CREATIVE WRITING TIPS

Improve The Quality Of Your Writing In Less Than 60 Seconds

2009-03-11T05:28:00.000-07:00

by: Jesse Dawson

Writing is not really an art. It is a craft – and you can learn a craft. Follow these four techniques to improve the quality of your writing, no matter what type of writing you do. Writing Tip #1: After you run your spell checking software, go back and re-read your writing. Few people are good spellers, which is why so many of us rely on spell checking software. Unfortunately, spell checkers have their own flaws and sometimes flag silly errors. For example, the words "form" and "from" are both good, legitimate words. But if you wrote a business letter that said, "We took $200 form your checking account to cover the payment," most spell checkers won't catch that oversight. Yet this simple typo changed the meaning of the sentence. Spell checkers are a convenience; they are neither authoritative nor foolproof, so don’t rely on them. Always read through your writing at least once after you spell check -- and keep a dictionary handy. Writing Tip #2: Use that famous "KISS" principle for your punctuation. You know the rule, don't you? "Keep It Simple, Stupid." Apply this rule to punctuation. If you don't know how or when to use a semicolon, then avoid semicolons; you'll only display ignorance if you get it wrong. In keeping with that KISS principle, limit your use of commas. Far too many people use far too many commas. Just because a sentence is long does not mean it needs a comma. Well-placed commas make reading easier. Commas thrown in simply to break up words are incorrect and distracting. Another important rule of punctuation is to avoid using exclamation marks, almost always. If your choice of words, sentence structure, and overall prose don't convey the sense of excitement you are seeking, then using an exclamation mark won't do it. If your writing conveys your sense of excitement, an exclamation point is, well, pointless. Writing Tip #3: Make sure your writing is grammatically correct. You don't need the skills of an English teacher to use correct grammar. You simply need to learn the basics -- verbs and subjects agree in number, for example. That is, "he was" is correct; "they were" is correct. To say "they was" is incorrect. If you are not sure about using grammar, especially if English isn't your "first" language, go to some good reference sites for fundamental English grammar and usage. (If you are writing in another language, the same advice holds true for that language.) Invest in a good, basic grammar book or style manual. Check with any bookstore, online or offline, and you can find one. 4. When you finish some writing, put it aside for a couple of hours or days (if possible), then re-read it before you let go of it. Of course, if you're writing or dictating a business letter or other "time-sensitive" document, this may not be possible. If you set your article or story aside for a day, then re-read it, you may notice glaring errors or want to make significant changes. And you thought before you had finished. Many writers and teachers have commented that all true writing is done in the rewriting. Take that advice to heart and you will significantly improve your writing. These four steps, rechecking your spelling, taking care with punctuation, watching for fundamental grammar errors, and rewriting, will improve your writing. They are proven tools used by every wordsmith.
About The Author
Jesse Dawson recommends using http://www.whitesmokesoftware.com/ to improve your writing and fix embarrassing grammar mistakes. Dawson is the author of "Can YOU Read Me Now?," a free e-book on using readability formulas to write better, available at http://www.readabilityformulas.com/.

Optimization of the articles and press releases

2009-01-10T16:08:00.000-08:00

Image by fmc.nikon.d40 via FlickrArticles and press releases are two very useful search engine marketing strategies that many traders still use today. But unlike in the past that the press articles and can be easily found by the online community, the enormous number of articles and press releases today have made it more difficult for one who stood out from the rest. Now it's almost impossible that a press release about your new product or an article to be read by all.

However, many companies still send press releases and articles. Fact of the matter is, there are some articles and press releases are read by customers. Despite the heavy competition, there is still a way to reach their customers through the articles and press releases. The key is to create something that captures their attention and intrigued enough to investigate and go to your site, user profile, or information center.

Here are some tips on how to make an article or press release that are among the thousands of other articles and press releases:

Press releases and articles are also addressed. We know that. Do not write and publish something only for ourselves, we do so for the benefit of others, too. When marketing, press releases and articles are intended to be read by your target audience and keep in mind when creating the press release or article.

Know your target audience will allow you to write in a way that if you are "speaking their language." You know who to communicate to your target market and in the process of capturing their attention. It may include facts and information that you know would be beneficial to them and will therefore be of interest to them. You will also be able to optimize their press release or article to the definition of the best words to know what keywords your target audience is looking for.

Knowing who your target audience, you can research on what keywords to focus on optimizing your article or press release. Once you've found the key word for the best article or press release, that as a basis to write. Optimizing keywords through assistance with their ranking on search engines and crawlers can read press releases and articles. If your article or press an issue, and has perfected it very well, is very high rank in search engines.

You know there is a strong competition that exists. Thousands of pressure from the press and articles are sent via the Web through sites, e-mail, directories, and feeds. You have to do more than just write ... you need to write creatively! You have to think about how your article or press release can help customers better than the other articles and press releases. You need to give the public a reason why we should pick up your article or press release among the many thousands of others.

Getting Published:Tips For Young Writers

2009-01-08T16:06:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia by: Simone Mary

The task of getting published is one of the daunting aspects of writing. This can be difficult, if you want to get published by a traditional publishing house. It's not as difficult if you want to self-publish. In this article I will share with you the steps involved in getting your work published either traditionally or through self-publishing.

Mainstream publishers are often reluctant to accept work from young writers as anyone under 18 cannot sign a contract on their own and will require parental involvement. That is not to say you cannot submit to them but make sure your work is of high quality as you will be competing with adult writers. There are also several publishers that cater specifically to young writers, for a list of these, check out the book THE YOUNG WRITER'S GUIDE TO GETTING PUBLISHED. There are also several sites on the web that accept work from young writers such as http://stonesoup.com and Merlyn's pen. Make sure you edit your work thoroughly and follow the submission guidelines for publishers carefully. Some publishers prefer that you send a query letter only at first describing your project. The query letter should be only one page long. If it is longer than that a busy editor will likely just throw it to one side. Think of the back cover summary yo!

u see on most books you buy, try to summarize what your book is about in a few words. This can be difficult but it must be done and done in a way that grabs an editor's attention. Some publishers will allow you to submit a query letter and a few chapters of your work or your entire book. It is important that you use the correct font, you can't go wrong with courier new 12 pt and a double spaced manuscript. The query letter can use the same font but there is no need to double space it.

Let's now take a look at self publishing. Self publishing has become quite easy with the advent of self publishers like Lulu. At http://lulu.com you can publish your work for free. However lulu does take a small commission of anything you sell. Lulu also sells ISBN's for around $100 U.S. dollars. An ISBN will make your book available for international sale. It will become available to places like http://Amazon.com, Barnes and Noble and hundreds of other distributors worldwide. When you self publish you set your own price and your age never becomes a factor as it will be with some traditional publishers. If you decide to self publish everything falls into your hands, from editing to formatting. Lulu provides several services for these publishing details, however the costs can add up for young writers. The good news is that with patience and determination you can do it yourself. Lulu provides !
templates for formatting your book. If you can find a teacher, friend or parent to help you with editing you are well on your way without breaking the bank. Lulu makes making your book cover as easy as possible although you are responsible for finding your own image if you do not wish to use their images.

Finally, there is nothing like seeing your work in print and the opportunities for young writers are greater than ever.

About The Author
Simone Mary is a teacher, writer and artist. She is the author of the eBook WRITING A STORY? WHAT EVERY WRITER SHOULD KNOW, for more writing strategies and for a free copy of the eBook GET ON THE HONOR ROLL-TEST AND EXAM TAKING TIPS THAT WORK visit http://www.thereadingandwritingshop.com

Tips On Writing A Memoir

2009-01-08T16:03:00.000-08:00

Image via Wikipedia by: Trevor Johnson

So you've decided that history (or at least your friends and family) need to read your memoir. Just how do you go about starting to write your memoirs?

Start by deciding whether you are going to write about your whole life or just selected parts of it. In part, the decision will be made by how much you have experienced in your life and how old you are. Film stars and politicians often release more than one set of memoirs as their careers progress.

Then move onto an outline. Producing this will make sure that you don't forget to include important parts of your life. You're not looking for lots of detail at this stage, just making sure that you include all the important events that you want to talk about in your memoir. It may be worth making some headings such as "school years" or age ranges to help prompt you with doing this.

Dust off the cobwebs of your memory.

Look through old photographs. If you kept a diary that you actually wrote things in, read through this to help recall the different events in your life.

Talk to friends and family. Most of them will have certain events in your life lodged firmly in your mind. If your parents or grandparents are still alive, talk to them as they'll almost certainly have memories of your formative years that have slipped from your conscious mind completely.

Read over your CV or resume. This likely gives important milestones in your life and could well trigger your memories.

At this stage, you're looking for anything that will help you to remember the things you have done in your life. It's a bit like pulling teeth at first - the memories have been gathering dust in the canyons of your mind for years - but the more you do this, the more you'll start to recall.

Are you going to write or speak your memoirs?

There's software out there which will transcribe your speech and "write" your memoir for you. Depending on whether you are a good typist or not, this could be worth investigating. Or, if you prefer, you could just record your memoir and then pay a transcription service to type it up for you at a later date.

When you are writing, don't be tempted to edit yourself. Editing is a separate process and will stop the flow of words that you are speaking or typing. Just let the words flow onto the paper or screen (sometimes called a brain dump!) and then edit them at a later stage. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how little editing is needed when you work this way and how much your "voice" comes out in the words.

Once everything is complete, the decision is then how to publish your work. Whilst there are vanity publishers who will charge a fee to produce your book, that's not something I'd recommend. Instead, use one of the "print on demand" services like Lulu or Cafe Press to get your book professionally printed at an affordable price in quantities as low as just one.

About The Author
Trevor Johnson

Get more tips on writing a memoir and start the process of writing a memoir at http://www.squidoo.com/writingmemoir

Tips on Writing a Book Now

2008-12-11T16:50:00.000-08:00

by: Steve Manning

Here's a string of tips on writing a book. They're brief, succinct and very useful. These tips on writing a book have been designed to get you up and writing your book as quickly as possible.

They'll help you start writing, continue writing and finish writing your book. Your manuscript will be ready for the agent, or the publisher, or on its way to self publishing success.

Here are your tips on writing a book:

Image via WikipediaYou can't start writing your book and continue writing until the book has been written. It's too big a job. It's going to take you a few days. Probably a couple of weeks.

People take years to write their book because they go at the task sporadically. You've got to write every day. If you don't, you find yourself having written nothing for months at a time.

Your book writing success or failure depends largely on the outlining process. Create an outstanding outline for your book and you're writing task becomes easy. You should know exactly what happens on every page before you start writing your first word.

If you think you can write your book by being spontaneously creative as you write, you're wrong. You're welcome to try, just about every novice author does. But I'd bet money it won't work for you. Create the exhaustive outline.

Your outline should consist of a series of questions: What does the library look like, how is she dressed, why does he feel so angry, what does she do when she reaches the house. It's simply easier to write in response to a question than it is to write in response to a statement.

Spend a short time writing to answer each question. Just a few minutes. You don't want this to become a protracted bunch of puff. You want real story.

Don't stop until the book is finished. There's a real tendency to stop and edit the work that you've just completed. After all, editing is a lot easier to do than the actual writing. So you can feel that you're still working, but it won't be as difficult. Don't do it! Keep writing until the book is finished.

Give yourself a period for writing and stick to that amount of time come hell or high water. Even if it's just 15 minutes a day. Initially you're just going for the discipline. Eventually you'll get the writing quality as well, but the discipline is most important factor for the completion of your work in the shortest amount of time possible.

Doing research for your book writing can be fun. But don't do it until after the book is written. If you come to a point where you've got to get a piece of information that you don't have in you head, just put down an asterisk and keep the flow of the book going. After the manuscript is finished, you can look back for all those asterisks and get just the information you need.

About The Author
Steve Manning is a master writer showing thousands of people how they can write their book faster than they ever thought possible. Here's your free Special Report, http://www.WriteABookNow.com/main.html

Techniques to Make Quick Money Writing Articles

2008-12-11T16:40:00.000-08:00

by: Jo Mark

For the most part, article marketing is a long distance race, not a sprint. By writing articles and submitting them daily, you will increase the amount of traffic to your site and see improved profits (as traffic builds). The more you submit, the greater your benefit. But, even if you submit ten articles this week, don’t expect to retire any time soon. As I said, it is a long distance race.

However, there are techniques that you can use to make some quick money writing articles. From time to time, certain niches will capture the public’s attention and there will be a flurry of interest in that sector. If you discover the trend, you can make some quick money with your articles. Following are several ways to profit writing articles:

It all starts out by doing some research. Look for niches (or products) that everyone is talking about. Forums are a good place to find this type of information. Hang out in these forums and look for postings that have a large number of responses. Read through a number of these items. If it related to a single product or niche, you may have found an exploitable subject.

You can also find hot products doing research on Ebay. Search for popular products that have sold well during the past 2 weeks. If you find several products that are selling really well and are related to a common theme, you may have found a hot area to exploit with your articles.

Lastly, check your bulk emails. This is one my favorite (and easiest) ways to find hot topics. When you see an explosion of emails on one subject, it is a pretty good bet that the niche is hot.
Image via Wikipedia
Once you find a hot topic, do research to find an affiliate program that is offering a product in the same area. Research the topic so that you can write knowledgably about the subject. Develop effective article titles using keyword research. Make sure to include two or more keywords in each title, because you will want the search engines to pick up your article. Write five to ten articles on the subject. Submit one to two articles per day to the largest article directory sites. Make sure your article contains a link to the affiliate program you found previously. Or, you can direct readers to your site and re-direct them to the affiliate program from there.

If the niche remains hot for some time, you can make a fair amount of money from this technique.

Easy to read articles

2008-07-15T04:13:00.000-07:00

When you write articles, be sure to keep readers in mind. Studies have shown that most Internet readers tend to scan a page to find the information they are looking for, rather than to read the full page. This means to have good titles, many subtitles, and make use of bullet points to help readers to scan the page. Viewers prefer a site like this that are easy to use and will be more willing to come back to your website time and time again. The more that your readers back, the more opportunities you have to get them to click on each of your affiliate links. Failing to write your articles in this way, or to get them written in this way, can make the visitor away before they even have a chance to see what you have to say or know what your affiliate links are all about. Holder articles organized as recommended will keep the visitors back and make it possible for it to continue to make money for you.

Creative Writing: Optimal Article Length

2008-07-15T04:08:00.000-07:00

When you select an article for your site, ensure that there is a length that is optimal for search engine optimization efforts. Articles that are as short as 200 words or as long as 500 words should fit into this category. Although the search engine optimization is not your goal, it is still a good idea to keep your articles in this length of your reader's sake. They are unlikely to be finished with your side if it is longer. This could leave them Kith only half of the information you want them to have or to leave them with the impression that your site is too "wordy". Most Internet readers do not read a Web page that they would make a book, so the shorter the better. Even if it means to divide up a long idea to 4 or 5 pages. Be sure to label them so that the reader can pick and choose which parts they want to read or so they know what will be next to help them decide whether they want to continue reading.

Be A Rich Writer, Join Paid Blogging Program

2008-05-16T18:59:00.000-07:00

Are you a writer and blogger? Make your hobby to turn money coming to your wallet. It’s very simple way job. Please chose product list from ">Bloggerwave and write simple review in 50 words. Yes, only 50 words, it’s true!. You can make money every day and every time with paid review programs.

E-book: Become A Model

2008-05-16T18:31:00.000-07:00

The best thing about being a model can you get from e-book Become A Model. Imagine your beautiful photos taken for Vogue or Playboy magazine. Wow! Read this book quickly.

The other way to become your dreams come true is to join Beauty contest from http://www.lookoftheyear.com. Are you interest to this chance, young girl?

Personal Websites For Journalists

2008-04-14T17:56:00.000-07:00

Image by louder via FlickrTraditionally, journalists have more or less worked alone. Journalists in both the news business and feature writers for magazines typically will develop their stories, dig up their leads, conduct their interviews and draft the final product themselves. In the newspaper business, major stories will sometimes become collaborative efforts where several reporters are working on aspects of a story and their work is edited into a single piece, published under multiple bylines.

Communicating with a journalist was generally a haphazard affair, placing a call to a switchboard or desk and leaving a message. Today, major newspapers all have websites and provide email addresses for most of their journalists and nearly all of their columnists. People who write columns and opinion pieces are generally more open to communicating with the public because their work is often designed to generate controversy and feedback is important. Occasionally columnists will find ideas for new topics in the email traffic they receive, or will write about the heavy response they received on a particular piece.

A journalist with some initiative can take this communications process one step further by setting up a personal website. That site can serve several purposes: all of them require some work. The function of the site depends, to some degree, on the amount of time the journalist is willing to devote to it. A working reporter may also have to negotiate permission to engage in some online publishing of his own with the editorial staff of the paper or magazine that employs him.

Internet blogs have made some opinionated people in this country powerful and well known, just by virtue of their daily journaling. A working journalist could set up a blog for which he could provide occasional entries, relating to his work or to other news stories or totally unrelated subjects. The value of a blog is that it provides the opportunity for open dialogue among all who wish to log on and participate. Name recognition can be meaningful to some journalists and blogging is one way to develop "viral" recognition by inviting communication. Many people will be attracted to the opportunity to communicate with someone who gets paid to publish.

Blogs can develop story lines for topics for journalists, particularly columnists and feature writers. They can help a professional writer build a persona that doesn't enter into the straight journalism he produces on the job. A personal blog is a way to build a public and well rounded profile that the constraints of a traditional journalism job don't usually allow.

A personal website can also provide the journalist an opportunity to showcase a "profile" of work that is unrelated to the job, or at least has gone unpublished by the employer. Here again, there is a fine line between what the journalist can do online - which is essentially public exposure - and what the requirements of exclusivity on the job may be. But if a journalist has ventured into fiction, a personal website is a great way to put it out there for exposure.

If the goal is a publishing opportunity for fictional work, the website may be a way to short circuit the formal submission rules for fictional work that magazines and book publishers maintain. An established journalist is already a professional writer. Asking a book publishing editor or potential agent to look at product posted on a website is much easier than engaging in the formal process.

About The Author
Madison Lockwood is a customer relations associate for http://www.apollohosting.com. She helps clients understand how a website may benefit them both personally and professionally. Apollo Hosting provides website hosting, ecommerce hosting, & VPS hosting to a wide range of customers.

The Easiest Way to Become an Internet Article Writer

2008-04-14T17:53:00.000-07:00

Image by geishaboy500 via FlickrAll speakers and writers who become great speakers and writers have two needs.

To be a great speaker you need to have:
1) a real and valuable knowledge of the subject you are addressing, and
2) a burning desire to share what you have to offer with others.

To be a great writer you need to have:
1) a real and valuable knowledge about the topic you are writing about, and
2) a burning desire to share what you have to offer with others.
In other words, be a good storyteller so people will listen to or read your stories.

We all must begin where we are at, whether we think we can become an internet article writer or not.

So what exactly is good writing? The best writing glides along the ice like a speed skater in a 1,500 meter race. You ride on his effortless stride, you marvel at his form, you feel his intensity and sense of controlled urgency, you appreciate his sense of competitiveness, you find yourself with him, stride for stride, measuring his distance from the leader of the pack, wondering if he can actually win, suddenly you lose control and jump into the race, you lean as he leans going around the curve, you wonder if he has what it takes to close the gap, your attention becomes riveted as he begins to narrow the margin, your heartbeat increases as he gains ground, you are glued to the moment, and then he puts on a final sprint, finally draws even, and wins by the blink of an eyelash! My God, you were there. When he mounts the awards stand and the flag of his nation rises, you rise with it. He was your choice, and he won!

Is it any wonder that athletes have such a strong following among spectators? Athletes become our heroes in any vicarious way possible. We wear a jersey when we watch the game. After the game, we play a pick-up game with our kids in the back yard. We love the feel of being in the thick of the competition, and winning.

Switching back to our main topic, what exactly is good writing?

Some people think a good sentence should be short and simple.

To the point.

Obvious.

In the first example above, the sentence goes on and on and on (168 words!), and yet you kept reading.

Writing can be either way and be effective, and there are Pulitzer Prize winners to prove it. For simple writing with short sentences, read Ernest Hemingway’s "The Old Man and the Sea." Hemingway won the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for Literature. For sentences that go on and on and on forever, read William Faulkner’s "The Sound and the Fury," it is filled with long, convoluted sentences. Nonetheless, Faulkner, like Hemingway, also won the Pulitzer Prize and the Nobel Prize for Literature. Both were legendary novelists with opposite writing styles, and therein lies the easiest way to become an articles writer.

What is important is developing a style of writing that you are comfortable with. Even more important is getting your thoughts, some thoughts, any thoughts, onto your monitor. Until you put the letters on your keyboard onto your monitor, you are not a writer. The moment you do you have the potential to be an articles writer.

Once you have a sentence, any sentence, in front of you, you can pick it apart and make it better, because you have taken the thought out of your head and into the workplace of improvement. Write something on your monitor and it becomes manageable; try to formulate the perfect sentence in your head before you put it on your monitor, and your article may never get written.

The frustration of trying to write the perfect sentence brings on writer’s block, the inability to put your thoughts into meaningful sentences. Forget about being an articles writer, just get started and you will become one.

Go ahead, start. Begin now. Write anything down, and then make it better.

You are now on your way to becoming an internet article writer.

Copyright 2006 Ed Bagley

About The Author

Ed Bagley started writing for money at 16 and in the next 45 years was an investigative reporter, sports editor and mangaging editor for daily newspapers, newspaper publishing company owner, niche book publishing company owner, personal marketing specialist, and now is a mentor, consultant, confidant and an internet marketer. Visit Ed Bagley at... http://www.Internet-Marketing-NorthWest.com

Writing for the Web--Steps to Getting a Job Writing Content

2008-04-14T17:48:00.000-07:00

Web writing is a good gig. I make $30 an hour writing at home. And although I sometimes wish my only companion during the workday were not run on electricity, I like my job. I wake up most mornings excited about what I am doing.

Steps to Getting Started Writing for the Web

For those of you who would like to write for the web, here are some things I did to land a job that you should be able to do also:

1. Get general writing experience. I wrote a little food column and a few feature articles for our local paper. This is a paper where the most interesting sections are the obituary and the arrest reports, so it doesn’t need to be the Washington Post.

2. Learn everything you can about search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is what needs to be done to have the search engines like a Web site, i.e., give it high ranking. The book I read was Search Engine Optimization for Dummies by Peter Kent. Although anything published on computers is generally obsolete by the time it is published, this book is still relevant and will give you a good idea what SEO is about. I would start with the book and then look on the net for additional, updated information.

3. Learn how to write for the Web. In addition to writing in a way that attracts the search engines, Web content writers need to write for the impatient folks who will surf the net. All of the information you need to learn how to so this is on the internet. It can mostly be boiled down to the following: a) surfers scan and don’t read; b) use bullets, lists, and bold to set off the important points (and the key words for SEO); c) keep it short (between 250 and 600 words) and relevant; d) surfers want information not a lot of marketing mumbo-jumbo; e) write short paragraphs; and f) use headings, preferably with key words in them.

4. Learn Basic HTML/XHTML. The content you write for the Web is coded with HTML/XHTML. If you are going to be the one to actually add the content to the Web site, you will most likely be using a content management tool (CTM). These usually require the user to manually code in some HTML/XHTML. I would suggest going through a book that will take you through the process of writing XHTML. You will also need a book for a reference, which may or may not be the same book you used to learn the basics. There are also tutorials at www.w3schools.com that are good. In fact, you may want to start there and see how it goes.

5. Write the content for a Web site, even if you don’t get paid. You have to start somewhere. Ask non-profit organizations, relatives, and friends if they would like you to write Web content for them.

6. If possible, write for an industry you are familiar with. If you know the industry, you will have a better chance getting a job writing for the industry. The more experience and/or education in an area the better.

7. Write a sample Web page to send with your resume. When you send out your resume, include a sample Web page, preferably one relevant to the industry. For my Web page, I researched a topic for a couple of hours on the Web and then wrote the page using everything I had learned about Web writing and SEO. Throughout the sample Web page, I made notes in red explaining what I was doing. For example, “[Note: The search engines give more weight to bulleted items.]” or “[Note: Important key words should be used at the top of the page, preferably in the page title.].” This is, I think, the best way to let people know you have a firm grasp of writing for the Web and SEO.

Sample Web-writing Page

I hope this has been helpful to some of you. I have built a page on the Web site I am working on to give you an idea how to write a sample web page. The page is a food poisoning attorney/lawyer page, and it can be found at www.pritzkerlaw.com/Food_Poisoning_Attorney. Look for the following and think about where you would make your notes in red:

• Key words in page title (in light orange)

• Key words in headings for SEO

• Headings for easy scanning

• Bullets to set apart important information

• Content-rich links (no “click here” links)

• Content-rich links for scanning purposes

• The words “free consultation” in bold to make sure someone who is scanning the page will see them.

The Web site is still a work in progress. I have to work around a bad content management tool that doesn’t write valid code, doesn’t give me access to the key word meta content (an SEO issue), and unduly limits the length of my description meta content (another SEO issue). I also have to use caution when writing because, in addition to copyright and other legal issues, we have to consider legal ethics. Also, Fred Pritzker, the excellent lawyer I am working for, wants the site to be a legal resource and not obnoxiously over-sell him. I am still learning how to balance everything. For example, the page I sent you to above is quite heavy on marketing. Most pages, however, are actually a bit too long and are almost purely informational (See, for example, www.pritzkerlaw.com/ecoli).

About The Author

Kathy Will is a freelance Web writer who can usually be found shivering at her computer in Minnesota. Her current project is http://www.pritzkerlaw.com, a legal resource for injured people.

You are free to publish this article on the internet. You must, however, not alter any of the content, give the author credit, and provide a live link to the Web site I am working on, www.pritzkerlaw.com. You may publish this in segments if you wish, but you must adhere to the above.

© 2006 Kathy Will

Free e-book: Book Writing for Fun and Profit

2008-04-13T16:26:00.000-07:00

In this free e-book, “Book Writing for Fun and Profit,” you'll discover everything you need to know to quickly and easily achieve your dream of becoming a respected author!

Just take a look at some of what you will learn:

* How to choose a proven subject for your book that will guarantee people will want to buy it – people never change. Nor do their basic desires. They've existed for thousands of years and will continue to exist for thousands more. That's good for you – as an author. Discover here what people want and how to profit wildly from their desires!

* How to choose a topic for your book that will make writing seem like anything but work – follow these tips and you'll soon be looking forward to writing everyday … even if you've always hated it in the past!

* How to brainstorm the most profitable title for your book – these tips could literally be the difference in you producing a best-seller or a bust!

* How to create a powerful outline for your book - even if you hated English class and never paid attention when the teacher discussed this boring subject!

* The most productive way to find great content for your book – you may be very surprised at what you read here!

* The simple way to get experts on your subject to contribute content for your book – these tips will save you time and effort and put you that much closer to having your own profitable book!

* The secret that allowed me, the author of this book, to make $10,000 in just in less than 45 days – and how you can use the same technique to create a book and explode your own income in no time!

* And much, much more !

Download free ebook

Memoir Writing Help, Memoir Writing Ideas

2008-04-13T16:05:00.000-07:00

Image via WikipediaWhere Do I Get Ideas?

That's the most common question I get from fellow writers looking to break into article marketing. The truth? Steal them.

Yes, you literally steal ideas and twist them a bit to make them fresh – make them yours.

That leads to another question, how do you make old ideas yours so that they're fresh, new and – dare I say – revolutionary?

Actually, it's not as tough as you may think. Here's a quick and easy formula I use for turning old content into something new:

1.Find an old text. Dust off articles, books and home-study courses from your industry and find content that may be useful to your audience. I know what you're thinking. “What about copyrights, Lisa?” Good question. Unless you plan to republish entire blocks of text from the source material, you won't run into any problems. See the following points to find out why.

2.Pull out key points. Look at the information and pull out the salient points that really jump out to you. I usually highlight the points that are exciting to me, and then I re-phrase those points by putting them into my own words.

3.Add your expertise. Under the key points, you'll want to share a bit of advice and expand on the main idea. The best way to do that is to share some of your experience. Tell an anecdote or story from when you handled a similar situation. For instance, when I was an editor at a large business-to-business newsletter publishing company, I often took several articles, pulled out the main ideas and combined the information to create one short, coherent article. You can do the same.

4.Raise your voice. To make sure you're using the source material as a point of reference only, consider reading your final article aloud. If it doesn't sound like something you'd say to a friend or colleague in the industry, re-write it. In my experience, that's the only way the article will ring true with your readers. Plus, you'll steer very clear of the copyright police – who, frankly, aren't really watching anyway. It's your audience you want to please.

Bottom line: Maybe they have heard this information before, but they haven't heard it from YOU – a battle-tested, shooting straight-from-the-hip expert.

It really is that simple. But it does take some practice. Find two long articles from your industry and boil them down to four or five key points. Then simply expand on those points by sharing stories and anecdotes from your experiences.

Try it and let me know how you make out. This is the best way to find so-called “fresh ideas.” When you look at it this way, new ideas are everywhere.

About The Author

Lisa Sparks, marketing expert, is finally revealing every article writing trick, tip, idea, strategy and tactic she's learned over her 16-year career as an editor and marketing geek. More free advice at: http://www.ArticleSecretsRevealed.com .

Article Writing Secrets: Where Do I Get Ideas?

2008-04-13T16:03:00.000-07:00

Where Do I Get Ideas?

That's the most common question I get from fellow writers looking to break into article marketing. The truth? Steal them.

Yes, you literally steal ideas and twist them a bit to make them fresh – make them yours.

That leads to another question, how do you make old ideas yours so that they're fresh, new and – dare I say – revolutionary?

Actually, it's not as tough as you may think. Here's a quick and easy formula I use for turning old content into something new:

1.Find an old text. Dust off articles, books and home-study courses from your industry and find content that may be useful to your audience. I know what you're thinking. “What about copyrights, Lisa?” Good question. Unless you plan to republish entire blocks of text from the source material, you won't run into any problems. See the following points to find out why.

2.Pull out key points. Look at the information and pull out the salient points that really jump out to you. I usually highlight the points that are exciting to me, and then I re-phrase those points by putting them into my own words.

3.Add your expertise. Under the key points, you'll want to share a bit of advice and expand on the main idea. The best way to do that is to share some of your experience. Tell an anecdote or story from when you handled a similar situation. For instance, when I was an editor at a large business-to-business newsletter publishing company, I often took several articles, pulled out the main ideas and combined the information to create one short, coherent article. You can do the same.

4.Raise your voice. To make sure you're using the source material as a point of reference only, consider reading your final article aloud. If it doesn't sound like something you'd say to a friend or colleague in the industry, re-write it. In my experience, that's the only way the article will ring true with your readers. Plus, you'll steer very clear of the copyright police – who, frankly, aren't really watching anyway. It's your audience you want to please.

Bottom line: Maybe they have heard this information before, but they haven't heard it from YOU – a battle-tested, shooting straight-from-the-hip expert.

It really is that simple. But it does take some practice. Find two long articles from your industry and boil them down to four or five key points. Then simply expand on those points by sharing stories and anecdotes from your experiences.

Try it and let me know how you make out. This is the best way to find so-called “fresh ideas.” When you look at it this way, new ideas are everywhere.

About The Author
Lisa Sparks, marketing expert, is finally revealing every article writing trick, tip, idea, strategy and tactic she's learned over her 16-year career as an editor and marketing geek. More free advice at: http://www.ArticleSecretsRevealed.com.

Copywriter That You Needs !

2007-10-25T16:49:00.000-07:00

For years, writers were not even recognized. Now, the writers are not only recognized but celebs go the extra mile to praise the writer associated with your project. This change in attitude towards scriptwriters -- along with the Internet -- highlights the value of bringing the perpetrators of the project.

Now, a professional copywriter is in high demand. The Internet is all about copy. Whether for web pages, email marketing, pay-per-click advertising, banner ads or autoresponders, the words you publish make or break the entire investment. Big companies with inhouse marketing departments and agencies know when and why to call on the copy writer. But, here's the cause that no one talks about driving small business people to the professional writer. Everyone and anyone sees the words on your website. The world knows if the words on your home page are junk! How embarrassing is that.

It's mean You need a copywriter for your team!

I have some tips on how to hire a copywriter.

a. If you want a writer working in a software manual, look for a technical writer. If you want a press release, find a writer who specializes in public relations. If you want to sell, hire the services of a commercial advertising copywriter or a screenwriter.

b. Review writing samples, but keep in mind that the copy is sometimes subjective. What is good for one may not adapt to another, but the project is still a huge success.

c. Find out who they have done the job. Reviewing a list of customers. Ask about previous employment if the writer is independent. Where did the writer get the experience.

Write your eBook Fast--First Steps to Finishing Line

2007-05-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

by: Judy Cullins

Why write an eBook?

You want ongoing, lifelong multiple streams of income. You want to raise your credibility and trust ratings with clients or customers. You want to get your message out so the world can be a better place.

You want to spend only a little time on it. (Would you be willing to spend 4 hours a week?) You want to get it out fast (Would 4-8 weeks be OK?) You want to market for a low-cost investment. And, for some of you, you are ready to be innovative and even take a small risk to get your eBook read by hundreds of thousands, rather than hundreds!

Where are you now?

You have an idea for your eBook; you have a lot of ideas! Take a moment and decide which one you are most passionate about now and will be for the next year or two. Focus on one great idea, where you know what the audience needs or wants-- your solutions to their problem.

Or, do you have your eBook well on its way, but aren't finished. You need advice on how to get it done, what to include, what to leave out, what's needed to publish (not much!), and how to distribute it to pull continuous monthly sales that can be 1/2 your income.

Who Should Write an eBook?

If you want to share your unique message world-wide to help people create a better life.

If you are ready to invest a little to reap a great deal.

If you are a business person who want to expand your business and be a leader in your field.

If you are willing to move much faster than traditional publishing to sell faster, more, and create more cash flow for marketing.

What do I Need to Know Before I write this eBook?

1. To help make your eBook successful apply the essential "Nine Hot-Selling Points." These include cover, title, table of contents, thesis, "60 second tell and sell," one preferred audience, introduction and the back cover.

Why? Every part of your book can be a sales tool. When you include the above "hot-selling points" you will have a roadmap to guide you to writing a focused, organized, compelling book that will cut your editing time in half..

2. You need to know how to write a focused, organized, chapter each time. Think format. Each non-fiction book chapter needs a hook in its introduction, a few questions to address where your reader is now. Its middle part consists of stories, analogies, tips, and how-to's, Make your ending motivate your reader to want to go to the next chapter and feel satisfied with the present one.

Use the "Fast-Forward Writing Technique" that compels your reader to read all of the chapter, the next ones, and finish the book. Now you have a 24/7 sales team member that will shout your book's praises.

.Designing every chapter and knowing your "Essential Nine Hot Selling Points" before you write bring out your best writing that is clear, easy to read, and inspiring to your readers. These techniques will bring thousands of buyers rather than hundreds..

Judy Cullins c. 2005

About The Author

Judy Cullins, 20-year Book and Internet Marketing Coach works with small business people who want to make a difference in people's lives, build their credibility and clients, and make a consistent life-long income. Author of Write Your eBook or Other Short Book Fast and 10 others, she offers free help through her 2 monthly ezines, "The Book Coach Says. . .," and "Business Tip of the Month." at www.bookcoaching.com. Email her at Judy@bookcoaching.com or Cullinsbks@aol.com Phone: 619/466-0622 -- Orders: 866/200-9743

I Hate Writing Articles - There Must Be An Easier Way?!

2007-05-10T18:14:00.000-07:00

by: Francisco J Parra

Owning, running and maintaining an internet based business or a site needs articles. Plain and simple, everyone who has a site knows this. Even those who don’t have sites but are frequent internet users knows this as well. Articles quench the thirst for information and knowledge of the people. Plus, the articles provides many other benefits for the site.

The benefits that articles provide are putting a site high in the ranking in search results of keywords and keyword phrases that pertains or are relevant to his or her site. They also provide attraction to website visitors when they are appreciated and is linked to your site from another site or newsletter. Articles provide for the increase of the confidence and trust levels of customers to your site and company.

Many articles are also beneficial to both company and its traffic. When the readers like the articles, they would tell more of their friends, family and peers and recommend your site to them, providing for a larger volume of traffic. You get bigger sales if your traffic trusts and believes in you. Your product or services would be much easier to sell when they know you know what you are doing and talking about.

So ok, we have established that articles are very important to a site and to business. Articles are crucial and to keep ahead in the game, a site must have an article, it is imperative. There is one dilemma though, not many people like writing articles.

Many website owners would rather spend their time on something else, and unless you’re a big time company, you don’t have the necessary resources to use on a pool of article writers. Plagiarism or copying of other articles is frowned upon and could easily get you into trouble, worst case scenario; a hefty fine and jail time.

So what are the other options?

Well, for starters if you hate writing articles and you can’t afford to hire people to write for you then don’t. Get free articles. The first place to look at for free articles is the public domain. Here you won’t have problems with copyright infringement and the following penalties and fines if you get caught for plagiarism.

Public domain articles are articles freely given to the public for public use. You can do whatever you want with it. You can place it on your site, name it as yours, put it in a newsletter its you decision. Always remember though that you will have to choose articles that is very relevant to your site.

The downside to public domain articles is that since it is free for everybody, many of your competitors may have access to them as well. Since every site needs to be original and unique even though you have the same niche, this could be a predicament. You may also have to edit them a bit to place more keywords and keyword phrases to make them better.

Another way to get free articles is to allow other sites which has the same subject or topic as yours to submit articles to your site. This would be only to augment your existing content or else all your articles would be leading to other sites since these articles would have resource boxes with them that could link or direct the readers to their site. That’s why it is important to have your own articles; you cold use them to link your site to other sites as well.

But, to truly feel the impact of what a good article to you, go for original ones. There are many article writers who do part time and freelance article writing jobs that charges only minimal fees. You can get good articles that have all the keywords and keyword phrases you need and people are looking for.

The investment you made for these articles would be worthwhile because you could use them for all the benefits you could offer. You hold copyrights to them and you will be able to use them anyway you want. As your articles help you in building your business and your site, you will have more articles to write and maybe then you wont be having second thoughts about articles.

We have tried our best to resolve all the doubts that might be in the minds of the readers about Articles. We hope that you have obtained some benefit from all this discussion.

Francisco J Parra is an Internet marketing expert, writer, publisher and entrepreneur. Questions? Comments? Francisco can be reached at: http://usaincmx.tripod.com/

Ebooks Free Download : A Complete Guide to Self Publishing

2007-04-30T09:10:00.000-07:00

This free e-books is a guide to creating a professional looking ebook including: Researching, Brain-storming, Designing and compiling your ebooks, uploading your ebook, writing effective sales copy, creating a download link, promoting your ebook, accepting payment, increasing your ebook sales and much more.

Download "A Complete Guide to Self Publishing"

Become A Real Writer !

2007-02-12T21:34:00.000-08:00

Do you calls yourself a writer?
Yeah, anyone can call himself (or herself) a writer. But what is a real writer?
The big answer is: a writer is a person who gets paid for their work!
Here are the list of condition that we will calls you a writer:
1. Never to send the same article to more than one publication at the same time.
2. Write novel, articles, and story every day
3. Get paid for your work.

Freelancers needs website. Why ?

2007-02-04T02:46:00.000-08:00

Yeah, why Freelancers needs website ? The answer is to save stamping: While prospecting for new customers, instead of sending a whole kit of media, many cuts, and/or the inscription of the samples, direct simply your target towards your Web site. A simple postcard can enumerate the services which you offer and/or of the products you are sold. For samples of your direct prospects for work to your Web site, which can do a better work of the sale.

A Web site can enumerate testimonials of customer, businesses special and discounts, rewards - the possibilities are without end. Primarily, you sell a prospective customer on your business for Juste the cost of a postcard. Naturally, you can always send a letter of sales instead of a postcard.

The point is, you should not spend much of money in stamping to the top of front. If a customer is interested enough of your postcard/letter initial to look at your Web site, then you have a better chance of them contacting you. One could discuss, less you spend to the top of front, the best.

This weeds outside the pulseurs of tire of the serious purchasers.

Accent Your Writing Using Diacritical Marks

2007-01-07T17:15:00.000-08:00

By Yvonne Perry

Our modern English language is a hodgepodge of many languages. We borrow words from another language we say crêpe, à la carte, résumé, or señor but when writing these words, we stare at a blank screen wondering how to create these characters needed to cause our employment history to be pronounced résumé rather than resume.

I remember learning to read and write while in grammar school. One way the teacher helped us pronounce words was to separate the syllables and use accent marks to show where the emphasis or strongest beat should be. Take a look at the dictionary. You probably have one on your desk. In the pronunciation guide you will see some strange characters called diacritical marks above or below a letter to modify the way a word is pronounced. I remember writing a long dash over the letter “a” to make it a long vowel (ā) and putting a small cup over the “a” to make it a short vowel (ă). Now I know that the long mark is called a macron and the short mark is called a breve. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diacritic to learn more about diacritical marks.

Writing the dash is one thing; typing it is another matter entirely. There are shortcuts you can use to create diacritical marks. When you engage CAPSLOCK, and hold down the ALT key, and type in a number on the numeric keypad you can create almost any character. For example to get this symbol: é press the CAPSLOCK, press alt and type in 0233 on your numeric keypad. Mac users would select the “option” and “e” to create this same character. For a list of other shortcuts for both Microsoft and Mac, see http://tinyurl.com/y9twgh.

There are so many characters available you might have a hard time remembering all the shortcuts. The best way to make a symbol appear in your Word document is to use the character map, which requires you to cut and paste individual symbols from a preset list. This is done by going to Windows “Start” menu on the lower left side of your screen and selecting “all programs”, then “accessories”, then “system tools” and finally “character map.” This opens a grid of characters for you to choose from by scrolling down or right. The font on the dropdown list should match that of the document you are creating, but you can get a different set of characters when you choose Times New Roman versus Wing Dings as your font. If the character you want is not in the grid, change the font. When you’ve found the character you want to place in your document, double click on it and the image will be placed on the clipboard to be copied. You can put several symbols on the clipboard. When you are ready to paste the symbol, highlight it in the “characters to copy” list and click the “copy” button. Then, find the place in your document (or any Windows application) and insert the character by choosing “paste” on your edit menu and the character should appear.

And now that we’ve had our lesson on using symbols and characters, I’ll trust you will use them to make your writing come alive.

Yvonne Perry is a freelance writer and the owner of Write On! Creative Writing Services based in Nashville, Tennessee. She and her team of ghostwriters service clients all over the globe by offering quality writing on a variety of topics at an affordable price. If you need a brochure, web text, business document, resume, bio, article or book, visit http://www.yvonneperry.net While there sure to subscribe to the RSS podcast feed and the free monthly newsletter about writing, networking, publishing and marketing. Read more on Yvonne’s blog at http://yvonneperry.blogspot.com

Copywriting: A Not-So-Easy Job to Pursue

2007-01-07T17:06:00.000-08:00

By Steven Gerber

Advertisements are all over. You can view it on television squeezed in every other show. It is in papers strategically outlined, wherein ads are posted after the other. It is on glossy magazines almost domineering half of its content. Advertisements are also available over the radio or through the internet. Its availability to almost all types of media denotes that advertisements are part of life. It is present to give people ideas on what products to buy, on what establishments to go for and even what individuals to like.

With advertisements being on the go these days, more and more companies seek for individuals who can make good advertisements. They are called copywriters. Copywriting is their job.

Copywriting is a job where the main task involves writing advertising materials. It is a job where patience is needed.

For you to be able to come up with a good copy, you need to have ample of patience. To write effective advertising materials, a thorough research should be made. It is not plain book or internet research you must do. You need to go over different advertisements especially those who are from your competitors. Learn where you can win over your competitor’s advertisements. Write where you can pull over your competitors’ weakness and win the interest of your target audience.

After you have gone through your research, start making an outline of your material. Begin enumerating the advantages your target market will gain. Work on those advantages. You will not be able to accomplish the initial step of copywriting if you do not have what it takes to be patient.

Apart from patience, the most vital factor which is important for you to climb the ladder of success to copywriting is pushing both your brain and heart to work.

You need your brain to think different strategies to come up with advertising materials that will catch your audience’s attention. Who will think of patronizing your product if you do not initially capture their interest?

Along with your brain, let your heart work as well. You need to feel and understand what your target audience may most likely respond to what you are imparting to them. It is recommended that you have first-hand experience with what you are potentially “selling” so that you will personally feel or understand the effectiveness of what you are offering. If you can use the product, then use it. If it is a person you are promoting, then interact with the person. Nothing beats first-hand experience. Your target audience will feel the sincerity with your ads since you have first-hand experience; you are conveying not only your thoughts but your emotions as well.

Advertisements may be seen or heard all over but you need to have an effective advertisement for it to be felt and later on be patronized by your target market. If you want to be felt and patronized, not just simply be seen or heard, then you need to serious with copywriting. Work on with your patience. Invest on your brain. Follow your heart.

Copywriting is not an easy-to-do job; it requires more than mere research and writing. It needs you to be focused and dedicated. It needs you to know what “he” can say. It needs you to feel what the other individual will experience. It needs you to believe so your target audience will do so too.

Steven Gerber is a professional copywriter and a protégé student of Dan Lok – The World's #1 Website Conversion Expert. Find the latest internet marketing and copywriting techniques and tricks at his website.

Article Writing - How to Create an Article Title That Pulls Readers

2007-01-05T07:25:00.000-08:00

By Sean Mize

Your title is extremely important, and must be compelling. It must drive the surfer online to click into the article to read it. It must therefore be specific about what it is going to address, because the surfer is looking for specific information.

Keep in mind, if they do not open your article, they will not read it, and if they do not read it, they will not click through to your web page. So the title is critically important. Now, not only should the title give specific information about what the article will cover, it also needs to have very specific, keyword-oriented language so that if someone is searching the internet or an article directory for specific information, they will be able to find you article.

I like to begin my title with the keyword that someone might use to find my article, if they are interested in the article topic.

For example, if I am writing an article about deep sea fishing, my article title might read like this:

Deep Sea Fishing – Fishing Equipment Hazards and Warnings

Now that is a very highly targeted keyword rich article title.

If someone types in something like deep sea fishing hazards or deep sea equipment warnings, I might get a click into my article. These are very targeted readers, as should be most of your article readers. You see, the more highly targeted is a reader, the more likely they are to be in the buying stages, and not just surfing aimlessly.

Now after the keyword beginning, I am very specific about what the article is going to cover.

Now, one thing that is very important here is that your article actually answers or addresses the question or specific topic in the title. That is a credibility issue. If the reader does not think you have been honest in your title about the article, they will doubt your credibility when it is time to subscribe or buy.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide‘

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Do you want to learn how to build a massive list fast? Click here: Email List Building

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 500 articles in print and 9 published ebooks.

Freelance Writers: Publish Your Writing In A Blog

2007-01-04T16:54:00.000-08:00

By Deanna Mascle

Are you a freelance writer or interested in freelance writing? Then you should consider starting a blog to publish your writing. While it is difficult for many freelance writers to think about publishing their writing for free, consider the three different methods you can utilize to profit from with a blog.

First, you can simply focus primarily on self publishing all your work to a blog (or blogs if you write in more than one area). The numerous pages of fresh, original content will be slurped up by the search engines and drive quality, targeted traffic to your blog. You can profit from this traffic by selling advertising, using third-party advertising services such as pay-per-click or pay-per-lead programs, or promote affiliate programs and products. If you want to focus simply on your writing and your audience then pay-per-click or affiliate programs is probably the easiest method to choose.

You can publish your writing in your own free ezine, newsletter, ebook, or some other informational product and use the blog to promote those products. You can still derive some profit from advertising or affiliate programs if you choose as well, but the additional informational products give you even more venues to profit.

You can publish your own ezine, newsletter, ebook, or some other informational product that is only available for purchase and use your free blog to capture leads and promote those products. Again, you still have the option to earn from advertising and affiliate programs on your blog in addition to your earnings from sales.

You can make a very nice living from giving your writing away but if you do not want to do that then you can choose to only give away a small portion and only share the balance of your work with paying customers. Either way you will have complete power and control over your own published work and you will reap all the financial rewards from your own hard work and talent.

Freelance writers should consider self publishing with a blog using one of these three profit models.

Deanna Mascle shares 7 Reasons Every Writer Needs To Blog and a free ebook Blogging For Fun Or Profit at http://route60.us/freelancewriters.php to help you get started with your own blog

Time Waits For No One - Including Writers

2007-01-04T16:51:00.000-08:00

By Kym Moore

So, you’re thinking about writing a novel or a book of short stories? Are you determined to have a book of poetry published this year? Do you have that burning desire to overcome those writing challenges and take your written compositions to another level? We tend to look to outside influences, things and people for inspiration and motivation. Yet, what good is inspiration if you never do anything with it? Do you catch yourself saying that “you don’t have time to be a writer, because you’re just too busy?”

If you want to truly understand the essence of time, ask someone who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness and given a certain amount of time to live. Ask a parent about time, who suddenly lost their only child in a tragic accident. Ask a person who was a dedicated employee for years with one company, never taking a vacation or a personal day off, then surprisingly losing their job, due to restructuring and budget costs. Out of these challenges, many books, articles, poems, support systems, seminars and organizations are born. These births are designed for healing and helping others get through some difficult times that the writer experienced. Time is short? No, time is precious and is a gift that must be used wisely.

Time doesn’t care whether or not you are young or old; male or female; rich or poor; good or bad; smart or dumb; married or single; happy or sad; a college grad or a high school drop out. Time is not concerned with your race, denomination or even if you’re not well traveled. Time moves on, with you or without you.

Do you think that writing is for the elite who have nothing but "time" on their hands? Well, writers just like other professionals, are among an elite group of people. In order to be a good writer, you must “make” the time to perfect your craft. It takes time, practice, patience, perseverance and a tough exterior to face those challenging situations that can attack your writing. Do you give up, give in, give out or give it your all-in-all?

Write that novel, chapbook, e-book or some articles starting now! Join a writer’s group or seek an agent to submit your completed manuscript to. Stop waiting! Just do it!

If now is not the time, then when do you think the time will be right to write? If you continue to wait to get started, you’ll quickly discover that others have already begun and succeeded. Their ideas or style of writing may not be better than yours, but they did something you didn’t do. They made it happen. So, what are you waiting for again? Don’t say that you don’t have time either!

Kym Gordon Moore is a creative marketing strategist for Moore 2 It Productions and coordinates cost effective, creative marketing packages for budget conscious new authors and new small business owners. http://www.moore2itproductions.com She is the author of the eBook, “Alphabet Soup: 5 Main Ingredients for Turning Words into a Bowl of Hot Topics!” Many of her articles, essays, short stories and poems appeared in a variety of magazines, newspapers, ezines and anthologies. http://www.kymgmoore.com

What's The Best Way To Become A Copywriter

2007-01-04T16:47:00.000-08:00

By Kevin D Browne

So what is the best way to become a copywriter? Is there a suggested pathway that virtually guarantees success at finding one of the greatest jobs there is?

Yes and no.

The yes part is relatively easy to answer. The best way to become a copywriter while in school is to EXPOSE yourself to as many different courses as you can. Seriously. Sounds like a wishy washy answer but it most certainly is not. By exposing yourself do radically different types of learning, you'll have a dramatically larger toolbox from which to draw from when you do get into the copywriter ranks. In effect, you'll have more weapons to fire. And that's a great thing.

As far as the no part of the answer...things get more complicated because some people are 100% ready to start putting the finishing touches on their spec portfolios after school while others need to go to advertising 'finishing schools' like SVA in NYC or th Art Institute in California to really put the white glove treatment on the work in their books.

As for me, I attended college in New England and studied Economics of all things with a minor in psychology (thought that would do the trick in terms of diversifying my thoughts) and then I headed to Los Angeles where I took five or six courses at different 'finishing schools.' And after winning several awards at the student level in LA, I landed my first job at a small shop called Kresser Stein Robaire.

For me, that was the best way to become a copywriter. For you, a different approach might just be your ticket. But the one thing I want to reemphasize is that you should never, ever, stop exposing yourself to as many different possibilities of learning. It will keep you creative when you become a big heavy hitter and write a Super Bowl spot or two!

To learn EXACTLY how you can learn the best way to become a copywriter, visit Kevin's Browne's new site: http://www.become-a-copywriter.com. And bring a notebook and a pen with you!

FREE: Creative Writing Software

2006-12-16T21:00:00.000-08:00

Power Writer™ is the first of a new breed of program for the creative writer, one which takes you from first idea through to final manuscript as one continuous act of creation.™

It erases the line between story development and story writing by fully integrating the outlining and development tools directly into the word processor. What this means to you is that your outline and story development data always remains up to date and useful, even through the most grueling rewrite.

Power Writer's unique work environment allows you to jump from outline to manuscript, from research to character development then back to your manuscript again all without ever losing a beat.

>> Download a Power Writer™ DEMO version

Creative Writing Software Review: Dramatica Pro

2006-12-16T20:54:00.000-08:00

Novelists, Screenwriters, and Fiction Writers of all kinds...

Dramatica is both a series of software products for writers and a relatively unique perspective of how stories work. This site is the home of hundreds of pages of materials and tools for anyone interested in creating, critiquing, analyzing, writing, or otherwise working with stories.
Got a story in mind? How about an idea for a story? Either way, Dramatica Pro is a great place to start. As your creative writing partner, it takes you to a special place- a story development environment where together you'll solve the plot and character problems that prevent many good stories from becoming great enough to sell.

Dramatica Pro asks you all the questions about your story that you should be asking but probably forget to.

Dramatica's StoryGuide handholds you from initial idea all the way through to completed narrative treatment, inspiring you and supporting you along the way. It's like having a successful author as your writing partner, sitting by your side and mentoring you!

Writing A Novel Requires Conflict

2006-12-15T17:53:00.000-08:00

By Andrea Waggener

Writing a novel can’t be done without first establishing the novel’s plot. What is the plot? The structure of the story. You must know this structure before writing a novel.

There are three main elements to plot:

1. CONFLICT—A lot of beginning novelists make a huge mistake in their writing. They think that things happening, people doing stuff, characters interacting, is plot.

This isn’t plot. This is just stuff happening. A story is more than stuff happening. A story, for the purposes of writing a novel, has conflict.

Conflict is the process of a need or want meeting face to face with an obstacle. Conflict is the core of good story telling.

To figure out the conflicts in your novel, you need to know two things:

--What does your character need or want?

--What is in the way of your character getting what he or she needs or wants?

To create a powerful plot, be sure you give your character many obstacles. Those obstacles can come in three forms. They can be other characters. They can be situations. They can be the character him or herself.

Putting together a series of wants that butt up against challenges is the core of a good plot. You must know your story’s conflicts before writing an novel.

2. STORY QUESTION—The second element of a great plot is creating story questions. Story questions are the questions you raise in your reader’s mind. Every novel needs to raise questions that keep the reader turning pages.

A good novel raises questions on the first page and keeps asking questions (or doesn’t answer the questions already raised) until the last page of the novel.

3. THEME—The last main element of plot is theme. The theme of your novel is some sort of statement about human nature or about life. It’s your message.

What is the point of writing a novel? To tell an entertaining story, of course. But that’s not all you’re doing, right? Don’t you have a message in your idea? Isn’t there something you’re trying to say about the human condition or the world?

Some plots will raise theme naturally. Some plots don’t raise much theme, and you’ll have to think about the message you want to share with your readers and work it into your story. Remember that theme is subtle. Don’t beat your readers over the head with it. Just let the story suggest the theme.

So these are the elements of plot—conflict, story question, theme. Be sure you keep these elements in mind when you create your plot before writing a novel.

Andrea Rains Waggener, author and writing coach, is the author of Novel Writing Made Easy--How To Plan A Novel That Practically Writes Itself and How To Become A Writer Extraordinaire--The Beginning Writer's Roadmap To Writing Success. Get FREE special reports on how to avoid common fiction writing mistakes and sign up for free weekly writing tips at her writing help sites, http://www.novelwritingmadeeasy.com and http://www.howtobecomeawriterextraordinaire.com.

Screenplay and Script Writing Software

2006-12-15T17:46:00.000-08:00

By Mark Gonney

When it comes to screenplay software each screenwriter needs to determine what they need from the program they purchase and pick one that fits their specific needs. Screenwriting software doesn't write the screenplay for you. Why do I say this? I don't want you to be under the impression one software application is "better" or the "best" script writing software. No script writing software should be chosen based on it helping you complete your screenplay "better" or "faster" than another.

What makes a screenplay "better" is the skill and execution of the writer. What determines how fast a screenplay is completed is how fast the writer is with their skill and execution. Thinking particular screenplay software helps you write a better screenplay is like thinking a fancy gun helps you shoot on target. You are the writer and you are the creative force behind your idea or concept. Picking the proper tools to help you complete this idea or concept are choices only you can determine based on your particular writing needs.

For me, the program I utilize is Final Draft. Why? For my needs Final Draft acts like a word processing program on steroids. Its user face is similar to Microsoft Word with the only difference being it is specific to industry standard screenplay format. In other words, unlike writing a screenplay in a word processing program like MS Word, Once you put a character's name in the first time you don't have to type it again. What happens is when it gets to the section of the screenplay where you type in the character it will either punch it in for you once you type the first letter or a pop up pull down menu will come up so you can pick from the list of characters you've introduced if two characters have the same first initial!

For sections where you would input setting, action & dialogue the program automatically tabs to the proper position just allowing you to just write your screenplay. This is all I need from screen writing software. I don't utilize all of the tools of Final Draft that exist, but they have some cool ones like the double dialogue feature and the notes feature that act like index cards amongst other things.

Final Draft

Movie Magic Screenwriter

Dramatica Pro 4

Power Structure

Dr. Format Screenwriting Software

Write Brothers StoryView 2.0

The Hollywood Screenplay® Screenwriting Software Suite

Hollywood Screenwriter

Sophocles Screenwriting software

and

Scriptware

provide something for every writer. Each of these screenplay writing software programs is a powerful, stand-alone tool. It is up to you to decide which is more comfortable for you and which fits your writing needs, but remember...all these programs can be are tools to help you complete your screenplay. They do not create characters or ideas or give logic to your story. Only you, the screenwriter, can do this. So read the reviews from users who have tried these programs and see which one works best for you.

Mr. Mark S. Gonney is a former script reader for The Urbanworld Film Festival and an article writer for screenwriting-resources.com.

Screenwriting, Screenplay, and Movie Script Resources for Writers: The online resource directory geared towards helping writers overcome the peaks and valleys of the creative process and complete their final draft!

http://www.screenwriting-resources.com

Free Resume Writing Software: What to Look for ?

2006-12-15T17:43:00.000-08:00

By Yulin Peng

If you are feeling as though you have a serious case of resume writer's block, don't feel alone. This is the case for many people, especially those who are re-entering the workforce or who are new at job searching. Fortunately, free resume writing software can help to relieve a significant amount of your stress and make it possible for you to create an effective resume and have it in the hands of prospective employers in no time.

Free resume writing software services vary in terms of what is offered and how the information you create can be accessed. Therefore, it is extremely important that you research these factors when considering the use of any free resume writing software. For example, some free resume writing software services are very basic in nature. This type of free resume writing software provides only a basic template in which you must fill in all the information and provides no help on wording, etc.

More advanced forms of free resume writing software go a step beyond and also offers suggestions and tips on wording. In addition, some types of free resume writing software may only offer one format. Depending on your personal situation, that format may not be the most suitable to highlight your unique skills and abilities and detract from anything that could hinder your chances at gaining employment. Whenever possible, look for free resume writing software that offers you a choice in format.

For more options, consider buying a professional resume software or hiring a resume writer to do the work for you.

Yulin Peng is a recruiting researcher and the founder of http://www.job-employment-guide.com The website provides employment guide to job seekers and recruiting research services to recruiters.

Creative Writing Software

2006-12-15T09:24:00.000-08:00

Writing software allows you to develop aspects of your story individually before bringing them together for the final product.
Creative writing software can help you improve your writing in the comfort of your own home, without the cost of expensive writing courses.
Creative writing software manages plot, character, settings and conflicts so all you have to do is—create.

Here a complete list of creative writing software

Fiction Writing Software
Wide Selection - Beat Any Price Free Bonuses with Any Order
storymind.com

Creative Writing Software
Download the Free Trial software. Visualize, Organize, Outline, Write
Writers Block

Novel Writing Software
Amazing Creative Writing Software. Plans& Structures Your Novel Fully
New Novelist

Creative Writing Software
Write Pro, Movie Magic, Dramatica Low prices. Fast shipping.
www.MasterFreelancer.com

Writing for Magazines: Tips for freelancers

2006-12-10T16:11:00.000-08:00

By Jeff Lakie

As the magazine industry proliferates, so does the need for writers. And as is the case in many industries, employers often prefer to use freelance or independent contractor help, instead of having fulltime employees for whom they have to provide benefits, workspace, and other support. And with computer and Internet technology what it is today, freelance writers can create their articles from anywhere, email them to their editors, and never even have to meet the magazine production staff in person. But as the task of freelancing and its logistics become easier, so does the competition between freelancers.

Here are four tips to help freelancers who want to write for magazines:

1) Be professional.

Many writers are willing to work for less money, in exchange for the status of being published. And some do it just as a hobby, because they have other sources of primary income. While this creates competition, it also means that many writers – or those aspiring to be writers – lack professionalism or talent. The more you can stick to deadlines, present yourself in an organized way, and write copy that is free of mistakes, the more successful you will be as a freelancer.

2) Be unique.

If you have a background in a particular profession, hobby, or other interest, you may be able to parlay that into a writing job for a specialty magazine. Some magazines look for woodworkers, some need writers who know about cars or photography, and others need writers who understand wine or home decorating. If you happen to have some knowledge and experience, you can market yourself to magazines that follow the things you know and enjoy.

3) Communicate with your editor.

Good writers always stay in touch with their editors, without overwhelming them with unnecessary questions. If you have a problem with a deadline, tell your editor right away. If you have a question about editorial guidelines, ask an editor. The better you communicate, the more you will get hired.

4) Focus on what you do best.

If you are really good at interviews but no so good at doing research, then try to write for magazines that favor interviews over investigative reporting. And if you are a fiction writer who stumbles when it comes to non-fiction, then seek jobs in the fiction category. Doing what you do best not only makes your job easier, but it allows you to concentrate your energy on jobs that will probably pay you more in the long run.

Freelancing for magazines is not for everyone, but if you have a knack for writing and for managing your own time, then it can afford you great job satisfaction and a chance to work your own hours, from home. And along the way you’ll learn more about the writing craft, so that you can continue to build on your talents and marketable skills.

Jeff Lakie has helped many internet surfers since launching his website aeroplane monthly which details many aspects of the Plastic Surgery industry. Jeff also prides himself on over-delivering, why not stop by today and see why.

The Power of Observation in Creative Writing

2006-12-10T16:04:00.000-08:00

By Andrea

Creativity isn't just about waxing eloquent about the beauty of a woodland stream or a rugged seashore. In fact, the most difficult creativity is often the most rewarding: being creative with the everyday aspects of life. That means being observant about everything -- and I mean everything -- around you.

Start with this exercise:

Sit down on in a park, the mall, Starbucks -- wherever there are a lot of sights, smells, sounds. Use all five senses to take in your surroundings. Do you hear the scraping of dry leaves or the hiss of the espresso machine? Do you smell the richness of damp earth or the aroma of coffee, or are you overwhelmed by the cologne of the man sitting next to you? What does the bench or chair or ground feel like under you? Take it all in. Then write!

Search for the best word to describe every single sight, smell, gesture, feeling, sound, and anything else you can think of. If your writing is missing any of the five senses -- sight, smell, sound, touch, and even taste -- go back and rework it.

Creativity through observation is a lot of work, but once you've mastered it, your writing will be all the richer and more rewarding for the addition.

Andrea's writing background includes features, editorials, reviews, profiles, poetry and fiction. She was the winner of the MOTA short story contest in 2002 and received honorable mentions for fiction from Writer’s Journal magazine in 2002 and 2004. Check out her blog at http://creativewithwriting.blogspot.com

Article Writing - How to Make Your Articles Extremely Readable

2006-12-10T16:01:00.000-08:00

By Sean Mize

One of the easiest ways to make your articles more readable is to write them with the same language and tone of voice you would use if you were chatting with a friend over a cup of coffee. Your articles should not read like legal briefs or treatises; instead they should be very easy to read and should flow comfortably.

There is no reason online to try to use a huge vocabulary or long sentences. In fact, the opposite is true. The computer screen is hard enough to read on its own, there is no good reason to use a big vocabulary or long, hard-to-decipher sentences.

I like to think that I am explaining a concept or idea to a friend of mine over a glass of iced tea in a rocking chair on my back porch, watching the sun go down in the evening. How is that for a picture? Give yourself that kind of feel when you are writing, and your articles should become much more natural and easy to read.

Also, when you are writing – just write, don’t edit as you go. Write down what comes naturally to your mind, without regard for how it sounds, and then you can edit it later. Generally if you write naturally, as you think the thoughts, they will tend to be more comfortable and easy to read.

So there you have it - now go out and write articles that are ultra-readable! It will be well worth the effort!

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article marketing success, ‘Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide‘

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Promotion

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 400 articles in print and 8 published ebooks.

Brand Yourself By Writing Articles

2006-12-09T21:47:00.000-08:00

by: Ruth Barringham

Your first question after reading the title of this article is probably, ‘what does it mean to brand yourself?’

Well, it means exactly what it says. When we go to the supermarket we tend to trust brands we know. We look at the name of the manufacturer on the label – Heinz, HP, Nescafe, etc – and we instinctively trust these names. Why? Because they’re known brands.

This is exactly what you need to do to yourself if you want to be a successful writer. Brand yourself. Get your name ‘out there’ and get it known to as many different people as you possibly can.

Using articles on the internet is a great way to brand yourself, because your name can become known all over the world in an instant, or as long as it takes for someone to read your article.

There are plenty of ezines and web sites looking for articles with good, well-written content.

But how do you go about writing an article and getting it known?

First, you need to pick a subject to write about, a subject that people are interested in. It also needs to be a subject that you are knowledgeable in or, preferably, be related to a book you’ve recently written or a product you’re trying to sell. This way, even though the articles are written for free, they can result in sales.

Everyone has a subject that they’re knowledgeable in. Writers usually write about writing, artists about painting, chefs about cooking and housewives about cleaning, chores, children, etc.

Even if you feel you’re not knowledgeable about anything, think of a subject that you’re interested in, and that others might be interested in too. Research the subject (children’s books at the library are usually the easiest to understand on any subject) and make copious notes.

Make sure though, that your article is only about one subject without going off on a tangent about something only related to it. For instance, if your subject is about writing a novel, don’t suddenly veer off and start talking about short stories.

Readers are only interested in one subject at a time, and if your article doesn’t stick to its promise of the content it originally promised, your readers will quickly lose interest, stop reading and be dubious about any other article written by you.

Remember; if you’re going to brand yourself, make sure it’s a brand people can trust.

Every article should have a beginning, middle and an end. I know that sounds pretty obvious but it’s a point that quite often gets missed.

Your beginning needs to state a problem. The middle should discuss this problem and offer examples, if possible. The end needs to offer solutions and then sum up. And your bio should be included at the end of the article.

Your title should in some way explain what the article is about.

The word count should be no more than 1,000. You can go to 1,500 at a push but just remember that it’s much harder to read from computer screen and readers get tired of reading if the article is too long.

Make good use of white spaces and keep paragraphs short to make the article easier to read.

Make sure your article isn’t an obvious sales pitch or your reader won’t even bother to finish reading it.

Make sure your article is full of facts and be sure that they are correct.
Keep your writing tight and avoid flowery prose which has no place in a non-fiction article.

Be sure that your articles are available for reprint to anyone who wants to use them.

Use free article sites that can quickly and efficiently upload your articles ready for publication across the whole World Wide Web.

Manually submit your articles to web sites or ezines looking for content, but make sure your article is appropriate for their needs.

But above all else, make sure your articles are informative. If they don’t offer information to the reader, then you come across looking like an amateur who doesn’t know anything about their subject or how to write.

Here are some article sites that you can submit your articles to for free:

http://EzineArticles.com/

http://www.articledashboard.com

http://www.aboveallcontent.com

http://www.writeaholic.co.uk/article.html

Just make sure you check out all guidelines before you submit to these sites.

So, all that’s left to do now is get writing, get your articles out there and BRAND yourself.

Good luck

About The Author
Ruth Barringham is a freelance writer and runs a web site at http://www.writeaholic.co.uk.

Tips on Writing a Book Now

2006-12-09T21:46:00.000-08:00

by: Steve Manning

Here's a string of tips on writing a book. They're brief, succinct and very useful. These tips on writing a book have been designed to get you up and writing your book as quickly as possible.

They'll help you start writing, continue writing and finish writing your book. Your manuscript will be ready for the agent, or the publisher, or on its way to self publishing success.

Here are your tips on writing a book:

You can't start writing your book and continue writing until the book has been written. It's too big a job. It's going to take you a few days. Probably a couple of weeks.

People take years to write their book because they go at the task sporadically. You've got to write every day. If you don't, you find yourself having written nothing for months at a time.

Your book writing success or failure depends largely on the outlining process. Create an outstanding outline for your book and you're writing task becomes easy. You should know exactly what happens on every page before you start writing your first word.

If you think you can write your book by being spontaneously creative as you write, you're wrong. You're welcome to try, just about every novice author does. But I'd bet money it won't work for you. Create the exhaustive outline.

Your outline should consist of a series of questions: What does the library look like, how is she dressed, why does he feel so angry, what does she do when she reaches the house. It's simply easier to write in response to a question than it is to write in response to a statement.

Spend a short time writing to answer each question. Just a few minutes. You don't want this to become a protracted bunch of puff. You want real story.

Don't stop until the book is finished. There's a real tendency to stop and edit the work that you've just completed. After all, editing is a lot easier to do than the actual writing. So you can feel that you're still working, but it won't be as difficult. Don't do it! Keep writing until the book is finished.

Give yourself a period for writing and stick to that amount of time come hell or high water. Even if it's just 15 minutes a day. Initially you're just going for the discipline. Eventually you'll get the writing quality as well, but the discipline is most important factor for the completion of your work in the shortest amount of time possible.

Doing research for your book writing can be fun. But don't do it until after the book is written. If you come to a point where you've got to get a piece of information that you don't have in you head, just put down an asterisk and keep the flow of the book going. After the manuscript is finished, you can look back for all those asterisks and get just the information you need.

About The Author
Steve Manning is a master writer showing thousands of people how they can write their book faster than they ever thought possible. Here's your free Special Report, http://www.WriteABookNow.com/main.html

Make Money With Writing Books on Spirituality and Self Help: 10 Great Reasons To Become An Author Today

2006-12-09T21:44:00.000-08:00

by: Arielle Ford

It was the first time I overheard someone whisper "she’s the author", as I walked into a book signing, that I suddenly realized that I had achieved something very special. Not only had I managed to get my book published, I now received respect and admiration from total strangers. Being an author even it today’s digitized world, is still an awe-inspiring accomplishment.

In 2005 USA TODAY reported eighty-two percent of Americans say they plan to write a book someday. I think the critical word here is 'plan'. If you want to be someone who really does write a book, you can begin right now by understanding how being an author will improve your life.

Here is my top ten list why you should become an author today, especially if you are a spirituality, self help or personal growth expert:

1. Authors are recognized as experts by virtue of having a book with their name on the cover.

2. The media loves authors (i.e. experts) and uses them often, on all levels.

3. Being an author improves your chances of getting paid speaking engagements.

4. While you may not become a millionaire from writing a book, you can certainly improve your chances of increasing your income.

5. When you go to your high school reunion, you can finally shove your book under the noses of all who snubbed you in your teenage years.

6. If you ever felt that you weren’t 'smart enough', writing a book will certainly go a long way in curing that.

7. Being an author gives you a stronger sense of self-esteem.

8. Your book will open doors and create business opportunities you wouldn't have received without it.

9. Having a book gives you a platform for teaching workshops and seminars.

10. Being an author is a great icebreaker at cocktail parties. (Hint: authors are often considered VIPs or celebrities! It’s true!)

When I started writing my first book, it wasn’t because I was sure I wanted Bill O’Reilly’s producer to have my name in his Rolodex to call whenever he needed a 'mystical' New Age expert. (In fact I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted that at all!) I didn’t devote hundreds of hours to stories of couples finding one another through magical, mystical ways just to impress strangers at a cocktail party. And I can definitely tell you I didn’t write six books just to tell my old high school classmates about it.

I wrote because I had to. I had a story inside of me that wouldn’t rest until I put it onto the page. The benefits of actually finishing the book and becoming a bona fide author and the other "reasons" were simply an afterthought.

I can do everything short of putting a cattle prod under you to get you started on writing your self help book, but, at the end of the day, writing has to be something you want to do. Sure, it’s hard to sit down day after day and stare at a blank computer screen. I know how hard it is to tell your mom or your husband that you only typed two pages in an entire day. I can tell you hundreds of great things about being an author, but not a single one will really get you to the finish line.

What will get you down the home stretch is the satisfaction of knowing that you’re being true to yourself. You dreamt of becoming an author because you had to. You envisioned title ideas and chapter outlines because they came to you and wouldn’t go away. You told your friends you wanted to write a book because you could and you will.

You are an author, and you always have been. All you need to do now is make it happen. It might not be scintillating cocktail banter that puts a finished manuscript in your hands, but keeping your eyes on the prize can’t hurt.

About The Author

Arielle Ford is a world renowned publicist credited with launching the careers of Deepak Chopra and more than a dozen other New York Times best selling authors in the field of self help, spirituality and personal growth. To learn more, go to http://www.EverythingYouShouldKnow.com to sign up for Arielle's "Best Seller Strategies" newsletter and get a free copy of Arielle's guide, "Everything You Should Know About Marketing Yourself Positively & Powerfully On a Budget" free of charge.

Authors: Do You Have a Web Site to Promote Your Book?

2006-12-09T21:42:00.000-08:00

by: Donna Monday

I was browsing online the other day and discovered the news about a first time novelist who had recently published a book telling the story of an African tribe suffering the loss of land and identity. Her story is based on her true-life experiences and research. She’s even donating a portion of the book’s profits to a charity that helps the displaced people. Her whole story sounded intriguing. However, when I looked for her web site--I couldn’t find it.

What a shame, I thought.

While her book is featured on Amazon.com and other online bookseller sites, and there’s a couple of press releases announcing her book signings, there is no obvious web presence for this wonderful book and its author. My immediate thought was that she was leaving book awareness and sales on the table.

Maybe she feels she doesn’t need a web site because she has the charity and her publisher assisting with publicity, or because there is some expressed interest in movie rights. Even so, I feel that a simple web site featuring her telling her story of how she researched and wrote her book, with photos of her on location, would do wonders for her novel.

In today’s fast-paced world, where attention spans can last a nanosecond, an author can’t afford NOT to have a web site. Even if people aren’t lining up to buy your book today, they can visit your web site and browse. If they like your site, there’s a good chance they’ll be back in the future, or tell friends about it. I think this point is especially true for us first-time novelists. In my opinion, a fiction novel is the hardest type of book to promote and sell online or offline. There are literally thousands of fiction novels published each year, due to how easy it is to get a POD published book on the market.

Authors have tons of competition to get noticed. While the amount of readers are declining, the amount of books being published is going up. New authors have to compete with each other, as well as, established authors, movies, TV, blogs, video games, and other entertainment offerings. From a reader’s perspective, why should they read your book over someone else’s?

Your web site gives you a fighting chance to capture someone’s attention and introduce them to you and your brand of storytelling. Plus, you have the creative freedom to make your site look however you wish. It’s all about colors, graphics and words—especially words.

HELLO WORLD, I’M HERE!

CHECK OUT THIS GREAT BOOK!

HERE’S A SAMPLE OF MY STORYTELLING!

Because most authors have to do their own promotion, your web site is your own personal promotion booth sitting amidst a vast sea of similar booths inside a virtual flea market. Remember, people are online 24-7 looking up information on all sorts of things.

While you’re sleeping, someone could be visiting your web site.

While you’re out shopping, someone could be visiting your web site.

While you’re busy at work, someone could be visiting your web site.

Of course, if you don’t have a web site promoting your book, then potential readers will just have to wait until they stumble across your book while reading about your book signing somewhere, or maybe browsing the online bookstores, or maybe hearing about your book from a friend of a friend . . . you get the idea.

Why leave it up to chance?

Web sites are easy to get up and running these days, so there’s no excuse not to have at least a page featuring your book. Believe me, people will be looking for it, and if you don’t have a web presence, they’ll move on to the next author that does.

About The Author
© Donna Monday
Love, desire, power and immortality are in the mix when mortal and immortal worlds collide in an upstate New York town. You’ll love the characters in my new novel - The Best Black Vampire Story You’ve Ever Read. Check it out for yourself. Warning: Once you start reading, there‘s a strong possibility you‘ll be sucked into this mesmerizing drama until the very end. http://www.donnamonday.com/Best_Black_Vampire_Story.html.

12 Ways to Research a Historical Novel

2006-12-09T21:37:00.000-08:00

by: Ann Roscopf Allen

Whether you are fictionalizing historical events or making up your own story, attention to detail can determine whether your novel is credible to history buffs or if they’ll give it a pass.

1. Read about the general history of the locale where your story is set, so you have some context for your story.

2. If at all possible, visit the locale. Carefully observe details: types of foliage, local seasonal changes, weather conditions, architecture, perspectives. You may see interesting and important details that you wouldn’t know to make up. Also, make note of what’s not there; sometimes this is as important as what is there.

3. Visit local museums. They can be a wealth of information about the daily life of an era.

4. Explore old cemeteries, especially those where the models for your characters are buried. Take note of common names used in that area and era.

5. Research old newspapers. If you don’t live in the area, you can usually hire a researcher through the local public library or use inter-library loan. In addition to basic information about your story, you can get a sense of the language used at the time, other contemporaneous events, even products that were available.

6. Seek out and talk to knowledgeable people. The local librarian can help you find historical societies or amateur historians. Networking can be an essential part of your research strategy since not everything is written down somewhere, especially legends, myths, anecdotes, even the location of other written sources, such as letters and diaries.

7. Consider searching for any legal documents related to your story. Old deeds, contracts, and wills are likely to be filled with more unusual information than current boilerplate legal forms. Legal research can be tricky, but historically minded lawyers may be willing to help you out.

8. Take a look at the fiction written at the time your story is set. Often this proves to be a good source of details about the time period and even the locale.

9. Don’t ignore the footnotes. If you find a book related to your subject, don’t limit your reading to the body of the book. Endnotes, epilogues, indexes, and other appendices can contain a great deal of useful information.

10. Consider specialized data bases and sources. War records, genealogical information, and the census can reveal worthwhile information. This type of resource is often available through university libraries or research centers.

11. Buy some good reference books: a dictionary of slang or phrase origins to make sure you don’t use anachronistic language; a writer’s encyclopedia or other general reference of historical lists, dates of inventions, timelines; an unabridged dictionary; a thesaurus. Building your own reference library is a smart idea for any writer.

12. Use the Internet to its full advantage. Although reference books are often a quicker way to find information, the Internet can be more thorough, if you have the time to search. If you need to know something truly esoteric, place a post on the message board of a relevant website. But if you limit your research to the Internet alone, you are truly limiting yourself. Old newspaper archives, photographs, details of a particular locale may not be readily available online.

Because you’ll use probably only a fraction of the information you uncover in your research, you have to decide which details are worth the time to research and which are not. Regardless, the more you know, the more comfortable you’ll feel writing about a different time. Your novel will be more engaging and credible with artfully placed and historically accurate information.

About The Author

Ann Roscopf Allen is a college writing instructor and the author of the historical novel A Serpent Cherished, based on the true story of an 1891 Memphis murder. Visit her website at http://www.aserpentcherished.com/pages/1/index.htm.

Writing Twenty Novels (In Ten Easy Steps!)

2006-12-09T21:30:00.000-08:00

by: Steven Barnes

During a recent telephone conversation, I mentioned having sent off the last revisions for my twentieth novel, “Great Sky Woman.” There was a silence on the other side of the phone, followed by the question “How in the world do you do that? Twenty novels!”

The truth is that I know many writers who have written far more than twenty novels. It is not that unusual. In fact, if you are a working writer, the “perfect” output is very close to a book a year. Less often than this, and the readers stop anticipating your next book, and wander to another writer’s literary pasture.

There is a commonality to the behavior patterns of successful writers, and a commonality to the behavior patterns of writers who just can’t get started, can’t get finished, or stall out at their first or third book.

Successful, prolific writers:

1) Write every day. That’s EVERY day. They sit down, open their veins, and bleed into their computers. Yes, it can be painful, but if you don’t maintain this kind of regularity, rust creeps in. The connection between heart, mind and fingers is broken. And we mistake the struggle for our natural state.

2) Read every day. Reading is priming the pump. It is modeling successful behavior. It is increasing vocabulary, studying plot and characterization, and entertaining the little subconscious demons and angels who actually do the deep work. Never neglect this.

3) Set deadlines and quotas. There is a certain amount of work to be done, on a daily basis. It need not be some huge amount—a page a day will create a book a year!

4) Create a writing space, a place that feels comfortable to them. This is both a physical space (a desk) and a psychological space (created with music, posters, familiar objects, etc.) It may also be a temporal space—a specific time of day or night that they write.

5) Have specific goals. They have committed to being professional writers. This is how they define themselves, and they never forget it. If you accept this definition, then you MUST behave as a professional writer, on a daily basis, or it causes emotional discomfort. They are willing to accept this friendly prod.

6) Don't listen to the negative voices in their heads. Everyone has them. The voices tell you you can’t, you mustn’t, it isn’t good enough. You must find a way to tell the voices to shut up, to ignore them, or to quiet them. Any flow-based activity will help here: meditation, Tai Chi, yoga, running, Sufi breathing exercises, martial arts…the list is endless. Find one.

7) Are committed to the long-term. They know that if they spend an hour or three a day, every day, for a decade, they will build their career.

8) Expose themselves to criticism and rejection. In other words, they FINISH their projects, and then SUBMIT those finished projects to editors and agents.

9) Involve other people in their “master mind” group. Successful writers know other writers. And readers. And editors. And agents. They befriend them, recruit them, get feedback from them, and listen to the feedback. This is their “brain trust.” Unsuccessful writers hide in their offices, never finish their work, never send it out to risk rejection.

10) Have W.I.T.---they will do Whatever It Takes to ethically reach their dreams, to become the best they can be. They never quit. They know that success is based less on talent or “who you know” than persistence, hard work, and honesty.

There are more distinctions, but I’m out of time—got to start working on book twenty-one!

About The Author

Steven Barnes

NY Times Bestselling writer Steven Barnes has lectured on storytelling and creativity at USC, UCLA, Seattle University, and the Smithsonian Institute. Creator of the first whole-mind high performance system for writers, he can be reached at: http://www.lifewrite.com and http://www.lifewriting.biz.

A Book for Writers: "Aspects of the Novel," by E. M. Forster

2006-12-09T21:29:00.000-08:00

by: Lisa Silverman

I’m about to tell you to read the most useful book of essays I’ve ever read about fiction--a book that dates from 1927 and refers to works by such authors as Dostoyevsky, Melville, Thomas Hardy, and D. H. Lawrence. The good news: even if you haven’t read a single work by those authors, you’ll still find "Aspects of the Novel" engrossing, relevant, and helpful in your own work. I promise--whether you’re writing commercial sci-fi mysteries or literary character studies.

E. M. Forster, novelist and frequent beneficiary (or victim, depending on your point of view) of Merchant-Ivory film adaptations, gave a series of lectures at Cambridge in 1927, which were then published as "Aspects of the Novel." The book’s chapters are titled “The Story,” “People,” “The Plot,” “Fantasy,” “Prophecy,” and “Pattern and Rhythm.” That’s it. These are Forster’s topics, and he covers them in few words--the book totals only about 175 pages.

Can Forster, a novelist from another era, say anything you haven’t heard before, especially when he covers a subject as complex as story in a mere seventeen pages? I defy you to find a more concise explanation of the difference between story and plot than this:

“'The king died and then the queen died'” is a story. 'The king died, and then the queen died of grief' is a plot."

Of course, Forster elaborates on his point, but that’s not a bad start, is it? Even if your fiction is loaded with story, it may be in need of plot, as Forster defines it. A lot of the unpublished fiction I read is loaded with story but in need of plot--even if that’s the case in only one scene or in only one paragraph. This book will help you understand how to change that. (Hint: it has a lot to do with the word why.)

You may look at the list of chapters and think, What the $%*# is prophecy? Two pages in, you’ll begin to understand. I can’t quite do it justice here, but it’s a quality Forster sees in the truly great novelists, and not in the truly good ones. It’s about creating characters who are both real and part of something greater than themselves. Our author makes no secret of his opinions on who fits into which category, but I’ll let you find those opinions out for yourself. Whether your favorites are his favorites isn’t the point, anyway. The point is that his insights can help you bring your own writing closer to that transcendent level.

Forster uses examples from wide-ranging works to make his points, from "War and Peace" and "Wuthering Heights" to--well, to some obscure novels from his own period that none of us have heard of or will hear of again. But it doesn’t matter: he provides the perfect examples from each book to bolster his arguments and explain his points. And he might just inspire you to go out and peruse a few classics: after finishing "Aspects of the Novel," I finally decided to read "War and Peace" (let’s just say he likes that one).

He begins the book by emphatically refusing to discuss fiction in chronological order, or within the context of “influences and schools,” stuff he considers “pseudo-scholarship.” Instead, he presents the following image:

"Time, all the way through, is to be our enemy. We are to visualize the . . . novelists not as floating down that stream which bears all its sons away unless they are careful, but as seated together in a room, a circular room . . . all writing their novels simultaneously."

Who wouldn’t want to be a fly on the wall and hear the conversation in that room? And he further draws us into that room by providing a series of couplets: pairs of excerpts from (at first) unidentified novels, which he compares and then contrasts, perfectly illuminating the subtle but profound ways two writers can be both the same and different.

Forster begins with the most basic and necessary element, story, gradually takes us to the more esoteric and subjective topics of the fantastical and the prophetic in fiction, and rounds out his discussion back at the fundamentals: pattern and rhythm. His thoughts on each are opinionated, witty, and still very much relevant almost a century later. Which may help explain why Forster’s own novels are still so popular and relevant a century after their own publication.

About The Author
Lisa Silverman is a freelance book editor and works in the copyediting department at one of New York's most prestigious literary publishing houses. She has also worked as a ghostwriter and a literary agent representing both book authors and screenwriters. She founded http://www.BeYourOwnEditor.com in order to provide writers with free advice on both writing and the publishing business.

How To Write Your First Article by Gwen Tanner

2006-10-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

So you've heard that writing an article can be a great way to promote yourself, your website and your products, but you have no clue how to get started. You see hundreds of article directories that you are just dying to submit an article to, but you just have even one article to submit. Where do you start?

First, lets understand what parts of an article are needed before submitting to article directories. Your article should usually have five sections:

1. Title. Your title should indicate to the reader what the article is about. Try using a catchy title to make the reader curious to find out more about your topic. Look through various article directories and make note of the headlines that capture your attention. Try to model your own headlines after those that you found interesting and made you want to hurry and click to read the article.

2. Introduction. You should dedicate one paragraph for the introduction. Use the introduction to build upon the headline and explain the content of the article without giving it all away. Try to use your introduction as a roadmap through your article so the read will know what to expect. Also, use the introduction to build rapport with your reader - use it let them know you understand their problem and that you are about to offer them a solution.

3. Main Content. Your main content should breakdown and elaborate upon your introduction. Instead of giving an overview as you did in the introduction, begin developing each of your points. Support your points with examples, anecdotes and resources to create variety for the reader.

4. Conclusion. The conclusion of your article should be one or two paragraphs that sum up information presented in the main content. Learn to create a conclusion that sticks in the mind of the reader. For example, in how-to articles, point out the benefits of following your directions and let them know how to proceed next.

5. Author Resource Box - Always give yourself credit for being the author of the article. Use the author resource box as you business card. Include your name, your expertise and your website address. Double-check that your website address is properly linked and try to keep track of where you post articles so you can update your links if your website address changes.

Now let's look a simple article that anyone can write. One of the easiest articles to write is a "Top 10 Tips..." type article.

1. You will start off with a catchy title to gain attention such as "The Top Ten Tips for Making Extra Cash".

2. Next will be your introduction perhaps explaining to the reader that you understand their need for extra cash, and how you plan to help them.

3. The ten tips with their detailed explanations will form the main content.

4. The brief summary recaps the information and gives them an action item - tell them to immediately apply these ten tips so they can start earning extra cash!

5. Include your author resource box information. At the minimum include your name and website address.

So now you understand how you can jumpstart your way into article writing for self-promotion. Now go and start writing!
About the Author

Gwen Tanner is the owner of HaveInfo, a directory of informative and educational articles. For more training on internet marketing, writing and computer skills visit MyTrainingCenter.

Fifteen Tips for Writing an Interesting Article by Dale B. Adams

2006-10-07T19:16:00.000-07:00

1) Eliminate hyperbole - people want concise information not an artistic story

2) Start every paragraph with a different word to enhance sentence creativity

3) Use popular keyword and key phrases for your target market in your article

4) Edit unnecessary prepositions and phrases to make sentences more powerful

5) Sparingly add adjectives to make your words more colorful and descriptive

6) Try to stay neutral and don't get your emotions involved in your article

7) Write your article and sleep on it and edit it the next day with a fresh view

8) Make your article title longer and more enticing to gather more readers

9) Tell your reader something new they haven't heard before in a different way

10) Proof and read every article aloud to improve readability and create flow

11) Continue your research to jam pack important information into every article

12) Be in the habit of having both a Dictionary and Thesaurus handy for reference

13) Use plain ole easy to understand words so your reader doesn't get cross-eyed

14) The word "that" refers to things and the word "which" refers to people

15) Insert words that you have trouble spelling to increase your writing ability
About the Author

Dale Adams of Majestic Publishers is the author and self publisher of the new book, "Care Giving Made Easy - How to be an Awesome Caregiver" and the soon to be released, "How to Make Your Home Sell - Even In A Slow Market" His many experiences include being a Security Consultant, General Contractor and Energy Conservation Specialist. To learn more valuable information visit: http://www.majesticpublishers.com

The Title That Hooked The Most Readers by Steve Gillman

2006-10-07T19:15:00.000-07:00

Online article titles have to do more than those in the print world. In a print magazine, you just need to catch the attention of the reader. The title doesn't really even have to tell the reader what the article is about, since the magazine it is in will be on a specific subject area. Readers know that if it is in a fishing magazine it about a fishing-related topic.

In an online article, on the other hand, the title has to tell the potential reader what the article is about. He may see nothing but the title in the search engine results, and if he doesn't know what it's about, he's likely to just click on the next link. Online article titles have to be found in the search engines as well, meaning they have to have keywords in them that people are looking for. Of course, just like print articles, they should also catch the reader's attention.

My Best Article Titles

Sometimes you can do all three of these things pretty well in one article. An example is my article titled "Cheap Homes In Nice Towns." You know what the article is about, it is okay as an attention grabber (not great), and "cheap homes" is a keyword that many people search for each month. At one of the article directories I have submitted it to, it has been read over 17,000 times - more than double the traffic of any of the other 550 articles I have there (many have been read only a couple hundred times).

However, in checking the number of times my various articles have been viewed at this directory, I have often been surprised - enough so to remind me that "rules" are only guidelines. For example, two of the most-read articles I have there are "Remove Permanent Marker From Carpet," and "How To Get Candle Wax Out Of Carpet" (about 6,000 times each).

These are not attention-grabbing titles, but they are also not topics covered well on the internet. Obviously there is something to be said for utilitarian articles with good keywords that are not too competitive. Add easy-to-compete-for keywords to the list of things to try for in an article title.

In the top five for visits are the article titles, "Really Cheap Plane Tickets," (6,400) and "Cheap International Plane Tickets" (10,050). A promise of a way to save money seems to be a good bet. My article "Worry - Five Ways To Eliminate It," has been viewed 3,300 times, but it is fairly new, making it the most views per month by far. I suppose worry is a common enough problem that people need a solution to.

Article titles that promise to help with a problem work, then. So do those that promise to teach the reader something new, and those that are directly targeting the keywords they are searching. What else can make for a good article title?

- Ask a question: "Do You Make This Writing Mistake?"

- Tell them they can do something: "You Can Write A Better Title Today"

- Promise some value: "Ten Ways You Can Make More Money"

- Use the words "how to": "How To Overcome Writer's Block"

- Involve them with a story: "You Quit Your Job - Now What?"

Watch the reports (at the article directories and on your web sites) and try to learn from them. Of course those statistics for "views" I mention above only tell me how many times people started to read my articles. Did they finish the articles? Did they then click through to my web sites? There is more to good online writing than good article titles.

About the Author

Copyright Steve Gillman. He lost money on his websites until he discovered the power of articles. Six months later he was making a good living online. To learn how you can do the same, get your free online writing course at: http://www.999articles.com

Turning Wows Into Words by Tim Anderson

2006-10-07T19:14:00.000-07:00

It happens - you're hurtling through traffic on a collision course with a speeding deadline, or slouching on the sofa as "reality" parades across the face of a 32-inch-box, or quietly sipping a cup of tea and... lightening strikes. Something, a sound or smell or sight, grabs you by the collar, jolts you from your sensory slumber and leaves you whispering an astonished, "Wow." As writers we live for these moments in life because, when cared for properly, a fleeting insight can be transformed into a full-grown essay, article or story. Consider asking yourself these questions to help fully develop your revelatory moments:

1. What, specifically, struck you? Was it something physical - the aforementioned sight or sound or smell? Was it a concept unrelated to the physical senses? A memory that raced through the attic of your mind, sweeping away the years? Identifying the source of your inspiration will help bring focus to your piece.

2. Why is it important to you? What emotion is tied to your insight? Were you amazed, awestruck, frightened, angry, puzzled, inspired, enlightened or confused? Once you understand your own emotional response you can start to establish the feel of your piece, from lighthearted or whimsical to judiciously serious.

3. How does this apply to others? This answer determines whether your writing resonates with your readers. So, go slowly. Ask each of the first two questions again, now from the perspective of your intended audience: What will strike my readers? Why will it be important to their lives? This is the last big hurdle - once you're comfortable with this part, the tell-a-tale-train picks up speed.

4. Is the piece personal, factual or sheer fantasy? This is the nuts and bolts phase of your project. If the piece is personal, or fantasy, here is where you jot down your notes and establish a basic outline. If your piece is nonfiction, here is where you set out the additional steps you will take to establish a sense of substance and authority, including online research and additional self-education.

5. Where's my pencil? Ah... Yes, you are now at the point where it is necessary to take up paper and pencil, of the physical or keyboard variety, and begin. Begin. Don't worry about completing the piece at this point, just start. Concentrate on the first sentence and before you know it...

The rush of life often overwhelms. But sometimes, briefly, we catch the lilt of a lullaby dancing with the wind and - life speaks to us. When life next speaks to you in a strong and quiet voice, or smacks you upside the head in an onslaught of insight, share your experience with the rest of us. Take a bit of time to ask yourself the questions above and, with a little nurturing, you'll turn your "Wows" into words.
About the Author

Tim Anderson is a freelance writer who has a special interest in medical topics. Visit his blog at http://medicalmigrant.blogspot.com/

Tips On How To Write A Simple Article by Morgan Hamilton

2006-10-07T19:12:00.000-07:00

How to write a simple article? Most likely there are as many different opinions about this as there are authors, but it is enough to say that with the everlasting popularity of publications on the internet, it is safe to begin with learning how to write an online article. How to write a simple article

As there are hundreds of strict rules and strategies for writing an article full of keywords, I'd like to save you some time and effort and a possible headache too, and to teach you how to write a simple piece for online publication, an article which is included in an online database. For instance, this might be a database that accepts as well as offers its readers free articles. Furthermore, I'd like to concentrate mainly on the style or type of publication which is easiest to reach and most interesting and enjoyable to read. It is important to know that the great majority of websites have a general topic or concern. Suppose you are going to write an article for a firm which is specialized in designing kitchen cabinets. The above-mentioned firm required ten publications to start. (Keep in mind that this is only a hypothetical situation; most sites have a database of more than 300 articles). I suppose many of us have previous experience in writing assignments in their college classes, for example a paper which is supposed to be 10 pages long on anything related to California history. It is almost the same as far as writing online articles in concerned; the web master will require ten articles about kitchen cabinets. And then you have to leave your imagination and invention work.

Go to your kitchen and carefully examine the cupboards. How many synonyms of cabinet can you think of? How these cupboards are made, what are they made of and how many parts do they have? Do you know all the kinds of materials that are used in building a cupboard? When was the oldest cabinet you've seen built? ( few days ago I came across one which was used in a pharmacy and was made of steel and glass, it was from the early 1920's ). Thus, if you are a beginner at writing articles about cabinets, you could think about the types, styles, designs and materials. Here are some pieces of advice you can follow and write a couple of paragraphs choosing your own approach from one of the mentioned below.

* Define all the terms and specialized words used in cabinetry. The best way to help a potential buyer, a user or even apprentice carpenter is to include a glossary in your article. * Make an easily readable bulleted list covering all the facts and details related to the topic *Do a Survey - write an article about the history of the topic you've chosen, whether it would be a person, a place, an event or a concept * Be sensitive about the format - using different style and font variations will help the reader distinguish the different parts of the article

Further, knowing how to write a piece of publication includes setting the right purposes: show the readers how to select, build, buy, clean, install, etc. the item you write about Some of the popular formats that you might want to use are listed below:

The Q and A - put some questions and then finds the best answers

The Narrative - people love stories, especially well-written ones

Try Quotes and Trivia - if you find it appropriate you can put some quotes in your article because quotes are as exciting as tales and discussions of trials and tribulations and success--with the item you are describing.

This should be a good base on which you build your article. It is a good idea to start with a website of your own, that way you would see how good is your work. Else, you could write publications for a friend of yours. What really matters in writing simple articles is to be experienced, so just get down to practicing. While working, try to enjoy it.
About the Author

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning information. Learn more at Write A Simple Article

Creative Writing - Fiction

2006-10-04T18:44:00.000-07:00

by: Patrick Dent

When writing fiction, the author must rely upon his/her instincts and experiences to create a story. This article will provide an overview of 7 of the major elements of writing fiction in good form, i.e., the form editors expect.

Plotting

Plotting and characterization carry the other elements of the book. The plotting must be believable, plausible, and interesting. It is a sequence of events connected in a cause-and-effect manner. Generally the plot consists of a series of increasingly more intense conflicts, a climax (the most intense part of the book), and a final resolution. The plot must advance as the book unfolds. Usually the closer to the end of the book the climax is placed the better.

Long works like novels can have many subplots and secondary climaxes and resolutions. Avoid using subplots in order to have cliché characters. Avoid too many coincidences. Flashbacks have been overused. A book is stronger when it runs chronologically.

Characterization

The reader should be able to identify with and care about the characters in the sense that the characters seem real to the reader. The characters must do something, and what they do must seem reasonable for them to have done it.

Characters should be introduced early in the book. The more often a character is mentioned or appears, the more significance the reader will attach to the character. Also, the main character should be introduced before setting, so that the setting can be introduced from the point of view of the character.

The nature of characters can be brought out through minimal description and the actions, thoughts, and dialogue of the characters. The author should allow the reader to make judgments about the characters; the author should avoid making the judgments for the reader. The feelings of the character should be demonstrated rather than told by the narrator.

Yet, there are some very good books in which much of the narrative voice is about a character's feelings and thoughts or in which the narration goes into great detail and analysis of a character's feelings and thoughts at some point. So one rule about writing fiction is that there are no rules, or maybe: If it works, it works.

Scene

Scene includes the place and time in which the book takes place. The scene should be described in specifics to make the book seem real, to set the atmosphere and mood of the book, to place limitations on the characters, or to help establish the basic conflict of the book. Weather can be an important part of a scene.

The scene can be used for contrast, having something taking place in an unexpected place. Also, the more unfamiliar the reader is with the setting, the more interesting the scene.

Dialogue

Dialogue makes fiction seem real. However, dialogue that copies reality may actually slow down a book. Avoid unnecessary or repetitive dialogue.

Dialect in dialogue can be difficult to read. A small amount of it can be used to establish the nature of a character, but overuse will intrude on the book. The level of use of language by the characters- pronunciation, diction, grammar, etc.- is often used to characterize people in a book. Most often the main characters use the best English.

Profanity and vulgarisms can be used where they seem appropriate. Overuse amounts to author intrusion and can interrupt the reader's belief in the book.

Too much exposition through dialogue can slow down a book. Characters should not repeat in dialogue events which have already happened in the book.

Also, one character should not tell another character what the second character should already know just so the author can convey information to the reader.

The form of dialogue should be varied to keep the reader interested. However, don't try to find too many different ways to say "said."

Interior dialogue is what a character is thinking. Dramatic dialogue is a character thinking out loud, without response from other characters. Indirect dialogue is the narrator telling what a character said.

Dialogue should be used to develop character or to advance the book. It should not be used just to hear characters talk.

Point of View

First person point of view has the main character telling the story or a secondary character telling the main character's story. Everything that happens in the book must be seen or experienced by the character doing the narration. The reader's judgment of other characters in the book will be heavily influenced by the narrator. This can be very limiting. Also, a book written in first person usually means that the main character won't die in the plot. However, first person point of view gives a sense of intimacy to the book.

Third person point of view can be objective or omniscient. An objective narrator describes actions but not the inner thoughts or feelings of the characters. An omniscient narrator can describe all the actions of all of the characters but also all of their inner thoughts and feelings as well.

Genre

Genre is the main category into which a book fits. Most stories meet the criteria for multiple genres, but you should have some focus, identifying a market before you begin writing fiction.

Narrative Voice

Narrative voice is the way the author uses language. The longer the work the less important language becomes. Above all, the author's work must tell a story. The author should not be more concerned with the words used than with the tale the author is trying to tell. Don't be a fanatic about words. The language is less important than characterization and plotting. However, a combination of a good story and good narrative voice will be a delight to read. Mistakes in English amount to author intrusion and detract greatly from the book. The most effective writing uses the active voice, and nouns and verbs so specific that they require no modifiers. The choice of words can help set the tone of the book.

Beginning authors often miss one critical fact about writing fiction. It is up to the author to please the reader, not the other way around.

About The Author

Patrick Dent
Author of Execution of Justice, available at:http://www.lulu.com/EOJ
Founder of Creative Writing - Fiction, the online resource to help new authors refine their writing skills.

http://www.creativewritingfiction.com

Creative Writing Technique: Visualization

2006-10-04T18:39:00.000-07:00

by: Sarah Playle

Visualization is one of the best techniques to use when plotting a story. It's like watching a movie in your mind, only the movie is your story. You can see all the scenes and events playing out, from beginning to end.

To start, find a quiet spot and relax. Concentrate on your breathing. Let your mind wander and don't focus on anything. If you start worrying or thinking, just let the thoughts float out of your head. Now, when you're relaxed, imagine yourself walking down a city street. Fill it in with all the details - imagining the sound of cars or of people talking. Feel the cement under your feet and the sun on your body. Walk along this street for a bit until you are fully immersed in your visualization. Now imagine that you come a theater. You buy the ticket and go in. Now you are in the lobby, but there is no one else around. You have the whole theater yourself. Buy yourself some snacks or not. Now go into the theater and take a seat. You are the only one in there so you can sit wherever you want. The curtain goes back and the movie starts - and the movie is *your* novel. Just relax and watch it play out, as if you were viewing a real movie. Don't force anything. Just let your mind fill in the story events on its own. When you feel like you've seen enough, wake up and immediately write down what you saw so you don't forget it. Use this technique whenever you are stuck for where to go with the plot or what to write in a scene.

Another way of using visualization is using it to meet your characters. Relax the same way you did before, but instead of imagining a theater, imagine that you are meeting your main character for coffee or lunch. Go into the restaurant or coffee stop and find your character. Really see him. What does he look like? What she wear? How does he smile, etc. Sit down and talk to your character. Let your mind fill in the questions and answers. Don't force anything. Do this with all of your characters if need be until you really know them.

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About The Author

Sarah Playle is the author of "The Distance Between Us," the gripping tale of family, friendship, and the ties that bind the lives of four people together. She considers her writing cross-genre, or 'dark' young adult. To read her work visit www.authorsden.com/sarahaplayle.

Creative Writing Tips - Have You Established Your Main Character At The Start?

2006-10-04T18:33:00.000-07:00

by: Nick Vernon

In the beginning of your story you have to grab your readers’ interest and sustain it till the end. Our hook is our character. Readers keep on reading to find out more about the character. To see what he’ll do in the story; how he’ll solve his problems. What his goals are and whether he’ll achieve them.

And because our character is the reason readers become hooked on our stories, establishing him at the start is a must in a short story. And it is essential to establish him at the start because we don’t have the capacity in our limited word length to introduce him at our leisure.

The bond between readers and character has to be developed almost immediately.

You might have a few characters though. How do you decide who your main character will be? A main character is one that drives the story.

Think of it this way… If we were to take him away, there will be no story because it’s his story we are telling. The story will unfold by what is happening or what has happened to him.

When you establish who your main character will be, the next thing to do is to find which of your characters is in the best position to tell the story. Will your main character tell his story or will you give that role to another character?

This is what we call Viewpoint and what we’ll see in more detail in proceeding chapters.

Your main character isn’t necessarily the one who is telling the story; he might not even appear in our story ‘physically’ but will be there through the thoughts of others. So the viewpoint character might be a secondary character.

Whoever is telling the story is the viewpoint character.

The viewpoint character gives the coloring of the story. Whatever this characters says, we will believe. It may or may not be true, according to the main character, but because he isn’t there ‘physically’ to voice his opinions, we will have to take the viewpoint character’s word for it.

In a novel you can play around with viewpoint. You can have several viewpoint characters. In a short story it works best with one.

So your main character, whether he’ll be telling his own story or someone else will be doing it for him, has to be established at the start of your story.

Having said that, let’s see the reasons why the main character may not be telling his own story...

* Perhaps our main character is one that readers won’t sympathize or empathize with.
* Or the main character will not view highly with our readers
* Or the viewpoint character knows all the facts and can tell the story better
* Etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Let me give you an example of a secondary character telling the story of a main character…

Let’s say your secondary character is a psychiatrist and the main character is the patient. Depending on what’s going to go on in the story, we’ll have to choose who’s in a better position to tell it. In this case, I will choose the psychiatrist.

I’ve done this because the patient is confused, being the one with the problems. The psychiatrist knows all the facts and his opinions will make things clearer to readers.

So, as the secondary character (the psychiatrist) unravels the story, we’ll become involved in the main character because it’s the main character’s story that is been told.

This may get a little confusing to the beginner writer. As they write they will have to keep in mind that the secondary character, although he’s telling the story, is NOT our main character.

The secondary character is there to do perform a task. He’s only the voice. It’s the main character we’ll become involved with.

A secondary character doesn’t play such an important role as a main character does. Therefore, information about secondary characters should be kept to a minimum. It’s not his story – it’s the main character’s story and the spotlight must, most times, be kept on the main character.

Take the above example for instance. It’s no relevance to the story how the psychiatrist started his career or where he received his diploma – what’s important, is what he has to say about the main character, his patient.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Introduce your main character straight away, as close to the beginning of the story that’s possible. Enable your readers to form a bond and that will keep them hooked.

Is your main character established at the start of your story?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com

Creative Writing Tips - Does The Name You Chose Suit Your Character?

2006-09-29T01:32:00.000-07:00

by: Nick Vernon

How do you choose a name? Do you put down the first name that pops into your mind? Initially that’s what I used to do, until someone pointed out to me that there are a few things to take into consideration when choosing a name…

1. You Have To Be Comfortable With It

We associate names with people we know. If you like a certain name but know and dislike a person who bears it, will you feel comfortable using that name in your story?

Will you mentally shut that person out or will you be reminded of them each time you type that name?

Our characters have to be likable to us before they can become likeable to our readers. Will your dislike for that person transfer to your character?

2. It Must Be Easy To Pronounce

The English language can be, at times, misleading. How many words, and even names we spell one way and pronounce another? If the name you have chosen falls into this category, will your readers know how to pronounce it?

For years I use to pronounce the beautiful name ‘Sean’ exactly how it’s written ‘Seen,’ when it’s pronounced by the much nicer sounding ‘Shorn.’ Will the name you choose bear the same problem?

If you choose a difficult pronouncing name for your character and worse, one that’s not widely known, you stand to lose the effect of that name. A beautiful sounding name can be utterly destroyed if your reader doesn’t know how to pronounce it.

Your story has to flow. If the name you’ve chosen is not easy to pronounce, the readers will constantly stop each time they come across it. This will disrupt the flow of your story.

3. Foreign Sounding Names

The same as the above applies to foreign sounding names. They must be easy to pronounce. Consider the following:

* Yahiya
* Indihar
* Gschu
* Lyudmila

These names sound exotic but they don’t exactly roll off the tongue. Should you compromise the flow of the story for the sake of a name?

4. Does The Name Suit Your Character?

Not all names suit all people and not all names will suit all characters. Like clothing and hairstyles, names go out of fashion too.

For example...

Let’s say your heroine is a lively, upbeat, modern lady. Will it suit her type of personality if we choose the name ‘Mabel’? ‘Mabel’ we usually associate with an elderly aunt or grandmother.

What about your hero? Let’s say he’s a young man who possesses a powerful personality. Will the name ‘Hubert?’ suit him? ‘Hubert’ would suit an elderly character or perhaps a ‘quiet’ character.

5. They Shouldn’t Start With The Same Letter

If you’re going to have two main characters in your story and their names start with the same letter, it will read a little awkwardly.

Example…

* David and Debra
* Sam and Sue
* George and Gina

6. Surnames

Like we carefully choose the first name for our characters, we have to be careful when selecting their surnames. Just like first names, there are certain surnames, which sound better than others.

When selecting a surname, make sure it has a pleasant ring, when used with the first name. Using names, which rhyme like, Jeff Jefferson, sound amusing. If this is the effect you wish to create then using it is fine.

7. Stereotype Names

Are you thinking of naming your character Adolph or Judas? There’s nothing wrong with these names, except for the fact that we tend to associate them with that single person in history who bore them. Will your reader trust your hero if you name him Judas?

8. Famous Names

I recall a quote I once read which went something like this…

“Nothing grows under the shade of a tree.”

If you name your character Elvis, Madonna etc.. Will your character be able to outshine the ultra famous person of whom the world knows? I doubt it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When naming characters there are also a few other points to consider…

Naming them will not only depend on what kind of people they are, but who their parents or guardians were (if the parents or guardians play some sort of role in your story). After all, we don’t name ourselves, do we? So take into consideration the following…

1) What kind of people are the parents?

a) Free spirited?

Unusual names will rank highly amongst people like this.

For example,

* The seasons of the year
* Or perhaps a month in the year
* Or an object
* Etc

b) Conservative?

These types of people tend to use the full name rather than an abbreviated version of it.

For example,

* Kathleen instead of Kat
* Michael instead of Mike
* Etc

2) What Is The Parents/Guardians Nationality?

If they’re traditional, they will choose a name, which is popular in their country. Also traditional parents/guardians tend to give their children the names of their own parents or other relatives.

Look at the name you chose for your main characters. Does the name suit them?

About The Author

Besides his passion for writing, Nick Vernon runs an online gift site where you will find gift information, articles and readers’ funny stories. Visit http://www.we-recommend.com

Top 10 Tips to Complete a Creative Writing Project Without Losing Your Creativity

2006-09-29T01:30:00.000-07:00

by: Ginger Blanchette

Have you ever started a creative writing project with great excitement, only to have your interest dwindle as the process, itself, interfere with your creativity? How do you keep the momentum going and continue to enjoy the creative process? Follow these tips for high creativity, fun and success!

1. Create a writing environment that inspires you.

Create a place in your home or outdoors that calls you to write. Consider light, color, sound, scent, taste, writing materials.

2. Follow The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron.

I highly recommend this book. It keeps you focused, observant, playful, and creative - and it keeps you believing in yourself as a writer!

3. Choose your writing project in a joyful way.

When choosing a writing project, come from your heart - not your head. Be playful. Be creative about how you choose your project.

4. Make a creative representation of the project’s ideal end.

Draw, paint - use a creative medium other than writing to represent the completed project. Consider, especially, how you will feel when it’s done. Put your model in a prominent place. Use this to trigger the desired feeling, before the completion - every day!

5. Make a timeline with celebration points.

Make it visually appealing. Have a step-by-step outline and celebrate creatively as you complete each step.

6. Create an R&D Team for your project.

Contact a number of your friends, colleagues, and readers. Invite them to join your R&D Team. Send them snippets of what you write, questions you have about the process, or anything else you want input on - on a regular basis. Their input will keep you going.

7. Keep Creating & Editing times separate.

If you edit while you write, the process can become boring. Clearly block a specific amount of time for editing into your schedule. Don’t let it interfere with your creative writing time!

8. If blocked, shake things up!

Do something fun, unusual, active! Get your mind somewhere else and move your body. Your creative side will work in your subconscious while you’re at play. Read the tips in The Artist’s Way. There are also many resources on the internet for handling writers’ block. Check some of these links: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/handouts/general/gl_block.html

http://www.sff.net/people/LisaRC/

http://leo.stcloudstate.edu/acadwrite/block.html

9. Have a Fan Club.

Critics and editors are fine, but have a few friends or family members who you can ask to cheer you on or cheer you up, no matter what you write. Hire a Creativity Coach to keep you focused and to be an unbiased supporter of your creative success!

10. Celebrate in a big way!

When you reach the big finish, give it a big finish! Do something you’ve always wanted to do, but have never done before. Make the finish so memorable that you’ll be eager to begin your next creative writing project!

About The Author

Ginger Blanchette is a Life and Business Coach who supports her clients to share their creativity. She works with professionals and business people who are ready to complete big projects involving writing and/or public speaking and to be recognized for what they do! Contact her at www.lanterncoach.com or by email to ginger@lanterncoach.com for a free sample coaching session.

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