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- Top Tips To Increase Your Productivity - by Submitted on Oct 24, 2006 from Beth Ann EricksonWriting is an odd business. Imagine a career solely depending upon pouring your mental output out on paper. Never mind. If you’re reading this, you’re intimately familiar with how we writers thoroughly examine life and are compelled to whip out our pens to comment. However, the time comes in ...
Views: 775 - Conquer MS Word - by Submitted on Oct 21, 2006 from Claudia SuzanneMS Word is the most used, most emulated and—for those who do not know how to circumvent its "user friendly" features—most frustrating program on computers today. Have this ever happened to you? Problem #1: you start a paragraph with a digit or series of digits only to find the second paragraph ...
Views: 955 - Will Longer Keyphrases Hinder the Effectiveness of Your Copy? - by Submitted on Oct 16, 2006 from Karon ThackstonKaron Thackston © 2006, All Rights Reserved The length of search phrases continues to grow. Back when the Internet was just an upstart, single keywords were the only thing you needed. But in recent years we've seen the number of words used in search phrases triple and quadruple. Rather than ...
Views: 1031 - What’s Your Story? - by Submitted on Sep 22, 2006 from Sandra Lee"The extreme expression of his spirit was in his story. He was a wonderful storyteller. The story was his most sacred possession. These people know what we do not: that without a story you have not got a nation, or a culture, or a civilization. Without a story of your own to live you haven’t ...
Views: 1520 - The 4 Key MUST HAVES When Writing an Article - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2006 from Anne WolskiMuch of the success of a website comes from the drive of traffic to the site. Because of this, the value of article writing is immeasurable. Articles are a key element to the success or failure of internet based companies and the sensible webmaster will always include articles that will work for ...
Views: 997 - The Unlovable Heroine - by Submitted on Sep 11, 2006 from Yolanda CardenUnlovableness is a subtle beast. Most of us think we can detect it right off the bat, right there on the surface. We spot things like a tendency to pause too long before answering a simple question or a bad dental smell, or a habit of telling long, boring stories over and over again; or a simple ...
Views: 2100 - Self-Kindness, Truth, and Writing - by Submitted on Aug 13, 2006 from Jennifer LoudenOnce when I went to a new (to me) yoga class I had a teacher say, "When we go into a pose, we can listen to our ego, which says, 'Push, push, go lower, go deeper,' or we can practice non-violence (in Sanskrit ahimsa) and truth (sattva)." Non-violence toward ourselves = self-kindness. I won't ...
Views: 1818 - The NEW Secrets to Copywriting That Sells - by Submitted on Jul 18, 2006 from Mike PavlishAnyone who has worked with me over the past 25 years knows that my mantra has always been “benefits, benefits, benefits.” Benefit headlines … benefit copy … benefit subheads … benefit captions … anything to hammer home the customer benefits. Benefits are still a vital key, but today, ...
Views: 903 - Recipe for First Draft: ¼ cup structure, ¾ cup imagination - by Submitted on Jul 10, 2006 from Yolanda CardenImagination is more important than knowledge. Albert Einstein I’ll tell you something that you already know: writing is work. It is work that requires structure and rules: subjects, verbs, semi-colons, question marks, diagrammed sentences, outline plots, character dossiers, synopses and query ...
Views: 1233 - 5 Tips To Making Sure That Your eBook Makes Money - by Submitted on Jul 06, 2006 from Ellen VioletteThe first thing potential clients ask me is “Can I really make money writing an ebook?” And the answer is absolutely, IF you do the research, find out what people want and give it to them. The problem is that most people get so excited about an idea that is of interest to them that they just ...
Views: 1373(1 vote) - Website copywriting secrets – how being boring will help you be found online - by Submitted on Jun 05, 2006 from Krishna DeWebsite copywriting secrets – how being boring will help you be found online. To be found on line by prospective clients we need to rank high in search engines. How many times have you given at page three on Google when searching for something on line? The search engine robots must view your ...
Views: 703 - The Magic of Marketing Momentum - by Submitted on May 31, 2006 from Kathy PooleA very surprising thing happens just about every time I sit down to work on my marketing plan, call a prospective client, mail a few thank-you notes to current clients, or take any other marketing-related action -- even if it’s just to conjure up some new marketing strategies. Whenever I have a ...
Views: 755 - Making It Easy for Customers To Choose You - by Submitted on May 22, 2006 from Karon ThackstonKaron Thackston © 2006, All Rights Reserved Isn't it frustrating? All you need is a new computer desk (or whatever you may be currently shopping for), but you can't make a decision you're comfortable with. It shouldn't be this hard, should it? What's holding you back? Probably lack of ...
Views: 1074 - Pregnant With Words - by Submitted on Apr 11, 2006 from Len McNallyPREGNANT WITH WORDS Men too can give birth! I read somewhere that writing a book is like conceiving a child. You start out with and idea of what you want to create but that idea soon takes on a life of its own and the product that emerges several months later will likely bear little ...
Views: 782 - In Praise of Lying: Fiction vs. Nonfiction - by Submitted on Apr 10, 2006 from Yolanda CardenNon-fiction is very much in the news these days. Capote, the James Frey debacle and the even creepier Nasdijj scam have raised the kinds of questions that plague many a memoir writer: how much can you really remember? How much can you ethically invent (creating dialogue, for example, from a ...
Views: 1479 - How to Make Yourself Write – Tips and Tricks - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2006 from Gina HiattAll writers, graduate students, and professors know that they’re supposed to write on a daily basis, or at least as frequently as possible. (If you aren’t aware of this fact, read this article on my site: http://WriteDaily.notlong.com.) Despite this knowledge, most find it difficult to maintain ...
Views: 796 - Simple Tips for Writing an Engaging Article - by Submitted on Mar 28, 2006 from carolyn campbellExpand your reach and increase your credibility There are hundreds, if not thousands, of publications in print and on the web looking for articles on topics relating to the needs of their audience or clientele. By sharing your expertise you will develop trust, connection and credibility that ...
Views: 1032 - English In The New World - by Submitted on Mar 23, 2006 from Marquez ComelabFrom its early British heritage, the English language has evolved and it will continue to do so as it creeps its way into societies all over the world. The English you know may not be what another person, who lives in another country, knows. Marquez Comelab, author of The Part-Time Currency ...
Views: 1562 - In Search of Real Gardens: A Novelist’s Onsite Research - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2006 from Yolanda Carden“A fairytale is an imaginary garden with real toads in it.” I don’t know the source of this quotation, but I take it as my starting point for this account, because the opposite definition applies to my novels about the Celtic Mary Magdalen. Maeve is an imaginary character, with no claim to ...
Views: 1269 - Starving Writer Syndrome - by Submitted on Mar 21, 2006 from Kathy PooleStarving Writer Syndrome is a serious, painful malady that can strike anyone who writes or wants to write. Symptoms: · Cutting costs by eating ketchup soup (one tablespoon ketchup to one cup hot water) · Listening to people who insist writers can't prosper financially · Believing that no sane ...
Views: 1029 - Seven Rules for Writing Historical Fiction - by Submitted on Mar 13, 2006 from Yolanda CardenWe grow up being told to “write” what we “know”, but history is the unknown. You have to learn almost everything about a period and the social customs just to get your characters out of their beds (or off of their skins), and feed them breakfast. Rule #1: Sweat the Small Stuff. The ...
Views: 1301 - Self-Improvement for Writers - by Submitted on Feb 15, 2006 from Nick SmithI wrote these motivators for my screenwriting crew. But I soon realized they apply to ALL creative writers who need some serious kick-in-the-pants motivation. Here goes: 1. BEEF UP YOUR CHARACTERS Take a look at your main characters, and make sure that your readers will appreciate them as ...
Views: 749 - Hypnosis What it is and how it can help - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2006 from David SmithHypnosis is a naturally occurring altered state of consciousness in which the critical faculty is bypassed (mind in the conscious mode) and acceptable selective thinking established. Wow! That’s a lot of technical jargon! Simply put, this means that the reasoning, evaluating, judging part of ...
Views: 1014 - Time Management meetings and Television - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2006 from David SmithCreating good time management habits at the office can be a tough, especially when you must work around other people's projects and meeting plans. But just because somebody wants to schedule a face-to-face meeting doesn't mean that the meeting must be held. Once you talk with that person on ...
Views: 1159 - Developing Your Time Management Skills - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2006 from David SmithRegardless of your daily schedule, whether you work for someone else or yourself, your goal is to compete against yourself to see how much you can get done that contains the most value every day. Think of it as a personal game that you are playing. Each day when you set your personal deadlines ...
Views: 992 - How To Write Effectively - by Submitted on Jan 26, 2006 from Nido QubeinPeter Drucker claims that more than 60% of all management problems result from breakdowns in communications. A major study by the Rockefeller Foundation found that 68% of the customers who quit buying from their regular suppliers do so because employees fail to communicate effectively with ...
Views: 1281 - Listen to the Deep Know: The Urge for a Writer's Life - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2006 from Yolanda CardenI know the moment I realized who I was supposed to spend my life with. It was a Sunday in August 1987. He was a friend who shared my penchants for B-movies, Monty Python, and the band Rush. We were driving back to my house after spending the afternoon at a nearby park. I looked at him at some ...
Views: 1183 - How to be in the Right Place at the Right Time: How I Got Published - by Submitted on Dec 30, 2005 from Yolanda Carden“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” --Thomas Edison Once my first novel was published, I was astounded at the number of people who asked me for advice. I want to be helpful. Many people helped me along my way, so I give my advice with ...
Views: 1249 - Secrets to Creating Great Headlines - by Submitted on Dec 12, 2005 from Catherine FranzGreat! You finished your piece and now need a headline.Usually headlines are less than ten words and need to beexpressed in short, expressive, active words. This providesquick focus and pull in. By waiting until you know what youare ending up with, it will save you time. You can give ...
Views: 1223(1 vote) - Recipe for Getting Your Book Published: Baste it Now and Again . . . Then Let it Bake for Twelve Years! - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2005 from Yolanda CardenI was never much of a reader until one day, in the early eighties, I picked up a copy of Helter Skelter, by Vincent Bugliosi and Curt Gentry. This is an often used adage, but I couldn’t put it down. The author’s attention to detail fascinated me. After that, I was hooked on novels depicting ...
Views: 1099 - Find a Literary Agent or Self Publish: How to Decide - by Submitted on Sep 13, 2005 from Fern ReissSo, you've finally finished your book. Now, do you try to find a literary agent--or do you self publish? What are the tradeoffs? I give all-day Publishing Game workshops on this topic--but here are just a few things to consider: * Cachet. Being able to refer to your literary agent and ...
Views: 1288 - Five Tips to Avoiding Total Disaster as a Novelist from a Poor, Wretched Fool Who Had to Learn the Hard Way - by Submitted on Aug 12, 2005 from Yolanda CardenThe problem with should advice is that it’s either something you already know, i.e. your diet should include more fruit and vegetables than cheeseburgers and martinis -- or it’s something really difficult (like consuming more fruit and vegetables than cheeseburgers and martinis). So, based on my ...
Views: 934(1 vote) - Ancient Predictions Help Craft Better Writers - by Submitted on Jul 21, 2005 from Sarah JaneEvery writer has a writing process that follows its own pattern of fits and starts. Some writers can't get started, while others cannot end. Some writers have started six or seven or eight different pieces and can't get past the midpoint in a single one of them. All of us have times when we ...
Views: 764(1 vote) - If the Shoe Fits - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2005 from Yolanda Carden“If I don’t sell this novel, I’ll open a shoe store.” That’s what I told my husband, and I meant it. Shoes were easy and fun -- I quested for them on an intuitive level only a shoe lover would understand -- whereas my career as a novelist, another passion, had been a struggle. My first two ...
Views: 945 - The Truth Is . . . I Hear Voices - by Submitted on Jun 15, 2005 from Yolanda CardenEver since my first book, She’s Got Issues, got published, the first question everyone asked me was, “How do you think up your characters?” At first I lied. I said, “Um . . . I don’t know, I guess they’re a composite of people I’ve met over the years.” I thought that sounded good. I’ve heard ...
Views: 875 - Writing the Follow-up Novel -- You Aren’t Really a Sophomore - by Submitted on Jun 14, 2005 from Yolanda CardenYou’ve heard this story before. The writing bug comes early. You’re a kid with ideas, with a desire to get them on paper, and one day you realize that you’re not ever going to stop. You also realize that some people actually make a living writing books, and since you’re going to be doing it ...
Views: 917 - Join the Journalution! - by Submitted on Apr 19, 2005 from Sandy GrasonRemember the scene in The Wizard of Oz when Dorothy asks Glenda the Good Witch how to get back to Kansas? Glenda tells Dorothy, “My dear, you’ve always had the power.” We all have the power to create a life we love. But often, like Dorothy, we look in faraway places for our answers when the real ...
Views: 1121 - Once upon a time…Reflections on storytelling - by Submitted on Mar 04, 2005 from Yolanda CardenWe are the storytellers: our days begin with “once upon a time” and end with “tell me a story”. We are descended from the folks who sat around the fires at night, describing the hunt for those who stayed behind. Today, the storyteller’s role has evolved to tell us which laundry detergent to use ...
Views: 1151(1 vote) - The Search for the Story: One Writer's Approach to Fiction - by Submitted on Feb 24, 2005 from Yolanda CardenThe process of writing a book starts, for me, with a place in time that I find intriguing. I begin to do a little research -- if possible, with novels written at the time -- and then, if all goes well, I experience a kind of flash of complete understanding a few weeks later. Every character, ...
Views: 906 - JOURNALUTION - by Submitted on Feb 17, 2005 from Sandy GrasonUsing Your Journal to Manifest Based on JOURNALUTION: Journaling to Awaken Your Inner Voice, Heal Your Life, and Manifest Your Dreams By: Sandy Grason In 1992, a singing teacher introduced me to the work of the best-selling author Wayne Dyer. Dr. Dyer’s ideas — especially the notion that we ...
Views: 5913 - Freewriting: A Strategy That Will Bring Your Writing To Life - by Submitted on Nov 08, 2004 from Catherine FranzFreewriting is a release from the prison of rules. Itallows the fastest and deepest improvements to a writer’screative process. Freewriting shows writers how to overcomepast resistance challenges. Either in writing, control, orother fears. It returns the power of free thought. It alsorenews ...
Views: 1530(1 vote) - Before You Begin: Suggestions for New Writers - by Submitted on Nov 02, 2004 from Theresa WilsonMost writers are readers first. Whether historical, research, romantic mystery or spiritual focus. Many well versed writers have either read extensively or have been challenged by a variety of in depth life changing experiences. Remember, your best writing already is “in” you. Let’s talk ...
Views: 989 - Two Ways to Make Money with eBooks - by Submitted on Sep 14, 2004 from Anne WaymanI stumbled into the eBook writing business when I self-published Powerfully Recovered! and an eBook came with the package. Much to my surprise, the eBook makes up about 20% of my sales and seems to lead maybe 3% of the eBook buyers into buying the hard cover version. But I really didn't expect ...
Views: 953(1 vote) - Tell the World About You - by Submitted on Jul 19, 2004 from Kent ButlerYou have a new website, or a new business, or both – or your site isn’t getting the kind of traffic you want and need. How are you going to tell the world about what you have to offer and where to find it? If you have deep pockets, you can start buying ads in newsletters and ezines and hope ...
Views: 969 - Pulling Sales with Your Ad Copy - by Submitted on Jun 28, 2004 from Elizabeth mcgeeOne of the best marketing tools available to your internet business is good sales ad copy. This can pull in sales faster than just about anything. If you’re not a writer or cringe at the thought of writing your own sales copy, you can always hire a professional, however if you’re on a budget ...
Views: 1148 - Creating Assets: Spark Your Thinking With These 16 Comprehensive Questions - by Submitted on Jun 19, 2004 from Catherine FranzHere are some questions to get your thoughts and cash flowmoving that will also keep your product creating aligned andfocused. Find your gold mine in your surroundings by looking at anypromotional literature you have created, audio or videotapes you have produced, press releases or articles ...
Views: 1340 - Using The Right PDA - by Submitted on Jun 14, 2004 from Catherine FranzWhen we think of writing it triggers many thoughts and visions depending on our framing. It could trigger a lone man with a full astray, unshaven, staring at an old plunking typewriter with white blank crisp paper waiting in anticipation for his words. If a mother or younger, it could conjure ...
Views: 1500 - Make Time to Write: Five Ways to Write Now! - by Submitted on Jun 09, 2004 from Cynthia MorrisAfter a full day, you fall into bed exhausted. You realize that another day has passed without making time to write. You vow to do it tomorrow. Yet the next day continues much like the one before and do not make time to write. As a coach, I work with writers who claim lack of time as their ...
Views: 1137(1 vote) - Going On A Word Diet - by Submitted on Jun 01, 2004 from Catherine FranzThere are three ways to write a first draft. One is to inkwhatever surfaces, in whatever order without regard togrammar, spelling or staying on topic. After the freewrite, the points, and message extracted for notes or anoutline. Time is its adversary and clarity chisels its wayforward ...
Views: 1366 - A Writing Exercise That Increase Awareness And Description Skills - by Submitted on May 20, 2004 from Catherine FranzPractice attaching words to feelings requires time to do.Without a system that helps you monitor that time, theminutes or hours could feel unproductive. With the rightexercise, you can then use that time wisely, as well as saveyou time and frustration. Learning to apply the right words to our ...
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