The Writer Today

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

2011-12-06T09:54:00.002-05:00

Wishing all my readers and followers a Wonderful, Joyous, Healthy, and Happy Holiday!

May you be inspired to achieve all your goals and dreams in 2012.

Emergency Numbers

2011-07-30T12:31:00.002-04:00

I was renewing my car registration the other day and saw a flyer posted on the wall which caught my attention. It was not something you would expect to find in a DMV office, but it was very inspiring to me. Here it is:

EMERGENCY NUMBERS
1. When In Sorrow.....Call John 14
2. When You Have Sinned.....Call Psalm 51
3. When You Worry.....Call Matthew 6:19-34
4. When You Are In Danger.....Call Psalm 91
5. When Your Faith Needs Stirring.....Call Hebrews 11

6. When You Feel Down & Out.....Call Romans 8:31

7. When You Want Peace & Rest.....Call Matthew 11:25-30

8. When The World Seems Bigger Then God.....Call Psalm 90

9. If Your Pocketbook Is Empty.....Call Psalm 37

10. When You Are Lonely & Fearful....Call Psalm 23

11. When You Grow Bitter & Critical.....Call 1Corinthians 13

12. For How To Get Along With Fellow Man.....Call Romans 12

13. If You Are Depressed.....Call Psalm 27

14. If People Seem Unkind.....Call John 15

What emergency numbers have you used in your writing?

Five Questions To Help You Beat Writer's Block

2011-04-24T15:30:00.001-04:00

by Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

Are you having trouble persuading yourself to write? If, like many of us, you marinate yourself in guilt, perhaps it’s not so surprising you have writer’s block. Here are five ways to cure the problem.

One of the few benefits of aging is that you become less willing to lie. Thus, recently, when my flute teacher asked me how my week's worth of practice had gone I was able to look him in the eye and say, "badly." Twenty years ago, I would have said, "uhhh, okay," and (mistakenly) hoped like hell it wouldn't have been obvious.

My teacher looked at me with concern and asked, "What went wrong?" And before I could launch into my excuses -- we'd been away for the weekend, we'd hosted several dinner parties etc. -- he continued: "Did you not like the sounds you were producing? Did you have a hard time finding your embouchure? Did you not like the pieces you had to practice?"

All of a sudden, I was hit with an aha! moment. Perhaps my inability to practice heartfully was not a sign of laziness or lack of focus. Perhaps I had a valid reason for not practicing well. And if I could figure out what the reason was, maybe I could fix it!

I realized I'd already done the same thing with my writing. And you can, too.

If you've read my book, 8 1/2 steps to writing faster, better, you'll know I talk about what I call the "Calvinist" attitude (John Calvin, pictured above) many of us have towards writing. We think that unless we've applied our seats to our chairs and have our fingers flying across the keyboard, then we're not working hard enough.

In fact, the problem is usually far more complex then that. So, here are five questions you can ask yourself:

1) Am I writing too soon?

I'm convinced that many of the so-called "blocked" writers are people writing before they are ready. I discovered this problem in my own daughter several years ago. She was trying to produce a social studies essay and staring at the computer, in tears, saying she didn't know how to begin. But as soon as I spoke with her, I realized she hadn't finished her research. No matter what teenage girls tell you, the writing process isn't magical! She needed to study the material first and then she could write about it. Now let me ask you: Are you so fearful of your deadlines that you're doing the same thing? Remember, research and thinking must always come before the actual writing!

2) Do I need refilling?

If we're empty, we cannot write. I know this might sound suspiciously like procrastination, but, honestly, if you've been exhausting yourself writing, make sure you get some rewards too. I'm not saying you need to spend a lot of money -- simple things, such as listening to music, reading a good magazine article or book, taking a walk in the park -- can fill your mind with the raw material you need to be able to write. (Yes, you need this raw material even for non-fiction!)

3) Am I following a model?

Don't feel you need to re-invent the wheel every time you write. Whether you're writing an article, a book, an annual report or a newsletter, undoubtedly, something similar has been done before. So find a good example and then copy it! Note, I don't mean word-for-word copying (AKA plagiarism) but I do mean studying both the style and structure of the piece and learning the infinite lessons you can from that.

4) Am I creating the right conditions?

This is pretty simple, yet it's so easily overlooked. You need time to write and you need to be in the right frame of mind. Know your own rhythms (for example, are you a morning or a night person?) And, above all, turn off your email and forbid yourself from looking at Google. Don't let yourself get distracted.

5) Am I writing without editing?

Many writers insist on producing a sentence and then immediately editing it. As someone who did this for years, I urge you to stop. Now! It's a destructive habit that will only slow you down. Remember, the golden rule of the first draft: You're not trying to generate excellence -- you're just trying to produce lots of words so you have plenty to edit.

As writer Cecil Castellucci says: "The very best flowers are fertilized by crap." Make my day: Produce a lot of crap. And then edit it into excellence.

How Do I Get My Writing "Mojo" Back?

2011-03-26T16:20:00.000-04:00

"How do I begin to tell the story of a writer who is looking for her writing mojo?" I still love the idea of writing, however, my mojo lately has been lacking. I jot down thoughts, words, titles, but do not find the motivation to write about any of it. Am I done as a writer? What has happened to my dream to become a published author one day? What do I do to get the words flowly from my head, to the pen, to the paper?

For anyone out there who has gone through this "phase", if I can call it that, please tell me how you dealt with it. I tell myself everyday, "You need to write, don't let another day go by", and yet the day does end without anything being written. If I had to guess, I would say it is the state of mind I am in. For the past several months, my life has been a roller coaster, and the thought of writing just added to my stress and I did not want to deal with it. I have written before about not letting your emotions or happenings in your life, affect your ability to write on a daily basis. However, I have had trouble "practicing what I preach".

How do I get out of this rut??? I enjoy writing and want my MOJO back!!! All and any advice is welcome.

Understanding Your T.E.E.N.A.G.E.R.

2011-02-06T21:14:00.001-05:00

T - Talk to your teenager and keep the lines of communication open

E - Engage your teenager in things of interest to them

E - Embrace the person they are

N - Nurture and love your teenager

A - Accept that you can teach your teenager only so much

G - Grow the relationship with your teenager

E - Encourage your teenager to set goals and go for their dreams

R - Respect your teenager's space and privacy

How do you understand your teenager?

A Bucket Of Joy For 2011

2010-12-31T17:07:00.001-05:00

As another year is ending, I reflect on the year it was. I am happy to see 2010 go. For me it was a year of transition, challenges, growth, sadness, hurt, anger, with periods of joy in between. My faith in God has been tested and I questioned whether he heard my prayers or not, because I was not getting any answers. However, I truly believe he does not give you more than you can handle.

My pastor says not to let anything or anyone take away your joy. Though this may not be easy to do, it is worth a try. Some of the points he made on "JOY" are:

1. Joy comes after darkness
2. Joy comes after discomfort
3. Joy comforts all fears
4. Joy is contagious
5. Joy comes while on duty and serving

Here are two of my own:

6. Stop trying to help God out with your life, he has it covered and does not need your help.
7. God will listen and see you through.

In 2011, I wish you all a year full of self-discovery and growth, magical moments, endurance and perseverance, continued passion for writing, faith, no regrets, and a joyful spirit, heart and soul. Happy 2011!

7 Ways To Ensure Your Reading Is Helping Your Writing

2010-11-15T08:00:00.001-05:00

by Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

You know reading is good for you -- right? Here are seven ways to make it even better....

When people ask me the one thing they can do to improve their writing and I tell them to read more, I often receive shocked looks in return. Is it really that simple?

Well, no, of course it isn’t. But reading -- and reading well -- can make a huge difference to your writing life. Here are seven tips to ensure you’re doing it right:

1) Be sure to read only those books you enjoy. There’s no honour in plowing through Charles Dickens if he bores you senseless. Ditto for Albert Camus, Jane Austen and Ernest Hemingway. Your life is not an English 100 class -- and reading "obligatory" novels you don’t like will only make you feel trapped. If you enjoy Jane Austen (as I do), well, sure, read her. But if you don’t, well, don’t. I promise you that no reading taskmaster is ever going to call you to account. Reading should be a pleasure. Read what you like so you read more, not less!

2) Read only a limited amount of crap. Tip #1 notwithstanding, you should read only small amounts of badly written material. The reason? You will start to sound like the authors you read. Bottom line: a little bit of People Magazine is okay as is a small amount of authors like John Grisham, who write for plot, not finely crafted sentences. But mainly try to stick with writers whom you honestly admire.

3) Read the kind of writing you aspire to produce yourself. If you’re a marketing writer, find the very best marketing writers out there and devour their work. If you produce annual reports, scour the world for the most interesting best-written annual reports in history and read them! Perhaps you have a non-fiction book you want to produce? Read a plethora of non-fiction books until you find a model you want to emulate. This type of reading is never wasted time!

4) Never feel obliged to finish material you don’t like. I don’t know about you, but I’ve always had a hard time walking away from things I’ve started and haven’t finished. Nevertheless, I’ve now learned to close the covers on books that don’t “grab” me quickly enough. For example, I recently tried Ilustrado by Miguel Syjuco. Although the book had earned rave reviews, by about page 80, I still wasn’t engaged. So I returned it to the library. True, I couldn’t regain the time lost reading 80 pages I didn’t enjoy. But this was less “costly” than reading 320 pages I disliked!

5) Keep a record of what you have read. I have kept a book journal for the last 20 years. I don’t always remember to record every single book but I try really hard. My journal used to be a spiral-bound notebook; I switched to a computer-based record about five years ago. I record the name of the book, its author, the publishing year, the first sentence of the book (sometimes a bit more) and one or two of my own thoughts. It takes me less than five minutes and I cannot tell you how many times this record has proven to be inordinately useful.

6) Have a good system for tracking the names of books you want to read. I like to have my “future reading” list with me at all times, so I’ve created three entries in the address book of my iPhone:

• Books, fiction
• Books, nonfiction
• Books, youngadult

As the iPhone is always in my purse or pocket, this allows to me pop into any bookstore without planning! When possible, I prefer to buy books for my Kindle but having the list in one portable, electronic place is still incredibly handy.

7) Give books away when you’re finished. I’m a firm believer that our lives shouldn’t be filled with stuff we don’t need. When my husband and I rebuilt our house last year we went through two massive book “thinnings." I’ve kept a small bookshelf of reference works and books about writing, and a handful of books I adore, but everything else I give to friends when I’m done.

Finally, one important P.S. I’m no longer a member of a book club because I dislike being told what to read -- especially when there's a deadline. If a book club works for you, well, make that item #8. If not, don’t feel guilty about it! Reading should be about enjoyment, not guilt.

{Photo courtesy Lochaven, Flickr Creative Commons.}

In what ways is your reading helping your writing?

What Has Life Taught You?

2010-11-04T08:29:00.000-04:00

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

What life lessons can you share?

What is NaNoWriMo?

2010-10-21T15:06:00.017-04:00

"National Novel Writing Month is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to novel writing. Participants begin writing November 1. The goal is to write a 175-page (50,000-word) novel by midnight, November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm and perseverance over painstaking craft, NaNoWriMo is a novel-writing program for everyone who has thought fleetingly about writing a novel but has been scared away by the time and effort involved.

Because of the limited writing window, the ONLY thing that matters in NaNoWriMo is output. It's all about quantity, not quality. The kamikaze approach forces you to lower your expectations, take risks, and write on the fly.

Make no mistake: You will be writing a lot of crap. And that's a good thing. By forcing yourself to write so intensely, you are giving yourself permission to make mistakes. To forgo the endless tweaking and editing and just create. To build without tearing down.

As you spend November writing, you can draw comfort from the fact that, all around the world, other National Novel Writing Month participants are going through the same joys and sorrows of producing the Great Frantic Novel. Wrimos meet throughout the month to offer encouragement, commiseration, and—when the thing is done—the kind of raucous celebrations that tend to frighten animals and small children.

In 2009, we had over 165,000 participants. More than 30,000 of them crossed the 50K finish line by the midnight deadline, entering into the annals of NaNoWriMo superstardom forever. They started the month as auto mechanics, out-of-work actors, and middle school English teachers. They walked away novelists."

I quoted directly from the National Novel Writing Month's website so that anyone who has not participated in this writing event or is not sure what it is all about, would understand what is involved. I am excited to join my fellow writers to, once again, attempt to write that break out novel. Last year was not successful for me, but I am back for the writing challange. I highly recommend participating in this event. Once you register, you can add me as a writing buddy, my user name is The Writer Today. It will be fun, at times frustrating and stressful, but exciting and well worth it!

How will you prepare for National Novel Writing Month?

A Little Comic Relief.....

2010-10-18T15:41:00.000-04:00

Do You Write To Blog or Do You Blog To Write?

2010-09-16T14:58:00.002-04:00

I started "The Writer Today" blog almost two years ago, in October 2008. I wanted to get myself writing on a daily basis, and get my creative juices flowing. Prior to my blog, I was not writing at all and my creativity lay dormant. How could I pursue my dream of writing a romantic suspense novel if I did not write?

I began by posting at least once a week, then two, sometimes more. As I followed other writing and non-writing blogs, my comments there helped my writing and gave me inspiration. Though I do not post as often or make as many comments, I still write something every day. Though I have not started on my novel yet, I feel I am on the "write" track.

Do you write to blog or do you blog to write?

7 Darn Good Reasons Why You Should Tell Me A Story

2010-09-08T09:08:00.000-04:00

by Daphne Gray-Grant
Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

Few things please a child -- or, for that matter, an adult -- as much as a story. Do you want to improve your writing? In today's column I look at the value of storytelling.

A group of judges is gathered in court. But instead of looking grand and imperial in their robes, they appear to be naked. And, puzzlingly, they are arrayed, under blankets, in a selection of beds spread out behind the bench.

No, let me reassure you this didn't happen in real life. It's simply a cartoon from the New Yorker. A lone lawyer stands at a microphone in front of the justices receiving instructions. The caption? "O.K., counsellor, we heard your argument. Now tell us a story."

Most parents of three-year-olds can probably relate to this cartoon. But so should you! Telling stories -- and telling them well -- is probably the single most important job facing any writer. And guess what? Stories aren't just for novelists. They're for everyone from the CEO to his or her most junior communications staffer.
Here are 7 reasons why you should work hard at telling more stories in your non-fiction writing:

1) Stories have a natural rhythm. Tell a story and you'll automatically start with the most interesting material. At the same time, you'll give details exactly where they belong and you'll end by reinforcing the key point you want to make. This kind of structure gives you a big, paint-by-numbers approach to your work. It helps make writing easier and less painful.

2) Stories humanize the realities of the business world. Have you ever sat through speeches and started to drift off into ZZZZZ-land as the speakers rambled on about statistics or core values? And, yet, didn't you snap to attention when they suddenly told you a story about something that happened in the office or, better yet, a story about their own non-work lives? We're all hardwired to love stories. Growing up and getting a serious job doesn't change that one iota.

3) Stories carry a sense of momentum; they have their own natural tension. The middle of a good story leaves the reader wondering, "Yeah, and what happened, next?" As a writer, isn't that exactly what you want -- readers desperate for your next sentence?

4) Stories are sticky, or, in other words, memorable. More than 16 years ago (I know the timeframe because it was before my children were born) I heard a radio interview with career coach Barbara Sher, author of I Could Do Anything If I Only Knew What it Was. This woman is a masterful speaker and I'll never forget her story about a cab driver who wanted to become a cake baker. Sher advised the driver to launch her career by baking "surprise" and anonymous cakes for major public events. Turns out, the woman succeeded by having one of her cakes cause a big (and positive) sensation at an event in Chicago. While I wouldn't advise that approach now, post 9/11, I highly recommend telling memorable stories. That I remembered this cake anecdote for 16 years should be a testament to the theory.

5) Stories force you to use concrete language. People get into writing trouble when they start using too many abstract words. You know what I mean -- Superman's motto of "truth, justice, and the American Way" is a great example of abstract language. Instead, better writers talk about things you can touch, taste, smell and hear -- concrete words. Such language helps create visual images in the readers' minds. If I say the word "association" do you get a clear visual image? Probably not! But if I say, desk, or flower or dog, your mind's eye likely creates a picture. Add even a simple verb -- such as, "sits," "smells" or "barks" and the picture is clearer. Stories will keep you in the world of the concrete. Strong visual images = good writing.

6) Stories will help make your writing more believable. I don't know about you but I've always been astonished by the number of movies and TV shows that make a big deal about being based on true stories. (Frankly, I always think good fiction is more amazing!) But there's something in the human psyche that loves the concept of being true to life. Tell your own stories and you'll be satisfying a basic human need.

7) Stories allow people to persuade themselves of the point you're trying to make. You then simply become the person who is presenting the evidence. And the better your stories, the more persuasive you will be.

Losing "My Little Girl"

2010-08-30T08:00:00.000-04:00

Written Works Collection: Poetry

My little girl is now five feet, six inches tall
I remember when she was small
Where did the time go?
Now, I slowly have to let go, for she is all grown
Winnie the Pooh, “Green Eggs and Ham” by Dr. Seuss, Barbie and Brat dolls,
for a time, was all she knew
Choir, drama, art, fashion and boys are her new passions
Mature beyond her years, she is a natural leader
At times she graces me with long talks and
gives me a hug and jokingly says I am “old”
It won’t be long before high school is a cherished memory
and she will be on another journey
To live her life as she wants it to be, while furthering
her education at a well known University
I remember when… is all I can say
I look forward to her graduation, new career, marriage and
best of all, having grandchildren

Can You Write Through Anger?

2010-08-24T08:00:00.000-04:00

I find that the best times that I can write is when I am calm, at peace, stress free, etc. However, this state only last so long. My life, just like everyone else, is filled with outside forces that may get in the way of our ideal writing environment. In times of sadness or nostalgia, I can write some of my best poetry. I am very reflective about life, love, family and friends.

When I am angry I cannot write at all. This emotion blocks any and all creativity I might have. Depending on what is causing me to be angry, determines how long I go without writing.

How do you manage to write through anger?

Stuck for a topic? Here's how the Internet Helps

2010-08-06T16:23:00.009-04:00

by Sean D'Souza

If you're trying to write articles, the chances are that you'll be
up early in the morning trying to get your brain cells churning,
right? Not really. Most people actually do quite the opposite.

They'll sit down to write an article when all the rest of the work
is done. And that's when they're most tired. Try thinking up
something when you're tired, and you run into a wall of concrete.
You can't even think up a topic, let alone any sub-topics.

===============================================
So how do you break through this wall to find your topics?
===============================================
You do what all of us do. You fire up your computer, and go online.
And now you're on a five-minute treasure hunt to find topics. In
fact if you follow the instructions below, this treasure hunt will
be over and done with, in five minutes. And ten-fifteen minutes
later, you'll have a wealth of topics and sub-topics.

===============================================
So let's take it step by step.
===============================================
Step 1: Go to a site like Amazon.com or Dummies.com
Step 2: Find the topic you're interested in.
Step 3: Find the contents page of the book.
Step 4: Copy two or three sub-topics.

===============================================
So let's say I wanted to write on some random topic that I know
nothing about: Like gardening.
===============================================
Instantly I find several books (and each book becomes a sort of
topic).
1) Composting For Dummies
2) Container Gardening
3) Feng Shui for Gardens

Yay, now all I have to do is look inside the contents pages of one
book:
Note: In this case the gardening led me to Feng Shui.

===============================================
And instantly I get 25 sub-topics
===============================================
Part I: Getting Started: Feng Shui Basics.
Chapter 1: Discovering the Benefits of Feng Shui.
Chapter 2: Key Feng Shui Principles.
Chapter 3: Reading the Vibes and Using the Feng Shui Octagon.
Chapter 4: Exploring Your Feng Shui Cure Toolbox.
Changing the spirit of the place: Using ceremony to create a new
feeling.
Chapter 5: Tapping the Power of the Five Elements.
Chapter 6: The Magic of Intention and Reinforcement.

Part II: Outdoor Feng Shui: Energizing Your Home's Exterior.
Chapter 7: Improving the Energy of Your Lot, Landscape, and House
Exterior.
Chapter 8: Making the Most of Your Lot and House Shape.
Chapter 9: Open Sesame! Your Entryway and Entrance.

Part III: Indoor Feng Shui: Boosting the Energy of Your Home and
Office.
Chapter 10: Making Sense of Your Home's Layout.
Chapter 11: Jazzing Up Your Bedroom for Increased Health, Energy,
and Romance.
Chapter 12: Nourishing Health and Wealth in the Kitchen.
Chapter 13: Applying Feng Shui to the Main Areas of Your Home.
Chapter 14: Parts Is Parts: Other Important Areas of the House.
Chapter 15: Powerful Ways to Boost Your Home's Energy.
Chapter 16: Using Feng Shui to Enhance Your Career.

Part IV: Special Feng Shui: Performing Ceremonies and Personal
Cures.
Chapter 17: Invisible Factors and Feng Shui Blessing Ceremonies.
Chapter 18: Exploring Personal Feng Shui Adjustment Methods.

Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 19: Ten Principles for Success with Your Feng Shui.
Chapter 20: Ten (+1) Ways to Increase Wealth and Stimulate Cash
Flow: Show Me the Money!
Chapter 21: Ten Ways to Create Harmony in Your Marriage (Or Find
That Perfect Partner).
Chapter 22: Ten Ways to Enjoy Better Health with Feng Shui.
Chapter 23: Ten Tips for Selling, Finding, and Buying a House.
Chapter 24: Ten Tips for Apartment, Condo, and Townhouse Living.
Chapter 25: Ten Unique Calligraphies to Bless Your Life.

===============================================
Whoa, that's about 23 more sub-topics than I needed.
===============================================
But hey, I'm well on my way. Now I have my topics and sub-topics.
And I can now take any sub-topic and then create sub-sub-topic or
angles. And even as I'm doing this, the thought does cross my mind:
Is this cheating?

===============================================
So are you cheating when you copy the topics?
===============================================
You would be cheating if you copied the content, but topics
themselves are just topics. It starts to get serious when you copy
word for word, sequence by sequence.

If you just get your inspiration by choosing topics, there's no
problem at all. If you feel uncomfortable using the exact title of
the topic, you can also tweak it to suit yourself. e.g. Ten Unique
Calligraphies to Bless Your Life can become Ten Calligraphies to
Create Happiness At Dinner.

===============================================
Whatever you do, stick to the online book stores (or offline
stores, if you choose).
===============================================
Don't go rambling through Google or some other search engine.
Online book stores have order as part of their system. It's easy to
find a book, easy to find a table of contents, and easy to then get
what you need.

If you land up on Google and search random sites, you'll waste
container loads of time because you'll need to re-focus on every
new website you land on. You'll need to work out how the content is
placed, where it's located, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah,
Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah, Blah.

And that's just a big headache you don't need. A bookstore is the
best place.

===============================================
And one book will keep you busy for a while...
===============================================
You get dozens of topics from just one book. And guess what? There
will be at least fifty (if not fifteen hundred books) on your
specific subject. So you'll be going a long time before you run out
of topics and sub-topics. However, there's a danger of doing too
much.

===============================================
Which is why you should avoid working on more than two-three topics
at a time
===============================================
If you have too many topics you're working on, you'll be confused.
You'll have way too much choice and then struggle (remember you're
tired when you're doing this assignment).

And the factor of having to choose whether you're going to tackle
Topic 14 or Topic 25 is just too hard to resist. You'll go round in
circles and then crash when you run out of energy.

===============================================
So let's summarise:
===============================================
1) Topics are easy to find. Any online bookstore will provide at
least a few thousand topics.
2) Stick to the online bookstores. It's easy to get lost on the
Internet.
3) Avoid more than two-three topics at a time.

The next time you're ready to write your topic, try doing it the
first thing in the morning, when your brain is rested. However
should you find that the midnight oil is the only recourse for you,
make sure you jump online.

15 minutes later, you should be raring to go.
=======================================
Product Offers: Links you should visit
========================================

1) "I never have "writer's block" when starting a new sales letter
because the BA gives me structure. "

I use the Brain Audit every single day in my copywriting. I never
have "writer's block" when starting a new sales letter because the
Brain Audit gives me structure. I just start by answering the
questions and then start fleshing things out until I have a
complete letter. It's amazing how fast I can write, and I know I
haven't left out any important details.

I also love the audio feature--now I can listen in my car and
refresh my memory whenever I want to.

If you sell anything, buy this product!

Julie Anne Eason, MaineUSA
Words that Sell. Marketing that Works.
Judge for yourself at http://www.psychotactics.com/brainaudit

========================================
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========================================

a) Do you sometimes wonder if planning books are written just for
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b) "Lazy Testimonials" Attract The Wrong Clients. Learn how to use
the power of the 'six critical questions' to get incredible
testimonials--and attract clients that make every day an
absolute joy.
http://www.psychotactics.com/testimonialsecrets

c) Yes, you needs visuals on your sales page, but how do you use
visuals to immediately improve your sales conversion?
http://www.psychotactics.com/visuals-help-conversion

d) Does your websites, brochures, presentations, etc..confuse your
clients? Put sanity into your design with some really simple tweaks.
http://www.psychotactics.com/design-clarity

What has helped you find topics to write about?

LOVE IS NOT ENOUGH

2010-07-27T09:47:00.014-04:00

Written Works Collection: Poetry

Love is not enough when things get tough
and you look up to the sky to hold back
the tears in your eyes.

Love is not enough when anger and bad
thoughts come, there are some things
that cannot be undone.

Love is not enough when you say or do
things that hurt, putting you in a place
that you had wanted to forget.

Love is not enough when the bills are
piled high and you can’t catch up,
no matter how hard you try.

Love is not enough when life happens
around you, and all you can do is pray
for strength to survive and resist
the temptation to run and hide.

Love is not enough, at the end of the
day, to make the pain go away.

Writing Prompt: Life Is A Journey

2010-07-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

"Life is a journey filled with many twists and turns. While the journey can be exciting, it's a good idea to know where you are going so you can decide how to get there."

Where has your writing journey taken you?

Five Questions To Help You Beat Writer's Block

2010-07-02T10:57:00.004-04:00

by Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

Are you having trouble persuading yourself to write? If, like many of us, you marinate yourself in guilt, perhaps it’s not so surprising you have writer’s block. Here are five ways to cure the problem.

One of the few benefits of aging is that you become less willing to lie. Thus, recently, when my flute teacher asked me how my week's worth of practice had gone I was able to look him in the eye and say, "badly." Twenty years ago, I would have said, "uhhh, okay," and (mistakenly) hoped like hell it wouldn't have been obvious.

My teacher looked at me with concern and asked, "What went wrong?" And before I could launch into my excuses -- we'd been away for the weekend, we'd hosted several dinner parties etc. -- he continued: "Did you not like the sounds you were producing? Did you have a hard time finding your embouchure? Did you not like the pieces you had to practice?"

All of a sudden, I was hit with an aha! moment. Perhaps my inability to practice heartfully was not a sign of laziness or lack of focus. Perhaps I had a valid reason for not practicing well. And if I could figure out what the reason was, maybe I could fix it!

I realized I'd already done the same thing with my writing. And you can, too.

If you've read my book, 8 1/2 steps to writing faster, better, you'll know I talk about what I call the "Calvinist" attitude (John Calvin, pictured above) many of us have towards writing. We think that unless we've applied our seats to our chairs and have our fingers flying across the keyboard, then we're not working hard enough.

In fact, the problem is usually far more complex then that. So, here are five questions you can ask yourself:

1) Am I writing too soon?

I'm convinced that many of the so-called "blocked" writers are people writing before they are ready. I discovered this problem in my own daughter several years ago. She was trying to produce a social studies essay and staring at the computer, in tears, saying she didn't know how to begin. But as soon as I spoke with her, I realized she hadn't finished her research. No matter what teenage girls tell you, the writing process isn't magical! She needed to study the material first and then she could write about it. Now let me ask you: Are you so fearful of your deadlines that you're doing the same thing? Remember, research and thinking must always come before the actual writing!

2) Do I need refilling?

If we're empty, we cannot write. I know this might sound suspiciously like procrastination, but, honestly, if you've been exhausting yourself writing, make sure you get some rewards too. I'm not saying you need to spend a lot of money -- simple things, such as listening to music, reading a good magazine article or book, taking a walk in the park -- can fill your mind with the raw material you need to be able to write. (Yes, you need this raw material even for non-fiction!)

3) Am I following a model?

Don't feel you need to re-invent the wheel every time you write. Whether you're writing an article, a book, an annual report or a newsletter, undoubtedly, something similar has been done before. So find a good example and then copy it! Note, I don't mean word-for-word copying (AKA plagiarism) but I do mean studying both the style and structure of the piece and learning the infinite lessons you can from that.

4) Am I creating the right conditions?

This is pretty simple, yet it's so easily overlooked. You need time to write and you need to be in the right frame of mind. Know your own rhythms (for example, are you a morning or a night person?) And, above all, turn off your email and forbid yourself from looking at Google. Don't let yourself get distracted.

5) Am I writing without editing?

Many writers insist on producing a sentence and then immediately editing it. As someone who did this for years, I urge you to stop. Now! It's a destructive habit that will only slow you down. Remember, the golden rule of the first draft: You're not trying to generate excellence -- you're just trying to produce lots of words so you have plenty to edit.

As writer Cecil Castellucci says: "The very best flowers are fertilized by crap." Make my day: Produce a lot of crap. And then edit it into excellence.

In what way have you beat writer's block?

SLIPPING AWAY

2010-06-03T08:26:00.004-04:00

Written Works Collection: Poetry

I lay lifeless on the bed
With no energy left
I look around the room
Feeling my life will be gone too soon
I have wasted so much time
In crying, regretting things of the past,
Frustrated when things go bad
I am praying a lot
Trying to prove my faith in God
I have wandered from his path
And I am trying to get back on track
I feel I have done my job as a mother, wife and friend
I am afraid of nearing the end
Growing as a person, though still having my moments like everyone else
I am too earthbound
I want to lift myself off the ground
To a peaceful, quiet place inside
Letting all my worries subside and dissipating the urge to run and hide

How do you feel today?

A 12-step program for writers who care about their readers

2010-05-26T15:35:00.005-04:00

by Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

Many people sing the praises of 12-step programs; others make jokes about them. Have you ever thought of trying one for your writing? I give you the formula, below.

I'm no hockey fan, so when I was tired and bored one evening last week, I didn't put The Game on TV. Instead, I idly flipped the remote and settled briefly on Intervention -- a reality TV program I hoped would be more savoury than other examples of the genre.

Described as "a powerful and gripping television series in which people confront their darkest demons and seek a route to redemption," the episode I saw focused on a young woman who shot herself up with I-cannot-remember-which-drug with inexorable fury. The show was as relentless as a child with a hammer. But who knows what grief this woman was subjected to as a youth? And who fully understands the role her own genes might have played in her various habits?

While I had nothing but sympathy for the woman, I could see she was completely self-absorbed. When talking to the camera in the faux-private mode of reality TV, she spoke only of how badly her family had treated her.

As far as she was concerned, the drugs weren't one of her difficulties. No, her problems were that no one understood her, no one supported her, no one cared about her. (This despite considerable evidence to the contrary from her mother, father, sisters and therapist.)

That's when it hit me right between the eyeballs.

When we're writing, we should always imagine that we're writing for addicts.

Why? Because that will give us the closest approximation to the true level of disinterest held by most of our readers.

I know this sounds harsh, but think how often we writers presume our potential readers are practically desperate to hear what's in our brains. We know so much! We're so smart! We have such intelligent and obviously well founded opinions! How could anyone resist what we have to say?

Well, the evidence is depressing. Do you know that 25% of Americans didn't read a single book last year? And for the rest of the country, the average is somewhere between only three and nine books. At the same time, more and more employers are using the word "deficient" to describe their workers' basic reading comprehension skills. And, as for that saviour of reading, the Internet, the average amount of time spent on a web page is measured in seconds rather than minutes.

Yes, we can complain about all of these stats -- in much the same way that the drug addict's parents complained about their daughter's addiction. Fat lot of good that does.

Instead, as writers, we need to take responsibility for what we can control, for the words we write. I think our principal job isn't just to share information -- it's to try to get attention.

This doesn't mean telling our readers only what they want to hear (just as supporting an addict doesn't mean giving him or her more drugs). It does mean being more interesting.

Here, then, is my own 12-step program to help you do that.

1) I admit I am powerless to force my readers to do anything -- I understand they will read whatever they like, whenever they want to.

2) I know I can increase my readers' interest by telling them stories and anecdotes and by giving real-life examples.

3) I will always use concrete language rather than abstractions.

4) I will use metaphors and analogies to make my point whenever possible.

5) I know that short words and short sentences are more enticing to readers.

6) I will strive to avoid weak verbs such as "is" and "was". (Instead try "praise," "adore," "command," "glance," "evokes." All five verbs were used in just two paragraphs written by a friend of mine who is a superb wordsmith.)

7) I will not be redundant. That is, I will not say the same thing over and over again. (Sorry, bad joke!)

8) I will avoid jargon, clichés and acronyms.

9) I will keep my writing simple and straightforward.

10) I will strive to be truly succinct.

11) I will always read my work out loud before submitting it or allowing it to be published.

12) I will read well because reading well is the single most important step to writing well.

Twelve simple steps. How many do you follow?

EARTH DAY POEM

2010-05-13T06:54:00.004-04:00

By Peter Hill

The naked sun flashes
Shatters the lethargic night
Scatters shards of light
Into the teeming forest
That glistens
From the residual effects
Of a predawn rain.

Tangled foliage trickles water
Moisture for the underbrush;
Preserves the life cycle.

The aroused rainforest
Yields intricate smells
That pervade the humid air
Animal and other spoors;
Wild orchids, decaying wood.

Intoxicating nectars
Sublimate the senses.

And danger flows. Feral
Movements; predators
Prowl the forest primeval.
Sustenance on every
Biological hierarchy.

Life forms writhe, grasping
To secure a foothold in this
Guarded and tenuous
Environment; yet a
Collective sharing. The
Victors advance inexorably
Towards a benevolent dawn.

Mother's Day Writing Prompt

2010-05-06T09:21:00.003-04:00

Write about your most memorable Mother's Day.

Why Outlining Keeps "Article Bloating" In Check

2010-04-14T08:00:00.001-04:00

by Sean D'Souza

If you were to walk into a Hollywood studio, you'd expect to see
actors, lights and action, right?

Right. But actors, camera and lights are expensive. So every movie
director and producer on the planet does one thing: They outline.
They outline the script. They outline the storyboard. They outline
every darned thing that can be outlined. And the reason for the
outline is indeed to save huge wastage of time and money. But it's
also to avoid the "bloat factor".

===============================================
A movie needs drama.
===============================================
It needs action.
It needs flow.
It needs storyline.
It needs a beginning and an end.

And it sure as heck doesn't need to meander and bloat. And
outlining enables you to immediately see where the script is going
out of control. An article careens out of control as well if not
managed well.

===============================================
In a matter of minutes your article can bloat out of control
===============================================
If you start to write, you'll find you get ideas. Those ideas lead
to more ideas. And those ideas lead to um, even more ideas. Of
course you try and put all the ideas together. Or decide that all
the ideas aren't a good idea and then you start to edit. You go
back and forth, adding or editing. And then tiredness sets in. And
frustration.

At which point you decide that either article writing is a pain in
the butt, or the article you're writing is really not worth the
trouble.

===============================================
And you'd be wrong on both fronts...
===============================================
Your article went off the rails at the very start when you failed
to outline. An outline gives you a clear start, middle set of
questions (how, why, what, when etc) and ending.

If the bloating starts to occur, you can see it all in the outline
itself. And you can move the "bloated section" or extraneous
ideas aside. And guess what? You're still outlining. You haven't
written a word of the article.

===============================================
So let's see how an article can get bloated
===============================================
Example Topic: How to increase prices without losing customers
- Why increase prices.
- How customers respond to increased prices (and how to avoid
losing them).
- The problem with reduced prices.
- How the yes-yes factor helps increases prices systematically.
- How to create a yes-yes factor to increase prices.
- The yes-yes factor grid
- Examples of price increases
- Summary

Now that's just the outline and you already see it's swaying wildly
without even writing a single word of the article. You can spot the
yes-yes factor jump in.

And then the yes-yes factor grid pops in without notice and
suddenly the article's gone off the rails. If you sat down to
write this article, you'd be writing and writing and then writing
some more. Then you'd spend endless time editing. And that's not
much good.

===============================================
Instead we do all our primary editing at the outline stage.
===============================================
Example Topic: How to increase prices without losing customers
- Why increase prices.
- How customers respond to increased prices (and how to avoid
losing them).
- The problem with reduced prices.
- How the yes-yes factor helps increases prices systematically.
- How to create a yes-yes factor to increase prices.
- The yes-yes factor grid
- Examples of price increases
- Summary

===============================================
And there you have it, you've done your editing and removed the
bloat
===============================================
In removing what you don't need (at least for now), you're left
with what you need. And this process of outlining isn't restricted
to just articles or Hollywood movies. In fact it's only the
stubborn and incompetent folk who fail to outline.

The professionals all engage in outlining. Look at an architect's
drawing, a Boeing design, a cartoon sketch, a travel itinerary, a
trip to the supermarket, the lyrics of a song--and you'll see
outlines in all of them.

===============================================
There's an added bonus to outlining
===============================================
It keeps you focused. This article was about "bloating". And you
read about "bloating, bloating, bloating, and more bloating." If
the outline wasn't in place, it's easier to head off into a
slightly different direction. But with the outline in place, you
stay on target.

===============================================
But should there be some level of "creativity" in the writing?
===============================================
Outlining doesn't stop you from adding flair, drama or even an
additional paragraph here or there. For example when the outline
for this article was put together, this paragraph didn't exist in
the outline.

But because I had the outline in place, I had the liberty of
putting in an additional paragraph without disrupting the core
idea that the article is seeking to portray. Outlines don't stop
you from adding your own touch.

In fact, because you have so much less frustration and editing,
you're more than likely to have time to add a factor of creativity.

===============================================
You also don't have to rigidly stick to an outline format
===============================================
In the outline format for any article you tend to have the opening,
the ending and the middle section of how, what, why, when etc. If
you find that you don't need to add in a "when", then you can omit
it from the outline.

But having it all in front of you as part of the outline gives you
the freedom to put it in, or remove it. And to do so without wasting
time writing the article, only to find it doesn't fit in, and has
unnecessarily bloated your article.

===============================================
Bloat can be avoided and should be avoided.
===============================================
And you can do it easily by instilling the discipline of the
outline--even when free writing. And the greater the cost, the
more detailed the outline.

Just like they do in Hollywood. Or Boeing. Or any place where they
want to save time, money and frustration.

===============================================
P.S. Here's the outline to this specific article.
===============================================
- Drama: What happens before a movie is shot (storyboarding)
- The reason for outlining: Keeping Bloat Away
- How Bloating Pops Up Incessantly
- How To Beat the Incessant Bloat
- Examples of detecting bloat in an article. (Put two examples here)
- Examples of Industries that Outline: Architect, Cartoonists,
Plane Designers. And why they do so.
- Summary.

=======================================
Product Offers: Links you should visit
========================================

1) "Before I purchased the Brain Audit, I thought this is just
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But right from Sean's first story and metaphor, I could see this
was different. I was hooked. The Brain Audit challenged virtually
every principle of marketing I'd grown up with. Like selling
benefit or never starting with a negative or problem.

And it's this refreshing, innovative approach that makes the Brain
Audit a must buy for anyone who is really serious about challenging
the status quo and taking their business to new heights.

Already we've applied the principles to one of our workshops and
the response has been fantastic. The Brain Audit and our ongoing
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we've every made.

Paul Mitchell, Managing Director, The Human Enterprise, Australia
Judge for yourself at http://www.psychotactics.com/brainaudit

========================================
2) NEW PRODUCTS: Introductory Price.
========================================

a) "Lazy Testimonials" Attract The Wrong Clients. Learn how to use
the power of the 'six critical questions' to get incredible
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absolute joy.
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b) Do you sometimes wonder if planning books are written just for
the 'organised' people? Learn Why Most Planning Fails: And The
Critical Importance of Chaos in Planning. http://www.psychotactics.com/chaos-planning

c) Yes, you needs visuals on your sales page, but how do you use
visuals to immediately improve your sales conversion?
http://www.psychotactics.com/visuals-help-conversion

d) Does your websites, brochures, presentations, etc..confuse your
clients? Put sanity into your design with some really simple tweaks.
http://www.psychotactics.com/design-clarity

What success have you had with outlining?

36 CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

2010-04-05T14:18:00.004-04:00

A friend of mine emailed me this and I really liked it. If we can only follow some or all of these ways, I think we can all live better and more peaceful lives.

An Angel says, "Never borrow from the future. If you worry about what may happen tomorrow and it doesn't happen, you have worried in vain. Even if it does happen, you have to worry twice."

1. Pray

2. Go to bed on time.

3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.

4. Say No to projects that won't fit into your time schedule, or that will compromise your mental health.

5 Delegate tasks to capable others.

6. Simplify and unclutter your life.

7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)

8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.

9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don't lump the hard things all together.

10. Take one day at a time.

11. Separate worries from concerns . If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety . If you can't do anything about a situation, forget it.

12. Live within your budget; don't use credit cards for ordinary purchases.

13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.

14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.

15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.

16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line.

17. Get enough rest.

18. Eat right.

19 Get organized so everything has its place.

20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.

21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.

22. Every day, find time to be alone.

23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don't wait until it's time to go to bed to try to pray.

24. Make friends with Godly people.

25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.

26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good "Thank you Jesus."

27. Laugh.

28. Laugh some more!

29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.

30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can)

31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most).

32. Sit on your ego.

33 Talk less; listen more.

34. Slow down.

35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.

36 . Every night before bed, think of one thing you're grateful for that you've never been grateful for before. GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU.

As a writer, what other ways have you found to reduce stress?

Something To Think About

2010-03-26T08:00:00.002-04:00

"Peace of mind is ultimately achieved only when the characters opt out of active emotional involvement in life and accept the fate they have been given.” -- James Higgins, author

What are your thoughts about this quote?

William Shakespeare's 5 Best Copywriting Tips

2010-03-19T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Daphne Gray-Grant
Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

Almost 400 years after the death of William Shakespeare, theatres still regularly perform his plays, children study his work in school and we are still moved by the complexity of his stories and the beauty of his language.

But what's less well known is that Shakespeare also provided superb advice for copywriters and corporate communicators. Here are 5 of his best tips:

1) On brevity

*Since brevity is the soul of wit and tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief.

*You cram these words into mine ears against the stomach of my sense.

As a poet, Will understood the value of being succinct. And if this quality was important in 1595, just imagine how crucial it is today. Elizabethans didn't have to deal with the telephone, television or the Internet. Servants did the cooking and household maintenance and there were no traffic jams when you commuted by horseback. In 2007, however, our society produces hundreds of thousands of words every day and yet we have less time to read than ever before. Will had to face the Plague, but we have to deal with the Blackberry. Take pity on your readers. Be brief.

2) On how difficult it is to find just the right word or phrase

*They have been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the scraps.

In corporate- and copy-writing, it's all too easy to slip into cliches and jargon. When everyone around you says things like "walk the talk" and uses words such as "right-sizing" you'll start writing like that too. Fact is, we swim in a cesspool of boring, unimaginative language. It takes work -- and commitment --- to find the best words and turns of phrase. (Note: the best words are often the shortest, most concrete ones.)

3) On the importance of reading

*My library was dukedom large enough.

Like all great scribes, Will understood that to write well, you have to read well. This means reading more than your professional journal and daily newspaper. Read fiction; it will inspire you. Read outside your field of employment to gain breadth. Read essays and other forms of persuasive writing. While Will kept up with Christopher Marlowe, you may prefer Christopher Buckley. But read. It is a lifelong apprenticeship in the craft of writing.

4) On interviewing clients or co-workers for brochures or employee publications

*Have more than thou showest; speak less than thou knowest.

*Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.

Much writing depends on interviewing. Through interviews you collect the stories, anecdotes and metaphors that help your writing come to life. But too often writers try to put words in their subject's mouths. They go into the interview with preconceived notions and ask boring, ho-hum questions. Savvy writers, on the other hand, ask pithy questions -- designed to extract anecdotes and feelings from their subjects -- and then keep quiet. As a student of human nature, Will knew what our mothers are always telling us: We have two ears and one mouth to remind us that we should listen twice as much as we talk.

5) On writing about what matters

*Words, words, mere words, no matter from the heart.

No effective communications plan in the history of humankind ever hinged on finding "just the right phrase." True, a good plan or product may be helped by good words. Maybe even helped a lot. But words alone will not save a bad one. Your company or your client needs to be committed to what it is you're writing about -- otherwise you are doomed to be a hack. If you're trying to communicate a company's belief in safety, for example, exhorting employees to act safely is not enough. Instead, you need policies and procedures in place that constantly demonstrate the company's commitment. Without this, you have what we today call a "disconnect." But I think Will said it better: "I did never know so full a voice issue from so empty a heart: but the saying is true 'The empty vessel makes the greatest sound.' "

What other copywriting tips have you found helpful?

101 Habits of Highly Effective Writers

2010-03-12T08:00:00.001-05:00

Carol Brown, from the Online Degrees Blog, recently sent me an email about "101 Habits of Highly Effective Writers" that she posted on her blog. She asked me to share it with my readers. I have posted the link and welcome your thoughts and comments.

What habits have you used to be an effective writer?

PEACE WITHIN

2010-03-05T08:00:00.002-05:00

Written Works Collection: Poetry

Do I run instead of walk?
Forget all that was lost?
Immerse myself in this love abyss?
Whether it is hit or miss?

I feel I am crazy at my age
To throw all caution to the wind
And enjoy the peace that knowing God brings

At times I wish I was reborn
Start all over again
Erase all memory of betrayal, loss and pain
Brainwash my soul so it has faith and trust
In God....to know hope when times are bad

I know we are here on earth for just a moment
Everything has to end
So I look around, take in everything as if it were new
An inner peace little by little seeps in
I am at a place I have never been
On top of the clouds looking down
Thinking about the lives I have touched

Never asking for much
Wanting spiritual peace
Working at it everyday
For when I leave this earth
There is nothing I take

The Second Annual New Author Writing Contest

2010-02-26T08:17:00.003-05:00

I participated in this contest last year with a love poem. I was honored to be one of the finalist. I am planning to submit another poem for this year’s contest. I highly recommend participating and sharing your writing with others. Please go to http://the-new-author.blogspot.com/2010/02/second-annual-new-author-writing.html for more information. Good luck!

What has been your experience when participating in a writing contest?

The Death of the Paper Book (And the Rise of the E-Book)

2010-02-19T08:00:00.001-05:00

by Sean D'Souza

On December 25th, 2009, something quite remarkable happened at Amazon.com.

For the first time in Amazon's history, the sale of e-books overtook the sale of physical books. And on that specific day the paper book downslide officially began. The Kindle officially put the early set of nails in the coffin. What the Kindle didn't complete, Apple's iPad (and other book readers) will be sure to finish off.

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But surely books won't die.
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The death of books have been exaggerated before and hey, they're still around. Surely books aren't going to die in a hurry.
Books won't die; the paper book will die.

Less than ten years ago, it wasn't uncommon to load up your car with dozens of CDs as you went on a trip. It wasn't uncommon to have a stack of CDs in your lounge. Where are those CDs now?
They're all nicely ripped and sitting in your iPod, iPhone or at the very least on your computer. Only a dinosaur carries CDs around these days.

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That dinosaur story applies perfectly to books ===============================================

So you're headed on vacation, and you pick up a few books to read.
You want to beef up on a specific topic? Again, you pick up a few books from the store or from the library. In a few years from now, that idea of lugging around books will seem kinda quaint.
Why would you want to have dozens of books stacked around taking up space, when you can have them all on your Kindle or your iPad?

Sounds too sci-fi? Well the librarians don't think so. Across the planet, libraries have latched onto the digital media. One of the early libraries to lend out Kindles and Sony Readers was North Carolina State University Library. And the list of libraries giving out Kindles, Sony Readers and e-book readers continues to grow (here's a partial list).

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If this revolution to digital media seems unreal, Apple just wait till devices like the iPad catch on.
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Kindles set out to allow you to download books or newspapers from anywhere. This means you could read the New York Times or just about any book in the Kindle store without having any access to a wireless hotspot or internet connection. However in order to keep this download small, all the fancy colour and graphics were stripped out of the Kindle display. This meant of course that you were largely restricted to text in black and white.

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Apple's iPad has no such restriction
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Not only will the iPad work via 3G, but it will also easily work through wireless. Assuming Apple allows all of the apps to work on the iPad (as it does on the iPhone) what you now have is the ability to experience the best of both worlds. If you choose you can simply download the Kindle app onto your iPad and read a book (in a nice big font and size).

If you choose to ignore the black and white, you may be able to download the book in full colour (Yes, publishers are already queuing up to have their books on the iPad). As if that were not dramatic enough, you'd be able to do it wirelessly through a choice of 3G or indeed over your wireless hotspot.

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Digital books have existed for a while, but there's always been a problem
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You could indeed take your PDF and try and read on a flight. Or you could download a magazine from Zinio.com and read it in bed. But you always had to contend with a laptop at the very least. And I don't know about you, but a computer doesn't exactly come close to the happiness you get when reading a book.

On a Kindle or iPad that frustration goes away. Now instead of lugging a computer to bed, I can prop up my iPad and voila--I have the very same, if not an enhanced experience.

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Enhanced? How could it be enhanced?
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Already you can bookmark pages on a Kindle. That should be standard on a tablet device of the future. Underlining, scribbling on the book, doodling etc., is just a matter of time. But that's just the reading experience. What really kills the paper book is the storage experience.

I can now store whatever I want in a tiny little device. And find the darned thing when I want to find it (As it is, I already buy books and store them on my iPhone Kindle app, just for reference purposes). With the iPad and future devices, this storage and convenience will become standard fare.

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This news isn't for the sentimental folks
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Most of us who are sentimental about paper and books will resist even the thought of the 'death' of paper books. This column isn't for the sentimentalists. It's about business and how it will affect your business.

If you're an author, or if your company puts out documentation, it's a matter of time before you will need to put your information in an ePub (e-publishing) format. And no, it's not even PDF, though PDF may well do for the short term. You may be so in love with the paper book that you may see information like this as being overly sensational. And again you're missing the point.

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The point is simply this:
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1) Your business needs to understand the e-book format.
2) It needs to be ready to publish in the ePub format.
3) It may well turn out that you can continue to print a paper book as a collector's item or a special bonus, but the paper book will simply become unfeasible in the long run no matter how sentimental you feel about it.

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The paper book will fade away.
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Film in cameras faded away. CDs faded away. Horse and carts faded away. And paper books will have it's own ride into the sunset--still around--but niche and largely marginalized.

You may not agree with this assessment. But you have little choice in how history unfolds.

And Christmas Day of 2009 changed history forever.

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Product Offers: Links you should visit
========================================

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Today, Brain Audit 3.2 is 157 pages long! And its the best* book on persuasion you will ever read!

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What do you think about e-books vs paper books?

Five Essential Tips For Better Writing

2010-02-15T08:00:00.000-05:00

By Daphne Gray-Grant
Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

School has changed a lot since Sister Mary Rosa taught me to read in the 1960s -- but one thing doesn't seem to have evolved. The teaching of writing. Most schools don't do much of it.

Sure, they teach little kids how to hold pencils to form the letter W and they grade the papers of pre-teens and teens with lots of red X marks for spelling and grammar mistakes. Better teachers even render little check marks for thoughts and ideas that are well expressed. But how many of them teach kids how to come up with their ideas and how to make a reasonable point? Precious few.

On the day after Labour day, when most North American kids are returning to school after a summer break, let me share with you five essential tips for how to approach writing. Learn them yourself, to improve your own ability and most of all, teach them to your kids.

Make a schedule. When you get an assignment -- whether for school, your boss or a client -- immediately write down a realistic assessment of how long it's going to take you to finish it. Don't think "oh that's not due for three weeks -- I can plan later." Do it right away. Furthermore, don't just think about your plan -- write it down. This is important for two reasons: (1) it increases your commitment, (2) it gives you a track record against which you can measure your performance -- useful for future planning. Being realistic is also extremely important. There's large evidence that if you are a perfectionist you seriously underestimate the amount of time it takes you do anything. Be aware.

Spend more time on prep than on writing. When you prepare your schedule, remember to allow for a significant amount of planning time. There is nothing worse than sitting in front of a computer with a mind that's blanker than your screen. In other words, in order to write, you need to have something to say. Writing takes preparation. It frequently requires research but it always involves thinking -- and almost no one I've ever worked with has allowed adequate time for thinking. One of the best ways to think is by creating a mindmap. If you signed up for this newsletter, you'll have received a little booklet on mindmapping. Get it out now and re-read it. Then do it!

Write in dribs and drabs rather than in one big chunk o' time. I can't tell you how many people regularly carve off an afternoon to write a report. Then they embarrassedly report to me how little they accomplished during this huge chunk of time. Don't make a big deal about writing. Write a little bit whenever you have the chance. Say you're waiting for a meeting to start. Start scribbling some thoughts in your notebook. Say you're waiting for a call to be returned. Start typing. Take those dribs and drabs of time and make them useful. When you next sit down to write you'll be thrilled to discover you're no longer facing a blank page.

Separate your writing and your editing/re-writing. This is the single most important piece of advice I give. Do not allow yourself to start editing while you write. The two tasks are completely different and use different parts of your brain. When you write, write. When you edit, edit. Don't confuse these very different jobs. As I say in my book, trying to edit while you write is like trying to wash the dishes while you're still eating dinner. It really doesn't work.

Forgive yourself. Guess what? You're going to screw up and make mistakes. Your schedule will be inadequate. Your prep will be incomplete. You may not find enough dribs and drabs of time and you may find yourself sneakily editing when you should be writing. Worst of all, your written work may not be perfect! So take a deep breath and tell yourself: "I don't have to be perfect. I just have to get this done. I will have the chance to edit later. Moreover I will have future writing projects."

The more you write, the better you'll get. Just do it mindfully and with planning.

Which of these tips have you used in your writing?

Top 100 Blogs to Improve Your Writing in 2010

2010-02-08T08:00:00.002-05:00

Recently on one of the blogs I follow, A Writer's Edge, Georganna Hancock had a link to the "100 blogs to improve your writing in 2010." I like this type of list because there are many good blogs on writing that I do not know about. I recommend any writer to take a look at these blogs for writing tips and writing resources.

What blog has helped you improve your writing?

The "Who Am I?" Journal

2010-01-29T09:53:00.003-05:00

I subscribe, via email, to "Thought for Today Newsletter" from Oprah.com. Recently the following "thought" caught my attention and I wanted to share it with you.

The link is: http://www.oprah.com/spirit/The-Who-Am-I-Journal/1

Who am I? It's a lifelong question. It's not about labels—"I'm a mom," or "I'm a good employee", or "I'm a Christian." It's, "When I was born, what was the plan for my life?"

Dr. Robin suggests writing in your discovery journal every night. Concentrate on moving beyond labels and appearances.

"If you work on the question—Who am I?—every day you'll start recognizing that this is the very question you've been avoiding," Dr. Robin says, even if you only write, "I don't know."

Prior to starting this journal, you've stopped yourself from feeling. This is about getting those feelings to return. It's going to be a struggle and confusing to really start pondering, "Who am I?" but don't minimize what could happen if you make a commitment every night to be writing something about who you are.

The "Who Am I?" Journal does not need to be exclusively about your failures, mistakes and missteps. Keep in mind good things about yourself that will balance your answer to the essential question in your journal

Do you have a "Who Am I" journal?

The Power Of Quotes

2010-01-27T08:00:00.000-05:00

"Each human being is a gift, and we each have our own unique dream and purpose for living. We each must mine our imaginations, creativity and souls to uncover our true purposes and passions." --Sandra Magsamen

From time to time I like to share some writing quotes that I come across. One of my fascinations with quotes is that I find them to be so inspiring and/or motivational. They convey a message with the simplest use of words. If I am looking to jump start my creativity, I read quotes (not only on writing) to get my creative juices flowing. They help me get unblocked and are great writing prompts. These are some of my favorite writing quotes:

"Procrastination is the art of keeping up with yesterday." --Donald Marquis

"An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail." --Edwin Land

"It is never too late, in fiction or in life, to revise." --Nancy Thayer

"A musician must make music, an artist must paint, a poet must write, if he is to be ultimately at peace with himself. What a man can be, he must be." --Abraham Maslow

"There is as much dignity in tilling a field as in writing a poem." --Booker T. Washington

"Easy reading is damn hard writing." --Nathaniel Hawthorne

In what way do quotes inspire you?

Three Rules Of Writing I Live By

2010-01-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

1. Write what you know and research the rest.

2. Take writing as an opportunity and an open door to new worlds and experiences.

3. Be the main character of your story, so that your writing is real and embellish on the details to make the story come alive.

What rules of writing do you live by?

WHY YOU SHOULD WRITE FOR JUST ONE READER

2010-01-13T08:00:00.002-05:00

By Daphne Gray-Grant

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

I've been given a great deal of advice over the years -- some of it silly ("don't go swimming until an hour after eating"), some of it useful ("wear a pedometer to track your walking") and some of it both silly and useful ("turn on the vacuum cleaner to soothe an unhappy baby"). But by far the best piece of entrepreneurial counsel I've ever received has been this:

Market locally; sell widely.

What does this mean? Well, for example, let's imagine you run a bookstore specializing in new age books. You suppose your typical buyer to be a man or a woman somewhere between age 35 and 49. You also suppose that they don't watch much TV, that there's an excellent chance they're vegetarian and that they like cats. So, as you ponder which books to buy and where to advertise your store, you keep this description in mind.

In fact, if you're really smart, you go a little bit further and you name your key buyer. Let's say you call your female buyer Vanessa and your male buyer Todd. And as you run your bookstore -- perhaps as you're redecorating the shop -- you regularly ask questions like "would Vanessa find these colours attractive?" and "what would Todd think of this incense? " If you decide either of them would dislike your changes, you don't make them.

In other words, you work hard to appeal to a small and very specific group of people. This is marketing locally.

But what happens when a 20-year-old university student walks into the store? Do you turn her away when she wants to buy a book? Likewise for the 58-year-old retired logger. Do you tell him to get lost? No! Of course you sell your books to anyone who wants to buy them. You may not market to them but you will certainly sell to them. In other words, you sell widely.

A similar philosophy applies to writing. I express it as:

Write for one person; be read by many.

Just as our bookstore owner needed to visualize the core buyer, so, too, you need to be conscious of your core reader. I've written about this in my own book, but I really want to emphasize the point here.

The biggest benefit of creating imaginary people like Vanessa and Todd is that you stop thinking about yourself. Instead of focusing on your own needs and problems, you're suddenly thinking about what the client or the reader cares about. And by giving your core reader a name and a face you transform him or her from an anonymous mass into a real human being.

I do this all the time with my own writing. For example, I produce this newsletter for non-fiction writers. I've never written fiction and I don't regard myself an expert on the topic. That said, I know that many of my subscribers are, in fact, fiction writers. Do I turn them away? No! They find what I say useful. I know I've even sold books to many of them. So, while I don't write specifically for them, they find my work helpful.

For any writer, the core reader needs to become a key part of your daily life. That way, every time you review your work, one of your first questions will be, "Would Vanessa/Todd (or whatever you name them) find this useful or interesting?"

Don't ever believe that your writing is going to appeal to everyone. The words you produce will move some people strongly and leave others cold. That doesn't make you a bad writer. It's just reality.

So go to town with the core reader concept. Give this person a name, a face, a place where he or she lives and a little history. And if you're having a hard time with this, use someone you already know well -- your best friend, your mother, your brother, a cousin.

However you do it, write for this one person. Ironically, you'll reach more people this way because the alchemy of engagement will automatically make your writing more interesting.

How do you write for just one reader?

Write Your Story

2010-01-11T08:00:00.001-05:00

I know many aspiring authors want to write a good story, usually fiction, that will engage readers and ultimately make them some money once it becomes published. I have not had an easy time of coming up with a fictional story line, characters, etc. to write about. There are some plot ideas that have popped in my head that might make for a good story, but the words just have not flowed from my brain to the page. Poetry comes to my mind more readily, and lately, I have been thinking about writing non-fiction. Perhaps this is my "calling" so to speak, to write from experience, tell about lessons learned, to touch someone in similar circumstances, and to give hope.

We each have life stories to tell and while you may think your life is boring, unexciting and uninteresting, I am sure you can pull a lot of worthwhile facts from it, to make a story. I want to write about my life, drawing from my earliest childhood memory to the present, leaving my children my legacy, of sorts, so that they can add their own story to it and pass it on to their children. As we get older and life happens, it is so easy to forget things, whether good or bad, and in the daily grind, everything starts to meld together and the past becomes fuzzy. I believe that reliving your life through writing is a form of cleansing your soul, liberating us from past hurts, painful losses and bad relationships, while at the same time, filling us with joy as we recollect those memories that are most dear to us.

As this new year start, I am thinking about writing about myself, my family, friends, enemies, and anything that I have learned and want to pass on to my children, friends, etc. In a way, I want to be like a historian, and collect information from relatives, friends, and go as far back as much as I can with my family tree.

My life story outline:

1. Title
2. Prologue (optional)
3. Chapters: Each chapter will have a title and significant events that occurred in my life and lesson learned from it, or just an entertaining story that meant something to me
4. Epilogue (optional)
5. Dedication of book

I have not started this yet, but I plan to do so soon and will post excerpts on my blog as I go along.

What do you think about writing your life story?

Platform Resolutions For Writers 2010

2010-01-04T08:00:00.003-05:00

by Christine Katz

Before writers establish an author platform, they typically establish a writer platform. Over the past decade, thousands of writers have parlayed established influence into traditional book deals. Landing a traditional book deal is still an effective way to exponentially increase your credibility and visibility.

Your “platform” refers to what you do in the world with your professional expertise that makes you visible and influential in the world. Having friends on Facebook or followers on Twitter is not your platform, unless the majority of those people know who you are, what you do, and are enthusiastic about your work.

I thought I would offer some advice about how to slowly and steadily establish a lasting platform. You may note the lack of fanaticism in this advice and the emphasis on enduring success instead. I’m a mother and a wife, a freelancer, a speaker, a teacher, and a blogger, so aiming for balance is the only way I can afford to work if I plan on sticking around for the long haul.

This advice has worked consistently for my students over the past several years. I think you will find that a grounded, step-by-step approach works just as well for you if you choose to follow it:

1. Develop a platform topic that you love and can work on tirelessly for the next few years. Your passion of the moment should come in second to the topic you could delve into deeply for a good, long time. Prior professional education and a depth of personal experience are going to be a boon to your platform if you have an eye on a future book deal.

2. Hang back from establishing a blog on your topic until you have cultivated a wealth of content and experience working with others on specialty-related activities that lend credibility and trust to your name. Others will tell you to start blogging immediately, but don’t, if you want to be efficient with your time and money.

3. Instead, gain authority by seeking publication in established, highly visible publications both in print and online that serve your target audience. Avoid the kind of publishing that anyone can accomplish, like posting on article sites, and work on your professional communication skills instead. By all means, avoid the content mills offering writers slave wages with the promise of future earnings.

4. Don’t begin any kind of marketing campaign for any product or service offerings until you have established yourself as a go-to person on your topic, again saving you time and money. Before you look at ways to serve others directly, channel your expertise into the best service methods possible based on your strengths and weaknesses. This is a meaty topic that is covered in-depth in my book, Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform (Writer’s Digest Books 2008).

5. Then, develop a product or service that can become one of several multiple income streams over time that will support your goal of becoming a published author. For example, teaching classes over the years has allowed me to re-invest more of the money I earn from writing books back into book marketing. Make sure any offerings you produce are released conscientiously and are integrated into the professional writing you already do. Otherwise, you will seem like you are all over the place and just trying to score a buck.

6. Don’t expect your platform to support you financially for at least one or two years, as you micro-invest in it, re-invest in it as it grows, and expand your visibility.

7. Once you have a professional publication track record in your niche topic, then it’s time to hang your online shingle. I’ve seen this accomplished in as little as six months by exceptionally focused students. Take a portion of the money you’ve earned writing and invest it in a professional quality online presence.

8. A low-cost way to do this is to purchase your name as a URL and use a hosting site like GoDaddy.com to host a Wordpress.org blog. I use the Thesis Theme, which you can see in action at my blog. In this way, a blog can also serve as your website where you post your published clips, offerings and bio. If you don’t have a ton of money to invest in the look of your site, you can always pay a designer later.

9. Delay partnering with others on joint ventures until you have a clear idea of your own strengths and weaknesses in and around your topic. And when you do partner with others be extremely discriminating. Make sure the partnership is going to be win-win-win for everyone involved.

10. Start an e-mail newsletter or e-zine with those who are most interested in your topic. Build your list by invitation and then grow it into a permission-based following over time. Create an expected, ongoing dialogue that is mutually beneficial to everyone involved and your list will grow.

11. Now you are ready to start blogging. And yes, I mean while you continue to do all the things we’ve already discussed. Be sure to zoom-focus your blog on what you have to add to the conversation that is already going on about your topic. Don’t just share information; make an impact. Make your blog a go-to, up-to-date resource for your audience.

12. Partner selectively with others who serve the same general audience that you do with integrity and humility. Spend time getting to know folks before you decide to partner with them. You can’t afford to taint the reputation you have worked so hard to establish by partnering with just anyone.

13. Now that you have an established niche and audience, definitely participate in social networking. I like Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn because they all offer something unique. The best way to learn is to jump in, spend an hour online each week until you are up and running. Follow the instructions for getting started provided by social media expert Meryl K. Evans.

This start-up plan for a writer platform will eventually blossom into an author platform. From start to finish, implementing a solid platform following this advice should take you about a year. By the end of that year, you will have established yourself as a serious contender in both professional and online circles, without killing yourself for some huckster’s promise of overnight success.

Have a plan. Leave a legacy in words, connections and professional influence. If you are consistent, by the time the year is done, you will have made effective use of your time and money in 2010.

I wish you the best of luck in your platform-building efforts!

Christina Katz is the author of Get Known Before the Book Deal, Use Your Personal Strengths to Grow an Author Platform and Writer Mama, How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids for Writer’s Digest Books. She has written hundreds of articles for national, regional, and online publications, presents at literary and publishing events around the country, and is a monthly columnist for the Willamette Writer. Katz publishes a weekly e-zine, The Prosperous Writer, and hosts The Northwest Author Series. She holds an MFA in writing from Columbia College Chicago and a BA from Dartmouth College. A “gentle taskmaster” to her hundred or so students each year, Katz channels over a decade of professional writing experience into success strategies that help writers get on track and get published. Learn more at ChristinaKatz.com

Happy Writing in 2010

2009-12-31T14:57:00.004-05:00

"My Wish for You in 2010"

"May peace break into your home and may thieves come to steal your debts.
May the pockets of your jeans become a magnet for $100 bills.
May love stick to your face like Vaseline and may laughter assault your lips!
May happiness slap you across the face and may your tears be that of joy
May the problems you had, forget your home address!
In simple words ............
May 2010 be the best year of your life!!!"

Thank you all for following my blog, for your readership and comments. I appreciate it and may you meet all your writing goals in 2010.

FIVE WAYS TO PUT MORE HOURS IN YOUR WRITING DAY

2009-12-16T14:51:00.009-05:00

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

Practice matters.
That not-so-profound thought occurred to me while I was standing on the edge of a field on a recent Sunday, basking in the heat of a glorious September afternoon and watching my 14-year-old daughter play soccer.Okay, let's be honest, I wasn't standing so much as sitting in a lawn chair. I was also contemplating how much more fun it would have been if I'd thought to fill my water bottle, which was opaque, with something made from, say, hops. It's tough being a soccer mom, lipstick or not.

But suddenly, my reverie was interrupted by the activity on the field. I noticed the girls were in trouble. They clutched their sides. They meandered to the ball when they should have run. They signaled to the coach that they wanted to be switched out of the game. "Wait a minute," I thought. "These girls are unfit." Well, duh. It was the first match of the season, they'd had only one practice and most of them had spent their summers sucking back Slurpees and lounging on the beach. After the game -- a 1-1 tie because the other team was similarly unfit -- I said to my daughter, "I guess you'll be doing some laps around the track this week." She gave me that I'm-stuck-with a-mother-who-has-three-heads look and said, "Why?"

So, my question for you is: are you wondering why your writing isn't faster and easier? Do you avoid writing for days at a time and then try to churn out a newsletter or major report in an hour? Do you figure that writing is a skill you should be able to turn off and on like a light switch? Well, the bad news is that writing, not to mention life, isn't like that. You need to practice. And here's where most people will complain about lack of time. But the good news is that you have more time than you think -- if you make writing a priority. Here are five ways to find that time. (These ideas will also work for professional writers who find themselves beset with too many phone calls and other administrivia.)

1) Get up earlier: Morning is a great time to write -- unless you're a night owl, which means you have my official permission to ignore this idea. If you're okay with mornings, however, you can write with confidence that phones don't usually ring before 7 am. What's more, there's good evidence that your "internal editor" is sleepier at this time of day, making writing easier. NB: Save breakfast and your shower for later -- and avoid email as if it were poison.

2) Stay up later: Night owls, this one's for you. Hate the AM alarm clock? No problem. Just write at night. NB: This will mean turning off the TV, putting down the book and steadfastly ignoring the siren lure of email and Google. Writing at night takes more discipline, but it's definitely doable for the right person. Reward yourself by taking the equivalent time off from 9 to 5, if you can.

3) Use lunch time: Have you ever noticed that -- unless you're a stock broker -- you can usually count on lunch time to be quieter than the rest of the day? The phone stops ringing as your colleagues and clients disappear en masse to the taco joint around the corner. Not you! If you want to write, this is a great time to do it. Just remember: No email or Internet surfing.

4) Use stolen moments: Too often we get caught up in the all-or-nothing attitude that says "It's not worth doing unless I can do it for at least 60 minutes." Wrong! Every little bit helps. Write while you're waiting for a meeting to start. Write while watching your son's hockey practice. Write while you're waiting for a call to be returned. If all else fails, pop on a set of headphones with the volume turned off, so no one wandering by will bug you.

5) Write about something that really interests you: Don't feel that your writing practice has to be limited to "work." You can write about a vacation you've taken. You can pen a note to city hall about a political decision that really bugs you. You can scribble notes about a moment that embarrassed you or that exhilarated you. It's all writing and it all counts.

Practice makes perfect, says the tired old maxim. But the truth is, practice makes possible.

How do you squeeze more hours in your writing day?

Love Poem

2009-12-11T08:00:00.002-05:00

Written Works Collection: Poetry

THE ESSENCE OF YOUR LOVE

Your love is like a constant shower
With the softness of a rose
Radiating from you to me
A strong energy that overpowers emotion
Leaving me breathless and in awe
I feel it in every part of my being
It pierces through my very soul
Addicting…making me want it more and more
Quenching my thirst to be loved
It is only you and me in a crowded room
Oblivious to the world revolving around us
An energy force that creates a spark, charging my heart, mind and spirit
Igniting the fire/passion I have inside
I am finally home!
Humbled and made whole by your love
Love leading to action, making the experience real
A blanket of love
Breath of fresh air
Caring and nurturing
Protecting, making me feel secure
I am living in the love I have been craving to have
I commit myself to you and only you
Our love snaps into place
I experience the magic that your love brings every time we are together
We create our own special moments
You will stop at nothing to make and keep me happy
I lose myself in your arms, in your kiss
I am taken to a level I have never been
Abandoning all inhibitions
Don’t care who is looking
I get excited with the thought of you
Your voice soothes me
You are my fairy tale come true

What Makes You A Write-A-Holic?

2009-12-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

Make a list of things that make you a Write-A-Holic.

DOWN BUT NOT OUT

2009-12-04T08:00:00.001-05:00

How hard could it be? I always have ideas, thoughts racing in my head. I am a helpless romantic, I know how I want my hero and heroine to be. I will write a romantic suspense novel, it should not be so hard since quantity will matter, not quality. Participating in NaNoWriMo will be a piece of cake...a walk in the park. With all this confidence, I was pumped and ready to go. I can do this, let words flow freely from my brain, through the pen, to the paper. My story will be captivating and engaging to the reader.

Now, I know all this was wishful thinking. As each day went by last month, I got major writer's block and discouragement took over. No tips or words of support helped. I felt like such a failure...I let down my readers. Am I really even a writer? Who am I fooling? If I can't even put random words together to build a story, do I have the right to call myself a writer? Self-doubt filled my mind and made my heart heavy. I did not succeed in my quest to write 50,000 words (175 pages) in 30 days. However, I have learned from this experience, and I will not hesitate next year to participate again. Here are some things I will do differently:

1. Prepare an outline of the novel I want to write the month before NaNoWriMo

2. Have 30 pages (representing a chapter a day)in a notebook or binder. Each page will have a few lines describing the chapter and I will use this as a writing prompt.

3. Form a writing group. Meet once a week before the month of November to go over story line and get constructive criticism on the outline. Afterwards, support each other to reach the 50,0000 word writing goal.

4. Keep up with the word count each day. Do not deviate from it, write more, not less.

5. Connect with past participants and current participants throughout the month for support, writing tips and advice.

6. Do not give up! Put to rest the inner critic and write, write, write.

Writing is my passion. It was a big setback for me not making it through NaNoWriMo, however, I will not let it defeat me.

What was your experience with National Novel Writing Month?

Writing Quotes

2009-11-30T08:00:00.001-05:00

"The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say" -- Anais Nin

"And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt" -- Sylvia Plath

"Fill your paper with the breathings of your heart" -- William Wordsworth

"I love writing. I love the swirl and swing of words as they tangle with human emotions" -- James Michener

"Writing is both mask and unveiling" -- E.B. White

"Writing is a way of talking without being interrupted" -- Jules Renard

"Every author in some way portrays himself in his works, even if it be against his will" -- Goethe

What is your favorite writing quote?

The Power Of "Point Of View"

2009-11-24T08:00:00.000-05:00

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

How To Find Your Voice

When you speak or sing, you use your voice. And you do the same when you write. Only here "voice" is much more elusive. Getting your hands around the whole idea of writing voice is a bit like trying to grab a slippery pup. It keeps wiggling and slipping away. Well, I'd like to try to pin that puppy down. What are the elements of voice? How can you find your own? And what mechanical tricks and tools can you use to help?

Let's start by looking at how you reveal yourself as a writer. In other words, I want to talk about point of view. If you'll forgive me, we need to start with a teensy little trip to grammar-land. Let's conjugate the verb "to write."

First person singular: I write
First person plural: we write

Second person singular: you write
Second person plural: you write

Third person singular: he, she, one -- writes
Third person plural: they write

Ok -- that's six different points of view. Which should you choose when you write? Let's take a closer look.

The first person singular is passionate and opinionated. But if you use it too often (think of many blogs) it can seem self-indulgent and self-aggrandizing. No one wants to read text where the message is I-I-I-me-me-me all the time. Still the utter absence of first person can make it sound as though you're reluctant (or maybe even too weak or uninformed) to give your opinion.

The first person plural is sympathetic and warm and helps show the writer as someone who is willing to put him or herself in the readers' shoes. For example, consider the sentence:

"When we write, we're often too quick to criticize our own work."

By expressing the thought this way, the author is saying "hey, you're not alone; I'm one of you!" But be aware that the "we" voice can also come across as patronizing (think of a nurse asking: "And how are we feeling today?")

The second person (both singular and plural) is friendly and inclusive. It makes readers feel as though you are speaking directly to them. In the fourth sentence of this newsletter, I wanted to make the greased pig image come alive, so I used the word "you." On the other hand, "you" can also come across as bossy: "You must sign up by March 30 if you want to receive the pension plan benefits." And if overused it can sound aggressive -- like a salesperson who repeats your name too many times.

The third person is more cool, measured and formal. The overall impact is much more authoritative -- but this comes at the expense of friendliness. Here are some examples: "One can assume that the school board made a serious error." Or: "The typical student receives inadequate instruction in mathematics in grades 9-12." These types of statements are cut and dried and, often, a little bit intimidating.

So the question remains -- how do you know which point of view to use? I recommend you start -- as always -- by considering your audience. A scientific, academic or formal business report probably requires the third person for a good part of the time. But web copy, e-zines, employee publications, memos and e-mail almost always benefit from the informality of the second person ("you").

Remember that you are allowed some flexibility and you don't have to stick slavishly to one point of view for the whole piece of writing. If you are recommending a product or action, for instance, you will want to slip into the first person from time to time -- either singular or plural -- and there's nothing wrong with that. Just be aware that you're doing this and strive to make the transition easy for your readers.

And one final footnote for corporate writers: I urge you to avoid locutions like, "XYZ Company is a 100-year-old firm and we pride ourselves on..." The problem is not so much the mix between the third person ("XYZ Company") and first person ("we") - it's the overall impression that the company cares more about itself than its customers. I'd rewrite focusing on the customer's perspective: "Are you fed up with software that comes with no support? At XYZ Company, we've developed a way to ensure you get the answers you need promptly..." Now that's a voice I want to hear!

What writing voice do you have?

Sharing My Poetry

2009-11-20T08:00:00.000-05:00

Written Works Collection: Poetry

From time to time, I like to share some of the things I have written. I write poetry most of the time at the spur of the moment. I wrote this poem with someone in mind that I know. This person chose to isolate himself and is now living a lonely life.

It Is My Birthday Today

It is my birthday today, yet, who besides me, will celebrate?
I had almost forgotten it was my day
I remember happier times with loved ones near
But, now, it is a very lonely year
Why is that I wonder? Way too much to ponder
My life is passing me by, I hold back tears, I will not cry!

It is my birthday today, another year of life
I must be thankful for that, and not look back
The candles on the cake are melting
I sing myself happy birthday
What have I done? No one remembers I was born
But I am the only one to blame, I pushed them all away

It is my birthday today, I wish it was like yesterday
Family and friends all around
Loving and laughter filling the house
I will go to bed now, hugging my pillow
Counting sheep, longing for sleep
Today will be over soon

A WRITER'S PERSPECTIVE

2009-11-17T08:00:00.006-05:00

"What a joy it is to be at peace with who you are and where you are in your life." -- T.D. Jakes

For a year now I have been committed to writing every day, whether it makes sense or not. In this writing journey I have learned that before I can genuinely write, I need to open myself up and not be afraid or hold back. I feel liberated through writing. My mind has opened up tremendously in the course of this past year, and it has facilitated my writing. I cannot be true if I do not expose the person I am inside, I cannot shut out parts of me I may not like and just show the parts I do. I feel I have grown as a person and as a writer, but only because I wanted to. The opportunity to change and "fix" me, allowed writing to follow more naturally. Anything inspirational and/or motivational opens up my creative soul and allows my writing to have more meaning.

The key to all this, I found, is to change the way you think, feel and do things. How do you motivate yourself to change? Why Change? What is in it for me? I can make a list of the advantages and long term results of what change can do for me. I like to shake things up a bit, think outside the box and grow in a positive, healthy, and spiritual manner. I can see that each day I live I experience something different; where will this experience take me? Who will I become from this? There has to be something I can take away from life's trials, happy moments, etc., so that I can reach out and touch someone with it. Writing has opened up a whole new world for me and the writing possibilities are endless.

What is your perspective on writing?

A Family Writing Affair

2009-11-13T08:00:00.004-05:00

My daughters and I all like to read a lot and write even more. Somehow it is in our blood. My 23 year old likes to read Stephen King and writes a lot of his type of novels. I keep encouraging her to actually finish one of her stories so that she can actually submit it in a contest or do a query for it. She has a very creative mind and many good ideas. I think she is afraid of rejection and criticism. In all the time she has been writing, she has only shared one or two of her written stories with me. I will ask her to give me one or two excerpts from one of her novels to share on my blog.

My 14 year old likes to mostly write poetry, usually involving something she is feeling strongly about. She reads Young Adult novels dealing with current teenage issues, such as peer pressure, drugs, the opposite sex, as well as modern romance, nothing too mushy though. Recently, in her English class, the students were asked to write a poem using certain vocabulary words. I asked her if I could share what she wrote on my blog and she said yes. So here it is:

TEMPTATIONS
by Samantha-Anne

When temptations seem gaudy and glamorous
The voice in my head gets annoying and clamourous

I try to vanquish all that it said
But voices get louder and over crowd my head

They keep at it unitl it enters and beguiles my mind
That's when my beliefs and values are left behind

Now that I have done what I didn't want to do
It feels like I intered my heart

Now what I have to do
Is make sure temptations never again tear me apart

A family that writes together, sticks together, right? Is writing in your family too?

The Write Feelings

2009-11-10T08:00:00.000-05:00

"Even psychologists tell us that verbalizing our problems, whether in writing or out loud, is a good way to bring clarity and definition to what are often very confusing feelings. Suddenly, as we put our feeling into words, we begin actually to see things more clearly ourselves". -- David Jeremiah

This quote hit the spot for me because it is one of the reasons why I write, especially when I am facing a problem or I am going through an emotional rollercoaster. Once I see the words on the paper, it is like a weight has been lifted and now the problem, issue, whatever, is on the piece of paper. I can now more objectively look at it, and hopefully come up with a solution and/or feel better, with less "clutter" in my head. Some questions to ask yourself: Does writing motivate you to take some action based on what you wrote? Does it help you resolve an issue, problem, something you had been putting off?

There are other things I feel after I write, and it may not always make me feel better. Sometimes writing about one thing, brings out other things. Writing makes me feel:

Relief
At peace
More confused
Less confused
Creative
Alive
Able to conquer the world
Sad
Happy
Motivated/Inspired
Problem solver

What feelings does writing invoke in you?

Poem by Maya Angelou

2009-11-06T08:00:00.000-05:00

by Maya Angelou

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ........

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....

how to fall in love without losing herself..
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect....but it's over....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more....
how to live alone.... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .

whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ........

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....

how to fall in love without losing herself..
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect....but it's over....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more....
how to live alone.... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .

whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...

enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to...
something perfect to wear if the employer,
or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour...

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a youth she's content to leave behind....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age....
a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra...
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who lets her cry....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ........

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family...
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems,
and a recipe for a meal,
that will make her guests feel honored....

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a feeling of control over her destiny...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....

how to fall in love without losing herself..
how to quit a job,
break up with a lover,
and confront a friend without;
ruining the friendship....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW....

when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..
that her childhood may not have been perfect....but it's over....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

what she would and wouldn't do for love or more....
how to live alone.... even if she doesn't like it...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW.. .

whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't take it personally...

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

where to go...
be it to her best friend's kitchen table..
or a charming Inn in the woods...
when her soul needs soothing....

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...

What she can and can't accomplish in a day...
a month...and a year...

What would you add as to what a woman should know and/or have?

FATS WALLER'S SECRET TO GETTING ON A WRITING ROLL

2009-11-03T08:00:00.001-05:00

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

When you're undertaking a big writing project -- say a book, a large report or a website -- or even a medium-sized project, like a magazine article, it's easy to get overwhelmed. The usual advice, which I'm sure you've heard several million times before, is to break the work into small, manageable chunks.

Even Mark Twain was rather humourless on this point. "The secret of getting ahead is getting started," he wrote. "The secret of getting started," he continued, "is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one."

Efficiency guru Brian Tracy says much the same thing, but more colourfully, in his book titled Eat That Frog. (I'm going to trust that you get the metaphor.)

I love this "start small" concept, but I've noticed that, with writing, it sometimes falls apart. That's because you tend to forget the details of what you were doing the previous day (or week), and you lose your place. Worse still, you lose your momentum.

As I worked on my book, 8-1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better, I decided I really had to wrestle with this momentum problem. Each morning, sometimes starting as early as 5 a.m., I'd write for an hour or two. I'd be sleepy and disoriented and not feeling very motivated. My solution? I decided I need direction. So, at the end of each day's work, I sat down and wrote myself a letter that I could read the next morning.

It pleases me to call this the Fats Waller secret, after his famous song, I'm Gonna Sit Right Down and Write Myself a Letter. (I know the music was written by Fred. E. Ahlert and the lyrics by Billy Williams but I stick by my title because Waller was the one who made the song a hit.)

In my letter to myself, I outline the specific writing tasks I need to do the next day. I might give myself instructions such as, "create a mindmap about XYZ." Or I might write, "perhaps a metaphor about "xx" would work in here." With experience, I also discovered that it's sometimes best to have a spectacularly easy task to begin my writing day, so, from time to time, I would assign myself the job of producing a simple sidebar or a list of bullets. The key thing is, I write these instructions to myself after a time of being thoroughly immersed in the project. Thus, when I come back to it, the letter brings me fully up to speed without wasting any time.

The Fats Waller secret works for more than just writing. Right now, I'm editing my books, which means I have to read each chapter many, many times. This involves a lot of stop and go. To keep track of my work, I write detailed notes to myself at the top of the document. If there are problem paragraphs or sections (especially ones pointed out to me by my trusted advance readers), I highlight the trouble spots in a different colour, so that I can find them quickly. I also write myself some notes directly in the text, again in a different coloured type, outlining the nature of the problems.

In this manner, I hope I can produce

...words oh so sweet

They're gonna knock me off my feet...

Thank you, Mr. Fats Waller.

Let The Writing Begin!

2009-10-31T14:30:00.002-04:00

It is finally here...National Novel Writing Month! I have seen various blogs/websites post about this once a year event. I am psyched, anxious, nervous, excited about participating this year. I do not know if I can write 1,000 plus words on a daily basis. I guess I will find out soon enough. This event will definitely push my writing skills to the limit, since I have not timed myself or counted how many words I write before.

My other question to myself: What I am going to write about? I have been working on an outline to at least have something to go by, but will the words flow? Will I have total writer's block? I am going to write "junk" that does not make sense? I know this all deals with quantity over quality, but I do not want what I write about to be totally off. I am confident, that once I start writing, everything else will start to fall into place. Wishful thinking? I sure hope not!

To all my fellow writers who are participating along side me, I wish you the best of luck in this endeavor. May we all come out triumphant writers from this experience.

Have you participated in National Novel Writing Month before? What was your strategy in tackling a whole month of writing?

MANAGING YOUR PERSISTENT FEARS AND ANXIETIES

2009-10-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

By: Stanley Popovich

Stan Popovich is the author of "A Layman's Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods" - an easy to read book that presents a general overview of techniques that are effective in managing persistent fears and anxieties. For additional information go to: http://www.managingfear.com/

Everybody deals with anxiety and depression, however some people have a hard time in managing it. As a result, here is a brief list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their most persistent fears and every day anxieties.

When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success.

Sometimes we get stressed out when everything happens all at once. When this happens, a person should take a deep breath and try to find something to do for a few minutes to get their mind off of the problem. A person could get some fresh air, listen to some music, or do an activity that will give them a fresh perspective on things.

A person should visualize a red stop sign in their mind when they encounter a fear provoking thought. When the negative thought comes, a person should think of a red stop sign that serves as a reminder to stop focusing on that thought and to think of something else. A person can then try to think of something positive to replace the negative thought.

Another technique that is very helpful is to have a small notebook of positive statements that makes you feel good. Whenever you come across an affirmation that makes you feel good, write it down in a small notebook that you can carry around with you in your pocket. Whenever you feel depressed or frustrated, open up your small notebook and read those statements. This will help to manage your negative thinking.

Learn to take it one day at a time. Instead of worrying about how you will get through the rest of the week, try to focus on today. Each day can provide us with different opportunities to learn new things and that includes learning how to deal with your problems. You never know when the answers you are looking for will come to your doorstep. We may be ninety-nine percent correct in predicting the future, but all it takes is for that one percent to make a world of difference.

Take advantage of the help that is available around you. If possible, talk to a professional who can help you manage your depression and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem. By talking to a professional, a person will be helping themselves in the long run because they will become better able to deal with their problems in the future. Remember that it never hurts to ask for help.

Dealing with our persistent fears is not easy. Remember that all you can do is to do your best each day, hope for the best, and take things in stride. Patience, persistence, education, and being committed in trying to solve your problem will go along way in fixing your problems.

What persistent fears and anxieties are you facing as it relates to your writing?

THE STORY BEHIND A TITLE

2009-10-26T08:00:00.001-04:00

Write about the title of your blog,website, published book or work in progress. How did you come up with it? What does it say about your blog, website, published work or work in progress?

OVERCOMING CHALLENGES

2009-10-20T08:00:00.008-04:00

Overcomers, Inc: True stories of hope, courage, and inspiration will give readers the knowledge and emotional resilience to face the most difficult times of life by sharing inspiring stories of triumph. You will find this a book of diversity. There are many authors, from many walks of life. However, they all share a common bond. They triumphed over tragedy and gleaned wisdom in this process. While this is not a religious book, there are stories full of faith, of many kinds and flavors. It is funny how in your darkest times, faith often becomes your brightest light. All of the contributors to this book want to encourage you to hold tight to your belief that a better day will come. It is their sincere desire to pass along what they’ve learned through their own trials, to make your journey easier.

Interview with one of the Overcomer's Inc. authors:

Holly Eburne is a Sport Physiotherapist and Health and Wellness Coach. She lives with her husband, Dave, their 2 grown children and animals, in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. Dave, 59, was diagnosed with dementia 2 years ago and Holly is presently writing a book titled ‘Sweet Surrender- Awakening to the Riches of Dementia’. www.hollyeburne.com

1. How did you get started writing?
For the past 3 years I have been on a journey with my husband, Dave, who has Frontotemporal dementia. Recently, the pain and grief of living with this challenge came to the surface. I didn’t like my new reality. To help me deal with these emotions, I began writing in a journal. It gave me clarity about what I am meant to be doing. I couldn’t ignore the signs pushing me to write a book. I want to share my perspective on a joyful life, despite dementia, and to share the stories of how I am achieving this richness. To give me the start I needed, I signed up for a course, ‘Get Your Book Done’ by Lynne Klippel (mastermind behind the Overcomers Inc. book) and Christine Kloser.

2. What do you do when you are not writing?
Every morning I go for a run, a long bike ride, Nordic hike, or walk with the dogs. I love reading (mostly non-fiction), gardening, birding, and cross stitching. Two days a week I work as a physical therapist, operate a home-based health & wellness business and volunteer at athletic and Alzheimer’s events. I enjoying spending a couple of hours in the afternoon playing board games with my husband or sitting on our deck and learning how to be ‘still’

3. What would readers like to know about you?
Every morning I wake up early and excited to start another day. I am passionate (an understatement) about animals, nature and listening to people’s stories. My children say I love everything, which just about sums up my life.

4.What inspired you to be a contributing author in Overcomers, Inc.?
I couldn’t ignore the strong signals telling me to be part of this project. There are 35 authors involved and I love surrounding myself with uplifting people. I am inspired when I read how other people overcome their challenges and I wanted to be part of something much bigger than myself. I also thought my contribution to Overcomers Inc. would be a great foundation for my upcoming book.

5.Why is the topic of Overcoming important to you?
I am realizing everyone overcomes something, big or small, in their life every day. When the challenges seem overwhelming, it is sometimes difficult to find the hope and courage to continue living a joyful and peaceful life. Through the various ‘overcoming’ stories, I want people to be inspired, and realize they can also overcome whatever it is they are facing.

6. Why are you specially qualified to write about this topic?
For 3 years I have known (consciously) that my husband has dementia; unconsciously or in my gut, for 7 years. Since university I have studied the brain and psychology. I have also worked in the medical field (physical therapist) for over 30 years. Throughout my life I have experienced many challenges--I look for what I am gaining, instead of what I am losing.

7. How many books have you written?
This is my first published writing. I am blogging and writing Ezine articles.

8. How do you manage to keep yourself focused and on track when you’re writing a book?
I set aside time every day to write. I stay focused by exercising, meditating and balancing time by myself, with my family and friends. When I read glum stories about dementia, I am motivated to keep writing. I want people to know there is another perspective when dealing with their challenges. Learning to live in the present moment allows me to listen to my intuition--writing a book and publicly speaking (to share my message) is too strong a feeling to ignore. I have no doubts about the path I am on, so I am willing to step way out of my comfort zone and work through my fears of writing.

9. Do you write to make money, for the love of writing or both?
My philosophy throughout life is to do what I love to do and the money will follow. This is one of the reasons I am still passionate about being a physical therapist after 28 years. I do want to make money, both with writing and speaking, so I can share more of myself with the world. I also want to be able to provide a quality life for my husband as his dementia progresses.

10. What makes you proud about your involvement with Overcomers, Inc.?
I am proud to be working with authors from around the world in a project which will have a significant impact on the quality of people’s lives.

11. Will you write more books?
Definitely. There is so much information inside of me that I want to share with the world.

12. What do you have in the works now?
I am presently writing a book, ‘Sweet Surrender—awakening to the Riches of Dementia’. I am also writing articles for Ezines, blogging, and updating information on brain health and well-being, to my website… www.hollyeburne.com

13. What does the future hold for you and your book?
I would like to speak professionally—before and after my book is published.

14. What makes this a book that other people MUST read and WHY?
This book is for people who want to feel uplifted, inspired and encouraged by the stories of 38 authors who have overcome a major event in their life. Every reader will be able to relate to at least one story; possibly many. It will give them hope they will overcome whatever obstacles they are facing.

15. What people NEED to read this book and WHY?
This book will appeal to all ages, males and females. There are 35 stories by different authors and I am sure 1 or more of the stories will relate to each person who reads the book.

16. What sparks your creativity? Any tips to help others spark their own creativity?
It may sound like I am repeating myself but…daily exercise, and being in nature sparks my creativity. This allows me to get out of my head and into my heart and soul, which is where my stories are living. Writing in a journal is less intimidating and gives me practice putting my ‘voice’ on paper. I also find it helpful to meditate and calm my mind before sitting down to write.

17. What do you think motivates people to become authors? What motivated you to get into this unusual industry?
I am not sure what motivates other people, but I wanted to write because I have so much information inside of me that I want to share. My passion is helping people to live a rich, joyful life. I feel I can do this by writing about the lessons and insights I am learning, as I journey through life.

18. If a potential reader thinks that your book wouldn't interest them, what would you say to convince them to buy?
I'm thinking something better than "It’s the greatest book ever." Give me something more specific :) If people want to feel better and to learn how other people have handled their challenges, this book is for them. It will give them ideas of how they can change their life, which in turn will impact the people in their lives.

19. What is your final message to our readers?
We have choices in our life on how we deal with adversity and challenges. We can hide under the bed and do nothing but cry ‘why me,’ or we can take action and grow with the experience, knowing that life is unfolding exactly the way it is meant to be.

To get your own copy of Overcomers, Inc.,True Stories of Hope, Courage and Inspiration AND enjoy dozens of wonderful gifts with your purchase go to http://overcomersinc.com/booklaunch

What have you had to overcome in your writing life?

"A Dream Within A Dream"

2009-10-15T08:00:00.004-04:00

I recently came across this poem and I really liked it. Please share your thoughts and/or feelings about its meaning.

A Dream Within A Dream
by Edgar Allen Poe

Take this kiss upon the brow!

And, in parting from you now,

Thus much let me avow –

You are not wrong, who deem

That my days have been a dream;

Yet if hope has flown away

In a night, or in a day,

In a vision, or in none,

Is it therefore the less gone?

All that we see or seem

Is but a dream within a dream.

I stand amid the roar

Of a surf-tormented shore,

And I hold within my hand

Grains of the golden sand –

How few! Yet how they creep

Through my fingers to the deep,

While I weep – while I weep!

O God! can I not grasp

Them with a tighter clasp?

O God! can I not save

One from the pitiless wave?

Is all that we see or seem

But a dream within a dream?

PART 3: MIKE'S TEN COMMANDMENTS TO WRITING SUCCESS

2009-10-12T08:00:00.000-04:00

By Michael P. Geffner -
Mike's Writing Workshop and Newsletter

Part 3

1) Pitch stories that you absolutely own. The best way to get an editor’s attention, especially if you’re relatively new to the game or not very high up on the “publishing credits” ladder, is to offer an idea that no one else can do—but YOU! Is it an exclusive interview with someone who’s turning down everybody else? Is it a story that only you know about? Are you the sole expert in this subject? Own a story up and down and you’ll have a huge advantage like you never had before.

2) Always push for more work. Once you’ve made headway with a publication—which means you’ve built up a mutual trust and respect with an editor or editors—keep asking for more assignments or keep pitching ideas. Writing can often be a momentum business. Don’t stop the flow. Also, if you have a published story on the stands, it’s the best time to pitch editors at other places. You’ll seem like the hot commodity of the moment.

3) Rejection should only be the beginning, not the end. Two things to consider here: A. Just because a publication nixes your story idea—or you in particular—doesn’t mean the next place will do the same. If you believe in yourself and your idea, never give up on it. B. Just because a publication rejects you outright doesn’t mean the same place won’t accept you six months later. At most places, there’s high turnover. Editors, as well as mission statements, change quickly.

4) Don’t hang all your hopes on resumes, clip packages, and query letters. Go into any high-level editor’s office and you’ll see stacks of unopened envelopes that nearly reach the ceiling. You’re annoyed, or depressed, that an editor hasn’t gotten back to you? Don’t be. He or she likely hasn’t even seen the contents of your envelope yet—and may never. Make phone calls (without being a stalker). Make meetings (without being demanding). In the writing game, as in most businesses, relationships matter more than anything in an envelope.

5) Learn to negotiate for more money. No matter what a publication offers, it’s often way less than it can afford. Always express mild disappointment at the first number, then pleasantly, professionally, ask for a little more. Understand that I don’t suggest this method for rank beginners. You’ll risk losing the assignment. It’s also running before learning to crawl. But for anyone with decent experience, you’ll gain greater respect by not jumping at the first number thrown at you. Also, if in the end a place refuses to budge on the story fee, ask for something else that doesn’t cost them money, such as your byline bigger or your name—and story teased—on the front cover. Or simply agree to do the story at their price for now (make it seem like you’re doing this out of the goodness of your heart) but, if they love the final product, that the next one will have to pay more. Always have a strategic plan when negotiating a story deal (have an answer ready for anything that might come up) and always get it in writing.

6) Whatever writing you do, try your best to be utterly unique and way above average. You want to put yourself in position where a publication or publisher can’t get what you do from any other writer. This is what gets the big jobs and the big dollars and the big careers.

7) Don’t beg. Always act as if you’re confident in your work and yourself, exuding an attitude that says, “I’d love to do this story for you, I really would, but if you’re not sure that you want it, I’m certain that some other publication will.” In other words, never show weakness, because editors will pick up on that and run away from it.

8) Don’t be a pest or a complainer or unprofessional. Editors will always choose the path of least resistance, wanting to work with writers that carry the least amount of baggage and write the cleanest, most thorough copy. Maybe if you win the Pulitzer, you’ll gain some extra rope. But until then, you best be a writer that editors love to work with.

9) Keep making baby steps upward. Don’t get too comfortable at a certain level. Keep challenging yourself. This will force you to make the work better and better, as well as help you make more and more money.

10) Don’t worry so much about people stealing your ideas. At the major publications, it hardly, if ever, happens. Plus, assuming you’re hitting a smaller, less trustworthy market, you should have so many ideas that if someone steals one that it wouldn’t matter in the least, because you have dozens upon dozens of them. The writing business is an idea business. If you don’t have ideas gushing out of your brain on a daily basis, you might want to try some other work.

PART 2: MIKE'S TEN COMMANDMENTS TO WRITING SUCCESS

2009-10-09T08:00:00.002-04:00

By Michael P. Geffner -
Mike's Writing Workshop and Newsletter

Part 2

1) Don’t forget that networking is just as important as your talent and computer. It’s a must-have tool in your writing existence. You need to seek out contacts, preferably the power brokers at the top of the masthead or high-level editors, and cultivate them as “allies.” If you ignore this aspect of the business, believe me, you’ll suffer the consequences. I hear all the time from writers, “But I don’t like to mingle. I’m too shy. I’m not a good talker.” My response is matter-of-fact: “This is the way the game is played. If you don’t want to play, don’t expect to win.” Which means: Don’t expect editors to come to you. They won’t. Like Mohammed, you need to go to the mountain. I don’t care how much talent you think you have. It’s not enough to “make your career” all by itself. And remember: If you’re not cultivating contacts, some other writer out there is.

2) Force yourself to work under deadline pressure. Deadlines are what separate the professional from the hobbyist. Pros can’t wait for inspiration, or an act from God, to propel their creativity. They write because they have to, because someone on the other end is waiting for their work. They write whether rain, sleet, or snow, and all hours of the day and night. I’ve tortured myself to hit deadlines over the years, from five-minute ones to monthlies. That’s the nature of the beast. It’s where the tough gets tougher. So, either get assigned to something with a due date or create an artificial one. If nothing else, it’s good practice to see how well you function in such a situation. You may actually find that you’re not cut out to write professionally, that in reality you’re merely a dabbler. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just good to know where you stand.

3) Build a portfolio before you start hitting the major newspapers/magazines/publishers. Mind you, I’m not even remotely suggesting that you work for free. I’m really not. In fact, I insist on writers ALWAYS getting paid at least something for their hard work. What I am saying is this: You can’t expect to be published in the New York Times or sell a book for a $400,000 advance or get a major assignment from Sports Illustrated or People Magazine with little or no experience. You must pay your dues, like any other profession. You won’t go from singing in the shower to headlining in Vegas. That’s not realistic and you’ll be hitting your head against a brick wall if you try. Instead, moving up the publishing ladder a step at a time, for more and more money, you should get at least 5-8 clips together, sizeable ones that show off your writing ability, before considering the “big boys.” Begin with local papers or small magazines or trade publications. Make your “bones” there, where the competition isn’t too stiff and where you’ll have the freedom—and opportunities—to develop your own voice. And consider each story you write an audition for something better and higher paying. In other words, write the heck out of it. Make it brilliant!

4) Read something every day. Magazines, newspapers, books. But try to be choosy. Read things written by great writers. And don’t be a passive reader, be an active one: analyze what the writer is doing, what the writer does to achieve a certain effect, what the writer does with plot, characters, dialogue, action, exposition, etc. Read, read, and read. The theory: Whatever goes into your brain is likely, in time, to find its way out. It’s called “filling your cup.” By mere osmosis, you’ll absorb the craft without even knowing it. Great writing will be in you, dying to get back out.

5) Write something every day. No matter what. Forget that you’re tired or don’t feel like it. You’re supposedly a writer. So write. Don’t be a pretender. And don’t even think about that dreaded of all things creative: writer’s block. If you’re convinced you have writer’s block, just write about it. Write about why you think you’re blocked. Trust me, this’ll snap you out of it in a hurry. Remember, all writers, from Tolstoy to Hemingway to Stephen King, have written badly before they wrote well.

6) Make friends with other artists, especially with happy, positive, and successful ones. It’ll inspire you to be around other wonderfully creative people and to be able to share ideas back and forth. Afterwards, your energy will fly off the chart.

7) Make sure you spell correctly and are grammatical in your dealings with editors. I can’t tell you how many letters/notes/e-mails I get from “writers” with grossly ungrammatical sentences and a slew of misspellings. I cringe. It turns me off immediately—as I’m sure it will with editors. These are the tools of your craft. Learn how to use them—or else. Buy a grammar/spelling book, for God’s sake. Get a good “spell/grammar check” program. There’s no excuse for sloppy English. One misstep will likely sink you with an editor you’re trying to sell a story to.

8) Know as much as you can about the editor and the publication/publishing house before firing off a proposal. The more you know, the more you can “target” your approach. It’ll likely also give you a step up on the competition, since most writers don’t do this extra homework (at least, they didn’t until they read it here). A great example of someone going that extra yard for success is the great golfer Jack Nicklaus. Before playing in tournaments, The Golden Bear would arrive in town a few days early just to scout out the course. Taking a golf cart, he’d ride around jotting down in a small notebook observations and ideas on how to play certain holes. No wonder he won more major tournaments than anyone else did. One time, playing in the Masters, another golfer noticed that Nicklaus look decidedly perplexed. “What’s wrong, Jack?” To which Nicklaus responded, “There’s supposed to be a telephone pole there.” The pole had been removed a day earlier. Jack knew it was there!

9) Find a mentor. Someone who’s a successful writer who can teach you the ropes and keep you from making the same mistakes he/she did. A tour guide, in a way, who can lead you down this dark, mysterious tunnel called the writing business. It’ll not only save you a ton of time reaching your goals as a writer but will also keep you from climbing the wall with frustration. A mentor can be your answer man (or woman) on all problems.

10) Stay on the case. Don’t be a lazy slug even for a moment. Be relentless in your writing and your search for work. Do everything to improve yourself as a writer and never stop sending letters and making phone calls to editors. Aggressiveness, without being annoyingly so, is the key. That is, don’t stalk your editors. You’ll force them to run for the hills and never look back! Just show editors that you want it. They’ll likely be swept up in your passion, and may ultimately even admire you. Bottomline, fight for your writing dreams with everything you have and never let go!

PART 1: MIKE’S TEN COMMANDMENTS TO WRITING SUCCESS

2009-10-07T08:00:00.005-04:00

By Michael P. Geffner -
Mike's Writing Workshop and Newsletter

Part 1

These principles represent the best advice I can give anyone interested in making writing a career. Study them, learn them, and, most of all, do them. You'll be amazed by the results.

1) Be a letter writer, not a resume sender. Resumes get shoved into the bottomless pit of file cabinets or dumped into the black holes of wastebaskets. Learn instead to be an aggressive composer of letters, though not sending these so often to the same editor that you become increasingly annoying. There's a fine line between persistence and being a nuisance. Don't cross that line, lest you risk turning people off who control your fate in the industry. In your letters, sell yourself like a salesperson, with you, of course, being the valuable commodity: who you are, what makes you different and better, what passions you have, how eager you are to work hard, and why you-and not someone else--should be working for the publication. The stationery and envelope should be of the highest quality (first impressions count!) and smaller than standard letter size (the small size virtually guarantees you'll be put on the top of the pile by the secretary). The letter itself should be flawless and tightly constructed, and the envelope should always be marked "personal and confidential" (to pass the gatekeeper). Your singular theme should be this: I know I can make a difference at your publication. You need people like me. You must use me.

2) Come up with five solid ideas, things hopefully you're passionate about and expert in, and write a couple of paragraphs on each (exactly what the story is and how you'd be attacking it). Make sure these "pitch letters" are well written (the editor will be judging your writing talent every step of the way) and targeted at the appropriate publications, ones publishing similar type stories. Fitting your story to the right publication is key. It should be as natural as a hand slipping smoothly in a glove.

3) Timing is everything. Spot trends and hit publications quickly with story ideas based on these, before someone else beats you to the punch. The hot item of the day approached uniquely is always a great way to get into print. Believe me, a well-timed pitch is gold!

4) Establish as personal a contact as possible with editors. Try to establish a phone connection at the very least, but face time is infinitely better and should without question be your goal. It's harder to reject a real live breathing person than a faceless name at the top of another letter. In fact, in your letters to editors, write a sentence about how you'll be calling on a specific day to discuss your "wonderful" ideas. This opens the door for your phone call. It won't be easy. It's like telemarketing at this point. But remember: Every rejection puts you closer to a sale. Though you'll have to pass some gate keepers to get to the top editors, always be professional, polite but pleasantly forceful. And if anyone asks what your business is with this editor, say it's personal. I mean, let's face it, your career is personal. Also, as a way around secretaries and assistants, you can call before 9 AM and after 5 PM-when they aren't there. And be prepared what you'll say if the editor actually gets on the line. Don't ramble. Get to the point and get off. Less is better. Make contact and leave on a high note. You want editors liking you enough to take your phone calls, not dreading the next one.

5) Study and immerse yourself in the marketplace. You need to get in the game to win it. Read media columns and industry magazines, join writing clubs, scan the net for resource sites, buy market books, get insider newsletters. Know the business inside out. Talk the talk and walk the walk. Editor and peers will know a professional when they see one.

6) Read what the best writers in your particular genre are doing. If you're a magazine writer, get yourself a copy of the annual anthology Best American Magazine Writing. If you're a short story writer, pick up The Best American Short Stories. See how it's done at its best. It'll be a great guide for what YOU should be doing. And read not for enjoyment but to learn. Study the writer's art and craft, and even try to imitate it. In pop speak, this is called Modeling.

7) Networking is nearly as important as talent. This took me a long time to understand--and believe. I always felt that the talent alone would get me to where I wanted to go. Not true. I found that out the hard way. You need to know people. A lot of them. My advice: Write "networking letters" to major editors (at the top of the masthead), not asking for work (never do that in a networking letter!) but simply for advice on how to succeed as a writer. I mean, these are the industry leaders you'll be contacting. They know a ton of inside info you don't, as well as a ton of other influential people in the business. Try to arrange a face-to-face meeting, between 15 minutes to a half-hour long at THEIR convenience in their office. You'll not only likely get some wonderful advice but will also establish yourself with a power broker. If he or she likes you enough and believes in you, he or she will likely consider you for future or current work (without you ever asking), or might refer you to another power broker. In other words, it multiplies naturally. One contact could lead to six. And after every visit, write a thank you note for them both graciously giving you their precious time and imparting some great information. Networking can also include your friends and family, who may have contacts in the field. Don't be afraid to reach out for help. You'll be amazed how many people will reach right back.

8) Do something toward furthering your writing career every single day. Read a book on writing. Write a pitch letter. Apply for a writing job. Set up an interview for a writing job. Write a networking letter to an editor. Arrange a meeting with an editor. Read a book by a great writer (not so much for entertainment but analyzing what the author does to achieve a certain effect). Read magazines and newspaper articles about the industry in media/publishing sections (This is a wonderful way to find the names of top agents). The thing is, you need to be proactive and be it daily. Action breeds action! It also adds up: A single "positive" every day builds into 365 in a year!

9) Write every single day, no matter what. Your mind is like a muscle. It needs a regular workout to stay strong and sharp. It's like the man who asks someone on the street, "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" And the other man says, "Simple. Practice, practice, practice."

10) Don't give up. The secret to ultimate success of any kind, I'm convinced, is persevering in the face of repeated rejection. If a newspaper/magazine/publishing house/literary agency doesn't accept you at first glance, try them again six months later. Editors, people, and philosophies change frequently. If you're not the cup of tea for one, you might be for another. The trick to succeeding as a writer, I feel, is having the strength and conviction to jump hurdles. Never take "no" for a final answer. Simply consider it the start for coming up with a more effective approach. Bottom-line is, if you write well, have great ideas and are well connected, success is definitely yours!

Four Steps To Short Article Writing

2009-10-05T08:00:00.001-04:00

My daughter is a Cadet in the Girl Scouts. One of her assignments was to write a short article on a subject that she really liked. She was given certain guidelines to follow that I find useful for any type of writing you do.

1. First, explore the subject you are writing about. Use the library, explore the Internet, and talk to people who have knowledge related to your subject. Take notes and jot down your ideas based on your research.

2. Develop an outline. Make certain you have the main story points you want to cover. Then add the secondary items that will increase interest in your story.

3. Designate a time and place to write. Establish a routine and stick to it. The discipline of a set schedule may help your writing the way physical exercise helps your body.

4. When you have written a first draft, have someone read it. Are her comments and suggestions helpful? If so, use them.

What guidelines do you follow when you write?

The Healing Power Of Confessional Poetry

2009-10-01T08:00:00.001-04:00

“Writer’s Relief, Inc. is a highly recommended author’s submission service. Established in 1994, Writer’s Relief will help you target the best markets for your creative writing. Visit their Web site at http://www.WritersRelief.com to receive their FREE Writers’ Newsflash (today, via e-mail), which contains valuable leads, guidelines, and deadlines for writing in all genres.”

Do you remember the poetry you wrote as a teenager? Many poets would rather eat paint chips than share their teen-angst poetry with the world. Teenage poetry is often raw, drippy, sloppy, histrionic, self-centered, and overdone. But there are valuable lessons to be learned in remembering the way we used to write before we ever dreamed of getting a poem published.

The type of poetry most often associated with a poet’s personal emotional journey is confessional poetry. This style is a particular favorite among editors of literary journals and magazines, because it demonstrates intimacy and reflection.

Writing confessional poetry is important to a poet’s personal journey toward self-improvement. Before you cared about poetic technique, you probably just cared about the act of writing. Writing a poem when you’re feeling a strong emotion is often a great way to make sense of your feelings. Poetry can be therapeutic and cathartic, allowing writers to discover their true feelings in a safe space.

When you’re feeling troubled, grab a pen. Writing heals. When you write, you make time for yourself—and that’s important. Confessional poetry can get you through the biggest hurdles in your life, and you should not be afraid of plunging into intimate, meaningful confession.

BUT before you go pulling your old, high school confessional poems out of the attic so you can get them published—or before you start thinking that every confessional poem you write is genius—think again. They are important to the writer but can come off as self-indulgent to the reader. To be published, they need to demonstrate that the writer is self-aware and has great insight and technique.

Apart from being overly emotional, the other problem with confessional poems is that they run the risk of being unruly. Although poetic verse can be free form, it must always be carefully wrought. Poems that spill on to the page and are done in a single draft are poems that you as a writer may want to consider putting away for a while. Better to judge your poems once you’re a bit distant from them—so you can see them for what they really are.

At Writer’s Relief we believe in the power of the pen. But be sure to learn the difference between when a poem is necessary emotional spewing and when it is true, carefully crafted art.

Writer’s Relief would be pleased to help you submit your poems for publication. We can target your poems to the editors of literary magazines and journals who will be most likely to appreciate your writing. Learn more about our services at www.WritersRelief.com.

What motivates you to write poetry?

GUEST POST: WRITING MEANINGFUL PERSONAL ESSAYS

2009-09-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

Guest Post by Sara Hodon

Sara Hodon’s work has appeared in History, Harrisburg Magazine, Young Money, and WritersWeekly.com. She is also a weekly columnist for Online Dating Magazine. Visit her blog at http://adventuresinthewritinglife.blogspot.com.

All writers infuse their work with a little of their own personality and voice, no matter the genre. But few genres allow a writer more freedom to express themselves and connect with readers than the personal essay.

A well-crafted essay about an experience from your life can strike a chord with readers, whether it’s a humorous or sad incident. We all have those memories of disastrous family vacations, awkward high school experiences, or people who have made a lasting impact on our lives.

Journals can be a helpful tool to write a meaningful essay. I know that when I go back and read my old journals, I’m almost instantly sent back in time to a particular event or period of my life. Even if the words on the page don’t tell the whole story, I can remember what was going through my mind at the time that I wrote them. That helps me to fill in the details or portray a certain tone for the essay.

Even though the goal for most writers is to get our work published so we can share it with our readers, it’s not easy to put ourselves out there and divulge so much personal information. Let’s be honest—writers have fragile egos, no matter how thick a skin we develop after endless rejections from editors or publishers. We accept rejection as part of the process, but that doesn’t mean it gets easier to swallow! Besides just putting ourselves on the page, writing essays often means writing about those closest to us—family, current or estranged friends, and current or former loves—and hoping our words don’t cause hard feelings.

One of the most important things to remember about writing personal essays is that you’re telling the story as you remember it. You may be writing about your family’s fiasco of a family vacation to the Grand Canyon when you were 10, and no doubt every member of your family will remember that vacation differently. So be it—the essay is your memory. If so many things on that vacation went wrong, it could be perfect material for a humorous piece that would make even your well-meaning but hapless dad chuckle. Just like most writing, it’s all in your approach.

A personal essay is an important way to develop your own voice and confidence as a writer. Not sure how to get started? Go back and read those old diaries and journals and see if anything triggers a strong memory. Then, get writing. You may not become the next David Sedaris or Sloane Crosley, but you just may be able to craft a piece that makes your readers shake their heads or chuckle in knowing sympathy. Their dad was well-meaning but hapless, too.

Three Methods To Fix Reader Fatigue on Web Pages

2009-09-25T08:00:00.001-04:00

by Sean D’Souza

Have you ever struggled to read the text on a web page? You're keen
to read the material, but not sure why you're struggling. And it's
not because the language is difficult. And it's not because the
topic is unknown. Yet there's something that's driving you batty.

It's something on the page itself, but you can't put your finger on
it. And it's causing a bit of a Reader Fatigue.

===============================================
So what is Reader Fatigue?
===============================================

Reader Fatigue is a scenario where something on the page is causing
a bit of grief to the reader. They desperately want to read what
you're saying but a bit of tiredness creeps in and then they give
up. And off they bouncity-bounce to the next web page--the web page
that isn't so tiring.

And what's interesting is that you can quickly remove this factor
of Reader Fatigue by considering three core issues.

===============================================
But before we get started on removing Reader Fatigue...
===============================================

...Let's get one thing straight. What I'm about to tell you may sound
like a grammar lesson. Well, it is a grammar lesson in a way, but
not quite. It's more of a conversion lesson.

If your customer gets tired reading your articles, or your sales
page, they just leave. And if they leave--heck I don't have to tell
you what happens--you've lost a customer. And you've lost a customer
over a simple matter. A matter that can easily be fixed.

===============================================
So let's examine three issues that you can fix right away:
===============================================

Issue 1: Constraining the thought to one idea.
Issue 2: Width of the line.
Issue 3: Avoiding chunky paragraphs.

===============================================
Issue 1: Constraining the thought to one idea.
===============================================

The rule is simple. Keep your sentences down to 15-25 words at
best. This is because a sentence with fewer than 25 words usually
contains one thought. And when there's just one thought in the
sentence, the reader can quickly grasp the thought and move on to
the next sentence. And the next. And the next.

Long sentences tend to be long because the writer is unable to
restrain their thoughts, and they just plough on relentlessly, not
knowing where to stop, till finally they stagger to a halt, and you
get a sentence like this one: where the reader has forgotten what
you were saying in the first place.

Now of course you don't write sentences that are sixty words long,
but it's easy to slip into sentences that are 35-40 words. After
all 35-40 words are just two lines on your word processing program.

So the easy way to restrain your thoughts is to focus on your word
processing program when typing. If your sentence is streaming
across the width of the page, then you've probably written about 15
words. If your sentence is going to 25 words, that's about a line
and a half on the word processor. It's now time to put a full
stop. And start a new sentence.

By putting full stops in your sentence it's easy to take a
lonnnnnnnnnng sentence and restrain the thought.

E.g.
Long sentences tend to be long because the writer is unable to
restrain their thoughts. They just plough on relentlessly. And
never seem to know when to stop. Then finally they stagger to a
halt. And you get a sentence like this one: where the reader has
forgotten what you were saying in the first place.

So yeah. Keep sentences short.

===============================================
This takes us to the second factor of Reader Fatigue: The width of
the line.
===============================================

If you look at your newspaper, you'll notice something quickly. The
newspaper is divided into columns. And the width of the line
doesn't go past eight or nine words across. This width restraint is
put in for a reason. It allows your eye to read, get some breathing
space and then go to the next line.

The width of your web page text needn't be as constrained, but not
much wider than 15 words wide. An average web page can easily
accommodate about 30 words of text on one line. And putting 30
words of text in one line is a big mistake. And it's a mistake
because the text becomes tiring. It's hard to read.

The way around this problem is to make sure you split your web page
into two or three columns (Ask your web designer if you don't know
how to do this 'split'). The column you most want to focus on is
the text column. How many words do you have in your main text
column? If it's 15 words or thereabouts, then you're ok. If not,
you need to fix it right away.

===============================================
And once you're done fixing those two issues, let's examine the
third issue: chunky paragraphs.
===============================================

Magazines and newspapers work with restricted space, so they often
have chunky paragraphs. But web pages don't have restriction issue.
And it's in your best interest to take advantage of this
unrestricted space by breaking up your paragraphs.

And here's the reason...

When the reader looks at your page, all they see is a waterfall of
text. If you have long, dense paragraphs, the material on the page
looks intimidating. An intimidating page is more likely to drive a
customer away. What's sad is that this problem can easily be fixed
by making your paragraphs less dense.

And the way to make it less dense is to restrict your paragraphs to
about 4-6 sentences in all. Once you've put in about six sentences,
just put in a break and create a new paragraph. This break gives
the reader some breathing space and visually it's far less
intimidating.

===============================================
Ok, time for a summary:
===============================================

1) Constrain the thought to one idea: keep sentences down to 25
words at best.
2) Check the width of the line on the web page. About 15 words.
That's it.
3) 4-6 lines in a paragraph is enough. Move to the next paragraph
and create breathing space.

Some of these changes are easy to make going forward, and some of
them may need some going back to edit your existing web content.
It's well worth the trouble to make the time to implement these
changes.

Because as I said: This ain't about grammar. It's about conversion.
If you drive a customer batty with your web pages, you only have
yourself to blame.

=======================================
Product Offers: Links you should visit
========================================
"I first bought the Brain Audit in 2002. It was 32 pages long.
And I thought it was the best damn book on copywriting I had read!
It laid down the entire sequence of elements that any successful
salesletter or presentation needs to cover to make the prospect say
"yes!"

I really thought that Brain Audit could not be improved upon.

But year after year, Sean has been proving me wrong. He has
improved upon it. And improved upon it. And improved upon it.

Sean's added more details to the Brain Audit. More stories and
analogies. Better graphics (and fun cartoons!). He has used every
teaching trick possible to make sure that you not only understand
the sequence of elements needed to make people buy from... but the
sequence soaks into your thinking pattern.

Today, Brain Audit 3.2 is 157 pages long! And its the best* book
on persuasion you will ever read!

* Until Sean comes out with version 4.0 a year or 2 down the line.
But you really can't afford to wait a year or 2 to take advantage
of the Brain Audit, can you?"

Ankesh Kothari, Adventures of a serial entrepreneur, India
Judge for yourself http://www.psychotactics.com/brainaudit

2) "One reason I didn't sign up for 5000bc until now is because I
expected a huge price tag."

"The quality of information is so high and the hype so low, I just
assumed it would be another high-ticket purchase that I couldn't
really afford.

It wasn't until I spoke with Perry at The System that I found out
how affordable it is. Just listening to ONE audio on pricing--that
was worth my yearly fee right there!"

Julie Anne Eason,USA
Judge for yourself http://www.psychotactics.com/5000bc

Have you used any of these methods to fix reader fatigue on your web pages? What other methods have you tried?

Give Yourself Permission

2009-09-23T08:00:00.003-04:00

Written Works Collection: Poetry

Give Yourself Permission To:

Laugh out loud
Enjoy the crowd
Do a little dance
Give life a chance
Sleep in late
Vegetate
Fall in love
Not work so hard
Love yourself
Not hurt so much
Live carefree
Be who you are
Reach for the stars

In your writing life, what do you have to give yourself permission to do?

The Quotable Writer

2009-09-21T08:00:00.001-04:00

"Writing is essentially a lonely occupation. A writer is blessed who has people who support and encourage along the way." --Mary Higgins Clark

"Words are the open book to your soul." --Ana V. Rios

"Words are the pen of the heart but music is the pen of the soul." --Shenur Zalman

"My heart is stirred by a noble theme as I recite my verses for the King; my tongue is the pen of a skillful writer." --Psalm 45:1

"The big advangtage of a book is it's very easy to rewind. Close it and you're right back at the beginning." --Jerry Seinfeld

"If you can't think up a new idea, try finding a way to make better use of an old idea." --Ralph Waldo Emerson

"A good beginning makes a good ending." --English Proverb

"A successful book is not made of what is in it, but what is left out of it." --Mark Twain

"...Words are a form of action, capable of influencing change. Their articulation represents a complete, lived experience." --Ingrid Bengis

What quote has inspired you today?

Follow Up and Writing Prompt

2009-09-18T08:00:00.005-04:00

Pay It Forward Recipient
Congratulations to Daveda, from Grace Talk With Daveda, for making a comment on my "Pay It Forward" post and joining in this fun exchange. I will be sending her a free gift with "goodies", which I know she will enjoy. Please visit her blog for some very spiritual and inspirational posts.

Writing Prompt
I was listening to an audio CD from Simon T. Bailey about "releasing your brilliance". He talks about courage, facing your fears, valuing your partner, living your life and investing in yourself. According to Simon, we are all "brilliant carats" that need to be shaped and polished. He says you should be not only an aspirin but also a vitamin.

As a writer and in your every day life, how are you like an aspirin, a vitamin or both?

Pay It Forward

2009-09-14T08:00:00.000-04:00

Alisia Leavitt in her own words “is a twenty-something aspiring fiction author.” Her blog, Alisia Leavitt, “features writing advice, guest posts, latest news, interviews with writers, and commentary on all things literary.”

Back in July Alisia wrote about a “Pay It Forward” gesture she received from Angie Michaelis (Angie’s Write). She got a special free gift and all she had to do in return was to “Pay It Forward” herself to two to three other readers. I was one of those lucky readers. I got my gift in the mail this week. I was very excited to get it. Alisia sent the gifts in a bubble mailer with colorful flowers on it. The contents were: a beautiful book mark called a “book thong”, a small spiral bound notebook with hexagons on it, a miniature, pink, gel pen, that actually has pink ink and a heartfelt, hand written note card from Alisia. All the gifts had some pink in them, which is my favorite color and all are essential tools for any writer. Thank you, Alisia, very much for these thoughtful and handy gifts.

Now, it is my turn to pay this act of kindness forward to three other readers. Here is how it works:

1. The first three readers who agree to “pay it forward” and sign up in the comments will receive a gift from me.

2. If you are one of the three selected, all I ask is that you link back to me and blog about it.

3. The gifts you pass on to other readers can be anything you like and do not have to cost much. They can be handmade and should be fun, inspiring or uplifting.

4. I will announce the three recipients of my “pay it forward” in my next post. I will need to get postal addresses sent to my email at: thewritertoday@aol.com.

I decided to join in on this because I thought it would be fun and nice to receive, as well as give, gifts to fellow writers. It is also a great way to spread encouragement and support.

Who will be the next “Pay It Forward” recipients?

Nine Life Lessons

2009-09-11T08:00:00.006-04:00

“Our prayer becomes part of God’s divine work of reaching and saving the lost. And we learn to find our happiness in losing ourselves in the salvation of those around us” – Andrew Murray

In a previous post I wrote about the Second Annual Life Lesson Essay Contest, sponsored by Real Simple magazine. It made me think about the life lessons I had learned in the past year. I had been unemployed, until recently, and in this "time off" I had the chance to really think about my life and life in general. Not all is lost when faced with an adverse situation (not working and concerned about meeting financial obligations). These are the life lessons I want to share:

1. Value the job you have – I valued my job more when I did not have a job. I used to stress and feel overwhelmed sometimes at all the things I had to do at work. But, I liked what I did and when I was not working, I missed it and wished I had it back. I thank God that I am finally working again, and any job now is a “piece of cake”, no matter how big or small.

2. Take stock of your life – Are you where you want to be or doing what you want? I started my two writing blogs while I was home. I had not dedicated the time to writing because I used to put it in the back burner. I took advantage of the time off and focused my energy on learning about the writing craft through books, blogs and websites. It has been well worth it. I can finally say I am a writer now and I am on my way to making my dream of being a published author a reality.

3. Connect or reconnect with your child(ren) – In the busyness of everyday life I found that I was not dedicating the time I needed to my daughter. I was not really talking to her, aside from the “how was your day at school”? question. In this past year, we have grown closer together and I have gotten to know her as a person much better. I can actually have a conversation with her and get more than yes or no answers. I take the time to just sit and chat about what is on her mind, concerns, etc. Now, I do not even have to ask her about her day, she tells me all on her own. I do my best to keep an open mind, especially when she talks about boys.

4. Treasure your family and friends – I found that I was not doing a very good job about keeping in touch with my family and friends. I was either too busy or too tired. I was not into any social media, (Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) like I am now. I think this is a great way to keep in touch and just say “Hi, I am thinking about you”. Friends and family is all I got and I have learned to really nurture these relationships.

5. Build and develop a relationship with God – I know everyone has their own beliefs, but I committed myself to reading the bible and learning from it. I pray every day, not just when I am faced with challenges, and I say “thanks” for everything I have. I am not a religious fanatic, but I have peace within myself through prayer and reading God’s word.

6. Explore new things – I took classes on being a substitute teacher, a notary public and effective interviewing in the time I was unemployed. I also volunteered at my church. I love to learn new things and help in worthwhile causes. I am thinking that if I did not have to work or when I retire, I would like to take classes on things that interest me (photography, piano, flower arrangement, wedding planning) as well as do volunteer work. Doing these things, to me, opens up your horizons and leads to possibilities you did not know exist.

7. Always have HOPE – No matter how grim and desperate the situation. Have faith in God (or whatever entity you worship). Love yourself and be thankful every day for every breath. It is so true that when one door closes, another one opens and in the most unexpected way.

8. Stay faithful to who you are – Do not lose your identity because of circumstances or mold yourself to be someone you are not because someone wants you to. Do not feel less of a person or allow anyone to put you down.

9. Look beyond the surface of any situation – The grass is not always greener on the other side. Before making any major moves that will affect yourself and your family, look at all the angles. I feel that when I have been too close to something I have not been objective enough and my judgment has been clouded. I have learned to take a step back and really think things through before I act on something. By the same token, I trust my instincts more too.

What life lessons have you learned?

MONDAY MUSING: Why Writers Should Consider ePublishing

2009-09-07T08:00:00.002-04:00

Why Writers Should Consider ePublishing

Posted using ShareThis

What are your thoughts about ePublishing?

GUEST POST: TREASURE IN YOUR MARRIAGE

2009-09-03T08:00:00.009-04:00

Guest Post by Warren Baldwin

Warren and his wife Cheryl live in West Kansas. They have a grown son and daughter and another daughter still at home. Warren and Cheryl have ministered with churches in Florida, Wyoming and Kansas. They have been married for 27 years. Please visit his blog Family Fountain .

Jesus said, "Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" (Luke
12:34). Jesus applies this principle of treasure to spiritual things: if our
hearts are devoted to God and Christ, we can give up our earthly possessions
for the good of others and the glory of the kingdom. In giving our hearts to
heaven we place our treasure there: our time, energy and money. Everything
we are and everything we have is devoted to the pursuit of heaven.

Dr. Debbie Cherry, a marriage counselor, applies this principle of
"treasuring" very creatively to marriage. An experience common to all
married couples is the waning of the warm glow of the wedding, honey moon,
and first months in the new relationship. Anticipation, excitement and
ecstacy give way to schedules, work and stress.

Quickly on the heals of stress come irritants to the relationship:
irritability and criticism. Before we couldn't see any faults in our
beloved; that may be all we see now. The treasure of marriage is diminishing
and we become leery of investing more emotional energy into a relationship
that is causing pain. Irritants may soon become major emotional injuries
that drive people to a divorce or a marriage counselor.

Dr. Cherry says that many couples find marital therapy a very negative
experience. In fact, therapy can make troubled marriages worse. Why? It too
often focuses on problems, hurts and other negatives. In her book,
Discovering the Treasure of Marriage Dr. Cherry writes, "Unless I first help
them (the troubled husband and wife) learn how to like each other again,
they will not feel connected enough to each other and the marriage to work
on the negative aspects" If a couple can find what they cherished in their
partner and genuinely like each other again, then they can reconnect and
"being to look at, resolve, and forgive past hurts"(p.16).

Dr. Cherry teaches spouses to like each other again by teaching them to
treasure their husband or wife. Each letter in the word T-R-E-A-S-U-R-E
stands for positive thought or action we can take toward our spouse to give
them our heart and value them in our own.

T = Think Positively about your husband or wife. Intentionally overlook irritating behaviors in him or her and focus attention on what is good.

R = Respect your spouse. To respect means to hold in high regard and treat with consideration and care.

E = Enjoy the company of your partner. "Rejoice in the wife (or husband) of your youth" (Prov. 5:18). Remember when pleasure and laughter was natural to the relationship? It can be again.

A = Attend to the needs of your spouse, serving them and offering genuine praise.

S = Shield your husband or wife from hurtful words and behaviors (maybe even from you). "Love always protects" (1 Cor. 13:7).

U = Understand your spouse's needs. Give the attention it takes to learn what those needs are. The golden rule for marriage is: "Do unto others as
they need you to do."

R = Romance your mate. Think about your spouse when you are apart and show love when you are together. When is the last date you had together?

E = Edify your partner. "Encourage one another and build each other up ..." (1 Thess. 5:11) ought to apply as much to marriage as any other
relationship! One way to edify is to show appreciation. (Pp.66-76)

"Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also" means we have
control over where we place our affection. We have the power to decide to
give our husband or wife our positive energy. We can treasure them and our
hearts will follow. The joy and pleasure that characterized the early days
of our marriage can thrive today when we honor our spouse as treasure from
Heaven.

What do you do to treasure your marriage?

Monday Musing: Write A Letter

2009-08-31T08:00:00.007-04:00

With this post I will begin to merge my other blog, Just To Write, with The Writer Today. I have been debating whether I should do this or not and decided that it would be easier for me to manage just one blog. My Just To Write blog is about writing prompts of everyday and not so everyday things. I have a list of writing prompt websites that I will add to my sidebar, as well as writing prompt blogs that will go on my blogroll. Once a week I will post a writing prompt.

A writing prompt helps with writer's block, it awakens your creativity and loosens your writing. Simon T. Bailey is a motivational speaker who has an e-newsletter called Brilliant Carats. His Brilliant Carat #89 had this interesting writing prompt idea that I liked and want you to try:

"Write a letter to yourself dated one year from today and describe where you intend to be. Write it in past tense as if it is already done".

Why Speed Counts When It Comes To Writing

2009-08-28T08:00:00.005-04:00

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

When runner Roger Bannister (now Sir Roger Bannister) propelled his body across an Oxford track finish line on a blustery day in May 1954, he was reasonably confident he had achieved a four-minute mile.

The rest of the universe, however, was stunned. The world record (until then, 4:01.4) had stood for nine years and sportswriters of the day had created an enormous mystique around the four-minute mark. They convinced a willing-to-believe public that it was an unreachable, unrealistic and possibly even dangerous goal.

So what does this have to do with writing? Well, the Bannister story sprang to my mind this week as I was coaching a client who was thoroughly convinced that she could not write quickly. She's not alone in her passionately-held belief.

Just as people in the 1950s had persuaded themselves that a mile could not be run in four minutes, many of us have convinced ourselves that we cannot write quickly. (To put a number to it, let's say that's something like 500 words in 15 to 30 minutes.)

Of course, I've had the bad writing days too -- days when 500 words in five hours would have seemed like an achievement. You cannot write quickly when you're exhausted, dispirited or when you don't have a clue about what you want to say. But if you have a topic you're reasonably keen on and knowledgeable about, there's no good reason why the words can't fly off your fingers, why you can't write as fast as you can type.

One of the biggest barriers that stands in your way is belief. Perhaps you don't believe writing should be easy. Maybe you assume that "it can't be any good" if it comes too quickly.

To the contrary, I have often found that my fast, dash-it-off writing is often better and more engaging than my slow and heavily laboured-over text. To encourage more of the former and discourage the latter, I now regularly time myself when I write. A kitchen timer is perfect for this purpose.

But even more important, I keep a record. This is really easy to do. You can just create a table in Word. (From the drop-down menu select table/insert/table. Set up four columns and name them: Date, number of words, amount of time, and 'how I felt,')

Fill out this record for a month and you will soon see that on some days you can write like you're on fire while on other days it will be like starting your car in Saskatoon in the middle of February.

But the benefit of keeping this record is that you will chart your progress -- much as a runner might record his times. In doing so, you will also likely discover that, from time to time, you can write quickly. You'll also discover that the world doesn't end when you have a bad day (or even a bad week).

Incidentally, Bannister never won an Olympic medal. He finished fourth in the 1,500 metres at the 1952 Olympics. And he says he might never have broken four minutes, if not for his disappointing performance at that event. "A bit of experience with reverses shows you that you can recover from them," he said.

Wise words from someone who really understood speed.

How is your writing speed?

My Guest Post on Adventures In The Writing Life Blog

2009-08-26T11:35:00.002-04:00

Please visit the Adventures In The Writing Life blog and read my Guest Post. This is a wonderful blog full of many great writing tips and resources.

Life Lessons and NaNoWriMo

2009-08-24T08:00:00.005-04:00

Real Simple magazine is sponsoring its Second-Annual Life Lessons essay contest. The life lesson to write about is: "When did you realize that you had become a grown-up? Perhaps it was when you first paid taxes or met your son's first girlfriend. Whether the experience was difficult, funny, easy, or bittersweet, share your lesson and you could win." I am entering this 1,500 words max contest and will share my essay in a future post. The deadline to submit is September 7th; you can go online to Real Simple for more details.

Why stop at the essay contest? The more I write, the better, right? So I got up the nerve to register in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). I am looking forward to this challenge and jump start to writing a novel. You have 30 days to write a 50,000-word novel and it is all about the quantity of what you write and not so much the quality. I encourage other writers to join me in November and really get those creative juices flowing. Who knows what best seller will come out of this?

What have you done to challenge your writing lately?

Flickr photo: mark78_xp

Editor Unleashed - Nominate Your Favorite Writing Blog(s)

2009-08-20T08:00:00.000-04:00

Maria Schneider, of Editor Unleashed, is having her first annual “Editor Unleashed 25 Best Writing Blogs” contest. You can nominate your favorite writing blog(s) in any of these five categories:

Fiction Writing
Freelance Writing
Creativity
Marketing & Social Media
Publishing Trends

The most nominated blogs will be put up for a vote on September 1st . The top 25 will include five blogs from each category and will be posted on September 8th. I am nominating the following writing blogs:

Freelance Writing:
The Urban Muse (www.urbanmusewriter.com)
Quips and Tips For Freelance Writers (theadventurouswriter.com/blogwriting)

Creativity:
Men With Pens (menwithpens.ca)
Time To Write (timetowrite.blogs.com/weblog)

Fiction Writing
On The Path (jodyhedlund.blogspot.com)
WOW! Women On Writing Blog (www.wow-womenonwriting.com/blog.html)

Publishing Trends:
Writing and Publishing News (www.matilijapress.com/publishingblog)
The Publication Coach (www.publicationcoach.com)

Do you have a favorite writing blog that you want to nominate?

Through A Writer's Eyes

2009-08-17T08:00:00.002-04:00

"Writing comes from somewhere else. Somewhere inside. Writers open their eyes and all their senses and perceive a reality that is different from what others can see. I don't know how it happens, but it seems that writers (any artists, for that matter), even if they never leave their room, can have revelations about life and existence that are much deeper and true, than someone else could obtain by traveling the whole world and witnessing all there is to be seen." - Lori Tiron-Pandit

I recognized I was a writer when I started looking at things differently and finding out that there were so many things I could write about. I looked at things in another dimension, saw beyond the obvious, even at the smallest things, found the beauty in it and a story to write. When I go to places or to stores, library, visit friends, attend classes, I find myself picking up on words, phrases, actions and writing it down. I sometimes can't seem to stop, but it happens automatically. My husband laughs because he will be driving and all of a sudden I open my purse desparately to get my notebook so I can write a thought down before I forget it.

I feel now like I have a "sixth sense" when I "sense" something I should write down. I did not always have this sense until last year and I think it is because that is when I finally decided to put all my heart and soul into writing and all it entails.

When did you know you were a writer? Did you start "seeing" things in a different way?

The Story Inside The Writer

2009-08-14T08:00:00.002-04:00

“Journaling is considered one of the best remedies for stress. The reason being, you are removing yourself from your normal stressful environment by retreating to a quiet space to write. Also, you are able to express in your journal the feelings you aren’t comfortable expressing aloud."

"Whether you have a book inside, need to release your thoughts, or just feel the need to write about something on your mind, write it. It’s healthy, it provides quiet time, and it’s free-so why not try it.”

-From Should I Write My Life Story article by Carol Denbow.

I have felt for a long time that I have a story to tell. In this story I want to share experiences, offer guidance, and be inspiring and motivating. I know this sounds like a tall order, but I want readers to get something out of what I write. I want my writing to help them in some way. The hardest part has been putting my thoughts in order and putting everything on paper so that it makes sense. There are many lessons I have learned in life that others can relate to. Journaling my experiences, thoughts and feelings is something I have been doing for a long time. I want to put this all together into a story and ultimately a book that can be published. Like Carol Denbow says, writing relieves your stress and it does not cost you anything to do it. I have always found it liberating to put words on paper.

Since joining the blogging world I have learned a lot about the writing craft from other writers that are generous in sharing their knowledge and expertise. I have also been touched by the stories of everyday people and their ups and downs in this game of life. It goes to show that there is a story in all of us and that we can all learn from each other and connect in a very unique way through writing.

Do you have a story inside that you want to write about?

My Writing Affirmations

2009-08-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

“I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love, and abundance. Then, whenever doubts, anxiety or fear try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal and soon they forget my number.” – Edith Armstrong

Michael Geffner, from Mike’s Writing Workshop and Newsletter, had an interesting post on five affirmations to write by. It made me think about my own writing affirmations and this is what I came up with:

I observe my surroundings and people around me to inspire my writing.

I write things relevant to writing that I connect with.

I am committed and focused on writing every day to improve my writing style.

I want what I write to inspire and motivate.

I share my journey into the writing world and any writing resources I find with fellow writers.

What affirmations do you write by?

Your Sign And Your Writing

2009-08-07T08:00:00.003-04:00

“The ability of writers to imagine what is not the self, to familiarize the strange and mystify the familiar, is the test of their power.” – Toni Morrison
I am always looking for interesting and out of the way things related to writing. I found this book through Writers Digest and was intrigued by its title: Sun Signs For Writers, by Bev Walton-Porter.

In this book the author explores the following:

1. Why you write and how to write better
2. Your unique writing personality (key personality traits)
3. Embracing the power of the Zodiac so that your writing life will be more energetic and enjoyable
4. How to deal with rejection
5. Using the astrological signs to build the perfect foundation for believable characters
6. How to give critiques and understand critiques coming from other signs

I think anything that helps us get more in touch with ourselves helps us be better writers. Some pointers for my sign (Gemini) were:

Great at brainstorming
Multi-tasker
Need writing projects that hold interest if serious about being a published author
Treat writing as a job not a hobby
Set regular schedule to research markets
Write queries
Work on articles
Can have a regular job and still be a writer
Get use to seeing self as a writer
Sit still and write
Break larger projects into bite size pieces
Consider radio and television markets as well. Do not limit yourself to just print and online venues.
Keep a nightly dream journal

Famous Gemini Writers: Ralph Waldo Emerson, Ian Fleming, Patricia Cornwell, Anne Frank, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Allen Ginsberg

Do you think your Zodiac sign influences your writing?

Five hard-learned secrets to writing a book

2009-08-04T08:00:00.000-04:00

Daphne Gray-Grant is a writing and editing coach and the author of the popular book 8½ Steps to Writing Faster, Better. She offers a brief and free weekly newsletter on her website. Subscribe by going to the Publication Coach.

It's done! After more challenges than I could possibly enumerate here, my book is finally finished. Called 8 1/2 Steps to Writing Faster, Better, the book is designed to give you a system for writing.

Why is having a system better than, say, just sitting at the computer and typing? Well, for one thing, a system will save you time. Lots of time. For another it will lead to a better result. Cleaner, crisper, more compelling copy. And both of these factors will prevent oodles of frustration -- making writing more of a pleasure and less of a chore.

So if I'm such a smarty-pants, why didn't I get my book done faster, you ask? Fair question. Turns out that producing a book is infinitely more complicated than writing one. So, looking at all aspects of the process, let me tell you the five book-writing secrets I learned....

1) Have a daily writing goal. Like you, I'm a busy person. I write this weekly newsletter; I juggle many clients with wildly different needs and multiple deadlines; and I have a busy household with three kids. I'm not exactly wallowing in spare time. Finally, I realized the book would never get written if I didn't treat it like exercise. In other words, I made it a daily goal. Some days I measured the goal in minutes (e.g.: write for 30 minutes), on other days I measured it in words ( e.g.: write 500 words.) But so help me I stuck with it like Clint Eastwood (Million Dollar Baby) was my trainer.

2) Separate the writing from the editing -- but don't leave the editing till the end. Refusing to edit while I write is one of my core principles. (In fact, it's one of the key features of my system.) But if you're going to tackle a book, I discovered it's best not to leave all the editing until the end. The scale of a book is just too big for that. For my next book (yeah, it's like childbirth -- you forget the pain right away), I'll do some writing every morning and some editing every afternoon. To ensure I have enough "distance" from the work, I'll edit material only when it's several weeks old.

3) Be aware that writing is the easy part -- the hard part is everything else. I decided to be my own publisher so I could sell the book exclusively through my website. I definitely wanted that kind of control -- but it meant I had to become an instant expert on everything. So after writing the book I then had to shepherd it through design, printing and sales. I can now talk for hours about the merits of the typeface American Typewriter vs. American Typewriter Condensed, about the price-points of various print-on-demand publishers and about different kinds of shopping carts. Writing was a piece of cake compared to that.

4) Be incredibly organized. I'm an organizational zealot who, on a good day, could give Martha Stewart a run for her money. But even I found it a challenge to keep all the bits and pieces of a book together. With dozens of emails to suppliers flying back and forth, graphic files hiding in different folders and multiple versions of the book floating through cyberspace, it was extra tough to keep everything in order. (Next time I'll set up a stricter filing system beforehand.)

5) Accept that it takes a village to raise a book. Above all, I learned not to be proud. So many people were incredibly generous with their time. I had about a dozen volunteers who read an early manuscript and provided me with detailed critiques that made the book ever so much stronger. My friend Bob patiently coached me through the perils of Adobe Acrobat Professional while Noel, buried in snow, talked to me via Skype about my sales letter. Paul took his sword to a few shopping cart dragons and for that I'll cheerfully call him a knight. And friend and fellow writer Anne Miller (author of the terrific Metaphorically Selling) provided one of her e-books as a bonus to buyers of my premium edition.

Have you learned any lessons from your writing?

Word Study for Writers: Anagrams

2009-08-01T08:00:00.000-04:00

The Writing Fix website has a fun section on anagrams. According to the site, they recommend you:

Challenge yourself by devoting a page in your journal or your writer's notebook to a study of personal and favorite anagrams. An anagram is where a writer takes all the letters of a word, a proper name, a favorite expression, or something even longer...and scrambles all the letters up to make a new word, or name, or expressions. It doesn't work with every word or name or expression, but when it does...watch out! It's fun.

A page devoted in a journal or notebook encourages a writer to think in anagrams and return to the page to record them later. It's excellent for left-brains that like to dissect language...and it forces writers to think about words differently.

This type of wordplay, even when away from larger writing assignments, encourages playing with the language and taking risks with words, which helps improves a writer's Word Choice.

If you do not have time to play around with this, but still would like to see the anagrams of some writing buzz words, you can go to Wordsmith.org. I tried this out and selected the anagrams that I liked best for each word.

Writing - Wring It
Character - Catch Rare
Inspiration - Aspirin It On
Words - Sword
Creativity - Active I Try
Editor - Redo It
Setting - Testing
Revision - Version I
Description - Predictions
Dialogue - Audio Gel
Heroine - Hire One
Freelance - Clean Free

What anagrams can you come up with?

Writer's Logo

2009-07-29T08:00:00.004-04:00

Lori Tiron-Pandit had an interesting post on her daily writing blog about a writer's logo. Some of the questions she asks are:

What would you have to represent you?
Do you think a writer needs a logo?
Does it make us more easily marketable, just like any other brand?
Or maybe not?

I want to answer these questions from my perspective and experience since I have been blogging. I have experimented with a few logos on my blog and have tried to come up with a logo that identifies my writing and who I am. I still have not found the one that will make me say "aha", this is it! I love the current image I am using on my blog but I think I will eventually pay for one that I can use, not only on this site, but on business cards, printed materials, gifts and that I own all the rights to.

What would you have to represent you?
I like to use images that represent what my blog is about, which is mostly about writing. Some images that come to mind are a writing notebook, journal or writing pad, a pen, a coffee mug (I usually write and read with a cup of coffee by my side), a laptop (I am finding that I like to write on the computer more these days than with pen and paper), and eyeglasses (I am blind as a bat without them). I think a memorable quote would be great to have too (I have to come up with one). I have even played around with drawing just symbols that represent pen/paper and even my initials (I do not draw very well, so I have not been too successful with this).

Do you think a writer needs a logo?
Yes, I do. A logo in my opinion connects the reader to the writer. It is a brand you create for yourself with the purpose of making it easily recognizable and identifiable to you and your style of writing.

Does it make us more easily marketable, just like any other brand?
Or maybe not?
I think it does make us more easily marketable, just like a brand. Some brands just have a symbol or word that we associate with the product. Ideally, I would like to have this sort of recognition as a writer and in my opinion, having a logo definitely helps with that. The trick is to have a logo that stands out, so that is is easily remembered. I know there is logo software out there and logo companies that can help you make a logo. I think it is worth taking a look at these if you are really serious about having a logo for your blog and/or website.

What are your thoughts about having a logo?

21 Applicable Quotes For Writers

2009-07-26T08:00:00.000-04:00

I recently read Life's Little Instruction Book, Vol. II, by H. Jackson Brown, Jr. I really enjoyed all his quotes because they relate to everyday life. I picked out 21 quotes from his book that I especially connected with as a writer.

1. "Read bulletin boards at the grocery store, college bookstore, and coin laundry. You will find all sorts of interesting things there."

2. "Own a comfortable chair for reading."

3. "Read a lot when you're on vacation, but nothing that has to do with your business."

4. "Listen to your critics. They will keep you focused and innovative."

5. "Remember that your character is your destiny."

6. "Write a short note inside the front cover when giving a book as a gift."

7. "Make a habit of reading something inspiring and cheerful just before going to sleep."

8. "Don't waste time waiting for inspiration. Begin, and inspiration will find you."

9. "Deadlines are important - meet them."

10. "Read more books."

11. "When opportunity knocks, invite it to stay for dinner."

12. "Buy three best-selling children's books. Read them and then give them to a youngster."

13. "Be advised that when negotiating, if you don't get it in writing, you probably won't get it."

14. "Use a favorite picture of a loved one as a bookmark."

15. "Add to your children's private library by giving them a hardback copy of one of the classics every birthday. Begin with the first birthday."

16. "Write your pastor a note and tell him how much he means to you."

17. "Write your favorite author a note of appreciation."

18. "Don't let weeds grow around your dreams."

19. "Avoid using the word "impacted" unless you are describing wisdom teeth."

20. "Read between the lines."

21. "Never type a love letter. Use a fountain pen."

Do you have a quote (writing or otherwise) to share?

10 Writing Hooks

2009-07-23T08:00:00.000-04:00

Writing Class Notes: Beginning Hooks - Strategies to use to catch your reader's attention

1. Begin with a simile or a metaphor.
My life has been a carnival. My family is like an open book.

2. Begin with a question.
Who is the greatest athlete of all times?

3. Begin with a definition.
Amiable is the best way to describe my personality: I am friendly and caring. Perfect is the best adjective to describe me: I am flawless in every aspect of my life.

4. Begin with a quotation.
“Learn to laugh” is something my kindergarten teacher told me after Ralph Thorsen spilled paint on my daffodil picture.

5. Begin with a comparison to a well-known person or celebrity.
I am as photogenic as Tyra Banks.

6. Begin with placing yourself in the future.
In the year 2012 I see myself as a supreme ballerina performing in Camelot at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

7. Begin with a dilemma.
Deciding to attend Hampton Roads Academy, a private school, was one of my most difficult decisions.

8. Begin with a scene.
The day of my birth began with Hurricane Charlie pounding at our door in Charleston, South Carolina.

9. Begin with the best advice you have ever received.
“Butch, did you practice the piano?” Since I was six years old, this has been a daily reminder from my dear mother. “Be all you can be” has been my inspiration from my grandfather who is a retired Marine Corps colonel and my mentor.

10. Begin with an anecdote.
As my cousin and I pedaled our new bikes to the beach, 6 years old, suntanned and young, we met an old, shaggy-haired man weaving unsteadily on a battered old bike.

What other beginning "hooks" have you used?

Just The FAQ's With MaAnna Stephenson

2009-07-20T08:00:00.004-04:00

MaAnna Stephenson is a nationally acclaimed author, lecturer, and woodcarver based in Nashville, Tennessee. Two decades of technical writing, web design and marketing for countless private clients and community groups have led to her new instructional series Just the FAQs, the ultimate user-friendly guide to the world of Internet marketing and promotions. You are welcome to see her other works at the following sites: www.SageAge.net and www.HeartwoodArt.com.

Today's guest interview with MaAnna Stephenson is part of her virtual tour.

1. How did you get to be a writer/technical writer?
I’m degreed in electronics and as a technician, had the opportunity to send information to the development engineering team to modify or enhance the products I repaired. I also documented my diagnostic and repair processes, which were eventually turned into training manuals for other technicians.

2. What led you to write these Just The FAQ's e-books?
I had created static websites for non-profits and small businesses for almost a decade when I took a break from it to conduct intensive research that lasted for over four years and became the material for The Sage Age – Blending Science with Intuitive Wisdom. When I began developing an online marketing campaign, Web 2.0 had become the rage and I had to catch up with the current technology. I was appalled at the lack of good information on the technical aspects of using Web 2.0, so I created documentation as I began developing these resources for my own sites. These became the first of the e-book series on blogs and RSS feeds. I later wrote the e-book on websites containing information to help others create sites that actually work well for them and to help folks avoid expensive pitfalls. It contains the same printable worksheets that I gave my site clients to help them gather and organize the material for the theme and content.

3. What was the hardest thing about writing these FAQs e-books?
Actually, they were quite fun. Because these are e-books and written for non-geeks, it was the first time I could use plain language and colorful graphics in my technical writing.

4. How are your e-books unique?
They cut right to the chase and dramatically reduce the learning curve of creating an online presence. That’s why they are called Just the FAQs. They are written in language anyone can understand and follow. No prior technical skill is necessary.

5. When did you know you were a writer?
When I wrote my first novella I heard my writing voice. I had never even written a short story prior to that. I was simply so inspired by a scene in my head that I decided to write it down and the rest of the story just came pouring out after it. I’m a published composer and found that I wrote stories the same way I wrote music. It was as delightful.

6. Do you have any stories about the writing process?
My technical writing is very efficient, which doesn’t actually work well for novels. I prefer getting to the point and don’t care much for creating fluff. That preference helped me narrow down the information I chose for The Sage Age, which still turned out to be a 400 page book. It’s a four year education condensed down into one inch of paper.

7. Where do you turn to when you need inspiration?
Oh my gosh, I try to turn my inspiration meter off once in a while. I’m inspired by practically everything. So many interesting projects to explore, so little time.

8. What is your strategy for staying motivated?
Some folks think I just work, work, work and that I never sleep. Not true. My cup overfloweth with creativity and I think I would explode if I didn’t have several outlets for it, including writing. Staying motivated is not a problem. Remembering to eat and sleep once in a while is the only reason I have clocks in the house.

9. What do you like and dislike about being a writer?
I love creativity in all forms. Just being in that flow is why I breathe. I also enjoy research and learning. I’m fortunate to have so many opportunities to create non-fiction and technical writing projects that actually help folks. With technology, there’s always something to learn. That’s a two-edge sword. I could run myself in circles trying to keep up with every new whiz-bang that comes out. All techie folks have to specialize to a great extent because of that. There’s just no way to know it all and be an expert at everything.

10. In your opinion, what does it mean to be a writer today?
It means being online and using Web 2.0 for two-way conversation with your readers. That means that authors must become comfortable with their computer beyond using a word processor, email, and browser. That is really scary for some folks who consider themselves complete technophobes. But, I’ve worked with several artist, musicians, and writers who are happy with it once they receive training that’s written in language they can understand. That’s the way I wrote the Just the FAQs series and why I’m teaching classes to guide folks step-by-step with a little extra support so they can ask questions that relate directly to what they want to do with their site.

11. Please describe a day in your life as a writer
It has changed over the last few years. I’m such a night owl and had spent most of my life creating into the wee hours of the morning. But, when I started the research for The Sage Age, I found that I preferred doing it in the mornings. That trend took hold and I enjoy writing in the mornings now and being online in the afternoons interacting with folks through social media networking. I make a point to see sunset everyday and usually carve, read, visit with folks in person, or enjoy some form of entertainment for a few hours. I let my imagination run free in the late evening hours, which is usually when I hit on great ideas or receive clarity on projects that are already in progress. I go from at least 7:30 a.m. to midnight, seven days a week.

12. How long have you been writing?
I’ve been creating technical documentation since 1984. I wrote my first short story around 2001.

13. What did you want to be when you grew up?
A musician and composer. One of my earliest memories is sitting in my grandmother’s lap making sounds on her organ. When she played Mary Had a Little Lamb I was hooked. That was magic. There was a logic to sound and I was watching it happen. By the time I was a teenager I was a multi-instrumentalist and composer. I’m published and have international airplay with jingles and documentary types of background music. I left the music business because I just didn’t vibe with the way it was being run by corporate boards. The internet has changed that and my interest has been renewed for releasing a CD at some point. In fact, the demo was cut a couple of years ago, I just haven’t had time to pursue it since all of my books took off, especially after The Sage Age was featured in Publishers Weekly.

14. Do you have a favorite thing and/or topic to write about?
My father was an engineer and my mother is an intuitive. Being raised in that environment helped me develop skills to perceive and think wholistically. I enjoy writing that blends both. The Sage Age blends science with intuitive wisdom. Just the FAQs translates technology into language for creatively-minded folks. I have a book project simmering on the back burner that highlights aspects of our evolution with the changes in biotechnology and spirituality we are experiencing and how we will soon have to re-evaluate what it is to be fully human.

15. How do you balance your time between all your different interests?
I usually have four different projects going at one time. I find that each feeds the other. For example, wood carving is a subtractive art and taught me how to be a better writer, which is normally an additive art. I remove everything that is not the art. Watercolor veil painting taught me how to play cello. It’s all in the wrist. Researching physics material for the books balances personal research in the noetic sciences. Music is my direct connect to spirit and the source of creativity. I usually focus on only one or two projects a day and simply rotate them, round-robin style, as either inspiration or deadlines dictate. Time and I are good friends and I make very efficient use of it.

16. What is your favorite thing to do?
Sit on my back deck and watch sunset every day the weather allows. There are woods all around and the critters offer a lot of entertainment as well.

17. Please share any writing advice and/or writing tips.
Just do it. Write now, edit later. I’ve found that I can’t be in creative mode and editing mode simultaneously. Creative mode is being totally in the flow, totally consumed with the vibe of letting it come through you. Editing mode involves critical thinking and making judgments. I’ve written thousands of songs. While composing, it felt so right. When I heard it anew a few days later, it sounded so wrong. Only about thirty percent of the songs I write ever make it to publication. However, I need to create that other seventy percent to hone my craft and keep me connected to source. With books and carving, the numbers are a little different. About half of the carvings I’ve created have been placed on the market. Five of the seven books I’ve written have been published. And, one hundred percent of the things I’ve put on the market have sold, which is fortunate, but still do not provide enough income to quit my day job, yet.

I’m a little like Van Gogh about it. I must create regardless of whether it sells. In doing so, something will eventually hit, especially since I’m now receiving so much national attention from some of it and actually marketing to sell. Previously, most of my work came by word of mouth, so I had no need to advertise. The process takes time and I’m patient that way. I also realize that everything I create is not for sale, nor does it need to be to serve its purpose.

18. Do you have any other books/e-books in the works?
I’m already storyboarding a carving book I’ve been asked to write by the same publishing company that produces the magazines in which the carvings have already been featured. I’m currently working on the graphics for a class titled Acoustics for Intuitives that I plan to start teaching this fall. This summer I’ll be teaching classes on blogs and RSS feeds and will be learning all about WordPress development from the coding standpoint and writing more for Just the FAQs. Those will likely be a series of articles and tips that I’ll eventually collect into a book. Late this year or early next I’ll be turning my novella into a script and will begin the research for the previously mentioned book on our evolution and the paradigm shift we are in.

Leave a comment below to be entered in a random drawing for two free Just the FAQs classes. Not only that, but every commenter is a winner and will receive a copy of MaAnna's Quick Step Guide. If you haven't already read her books, you can pick up the series at http://www.justthefaqs.net/ebooks.shtml

Guest Post: How to Create an Online Writing Portfolio

2009-07-17T09:03:00.005-04:00

by Susan Johnston

So you’ve written a couple of articles, and you watch to keep querying so you can break into bigger (and better paying) markets. How about creating an online portfolio?

Having an online portfolio boosts your Google-ability, raises credibility with editors, and makes it easy to organize writing clips without spending the time and money to send out paper copies. All of your clips will be quite literally at your fingertips, so you can just copy and paste the URL whenever you email a query to an editor.

Here's how to get started.

1. Find a web-hosting service. I chose VistaPrint because the small business package fit into my budget and offered my own domain name (which costs a bit more but creates a more professional impression than an AOL or Yahoo member page) along with several different templates so I wouldn’t have to design the website from scratch. Here are a few other options: Globat, Writing.com, Hosting4Writers, and iPowerWeb. Media Bistro also offers the Freelance Marketplace, which lets you display clips and a bio if you don’t want to design your own website.

2. Collect your clips. I keep all of my online clips bookmarked in my Delicious account for easy access. Then when I got to update my portfolio (see step #5), I can easily find my newest articles. As you're creating a writing portfolio from scratch, I think it's a good idea to collect as many pieces as you can. Once you see them all together (in a virtual computer folder or laid out in front of you), you can figure out which ones best represent your writing. I'd go for a mix of topics and lengths so that editors can see your versatility. But if you're just starting out, display what you have and you'll quickly be able to add or replace with newer clips.

3. Consider the file format. If my article is already available online, then I just type up the article name, publication, and date with a link. If it’s not available online, then I sometimes scan the article, save it as a PDF, and post a link to it. Most editors won't mind if you post your own article on your website, but some are sensitive to copyright concerns, so if there's any doubt, ask. Many editors prefer to read PDFs versus a jpeg or other photo format, because the text is sharper and the user can zoom in and out to read the article. Be careful about posting or emailing files that are too large, because they will take an eternity to load and could crash your editor’s computer. (In fact, many people caution against sending any attachments to editors, but that’s a discussion for another article.)

4. Decide how to display them. Some writers use a thumbnail of the magazine cover to show off their best clips. Others use text only so that the focus is on their writing, rather than fancy graphics. Some organize their clips according to topic (travel, business, parenting, etc.). Others use a chronological listing or divide them up by the type of publication (websites, trade magazines, consumer magazines, custom publications, etc.) All of these approaches are valid as long as they make it easy for editors to read your writing and for you to make updates.

5. Keep your clips updated. I’ve learned from experience that sometimes links change once an article gets archived, so I’m careful to check links frequently. If you're concerned about a website removing your article, you could take a screenshot and save it for your portfolio. Searching Google's cached pages is one way to bring dead web articles from the dead. In addition to weeding out bad links, another reason to refresh your list of clips is that the longer you've been writing, the more articles you'll have to be proud of. I don’t display everything I've ever written (frankly, that would be overwhelming to editors), but I do switch out articles as I get bigger bylines or juicier assignments. I think four or five articles per section is plenty.

What about you and your writing portfolio? Any tips I've missed?

Susan Johnston is a Boston-based freelance writer and blogger who has covered business and lifestyle topics for The Boston Globe, The Christian Science Monitor, DailyCandy.com, Yahoo! HotJobs, and many other publications. Want to know more? check out The Urban Muse or follow her on Twitter.

Thank You! Tinika - New Blog Design

2009-07-15T08:00:00.001-04:00

I am very excited about my blog design makeover by Tinika at Me & You Plus Two. She has done an excellent job and I am very happy with it.

In Tinika's own words, she is
"...just your average everyday twenty something gal, who has been married for eleven long wonderful years to the greatest man I know- who often drives me insane, raising two incredible girls that know everything. They get that from me, I’m sure.
I work for a software company doing technical support for public safety software. It really is cooler than it sounds, trust me. And in my spare time, I have started designing blog templates. My narcissism wouldn’t allow me to purchase one. I know, right." Tinika also has a blog design blog at http://ohmyblogdesign.blogspot.com, where you can check out the services she offers.

She worked really hard and endlessly on my new blog design and gave me great customer service, making sure I was satisfied every step of the way. I highly recommend her to anyone who is looking to get a fresh, new "look" for their blog. Thank you for supporting her.

What do you think of my new blog look?