them will be published.
How fantastic would that life be?
Well you can now stop dreaming and make your life as a successful author a reality. And if you think you can't afford to publish all your own books, you're wrong. Because it's now possible to write and publish all your books for free.
So if you've written a book, edited and proof read your manuscript, then it's time to turn it into a published book. And there are several different ways that you can go about it.
The easiest way is to sell your book electronically (an eBook) as an instant download over the internet.
If you already have a web site you can sell your book from there by creating a sales page and a 'thank-you' page that includes the download instructions. You can then set up the payment process using an online payment company such as PayPal.
PayPal allows you to set up an account with them for free. Through this account you can set up a 'buy now' payment link that you can simply copy and paste onto your sales page.
Once a customer has made a purchase they are then directed to your 'thank-you' page where they can download your book.
If you don't have a web site, you can sign up for a free blog and sell your book from there the same way.
Or if you're really not that savvy at creating web pages, you don't have to have a web site or blog at all to sell your book.
You can use an online eBook company called MobiPocket who will supply you with free software so that you can upload your book file to their web site.
You can then set your own price and book description, etc, and MobiPocket will sell your eBook for you and take a percentage of each sale.
MobiPocket is owned by Amazon.com and so if you sign a publisher's agreement with MobiPocket, your book will also be available as an instant download through the Amazon stores too, as well as through over 100 other online eBook stores.
And if you want your book to be available in print form too, you can use LuLu.com.
LuLu.com is a free online POD publisher who will sell a printed copy of your book On Demand from their web site, as well as help you design a free book cover. All they ask in return is a percentage of every book sale.
So if you want to publish your book for free, try these simple ways and you can publish your book easily in only one afternoon and have it available as an eBook and printed book.
And then it's time to begin writing your next book, and the next, and the next…
About the Author:
Learn how to publish as many books as you want for as long as you want and from anywhere in the world. Become a successful self published author. http://selfpublishworldwide.com
Keyword tags: self publish a book, books, for free, published author, write books, great, price, print, printed,
How To Develop A Story
There are many ways to form a story in your mind, but I have developed a unique approach that almost writes the story for you. Keeping in mind that every story must have plot, conflict, and resolution (not necessarily in that order) – I build the conflict first, then the resolution, and then the lead in. Notice I didn't say "plot", as it will develop itself with this method.
Part I
I'll make up a story right now, as I type, to show you the process. I'm starting in the middle of my story because I'll get into the action quicker, I can identify most of the characters quickly, and the plot will develop more normally. FIRST, I'll begin with the action scene that comes in the middle. I have no idea what it will be. I'll think about high drama and tension and start there. (90 seconds of thinking)
I will make this story about two abused children, a sister about age 9 and her brother, age 5. My mind begins with the action scene where an enraged stepfather chases them through a forest. They are hiding in a tiny wash out in a bank that is covered by tree roots. They found it when the little boy sat down, leaned against the roots and fell into it.
The stepfather races through the forest, loudly calling their names. Gasping for air, he sits down and leans against the same tree, not three feet from where they are hiding. The children hold their breath in fear, lest he should fall into the hole and discover them.
Part II
Okay. The anti-climax is done and my mind is thoroughly into the story. Next, I'll create the ending. (pause – thinking) The children will come across a village they didn't know existed. The people who live there dress in strange clothes, like a throwback in time. They see a man who is a shoe cobbler, and a woman wearing wooden shoes that clack their way down the street.
The children run to the shoe cobbler and pant out their story to him. The cobbler alerts the townspeople that a huge, fierce man is coming and that he intends to harm the children. The townspeople hold a hurried meeting and decide to lay a trap to snare the man.
The man walks into the trap, is caught, and put on trial. The people are merciless. In their eyes, there is no greater crime than abusing children. In such cases, they feel that ridding the earth of such a vile person is commendable – and they are commendable people. They hang him. The children live with the shoe cobbler and his wife, and they spend the rest of their natural lives with the townspeople.
Developing the lead will be easy now. What I want you to see is that jumping into a tragic scene mentally will naturally lead you to the number of characters you must have and who they are.
Next, I have to answer some questions for the reader, such as, where is the mother all this time? My easy answer is that she's dead. I can either state that or show it. Next, I have to tell my reader what happened to the natural father, and how the step-father came into the picture. Or – I have another idea. I might make it the real father who is chasing them, to reclaim them and their mother (who is no longer dead). He wants to rescue them from this beast. (New idea - the mother married the step-father because her husband was at war and she was told he was dead. Not having a way to provide for the children, she married the first man who courted her. The husband has returned.)
That puts the story into a happier mode, and it makes for a better plot. I'll go with that. So the father is chasing them all this time, but the children think it is the step-father. They hide in their little hole and wait until he leaves (note the irony of having the father so near the children, and neither knows the other is there), and then they run to the village. The village people ensnare the man, but the children see it is their father and he takes them home to their mother and they live happily ever after. Now I have to figure out what happened to the stepfather.
I want you to note is that by answering the questions I know the reader will have, I arrived at a new ending, which is better than the first because it has a twist, and because it has irony.
There is something noteworthy here, and that is, you must always let the reader feel satisfied at the end of the story. That's why you see very few stories with a sad ending. If you don't satisfy your reader, they won't want to read anything else you write.
So, now my story is practically written for me. Do you see how easy that was? If you like this story and would like to develop it (as I will not), write to me and I will give you the official permission to claim it as your own – with one catch. I'd like for you to send the story to me and let me read it when it's finished. Note: I will grant this story line to the first person who requests it.
This is a unique method that will work for you every time. Now you try it, and let me know how you like it.
About the Author:
Deborah Owen is the CEO and Founder of two writing schools. Her most recent achievement is Creative Writing Institute, a fully mentored school that opens October 5, 2008. To register for The Writer's Choice, the school's newsletter, write to Ms. Deborah at deborahowen@cwinst.com. http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com
Keyword tags: story,develop,lessons,courses,writing
Part I
I'll make up a story right now, as I type, to show you the process. I'm starting in the middle of my story because I'll get into the action quicker, I can identify most of the characters quickly, and the plot will develop more normally. FIRST, I'll begin with the action scene that comes in the middle. I have no idea what it will be. I'll think about high drama and tension and start there. (90 seconds of thinking)
I will make this story about two abused children, a sister about age 9 and her brother, age 5. My mind begins with the action scene where an enraged stepfather chases them through a forest. They are hiding in a tiny wash out in a bank that is covered by tree roots. They found it when the little boy sat down, leaned against the roots and fell into it.
The stepfather races through the forest, loudly calling their names. Gasping for air, he sits down and leans against the same tree, not three feet from where they are hiding. The children hold their breath in fear, lest he should fall into the hole and discover them.
Part II
Okay. The anti-climax is done and my mind is thoroughly into the story. Next, I'll create the ending. (pause – thinking) The children will come across a village they didn't know existed. The people who live there dress in strange clothes, like a throwback in time. They see a man who is a shoe cobbler, and a woman wearing wooden shoes that clack their way down the street.
The children run to the shoe cobbler and pant out their story to him. The cobbler alerts the townspeople that a huge, fierce man is coming and that he intends to harm the children. The townspeople hold a hurried meeting and decide to lay a trap to snare the man.
The man walks into the trap, is caught, and put on trial. The people are merciless. In their eyes, there is no greater crime than abusing children. In such cases, they feel that ridding the earth of such a vile person is commendable – and they are commendable people. They hang him. The children live with the shoe cobbler and his wife, and they spend the rest of their natural lives with the townspeople.
Developing the lead will be easy now. What I want you to see is that jumping into a tragic scene mentally will naturally lead you to the number of characters you must have and who they are.
Next, I have to answer some questions for the reader, such as, where is the mother all this time? My easy answer is that she's dead. I can either state that or show it. Next, I have to tell my reader what happened to the natural father, and how the step-father came into the picture. Or – I have another idea. I might make it the real father who is chasing them, to reclaim them and their mother (who is no longer dead). He wants to rescue them from this beast. (New idea - the mother married the step-father because her husband was at war and she was told he was dead. Not having a way to provide for the children, she married the first man who courted her. The husband has returned.)
That puts the story into a happier mode, and it makes for a better plot. I'll go with that. So the father is chasing them all this time, but the children think it is the step-father. They hide in their little hole and wait until he leaves (note the irony of having the father so near the children, and neither knows the other is there), and then they run to the village. The village people ensnare the man, but the children see it is their father and he takes them home to their mother and they live happily ever after. Now I have to figure out what happened to the stepfather.
I want you to note is that by answering the questions I know the reader will have, I arrived at a new ending, which is better than the first because it has a twist, and because it has irony.
There is something noteworthy here, and that is, you must always let the reader feel satisfied at the end of the story. That's why you see very few stories with a sad ending. If you don't satisfy your reader, they won't want to read anything else you write.
So, now my story is practically written for me. Do you see how easy that was? If you like this story and would like to develop it (as I will not), write to me and I will give you the official permission to claim it as your own – with one catch. I'd like for you to send the story to me and let me read it when it's finished. Note: I will grant this story line to the first person who requests it.
This is a unique method that will work for you every time. Now you try it, and let me know how you like it.
About the Author:
Deborah Owen is the CEO and Founder of two writing schools. Her most recent achievement is Creative Writing Institute, a fully mentored school that opens October 5, 2008. To register for The Writer's Choice, the school's newsletter, write to Ms. Deborah at deborahowen@cwinst.com. http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com
Keyword tags: story,develop,lessons,courses,writing
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Tips For Writing A Ski Resort Review
If you have just returned from a great vacation at a ski resort, which might not be the best ski resort, but you had fun, you should write a review for that ski resort and pen down all your experiences, good or bad. Writing a ski resort review will help other people who want to plan a trip to ski. When they read your ski resort review, they will come to know what all to do when they reach the ski resort. Also, it will help increase future customers who based on your ski resort review will want to enjoy all the amenities and activities which you enjoyed.
But while writing a ski resort review, you should take into account some points.
Note down the time of the year you visited the resort, its crucial.
If you want visited during a holiday, the resort might have been a little busy, and the customer service, amenities and waiting times might have been different than what they would have been had you visited during the quieter months, so, for a perfect review, it's very important to mention the time of the year you visited the ski resort. You shall not miss small details while writing a ski resort review and try to share all the moments with the readers who will read it.
You might also write a negative ski resort review if you had problems with the place or if the waiting time was more even if the visitors were less.
How was your actual skiing experience?
A person spending a fortune on a ski resort would definitely be interested in skiing, so this is one aspect you just can't miss to add in your review. You should write about the slopes, the level of difficulty they offered, the kind of equipment, if the equipment was easily available at the resort itself, or you had to take yours along or rent it from a local vendor. The whole experience about how you felt while skiing needs to be penned down very carefully, therefore the most important thing while writing a ski resort review is the type of equipment and its availability. If you were no able to ski due to the faulty equipment then you should tell others about the possible problems they are bound to face.
About other amenities.
You should tell others about the crucial aspects of the resort. People reading your ski resort review should know if they have to come prepared for any circumstances such as bad quality food, or too much time wasted in a particular activity, try and add aspects like the educational relevance of the trip.
If you liked something, like an additional amenity, the quality of service, the kind of equipment, the dining area, children's recreational area or maybe the general ambience of the whole place, you should speak out.
Finally, the Ski resort review should contain the website and other official information regarding the resort.Remember, the ski resort review is not only your experience, but also a great vacation for a future traveler.
About the Author:
Here you will find the insight on how to take a cheap Ski Vacation. Please visit http://www.SkiVacationresources.com Also, you will learn the in and outs of taking your family on your next Ski Vacation.
Keyword tags: Ski resort review, Ski Vacation, Ski resorts,Cheap Ski Resorts, Cheap Ski Vacation
But while writing a ski resort review, you should take into account some points.
Note down the time of the year you visited the resort, its crucial.
If you want visited during a holiday, the resort might have been a little busy, and the customer service, amenities and waiting times might have been different than what they would have been had you visited during the quieter months, so, for a perfect review, it's very important to mention the time of the year you visited the ski resort. You shall not miss small details while writing a ski resort review and try to share all the moments with the readers who will read it.
You might also write a negative ski resort review if you had problems with the place or if the waiting time was more even if the visitors were less.
How was your actual skiing experience?
A person spending a fortune on a ski resort would definitely be interested in skiing, so this is one aspect you just can't miss to add in your review. You should write about the slopes, the level of difficulty they offered, the kind of equipment, if the equipment was easily available at the resort itself, or you had to take yours along or rent it from a local vendor. The whole experience about how you felt while skiing needs to be penned down very carefully, therefore the most important thing while writing a ski resort review is the type of equipment and its availability. If you were no able to ski due to the faulty equipment then you should tell others about the possible problems they are bound to face.
About other amenities.
You should tell others about the crucial aspects of the resort. People reading your ski resort review should know if they have to come prepared for any circumstances such as bad quality food, or too much time wasted in a particular activity, try and add aspects like the educational relevance of the trip.
If you liked something, like an additional amenity, the quality of service, the kind of equipment, the dining area, children's recreational area or maybe the general ambience of the whole place, you should speak out.
Finally, the Ski resort review should contain the website and other official information regarding the resort.Remember, the ski resort review is not only your experience, but also a great vacation for a future traveler.
About the Author:
Here you will find the insight on how to take a cheap Ski Vacation. Please visit http://www.SkiVacationresources.com Also, you will learn the in and outs of taking your family on your next Ski Vacation.
Keyword tags: Ski resort review, Ski Vacation, Ski resorts,Cheap Ski Resorts, Cheap Ski Vacation
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Learning the Rules of Writing
Yes, writing has rules, just like everything else. One of the greatest things about writing is that most people can become good, selling writers in only two years. One of the biggest problems in writing is that most people produce in their spare time and don't try to find their potential.
Many wannabe writers hide behind the excuse that they didn't learn punctuation and English basics well enough in their formative years. If that is your situation, most good schools have brush-up courses for that purpose.
Some students will say they are to old to learn new things, but to that I say, "Bah. Humbug." I have no short-term memory, yet I keep managing to learn as long as I apply myself daily, and I'm closing in on 70 years of age. If I can do it, you most certainly can, too.
Writing is a great hobby. It will give you a chance to spread your wings. Some people will be better at it than others, but that's okay. Give yourself permission to not be at the head of the class. My guess is you won't be at the rear, either.
If you want to learn Short Story writing, a course will teach you how to set a theme, develop a plot, target your audience, and choose your point of view. You will learn how to cast your characters, create good dialog, and use word imagery for settings. Next, you must learn to build the conflict, cut your verbiage, and perhaps most important of all, learn "Show, Don't Tell". There's a lot to short story writing and it's fun.
To learn writing for children (which is not any easier than writing for adults, trust me), you will begin by outlining your story, fleshing out your characters, studying market techniques, building your point of view, Show, Don't Tell, creating good dialog, editing your drafts, polishing your final draft, and creating queries and cover letters.
If you're interested in learning Fantasy writing, you will learn histories of the genre, and subgenres. You will learn how to find inspiration, create fantasy characters, create a fantasy world, and create the elements necessary to transport your readers into a believable atmosphere. You will learn how to outline, create a spell that will enchant your readers, and mix magic potions. You'll learn the difference between fantasy writing, horror writing and sci-fi writing.
Writing will teach you to have a 'tougher skin' so that more advanced students can offer comments on your work. You will learn to profit by it instead of getting hurt and sulking into a corner. As a writer, you must have this attitude. It is one of the few absolutes. Rejection is a large part of writing, and you should know that going in.
I would leave you with one last piece of advice. I thought I was the exception to the rule, and that I could skip ahead to advanced learning because I wanted it bad enough and I had an excellent foundation in English. I was so wrong. I skipped the beginning elements and when I got deeper into advanced writing, I had to take a brush-up course to learn what I had missed. My pride was crushed.
After I had taken a few courses, I realized how they meshed together to create a larger picture, and I learned that skipping any part of the package only caused me grief in the long run. Alas, I saved neither time nor money.
Please - start at the beginning and work your way through the courses patiently. Learn each one well. Study regularly, listen to your mentors, and do extra homework that is above and beyond the call of duty. In this way, you will ensure a writing career that has no holes in its foundation, and you will be fulfilled.
About the Author:
Deborah Owen is the CEO & Founder of a new writing school - Creative Writing Institute. The non-profit school uses mentors to escort each student to their highest potential. Registration opens with a great sale - eight-week courses for only $250. No added fees. School opens Oct. 5. http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com
Keyword tags: writing,career,study,courses,online,school,learning
Many wannabe writers hide behind the excuse that they didn't learn punctuation and English basics well enough in their formative years. If that is your situation, most good schools have brush-up courses for that purpose.
Some students will say they are to old to learn new things, but to that I say, "Bah. Humbug." I have no short-term memory, yet I keep managing to learn as long as I apply myself daily, and I'm closing in on 70 years of age. If I can do it, you most certainly can, too.
Writing is a great hobby. It will give you a chance to spread your wings. Some people will be better at it than others, but that's okay. Give yourself permission to not be at the head of the class. My guess is you won't be at the rear, either.
If you want to learn Short Story writing, a course will teach you how to set a theme, develop a plot, target your audience, and choose your point of view. You will learn how to cast your characters, create good dialog, and use word imagery for settings. Next, you must learn to build the conflict, cut your verbiage, and perhaps most important of all, learn "Show, Don't Tell". There's a lot to short story writing and it's fun.
To learn writing for children (which is not any easier than writing for adults, trust me), you will begin by outlining your story, fleshing out your characters, studying market techniques, building your point of view, Show, Don't Tell, creating good dialog, editing your drafts, polishing your final draft, and creating queries and cover letters.
If you're interested in learning Fantasy writing, you will learn histories of the genre, and subgenres. You will learn how to find inspiration, create fantasy characters, create a fantasy world, and create the elements necessary to transport your readers into a believable atmosphere. You will learn how to outline, create a spell that will enchant your readers, and mix magic potions. You'll learn the difference between fantasy writing, horror writing and sci-fi writing.
Writing will teach you to have a 'tougher skin' so that more advanced students can offer comments on your work. You will learn to profit by it instead of getting hurt and sulking into a corner. As a writer, you must have this attitude. It is one of the few absolutes. Rejection is a large part of writing, and you should know that going in.
I would leave you with one last piece of advice. I thought I was the exception to the rule, and that I could skip ahead to advanced learning because I wanted it bad enough and I had an excellent foundation in English. I was so wrong. I skipped the beginning elements and when I got deeper into advanced writing, I had to take a brush-up course to learn what I had missed. My pride was crushed.
After I had taken a few courses, I realized how they meshed together to create a larger picture, and I learned that skipping any part of the package only caused me grief in the long run. Alas, I saved neither time nor money.
Please - start at the beginning and work your way through the courses patiently. Learn each one well. Study regularly, listen to your mentors, and do extra homework that is above and beyond the call of duty. In this way, you will ensure a writing career that has no holes in its foundation, and you will be fulfilled.
About the Author:
Deborah Owen is the CEO & Founder of a new writing school - Creative Writing Institute. The non-profit school uses mentors to escort each student to their highest potential. Registration opens with a great sale - eight-week courses for only $250. No added fees. School opens Oct. 5. http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com
Keyword tags: writing,career,study,courses,online,school,learning
Why Write?
The world is full of literature. Everywhere we look, we see novels, magazines, anthologies, genealogies, journals, newspapers, advertising – the list is endless.
Sometimes it seems almost useless to add to the heap of existing literature, but don't give in to feelings of frustration or discouragement. What is inside you is unique. It is exhilarating. There are no two people in the world with the same fingerprints, and no two people who have the same effect on others.
What do you spend your time thinking about? More than likely, someone else is writing about it, but they aren't presenting it with the same angle that you would. It is this angle that makes what you have to say important. But that is only one of the reasons why you should write.
Some people like to keep a journal, log, or diary, and many have joined the new age of blogging. Did you ever ask yourself why so many people read blogs? It's because people are nosey, and they want to know what is going on in someone else's life. They want the dirt on them. The same curiosity that brings them to your blog will also bring them to your articles and/or short stories.
Many take up writing as a hobby, just to put their thoughts in order and express them publicly. Some have no interest whatever in presenting their work for publication, while others write only for publication. No matter what kind of writing you like, you will find that writing is fulfilling.
You may even find that you would like to take a writing class to whet your talents and learn better how to phrase your thoughts. It is this skill of stringing words together in the right order that will make your writing go to the next level.
Too many writers let their busy lives pull them away from the thing that will satisfy them the most. Don't let that happen to you. Almost anyone can afford a nominally priced writing course.
The best type to choose is the one that has a mentor. Teachers will tell you what is right and wrong, but mentors are available all week long to help you improve your writing style.
If you think you have no talent for writing, but would like to give it a try, please do. You'll be glad you did. The very fact that you have a desire to write says you probably have latent talents waiting to be developed. Most people who want to write can write.
Taking classes is an excellent way to crank yourself into first gear and start a long journey. You've heard of "use it or lose it". That is true of almost anything. If you smother the desire to write, it may never resurface. You will never know what you could have done, what mile markers you could have left behind, what influence you might have had, and what enjoyment has passed you by.
Move into action and find what suits you best – one day workshops are for beginners, and will cover only the highlights. Three-day workshops (for beginners and brush-ups) are more intensive with two lessons that cover basic rules for the subject chosen. Two-week courses are very intensive and require a lot of time. (For intermediates.) Eight-week courses are for age 14 and up. These classes will help you produce a story or article for publication.
Plunge in for a cool, refreshing dip, and give yourself the opportunity to find a new, exciting door to a more bountiful life.
About the Author:
Deborah Owen has founded a non-profit writing school, financially geared for hardship students. OPENING SALE: eight-week course for only $250. No added fees. School starts October 5. http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com/
Keyword tags: writing,career,study,courses,online,school
Sometimes it seems almost useless to add to the heap of existing literature, but don't give in to feelings of frustration or discouragement. What is inside you is unique. It is exhilarating. There are no two people in the world with the same fingerprints, and no two people who have the same effect on others.
What do you spend your time thinking about? More than likely, someone else is writing about it, but they aren't presenting it with the same angle that you would. It is this angle that makes what you have to say important. But that is only one of the reasons why you should write.
Some people like to keep a journal, log, or diary, and many have joined the new age of blogging. Did you ever ask yourself why so many people read blogs? It's because people are nosey, and they want to know what is going on in someone else's life. They want the dirt on them. The same curiosity that brings them to your blog will also bring them to your articles and/or short stories.
Many take up writing as a hobby, just to put their thoughts in order and express them publicly. Some have no interest whatever in presenting their work for publication, while others write only for publication. No matter what kind of writing you like, you will find that writing is fulfilling.
You may even find that you would like to take a writing class to whet your talents and learn better how to phrase your thoughts. It is this skill of stringing words together in the right order that will make your writing go to the next level.
Too many writers let their busy lives pull them away from the thing that will satisfy them the most. Don't let that happen to you. Almost anyone can afford a nominally priced writing course.
The best type to choose is the one that has a mentor. Teachers will tell you what is right and wrong, but mentors are available all week long to help you improve your writing style.
If you think you have no talent for writing, but would like to give it a try, please do. You'll be glad you did. The very fact that you have a desire to write says you probably have latent talents waiting to be developed. Most people who want to write can write.
Taking classes is an excellent way to crank yourself into first gear and start a long journey. You've heard of "use it or lose it". That is true of almost anything. If you smother the desire to write, it may never resurface. You will never know what you could have done, what mile markers you could have left behind, what influence you might have had, and what enjoyment has passed you by.
Move into action and find what suits you best – one day workshops are for beginners, and will cover only the highlights. Three-day workshops (for beginners and brush-ups) are more intensive with two lessons that cover basic rules for the subject chosen. Two-week courses are very intensive and require a lot of time. (For intermediates.) Eight-week courses are for age 14 and up. These classes will help you produce a story or article for publication.
Plunge in for a cool, refreshing dip, and give yourself the opportunity to find a new, exciting door to a more bountiful life.
About the Author:
Deborah Owen has founded a non-profit writing school, financially geared for hardship students. OPENING SALE: eight-week course for only $250. No added fees. School starts October 5. http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com/
Keyword tags: writing,career,study,courses,online,school
Study Habits For Writing
Good study habits will make your courses much easier to handle. It's human nature to want to do everything the easy way. Unfortunately, anything that comes easily is usually not worth having. Good writing and study habits begin with learning from past experiences.
If you are a quarter horse and you slow down or choke in the long stretch, there is a way to improve your performance. Shorten your goals.
If you don't see how you have time to take a writing course for eight weeks, sign up anyway. Shorten the goal, and don't look at the package deal. Approach it one week at a time.
He who aims at nothing hits same. Staying focused is imperative above all else. Taking one writing course will require about 90 minutes of homework a week. Some students can get by with just an hour. Where can you work 60 - 90 minutes a week into your schedule? Perhaps you could get up 15 minutes early every day. (That's out, huh?) Okay. You could use your lunchtime. I know of a lady who wrote a book by writing only 15 minutes a day. But if that won't work for you, perhaps you could set time aside in the evening. Could you stay up 15 minutes later each night? Do whatever works for you, but make yourself do it.
To make the most of your study time, don't study with earphones, music or television on. Learning to study in the quiet is an art of its own. Some authors go to a cabin or up in the attic to be alone. Learn to cherish the quiet. Listen to it. That is how you will hear the words that come to you.
When the words come so fast that you barely have time to write them down, that is called the muse. Above all, do not stop and edit when you're in that mode. Keep writing as long as you can. If you really want the muse (and every writer should), study at the same time every day for a week. By the second week, you will find that the muse will begin to come at the time you have set.
Setting good habits is hard, and sometimes the only way you can break a bad habit is to punish yourself for it. For example, if you don't write one day, make yourself clean the toilet as punishment (whether it needs it or not). Pick whatever chore you hate most. Don't be discouraged if you miss writing now and then. Begin each new day with the confidence that you can break old habits, and the time to start is now – over and over again.
Last, but not least, whether you're writing a short story, article, or doing homework, don't begin new projects until you finish the old one.
Remember, shorten your goals so you don't burn out before the finish. If you can't see how you'll work the time in for one week of studies, set your goal for three days of study. Make yourself write at least 15 minutes a day, four days a week. Disconnected writing times may make it a little harder to "get into the groove", but you will acclimate to it. Best wishes.
About the Author:
http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com
Keyword tags: writing,study,habits,courses,classes,learn,creative
If you are a quarter horse and you slow down or choke in the long stretch, there is a way to improve your performance. Shorten your goals.
If you don't see how you have time to take a writing course for eight weeks, sign up anyway. Shorten the goal, and don't look at the package deal. Approach it one week at a time.
He who aims at nothing hits same. Staying focused is imperative above all else. Taking one writing course will require about 90 minutes of homework a week. Some students can get by with just an hour. Where can you work 60 - 90 minutes a week into your schedule? Perhaps you could get up 15 minutes early every day. (That's out, huh?) Okay. You could use your lunchtime. I know of a lady who wrote a book by writing only 15 minutes a day. But if that won't work for you, perhaps you could set time aside in the evening. Could you stay up 15 minutes later each night? Do whatever works for you, but make yourself do it.
To make the most of your study time, don't study with earphones, music or television on. Learning to study in the quiet is an art of its own. Some authors go to a cabin or up in the attic to be alone. Learn to cherish the quiet. Listen to it. That is how you will hear the words that come to you.
When the words come so fast that you barely have time to write them down, that is called the muse. Above all, do not stop and edit when you're in that mode. Keep writing as long as you can. If you really want the muse (and every writer should), study at the same time every day for a week. By the second week, you will find that the muse will begin to come at the time you have set.
Setting good habits is hard, and sometimes the only way you can break a bad habit is to punish yourself for it. For example, if you don't write one day, make yourself clean the toilet as punishment (whether it needs it or not). Pick whatever chore you hate most. Don't be discouraged if you miss writing now and then. Begin each new day with the confidence that you can break old habits, and the time to start is now – over and over again.
Last, but not least, whether you're writing a short story, article, or doing homework, don't begin new projects until you finish the old one.
Remember, shorten your goals so you don't burn out before the finish. If you can't see how you'll work the time in for one week of studies, set your goal for three days of study. Make yourself write at least 15 minutes a day, four days a week. Disconnected writing times may make it a little harder to "get into the groove", but you will acclimate to it. Best wishes.
About the Author:
http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com
Keyword tags: writing,study,habits,courses,classes,learn,creative
The Basics of Essay Writing
Every college student hears each and every professor say that writing an essay should consist of the basic component or parts. So what are they talking about, of course everyone knows that it must have a couple of paragraphs, a sentence detailing what it is about and must not be riddled with errors, but what all does the basic components consist of? There are a few more issues that the professors are referring to and the purpose of this article is to help you better understand the basic components and get an A+ for understanding the fundamentals.
Introduction
Everyone knows what the introduction is and what all it includes, right? Wrong many students fail miserably in the very opening statement of the essay because they do not have a clear understanding of how to write the introduction. Many professional writers and students alike write the introduction very last. That is because the essay may take a couple of different turns and the information in the introduction should detail exactly what is in the paper. The introduction length will vary with the different types of essays or research papers, but generally the introduction is only a paragraph or maybe three at max. Toward the end of the paragraph, the writer should sum it all up with the thesis sentence, topic sentence or clarifying statement. This gives the reader the ability to determine the direction that the author is taking with the paper as well as gives them an introduction to the topic at hand. This is very important and one of the most cited things from professors.
Hypothesis
Writing a hypothesis is not as difficult as many students believe it to be. Basically, a hypothesis is a statement about the writer beliefs about the relationship among the factors. It can be that one thing leads to another or may not have any effect at all. A hypothesis statement is generally one to two sentences and is a to the point statement. Sometimes an essay will call for a topic sentence or purpose statements, which is closely related to a hypothesis statement. The technical definition for a hypothesis is the writers believe about what will happen when an experiment is conducted. If the experiment was how sugar affects small children, the hypothesis statement maybe something like this: The consumption of sugar by small children will cause them to have sudden bursts of energy and become hyper. This is of course generic, and only an example.
The Essays Body
The body of the paper is by far the longest section of the paper. It includes several paragraphs that explain the topic at hand. The body of the paper actually details the information and proves or disproves the hypothesis. There are many different topics, citations, references and other information that leads the reader to understand what the paper is all about. Without clear and concise thoughts the reader will be lost in a paper full of jargon. Many students make the mistake of adding fluff to the paper that is really not relevant and can lead to a very poor grade. The best way to avoid this and have a good transition and a clear meaning within the paragraphs is to be well versed on the research pertaining to the topic at hand. It is very obvious when a writer has not preformed the necessary research or does not know about the topic. They may think that they are able to fool the professor or readers, but often times they are sadly mistaken. Another very important part of the body is the transitioning between paragraphs, ideas or other parts of the paper. In some cases this is called bridging and it means that one idea leads to another thought in the paper. For example if the student is writing a paper on sea life and needs to transition from Wales to dolphins the last paragraph about whales would link the two animals maybe even having a statement about the next topic, which is dolphins.
Conclusion of the Essay
The conclusion is the favorite part for many students when it comes to writing essays. This is because it is the area of the paper that is summarizing and it is almost finished. The conclusion is a very important part of the paper because it not only wraps up the thoughts and ideas of the paper, but also looks to a new direction for the topic at hand. This is just another way of summarizing the paper and giving the reader a feeling of completeness or closure to the thought or ideas expressed in the paper. The conclusion is generally between one and three paragraphs and summarizes the entire paper.
About the Author:
Visit Gene's website College Success http://bruteforcestudyguide.com/ for more College Study Skills http://bruteforcestudyguide.com/page4.html and information on basic grammar http://bruteforcestudyguide.com/grammar.html and essay writing.
Keyword tags: college study student essay
Introduction
Everyone knows what the introduction is and what all it includes, right? Wrong many students fail miserably in the very opening statement of the essay because they do not have a clear understanding of how to write the introduction. Many professional writers and students alike write the introduction very last. That is because the essay may take a couple of different turns and the information in the introduction should detail exactly what is in the paper. The introduction length will vary with the different types of essays or research papers, but generally the introduction is only a paragraph or maybe three at max. Toward the end of the paragraph, the writer should sum it all up with the thesis sentence, topic sentence or clarifying statement. This gives the reader the ability to determine the direction that the author is taking with the paper as well as gives them an introduction to the topic at hand. This is very important and one of the most cited things from professors.
Hypothesis
Writing a hypothesis is not as difficult as many students believe it to be. Basically, a hypothesis is a statement about the writer beliefs about the relationship among the factors. It can be that one thing leads to another or may not have any effect at all. A hypothesis statement is generally one to two sentences and is a to the point statement. Sometimes an essay will call for a topic sentence or purpose statements, which is closely related to a hypothesis statement. The technical definition for a hypothesis is the writers believe about what will happen when an experiment is conducted. If the experiment was how sugar affects small children, the hypothesis statement maybe something like this: The consumption of sugar by small children will cause them to have sudden bursts of energy and become hyper. This is of course generic, and only an example.
The Essays Body
The body of the paper is by far the longest section of the paper. It includes several paragraphs that explain the topic at hand. The body of the paper actually details the information and proves or disproves the hypothesis. There are many different topics, citations, references and other information that leads the reader to understand what the paper is all about. Without clear and concise thoughts the reader will be lost in a paper full of jargon. Many students make the mistake of adding fluff to the paper that is really not relevant and can lead to a very poor grade. The best way to avoid this and have a good transition and a clear meaning within the paragraphs is to be well versed on the research pertaining to the topic at hand. It is very obvious when a writer has not preformed the necessary research or does not know about the topic. They may think that they are able to fool the professor or readers, but often times they are sadly mistaken. Another very important part of the body is the transitioning between paragraphs, ideas or other parts of the paper. In some cases this is called bridging and it means that one idea leads to another thought in the paper. For example if the student is writing a paper on sea life and needs to transition from Wales to dolphins the last paragraph about whales would link the two animals maybe even having a statement about the next topic, which is dolphins.
Conclusion of the Essay
The conclusion is the favorite part for many students when it comes to writing essays. This is because it is the area of the paper that is summarizing and it is almost finished. The conclusion is a very important part of the paper because it not only wraps up the thoughts and ideas of the paper, but also looks to a new direction for the topic at hand. This is just another way of summarizing the paper and giving the reader a feeling of completeness or closure to the thought or ideas expressed in the paper. The conclusion is generally between one and three paragraphs and summarizes the entire paper.
About the Author:
Visit Gene's website College Success http://bruteforcestudyguide.com/ for more College Study Skills http://bruteforcestudyguide.com/page4.html and information on basic grammar http://bruteforcestudyguide.com/grammar.html and essay writing.
Keyword tags: college study student essay
Do I Need Writing Lessons?
Are writing lessons for everyone? No, but if you're asking yourself if you should take writing lessons, the answer is probably yes. Writing courses are hard work, and I won't kid you about that, but they are so rewarding.
Even assuming you have a good background in English, good sentence structure, and are talented beyond your wildest dreams, you still need the inside dope on how to sell what you write. Writing classes will teach you how to target a market, research it, write for a specific magazine, establish a rapport with editors, and have the self-confidence to properly present yourself.
Shortcuts are only for people with natural-born talent or geniuses. If you are neither of these, roll up your shirtsleeves and get ready to labor with the rest of us. Think how precious education is, and be thankful that you can get it if you try hard enough. Anything worth having is worth sacrificing for.
You may be asking, "Where do I begin?" Take a moment to do a reality check and decide what your lowest point in writing is. Do you need a punctuation review course? Do you need a brush-up course on proper sentence structure? Do you need to learn "Show, don't tell"? Establish your lowest point of writing knowledge and start there. If you are rusty on the basics, a refresher course will quickly restore your balance and set the foundation for intermediate and advanced classes.
Most writers amble along, taking the courses they like, and giving little heed to the rest of the learning process. But if you want to enjoy your hobby to the utmost, or turn it into a successful career, you must take it more seriously than that. The serious writer must wind his way through the maze of writing rules and proper procedures to develop their writing skills. This can be done easily if you have a caring mentor to lead you. He/she will help you avoid the landmines that caught them in their early years. They will critique your work, and guide you to your next level of learning.
If you're a serious writer and you want to sell, most people can begin selling articles in their first year. (Even if you want to write stories, writing articles is the place to begin. It will give you a great foundation that will enable you to earn a few bucks while you learn the story writing process, which takes a bit longer.) Almost everyone can sell articles by their second year. Learning to be a writer is a fairly speedy process, if you have the courage to stick with it. Most people who have a desire to write can learn to write well.
Note: More than half the writers who attend school drop out because they don't set good study habits. Lay aside 60-90 minutes a week for homework, and you'll do fine. Some people do this by using 15 minutes of their lunch hour daily, or staying up 15 minutes later at night. However you do it doesn't matter, but do it.
You are worth the investment. Step out and do something you really want. You can write. Almost anyone can, if they have some guidance. If you stick with it, you WILL learn.
If you would like an honest evaluation of your writing skills, send a 1,000 word story OR a 200 word article to me at deborahowen@cwinst.com. I will analyze the stories for imagery, characterization, dialog, structure, and plot. Articles will be judged on structure, strength, snappy verbs, grouping thoughts, verbiage, and presentation. I'll be more than happy to help you.
About the Author:
Hi. I'm the CEO & Founder of the new, mentored, Creative Writing Institute. Please drop in and see the new site. Check our FAQs, ask for a writing analysis, and drop me a line. http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com.
Keyword tags: creative,writing,lessons,courses,study
Even assuming you have a good background in English, good sentence structure, and are talented beyond your wildest dreams, you still need the inside dope on how to sell what you write. Writing classes will teach you how to target a market, research it, write for a specific magazine, establish a rapport with editors, and have the self-confidence to properly present yourself.
Shortcuts are only for people with natural-born talent or geniuses. If you are neither of these, roll up your shirtsleeves and get ready to labor with the rest of us. Think how precious education is, and be thankful that you can get it if you try hard enough. Anything worth having is worth sacrificing for.
You may be asking, "Where do I begin?" Take a moment to do a reality check and decide what your lowest point in writing is. Do you need a punctuation review course? Do you need a brush-up course on proper sentence structure? Do you need to learn "Show, don't tell"? Establish your lowest point of writing knowledge and start there. If you are rusty on the basics, a refresher course will quickly restore your balance and set the foundation for intermediate and advanced classes.
Most writers amble along, taking the courses they like, and giving little heed to the rest of the learning process. But if you want to enjoy your hobby to the utmost, or turn it into a successful career, you must take it more seriously than that. The serious writer must wind his way through the maze of writing rules and proper procedures to develop their writing skills. This can be done easily if you have a caring mentor to lead you. He/she will help you avoid the landmines that caught them in their early years. They will critique your work, and guide you to your next level of learning.
If you're a serious writer and you want to sell, most people can begin selling articles in their first year. (Even if you want to write stories, writing articles is the place to begin. It will give you a great foundation that will enable you to earn a few bucks while you learn the story writing process, which takes a bit longer.) Almost everyone can sell articles by their second year. Learning to be a writer is a fairly speedy process, if you have the courage to stick with it. Most people who have a desire to write can learn to write well.
Note: More than half the writers who attend school drop out because they don't set good study habits. Lay aside 60-90 minutes a week for homework, and you'll do fine. Some people do this by using 15 minutes of their lunch hour daily, or staying up 15 minutes later at night. However you do it doesn't matter, but do it.
You are worth the investment. Step out and do something you really want. You can write. Almost anyone can, if they have some guidance. If you stick with it, you WILL learn.
If you would like an honest evaluation of your writing skills, send a 1,000 word story OR a 200 word article to me at deborahowen@cwinst.com. I will analyze the stories for imagery, characterization, dialog, structure, and plot. Articles will be judged on structure, strength, snappy verbs, grouping thoughts, verbiage, and presentation. I'll be more than happy to help you.
About the Author:
Hi. I'm the CEO & Founder of the new, mentored, Creative Writing Institute. Please drop in and see the new site. Check our FAQs, ask for a writing analysis, and drop me a line. http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com.
Keyword tags: creative,writing,lessons,courses,study
Monday, September 15, 2008
Traveling Jobs - Learn How to Write Travel Articles and Holiday Reviews
A dream of many writers is to get traveling jobs as journalists and travel for free. In this article you can learn how to write great travel articles and holiday reviews and what you should avoid.
Most journalists are naturally curious. They also tend to be restless, sociable creatures with a taste for adventure who enjoy exploring new places, meeting new people and finding out more about unfamiliar cultures and lifestyles. It should come as no surprise that journalists who love to travel want to share their experiences in print wherever possible.
Travel writing is an extremely competitive market. There is no destination that hasn't been written about a million times, so it is vitally important to get the right angle to make your article stand out above the rest.
For thousands of writers, writing for a top travel magazine would be the dream job. However your professional credentials must be impeccable. This will mean you will have a sound track record and be regularly printed, ideally in a range of publications. You will also be reasonably traveled and have the ability to gather enough suitable material for new articles that will stand out.
Newspaper and magazine travel articles will often be more geared towards the consumer. In other words, the readers want to find out what aspects of the destination would appeal to them, rather than the chronological ins and outs of the writers own experiences. Getting to know your market is the most important factor when writing travel articles.
Don't let all this put you off. Be persistent and try to get yourself published by any means you can in order to build up a good portfolio. For those new to the world or travel writing, the first step might be to submit articles to a local paper if it accepts travel articles. This won't give you a lot of money, but offers you the much needed experience.
Getting the right angle
As with any other feature, it is important to have a clear sense of purpose about why you are writing a specific article. It's not usually good enough to say you are going to 'do' an article about the Maldives as this has been done many times before. Try think about what is different, original, unusual or topical about your feature that is going to stand out. You could write about anything. For example; the pudding eating championships!
Pictures
You might be fortunate to find an editor that has a good source for pictures, but don't count on it. It is imperative that travel articles to be accompanied by photographs. It is a sound investment for any journalist to buy a good digital camera so such a purpose. However do check with your editor ahead of time what size and format they want them to come in.
Honestly is the best policy
Even if you've been lucky enough to have someone else to pay for your holiday, do not be obliged to write a more positive article as a result. You will be letting your readers down if you don't give your honest opinion.
Avoid 'brochure speak'
Unless you're writing a review for travel company to sell a holiday, there is no need to lace your travel articles with hype and over blown descriptions with an enthusiastic tone. For your article to sound genuine and authentic, most of it will have to rely on eyewitness accounts first hand, rather than culled from other guide books.
Most importantly you want to tell your readers what the place is really like as they can read the brochures for themselves if they want to be sold to. This isn't always as easy as it sounds- you will need to perfect your observation skills to make your travel article original and where appropriate, humorous.
About the Author:
The author writes for several websites including, travel article directory http://www.articlesabroad.com, http://www.cashwrite.info where you will find lots of tips and information about making money from writing and the http://www.uksmartguide.com where you can smart search for the absolute best hotel deals worldwide.
Keyword tags: traveling jobs,travelling jobs,Holiday reviews,Trip advisor,travel articles,travel writer,travel,art
Most journalists are naturally curious. They also tend to be restless, sociable creatures with a taste for adventure who enjoy exploring new places, meeting new people and finding out more about unfamiliar cultures and lifestyles. It should come as no surprise that journalists who love to travel want to share their experiences in print wherever possible.
Travel writing is an extremely competitive market. There is no destination that hasn't been written about a million times, so it is vitally important to get the right angle to make your article stand out above the rest.
For thousands of writers, writing for a top travel magazine would be the dream job. However your professional credentials must be impeccable. This will mean you will have a sound track record and be regularly printed, ideally in a range of publications. You will also be reasonably traveled and have the ability to gather enough suitable material for new articles that will stand out.
Newspaper and magazine travel articles will often be more geared towards the consumer. In other words, the readers want to find out what aspects of the destination would appeal to them, rather than the chronological ins and outs of the writers own experiences. Getting to know your market is the most important factor when writing travel articles.
Don't let all this put you off. Be persistent and try to get yourself published by any means you can in order to build up a good portfolio. For those new to the world or travel writing, the first step might be to submit articles to a local paper if it accepts travel articles. This won't give you a lot of money, but offers you the much needed experience.
Getting the right angle
As with any other feature, it is important to have a clear sense of purpose about why you are writing a specific article. It's not usually good enough to say you are going to 'do' an article about the Maldives as this has been done many times before. Try think about what is different, original, unusual or topical about your feature that is going to stand out. You could write about anything. For example; the pudding eating championships!
Pictures
You might be fortunate to find an editor that has a good source for pictures, but don't count on it. It is imperative that travel articles to be accompanied by photographs. It is a sound investment for any journalist to buy a good digital camera so such a purpose. However do check with your editor ahead of time what size and format they want them to come in.
Honestly is the best policy
Even if you've been lucky enough to have someone else to pay for your holiday, do not be obliged to write a more positive article as a result. You will be letting your readers down if you don't give your honest opinion.
Avoid 'brochure speak'
Unless you're writing a review for travel company to sell a holiday, there is no need to lace your travel articles with hype and over blown descriptions with an enthusiastic tone. For your article to sound genuine and authentic, most of it will have to rely on eyewitness accounts first hand, rather than culled from other guide books.
Most importantly you want to tell your readers what the place is really like as they can read the brochures for themselves if they want to be sold to. This isn't always as easy as it sounds- you will need to perfect your observation skills to make your travel article original and where appropriate, humorous.
About the Author:
The author writes for several websites including, travel article directory http://www.articlesabroad.com, http://www.cashwrite.info where you will find lots of tips and information about making money from writing and the http://www.uksmartguide.com where you can smart search for the absolute best hotel deals worldwide.
Keyword tags: traveling jobs,travelling jobs,Holiday reviews,Trip advisor,travel articles,travel writer,travel,art
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