Sheri on writing

Online Wrtting Tips : How to Select Real Opportunities!

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Wed, 24 Jun 2015 16:54:00 +0000

Are you trying to find out best and well paid legitimate online jobs? Are you searching internet to start work online programs? If so, your intention is right and claim is justified when various job offering websites are advertising huge online jobs. The target groups to avail themselves these opportunities like work-at-home moms, students, freelancers, retired persons, factory workers etc. and even for those who are really interested to earn money to support full time income. The availability of such types of jobs is certain but at the same time it is fact that all opportunities are not real. So, your care and judgment will have to be concentrated to check its rationality.

The job seekers are really frustrated when their aggressive searching thorough out the net are lost in vain. But, frustration breeds unhappy state of life and steals the confidence. So, caution should be applied towards its selection. It can be noticed to pay something for applying the jobs when you decide to get job opportunities. After making payment of fees you will get the offer but in most cases it does not coincide with the advertisements. But, to get something you have to give something. In my view visit our data bases or CJ.Com or gofreelance.com where you will get legitimate opportunities and apply for jobs even fees are to be paid.

Data entry jobs, typing jobs, medical transcription, freelance jobs like writing jobs, telecommuting jobs, affiliate programs, paid survey programs are really common and lucrative opportunities. Click those opportunities and try to collect those where fees are to be paid after completion of agreement. Always accept those companies which are known in online. Now, try to perform the jobs as per agreement and which in turn create faith over the company on your performance. Once, you have achieved their confidence there will not be any difficulties to get the legitimate jobs in future.

But, to perform any type of jobs some skills and qualifications are necessary. There are huge no. of computer training schools available both online and offline. You can easily learn basic computer courses investing small amount of money. It is also necessary to learn English language both for writing and speaking. As most of the jobs are available from foreign countries so it is necessary to communicate with them frequently. You have to build your soft skill and verbal power to interpret.

How To Make Money Writing Online?

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Fri, 22 May 2015 16:52:00 +0000

Are you looking for an opportunity to make some extra cash? Do you need to start saving for that long- awaited vacation in the islands of Tahiti? Or you just might need some extra gas money whatever the need is; let's be honest, we all want some extra cash and we are not going to find it lying around collecting dust. If you have considered getting a part-time job but you don't want to spend endless hours standing behind a counter then you obviously have stumbled across some valuable information. I recommend that you keep reading because I have the answer that you have been looking for and will show you how to make money writing online.

You can make money writing online. If you can read and write, you can earn some cash. The internet is such that anyone and everyone has the opportunity to make money writing online. In fact, if you currently have a blog, did you know that you can easily turn what you think is a hobby into fast cash. Many individuals sit back and wonder how they can earn extra cash, but they never think about the opportunities that are right in front of them. Are you a Facebook user? Do you Twitter? How about emails? How big is your contact list? These are all opportunities for earning some extra cash. In today's society, many businesses are looking to online users to market for them. In turn, you get paid for writing down your thoughts and getting them published. In fact, a higher percentage of people shop online than those who visit the department stores. The internet is growing, why not become a part of it. You can make money writing online with affiliate marketing.

The competition is only as good as the writer. Companies are constantly looking for those niche articles that grab the readers' attention and are constantly updating their sites with fresh new ideas that YOU can provide. If you are a stay at home mom or dad, a college student needing those extra bucks for school books, or if you just want some extra cash, you can make money writing online. I can show you how to make your existing blog generate you cash flow. You can become an affiliate marketer. It's FREE and the best part is you don't need special training to get started. This is a great opportunity that you can not overlook, you can start making money writing online today!

Easy Write Web Content

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 16:50:00 +0000

Writing content for the Web can be different from writing for other types of media. Although they might be similar in their intentions to reach out to their respective audiences, the methods used that would be effective may be different for each one. The same way goes for writing for the Web.

One of the most important facets of Web writing is learning how to write concisely. Content for the web should be written in brief and concise forms.

One reason for this is because a majority of online visitors have short attention spans. They would rarely spend more than five minutes checking something on the web. If you want to reach out to your online visitors and get their attention in those few precious minutes, then you must learn how to write what you need to say as briefly and as concise as possible.

Another reason why concise content is important for Web content writing has to deal with the limitations of the Web page. A good web page design usually contains content that is readable aside from being visually stimulating and interesting.

In order to be readable, the font sizes should be ideal enough for online readers. And the ideal web content is something that can be fitted into a single web page.

In essence, the normal length of web content that can comfortably fit into a Web page can run from 300 to 600 words using conventional font type and size. More than that and the Web designer might need to use smaller fonts to fit your content into a single page or break it up into two Web pages.

Another distinct difference of writing content for the Web is that the human factor is half of the Web writer's concern. When writing Web content, the writer should also be thinking about writing for the search engines.

As you might have known by now, locating information on the Internet has largely been dominated by the search engines. Online visitors usually rely on the search engines to fine the information that they need. Without the help of the search engines like Google, Yahoo, MSN along with a bunch of others, finding the right information won't be as easy for every one.

But because search engines are there and they handle the job of guiding online visitors to the type of information they need, Web content writers would have to consider using them as part of the writing process.

If not, the content that you have written for the Web, no matter how engaging or profound, may not be able to reach out to your proper audience.

In short, writing for the web concerns getting the attention not only of the online visitors but also of the search engines as well. That is probably the most telling difference that writing for the Web can have over writing for any other media.

Easy Writing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 16:49:00 +0000

Writer's block. You are never ready for it and when it happens it is not easy to get rid of it.

Is there anything more frustrating that not being able to get a start. You try putting a few words on paper but you just cannot get it together.

Look at all of the great golfers who developed the yips. I believe it was another word for writers block. The golfer would get ready to putt the ball into the hole and stand over it for the longest time and then as he was about to hit the ball his hands would jump and the ball would take off totally out of control. We hardly ever hear of it happening to golfers anymore since the arrival of the sports psychologist. They have the ability to get into the heads of the golfers and get them on the right track.

I enjoy the game of golf and a long time ago I had writers block. I eliminated both problems with the same basic system.

I found that in both endeavors you need to learn how to pull the trigger. In golf it is called a shot routine. The idea is that before you take the shot you make particular moves every time, before you actually hit the ball. The golfer may stand behind the ball, waggle the club, take four steps up to the ball, set up, take two waggles, look twice at the place where he wants the ball to land, look at the ball and swing.

When I had the problem with writers block I overcame it by using almost the same idea as the golfer. I wanted to write articles of about four hundred words. I wanted a resource block at the top, a title, keywords, description and text.

I made up a template of these items I could use. I copy the template to a new document and when I am ready to write my set up is ready for work. Then I do a keyword search on the subject I want to feature. I look for an interesting keyword phrase to use as the lead. I select a few keywords to add to my article. As soon as that part is done I immediately start to write the description which is a thumbnail sketch of the article. This is where I want to give a two sentence introduction but I want to end with a hook.

Having done that I want to get into the first paragraph right away without any other thoughts getting in the way. Once I have a paragraph or two written I will come up with a title.

If you are going to write another article get that template ready, do your keyword search and get the first paragraph on paper before taking a break. Doing the job this way will eliminate writers block every time.

Easy Creative Writing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 08:21:00 +0000

People often cite the extreme amount of distractions in their lives that keep them from working on their writing/creative projects. They also like holding fast to excuses that have blocked their creative outlets for years. This article of creative writing tips will provide potential solutions to 20 common distractions or excuses. That way, if you aren't writing, you can say, "I am choosing not to solve these problems," as opposed to blaming the problems themselves. Acceptance is the first step, right? :)

1. My phone keeps ringing with calls or texts.

Turn it off or be dramatic and take out the battery. Believe it or not, the world will go on without you being reachable for a little while. If you don't believe me, test it for ten minutes and see if the Earth is still here. If yes, try to add to that time little by little. If no, wow, you're really important!

2. People keep sending me instant messages.

Exit out of the offending program or uninstall the dang thing. I uninstalled AOL Instant Messenger about two years ago and my life has been much more productive ever since. If you are worried that you will miss a specific person's message, just tell them you'll be busy for an hour doing something cool.

3. My house, café, basement, attic, or street is too noisy.

Write somewhere different? It isn't too hard to find a quiet place if you're willing to leave the problematic area. Local libraries, bookstores or quiet out-of-the-way restaurants work for me when I crave silence. If you need to stay in your noisier place, ear plugs are a cheap solution and noise-cancelling headphones are a bit pricier. And lastly, a bathroom is always a good last resort.

4. I'm too jumpy or jittery to write!!!

Whoa, calm down. First, read my article about quitting coffee :). Secondly, think for a second instead of just giving up on writing. Previously in your life, when you've needed to calm down or relax, what have you done? Read a book? Listened to Frank Sinatra? Laid down for a few? Try what works for you, and then go back to the writing. It will probably be much easier to start.

5. I keep feeling the need to check my e-mail, traffic stats, football scores, etc. on the computer.

Turn it off, unplug it, or leave the house. Challenge yourself to keep it off for as long as you can. Without a computer, how will you write? Go old school and bust out the pad of paper and a pencil.

6. My computer is broken, too slow, or in use.

See pad of paper suggestion in #5. If you must use a computer, ask a friend or search out an Internet Café.

7. My favorite TV show or movie is on.

Turn it off, unplug it, or leave the house. These days, nearly every popular TV show will be online the following day. Also, if you have TiVo or a DVR, the problem is solved. This is your time to write, don't let CBS tell you otherwise. If it's your favorite movie, find a way to record it or buy the DVD. Many of these solutions will involve sacrificing your immediate pleasure for your eventual fulfillment. Believe me when I say this: TV is less important than you.

8. I'm too tired to write.

Get up and go for a walk, do some stretching, eat an apple and some raw almonds. Put on some pump up music and do a little bit of dancing. If none of that works, write standing up. It's tough to fall asleep standing up. Just don't pop a pill or drink a Red Bull. It will work in the short-term and hurt in the long term. Also, evaluate what time of day you are the strongest. Write at that time.

9. I'm too hungry to write.

Take your laptop or paper and pencil out of the house and stop by a good writing café. If you take the time to prepare a five-course meal at home, you may lose the drive to write by the time you have finished stuffing yourself. Let someone do the work for you and write while they're doing it.

10. I have to leave for work in an hour.

Leave now! Get there early and write when you get there. Heck, if you take public transportation, write on the way there. Just because you don't have a lot of time to write, does not mean you shouldn't. Just make a little progress. And by leaving the house, you should eliminate several distractions right there.

11. I have time, but I don't feel motivated.

Surf around this site for twenty minutes! That's what it's for :).

One quick tip: think about how good you'll feel when you have the piece you're working on completed. That is basic law of attraction.

12. I don't know how I'm supposed to do the next chapter, story, passage, or scene.

Just write. Write the first thing that comes to mind. Don't judge it. Just go for it! If you need certain information, collect the research and then write! There is no way you have to do a particular thing, it just needs to be done. So, make it happen.

13. My dog/cat/bird needs to go out for a walk.

Why not bring your dog/cat/bird to a dog/cat/bird park with your trust pad of paper in hand? If not, use taking out your pet as an excuse to leave the house to work. When you come back to the house, just drop your pet off and head to the local café or favorite writing spot. I'm sure he or she will understand :).

14. I told my boss, my friend, my land lady, my spouse, etc. that I would do something for them.

Now you can bust out the old IM, text message, or phone call and tell the person in question that you are unable to work on his or her project. This is not a lie! You have an important project to work on for yourself. If you are motivated, you have an idea, and you have yet to begin, you should get out of your prior engagement.

If it is impossible for you to reschedule, do it. If you can't reschedule it, try to delegate. If you can't do either, put it off for an hour or two and start writing. Your writing is important. The sooner you start conveying that to the people who "request" your time, perhaps you'll find that more writing time happens naturally.

15. I am too overcome by sadness, grief, rage or some other powerful emotion to write.

Perfect! Use it. Being overwhelmed with emotion is a great situation to be in as a writer. There is a lot of raw power you can draw from and draw from it you will.

Try to convince yourself that putting this emotion down on the page will be great for your writing. If that seems impossible, find a friend that will understand your desire to channel your feelings into the written word. We'll call this friend a writing buddy.

I was the writing buddy for my friend Adam during a tough break up. He was devastated. He couldn't eat or sleep, but I forced him to write. The result was a one-man show that is currently being adapted into a full-length film. Putting true feeling into your work can carry you far. Some obstacles aren't obstacles at all.

16. I want to write, I just don't feel like I'm any good.

Prove it. Prove to me that you aren't a good writer. I can show you proof of the chinks in my armor. I received a C in a poetry class, a fiction teacher told me I shouldn't write fiction, and I was mentioned in a newspaper review as saying I had co-written a "lemon" of a script. And yet, I pressed on. Why? How?

I have yet to make my grand contribution. I can feel that there is still something I can write that will mean something or last. Maybe it's this website and maybe it's not. I just know I'm getting closer because I still want to write.

If you want to write, then you should write. If you don't feel like you have any talent but you still want to write, then there must be some reason. If you do not write, you will never find that reason out. If you have yet to test the waters, you might as well jump in. Talent and perceived talent are only a small part of the pie. So I say, dig in, write, and see what happens. You know, before I make another metaphor :).

17. I don't know how to write.

Take your favorite book or play and open to your most earmarked passage or scene. Write something in the style of that scene. With the same characters or your own creations. When you've finished, read it out loud and chance anything that sounds weird. Now repeat the same process with another scene. Keep doing that until you feel comfortable starting from scratch. If interested in non-fiction, do the same with a similar non-fiction work. And then you are a writer. Start putting it on your business cards :).

18. I work so much! There just aren't enough hours in the day.

2 options.

Option 1 - Change one of your jobs into something that will allow you to write. Working in a library or as a receptionist at a less-than-busy office can make this possible. Also, finding something more passive like a website or some kind of investment can free up some time to write.

Option 2 - Sleep less.

I started option two about a year ago and option one a couple of months ago. They both have their positive and negative traits. Option two has been more effective personally, and both work best only if you have strong goals to support them. I know that sacrificing sleep is negative for your health, but I do plan on improving this aspect of my life in the future.

Making time for your writing often requires a sacrifice. What is it gonna be?

19. I don't have any ideas.

There are tons of free creative writing prompts out there on the Internet. Several are at my website if you happen to go there.

20. I have so much to say, I can't get it all out at once!

Start small. Just write a paragraph. Or write an outline. Don't let your wealth of ideas stop you. You have the best kind of problem. Just know that any work takes time.

But if you absolutely need to get it all out, take a day off of work, go to a café and bring a lot of paper :). I once wrote a screenplay in one day because it felt like it needed to come out of my head. Why fight it? Start writing!

How To Managing Employee Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Fri, 11 Jul 2014 07:19:00 +0000

The Problem

Enlightened organizations throughout the world are embracing the concept of total quality management (TQM), but at a time when many organizations ask their employees to "do it right the first time to improve productivity" the application of TQM to writing is overlooked. In fact, memos, letters, reports, instructions, proposals, and the many other forms of writing tasks in organizations are not done right the first time. Often, the third or fourth revision is still not "right."

The average professional employee (those with a college degree) spends 10 to 12 hours a week writing documents beyond the time spent on email. According to a survey by Boeing Aircraft, two-thirds of all memos and letters produced by employees and used by managers to make decisions required revision because the original was not clear. Most managers list good writing ability among the top three traits most desired in an employee without realizing that bad writing is a management problem, not an employee problem.

If, as managers believe, an employee who cannot write is a problem, then a good writing training program, of which there are many available to corporations, should fix that problem. It does not. Millions of dollars are spent by organizations on training programs thought to help their college-graduate employees write better. It doesn't work because training employees to write without also training their managers is wasted money.

"Well, I don't agree with that," managers sometimes snap at me when I am hired to consult with them to solve problems they are having with bad writing among their subordinates. They continue, "People with college degrees should be able to write excellently. But I have to rewrite all their stuff because they can't do it right the first time." When a writing project doesn't turn out right the first time blame is focused on the writer, and so begins a series of revision back-and-fourths that cost valuable professional time, and a great deal of money. And irritate managers.

Myths about Writing

There is a mythology in organizations about writing. Here are a few of the more prominent ones:

1. Managers have no responsibility for what is being written between the time they delegate the task and the time they see the result.

2. Part of a manager's role is to edit everything written by subordinates.

3. Everyone should write on a computer.

4. The English rules never change.

5. Engineers can't write.

None of the above myths have any foundation in fact. As for number 5, I hear
the same thing said of computer programmers, geologists, physicists - almost any professional! Nonsense!

Observations about Writing in Organizations

Following are a few observations about the causes of writing failure in organizations gained from12 years as a writing consultant to a Fortune 500 clientele.

1. Employee writing cannot be improved without changing the culture of the organization first. The "culture" of an organization is the sum of all socially transmitted beliefs, myths, and all other products of human work and thought. Culture is passed down from one generation of employees to the next, including the mismanagement of the writing process.

An example of this was the corporation that hired me to improve their proposal writing efforts. Many organizations depend on competitive proposals - bids - to keep their business going. There are both commercial proposals, and proposals for the defense industry. I worked almost exclusively for defense contractors. One Fortune 500 client I worked with had lost 32 bids in a row. Employee strength dropped from 2,000 to 400. I was hired to teach people how to write winning proposals. From the 1960's to the 1980's proposal writing remained about the same, but in the 1980's the style of proposals changed, and the organization wished to change to the new style. They spent thousands of dollars on training. It didn't work because of a guardian of corporate culture, a senior manager, took it upon himself to rewrite every "new" proposal back to the style of the 1960's. The last time I checked, they were still losing.

Another example of the importance of organizational culture was the Space Station proposal to NASA by McDonnell Douglas. A colleague and I were hired for two weeks to train 176 engineers and others how to write well so a nine-volume proposal would sound and look alike throughout. It was apparent within the first hour that the company had no coherent process for managing the writing of the many departments involved. Worse, the strategy for winning the bid that had to be integrated into every section was going to be lost after Volume One because there was no knowledge of what it was below the management level.

On our recommendation, McDonnell Douglas made a courageous decision to change the corporate culture about the way writing was managed, and we spent the next two weeks training 176 people to manage the process. This was 2 years before NASA issued the Request for Proposal (RFP). A year later I was asked to return and to oversee a "trial run." The company took all 176 people off their jobs for two weeks to actually write a mock-up proposal. From that experience, every department and every writer had an opportunity to make the process work. McDonnell Douglas won the bid for $9 billion.

2. Managers do not manage the "process" of writing because they think of writing as an "it." We hear managers say, "I needed it yesterday." or "I need it as soon as possible." They perceive writing as an object.

Problems that arise from the it orientation include 1) shallow insight, 2) compromised thinking and reasoning, 3) lack of logical connections between ideas, 4) abortive or omitted collaboration with others, and 5) time-consuming rewriting and editing by managers to correct the shortcomings that arise from these weaknesses. Writing is a process, and processes need to be managed!

3. True delegation of accountability and ownership rarely occurs. When a manager delegates a writing task with the intention of editing it after it comes back, responsibility and ownership of the work stays with the manager. Many managers believe part of their job is to act as editor-in-chief, and they squander huge amounts of their expensive company time doing the job of secretaries or company editors.

Managers who edit have the illusion that they are doing important and useful work. But their problem is not bad writing from subordinates. It is bad delegation.
When I ask writers in the ranks how writing assignments are delegated to them, this is what I hear:

My manager, on her way out the door, throws stuff on my desk and says, "Take care of this."

My manager believes in progressive revelation. Every time I give him a revision, he reveals more information about the project that I should have had in the first place.

My manager communicates writing assignments on post-it notes.

With managers like these, employees adopt a foxhole mentality. They say

to me, "I just throw some words together and send it in. Why bother making it good. It's just going to be changed anyway." So much for ownership.

4. Managers do not think to negotiate the time it takes to write a document when they delegate the task. A computer programmer asked me how to write faster. "My manager wants me to completely rewrite these 50 pages by Friday. Meantime, I'm supposed to get all my regular work done on time. I'll be working overtime with no pay to get it all done."

When a manager does not consider the amount of time it takes for writing to
get done, writing becomes an unplanned activity sandwiched between ongoing daily duties, meetings, phone calls, email, and a variety of other interruptions. And unplanned activities lower productivity and profitability.

5. Managers are insensitive to the need of writers have for uninterrupted time. Writing is difficult intellectual work. It requires concentration. But interruptions in many organizations are epidemic. They are frequent, uncontrolled, and tolerated.

Overcoming inertia to start writing is hard. Interruptions cause the writer to stop, and afterward, the writer must collect their thoughts, reread what they just wrote, and overcome inertia again. Interruptions can change a 15-minute writing job to a 2-hour marathon of stop-and-start effort.

I was recently working with six managers as they wrote a proposal that was critical to the company's survival. The room was quiet as they were working on how to word their win strategy. A secretary entered the room and interrupted one of the managers with a question about scheduling a not very important meeting. Everyone in the room stopped writing to listen. When the secretary left, the group turned back to their writing. Some began rereading what they had just written. Some stared off into space. Two tinkered with paper clips. Haltingly, they resumed writing. Twenty-five minutes were wasted.

Think of the ramifications for people who work in cubicles!

The Solution

Writing has both an internal and an external manifestation. The internal manifestation is the complex, problem-solving, reiterative process of the writer. The external manifestation is what the manager sees happening. Good managers put steps in place to improve both the internal and external process of writing.

Package the Assignment

Enlightened managers prepare a writing assignment before they delegate. They 1) establish the standards that will be used to review the completed document, and 2) provide the needed tools.

Writers can not read minds. If standards are only in the mind of the manager, the first draft will be changed as the manager applies those standards. Standards are style guides, such as APA or Chicago. English is changing faster now than at any time since the 17th Century, and the "rules," or standards that were taught in the classroom 20 years ago may not apply today. Managers provide writers with tools such as recent-edition dictionaries because meaning, spelling, and technical use of many words is changing. For example, nouns and adjectives are being changed into verbs. A perfect example from an Environmental Impact Statement, "We will tier to the Forest Plan," or "Got milk?"

Some people write better in longhand. Some like laptops, and some like the PC. If a writer does best in longhand, the manager should provide the writer with the ability to translate the longhand to the computer, such as a secretary, or copytalk.com. Secretaries are few and far between in modern organizations as managers increasingly expect their employees to do their own secretarial work. But is there anything more pathetic than watching a professional type on a $10 thousand computer with two fingers? A simple keyboarding course would solve the problem.

A quiet place to work is a tool. One strategy is to set aside "quiet time" one morning or afternoon each week during which noise and interruptions are discouraged. Traffic in hallways and between cubicles is curtailed, phone calls are rerouted to message centers, and visitors are asked to wait or come back later.

Finally, the manager creates an assignment sheet that contains specific directions and standards for the task such as 1) purpose of the assignment, 2) audience, 3) scope, 4) format, and 5) deadline. "I needed it yesterday," and "I need it as soon as possible" are not deadlines. Such evasive directions signal a lack of planning, lack of respect, and lack of knowledge about the writing process. A deadline is a day and a time, "I need it by 8 a.m. Tuesday". A reason helps, "I have a 10 a.m. meeting and I need to look it over before I go."

Touch Base as Writing Progresses

Some writers gather the wrong information because they misunderstand the assignment. Some gather too much, some too little. Some discover information that changes the nature of the assignment, as well as the deadline.

The time to adjust the assignment is before it deviates into unacceptable territory.
A simple phone call, a quick meeting, or a short email can inform the manager of any potential problems; in fact, a verbal exchange of ideas helps both the manager and the employee clarify content, as does a review of brainstorming notes, sketches, or new information.

Teach a Time-Efficient Writing Technique

Writers everywhere say to me, "I have to make the first sentence perfect before I write the second sentence, and the first paragraph perfect before I can write the next one." Ouch! Micro editing as the mind is trying to put thoughts together is a vice. It comes from the micro editing that goes on in school when students try to shorten the time required to write a paper by both writing and editing at the same time. In fact, they are two different tasks. Micro editing appears first in English classes where writing habits are formed, and appears next in department where the manager waits for it to appear and then tears it apart.

Sad to say, but many English teachers, and many managers and employees are stuck in the past. When English teachers give students a writing project, they never teach their students how to get ideas out of their heads and down on paper in an efficient manner. In the 1980's the firm I worked for was the first consultant organization in the United States to teach a rapid writing technique to employees in business, industry, and government organizations. I was one of four consultants traveling 48 weeks a year all over the United States and to some foreign countries to teach people how to write quickly and effectively. When I left, the organization had 60 consultants doing the same thing, which is an indication of the recognized need for more efficient writing in organizations everywhere.

"What makes you think you know anything about how I can write better," is a challenge I heard frequently as I challenged the habits and behaviors of employees and their managers. "I've been writing the same way since seventh grade and it's working just fine." Okay, but during WWII the US Army hired the finest English teachers they could find to come up with a technique they could teach recruits in 6 weeks of basic training that would result in fast, efficient writing. Armies run on writing, and personnel were taking hours to turn out documents that should have taken minutes. The result was a technique for rapid writing and editing that was ignored outside the military until the company I worked for adopted it for organizations in general.

I once taught 2,000 engineers at Northup Aviation a 2-day rapid writing course. It took me one year. Most of them were very receptive, but I heard from class after class the same complaint, "This is all very interesting, but you need to be training my managers because they make me do things their way, not the right way." Corporate culture invalidated the training program because managers thought their employees needed the training, not themselves.

Managers need to recognize that writing problems begin with them, and although they teach their staff members rapid writing and editing techniques, they are part of the problem and need to be part of the solution.

Manage Time-Efficient Editing

English teachers and other engaged in teaching writing fail to teach people a strategy of attack for editing documents. Most people adopt some kind of a strategy, such as the micro editing writer mentioned above. Others concentrate on punctuation, spelling, and grammar because experience has taught them that those things will determine acceptance or failure of their document. They leave everything else virtually untouched.

What is universally forgotten is that reading is a visual process, and that people read a page from left to right and from top to bottom. They start reading at the first sentence of the first paragraph. If they do not find information that is important to them by the second sentence, most of them skip to the first sentence of the second paragraph. If they again cannot find a key idea immediately, most skip to the bottom of the page, or turn the page and try again. I am not talking about fiction writing. I am talking about technical writing.

"Wait a minute," people will say. "I have to put down all the facts before I get to the conclusion. And paragraphs have no less than five sentences." Oh my. There go those pesky seventh-grade teachers again.

With the way people really read a document in mind, it is clear that the most important ideas need to be up and left on the page, at the top of the page, at the beginning of paragraphs, and in headings and other devices that make the key ideas stand out. The body of the text may be technically perfect, but if the main ideas are buried, the writing will fail to communicate with the hurried reader, and people in organizations do not have time on their hands and are not reading for pleasure!

Finally, peer review, if introduced well and managed well, can save a manager time, but the ground rules must be clearly set to protect writers from overzealous critique and irrelevant micro editing. Lastly, managers frequently do not think to provide positive rewards for good writing. Such rewards are energizing, motivating, and encourage writers to continuously improve. A simple "Good job!" can go a very long way to improve morale and productivity.

Summary

When managers pre-package the assignment, delegate carefully, teach their employees how to write and edit quickly and effectively, they have little to do when the documents reach them except sign and send. Writers have ownership and accountability. They take pride in their work.

Writing should be recognized as a process, and managers should be as interested in managing the writing tasks of their employees as they are managing the annual budget. Ineffective writing among employees has to be cured from the top down, not from the bottom up. Bad writing is a management problem, and only management can affect a permanent, workable solution.

Copyright 2007

Dr. Barbara von Diether was a consultant for 12 years for a range of Fortune 500 organizations, as well as many government agencies. She has a Doctor's degree in education administration, a Master's degree in educational technology, and a security clearance. As a consultant for defense industry competitive bid proposals, the companies she assisted won $16 billion in contracts. Currently, she provides editorial services and advisement over the Internet for 1) company and government agency projects, 2) people who are writing non-fiction and fiction books, and 3) students writing theses and dissertations. While in academe, she was President of a State Conference for the American Association of University Professors, and is a former President of her local Rotary Club. She loves horses but has none, keeps her saddle on a stand in her living room, has a daughter who is an attorney, has two grandsons, one a veterinarian, and the other too young to tell, but probably a lawyer, based on his negotiation skills.

How To Write Creative Literature

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 15:29:00 +0000

Good literature stands the test of time. Writers, unaware of being called creative writers cannot just stop writing at this.

Let me share about writing, not as a creative writer, but as one writer like the rest of us and one writer who earns the right to represent her own experiences in her work (Paul Horgan). Creative writing is a gift you never have to ask for, it is something embedded in your life. As you would not like the events or that gift of grieving, it happens as you write, as you live and as you work. It is there. You share a memory of that season, of that place in your heart because it haunts your brain. And when you don't do that and write about that, you feel empty or incomplete as though, it is only writing that mattered in your life and in that vocation is a responsibility, "noblesse oblige" (to act with honor).

How could you produce creative literature? Write from the heart. Write with all your soul and with all your might! Of course, you have to find out what you're good at. You make your own niche through hard labor (Sacred Wood, T.S. Eliot). While life goes on, in your time, you serve as a link, involving yourself with nursery rhymes, Shakespeare, Moby Dick, The Holy Bible, Hemingway, the writing canons, your writing professors, your co-writers, the search engines, culture and the world. The creative writer feels it, but the muse will not speak, it will write.

Often, writers will not be rich at this field, but only act as an ordinary writer or teacher. They have got nothing to flaunt, but thank those who read them. By that, they feel best and beautiful. By that, art takes place. By what they create, they change something, make more out of life and thank the Holy Creator for that gift of writing and spreading literature. Their words stay powerful in different seasons of time. Even after death they gain readers and friends, who will read and pray for them. Through their creative work, they etch lines of history and light.

Write, but don't ask for favors. Take the responsibility that goes with your work. Wait for nothing, but something of goodness for the heart. Be brave to be hanged, to be criticized or be dumped. But then, worry not, for the angels and saints are with you. Someone will proclaim about goodness from the rooftops, maybe about your words, those that ignite zeal!

As Charles Bukowski asserts of being a writer, "When it is truly time and if you have been chosen, it will do it by itself and it will keep on doing it until you die or it dies in you. There is no other way. And there never was."

Finding Inspiration For Writing Stories

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Fri, 06 Sep 2013 15:28:00 +0000

We've all heard the advice-once you get done with the first book write another one. It's great advice. After all once you've finished a story, gotten through the editing, and sold it there will be people who will want to see more from you. Agents look for authors who have more than one story in them. Give enough stories or a good enough story and people remember your name and will pick up your next book based on your name alone. So even before selling your first novel writing another one is a fantastic idea.

But what happens when you just can't think of another one? What if things aren't sparking in your brain and you don't know where to turn to get that next killer idea?

People say there are ideas all around. At the grocery store. In the way a spouse or child says something. Books. Movies. But how are you supposed to take those ideas and turn them into something you can actually use?

Sure we're writers, we're creative, we let things percolate, but sometimes those fleeting ideas just aren't good enough for a real story.

At least, they aren't the way they are now. But what if you added to them? Transformed them into something that stunning?

Let's take an idea of someone walking into a grocery store, grabbing an armful of candy bars and cutting in line to get out. Is this a story?

Yes, though not a very interesting one at the moment. Other than it making you frustrated and perhaps even angry with them, no one cares that person cut in line or why they're buying candy bars.

But let's take that person and put them outside the store and then let's jump in their head. They drive up, running late for a meeting with children.

Still not that interesting.

But what if those children were refugees? Possibly from another planet? What if this was the first time they'd ever been on Earth and this person had to keep them quiet and happy so the rest of the world didn't find out about them?

That moment in the store may never get put into a book, but it can certainly spark the idea for one. All you have to do is start asking hypothetical questions. Answer them. Think about them. When you get an answer ask more questions. The story will start to take shape, whether it's Sci-fi, Fantasy, Contemporary, Romance, etc. Every person will come up with different answers to the questions and form a different story. Just don't let yourself stop asking the questions.

It's all about seeing things in a different way.

Important Tips for Publishing a Children's Book | Childrens Books

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:05:00 +0000

The task of finding a publisher for your book can be daunting. Even J.K. Rowling, the highly acclaimed author of the Harry Potter books, received many rejections before achieving her phenomenal success. To circumvent the publisher problem, you may wish to consider publishing a children's book yourself. This route can be a very profitable one, providing you know what you're doing.

As soon as you start to investigate the possibility of self-publishing you will find yourself surrounded by apparent offers to assist. There are hundreds of companies only too ready to part you from your cash, and charge you a very high price indeed for publishing your work. Known as "vanity publishers", these organizations are out to make high profits - for themselves, not you!

As a self-publisher, your best option is to simply choose a regular, commercial printing company to carry out your work. You should fully investigate the market and choose a company that offers competitive prices. By following this route you will have full control of the process, and can make your own decisions about quality of materials and finish.

By using a mainstream printing company to assist you in publishing a children's book you will be able to retain full copyright to your work. There will be no requirement for you to sign a contract with the printer in this respect. This leaves you free to take all the profits from sales of your work, and also at liberty to use another printer, should you so wish, for any future reprints of your book.

It's important that you are fully aware of the work involved in publishing a children's book yourself. You must be prepared to take responsibility for all aspects of the process such as editing and proofreading. Also there will be important decisions to make on layout, font size, typefaces, bindings and so on. The level of involvement is considerable, but perhaps this is something you will in fact relish.

Providing you choose a printing company with a good reputation and high standards of customer care, these additional tasks need not be overtaxing. Ensure your children's book printing company is prepared to offer plenty of guidance, and that you can easily contact them for updates and clarifications.

Lastly, I'd like to touch on the subject of ISBNs. International Standard Book Numbers are unique 13 digit identifiers and enable books to be ordered and tracked in a commercial distribution network. If you are planning to handle sales of your children's book yourself, by selling directly in person or through a website, it's not necessary to have an ISBN.

Best Children's E-Book Review

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:04:00 +0000

If you have children, then you have probably read more than your share of books. Those of us, who read to our kids, can see the wonderful results that investment returns. There are lots of good reasons to read your children stories. It sparks their imaginations. It calms them down at bedtime. It establishes a pattern of reading when the children are most impressionable.

As a general rule, reading early in life translates to kids wanting to read later in life. I'm not sure if there have been scientific research on this, but from personal experience, I can confirm this presumption. All of my siblings read to their children and all of them love to read. The friends we have that read to their children all have children who love to read; while those who didn't read to their kids find their children are less than enthusiastic.

I was not read to as a child. Not surprisingly, I didn't start enjoy reading until I was married with children. I'm still very particular about the books I read for myself and I'm in my forties.

When should you read to them? In my experience, we read to our kids from the very start. Once they could hold their heads up by themselves, we started reading to them. Mainly before naps and bedtime. But as they grew up, we found ourselves reading to them on the floor while they were playing.

Something about the undulating tone of reading a children's book was soothing to our kids. They always played better when we were reading from a book. It also helped calm them down before going to sleep.

Which books should you read? Wow, that's a good question. There are literally tons of great books out there. Talk to your family and friends about which books they liked. Some of our favorites were the classics like Curious George, Tumble Bumble, Goodnight Moon, and any book by Sandra Boyton. Sadly, there are a lot of poorly written books too. A quick glance through the book will let you know if it's a keeper.

In this review, we're going to look at a new eBook series destined to become a classic, written by Emma Ward. Ms. Ward says she is a stay at home mom who understands the challenges of parenting. It appears the new series, known as "The Adventures of Bob and Joe", was written with that very view in mind.

Her books are grounded in family values. Looking out for each other, putting aside selfishness, and pitching in to help are all themes that run through her new "Bob and Joe" book series. Here's the main premise: Bob and Joe are identical twin turtles who like to have racing adventures. Basically, they'll race anyone, anytime, any place. The setting is primarily a pond, found in a deep forest of oak trees. They venture out for some other adventures, but as you'd expect, the turtles stay pretty close to home most of the time.

There are a host of characters that help Bob and Joe teach the kids a great lesson. My favorite is a squirrel named Sammy who can't get enough acorns.

There are six "Bob and Joe" ebooks published on Amazon, along with a complete collection eBook that includes all six stories. The titles are as follows...

1. Bob and Joe in Our First Race
2. Bob and Joe in Abandon Ship
3. Bob and Joe in The Chariot Race
4. Bob and Joe in Photo Finish
5. Bob and Joe in The Serious Badger
6. Bob and Joe in Skating with Penguins
7. The Complete Adventures of Bob and Joe, Volume 1

These books seem to only be available on Amazon. The price is reasonable at $0.99 for each individual book and $4.99 for the complete collection. So download them to your Kindle or other reading app. and enjoy reading them to your children.

I have included a link to the author page here in Amazon. This is a new book to Amazon (published in April 2012), so there aren't a lot of reviews yet. But don't let that stop you from downloading them, trust me, your kids will enjoy following the characters from one race to another.

Best Children's Books

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Wed, 31 Jul 2013 16:03:00 +0000

What a diverse list of excellent children's books are available. It becomes incredibly difficult to select top ten or even top twenty lists. Chapter books for kids cover a wide age group, from 7-year-olds to 12- or 13-year-olds. This is a second list of top ranked chapter books and is chosen for the older group.

Because of Winn Dixie, Kate DiCamillo: A very lonely girl named Opal and her dad arrive in Naomi, Florida. She meets a stray dog in a Winn Dixie supermarket and names him after the store. As the goofy dog attracts notice, Opal begins to get to know an off -beat set of characters in the town and develops friendships. Opal's transparent honesty and country charm will win readers' hearts.

Hatchet, Gary Paulsen: A boy named Brian is the only survivor of a Cessna plane crash in the wilderness of Canada. He has almost no possessions besides a hatchet his mother had given him as a gift. It is a captivating story of how this boy learns to think instead of panicking and survives for almost two months in his wild surroundings. A captivating story that grabs the attention and won't let go.

Anne of Green Gables, Lucy Montgomery: Marilla Cuthbert's brother, Matthew, is supposed to bring home a foster boy to their household but, instead, returns home to Green Gables with a chatty redheaded orphan girl named Anne. At first Marilla disapproves heartily but gradually Anne begins to win both their hearts. She bumbles in and out of trouble but soon the reader is cheering wholeheartedly for her. A terrific classic that deserves all the praise it has received.

Westing Game, Ellen Raskin: Sam Westing is murdered on Halloween, presumably by one of his nieces or nephews. In his will, Westing promises his millions to whoever discovers the murderer. Raskin introduces us to a rash of characters and a shadow is cast on a number of them as the reader tries to figure out who the culprit could possibly be. Most readers didn't mind the large number of characters and enjoy the challenge of a surprisingly complex who-done-it.

Bud, not Buddy, Christopher Curtis: An African-American orphan named Bud gets sick of lousy foster homes and decides to find his father, Herman Calloway, based on the flimsiest of evidence. He escapes various perils to find his way to Grand Rapids, Michigan, where Calloway, a jazz musician, is none too happy to be told he may have a son. It is then the members of his band who begin to take the boy under their wings and offer him the semblance of a family. A moving story written in perfect lingo.

A Long Way from Chicago, Richard Peck: Brother and sister, Joey and Mary Alice leave the windy city each year for an annual visit to their huge Grandma Dowdel and a town the kids claim is smaller than she. Eccentric grandma has a unique sense of justice and she finds clever ways of bringing justice to various offenders, including a teenaged vandal, a drunken sheriff and a well-to-do banker. A unique story with heart and humor.

James and the Giant Peach, Roald Dahl: James is stuck living with his irascible aunts. But one day he's given magic crystals by a sympathetic wizard. By accident he drops them underneath a peach tree outside his home. One lone peach on the tree quickly grows to the size of a house. Inside, James discovers enormous insects who promise to set him free from his aunts. Soon the giant peach is rolling downhill, bound for the Atlantic Ocean and beyond on a fabulous adventure that will take James and his new friends a long, long way from those nasty aunts.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, Barbara Robinson: The Herdman kids are the worst kids in history-the kind of kids you love to hate-and this year they want to be in the church Christmas pageant. But very gradually some changes begin to occur in the lives of these terrors and that wonderful change brings a special joy to everyone around.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, C.S. Lewis: Susan, Edmund, Lucy, and Peter stay in an old professor's massive old estate to escape the air raids during the war. They accidentally discover a new world after getting lost in a wardrobe. The world features a wicked White Witch who has cursed the land with eternal winter, that is, until the majestic lion, Aslan, arrives to right the wrongs and make friends with the children.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt: Winnie Foster comes upon a stream in the forest from which a boy is drinking. The boy is a member of the Tuck family and this family "kidnaps" Winnie. The stream is apparently a magic spring that dispenses immortality. The Tucks try to explain to Winnie why everlasting life on this earth as it is may not be the most desirable thing. Meanwhile the villain, a man in a yellow suit tries to gain control of the stream to sell eternal life for vast profits must be stopped. A quirky book that holds readers like a magnet.

Top honorable mentions are The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Banks, and Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls. Also, Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell-like Hatchet, a survival story, but one that is unique in a number of ways. Readers will love both books in different ways and for different reasons.
More information, Check it out: http://www.books-to-grow-by.com

Creative Writing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Tue, 02 Jul 2013 15:18:00 +0000

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How to Writing Without Editing

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Wed, 26 Jun 2013 03:13:00 +0000

One of the most common mistakes new novelists make is to constantly edit their work as they write. They write a paragraph, a scene or a chapter, and then they go back and try to figure out how to embellish the story, describe the setting, select better words or in general make the writing stronger. Have you caught yourself editing as you go along?

Stop!

When you're writing the first draft of your novel, you should never stop to read over what you've written, much less worry about editing. For one, you'll never finish the manuscript if you do this. I've participated in plenty of critique groups where after two years, novelists are still reworking the same chapters I critiqued two years before. Their manuscript is no closer to being completed than it was when they joined the group.

Another reason to avoid editing as you write is this: Your writing will become stale. The story will lose its vibrancy. Your characters will become lifeless.

Not to mention, you can't do your best editing when you don't have completed material to work with.

Editing is a powerful tool for the novelist, but it must be used the right way... and at the right time.

If you're starting a novel manuscript right now, here's the best advice I can give you: Write the story straight through. Whatever you know of the story. Whatever you know of the characters. Don't try to make sense of it all, and whatever you do, don't try to edit yourself as you go along. Forget about character inconsistencies. Forget about word choice. Put the dictionary and thesaurus somewhere you won't be tempted to reach for them. Write from the top of your head, from your gut, from your heart... whichever analogy works best for you, follow it. Just write the story as it appears in your imagination right now.

Stuck on a scene? Move ahead. Be cryptic. Outline it if you must. Get the basics down on paper. Write it this way:

"In this scene, Mary confronts Joshua. There's some arguing back and forth. M: 'Why did you say you'd help Mr. X when you know he's the one causing all the problems?' J: 'Can you think of a better way to keep him focused on the job?' She's moving around inside the store this whole time, nervously dusting objects as she's speaking. Eventually Cameron comes in and interrupts the conversation by telling them the place they're arguing about is on fire and they'd better stop squabbling and get over there ASAP."

After you've written that little passage, move on to the next scene and continue with the story. You can come back later and flesh out the cryptic scene when you have a better idea what you want to do with it. The point is: Do whatever it takes to get un-stuck and keep writing. Don't stop. Don't think. Don't edit. Just tell the story!

This raises a debate novelists often engage in about writing styles. Some novelists are "outliners" while others are "pantsers" - meaning they write by the seat of their pants; they just tell the story as it comes into their head, and they don't necessarily know where they're going with it. The approach you take depends on your personality and the way you work best. But either approach is compatible to writing without editing.

Personally, I like to take some time before I begin writing a novel (no more than a week) to do a very basic outline and get to know my characters as in-depth as I can, through note cards and character interviews. I trace character arcs and plot lines, I look at various threads, I jot down various scene ideas on note cards - not scene structure or details, but just a one-sentence description of a scene I believe will take place in the story. I do all this before I write a word.

Once that's done, however, I start writing and I don't stop to edit myself. In other words, I create a road map before I start, but I don't fill in too much detail on the map, and I don't allow the map to constrain me. Most importantly, I don't stop to censor myself as I'm writing the story. If I move off track and write myself into a corner - it happens! - I just make a note that this might not have been the way to go and I continue to write as if nothing went wrong.

It might sound frightening, it might sound like a waste of time - after all, a lot of what you write might not end up in your final manuscript - but trust me, you'll appreciate the results. When you write without stopping to edit, your work is more vibrant, your characters are more alive, the dialogue is real, the story is compelling, and your passion for the story and the characters comes through. This is something that can't be replaced by any method other than just writing the story straight from your gut, without editing.

And by the way, much of what you write isn't supposed to end up in the final version. It's not unusual for a novelist to cut nearly two-thirds of what he or she has written before publishing the book. When you write the novel, you are creating material you can work with. You will use that material and shape it into the finished product. A lot will be cut in the process. What you've written and cut is never a waste. You can't get to the finished product without having plenty of material to work with.

After you finish the first draft, you will edit - you'll do many levels of editing if you want to get it right. But the spark, the dynamism of your original draft will still be there. If, on the other hand, you constantly stop to edit as you write and don't allow yourself just to write freely, that spark, that dynamism will never be there. That's not something any amount of brilliant editing can make up for.

When you write the story straight through without stopping, you give yourself awesome material to work with during the editing stages. You'll be amazed what you can do at that point. Editing is where you add all the detail, all the texture, all the sub-text... everything that makes the difference between a mediocre novel and a great novel. But you can't perform editing magic until you have the fullest possible draft to work with. Otherwise, you're just wasting your time and talent.

Think of a beautiful piece of pottery, a gorgeous ceramic vase. What makes it beautiful? Is it the design, the careful craftsmanship, the exquisite attention to detail, the dynamic colors, the shiny finish, the unusual shape? Perhaps all of these? Do you realize not one of these features that makes this pottery beautiful would have been possible if someone didn't put a lump of clay on a potter's wheel?

I talked to a fellow writer just the other day who was driving herself crazy with her self-censorship... and she was only on the second chapter of her first draft! I told her to think about the clay on the potter's wheel.

"You're trying to stick your hands in the kiln with nothing in them, and you're wondering why it hurts!" I said. "Put the clay on the wheel first, then worry about what you're going to do to make it beautiful."

It's not always easy. In fact, it might be one of the most challenging tasks you've ever undertaken. But if you will allow yourself to write freely, uncensored, until you complete your first draft, your novel is off to an incredible beginning.

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How to Be Efficient Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 07:42:00 +0000

My love for writing started at an early age and never left me since. I like writing all the time as a way to create order into my daily, sometimes hectic, world. And, when I am not writing, I am reading, including about writing (part of this bibliography being grammar books as well). Shortly, I am spending an enormous amount of time in the kingdom of words.

Having a professional life with various intellectual connections and interests, I had the occasions to test various types of writings: literature or self-help books, journalistic and scientific/academic articles, literary short stories or children books or fillers, as well as various writing materials related to PR and advertising, as press releases, texts for leaflets, business plans or Power Point presentations. I was happy to discover blogging and, most recently Twitter, struggling to express a wide range of ideas up to the 140-character requirement of the networking platform.

Given my permanent interest for writing, my preoccupations in addressing various topics and styles increased accordingly. I keep short diaries of my various ideas for books or articles and down on my computer I separate and organise my ideas in several folders sorted out on subjects of interest. When I am thinking about a certain topic, some useful ideas for other articles might arise. And, worrying to avoid missing any opportunity, I am hurrying up to keep them in the virtual memory my computer. It is the reason why usually when I am writing - including right now - I have opened several Word documents, that I am feeding with ideas and further developments of the stories, every time when an idea is hunting me.

I am very proud about my creativity and I took lots of advantages out of it. I am able to write quite fast and easy on various issues and my portfolio of publications is increasing exponentially. But, in the same time, when two or three tight deadlines are approaching, managing my own flow of ideas while advancing with the papers become lately an embarrassing and frustrating task. I hate being messy and lacking a proper time management, but it is exactly the word describing my writing process in some unhappy situations. In the most part of the cases, I am managing well these situations and my priority list of deadlines is done in due time. In the same time, I am fully aware that the high level of nervous energy spent while hurrying to finalize an emergency is extremely consuming and not unavoidable, if a better time and writing management in place. I want to keep writing as the most basic pleasant working activity and sometimes this tensed tour-de-force is diminishing considerably my daily energy devoted to writing activities. After a couple of hours of hard working like this, I prefer to take a longer break until starting a new project.

Time for a change?

At the beginning of this year, looking for a qualitative change into my writing life, I put on the top of my self-improvement wish-list finding efficient ways to avoid as much as possible - the 100% option is always unrealistic to be fully took into consideration - the dead hours and minutes caused by the lack of adequate administration. I wanted to correct the bad management of my talent and resources widening the gap between my prospective chances to improve myself and the results not always answering my high expectations.
And, I started by a close scrutiny of the current situation I was facing.

I was having opened various writing workshops, to which I was working from time to time, none of them closed to a predictable deadline. Unable to say "no" to new ideas and to focus on what I was doing, the pace of starting new projects was increasing, while the number of finished tasks was less than five (in comparison with almost 15 under the "work-in-process" category. Every time, I wasted time and useful ideas because sandwiched between dozen of ideas, all of them considered tempting enough to distribute my human interest. Not once I failed in doing properly from the very beginning my writing tasks and I needed a considerable amount of time for editing and reorganizing my previous works. Lacking certain coherence, I needed more time to remember what I wanted to say thus, more time for reconnecting to my own ideas. Sometimes, as it was unable to be back on the track of my own thoughts, it requires a dramatic change and reorganization of the full writing piece.

Because of the time pressure, I was missing the most important part of the writing giving in fact the content and the success of my work: the careful editing and a clear expression of my ideas. Inspiration and the overwhelming desire to writing are by no means enough and never the only door to the professional recognition. In our speed-driven world where the success is measured in terms of ability to comply to the highest standards while keeping a constant rhythm of creation and reinvention of yourself, the inability to organise yourself is detrimental to your natural born gifts.

Thus, I made the conclusion of an emergency need to switch on to a change of style and more discipline of working.

At the beginning, the idea to organize business-like planning for activities I wanted to consider freely of any kind of obligations lead to various dilemma and even to what I generically called "writing fatigue". In fact, it was my mental reaction to introducing the rules and regulations I was following strictly in my daily working activity. It took me a couple of weeks to get back on the track, but I haven't given up. I was stubbornly decided to change my style, being aware of the biggest amount of advantages, in comparison with the unsatisfactory results obtained by now. I was fully aware of my potential as I was equally unhappy with the meagre results of my chaotic approach.

Hence, the first conclusion, before going further: We are talking very often about change and the need to proceed to it. But, when it is about really implementing it, we are mostly reluctant, because we need to give up comfortable habits. A beginning is good, but only after we are fully aware of the process of change and a careful analysis of the current state of affairs.

The day

If writing is not your main - revenue providing - job, you need to find the best time to dedicate to your hobby and/or passion. And even if you are a writer for living, still you need to reconcile your family and personal life with the dedication to the written word. In both cases, we have to start with your daily schedule.

There are a couple of questions you need to ask yourself before proceeding to giving content to your writing program and, finally, to help you become a very successful writer, with a defined professional experience and profile.

- How important is writing for you?
Possible answers: You need to write as you need coffee in the morning. Without it you feel your life is unfulfilled professionally.
- What is your usual daily program?
Make a short description of the weekdays activities, with an approximation of the hours dedicated to each. Include in this evaluation also the time you need for sleep, for your family and other hobbies. Identify which activity deserve less or more time. At the end, find out how many time you will be able to dedicate to writing.
- Make a list of at least five reasons answering the question: How important is writing for you? How leaving writing will affect your personal life?
For example: you need to write for getting extra money, for your pleasure, for continuing your studies while working, to be able to breath healthy in the world of ideas, for getting famous. Do not care too much what other people think about your reasons. The most important is that you believe in your reasons and are ready to dedicate your time and energy for making your wishes comes true.

Now, try to find the best period of the day for writing. This choice depends on a great extent of your way of living, lifestyle, working program and, not last important, of your own human profile. For some people, morning it not the best time to dedicate to intellectual activities, others are very efficient in the middle of the day, or late in the night. Try to shortly evaluate how much this change into your program will influence your other activities. Before creating the routine you will need to implement next, make a test for one week to see how it works.

From my own experience, if your schedule does not allow you more, whether it is morning or evening, the best timing for writing is one hour and a half, maximum two hours. Take into account that you will need half an hour for entering a certain pace and clarity of ideas.

After the assessment of your daily program, you need to proceed to an evaluation of your needs:
- What kind of writing projects do you have now or estimate to start/finish?
- What are the results estimated? Finishing a book, an article, a translation. When do you need to finish your work? (This is a question to ask in the case of deadline you have to meet for submissions.)
- How do you will finish the editing work? In the case you intend to contact a publisher for a further evaluation, you have to take into account the full schedule people from the branch could have.
- How much time do you need for the documentation of your work? If it is a scientific article, you have to include in your scheduled period dedicated to your passion the amount of time spent for reading supplementary sources for covering extensively your subject. But, stay tuned, we will be back with a detailed advising on the organisation of your writing time!
At the end of this questions-and-answers process, recalculate and re-evaluate again your daily agenda, in order to establish the proper time dedicated to writing.

Everything looks clearer now, isn't it? At least, you are able to enter the routine of a working program, where it is time for your writing.

The work

You have now a clearer idea about the prospective distance - we hope not too big - between your writing interests and the effective amount of time at your disposal. Even when the difference is very big, you do not have to give up. Try to focus these activities for the week-end or, if you feel the need to finish your writing project sooner, be ready to take a leave for a week or two.

And now, let's go to work!

Here there are a couple of recommended steps to be followed while writing. The list is not extensive and we are ready to hear your own experiences in this matter:

- Before starting, schedule five minutes in advance for establishing what do you intend to achieve today - polishing an introduction, editing, finding a more interesting ending, advancing with a new chapter, creating more appealing dialogues.
- Disconnect yourself to any sources which could distract you from your work: Internet, cell phones, kids playing, pets etc. Maybe your work is amazingly important and you cannot be replaced by anybody else, even for one or two hours. But, in the same time, be aware where your interest resides: do you want to finish the book/article/story? Well, if the answer is yes, be unstoppable!
- Focus on one piece of writing at a time: if you could work a full week, make a plan for each day and of the final results expected at the end of the week. For a better organisation, you could use the Google Calendar, for example, together with the organising sheets of a daily schedule.
- Dedicate 15 minutes of your time for a short revision of your daily work. It is more helpful to do it on the spot, when your ideas are still fresh, than to let it for another day, when your memories might be fading away.
- Be sure that you have at your disposal a dictionary or another updated Microsoft Word programs for offering direct corrections for misspellings or various grammar mistakes.
- If you are writing - as most part of us - at a computer, be sure that you are permanently saving your works. Just in case - of bugs, technical shutdowns, other unexpected and not always unavoidable technical problems -, you could transfer your files on a memory stick or a CD.
- Keep yourself optimistic! Even if you could feel unable to continue an idea or out of inspiration, try to enjoy as much as possible of your time. Do the editing and proof-reading task now, or anything which could improve your writing progress.
- At the end of the program, make a short written evaluation of your progress: what do you need to do tomorrow, what aspects need a more careful documentation, which references you must work more on.

Reading

As we mentioned before, writing is not enough. As an author - whatever the topic you are covering - you need keeping yourself all the time in touch with news from your area of interest, whether it is about pen friends or articles relating to the industry. In your daily schedule be sure to dedicate enough space to read something new which could help you to improve your writing skills.

Thanks to the Internet, you do not need always to go in the library for reading. Many references are available - free or paid - online, and you do not need to spend too much time for the transportation, for example. Despite your dramatic lack of time, you still might find some opportunities for pursuing your goals, during a short break, while resting on the coach, or while drinking your coffee in a wireless pub.

As in the case of everything which is related to writing, if you set clearly your objectives, the subsequent organisation of your daily schedule is organised around these priorities.

A couple of short advices for organising your reading files:
- Make a list of your documentation needs. For example, if you intend to write a short story for children, these documentation needs could cover: the market for children stories, psychology books, and other children books.
- Take your notes as careful as possible - with academic references, mention of short ideas, useful to be introduced in your writings.
- Organise your notes on files dedicated to subject, as to be able to find them easily. You could use directly the computer or to follow the old model of hand writing on papers or notebooks. Whatever the support, do not forget to follow a much organised way.
- Be sure that all your new information will be introduced as soon as possible in your text. Our memory is always playing tricky games with us, so the probability to forget is getting higher as the time pass.
- Try to set limits for your research, up to an essential bibliography. Be aware that your intention will be not to reproduce everything was already written about your topics, but to introduce some original benchmarks. Covering the bibliography on the subject is useful, but do not try to spend too much time with this. Or more time than for your writing.

Networking

In addition to the writing/documenting activities, nowadays, you should take into account the options of making your work known. Hence, you need to be being part of various virtual or real dedicated writing networks. The opinions regarding the necessity of a writer's full involvement in this kind of activities are split, as the general appreciation on the benefits and disadvantages of Internet itself. Some consider the time spent on various social networking sites - Facebook, Twitter etc. - as a waste of time. Some pledge for a high presence - via comments, posts - as a key to make your work known, with few, if not completely free costs.

As in the case of any situation involving choice, before starting to build up your virtual profile, you have - again - to answer a couple of questions about your benefit out of the potential involvement in this kind of activities. In order to offer yourself the best possible answers, take the time to read a couple of articles and information about how these social networks are working and about experiences of writers in using them.

- What do you want to achieve by using social networks?
- How much time are you able to dedicate to these activities, without diminishing your writing/documentation program?
- How much your work is fit to this kind of networking? Think, for example, to the academic articles: how Twitter could help you to spread the news about your research? What electronic support suits you better: blogging, academic reviews etc.

The activities of social networking must be considered as a separate part of your daily time. Without a clear evaluation of your objectives and aims in this respect, the relatively facile aspect of the social networking might be equally highly time consuming. In the case you decided that you need to be present on one or as many as possible networks, you have to establish the proper moments for you during the day when you can upload content - for example, ten minutes in the morning, 15-20 minutes in the evening. For reasons of order and writing discipline it is healthy to wait until fully entering this very demanding online life. Whatever fashionable it could be to be always online, your narrow interests must be always in your sight.

My advice is trying first to build my portfolio of writing contributions - a couple of articles, a schedule of subjects to be addressed in your blog posts for a week or a month. These should be networked and distributed via various supports. I do a lot of social media networking, but I always do it with pleasure after my writing tight schedule is ready allowing me to offer a certain content of my online presence and profile.

But Internet it is not enough. Meanwhile, I am trying to be involved as much as possible in an efficient networking in the real life, attending conferences, contacting editors, going to book fairs or taking a writing class, where I could have the opportunity to exchange experiences with people sharing the same interests with me.

However, these aspects are at the end of my priority list. I prefer to freeze my Twitter for a month, for example, but to have a very efficient writing activity. This is the most important aim: following my writing interest and advancing with my projects. This is the basis of my activity and of my preoccupations.

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How to Writing an Ebook

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 03:05:00 +0000

Writing your first eBook might seem like a difficult thing to do, especially if you have never written so much as an article or short report in your life. But like anything in life, the process will go much more smoothly once you learn the basics of eBook writing.

The key to writing your first draft in under 30 days is to organize yourself, create a clear plan for your writing and dedicate yourself to the process. This last part, dedication, really is the key to your success.

If you want to write your first draft in under 30 days, here are the things you need to do and the questions you need to answer:

Why are You Writing Your Ebook?
There are lots of reasons to write an eBook and your specific reason will dictate the kind of eBook you write. If you are writing because you want to share your knowledge or promote a business, there is a certain kind of product you will write.

If you want to make money through selling ebooks, then you will write another kind and so on. At this point, it is not important to go through the different types of ebooks, just write down your reasons for wanting to write your first one - make money, share your knowledge, drive traffic to your website, make affiliate sales, etc.

Keep those reasons handy as they will provide inspiration in the coming days as you write your first draft.

What are You Writing About?
Your topic is what you will be writing about. Now there are thousands of topics you can write about, but I would strongly urge you to write about something you are passionate about or know a lot about.

The more you know about your topic, the easier it is going to be to write about it. Most would-be authors get stuck with writer's block because they attempt to write about a subject they know nothing about.

What is Your Sexy Title?
By sexy, I mean interesting and eye-catching. You want a title that is going to grab your potential reader and get them to want to hear more.

Some of my favorite titles to use as great examples are:

- Rich Dad Poor Dad
- The One Minute Millionaire
- The Millionaire Next Door
- Fat Loss 4 Idiots!

Brainstorm a couple of great titles and write them down right now.

Who are You Writing For?
Besides yourself of course, who are you writing for? Who is your ideal reader or constant reader as Stephen King likes to call them.

When you know who you are writing to - beginner, advanced pro, casual interest person - you can easily figure out how much information to leave in or cut out of your writing.

I usually will write to my ideal reader when I am working on my first draft. I figure out what I have to explain in detail and what they should know already when writing one of my how-to products.

Create Your Detailed Outline
Now that the "why's" and the "what's" are out of the way, you are just one more step away from writing your ebook. First, you need a tightly written writing or table of contents. This will serve to keep you on track when you write.

My best tip for creating an outline is to take a blank piece of paper and a pen and think of your topic. Ask yourself, how you are going to solve this specific problem for your readers?

What is the first thing your reader will need to do?

Write the step down. What is the second thing they need to do? Write that step down too. Keep going with this process until you have all the main things listed on your piece of paper.

Write Your Own eBook - Time to Write
Once you have your outline, you have nothing left to do but write. Here is what you need to do to ensure success:

- Keep your outline handy and open up your MS Word document.

- Pick a sub-topic from your outline.

- Just start writing on that topic. Do not over-think this process. Just choose a topic, think about it for just a moment and write down what your reader needs to know about it. Just 3 to 4 sentences for each sub-topic should be your goal.

Why? Because your reader really just wants the facts and they want them immediately. They want to learn how to solve their problem and fast!

The perfect way to get to a quick solution to your reader is to keep your writing short and to the point. I like to target 25 to 40 pages in my special reports or short ebooks.

You Must Stay Focused
Stick with your outline and do not add any more topics or sub-topics. If you do not stick to your outline, you will never finish your first draft.

Write Every Day
Target to write about 5 double-spaced pages per day. Over the course of 30 days, that is 150 pages. This amount of material is way more than you need, but it is better to have more content than too little during the editing stage.

As you can see, your daily writing really adds up over time, so a realistic goal could be to finish your writing in 10 days and have a 50 page ebook. Pick a page goal that makes the most sense for you, your ability and the time you have to devote daily to your writing.

Reminder: Only Write a Little on Each Topic
How long it takes you to write your first draft all comes down to how much you write on any given topic in your outline. I try to focus on just a few sentences per sub-topic and you should too. You will finish your eBook in well under 30 days and your reader will thank you for just getting to the point. It is a win/win situation for the both of you!

So remember, stay focused with your writing. Give the reader the information they need and move onto the next topic.

Conclusion - How to Write Your First eBook in 30 Days or Less?
Warning: Forget all the other stuff that happens after you finish your rough draft. You should not focus on any of the graphics, editing, publishing and selling piece of the puzzle because it can and will get overwhelming.

Focus instead on the main step that is ahead of you: writing your first ebook. What are you waiting for? Now that you know how to write your first draft, start writing today.

Do not do anything else right now. Close your internet browser, put the cell phone on vibrate and clear your desk or kitchen table. In short, put everything on hold and start writing today!

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Freelance Writers Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 01:16:00 +0000

If you're a freelance writer, a person who is trying to write a book, or just someone who has a big writing project to complete, try these tips for staying focused:

1. Schedule your writing for YOUR most productive time of the day. For example, don't leave your writing for the very last thing at night if you're an early bird who is most productive in the mornings yet tends to get worn out by 9:00 p.m. Your productive time is your "writing zone." When you work "in the zone" your writing will be better and you'll find it much easier to stay focused.

2. Set aside a specific amount of time for each writing project. When you do this you won't need to rush or feel that you're neglecting your other writing projects in favor of just one. You'll be able to relax and give your full attention to that one project for the amount of time you've set aside for it.

3. Build some momentum for those larger writing projects. If you're working on something big like a book, you need to keep at it long enough to see things start coming together and build some momentum. Once you do, it will be easier to complete the project.

4. Don't try to write for more than 3 or 4 hours at a time. If you can only write for one hour at a time (or just one hour a day) that will be a good start. As you create momentum you'll naturally increase your writing time. Too often, beginning writers feel they need to set aside huge chunks of time for writing. When they aren't able to do that consistently, they give up. They don't realize that most writers don't write for 8 to 10 hours a day. Instead, they write every day for shorter periods of time. The key is they write consistently, not just when they're in the mood or feel inspired.

5. Schedule something fun and relaxing to do every day AFTER you have completed your writing. This can be your reward for the day. You want writing to become PART of a wonderful life. You don't want to put your life on hold so you can write. That's no fun!

6. Find a writing buddy. To work with a writing buddy, schedule regular writing times and then both of you should write during the scheduled time. You don't have to be in the same location as your writing buddy while you write. You just need a way to communicate. After your set writing time for the day is up, email or call your buddy to report your progress. Having someone to be accountable to will make it easier to stay focused for a specific amount of time.

7. Be sure you have a realistic marketing plan and work schedule every Monday morning BEFORE your work week begins. When you know WHAT you need to write and WHEN you need to write it, you'll find it easier to get started each day and it will be easier to stay focused. Plus, you won't waste precious writing time trying to figure out WHAT to write. Make as many decisions about WHAT to write on the weekend when you're making your weekly marketing plan and your writing schedule for the coming week.

8. Set writing goals for each day. Plan to write just one page of your novel or nonfiction book per day, for example. Then, if you write more than that on any given day, you'll be elated. If you only manage to eek out one page you'll still feel good because you met your goal for the day. When you have specific writing goals for each writing session, you're more likely t stay focused and you'll usually meet those goals rather than just get a little writing done.

9. Record your progress. Are you writing every day? For how long? You'll be motivated to keep going, and you'll be better able to stay focused, if you SEE that you're making progress. You don't have to make BIG progress every day. A little progress consistently over time is what really adds up.

10. Learn HOW to write the type of thing you're trying to write. If you've decided to write a novel, read books about writing novels, sign up for a novel writing workshop or course online or at your local college. If you know HOW to do something, you won't feel like you're just driving around in the dark with no destination. You'll know where and how to get where you want to go, so you'll be more likely to stick with it till you get there.

11. Stay relaxed as you write. Listen to relaxation tapes. Take a walk, do whatever you need to do to clear your mind before you sit down to write. If you write in a stressed or frazzled state the work won't be as good. Plus, you'll tend to freeze up and not get much accomplished.

12. Set your intentions before you begin your writing for the day. You might say to yourself, "Today's writing will be easy and enjoyable and the article I'm working on will seem to write itself." It's amazing how much this affects not only the quality of your writing but also the writing process itself.

Follow these tips and you'll have an easier time staying focused on your writing. You'll enjoy the writing process more, too.

More information, please visit :

Freelance Writing Tips 1

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Mon, 20 May 2013 02:42:00 +0000

Time is money for freelance writers, so the more you can streamline your writing processes the more time you save, and the more money you'll make.

I've been working as a freelancer for almost 30 years. Here are my top ten writing time-savers:

1. Mind maps - for everything

I use mind maps to help me to write, and to create time for writing. I use them to brainstorm, to schedule, to structure documents, to research - in short, I use them for just about everything.

Although I'm a fan of computer-based mind maps (I currently use NovaMind on the Mac), I also create mind maps on everything from the sticky notes to sheets of poster-board.

2. Write-think - Write, Don't Think (DDT)

DDT, for Do, Don't Think, is my favorite acronym because I used to over-analyze. Years ago, I found it was easier just to write out my thoughts. I ask myself a question on paper, or on the computer screen, then I go ahead and write an answer. I'm always surprised at the solutions I discover, just by writing.

3. Timed writing

I time many of my writing sessions. It helps me to get more done, and to write more. I set a time for ten or 15 minutes, and just write. Setting a time limit means that I produce - I don't look out of the window or check my email.

4. Blogging for easy marketing

Marketing your writing is essential, or you won't get writing work. You need to pitch stories and projects, and to make proposals to companies and agencies if you're looking for freelance writing gigs.

A blog cuts down on the need for at least 50 per cent of your marketing strategies - in fact, since I've got several blogs, I'm finding that I get writing commissions without pitching stories, and without sending out proposals. Yes, it does take time to blog. However, a blog is forever - it will stay online, marketing and selling for you, for years to come.

5. Schedules

If you don't schedule it - everything from a magazine article to a hair cut - it doesn't get done. Your schedule is your best friend.

6. Researching after the first draft

On many projects, I research AFTER I do a quick draft. This keeps me focused on the story I'm writing. I interview only those people I need to interview.

7. Writing about what I'm learning

Being a writer means always having homework, and always learning. You can save time by writing about your current enthusiasms, life style and whatever you happen to be learning. When my children were small, I wrote for parenting magazines. I continue to write for tech magazines because I'm always learning something new about computers and the Web.

8. Web sites -- easy marketing again

A Web site does your marketing for you, and it saves time when you can point people to your online portfolio.

9. Setting goals

Got goals? Set goals regularly, and revise and revisit them often. Set goals for the week, month and year. Remember that while you can set goals, you can't DO goals, so every goal needs to have tasks which lead you to accomplishment, and those tasks must be entered into your schedule.

10. Setting monetary goals

How much do you want to earn as a freelancer? Set monetary goals. If you've set monetary goals for yourself, this cuts down on decision making, because you won't write for markets which don't pay enough for you to achieve those goals.

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How do I write a book quickly | Writing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Mon, 06 May 2013 03:48:00 +0000

So, you want to write a book - a book that can give you the recognition you want
and will attract more clients to your business.

But how do you do it? After all you have a business to run or a busy life that gives
you little time for writing.

It can be done...you can write a book fast. There are some tasks you must do to
accomplish your book-writing venture, but you can do it if you believe it is
important and have a burning desire to write your great book.

The biggest barrier to writing and finishing your book is you - you are just too darn
busy or maybe writing isn't your favorite thing to do. Yet, you know how important
it is to have that book written with your name imprinted on it as the author.

Don't give up yet. There are effective ways to get your book finished. First, you
must write at least 10 tips you are going to give your clients--tips that will help
them solve a problem in your area of expertise. Then those 10 tips will be your
guide to writing your book and will become your Table of Contents.
Check out the following techniques that will help you to write your book and use the
ones that can work for you.

1. Make it a habit to write everyday.

Writing your great book must become a habit. The best way to achieve this goal is
to write everyday. One hour a day would be wonderful but even 30 minutes would
be great. However, if you have a conflict and must do something else for the day...
write anyway. Write for 10 minutes on your busy days. Try to write at the same
time each day and in 21+ days you will have developed a good writing habit.

You will be amazed as to what you can accomplish by writing 10 minutes to one
hour each day.

2. You don't have to be an Ernest Hemingway, just write it down.

Don't be critical of your writing. Just write down the words. Write. Write. Write
your book without thinking of the sentence structure or the spelling, just get the
words down.

When you finish the first draft you can revise it, perfect it, or send it to an editor to
do that for you.

3. The best way to get your book done is to hire a book coach.

Maybe you don't have enough time. Maybe you are unsure of your writing skills.
You can get help by hiring a book coach that will help keep you focused. The best
way to choose a coach is to ask your writing friends for a recommendation. Some
of them may know a coach that will help you get your book done quickly. The next
best way is to search online for a "book coach." After you have selected 3-4 names
search their name for references and pick the one that fits your needs.

4. Another way is to get one or two friends to support your writing needs.

Getting a friend to help you finish your book can give you the boost you need. Pick
someone who is willing to talk to you at least once a week on the phone and keep
you on target each week to finish a chapter or whatever amount of writing you agree
to finish in a week.

5. If you really want to finish your book fast...do this.

If you are in a hurry you can write your book fast. Get your friend or a coach to
interview you on the phone and record it. Present to your buddy the 10 topics you
prepared. Let your buddy ask questions as you give your presentation. You might
want to do one topic a week. At the end of each phone session get the recording
transcribed. In 10 weeks you will have the first draft of your book almost done. All
you have to do is add the Introduction, Acknowledgements, and anything else you
want at the beginning and end of your book. It can be done in 90 days or less with
this procedure. After you finish your first draft send it to an editor to finalize for
you.

That's about it. Of course there are other things to do such as are you going to self-
publish which is easier than ever now that we have the Internet and have access to
all kinds of printing resources. There also are marketing and publicity decisions to
make. If this is an informational book or booklet for your clients then it is a matter
of hiring a quality book cover designer and printer and getting your great book
distributed to your clients.

Get started now. Rearrange your priorities and start writing your book today, follow
the guidelines above and in 90 days or less you will have the first draft of your great
book written.

Get going. There is no time like today to get started writing your great book.

-----
Joan Clout-Kruse, America's Book Coach, is the publisher of one of the top weekly Ezine reports for small biz owners covering writing, marketing and publishing on anything words to make money and boost your business.

Sign up for her FREE weekly Ezine how-to articles today at http://www.Powerhouse-writer.com/Powerhouse-Writer.html

Find more articles and reports at http://www.Words4Money.com ,or visit :

Easy tips on writing technique

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Thu, 02 May 2013 06:25:00 +0000

You're a non-writer who has just been assigned to write the User Documentation for your company's new product. Your overwhelming emotion is fear, perhaps with some anger.

With any new activity there will be some anxiety. Writing may have added anxiety because of your writing experience while you were a student.

Writing User Documentation is not like the writing that you had to do in school. Those activities were filled with anxiety and "writer's block." In this article you will see how to overcome your writing anxieties so you can write a good User Document.

WHAT YOU'RE NOT WRITING

All writing and writing situations are not the same. Let's differentiate writing a User Document from other types of writing and writing situations.

YOU'RE NOT WRITING A NOVEL

You don't have to worry about a plot, characters, and techniques to make the writing flow. You do not have to worry about transitions from one section to another; you don't have to worry about continuity. It is extremely rare for your Reader to read a User Document from start to finish; Readers usually only look up the information that they need at the time.

YOU'RE NOT ARGUING A POINT

You don't have to determine a point to argue, think up arguments to support that point, and then convincingly present the arguments.

YOU'RE NOT WRITING A LABORATORY REPORT

While lab reports provided a structure for writing, it was usually over-restrictive and those doing the grading were very picky regarding that format and structure.

YOUR SCHOOL-WRITING EXPERIENCES

At the end of your school writing exercise there was a critic (your teacher). Your goal was to impress him/her with your writing, all the time being extremely careful to write grammatically, and follow the prescribed structure. Later we will get a "critic" (editor) to be on your side in the writing project.

Writing a User Document is Different. The team is on your side. (I am ignoring office politics.) Everyone wants to have a successful product, and good User Documentation is part of a good product.

Remember that other members of the team are human, also. They have their tasks to complete, and would probably prefer not to have to answer your questions. Be prepared (read background info, etc) before you ask questions.

STRUCTURE MAKES WRITING EASIER

The overall structure of the User Document will follow the interaction between the User and the product. Within that structure you will write components...pieces of the User Document, each dealing with a specific topic. Each component will have a defined structure: overview/background, the actual material, and additional information.

One benefit of working this way is that you will not be concerned with "writer's block." The primary cause of writer's block is having making decisions ("what should I say here?"). An effective writing structure eliminates most decisions, and reduces your writing task to almost "fill in the blanks."

In fact, some experienced writers find it difficult to write in a modular environment. They are concerned with writing elegant transitions from one section to another. You do not need to do this...you can write each component totally independently of the others.

Your task is to clearly provide the information that your reader needs, and make that information easily accessible to him/her.

You must cultivate an attitude of compassion for your Readers.

YOU NEED RESOURCES FOR SUCCESS

Whoever assigned you the writing project (your "patron") is responsible for your success. Your patron should provide resources to assist you. One of the most important resources is an editor.

EDITOR

Your editor (if hired early in the project) can help you over many writing difficulties. For example, your editor can help you with wording problems as you write. Consult with your editor as you are creating the User Document...not just at the end.

Your editor is not your critic!

Your editor will reduce your worries about grammar and wording. Your editor is on your side; he/she is not an adversary or someone you have to impress (like your school teachers). Your editor can help you produce a good User Document.

ACCESS TO INFORMATION

Your patron should enable you to have access to the product developers, information about the product (a mockup of the product, marketing information, assumptions about the Users of the product), and the industry.

TIME AND PHYSICAL RESOURCES

You need time to do a good job, and the physical resources to get it done.

If you are in a hurry, and if you do not know any of the current fancy authoring tools and content management systems, do not bother with learning them.

Instead, investigate what your word processor will do. Can it be made to create PDF, HTML, RTF or text files? If so, then it is a fine candidate for this project. Learn how to use its basic capabilities, especially its concept of formatting "styles."

TRAINING/GUIDANCE

Typically, documentation is started late in the project's life cycle. As a result, the documentation production is always rushed. Taking a live writing course may be out of the question: there will be scheduling problems, and you will be away from the writing task while you are being trained.

A better alternative might be to take a computer-based course that guides you through the writing, and supports you via e-mail. Visit the links in the "Resources" or "About the Author" section of this article.

YOU NEED A WRITING METHOD

To simply gather the required information, produce an outline that gets approved, and go off to write the document, is a recipe for high-stress and possible failure. It's high stress because at the end of your writing, you get everything evaluated at once. There is the fear of failure. Fundamental errors could result in a major re-write. Aaaargh!

Consider writing components (modules, pieces) of your document. Let a component sit for a while, review it, and then circulate it for review. This way you will know that you are on track early in the project.

Since components will usually be short and focused on a particular topic, your reviewers will actually have the time to read and comment on your components. Just providing a complete, massive document at the end of the project will discourage your reviewers from effectively evaluating the material.

Writing and having reviewed small chunks of text (as opposed to creating the entire document, and then having it reviewed) helps reduce your stress, enabling you to do a better job.

Recall a skill that you have learned. It may be driving a car, riding a bicycle, or solving differential equations. Remember how you got more comfortable as you worked at it. It is the same with writing your User Document in components. The first few components will be high-stress, since you are new to the process.

As you write and have your components reviewed, you will become comfortable with the process. The later writing will go faster and better because of the reduced stress. Your review team will know where you are in the writing process; they will see each component as you release it.

Contrast this with writing the entire document and then having it reviewed. Here the stress builds to a maximum at the hand-in and evaluation time. You never know -- until the end -- if you've made a fundamental mistake.

DEALING WITH REVIEWS OF YOUR WRITING

You will have each component reviewed by others on the product project. Consider their suggestions and criticisms of your writing. However try to leave your ego out of the equation. If a reviewer says "you got this wrong," you should hear "this is incorrect." Ask what is incorrect, and get the correct information. Correct the inaccuracies. Don't be defensive.

If you can overcome your fear of criticism, you will be able to write more and write better. This fear will diminish as you produce (and have reviewed) each of the components.

Learn as much as you can about the product, its environment, and Users. If you are expected to be an expert and are not one, then use the excuse for any naive questions you may ask: "I am just simulating our product's Users with this question." (Use this technique sparingly.)

TWO MORE POINTS

Nobody writes the perfect User Document. Don't strive for perfection. Doing so will prevent you from getting anything done.

Read. Read all sorts of published materials, especially other User Documents (especially for products similar to the one you are writing about). Learn from that writing. Be critical of it from the USER's point of view.

FIRST THINGS TO DO

Learn as much as you can about the product that you have to write about, its users, and the product's environment, before you ask questions (other than where to get information).

Barry Millman, Ph.D., has a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (1966, Carnegie Institute of Technology) and an M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Psychology (Human Information Processing, University of Calgary). He has been a consultant for over 25 years, an instructor, course developer, and award-winning speaker. For the past seven years he has been researching and creating resources to help organizations create great User Documents.

Visit the links in the "Resources" or "About the Author" section of this article. There you will find articles and resources to help you through this exciting task.

Please see my article on the First Things To Do.

Visit: http://www.greatuserdocs.com/ for resources to help you create the User Documents that your Product needs and your Users deserve.
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Writing Your First Christian Ebook | Writing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:14:00 +0000

In a previous article that I wrote, "The Art of Christian writing," I talked about how to write from God's inspiration as a Christian writer. When you decide to write a Christian ebook, its kind of content is not going to be vastly different from your other writing works as a Christian writer. You are still a Christian writer who must write from the seat of a God inspired spirit and soul.

There are many excellent secular articles on how to write your first ebook. Some may tell you to do some research and find out what's "hot" or selling on the Internet market and then write about that topic. Hopefully, the topic would be in the same line as your business. Others may tell you to use article writing to promote your website and product(s), without being flagrantly product promotional in your ebook. Still, many people do not follow this good advice; they simply write very poor quality ebooks that are nothing more than pages of promotional material for their products and websites, with no real valuable content information for the reader. While ebooks are an effective tool for marketing an internet business or other businesses, I agree with those who suggest that ebooks should be content-rich and provide valuable information for the reader, even if the ebook is a free, give-away gift to promote a website or business product(s).

As Christian writers, we are not to be driven solely by profit in making our decision about what ebook topic we are to write. I believe that first and foremost, we are really "Ghost" writers for God through His Holy Spirit that dwells within us. So, we are to first pray and ask God to inspire us to write on a topic that He wants us to. You see the amazing thing about being a Christian writer is that when God inspires you to write about a specific topic, rest assured that many people need that information. For example, you may be inspired to write about how to select the best ebook creating software for Christian writers. You may be surprised at the number of Christian writers who are struggling to understand and decide which software to purchase for use in writing and publishing their ebooks. You could be inspired to write about selecting a good website hosting company. You may later discover that with the myriads of website hosting companies available, many Christian writers are overwhelmed with trying to select the company that offers the best and appropriate package for their desired website. God guides Christian writers on what to write and how to write what they write. So, never take this aspect of Christian writing for granted. Once you have a clear vision of the ebook that you are going to write do some research to add to your work.

Once your inspiration is now soaring and you are overflowing with words to pen down, feel free to start writing, using any word processing software. Later, you can always cut and past your writing into an ebook creating software application, or easily covert your document into a simple pdf file. Please note that there are people who write directly into an ebook creator software application. Personally, I prefer to write and store my initial ebook content in a word processing application and then transfer such content, as needed, when creating an actual ebook. In the case of an ebook pdf format, all you would need to do is simply distill a word processing document into a pdf file format.

Below is a clear, writing approach that I suggest that you take as you embark on writing your first Christian ebook writing project:

1. First, you must ask some critical questions. Who is your target audience? Is it just Christians or everyone? If it is everyone, then you need to decide how to present the Biblical information, in a manner that many will receive it. In short, you would need to write what I call, "crossover" Christian writing. This is the kind of writing that appeals to both Christians and non-Christians, because it contains palatable universal truths that all humans can relate to. For example, "Understanding your purpose in life," "Christian strategies for dealing with daily stress," etc. But remember, you have to write what God has inspired you to write.

2. Write down an outline of the Christian topic you have decided to write about based on a Biblical theme. Decide whether you plan to write a short Christian ebook or a full-blown book length. I suggest that depending on what the Christian ebook is meant to accomplish, you should then make the decision about the length. For example, if the Christian ebook is for teaching, it could be longer than one designed for evangelism.

3. Organize your Christian ebook outline into logical chapter sections. This could be a by-chapter one-sentence synopsis of what each chapter of your ebook will be about. This is a kind of chapter-by-chapter synopsis.

4. Start with an introduction. Why are you writing about this specific topic? Are there existing problems that individuals are facing, either within the Christian community, or the world as whole, and that you need to address in your writing? Also, be ready to offer Bible-focused approaches or solutions to tackle the problems identified, but avoid coming across as being judgmental.

5. What do you hope to achieve with your Christian writing, specifically, your ebook? Is a teaching, preaching or an evangelism tool? Is it motivational or inspirational writing? What is your target gender and age group, etc.? Is your ebook for women or men, youth or children? Remember that you are targeting sub groups from within a general pool of Christian readers and non-Christian readers, and perhaps, new individuals who recently have become inspired to read ebooks and books in general.

6. Now, center on your main writing focus, which is the primary core of your Christian ebook. Write from your heart. Write as though you are sitting with someone you really care about and whose interest you have at heart. So, pour out in your writing, the inspirational words that God has given you. Tackle the issue of your writing focus with powerful words of God and deliver in writing an electrifying message, offering short and long-term Bible-based approaches to solving the problems. Don't worry about editing your writing for now. Just write. You'll focus on the editing aspect later.

7. Make sure that as you write on the main focus, that is the core of your writing, you clearly identify specific issues, discuss them and provide solutions or guidance based on God's Holy Word. Don't come across as superficial in your writing, or as having little or no expert knowledge on the topic that you are writing about.

8. Write simply, clearly and concisely. As much as possible, please bullet your points and keep them straightforward and plain. Remember that when people are seeking information, the last thing they would want is a long, convoluting prose that is hard to decipher what the point is.

9. As much as possible try to use specific and realistic examples to illustrate your points.

10. Avoid using generalizations, as this may turn off some people.

11. If you are writing a "crossover" Christian ebook, don't sound too preachy or you may loose your audience. Instead, present and illustrate God's Holy Word with examples of real life scenarios that your audience can relate to. For example, you can illustrate how a mountain climber stranded on a Swiss snow mountain prayed for a miracle and got one; a rescue helicopter that had flown across several times and didn't spot him, suddenly did after he prayed.

12. Write your conclusion or summary. This should be brief and concise and should not be a repetition of what you have already stated; rather you can ask a question about the Christian topic that you are writing about. Something for your reader to think about, or perhaps, a hook that would make then eager to read your next Christian ebook.

13. Now, edit and polish your ebook content that is still in a word processing format, and get it ready to be produced or created, that is, for you to cut and paste your writing into the ebook format of your choice. There are many excellent articles on different ebook formats and ebook cover creator software. Shortly, I will be adding a new article, "Christian Writers Choice of eBook Format."

Bear in mind that your first Christian ebook could become the beginning of a great Christian ministry for you. Your first Christian ebook could be the beginning of tons of ebooks that you will be writing, a Christian ebook webstore or a teaching, preaching and evangelism ministry that could touch the lives of millions around the world. Remember the popular adage that goes, "a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." So, gear up, take the first step, and start writing your first Christian ebook.
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The Real Importance of Article Marketing | Writing Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 01:11:00 +0000

Article marketing is inexpensive and very effective when done correctly. From the standpoint of a website owner, the final goal is not to just have your article read, but for your article to transfer your reader to your website. It is at your website that your reader will make a purchase or become a member of your list.

Articles can market your website to millions and potentially billions of people on the internet, and it is relatively free. Thus, the real importance of article marketing is the exposure your website receives. But how does it work?

Articles increase your website's exposure by using keywords and phrases that increase your search engine optimization or SEO. Increasing your SEO will improve your article's positioning on search engine result pages or SERP. A good position on a Yahoo or Google SERP will ultimately increase the chances a web surfer will click through to your article and eventually your website. With good keywords, your article marketing has unlimited potential.

After you get a surfer to open your article, you now need to get her to your website. Remember, the final goal is to sell your products or register surfers on your website. A great way to increase your website's traffic is to include back links in your article. One click of a back link will send the reader directly to your webpage. While there, a simple purchase or subscription will complete the cycle.

Unless you are a freelance writer who is happy with a simple click and read, your real purpose is to transport web surfers to your webpage. Articles are floating portals in cyber space and with the correct marketing strategy of keywords and back links; they can increase the flow of visitors to your site. Just remember to include the appropriate keywords so that you connect with the right web surfers.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article writing to build your list:

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Writing [http://www.online-success-shortcuts.com/Squeeze/secrets1.html]
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How to Earn Even More Money From Writing

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:44:00 +0000

One thing that every writer wants to know is how to earn more money from writing. This is because being a writer can be a fickle business sometimes and so you need to have as many sources of income as possible.

You also need to use your time wisely to be able to write as much as you can and be as productive as you can. You need to use the phrase "Don't Get It Right, Get It Written" as often as possible to get you off the starting blocks and writing as much as you can, instead of trying edit your work and be as perfect as possible as you go along. It's so much easier to just start writing and don't stop till you've finished and THEN go back and edit your work later. Remember that writing and editing and two different jobs and should never be done together.

But what you really want to know is how to earn more money from writing. And below are 10 easy ways for you increase your writing income.

1. Write more. I know it sounds obvious that writers should be writing but you'd be surprised at how many people call themselves writers yet they hardly ever write. To improve your writing, get a book of an author you like (or a writer whose style you admire) and copy their work. Just sit and copy out their writing word-for-word. This will give you a really good understanding of their writing style and how you can incorporate it into your own writing.

2. Read more. Successful writers are avid readers as well as being prolific writers. Reading improves you knowledge, exposes you to different writing styles, and can also help you to come up with great ideas for your own writing.

3. Find more freelance markets. If you want to make more money you need to sell more writing. So spend a bit of time every week surfing online and browsing through magazines looking for new writing markets. You can also sign up for regular writers ezines that contain current writing markets. Always be on the look out for new writing opportunities.

4. Submit more queries. Once you've found new markets you then need to make sure that you do actually get your writing published. So make a definite decision to send out at least 5 queries or short stories to different writing markets every week. And then make sure you do it, even if you have to get up early or stay up late.

5. Try different writing projects. Instead of sticking to the same kind of things you write, try branching out into something new. For instance, if you mostly write articles for women's magazines, trying writing jokes, verse, puzzles or children's stories and find new places to submit them.

6. Write and publish eBooks. EBooks are a great way to earn a passive income. You can write an eBook in as little as 24 hours and publish it online in only a few minutes. And because there's no cost involved in selling eBooks you can write as many as you want for as long as you want.

7. Write and publish books. There's nothing more wonderful for a writer than to feel the first copy of your book in your own hands. It's so easy now to publish your own books that there's nothing to stop you from becoming a prolific author and publish several books a year.

8. Learn new writing. There may be areas of writing that you don't feel proficient in. Maybe you've never really tried writing fiction, or, like me, you want to learn copywriting or SEO writing. Choose a area of writing that you've never tried before but would like to learn, and then learn to do it.

9. Invest in your writing. Don't be afraid to spend money to further your writing career. Splash out on some really fancy notebooks and expensive pens or treat yourself to a new computer. Or how about taking a seminar or a writing course or maybe there's a book about writing that you've been thinking about buying. Just open your wallet and buy whatever it takes to help you write more and earn more.

10. Write more. Now you probably notice that this is the same advice in step number one. But it is so important that it needs mentioning more than once. To be a great writer you need to be great at writing and the more you write, the more natural writing will be for you and so the better a writer you'll become. As you write more and more your words will flow onto the paper (or computer monitor) more easily and so your writing will sound more natural. Never stop writing.

The bottom line is that writers write. They always write. When a writer is not writing, they are thinking about writing. And when they're not writing nor thinking about writing, they are reading about writing. So if you want to be a writer, be the very best you can and start writing now.

Want to learn more about becoming a writer? Just go to http://www.newonlinecourse.net, scroll to the bottom of the page and download the FREE eBook, "How to Make Even MORE Money as a Writer" that outlines the different and most profitable ways to earn money working at home as a writer.

And if you want to keep up to date with the lastest writing news, competitions, free resources, articles and more go to Writeaholics.net and sign up for the free monthly newsletter and receive the free eBook "Become a Freelance Writing Success" as soon as you subscribe. While you're at the site, make sure you look around and download all the free writers' eBooks, software and other resources to help really kick-start your writing career.
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Simple Writing Tips To Help You To Write More

noreply@blogger.com (Radwanska Milanova) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 03:43:00 +0000

Here in no particular order, are the ten best writing tips I've discovered in 25 years
of writing. They may work for you, too. Try them.

=> Tip One: Pay attention to images

[http://www.jeanhouston.org/brain.html]

Your right brain thinks in images, and when you write, you translate images from
your right brain into words. Usually this process happens so quickly that you're
unaware of it. If you can make this process conscious, you can goose up your own
creativity. Stephen King calls this process "writing with the third eye --- the eye of
imagination and memory."

To get the hang of this, try Jean Houston's process, adapted from her book, *The
Possible Human*. (URL above.)

=> Tip Two: Making mud/ laying track

Your first draft of any piece of work is "mud" --- raw material. Julia Cameron refers
to your first draft as "laying track", another term I like.

If the first draft's awful, great! It's meant to be. It's only raw material. However, if
you don’t create the first draft, or you wait until you have a really great idea that's
worth a first draft, you won’t write anything. Write. Make mud.

=> Tip Three: Just write --- think on the page, or on the screen, NOT in your head

Thinking too much while you write is treacherous, because you can spend two hours
"writing" and end up with half a page of work. Write-think. That is, think on the
page, not in your head.

=> Tip Four: Grow your writing with lists

Listing is a form of brainstorming. It grows your writing, and it's fun.

Listing is an excellent technique to use when you get stuck in your writing, and it
doesn’t matter what kind of writing you're doing, whether it’s fiction or nonfiction.
Listing also helps you in the revision process, to add texture to your work.

Here's an excellent FREE software program to help you to produce lists, and to save
them:

http://www.flashpeak.com/slimlist/slimlist.htm

=> Tip Five: Use your magical thesaurus

Your most useful listing tool is ---- a thesaurus. Keep one on your desk to kickstart
your brain.

Your thesaurus and dictionary are perfect kickstarters. They're also vital tools
whenever you're revising.

=> Tip Six: Make writing the FIRST thing you do each day

If you write at least page, by hand, as soon as you get up, you'll find that writing
comes more easily to you for the rest of the day. You're also more focused and
relaxed for the rest of the day.

=> Tip Seven: Set WIG goals --- the best goals are always unrealistic

Writer Martha Beck calls unrealistic goals WIGs: Wildly Improbable Goals. In the
September 2002 issue of Oprah magazine she says: "… learning to invite and accept
your own WIG can awaken you to a kind of ubiquitous, benevolent magic, a river of
enchantment that perpetually flows to your destiny."

A WIG is exciting. Just thinking about a WIG will get your heart pounding. Working
toward your WIG (writing a book, writing a screenplay, getting signed on as a
contributor at a mass-market magazine) takes hard work. Lots of hard work.

And at the end of that hard work, as Beck points out, you achieve your goal, but
there's a twist. You never achieve it exactly as you envisioned it – you achieve
something even better, something you could never have imagined.

I'm a great believer in writing ABOUT your goals. This is because when you write,
you're using both sides of your brain, and are accessing your unconscious mind as
well. You live in your left brain, which you regard as "you", but you have a silent
partner, your right brain, which is also you, and which communicates via images
and feelings.

=> Tip Eight: Separate writing and editing

Writing comes first, then editing. If you try to combine the two, you will block.

Writing should come as easily to you as chatting to a friend. If it doesn’t, you're
trying to edit in your head before you get the words on paper, or on the computer
screen. If you're not aware of the danger of combining writing and editing, you'll
make writing hard for yourself, when it should be easy. If you don’t have trouble
talking, how can you have trouble writing?

=> Tip Nine: It's good to struggle with your writing

In his book The Breakout Principle, Dr Herbert Benson (who also wrote The
Relaxation Response) describes a struggle/ release process that leads to a new level
of awareness. When you struggle, and then completely give up the struggle --- just
give up --- there's a chance that you can achieve a peak experience which leads you
to a new level of functioning.

How does this work in your writing? Let's say that you're writing a novel. This work
is hard for you. However, you keep at it faithfully, working on your novel each day.
You struggle with it for weeks. Then you give up. Although you keep writing, you
say to yourself: "I don’t care any more what garbage I write. I'm just going to do it.
I'm just going to write."

This release leads to writing magic. Suddenly you're inspired, and you finish the
book in a rush. Although you will still occasionally struggle with your writing
(because struggle is a part of life), you've broken through to a new level of
functioning in your work.

This new level would not, and could not, have happened without the struggle.

=> Tip Ten: Good writing = truthful writing

Writing truthfully can feel like undressing in public, so many beginning writers worry
about sharing their writing.

Be compassionate. Firstly, to yourself. Write. Write for yourself. All writing takes
courage.

When you finally show your writing to others, you discover the amazing truth that
_no one cares_. In her book "Writing To Save Your Life", Michele Weldon advises:
"Get over yourself". No one is judging what you write. So write.

Stuck in your writing career? Get a coach! Angela Booth coaches writers in copywriting (writing for business), nonfiction, and fiction. A veteran writer, published by major publishers worldwide, Angela is also an experienced writing teacher, who knows how to inspire and motivate. You CAN make a success of your writing career. Free daily info for writers at her blog: http://copywriter.typepad.com/ Start your writing coaching today by contacting Angela at her site http://angelabooth.com/ Angela offers personal one-on-one e-courses and mentoring for all forms of writing. Ask for a low-cost initial phone or email consultation.

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