Memoir Writers and Memoir Ghostwriters
By John
Halasz
Memoir writers, more specifically memoir
ghostwriters, are ideal to hire when you have a story to tell, but don't know
where to begin or how to write your thoughts in a truthful and compelling way
that will capture the memoir reader's attention. Even if you hire a memoir
ghostwriter, you can write your name as the author of the completed and
published memoirs.
What many people do not realize is that
writing their life story should be like telling it to a good friend who is
there to listen and ask open-ended questions that will lead to the heart of
your life. Memoir writers can serve as an interviewer who asks you those
pertinent questions that reveal your personal story. The right questions can
evoke powerful and important insights and themes that will appear in many
different scenes of your story.
Working with memoir writers can entail some
information on your part. Each interview session with the ghostwriter for hire
can last up to two hours, and with permission it will be recorded, transcribed,
and used in the memoirs The total number of interviews for a life story is
typically ten to twelve sessions. The transcribed material will serve as the
basis for a first draft.
Once a first draft is completed by memoir
writers, special documents about your life, photographs and other memorabilia
such as letters, newspaper articles, awards, and citations are collected that
will add color and detail to your story. Searching out these materials, they
will often serve as a trigger for additional stories and anecdotes.
Memoir writers will work with you to select
those stories and material that are relevant to your major themes and advise
you when to omit material in the interest of the story that you are telling.
Not every memory is worth including in your book; you are seeking those
memories that have the greatest emotional content and significance -- those
heart's desires and turning points in your life that illuminate the meaning and
substance of your life and its purpose.
On the other hand, this person may ask you to
"push your psychological envelope" and delve more deeply into certain
incidents that you might wish to avoid. It is not unusual that the things we
choose to avoid are the very things that need to be revealed. You can always
edit these sections out later. To paraphrase Annie Lamott, a great writing
teacher and author, give yourself permission to write a messy first
draft." Don't second guess yourself, or say to yourself, "This is
really irrelevant," or "Who would be interested in this?" In
rereading those stories you may find fascinating truths and coincidences that
can lead to unimagined insights.
This type of professional will organize your
memoir into logical chapters using chronology or theme as organizing
principles. Your story will be told in your voice using your special sayings,
philosophy and commentary. After all, it is your story and you have the
ultimate say. The process of writing your life story with the help of one of
the many memoir writers will take from the initial interview, through two
drafts and a final manuscript between four to six months.
How to Proofread and Edit Your Documents
By KJ
Hutchings
It has to be said that in order to produce a
good piece of writing it is essential to edit, re-write and proofread. It's the
only way to turn a good text into a great text. Yet, proofreading and editing
are often overlooked or done without much attention or time and when this
happens it can severely affect the quality of your work.
Fine-tuning your ideas is essential if you
want to make an impact in your writing. So, if you want to know more about how
to edit and proofread your texts, read through the five key things you need to
do turn your good documents into great documents:
·
Take time out
It's best to not start proofreading and
editing immediately after you have finished writing your text. Writing and
editing are two very different tasks that need different approaches. Writing is
obviously creative - you are getting your ideas down on paper, whereas editing
is more objective whereby you look at improving what has been written, and look
on the words as if you are seeing them for the first time. Therefore, you need
to take some time out - a day or two if you can manage that depending on your
deadline - and then come back to your text and start editing.
·
Use the spell-checker
Although spell-checkers on computers are far
from fallible, they can be helpful. A spell-checker will spot incorrectly spelt
words, but is unlikely to highlight words that have been spelt correctly but
used in the wrong context, such as "red" and "read",
"pervious" and "previous". So, let the spell checker pick
out spelling mistakes, but don't rely on it too heavily.
·
Print it out
When you have completed the first draft of
your text (and used the spell-checker), it's best to print out a copy. After
staring at a computer screen for several hours, your eyes are likely to feel
fatigued and in need of a rest. You will probably also want to get away from
your desk. Carrying out editing work in a different setting, such as whilst sat
on the sofa or in the garden or in the office lunchroom, can be very good for
sharpening the mind. Reading your text on paper instead of a screen is also
better for your eyes and you are more likely to spot errors more quickly.
Remember to make notes on the pages highlighting any errors and changes, which
can then be changed on the computer document. Remember to spell-check again and
then press "Save."
·
Read your text out
loud
Reading your text aloud is a great tactic for
spotting lack of flow in your writing, such as repetition of words or awkward
sounding grammar. It also gives you a good idea of how the wording sounds to
your audience. Reading aloud in a busy office might not be an option, but you
don't have to read loudly - just loud enough so that you can hear how the
sentences sound. You can always warn colleagues seated near you that you are
going to read aloud as part of your editing process - they might even start to
do the same! Better still, you can give each other your documents to read
through - a fresh pair of eyes is always necessary when proofreading and
editing.
·
Make sure you know who
you are writing for
It's important to know the market you are
writing for. Knowledge of your target group is crucial in creating an effective
piece of text. If you "know" your readers you can empathise more
readily with them and structure your writing accordingly. For example, a letter
to a prospective client would read very differently to one written to an
established customer. Make sure you carry out plenty of research first before
you even start writing.
If you follow these five key points you are
well on your way to successfully editing and proofreading your texts. And remember,
editing often requires a fair amount of re-writing to turn a document from good
into great. Don't forget to edit and proofread any re-written pieces of text.
KJ Hutchings is the owner of KJ Language
Services, providing proofreading, editing and writing services to businesses
and students, in particular those who use English as a second language. For
more information, visit her site at: http://www.kjlanguageservices.com/
Plagiarism, Copyright, and Fair Use
By Irene
Watson
You love a poem you saw on the Internet and
want to quote it in your book. But is that plagiarism? You want to quote a
passage in a book but you're not sure whether you need to ask permission or
not. What counts as fair use and when do you need permission to use a
copyrighted work?
All the time I see people stealing from other
people on the Internet by reposting their articles, stories, or photographs.
Before you post anyone else's information on your website or use it in your
book, you need to get permission. Yes, there are such things as public domain
and fair use, but it's always best to be safe regardless. Before you decide to
use something that belongs to someone else and risk angering that person and
facing a potential lawsuit, ask yourself a few questions:
1. Do I really need this piece of information,
poem, cartoon, or whatever it is? Will my book or website be okay without it?
2. Is this item in the public domain?
3. If it's not in the public domain, can I use part of it under the fair use laws?
4. Can I rewrite or reword the work and then reprint it?
5. Is giving credit enough?
2. Is this item in the public domain?
3. If it's not in the public domain, can I use part of it under the fair use laws?
4. Can I rewrite or reword the work and then reprint it?
5. Is giving credit enough?
Let's look at each of these questions in
detail.
Do I really need this
piece of information? Will my book or website be okay without it?
I can almost guarantee that in every situation
the information, document, poem, cartoon, or whatever it is, is something you
can do without. Why use someone else's property to illustrate your own? Hire
your own cartoonist, artist, or write your own poem. If you can't do that, then
look for one in the public domain. If you, however, absolutely want to include
something that is copyrighted, then be prepared to pay for it. You will need to
contact the owner or his or her heir for permission, and you will doubtless
have to sign some sort of document promising you will only use it as you are
given permission to do so. You will also usually have to pay to use it,
especially if it is for commercial purposes, such as in a book you plan to
sell, and you'll usually pay dear for it-in the hundreds of dollars or more is
not uncommon. At that price, do you really need to include it in your book or
on your website?
Is this item in the public
domain?
Just what constitutes public domain? It varies
by country and by the kind of work it is. Today for authors, copyright in the
United States is for life plus 70 years, so if I were to die tomorrow, it being
the year 2012, anything I write would be copyrighted until 2082. However,
copyright laws were less stringent in the past so some works may have shorter
copyrights that have expired. As a rule, if an author or artist has been dead
since 1941 or earlier, you're probably safe, but it still never hurts to
investigate. Furthermore, while an old work like "Don Quixote" may be
in the public domain, that doesn't mean a modern translation of it is.
What counts as fair
use?
If a work is not in the public domain, a lot
of the time you can still use a small part of it if appropriate, such as a
quote or passage, usually not to exceed a page. That said, a short work like a
poem cannot be used in its entirety despite its short length because you will
be using the whole work, but you might be able to quote a verse or stanza from
it. Even so, in such cases it is best to play it safe and ask for permission to
quote from the work in your book or on your website. What constitutes fair use
depends on many circumstances including: the purpose of its usage, whether it
is commercial or charitable, whether the quote is used to promote the work such
as in a book review, or whether your use of it will harm sales of someone
else's book because you provide too much information from it.
To go direct to the source, here is what the
1961 Report
of the Register of Copyrights on the General Revision of the U.S. Copyright Law cites as examples of fair use:
"quotation of excerpts in a review or
criticism for purposes of illustration or comment; quotation of short passages
in a scholarly or technical work, for illustration or clarification of the
author's observations; use in a parody of some of the content of the work
parodied; summary of an address or article, with brief quotations, in a news
report; reproduction by a library of a portion of a work to replace part of a
damaged copy; reproduction by a teacher or student of a small part of a work to
illustrate a lesson; reproduction of a work in legislative or judicial
proceedings or reports; incidental and fortuitous reproduction, in a newsreel
or broadcast, of a work located in the scene of an event being reported."
(source:http://www.copyright.gov/fls/fl102.html )
There are always fine lines that exist in
using someone else's work. Even if you are sure it falls under fair use laws,
if it's not in the public domain, it's best to ask for permission to use the
work, and if that seems impractical, it is always best to consult an attorney.
Can I rewrite or
reword the work and then reprint it?
You may paraphrase a work by giving a summary
of a basic idea, provided you give credit to the source, but you may never
rewrite someone else's work and pass it off as your own, or even as theirs when
it is rewritten. And even when you paraphrase an idea, it is still someone
else's idea (intellectual property) so you must give credit where it is due.
Is giving credit
enough?
No, it's not enough to give credit. You need
permission to reprint as well, unless as noted above, it is in the public
domain. You must always give credit to the owner, whether it be an author,
publication, artist, another website, etc. It is usually sufficient to state
who is the original creator or copyright holder of the work. For a poem,
provide the title and the author's name. For a passage from a book, you can
state, "George Smith states in his book 'My Brilliant Ideas,' that:"
Depending on your own book or website, you may want to consult a style manual
for how best to cite a source. "The Chicago Manual of Style" is the
preferred style manual to use for most books, although others exist depending
on the kind of book you are writing, such as the "Publication Manual of
the American Psychological Association" (APA style) or the "Christian
Writers Manual of Style." If you do receive permission to reproduce
copyrighted material, make sure you ask the owner how you are to cite that
permission to reprint the work.
Always find out if a work is copyrighted and
always give credit where it is due. Then you will avoid issues of fair use
violation, copyright infringements, and plagiarism that can later come back to
haunt you.
Irene Watson is the Managing Editor of Reader
Views, http://www.readerviews.com, where avid readers
can find reviews of recently published books as well as read interviews with
authors. Her team also provides author publicity and a variety of other
services specific to writing and publishing books.
How to Choose an Editor
Regardless of whether you self-publish or
submit your work to an agent or publisher, smart writers know the manuscript
must be edited before it's ever sent. Some writers have the fortune of having a
friend or family member edit their manuscript. The downside of this approach is
that people who know you well may be reluctant to give you honest feedback and
a full edit. It's also difficult to know if they really have the skills-they
may be good, but are they really good enough? If editors are sending rejection
letters or your self-published books aren't selling, the first question you
should ask is whether you need a (better) editor.
But where do you find one and what should you
look for?
Gone are the days of old school marm editors
with graduate degrees in English grammar. Today's editors have degrees in many
different areas, not just English. To find an editor, you are likely to have a
choice of two routes: a freelance editor or an online editing and critiquing
site.
Freelance editors often sign up to popular
freelance sites such as Elance or Guru. You can also find them in directories
for your writers' associations and writing networks. The National Association
of Independent Writers & Editors is a good place to start looking.
If you try out the freelance website route,
you are likely to get your editing done cheaper than most other places. The old
adage applies: You get what you pay for-usually. There are definitely a lot of
exceptions, obviously, as this was how I got my start as a freelance editor,
and I fancy myself as quite a good one.
Either way, there are several qualities and
requirements to look for in a potential editor. First, make sure they are
native English speakers. Hiring out of India or the Philippines will get you
incredibly cheap prices, but the quality of your manuscript will suffer. One of
the hazards of going with an online company with multiple editors is that you
don't know who your editor is. Ask to "meet" the editor through
email, phone call or video chat.
While your editor need not have a degree in
English, they should have a college degree in some field. For instance, I
learned my grammar and punctuation skills through a graduate program in
political science. In order to ensure good skills, ask to see professional
samples of their editing or writing. As an editor, I got permission from one of
my clients to use a small excerpt of their writing (before and after editing)
to use as a sample for my portfolio to send to potential clients.
Don't judge all editors-freelance
especially-by their pricing. Many new and fantastic freelancers need to
undercut the competition to jump start their business. Likewise, you can find
some barely adequate editors charging at the high end of the spectrum. This is
why it is critical to review portfolios and obtain samples.
The critical question is to ask what you are
going to get for the price. Online editors should be charging by the word for
long manuscripts such as novels. Whatever the charge, you must ask what level
of editing is offered:
·
basic edit
(punctuation and basic grammar changes),
·
moderate edit (basic
edit with some critique/feedback and changes for consistency)
·
full edit (moderate
edit with many of the major changes made by the editor, along with
comprehensive revision suggestions)
Unless you are an absolutely fabulous and very
experienced writer, a basic edit is mostly worthless to new writers. New
writers need comprehensive feedback from a professional to improve your writing
to the level necessary for publication.
Finally, it's important to remember that the
ultimate goal is to find an editor with whom you can build a long-term
relationship. Jumping from editor to editor will only cause stress and
uncertainty every time you change. Actually talk to your editor and develop a
friendly working relationship. Once you find a good one that fits your style
and personality, hold onto them. Use him or her on all of your writing projects
to ensure consistency in your manuscripts, stories and articles.
Darcie Carsner Torres is a professional writer
and editor with over 20 years of experience. She provides editing and
critiquing services through CanAm Author Services, http://www.canamauthorservices.com,
and editing and ghostwriting services through Pen & Pestle,http://www.penandpestle.com. Her mission is to
help budding authors improve their writing and get published.
How To Begin Writing a Book
Best seller books do not write themselves,
they need an author who stayed with them throughout the time; authors who have
a vast universe of great ideas for their books. But not all of them know how to
begin writing a book. Every author has a lot of frustrating moments, filled
with exciting and surprising twists, set in a very long process and
intermittent rush of accomplishment.
Like most authors, they spend time thinking
about their book before they even start. The first thing that they would do is
to do some research. They may daydream about how their work would go and often
times they brainstorm. Every author need to compose ideas and thought before
they start a book. Well-thought ideas are better to be written down. That is
when they start writing their book; and when they write a book, they write
continuously, from a single word to a phrase, then into a longer sentence until
they make a paragraph. Just like pottery, a pot cannot make itself, first it
need well mashed clay then it will be placed in a wheel where it will be shaped
like a pot and heated and a pot is born.
Here are some guidelines when you start to
write a book. It will help you prepare your way in writing a book:
1.) Know your reader
Dedicate your work to whom you want to direct.
When you have determined those people who likely serve as an inspiration to you
- a family, friend or acquaintance - writing something will be easy. Every
reader will empathize with your work, giving more attention thus, giving you an
idea how you would connect to them as they try to connect to your book.
2.) Have a rough draft
Whenever you would start to write a book, it
needs a core or skeleton where the book would take it shape and body by making
an outline. The outline is the blueprint of your book. Expanding the details
from your outline, write a brief summary on how each and every chapter will be.
This will help you organize your thoughts as well your book.
3.) Know your
conflicts
There are two different conflicts when you
would start on your book- your personal conflict and the book itself. Personal
conflict because you need time and enough effort to start with. You will also
have challenges that would hinder you to write like writer's block, loose of
interest or you are just too tired.
The other conflict is the book itself. This
conflict pertains to the situations or problems that would arise within the
book itself which the readers can possibly see. Issues like theories and
author's perspective are just some of the conflicts. As a writer, you have to
make sure that each of your theory or propositions are consistent and thus
reducing possible conflict.
4.) Embrace a theme
and genre
Know that every reader has their own taste and
unique senses concerning a book. The idea of individuality determines what
theme and genre your book will be. You must know that it is better to have a
single theme and a specific genre when writing your book. Theme and genre are
two different things.
Theme- is the central topic of your book, this
is where your book revolves; a subject or concept of the author pointing out.
Genre, on the other hand, is the category of books (music, art and more) based
on some set of stylistic criteria.
Now that you have done the steps on writing
your book, nothing can stop you now. It is now time for you to write a book.
Your preparation has helped you resolve possible issues on
how to begin writing a book. These guidelines are designed for you
to easily access and describe the current situation of your book. It aims to
give you an idea on how to start writing a book even without prior knowledge.
With this information, you can now begin to make your own book.
Good luck!
Semicolons for the Punctilious Writer
Grammar and punctuation are my
"thing." The improper use of the semicolon is one of my biggest pet
peeves simply because the rules are so incredibly simple. There aren't many
uses of the semicolon, so I feel it's important to get it right.
The most common use of the semicolon is to
link two independent clauses. In layman's terms, an independent clause is
simply a complete sentence that can stand on its own. While there are several
ways to link complete sentences, the semicolon is the most direct. Let's look
at the possibilities.
Take two sentences that are related:
The dog ate the cat.
The cat ate the rat.
The important thing to remember when using the
semicolon is that the two sentences to be linked should be closely related in
some way. You wouldn't want to link two completely unrelated sentences, such
as: John worked late that night; My boss was a jerk all day, so I came home
tired and grumpy. No-that simply doesn't work.
When using a semicolon to connect related
sentences, you do not use a conjunction (connecting word like and, but, or). If you wish to use a conjunction, you must
use a comma instead.
· The dog ate the cat; the cat ate the rat. OR
· The dog ate the cat, and the cat ate the
rat.
When editing, I find many writers who use the
semicolon willy-nilly in place of the comma. If you don't know the above rule
instinctively and without hesitation, the main test for its use is to ask
yourself whether each piece of the sentence-the part before and the part after
the semicolon-can stand on its own as a complete sentence. Here's an example of
how to do it wrong:
· John entered the building; disgruntled and
irritated by the early start to his day.
There are a few sub-rules that present more
complex instances of the main rule I've listed above, but they really come down
to the same thing: linking related independent clauses. One educational writing site offers these fine examples:
· Clauses connected by conjunctive adverbs or
transitional phrases: But however they choose to write, people are allowed to
make their own decisions; as a result, many people swear by their writing
methods.
· Link lengthy clauses or clauses with commas
to avoid confusion: Some people write with a word processor, typewriter, or
a computer; but others, for different reasons, choose to write with a pen or
pencil.
In the second example, we see the word
"but" used after the semicolon, which I told you was a punctuation
faux pas. Here it is acceptable due to the confusion and mess caused by the
number of commas already in place. As an editor, I would tell you that the
"but" is simply unnecessary and to write the second clause without
it.
The second use of semicolons involves lists.
You need to use semicolons to separate items or ideas in a list that contain
commas. For instance: On our vacation, we are going to Cedar Rapids, Iowa;
Madison, Wisconsin; and St. Paul, Minnesota.
A minor exception to the "complete
sentence" rule is where it is needed to avoid confusion. Take the
following sentence using just commas:
You need to bring many
necessary items for the trip, for example, a map, a compass, and travelers'
checks.
Here, there is confusion resulting from the
commas. Which (correct) option does the writer wish to convey?
· You need to bring many necessary
items for the trip, for example; a map, a compass, and travelers' checks are
just a few items you will require.(Follows the complete sentence rule)
· You need to bring many necessary
items for the trip; for example, a map, a compass, and travelers' checks.
Either way is fine, but I prefer the second.
Finally, there is some confusion over using
commas and semicolons with the word "however." Let's look at two
examples of doing it right:
· I like green vegetables as a rule; however,
I despise spinach.
· I like green vegetables, however, and will
eat them every chance I get.
The first thing to note is the first example
follows the "complete sentence" rule and the semicolon is used, where
the second sentence does not have a complete sentence after the word
"however." Second, in the latter sentence, the word
"however" seems to refer back to a previous sentence. For example:
· I don't generally like many vegetables. I
like green vegetables, however, and will eat them every chance I get.
So, that's really it when it comes to the
semicolon. It's not really a complex punctuation mark, and using it correctly
in your writing should now come easily for you.
Darcie Carsner Torres is a professional writer
and editor with over 20 years of experience. She provides editing and
critiquing services through CanAm Author Services, http://www.canamauthorservices.com,
and editing and ghostwriting services through Pen & Pestle,http://www.penandpestle.com. Her mission is to
help budding authors improve their writing and get published.
How Do I Use Social Media As a Writer?
It's difficult for writers to grasp the
concept of using social media to increase awareness and sales. This is because
most writers fail to approach their writing as a business. Even if writing is
only a hobby, even if you only enter contests or write short stories, you are a
business. You are in the business of finding readers for the words you put down
on paper. You both want and need to greater exposure to new and bigger readership
markets to make a success of your writing career.
Social media has that power-even for writers.
We've heard it a thousand times: Facebook,
Twitter, LinkedIn, and now Pinterest. We know where we should be, but the big
question is, what the heck should you say?
Anything pithy, interesting or relevant is the
answer.
If we are approaching our writing lives as a
business, we have a product we need to sell. Therefore, it only makes sense to
develop a social media strategy built around promotion. In this, you should be
posting the following:
·
New book/story
releases
·
Awards
·
Anticipated release
dates
·
Tons of promotional
material saying where to buy
·
Book covers
(especially Pinterest)
·
Promotional sales,
discounts and free Kindle weekends
·
Updates on works in
progress
Much of this can be done or scheduled in
advance using a social media manager application like Hootsuite. You can
schedule these posts and Tweets in advance and limit your promotional social
media work to just one day a week or even just once a month.
As a writer, you should also be blogging. You
can talk about your personal writing process, time management, research, the
progress of your novel-just about anything that relates to writing. You can
even weigh in on critical events happening in the publishing and writing
worlds. Do book reviews of both good and bad material you've read. Then, tell
your social media followers about your new article.
As a blogger, I try to write articles in
batches and schedule them for release throughout the month in order to save
time and conserve my efforts. I then go into my social media manager and
schedule a Facebook post, Tweet and LinkedIn update to run at the time of the
new article release, plus twice more in the seven days following. I tend to
post one announcement to Facebook and LinkedIn, but multiple times on Twitter,
as people may miss it with the enormous amount of people they follow. Keeping
up with your Twitter stream can be a hopeless cause, so I give my Twitter
followers multiple chances to see that I've written a new article.
Finally, you should post in your social media
simply for entertainment value. A lot of writers send out famous or pithy
quotes about being a writer. I love those. Or send out writing prompts to your
readers. Don't be afraid to think outside the box or be a little quirky. Here
are a few examples of what I'm talking about:
·
Cat in the Hat meets
Snow White-Anyone find that hilarious?
·
Daniel Silva's new
novel is out. I swear I saw Gabriel Allon skulking around town looking for me.
·
Dreamed I was Hemingway
last night. Must've been the alcohol.
Don't be afraid to show your personality, or
even your other side. You don't have to post in the same way you write. You can
also find a lot of social media fodder in your own work. Post quotes from your
characters or short scenes to entice your followers to read and buy.
One final note on social media: Always include
links. Social media is ultimately designed to drive traffic. "To
where?" you ask. To wherever people will be most convinced that they want
to read your work. Sometimes that is your website, other times it's your Amazon
page. Don't be afraid to lead them around a bit, either. For instance, I often
use Twitter to drive traffic to Facebook, and Facebook to my various websites.
Get people to follow the links-it will help your SEO results if you do it
right.
Darcie Carsner Torres is a professional writer
and editor with over 20 years of experience. She provides editing and
critiquing services through CanAm Author Services, http://www.canamauthorservices.com,
and editing and ghostwriting services through Pen & Pestle,http://www.penandpestle.com. Her mission is to
help budding authors improve their writing and get published.
The Purpose of Dialogue in Your Writing
In any story, you are likely to find dialogue
between characters. As an editor, one of the major faux pas I see is writers
who use dialogue without a clear purpose. Remember the first rule of fiction
writing: show, don't tell. For some, this rule makes it difficult to know when
to use dialogue and when to avoid it.
In my own mind, I feel dialogue is my weak
point. My basic style is to be more of a narrative writer, and I could write an
entire novel without any dialogue at all. Of course, that makes it a little
boring for the reader. Getting the right mix of dialogue in any story is a
challenge for writers of all genres.
The first purpose-and these are in no
particular order-is to reveal the tone and timber of our character. We learn a
lot about them through the way they speak. In my current work in progress, my
main character is Hispanic. Through dialogue, I reveal that she is firmly
American (speaks English exceptionally well), but she also identifies with her
roots by speaking Spanish under certain circumstances. Similarly, we can reveal
sarcasm, education level, and dual personalities where our characters say
things that go against their secret thoughts and deeds.
Second, dialogue reveals the nature of the
relationships between characters: antagonistic, passive-aggressive, mutually
beneficial, conspiratorial, and so on. You can set tension or suspense,
heartbreak, excitement, mystery, fear-all through dialogue.
Dialogue also speeds up the pace of your novel
or reveals past facts that need to come into play at the appropriate time. In
the first instance, you can't write a novel that details every moment of your
character's life or actions. If you want to get to the end, you have to skip
ahead, but without losing critical information. Dialoguing with another
character, telling him or her what has just come to pass, can help you do that.
You get out the essential information without wasting ink on an unnecessary
scene that only gives a few pieces of information.
Likewise, our stories always start somewhere
in the middle: Our characters have a past that will affect their present and
their future. We have to jump in somewhere and pick a starting point, however.
You can use dialogue to reveal important past facts about a character's life
that need to come out at a very precise point in the story without having to go
into a flash back, which doesn't always work in every story.
Finally, dialogue can simply be one of the
most powerful elements in the entire story. What a character says can have a
strong, lasting impact on the reader. Here, an example works best to illustrate
my point. In the film A Time to Kill, the book written by John Grisham, Jake (Matthew McConaughey)
is in the courtroom defending Carl Lee (Samuel L. Jackson) for murdering the
man who raped and almost killed his young black daughter. Jake makes one of the
most powerful speeches in film history, describing the brutal rape of Carl
Lee's 10-year-old daughter, slowly and methodically, having the jury close
their eyes to imagine it-actually see it in their minds. Then he says those infamous
words:
"Now, imagine she's white."
It was startling; it was revealing. It was
powerful.
The book and the film differ in that, in the
book, this speech was actually given by a juror during deliberation. But the
power of this statement could not have held such emotion or had such an effect
in a narrative form. Years have passed since I read or saw those words, but they
are burned into my head for all eternity.
Dialogue should have a relevant and clear
purpose. If you are using dialogue to just kill time and fill pages, you need
to rethink your dialogue strategy. Every word, every line should advance your
story or your character in some meaningful way. It must reveal.
Darcie Carsner Torres is a professional writer
and editor with over 20 years of experience. She provides editing and
critiquing services through CanAm Author Services, http://www.canamauthorservices.com,
and editing and ghostwriting services through Pen & Pestle,http://www.penandpestle.com. Her mission is to
help budding authors improve their writing and get published.
Biography Writing
By John
Halasz
Biography writing is an art to be mastered
with persistence, patience and practice. When writing, the biography writer
should focus on the interesting aspects of the subject's life. People's life
story, the chain of proceedings that took place in their lives, their
shortcomings and virtues, the way they might have impacted society, their likes
and dislikes, and everything that could be of interest for others is brought
under a single roof, called the biography. At one or several points in the
academic life, students are required to write biographies, the difference lying
in the depth of the subject matter expounded. Biography writing can be an
enjoyable task if the writer likes to conduct research, dig deeper that what
appears on the surface, loves meeting and interviewing people, and can deduce
inferences from little known facts. There are a few useful tips that could ease
the biography writer's chore.
· Always select a person who fascinates you.
It becomes so much easier and interesting to write about somebody special. A
little bit of previous familiarity about the subject is part of the mission accomplished.
· Have a motivating beginning to hook the
audience at the start.
· Begin, maintain, and end to grab the
attention of the reader. Intersperse the dry biography with anecdotes to
enliven the narrative. A few pictures, graphs or charts, bring in the much
needed break the monotony of the text. The description of a humorous stint will
also do.
· Write in third person perspective in
biography writing. It gives greater credibility to the narrative.
· Use only trustworthy sources to gather the
inputs. All the information that is included in the biography should be
absolutely accurate or you may be accused of violating personal privacy.
Interview the subject if possible or at least those who knew the subject well.
· Date of birth, death, and major milestones
covered during their lifetime, family information, career, hobbies and such
information should be included.
· Biography writing will turn exciting if the
inner self of the subject is exposed. For instance, the subject's secret
desires, dream ambitions, and opinion on the matter of common interest.
· Use primary as well as secondary sources to
gather information for the biography. Diverse sources could reveal some
fascinating facts.
· Refrain from judging the subject. Do not
hold back negative qualities or harp about the positive attributes. Spell out
the turning points in the subjects' life and what shaped their personalities.
· Biography writing is not an inventory or a
chronological sequel. Your objective is to impress readers so they read on
eagerly. Elaborate on the really intriguing facts.
· Maintain all the data collected and weave a
loose draft first. Read and see where description can be tightened to enhance
the final result.
· Edit your own work. Get somebody else to
read it too, to get an honest opinion.
A lot of writers choose biography writing as
their profession because they love to unearth stimulating details and recreate
somebody's life through the power of their pens. It is essential to enjoy such
a genre of writing, for only then the best can emerge through your creation.
Touching Lives Through Grants for Special Needs Children
By Erin
Millano
Special needs children are those who are
believed to be suffering from physical disabilities, health and medical
conditions, behavioral, mental, and emotional impairments, abuses, and learning
difficulties and in need of specialized services. They often require expensive
equipment and support that will allow them to live a more convenient life.
Beyond doubt, taking care of the sector still
seems to be a very challenging task for many, especially when only a limited
number of resources are available. However, a wide array of organizations is
willingly established to lend a helping hand for those who are in need of
special assistance in terms of financial and physical accessibility. Such aids
coming from these organizations are made possible through the so-called grants
for special needs children.
Varying types of funding assistance are
available nowadays through different sectors of the state and federal
government and various philanthropic foundations and organizations. Services
offered by them are basically in the forms of educational funding, recreational
and after school activities, and healthcare assistance. And similar to other
forms of proposals, writing and applying for funding assistance designed to
help the population take time, yet very much fulfilling when done successfully.
What you just need is to look for possible funders, may it be from the
government or private institutions, which will fit to your needs accordingly.
Joining associations and charities at the
local or even national levels can be your initial step to receive such
financial assistance. Organizations offering services for specific special
needs are accessible as well. Included in the lists are the following: National
Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, Federation for Children
with Special Needs, National Center for Learning Disabilities, American Action
Fund for Blind Children and Adults, National Autism Association, Disabled
Children's Relief Fund, and the like.
Similarly, seeking funds in the state and
federal government can be your alternative. A number of sectors of the administration
have a lot to offer in providing opportunities including college grants,
scholarships and educational loans for students, and assistance programs for
disabled kids.
Grants for
special needs children are, indeed, readily available for the needy ones. The Internet
can be a great medium through which people can find prospective foundations or
agencies tailored to assist them with their necessities. Seek for their help
and comply with the requirements indicated. Once you have identified your
needs, you can now start preparing for proposal writing. Remember that in
applying for financial assistance, you have to explain yourself in a convincing
way in order for the provider to comprehend the situation. Medical records and
other information are very important in the application process for these
documents will be deliberated keenly. Submit the grant on or before the
deadline. Most importantly, you have to communicate with the funding
organization since this will enable you to address queries and concerns
regarding the matter.
We are very fortunate that we have these
organizations, foundations, and government agencies that are really in the zone
of helping other. Through their assistance and support, they actually touch the
lives and positively enrich the future of every disabled kid. By means of the
grants for special needs children, we are giving them the hope to have a better
way of living.
Erin
Millano has always been
passionate to improve the quality of life of marginalized, low-income
individuals, and families. She is a lobbyist, freelance photojournalist, and
proposal writer.
Hum Your Way to Graduation With Christian Music Grants
By Erin
Millano
Due to the constant and skyrocketing cost of
tuition fees in most universities, many would-be college students nowadays can
only find themselves focusing more on earning for a living rather than a
degree. As a response to this, many academes and Christian institutions that
believe in the relevance of education have been consistently offering financial
assistance and scholarship programs for financially-challenged, yet determined
students.
For aspirants who want to pursue a degree in
the field, acquiring any Christian music grants is a practical approach to
learn while earning at the same time. Students who do not have a degree yet
have an active status in chorales can also apply for funding assistance, too.
Free financial aids are only attained by applicants who are truly capable and
eligible to obtain them. Students who have a calling for religious activities
that focus primarily on musical talents can apply for various Christian music
grants, given that they will meet the set of qualifications as specified by the
grantees.
What You Need to Do
The process in applying for a grant is a rigorous task. Any student who looks forward to acquire this monetary aid must have the perseverance to search for a lot of options. Missing a grantee can be a loss of a great opportunity. Listing universities and organizations with their corresponding requirements is a must as it can help the applicants determine whether they are eligible for the program or not. If you are a hopeful who already have a prospect school, you can contact their financial office and ask if they have available funding information for the inclination, so as to lessen the efforts you have to exert.
The process in applying for a grant is a rigorous task. Any student who looks forward to acquire this monetary aid must have the perseverance to search for a lot of options. Missing a grantee can be a loss of a great opportunity. Listing universities and organizations with their corresponding requirements is a must as it can help the applicants determine whether they are eligible for the program or not. If you are a hopeful who already have a prospect school, you can contact their financial office and ask if they have available funding information for the inclination, so as to lessen the efforts you have to exert.
Application forms for grant programs usually
require students to include their achievements throughout their educational
career in the application form, so make sure to fill in as many as possible.
Incorporating church activities such as youth camps can increase your chances
in obtaining the funding assistance.
Gather as many information as you can about
the funding assistance that you want to achieve, since overlooking a single
statement or procedure can eliminate your chances. Do not hesitate to ask for
assistance from your parents, teachers, or anyone who is certainly capable of
aiding you in your application process. By following the right procedures,
applying for these programs can be as easy as humming.
In reality, there are many organizations that
provide Christian music grants to deserving aspirants who wish to continue
their studies until graduation despite the increasing educational fees. The
following grantees can be definitely added to your list:
Rhode Island Foundation: Bach Organ &
Keyboard Music Scholarship
This program offers financial assistance to undergraduate students with either related major or a role as a church organist. It awards $1,000 worth of scholarship to students residing in Rhode Island, and must be affiliated with the American Guild of Organists (AGO). For more information, call 401-274-4564.
This program offers financial assistance to undergraduate students with either related major or a role as a church organist. It awards $1,000 worth of scholarship to students residing in Rhode Island, and must be affiliated with the American Guild of Organists (AGO). For more information, call 401-274-4564.
The Charlotte Hoyt Bagnall Scholarship for
Church Musicians
For church musicians who want to acquire a degree in their field as well as in liturgy, this program awards $500 to $2,500 to worthy aspirants. Funded by the First Church of Christ, it is established to offer assistance to students who wish to enhance their abilities for worship services. The organization can be reached via phone at 860-658-7406.
For church musicians who want to acquire a degree in their field as well as in liturgy, this program awards $500 to $2,500 to worthy aspirants. Funded by the First Church of Christ, it is established to offer assistance to students who wish to enhance their abilities for worship services. The organization can be reached via phone at 860-658-7406.
The Christian Fellowship of Art Music
Composers Scholarship
Student composers can assist their educational needs with Christian music grants. CFAMC, an organization for Christ-believing composers, provides this program for those pursuing preparatory or collegiate degree. Curriculum vitae, two letters of recommendation, and a brief explanation on how the award will be used are only few of their requirements. The full list of requisites can be found in their web site,http://www.cfamc.org.
Student composers can assist their educational needs with Christian music grants. CFAMC, an organization for Christ-believing composers, provides this program for those pursuing preparatory or collegiate degree. Curriculum vitae, two letters of recommendation, and a brief explanation on how the award will be used are only few of their requirements. The full list of requisites can be found in their web site,http://www.cfamc.org.
Erin
Millano has always been
passionate to improve the quality of life of marginalized, low-income
individuals, and families. She is a lobbyist, freelance photojournalist, and
proposal writer.
How to Write a Grant Proposal When You're Not a Writer?
By Erin
Millano
Writing is a task that requires brain juices,
smart ideas, and compelling thoughts. Anyone can be a writer but to be a good
one would require ample time to read, research, and enthusiasm to learn new
things.
Not just another task
One of the most tedious tasks of a writer is to accomplish a proposal. This type of document is submitted to prospective funders for a proposed project. Over the years, applications have become tough. There are a vast number of organizations and individuals who wish to have funding sources as well. Also, hundreds of applicants may submit proposal for a single opportunity. Funders will consider proposed project based on specific criteria. Most likely, they would favor programs that would have impact on the lives of less privileged individuals, minorities, elderlies, and significant projects that could improve the community. With their stringent criteria, it is suggested to hire writers who have excellent writing skills and knowledge in computer applications. Also, it is significant to submit an application that has realistic objectives and has a great success probability.
One of the most tedious tasks of a writer is to accomplish a proposal. This type of document is submitted to prospective funders for a proposed project. Over the years, applications have become tough. There are a vast number of organizations and individuals who wish to have funding sources as well. Also, hundreds of applicants may submit proposal for a single opportunity. Funders will consider proposed project based on specific criteria. Most likely, they would favor programs that would have impact on the lives of less privileged individuals, minorities, elderlies, and significant projects that could improve the community. With their stringent criteria, it is suggested to hire writers who have excellent writing skills and knowledge in computer applications. Also, it is significant to submit an application that has realistic objectives and has a great success probability.
Further understanding
Grants are funds given to individuals or non-profit organizations by government agencies, foundations, charitable institutions, and private sectors to stabilize financial status. It is considered a good way of achieving common goals. There are different types that may be awarded to qualified applicants and they are usually categorized as:
Grants are funds given to individuals or non-profit organizations by government agencies, foundations, charitable institutions, and private sectors to stabilize financial status. It is considered a good way of achieving common goals. There are different types that may be awarded to qualified applicants and they are usually categorized as:
• Federal
• Housing
• Scholarship/Educational
• Personal
• Small Business
• Housing
• Scholarship/Educational
• Personal
• Small Business
Medical Assistance Research and Development
They are significant in sustaining various needs of starting a small business with modest capital, personal circumstance, research studies, educational needs, and home acquisition or improvement. The foremost step to be considered for available funding opportunities is towrite a grant proposal that will win the heart potential funders. This will mean providing facts, statistics, and analysis that will support the narrative of the project, and budget plan that entails the allotment of funds.
They are significant in sustaining various needs of starting a small business with modest capital, personal circumstance, research studies, educational needs, and home acquisition or improvement. The foremost step to be considered for available funding opportunities is towrite a grant proposal that will win the heart potential funders. This will mean providing facts, statistics, and analysis that will support the narrative of the project, and budget plan that entails the allotment of funds.
Why apply for the funding assistance?
It doesn't take a genius to write a grant proposal. However, submitting a mediocre document may give your competitors higher funding chances. There are a lot of reasons why many apply for funding assistance. This could be:
It doesn't take a genius to write a grant proposal. However, submitting a mediocre document may give your competitors higher funding chances. There are a lot of reasons why many apply for funding assistance. This could be:
• An aim to start a significant project with
insufficient funds
• An organization wants to utilize available sources to continue or enhance an existing project
• The need to meet requirements within the specified time
• The organization's eligibility for funding requirement
• The commitment and dedication to uphold the lives of people in the community
• An organization wants to utilize available sources to continue or enhance an existing project
• The need to meet requirements within the specified time
• The organization's eligibility for funding requirement
• The commitment and dedication to uphold the lives of people in the community
To have a competitive edge with the proposed
project, it is important to write a grant proposal that aims to accomplish long
term goals and builds community support. To ensure that funding entities will
consider a proposed program, the document should entail:
• Project summary
• Qualification for the funder's requirement
• Clear description of the program beneficiaries
• Conceptual framework
• Accurate detailed budget plan
• Projected outcome
• Qualification for the funder's requirement
• Clear description of the program beneficiaries
• Conceptual framework
• Accurate detailed budget plan
• Projected outcome
Erin
Millano has always been
passionate to improve the quality of life of marginalized, low-income
individuals, and families. She is a lobbyist, freelance photojournalist, and
proposal writer.
10 Commonly Confused Words
Many people who learn English as their second
language can get several words wrong. The surprising thing is that even native
English speakers can commit such errors. There are many top 10 lists on common
misspelled or confused words in English. Here is one.
1. Affect and Effect
Although seasoned writers will hardly confuse
these words, those learning the language actually do. To avoid confusion, think
of "affect" as a verb and "effect" as a noun, although the
latter can also be used as a verb. The confusion stems from the fact that these
two words have related meanings. The word "affect" means to
influence, while "effect" means the result or outcome.
2. Alright and All Right
Now, this is not necessarily troublesome. The
word "all right" has always been considered as the right form of the
word, while "alright" is considered by some purists as the illiterate
form. However, more and more writers are seen to use the word
"alright." Keep in mind that "all right" is the standard
form. By this time, though, it seems impossible to say that "alright"
is wrong.
3. Lose and Loose
Many people write "lose" but mean
"loose", or write "loose" but actually mean
"lose." The word "lose" is a verb, while "loose"
is an adjective. These sentences are wrong:
"I want to loose weight." The word
here should be "lose."
"My pants are lose." The word
probably is "loose" or "lost," if the writer means their
pants are missing.
4. Desert and Dessert
These two words are also confusing for many
people, maybe because of their spellings. The noun "desert" is a
place, while "dessert" is food. You don't say, "The desert
tastes delicious." At the same time, you don't say, "Camels walk on
the dessert." Take note that when there is one "s", you are
pertaining to a dry, treeless place. "Desert" can also be a verb that
means to abandon.
5. To, Too, and Two
These three words should never be mixed up at
all. "To" is either a preposition or a part of an infinitive. For
example:
I went to the doctor. (Here, "to" is
used as a preposition.)
He chose to give his money to the poor. (For
this sentence, "to" is used as part of an infinitive.)
"Too" is an adverb that either means
"very" or "also."
"Two" is, of course, a number.
6. Stationary and Stationery
"Stationary" means motionless or
fixed. You can use it to describe standing or still objects.
"Stationery" is a noun that pertains to materials used for writing.
Use "stationery" when you are referring to paper and envelopes.
7. It's and Its
These two words can be easily mistaken. To
avoid confusion when using either one in a sentence, see if it makes sense to
substitute "it is." If not, you probably should use "its."
8. Altogether and All together
These two are often mixed up, because both
seem to be the same. If you can substitute "completely" or "all
in all" to the word, you most likely mean "altogether." If you
can use either "all" or "together," then you most likely
mean "all together."
9. Fewer and Less
Use "fewer" to refer to things you
can count (marbles, candies, or chairs) and "less" for the things
that you cannot count (flour, water, or sand).
10. Could of and Could Have
Due to the way people say it, "could
have" or "would have" are sometimes misspelled as "could
of" or "would of."
Profitable Article and Blog Writing
Making money online has a million sub-centers
from which to choose, but my favorite is making money writing an article or
blog for profit. Profitable article and blog writing is not as difficult as one
might think, unless you struggle to fill out a paragraph or two on your
favorite topic.
Writing articles and blogs for profits is
referred to as content marketing, and if you haven't heard, Content is King.
Some say Content is well beyond King, and that it is now God, although I find
that term reprehensible and blasphemous. Content is King works well, so let's
leave it at that.
If no one has said this to you yet, welcome to
the age of content. Since its humble beginnings (can you say the Bible?) as
story telling, content is all about getting the word out about your product or
service in such a way that is anti-selling, and pro-relationship building.
Today's business environment is drastically
different than it was just a few short years ago. Traditional forms of
marketing were controlled by the message makers pushing their information,
persuasion and sell-speak at the consumer. If the consumer encountered enough
messages, they sought out the retailer or business offering the goods or
services and the transaction occurred. Now the consumer is in charge of the
transaction. Sure, traditional forms of marketing and advertising still exist,
but the resources companies devote to traditional sales methodologies is
forever shrinking, as the consumer is not researching products and services
online rather than be bombarded by traditional means. Serius Radio, Tivo, the
DVR, Netflix and digital news outlets have minimized the number of touches
traditional marketing messages consumers now experience. Therefore, they search
out those companies that they feel good about. Content is the way to attract
the eyes of today's consumer.
By writing for profit, that is, producing
content as an article freelancer, blog post writer or some other form of copy
writing in exchange for a wage is quickly becoming an extremely profitable way
to make a living.
Organizations spend a great deal of money on
content creation, and will go to great lengths to locate and hire competent
content individuals or teams. Even the novice writer can find a niche worth
exploiting through specialty sites such as elance.com, and odesk.com, where
writing jobs can be found in large variety. With a bit of training and a little
experience under your belt, you can become a freelancer.
The first thing a budding writer must identify
is with which niche he or she has some competency, and hone their practice.
There are some great sources online that offer FREE trials of their online
courses.
Content marketers are quickly becoming the
"go-to" asset for companies large and small. Great content comes from
those with passion, and the markets are wide open for niches as small as
"duct tape art" to "basket weaving underwater." One only
look to their personal passions and begin to write compelling, engaging content
for themselves or someone willing to pay by the word, article or eBook.
Happy Writing!
David J Dunworth, often referred to as The 1
Smart Marketer, is a published author of books, eBooks, hundreds of articles
and ghost written material for dozens of clients internationally. Additionally
he owns multiple sites offering FREE eCources for topics such as Writing for
Profit, Men's Fitness, How To Online topics and much, much more.
Change Their Opinion With An Argument
It's difficult to change someone's opinion
with an opinion. It's much easier to entice someone with a solid argument.
Although your argument may not require academic citations, another way to
maintain credibility is to avoid extreme language such as always, never, and
other similar words. Use moderate language and appropriate support to convey
your points. By doing so, your conclusion should logically follow from what you
state throughout the argument. Without support, your string of comments are
really just opinions, and while everyone is entitled to their opinions, no one
is obligated to change their opinion just because you have an opinion of your
own.
I call this arguing within your argument, and
I'll describe four straightforward steps to help you articulate effective
arguments repeatedly.
1. Determine the scope of your position.
Before launching into an argument, take a
moment to create boundaries for yourself. How much territory can you cover with
the data you possess? What is the breadth of the material you're about to
address? In other words, as the author, recognize at what point your expertise
ends and at what point speculation begins. For example, do you truly intend to
argue that no school should dictate what a student can wear on its campus, or
do you actually want to limit your scope to a particular school's rights to set
these standards? Frame your argument, and then construct your argument within
the confines of your scope.
2. Identify your main point.
What is your thesis? What are you trying to
prove? Know the problem before you set out to provide its remedy. In our above
uniform example, your main point may be this: Y High School does not have the
authority to dictate uniform wear of its students.
3. Organize your argument with supporting
evidence, not simply opinion.
String your points together, leading your
reader from one point to the other without having to taking unnecessarily large
leaps in faith. The gaps in your argument become assumptions the reader must
make to fill the gap. The more assumptions you leave dangling, the more risk
you introduce to your argument. If your argument relies too heavily on
assumptions you've made as the author, you've made at least two errors. First,
you've assumed the reader will make the connections you intend for them to
make. Second, you've expected the reader to accept your assumptions at face
value without justification.
The more extreme the assumption, the more
likely it is that you will lose your reader along the discourse. Since you want
to provide your reader with a guided tour away from their opinion over to your
main point, ensure you stay with the reader throughout your argument. Look for
points on common ground. Get your reader to see that you, too, have an open
mind and can see both sides of the issue. Address points at issue (i.e., points
of disagreement) with support. Provide evidence and examples to illustrate the
foundation of your comments. Demonstrate your point of view has merit and
doesn't simply rely on conjecture.
4. Make a strong conclusion.
Last, but not least, end your argument with a
definitive position. Summarize the key points you made, along with highlights
of the primary evidence you used to support your argument, without adding new
material to consider.
At best, the four steps above will persuade
your audience to accept your position. At worst, your clearly presented
argument may fail to persuade your audience, but you will have had a productive
conversation about a difference of opinion.
Breaking the Procrastination Habit Builds My Writing Career
By Kathryn
Lang
Breaking the procrastination habit requires
doing something to help build my writing career - and doing it consistently.
Getting it done is as simple as just doing it. Procrastination can be spelled W
R I T E R S B L O C K or any number of ways. In the end, it is just an excuse.
Putting things off until tomorrow is EASY -
especially when you realize that technically tomorrow will never come because
when it is here it is today. Making the tomorrow to-do list can be a great task
for putting off what I should be doing right now. There is always an excuse
The moment I stop accepting and thriving off
the excuses I can make the move towards breaking the procrastination habit and
start building my writing career to the success that I desire. I can get there
if I have the support I need to push me to take one more step and if I take
that step that will begin (and ultimately end) the journey.
Top Three Secrets for
Overcoming a Procrastination Habit
- Value of actions. Every action that I take
has a benefit or detriment for my life. Think of minutes as money, and budget
wisely.
- Find accountability. Having a partner makes
it easier (or at least keeps my feet to the fire). A writing career puts me in
charge of my day, my income and my success. There is no boss hovering over my
shoulders. Bringing in an accountability partner pushes me to do what I know to
do because I do have to answer to someone after all.
- Do something. Action breaks the dams of
procrastination. Inaction breeds inaction so that I end up spending the entire
budget of the day watching a Psyche marathon or playing video games. Making
that first move punches a hole in the procrastination habit. Soon the desire to
push forward flows through and I am on my way to the successful writing career
that I desire. Just put one foot in front of the other or you will never make
it across the floor.
There will always be an excuse.
Procrastination comes in many forms and will scream like a spoiled toddler in
the grocery store if it does not get my attention. I have to make better
choices, get moving and have others push me forward when I want to kick back.
It takes determination and desire to break the procrastination habit - and I
have to break the procrastination habit if I want to reach my goal of a
successful writing career.
Kathryn Lang works full-time as an author,
columnist and speaker. Learn more about how she has built a
successful freelance writing career by visiting Successful Freelance Writer.
Find a Literary Grant to Raise Cultural Awareness
By Erin
Millano
Literature plays an important role in helping
people become aware of their history, language, culture, as well as social
destiny. It also helps shape a person's individuality and personality.
Do you remember the time when you enjoyed
reading fiction (novels and short stories), non-fiction (personal essays and
journals), poetry, stage plays, or any creative stuff? Do you remember watching
or listening to storytelling, rap, and spoken words?
Literature is a wonderful experience.
Supporting programs and activities toward the continuous creation of new works
or works-in-progress is necessary to develop the local community and the
country in general. This is where funding for related projects and endeavor
sneak in.
Funds awarded for literature are essential to
the development of the field and nourishment of the innate talents and skills
of writers. Moreover, they also help expose everybody to the wonders of the
area.
Obtaining Funding
Seekers of a literary grant need to know
everything about the funder so they will not be confused. On the other hand,
funding organizations need to identify organizations' goals and objectives as
well as projects and activities that urgently need funding.
Like in any funding opportunity programs
offered by philanthropic organizations, community organizations, and government
agencies, a literary grant can either be competitive or non-competitive.
For instance, the federal government, through the
National Endowment for the Arts, continues to offer a wide range of funds for
artists of various types. According to its web site, it is seeking to
"sustain and nurture a multiplicity of American literary traditions".
In addition, the Arts Endowment said
publishing projects must primarily focus on contemporary literature and/or
writers. To achieve this, the Arts Endowment will work on the following:
* Ensuring that presses and magazines,
community-based organizations, and national centers complement the trade
publishing sector in the shaping of contemporary American letters.
* Supporting organizations that nurture
emerging and mid-career writers and provide assistance to nascent
organizations.
* Supporting endeavors to provide America's
readers with direct access to contemporary writers.
The life cycle of an application involves
guidelines available, application submitted, staff review, panel review,
national council/chairman review, and notification. For other foundations, it
may actually involve a personal interview with the seeker or writer.
Application processes vary depending on the type of foundation and their giving
focus.
In order to be eligible to receive funding, an
application and proposal must be tailored to the requirements of a specific
funding source. It is up to the grant seeker to ensure that these are submitted
on time and gain a favorable review that will eventually lead to obtaining the
money needed.
Aside from your proposal, you also need to
create a cover letter that should be brief, focused, and compelling. It should
introduce your organization by explaining its history and purpose of seeking
funding.
In the final analysis, writing proposals to
obtain a literary grant embody the interests of writers that include novelists,
fictionists, storytellers, dramatists, poets, and critics as well.
Erin
Millano has always been
passionate to improve the quality of life of marginalized, low-income
individuals, and families. She is a lobbyist, freelance photojournalist, and
proposal writer.
Why You Need a Book Writing Mentor and What to Look for in a Writing
Coach
By John
Toker
Why do so many bright people with ideas that
mean so much to them never write those books? You know, the ones that are
anthems to who they are; closure to what has otherwise left too many loose ends
in life; infusing insights into their families, or society that elevates
humanity. Reasons for not meeting goals to be an author will vary as people are
different in the wide spectrum of humanity. Albeit, viable paths on how to
write a book bring an author coach to mind.
Appropriate book writing mentors should have
personal interest in your subject matters, true appreciation for your passion,
insights and general efforts with the sacrifices that go with it. Factor that
we are motivated by social aspects to having a writing coach as an audience.
Focus on a writing coach who empowers you to
create your own story, while offers honest feedback. All the while, book
writing support should include an acknowledgement that your ideas are the true
seeds of the story; a book with your plot and characters reflects the essence
of the book. Never let your writing coach put together any of your chapters; if
so, your credit as the writer is marred, while the writing mentor is seen as
steeling your identity. Such blurring of roles is a clear lose-lose situation.
Simply, a mentor's role is to give feedback, question, and provide
encouragement.
Expertise of writing mentors should reflect
subjects at hand; training in psychotherapy is a definite plus for psychology
based prose. How can you write about complicated characters without a sounding
board who knows when images ring true or need more research.
Although having succeeded in being published
may have the most eye-catching element to guiding others in writing books,
years teaching people how to write with specific graduate level training
matters as much. Too often those who succeed in being published struggle to
break down mechanics of writing, lack expertise on respective subjects or fail
to put their own writing styles to the side. Aspiring authors need help in
finding identities as writers; that is what often brings self actualization,
and sometimes esteem from having an intellectual legacy.
Clearly, a book writing coach can galvanize an
aspiring writer. Most of us need structure in order to complete goals that
require added discipline. Naturally, few if any of us could independently learn
what was gained through formal schooling and mentorship.
About the author, John Toker, M.Ed. LD K-12,
M.A.:
John is a published author who is also a
writing coach and learning specialist. He offers writing mentorship and author
coaching for people who want to write books. John wrote the acclaimed novels,
Conflicting Sanity, LD Just Means Learn Differently and soon to be published
Red Grows Green.
Editors - Who Needs Them?
By Pamela
Smit
When an author approaches an editor, they will
think 'what can this editor do for my manuscript?' 'Can my manuscript be
improved so that it will catch the reader's eye and more importantly, the eye
of a potential publisher?' 'Is it worth the cost of having an editor look at my
work?'
The answer is a resounding 'yes'! A good
editor will give you the best chance of your work being published.
Discrepancies and inconsistencies will be brought to your attention and
alternative suggestions made. After consultation between author and editor
regarding the writer's goals, an editor can then shape the writing, correct
syntax errors, and make observations and notes on all the aspects of the
writing project. The role of researching the writer's facts will also fall to
the editor, to confirm the authenticity of information, and whether it has
legal or ethical implications that need to be considered. Good editing will
re-enforce the writer's credibility. All good editors apply the rules of
English grammar consistently. Editors will analyse solecisms of style -
unnecessary jargon, ambiguity, misuse of figures of speech, inappropriate
vocabulary, wordiness, racism, sexist language and obvious parochialisms, when
applicable.
There are many different types of editors. A
manuscript editor's role concentrates on the smooth flow of sentence structure,
whilst proofreading editors' focus on syntax, namely, grammatical errors,
spelling and punctuation. Giving a 'voice' to your work by shaping your
manuscript is achieved by a structural or stylist editor. The written content
is checked for clarity, sense, grammatical and mechanical accuracy by a
copyeditor, who also researches the guidelines or standards which the writer
has to adhere to. Editors will bring their own instincts to bear, and be aware
of the risks of over editing. The editor fulfils the role that a pre-release
audience fulfils for the film maker.
The many roles an editor performs in
collaboration with the author, enables the many processes of correction,
condensation, consistent and accurate work to be accomplished. Applying a
methodical approach will ensure that the author's creative skills and their
ability to communicate clearly and effectively are brought to the fore. An
editor will make sure that your work is readable. If your syntax is incorrect,
for any one of a myriad of reasons, an editor will rectify this problem.
Corrections may be made with sentence structure. The use of complex and
compound sentences may be suggested as well as varying short and long
sentences, so as to improve the flow of writing for your audience.
Once an author seeks publication, it becomes a
business arrangement. It is up to all authors to make sure that their
manuscripts are as well written as possible. Publishers look for works that
will reach wide general audiences or specific target audiences; they will avoid
poorly written and researched material. With a well written manuscript an
author improves his chances of being accepted. An editor acts like a sounding
board, makes suggestions for improvement, and creates dynamism in your written
work, to attract potential readers. As an editor, you have to remain flexible
with negotiations and recognize that your role does not include comprehensive
rewriting of the manuscript. The editor needs to be aware that the intellectual
property rights to the work remain the property of the author, or their
publishing firm. When employing an editorial service it is essential to draw up
a clearly worded contract that all parties understand. The advantages of
employing an editor to review and analyse your manuscript, is well worth the
additional expense incurred, to have your work published.
If you are an aspiring author and would like a
competitive quote to have your manuscript edited, contact me on http://wordscribe.weebly.com
Grant Proposals for Education Starts a Dream
By Erin
Millano
There's a lot of work to do before the school
year begins. One of these is to write grant proposals for education, which aims
to make dreams come true. Through a high-paying career as a result of higher
education, people can be able to achieve a better life sooner or later.
Basically, there are grants designed to give
hope to individuals and organizations that intend to pursue the desire of
people to continue their education, especially in a reputable college or
university. Apart from private organizations, many federal and state agencies
are also in the business of giving aid on the basis of need, using public funds
converted into grants for educational purposes.
Rather than spending time worrying about how
and where they can get money to pay for school expenses, student applicants
should look for grants that are meant to be utilized for either full or partial
school payments.
Whether the beneficiary is enrolled in a
university, college, community college, technical school, or a career-specific
school, various funding programs in the state and country can be applied for if
they only know where to look.
Obtaining funding for a worthwhile project or
cause is a difficult task. Thus, it is understandable that written project
proposal may not work on the first attempt, although it may go through a
revision process. Then you, the grant seeker, ask: how are you going to do
this?
Where and how to begin
Preparing grant proposals for education needs careful planning and study to make it serve its purpose to grant applicants.
Preparing grant proposals for education needs careful planning and study to make it serve its purpose to grant applicants.
First of all, proposals should be prepared
early so you can have enough time to make the necessary changes. For individual
grant seekers, allow more time to prepare documents, such as official
transcripts and other school records, if required.
The writing approach should be clear and to
the point, without being too wordy or tedious. This can be achieved by applying
an active voice, using descriptive phrases, and deepening your understanding of
the project.
Aside from focusing on your achievements and
aspirations, you should also review and determine your overall project mission
and priorities. In addition, you should also ensure that your proposal reflects
the needs of the funding source, not just the needs of the non-profit
organization. In this way, both parties can work collaboratively on the same
level.
After finishing your draft, it should be
edited, proofread, and revised if necessary. Check your grammar. Ask a friend
or colleague to review your work and let him or her give you feedback. Also,
you can put your proposal away for a while and go back to it after a few days.
Low-income families can avail of grants, such
as the California Student Aid Commission's Cal Grant Program, Texas' Toward
Excellence, Access, and Success or TEXAS, and several other programs that focus
on ethnic minorities, women, and people with disabilities.
Grant
proposals for education are supposed to match what the funding sources are looking for,
so you need develop strong and excellent results if you truly desire to get
funded
Erin
Millano has always been
passionate to improve the quality of life of marginalized, low-income
individuals, and families. She is a lobbyist, freelance photojournalist, and
proposal writer.
Interview With Cheryl Carpinello About "Young Knights of the Round
Table: The King's Ransom"
Today, I am very pleased to interview my
fellow Arthurian author Cheryl Carpinello.
Cheryl is the author of the young adult novel
Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend and today she will be talking about her new
novel The King's Ransom, the first in her new series Young Knights of the Round
Table.
Tyler: Welcome, Cheryl. It's a pleasure to
talk to you today. I've read and enjoyed both of your books and I only wish
they had been around for me to read when I was a kid. To begin, will you tell
us what made you decide to write books about the Arthurian legend for children?
Cheryl: I've always been fascinated by King
Arthur. I've probably read just about every fiction story written over the last
15-20 years. One of my favorites is Deepak Chopra's The Return of Merlin. I've
also ventured to nonfiction or scholarly accounts like your King Arthur's
Children: A Study in Fiction and Tradition. However, I'm more of a romantic,
and it's that side of the legend that appeals to me. I like the ideas that
surround the legend like might is not right; how when seen from the air, there
are no lines or boundaries on Earth-we are all here together, and we need to
learn how to get along; and how in Arthur's time hope still lives. Underneath
it all, I believe this is what draws young and old to the legend. What the
legend says to kids without them realizing it is that there is a right way and
a wrong way to live. This is done with the stories of the knights with their
quests, their jousts, their rescuing of the damsels, and their fighting for the
underdog. These stories present young readers with vivid accounts of honor,
loyalty, and friendship. This is why I chose Arthurian Legend.
Tyler: What age group would you say your books
are most suited for?
Cheryl: I typically write shorter books for
the readers I'm trying to reach. My focus is on reluctant readers in grades
three through eight. These reluctant readers are kids who are able to read, but
prefer to do other activities. If I can reach them early in their schooling,
it's just possible I might hook them into exploring other books. I've yet to
find a student in the younger grades who isn't excited about the medieval time
period. Reluctant readers, my nephew Joe is one, will usually balk at long, fat
books, so I shorten mine. I usually add simple illustrations to break up the
text, but being an ebook, The King's Ransom does not have these. I'm hoping my
publisher will put the illustrations back in the print book when it comes out
later this year.
Tyler: And in this first book, just who are
the Young Knights we're talking about?
Cheryl: The Young Knights are three kids who
have become friends via their friendship with a beggar/vagabond called the Wild
Man. Without the Wild Man, it is likely that they would not have met and become
friends because they are from very different backgrounds. Eleven-year-old Gavin
is the youngest prince of Pembroke Castle in southern Wales. Fifteen-year-old
Bryan has been sent to Pembroke by his parents to learn to be a blacksmith.
Thirteen-year-old Philip is an orphan who wandered into Pembroke village and
lives and works at the church. They are really just three lonely kids who find
friendship with the Wild Man and each other.
Tyler: Will you set up the plot a little for
us?
Cheryl: Someone breaks into the king's
(Gavin's father) treasury in Pembroke Castle and not only steals the medallion
The King's Ransom, but also kills Aldred, the king's advisor. Being a
beggar/vagabond, the Wild Man is captured and charged with the crime. It
doesn't help that a bloody knife is found with his belongings. Gavin, Bryan,
and Philip are determined to prove that the Wild Man is innocent. In order to
do this, they embark upon a quest where each is tested and must conquer his
fears or face humiliation and/or even death.
Tyler: I think the Wild Man is my favorite
character. Where did you get the idea for him?
Cheryl: Ah, the Wild Man. He is much more
important than it appears. I knew that in order to make The King's Ransom
(Young Knights of the Round Table) work, I had to have a strong tie-in with
Arthurian Legend. Sure, King Arthur makes an appearance, but that wasn't
enough. Then I remembered the Wild Man from T.H. White's The Once and Future
King. He worked perfectly. The Wild Man is also mentioned in a number of other
Arthurian books, but my Wild Man comes from White.
Tyler: How many books do you think you'll
write for the series?
Cheryl: Right now, I don't have a definite
number in mind, at least two or three more.
Tyler: Is Guinevere going to be tied into the
series down the road or is it a completely separate book?
Cheryl: Guinevere won't be tied into the
series because it occurs at the beginning of Arthur's reign. Young Knights
takes place after Arthur is more established. However, another book featuring
Guinevere and Cedwyn is in the planning stage. I've had several requests from
readers to write about what happens to Cedwyn. That's what the next book or two
will deal with in that line.
Tyler: Do you have a favorite Arthurian novel
of your own or which ones most influenced you in your own writing?
Cheryl: I would have to say my favorite is
T.H. White's The Once and Future King. I like how White makes the legend so
accessible to a variety of readers. Many people-kids included-are already
familiar with White's story even though they may not be aware of it. Of course,
I'm talking about the fact that Disney made the animated feature story The
Sword in the Stone from Book I of The Once and Future King.
Tyler: You include several educational items
in the book for teachers. Will you tell us a little about those?
Cheryl: One of the many reasons I'm excited
about The King's Ransom is that my publisher MuseItUp wouldn't let me include
the educational pieces in my book. They had me do a separate eighteen-page
Teacher Guide that is available as a free PDF download when readers purchase
The King's Ransom from their bookstore. I also have a copy that I can send to
readers for free and hand out in classrooms and at workshops. The guide carries
that great castle cover and is loaded with resources and materials for teachers
and homeschooled students. Included are a synopsis, information on the
Arthurian Legend and the medieval time period, castle vocabulary, and a word
find puzzle. Teachers have suggestions for discussions, projects, and writing
exercises as well as additional medieval references specifically geared for
young readers. I also put together a complete set of comprehension
questions/answers for all eighteen chapters.
Tyler: How has being a teacher yourself
influenced your writing middle grade/tween books?
Cheryl: I've written several books over the
years. I've done an adult romance, a YA romance/bildungsroman, and several
stories suitable for picture books. I just never seemed to find a genre I was
passionate about writing. Then I started teaching The Once and Future King. My
students loved the story and the whole medieval world. After writing Guinevere,
I started doing medieval writing workshops in the elementary schools and found
every classroom full of kids crazy about King Arthur and the Knights of the
Round Table and the medieval time period. I have to say that being in the
classroom and working with the younger kids has been my entire motivation for
writing my books.
Tyler: What do your students think about
having an author for a teacher?
Cheryl: My students were excited when I told
them my book would be published at the end of the school year. Then when they
found Guinevere: On the Eve of Legend in the school's library, one of my senior
boys told me, "That's tight, miss." When the cover proofs for The
King's Ransom came out, the kids picked the one(s) they liked best. In the end
though, I combined aspects from a couple of the proofs for the final cover, and
they liked that as well. The book released just three days before school ended.
Many of my students left me their addresses so that I could contact when the
print book comes out later this year. They want an autographed copy.
Tyler: Thank you for the interview, Cheryl.
Will you tell us about your website and what information we can find there
about The King's Ransom and the Young Knights of the Round Table series?
Cheryl: Beyond Today (Educator) http://www.beyondtodayeducator.com contains information on the King Arthur Legend
and both Guinevere and The King's Ransom. The events section is a picture
gallery of my Medieval writing workshops I do with the Colorado Girl Scouts.
The education section currently shows how Guinevere aligns with the Colorado
State Standards for Reading and Writing. I'll be updating a lot of the site
this summer.
On my blog, I review Children/MG/Tween/YA
books, conduct interviews with authors, and post ideas to get kids involved in
reading and writing. Visitors can still do the virtual blog tour of the book's
settings in Wales that I posted when The King's Ransom released.
Tyler: Great, Cheryl. And thanks again for the
interview. I can't wait to hear about the next book.
Tyler R. Tichelaar holds a Bachelor's and
Master's Degree from Northern Michigan University and a Ph.D. from Western
Michigan University. His family's long relationship with Upper Michigan and his
avid interest in genealogy inspired Dr. Tichelaar to write his Marquette
Trilogy: Iron Pioneers, The Queen City, and Superior Heritage. Dr. Tichelaar is
also a professional book reviewer and editor. For more information about Tyler
R. Tichelaar, his writing, and his author services, visit:
www.MarquetteFiction.com
www.MarquetteFiction.com
Can You Write Yourself Into Confidence?
As with writing, so with life. Since this is
my birth week, I'm giving you a present, some great writing tips:
1. Take Inventory. I've been taking inventory
every week. We tend to focus on what needs to be done without taking the time
to congratulate ourselves on what we have accomplished.
2. What translates? Take a look at your
list-whatever you are writing, newsletters, your book or your marketing
materials, what crosses over to what you are doing? If you're learning to play
tennis, how does concentration, flexibility or teamwork play into the job you
do or the subject you are writing about? Put your personal spin on your
subject- don't be afraid to inject your personality or a story about yourself
to illustrate your point.
3. As you take inventory, you'll find you
stretched in certain arenas and gained confidence, which will translate to
everything else you do, including writing and business.
A recent example of stretching: this weekend,
I was invited to a one-day workshop to define our dreams. Getting my dreams and
goals set right before my birthday, what a gift!
The next day, I had a photo shoot for me. I
was told to: get my hair cut, have my makeup professionally applied, get some
new, edgy, modern clothes and assemble accessories and props. Then I had to
scout locations...
Although I never did master the curling iron,
(beauty school dropout?) I had to curl and spray a helmet head for the windy
coast weather, remember which makeup went where and take direction from the
photographer.
I was out of my element. But it gave me
confidence. The better my photo image looked, the more my self-image
grew, just as mastering
anything can reflect confidence in your business, your writing and your life.
More writing gems:
4. Before you write, close your eyes, relax
and allow yourself to float out of your mind. Ask for ideas. Your intuition and
the other-than-conscious mind will not disappoint!
5. Instead of plugging in a cliche, actually
describe an emotional or visual experience in your own words. For example:
The tree was dead as a doornail.
The downed tree's bark was strewn across the
field, tiny blackened chips decomposing into the moist, mossy soil.
6. Edit out anything that's not to the point
or where you feel your own energy flag as you read it.
7. Don't have someone else read it for content
(just mistakes)! When I stopped doing this for the book I ghostwrote, I stepped
up my confidence. Does that mean you'll NEVER need an editor? Of course not.
But do not ask just anyone to read your work. Be selective and KNOW WHEN IT'S
GOOD ENOUGH! Sending your work out without another's approval can be
empowering.
Rosemary Sneeringer is The Book Nurturer. An
experienced editor, she specializes in helping writers access their inner
author to complete their novels, memoirs and books and to grow their
businesses. Go to http://www.rosemaryswriting.com
http://facebook.com/thebooknurturer
310-909-3988
Sign up for my FREE Newsletter & receive my FREE Gift
310-909-3988
Sign up for my FREE Newsletter & receive my FREE Gift
Tips for Writing YOUR Book
A novel lives inside the heart of everyone
around. Some people will take the time to begin writing out the story, but the
words fade and interest gets lost. Others will continue writing until the story
finds its end, only to tuck it away in the dark drawer of a desk. A limited few
will keep that story out in the light - tending it until it can stand against
the world on its own.
The differences between those that let the
novel stay hidden in their hearts and those that set it free into the world are
all that is holding you back from writing that book that you feel creeping
around inside your mind.
Tips for Writing Your
Book
1. Write - It is really that simple. Unless
you write the story in your mind, you will never get the story out of your mind
and on to paper. Sign up for writing groups that meet at least twice a month.
The encouragement of others can help you continue to put words down. Get involved
with National Novel Writing Month. The challenge to write, backed up by the
encouragement and experience of others, can ignite your desires to see it
through. However you have to go about it, go about it. A writer must write.
2. Rewrite - The end is only the beginning.
Review the plots and subplots, take a closer look at the characters, and make
the changes you know you would want to read. Sometimes it requires tweaking,
but there are times when entire scenes and characters may have to be
exterminated. When you cut them out, set them aside for a new life on another
day.
3. Edit - Review the manuscript for spelling
errors, words used incorrectly, and changes in tense (just to name a few). Find
the problems, or a reader will be happy to point them out to you down the road.
Read the entire manuscript out loud. Hearing the words can help you find any
problems in the flow of the words.
4. Share - Get different eyes to read your
manuscript. You may want to consider a professional critique, or you may have
an acquaintance that will be open and honest. Be opened to what four or five
others have to say about the words you hold so dear.
5. One more time - Read your revised, edited
and reviewed manuscript one more time. Feel the story and experience the
characters. See through the eyes of your readers and then you will know if your
words are ready to face the world.
Write for the long haul. Invest the time into
developing characters and plots that will make readers want to invest time into
your words. You can write that novel. You have it in you. To reach that
destination you must first, and above all else, WRITE.
Kathryn
Lang uses words to take you
on a journey filled with suspense, excitement and a twist of humor to lighten
the load before she leaves you to settle softly into the hope of what tomorrow
will bring. Order her novel, RUN, today and join
in the journey.
Get Ready for Job Hunting: Hire a Military Resume Writer
In the entirety of your military service, you
have traveled across thousands of miles and have been in different continents,
handled personnel training and logistics, and managed materiel and operation.
Most probably you have been deployed in combats and fought dauntlessly in
dangerous battles. As you prepare to leave the service, though, you are face
with a new challenge in your life: transitioning to a new career either in the
public or private sector. And of course, you need a remarkable resume for your
job application!
As an experienced professional who has
completed a military career, you possess a multitude of skills and expertise to
offer to the federal government as well as to private-sector employers.
However, you may discover particular details that are difficult to translate to
federal or civilian terminologies. One of the main reasons why servicemen do
not successfully obtain regular jobs is because their resumes lacks the
direction and focus that federal and civilian hiring managers are looking for.
It is your crucial marketing tool. Its
effectiveness will be your ticket for an interview in the job that you want. If
you are uncertain how to project your relevant skills and accomplishments into
that important document, you may want to consider hiring a professional
military resume writer. These professionals are qualified experts in organizing
and interpreting your career to market you effectively.
It is not rare for hiring managers to
disregard servicemen as qualified job applicants and reject their applications.
It is because most of them do not understand the jargons used in the document.
Usually, it takes 15 to 20 seconds to create an impression to the human
resources personnel, and that time is oftentimes spent in deciphering
difficult=to-understand language. As such, the document loses its impact, and
the skills of applicants are overlooked or ignored. Several recruiters are
often unable to make sense of your background and achievements. Thus, they do
not know what you can offer to the organization or doubt if you can apply those
skills in the corporate atmosphere.
Servicemen actually perform as excellent leaders
in a company or in the government because of the diverse experiences they had
during their tenure. They are highly responsible and exceptionally dedicated to
the tasks given to them. They are adept in making tough decisions. They are
strategic team player who knows how to handle stressful working environments.
Hence, it is important to craft an amazing application that corresponds to
these outstanding abilities. An accomplished and experienced military
resume writer could certainly boost
your qualifications and demilitarize your career to re-create your experience
for an impressive presentation.
Today, there are numerous writing companies
that offer their services throughout the Internet. A proficient military resume
writer could provide a clear and effective outline of your experience, skills,
and expertise to help you in your career search. They are well-versed and
knowledgeable of the keywords or "buzzwords" in vogue in the
employment market. Additionally, they are also familiar with all the formats
needed for today's job hunting such as text, PDF, and electronic resumes and
could give you advice on the format needed in a certain situation.
Whether you are preparing to serve the federal
government or aspiring to be a part of a private corporation, your application
is your first step in the process of job application. As a former part of the
military, you are a disciplined, goal-oriented, and talented individual that
makes you a desirable candidate for a job position. Never let your application
document decrease your chance of landing on the job your desire. Hire a
professional writer that would highlight your value and help you launch your
career in the competitive job market.
Melinda
Edwards works as a career
consultant and has been invited in many forums and events on human resource
management. She is also a time management expert who effectively performs her
roles both as a career woman and a mother.
Hospitality Industry Resume: Welcoming Career Opportunities
The hospitality industry is considerably one
of the biggest and fastest-growing sectors today, and, indeed, one of the
highest job-providing areas of the global economy. As such, it embraces
services entailed in several areas including entertainment, accommodation,
restaurants, travel and tourism, event planning, and other luxury-based
conveniences intended to satisfy customers. Since it offers a number of career
opportunities, the industry itself has progressively turned out into a very
competitive arena for job seekers. And in this challenging setting, what an
applicant needs to have is a much convincing and ideal hospitality industry
resume that will powerfully emphasize the 'information' relevant to their
chosen field.
Talking about information, a resume appears to
be an important, yet crucial requisite for a job seeker since it basically
reveals one's goals, skills, and experiences that will give employers the
chance to determine your potentialities; thus, a keen evaluation on the details
to be incorporated must be observed.
One dynamic part is the career objective. This
part is usually the very first thing that potential employers read since it
essentially speaks of a person's utmost purpose in applying for a certain
position and the value you can bring to the company. It sets the rhythm for the
rest of a resume; thus, a sense of directness and creativity must be
established in order to grab the attention of employers. In most cases, job
seekers intend to substitute career objective statements into a qualifications
profile, which highlights attributes and gives a summary on one's skills.
Education, trainings, and other certifications
relatively matter for most of the companies; hence, these details are commonly
brought up in a hospitality industry resume. Universities and related courses
or degrees taken by the applicants are cited, along with their attended
training programs and obtained awards, recognitions, and special licenses.
Likewise, affiliations and activities are added up to heighten the resume.
Job experiences convey something about one's
professionalism in a specific field. These generally include an outline on the
aspirants' internships, volunteer works, and chronological employment history
together with a detailed and clear job description on each position. Such will
allow company heads to be familiar on the companies and duties that the
applicant has already worked with. On top of that, an application must entail
an individual's personal profiles including the name, contact number/s,
existing home address, e-mail address, and a webpage link, if possible. This
will allow prospective company superiors to reach and contact the applicants in
the easiest way as possible.
There are a variety of positions and fields of
expertise available in the sector-may it be in the food, beverage, and
restaurant services, hotels and resorts accommodations, corporate or functional
events planning, or even the travel and tourism sector. Despite the fact that
it demands a diversified level of manpower, competition among its aspirants is
still a tough thing to consider. For such instance, it is greatly a huge factor
to come up with an impressive hospitality industry resume that will stand out
among other job hunters.
In order to have a good application document,
the candidate must consider also certain guidelines in preparing such requirement.
Since the realm of the sector comprises different areas, it is a must for an
applicant to initially choose and set focus in a specific field of interest he
or she intends to work on, say for example, a career in hotel and restaurant
management. It can be based accordingly with the essential skills acquired
through educational attainment and work experiences that one has undergone. In
the process of writing the document, remember to quantify and put emphasis on
trainings and professional experiences related to the chosen career path, since
most of the companies in the field actually use these as basis of competence.
Additionally, use distinctive keywords that will suitably enhance the resume.
Once done with the content, the applicant must also prepare the requirement in
a clean and presentable manner by means of applying simple yet formal font
style, size, and the like.
In this specific sector what seems to be a
primary factor of achievement is to satisfy customers through exceptional
service. But before you can actually render your service to them, you must
first satisfy your prospective employers with the 'service' brought about your hospitality
industry resume -and this will serve
as your initial key to land and be welcomed in a career in this service-based
industry.
Melinda
Edwards works as a career
consultant and has been invited in many forums and events on human resource
management. She is also a time management expert who effectively performs her
roles both as a career woman and a mother.
Freelancing Is Business and No Business Can Survive Without Marketing
How do we do this?
We have to find out one very important factor. know who is our customer. We have to get his age bracket, favorite blogs, food preferences, earning capacity and how much is he willing to spend. We have to know our customer intimately.
We have to find out one very important factor. know who is our customer. We have to get his age bracket, favorite blogs, food preferences, earning capacity and how much is he willing to spend. We have to know our customer intimately.
Surveys can help. It doesn't need to be a very
comprehensive survey. It doesn't need to be expensive either. A simple survey
sent via email will do. You can ask a set of three questions, collate the responses
properly and then study them thoroughly. According to Social Brite.org, the top
five online survey tools for non-profits are Wufoo, SurveyGizmo, Google Forms,
SurveyMonkey, and Surveyz. In an article, it is stated that these survey tools
are the best for non-profits, however, in my humble opinion, they are also good
for any business.
When you have the answers you need for your
marketing research, you have to adjust your product (yourself and your writing)
with the aim of improving your business.
Marketing can make or
break your freelancing business.
From your marketing research, you can discover
your niche. Focusing your efforts on your writing specifically for your niche
will plant the seeds of success. If you know your niche intimately, your
writing will sparkle when they read your articles. They will find out that what
you've written is zeroed in on them and nobody else. Nothing beats that
feeling. That the article is particularly about them. It flatters anyone to
digest a write-up specially created based on their needs.
If you are struggling with something and you
have not even told your partner or spouse about it but the writer,
surprisingly, is addressing it already, you will naturally say "wow! This
is for me. This will help me in my journey as a freelancer".
When you have reactions like this from
readers, nobody can stop you from reaping the fruits of your labor. You will
have more readers, and in no time at all, you will have a solid tribe
supporting you.
Next thing you know, your business is rising.
You have loyal readers and they are ready to purchase what you sell. Not only
that, they are supporting you all the way.
When this happens, you have a freelance
business running and the fuel (customer base) to keep it rolling. All because
you did your assignment diligently. You did your marketing strategy and did it
well.
If you want to succeed in the fierce world of
freelancing, you have to brush up on your Marketing techniques. Marketing is an
integral part of your freelancing business.
Anthony Dejolde is a writer who can help you
with your writing needs. Part of his services is copywriting for web,Radio
& TV, SEO content development, and blogging. Follow him at http://anthonydejolde.wordpress.com/ and on Twitter @AnthonyDejolde.
Ways Writers Work Too Hard - Part 1
By Jody
Calkins
Writers often create more work for themselves
by making a number of time management mistakes. If you work a full-time job and
write in your spare time, you don't have much time to work on your writing
goals or your writing projects.
And if you have children at home, it's even
more difficult to find time to write.
I know very well what it's like to want to
write but not have the time or the energy left to do so; I ran an egg farm with
500 chickens last fall on top of working a full-time job. Needless to say, I
didn't get much writing done.
So, when we're on a small "time
budget", we need to be careful where our time goes. That is, if we want to
get words on the page.
One big time management mistake that writers
make is fixing minor errors before the major ones.
I'll be upfront. This tip may not be for you.
If seeing any kind of grammatical, spelling, or punctuation error drives you
crazy and you can't possibly get through the day without fixing it, then, by
all means, fix it. But if you're ready to take full advantage of the short
amount of time that you have, save the minor fixes until last.
Yeah, I know they're easy, but the reason I'm
saying this is that those minor errors may disappear when you fix your major ones.
The major errors span over sentences and
paragraphs to pages and whole chapters. If there are issues with the whole
page, the page will need to be rewritten or removed, so if you were to go
through your article, story, or other written document and fix the minor errors
first, you would be spending more time and energy fixing things that would just
be removed anyway. Why spend more time and energy than you have to?
Focus on the big things. Are your points
(i.e., bullets, plot line, etc.) strong? Are you characters interesting? What
areas can you clarify and tighten for word flow? Does each paragraph serve your
story or premise? Do your descriptions really move the story forward?
By focusing on the big things, you can save
yourself some valuable time and energy. Once you have a solid draft, go back
and focus on the small things. Fix the grammatical errors, the misspellings,
and the misplaced punctuation. That way you won't be fixing errors that will
get removed along with the major ones.
Happy Editing!
Jody Calkins helps entrepreneurs and creative
writers walk down the "write" road to publication and writing
success. As a writer and editor, she specializes in enhancing the clarity,
quality, and creativity of a writer's work whether it is fiction to entertain
or inspire or nonfiction to teach or motivate.
She is also the author of the book, How to
Write an eBook That Shines: A Practical Guide to Enhancing Your eBook Through
Clarity, Quality, and Creativity.
For more information on Jody's editing
services, please visit http://emeryroad.com/editing-services.
Do you need some writing ideas? Join me for 7
days and you'll have plenty of ideas to get you started! Go to http://emeryroad.com/ideas.
Making Simple Sentences
Let's face it, your exam marks determine an
enormous amount of your future. Writing well is vital for a good essay mark.
Yet, very little time is spent in schools or colleges on how to write well.
This article explain over the course of few
lines how to change the use of main ideas in a sentence from 'not very
structured' to 'structured' and thus go some way towards improving the clarity
of the written speech which is produced by the typical student.
One of the things which may surprise the
average reader, is how varied the use of the noun can be. Often, main nouns
convey your main ideas; so it is worth putting them at the front of the
sentence.
In some sentences, nouns come at the end of
the sentence whereas others they come at the beginning. Generally speaking, it
is a good idea to put nouns at the start of the sentence in English.
For example the following sentence can easily
be made to flow more successfully with minor alterations,
"Going quickly, noticing many objects of
art, interest and high culture, I was struck by the magnificence of Big
Ben".
Becomes
"I was struck by
the magnificence of Big Ben, going quickly and noticing many objects of art,
interest and high culture."
Notice that this is just one example of a
sentence. Many possibilities occur in English and so, it is hard to make
generalisations which remain true over a wide number of situations.
Nevertheless, I believe the rule about main ideas near the start of the
sentence does hold true.
A further example is instructive to develop
the wider point:
Watching less television than their classmates
(of a similar age) and studying hard should be the main instruction given to
our children.
This could be written as:
"We should tell
are children to study hard like we did at their age and also that they should
watch less television than their classmates."
Or my personal preferred choice, which would
be.
"Children should
study hard and watch little television."
So, main ideas at the start of the sentence
often make things clear.
Using these ideas, I believe you will find
making the main point of a sentence that bit easier. I also feel certain that
this will help many students who find themselves wanting to improve their
written communication in a hurry.
For more tips on writing and essay
construction, please vision by website.
Oliver Lindon is the Director of Noesis
Education and Essay Writing Guide.
Noesis Education provides talks on essay
writing, with a specialism for dyslexics.
Essay Writing Guide is a book which describes
the process of essay writing from the point of view of the British A level and
Univeristy level courses typical of people between 16-20. Please see:
Editing Versus Proofreading - What's the Difference?
By Jessica
Smit
Editor - proofreader. To-may-to - to-mah-to. They're basically the same thing right?
Well, not so much.
It's a pretty common misconception - many
people say 'proofread' when they actually mean 'edit' and vice versa. But the
two should never be confused. Although there are a few similarities - there's
actually quite a big difference between the two.
Dictionary definitions
According to Dictionary.com, the definitions
are:
· proof·read [proof-reed]
verb
1. to read (printers' proofs, copy, etc.) in
order to detect and mark errors to be corrected.
· ed·it [ed-it]
verb
1. to revise or correct, as a manuscript.
2. to prepare (text) for publication by
checking and improving its accuracy, clarity, etc
But what do they mean in practice?
Edit
Editors have a slightly more in-depth look at
your text. They will go through your copy and make sure that it is free of any
mistakes or inconsistencies. Many people think that editing simply means
finding and fixing all the spelling mistakes. It's true that this is an
important part of the job - but there are so many other elements that editors
have to look out for.
They will go through text and generally
improve the quality of writing and the way it flows. On top of fixing the
spelling, punctuation, typos and other obvious mistakes - they fix the grammar
and check that sentences make sense. They make sure the style and presentation
is consistent and that names and dates are always treated the same. This means
editors have to have a deeper understanding of the accepted style across
various fields.
Proofread
Proofreaders are somewhat like the final
checking point before something goes off to publication. So once the copy has
been written, and edited, a typesetter will produce a proof copy of the final
product - article, brochure etc. The proofreader will then check it in
conjunction with the copy to make sure that no mistakes were made in the
typesetting and that the editor didn't miss any mistakes in the original copy.
Proofreaders have a specially trained eye for catching small errors that most
our brains' will just automatically correct. Another major different between an
editor and a proofreader is that a proofreader has no editorial say. They
simply highlight the errors they found and query it with the editors and
typesetters. Proofreaders also have extra pressure to be extremely accurate
because they are the last stage before publication.
It's a good idea for any writer to have their
work edited or proofread by professional editors and
proofreaders, because it's even more difficult to spot mistakes in
your own work.
Get professional proofreading and editing
services with Jo Watson Productions - a writing collective that offers full
writing services. -http://www.jowatsonproductions.co.za
The Writer's Need For Belief
As with many things, the ability to write may
begin with curiosity - I wonder if I can do this - but at some point, in order
to carry on, you need to believe in yourself and your ability to write.
It also really helps to believe that your
Creator has put you on this earth to write. A sense of destiny can be very
motivational.
Sometimes people develop this sense of being
called to write after they have actually published something. At the time of
writing, they were simply putting down something that was burning within them,
and later success helps them to see that their writing was what God actually
wanted them to do.
You may be questioning: 'What good will all
this believing do? That won't get words on paper.' It's true; just believing
you can write will do you no good at all - if that is as far as you ever get.
That would be like believing you can play a great game of golf without ever
actually hitting the ball with the club.
What can this belief do for you then? One
word: motivation. It will motivate you to:
· Give writing a go.
· Apply yourself to continuing to write as
much as you can, as often as you can, even when you don't actually feel like
doing so.
· Become a student of this great and ancient
craft.
· Be willing to learn, and keep on learning,
the skills that will make your writing shine.
· Become increasingly willing to share your
writing with others. This can be a real hurdle for those just starting out. A
belief in your writing will help you to develop the self-confidence you need to
get over this hurdle.
· Develop the perseverance necessary to get
your work published. This can be the most difficult part of writing.
Learning to write is not something like
learning to make your bed: once you know how to do it, you know how to do it.
With writing, you are not only learning skills, you are learning about people,
you are learning about yourself, and you are learning about how this world
works. It's a fascinating and lifelong study. Don't ever expect to know it all.
A lack of this belief in your writing will
make it much harder for you to meet writing's specific challenges. Writing doesn't
always flow easily. It can be very hard mental work to make words say exactly
what you want to say. The effort can take you on some serious low points, in
which you are filled with self-doubt. 'Can I really do this? What if I can't?'
Self-doubt can incapacitate you. It can
strangle your creativity. Rejections can really throw you down. I know that
very well.
What can rescue you when you have been knocked
about by the difficulties of the writer's life? Belief that your writing is
what you are on this earth to do.
It amazes me when I read stories of the
incredible tenacity of some writers, who haven't had their work recognised for
many, many years. Some writers never even see their work being valued during
their whole lifetime. How do they keep going?
Really, the only thing that will keep you
going sometimes is an inner conviction that you can do it; that writing is how
you will fulfil your destiny.
Do you need help to write better? Do you want
some inspiration to put your thoughts into words? Could you do with some
encouragement to develop your writing skills?
The blog on this site offers inspiration,
encouragement and useful tips to writers at all levels.
Want to Write a Book - Try Fiction Writing for Kindle
By Don
Penven
In the days, weeks and months ahead, thousands
of aspiring writers will seek fame and fortune with their first published work.
Some will catch the brass ring, but most will not. I'm not saying this to
discourage you. In fact, if you read through this entire article you will see
that what I have written here is meant to help... not to discourage.
My goal here in is to provide you with a
course of action, not a detour. Think of this article as the feedback you get
when you go into Google Maps and ask for directions. Google provides you turn
by turn instructions to allow you to reach your destination by following the
best possible route. But Google won't know about a major wreck that just
occurred on the Interstate. So if you follow the directions perfectly, you may
still end up stuck in traffic.
Life is like that... it seems that roadblocks
are thrown into our path at every turn. Yes, life can be frustrating, and no
one knows just how frustrating life can be better than me.
My Story (In Brief)
I had a burning desire to be a writer at a
very early age. I signed up for a writing correspondence course using a coupon
clipped from a popular magazine of that time, I mailed off the application that
included a short story and a check. Well-low and behold-I was accepted as a
student. Of course this writer's school probably accepted everyone applying
with a check that didn't bounce.
A few weeks later I received the first few
lessons, a study guide and an Olivetti typewriter. Remember typewriters? They
were machines that printed on actual pieces of paper. I didn't know how to
type. Typewriting class in high school was for the girls. It trained them to be
secretaries or teachers, the job possibilities that most girls in the 1950s
aspired to-since there was little else available.
I still can't type, but I do have two fingers
that hunt and peck my way along.
This course had several prominent writers of
that era serving As "Guiding Faculty." The only two I recall have
long since passed away I gave up in frustration some months later when I ran
out of typing correction fluid.
Time Marches On
Over the passing years I still nurtured the
desire to write. And I was moderately successful. My first published work was a
story about a volunteer fire company, of which I was a member. The only news
paper in Medford, NJ was a weekly that carried several of my earliest efforts.
After more time, two national magazines carried my stories: What a thrill to
receive a check in the mail instead of a rejection slip.
I made several stabs at creating novels. I
still may have those attempts somewhere around here gathering mold in their
spiral notebooks. It wasn't until 1986 that I really got serious about creating
a novel-from start to finish. Two factors influenced this decision:
1. A newspaper story disclosed an FBI sting in
which a foreign business attempted to convince an IBM employee to deliver
company secrets to them for cash. The worker instead went to corporate security
that, in turn, brought in the Feds. The sting was successful and arrests were
made. What was most significant about this story was that it happened at North
Carolina's Research triangle Park-a mere 15 miles from my adopted home.
2. A few days later, while in route to my job,
I chanced to hear an interview of a former Green Beret on a local radio talk
show. His statement sent shivers down my back. "We were surrogate
warriors-fighting someone else's battles."
And so-armed with a plot and a book title, I
bought a new spiral notebook and began to write. After scribbling 70-some pages
I learned from a friend about the computer he had bought: Understand that back
then, computers didn't have a built-in hard drive or operating system. To
"boot up" the 1000S used two 5 ¼" floppy disks. Once activated I
put a word processor in Drive A and a blank storage disk into Drive B.
Eventually I transferred my notebook into
electronic files.
But I have an impatient nature-and always
will-so I rushed through the chapters until I had what I thought was a
plausible conclusion-and I cranked up my dot matrix printer and ran it out. I
had about 60-some printed pages--and I set it aside.
More Time Passes
In 1987 I had a nagging desire to own my own
business, I had been offering my services as a videographer, and I videotaped
several weddings. Frustration on my day job led me to quit my well-paying job
and open a fulltime video production business. I eventually added photography
and moved my business from the spare bedroom to an office park. 10 tears later
my wife of nearly 40 years informed me that she had seen a lawyer who was
preparing separation papers. The divorce followed one year later.
Without divulging too much personal
information, I met a woman who would literally change my life. She answered a
personal ad I had placed in the local newspaper. Our blind date took place
at-of all places-a nationally known bookstore coffee shop in Raleigh.
At some point I mentioned that I'd had several
articles published in national magazines, and at some point she asked,
"When are you going to show me your novel."
I did. I gave her the 60-some dot
matrix-printed pages. She tore into them with a vengeance. She could visualize
a better order, deeper characterization, and a more realistic outcome. We
worked together-me taking her suggestions and filling out the story, while she
kept critiquing my efforts. When we finally reached what we considered to be a
workable manuscript.
The Search for a
Publisher
The 21st century became a reality as we
printed out sample chapters, and together with a synopsis, began mailing off
packages to publishers. This went on for a year or so. What we learned mostly
is that most publishers will seldom consider any manuscripts unless they are
submitted through a genuine, established literary agent. And literary agents
told us that they were too involved with their successful writers to bother
with a wannabe author like me.
The century crept on and it wasn't until 2008
that I learned about "print-on-demand publishing." I found a
publisher that "never charges a fee" to its authors. So my novel
finally saw the light of day. Can you imagine the thrill of seeing your novel
appearing on Amazon or Barnes and Noble?
Yes... I was thrilled on one hand but
discouraged on the other. The retail price for my 274 page novel was $24.95 for
a soft back (paperback) book. Most hardcover novels sell for about the same
price. It didn't sell.
End of Story... Not
Yet
One difficulty I had was the credibility of my
publisher. The only marketing effort they made was to sell printed copies of
their novels to the authors of them. We were obliged to buy copies and set up
our own book signings. But the economy went sour and every book store I
contacted either ignored me or begged off due to the downturn in printed book
sales. Industry statistics tell us that only about 30% of all book sales now
occur from brick and mortar book stores.
The Electronic
"E-Book" Phenomenon
It began with Amazon's introduction of the
Kindle. This handheld mini-computer downloads complete novels in a flash
through local cell phone towers. My wife bought a Kindle when they were first
offered and currently has over 100 novels in storage. Not long ago she bought
an iPad and transferred her library to it.
But my publisher had an on-going feud with
Amazon, who wanted the publisher to convert all of its books to the Kindle
format. My publisher refused. The answer was, of course, to charge the author's
to format their works. It cost me about $30.
Getting Your Novel on
Kindle
My advice is to skip the middleman-the
publisher. Amazon uses a company called CreateSource that offers the tools
needed to correctly format your novel, and most of their services are at no cost.
I have a second novel in the works and this is the course I will follow. Sign
up for an account with CreateSource. Even though my new novel isn't finished. I
am also looking at Barnes and Noble's Nook, which is their competitive offering
with Kindle. I can do this if I am not encumbered by a contract with a
publisher.
Writing a First Novel
Many literary agents and publishers agree that
first novels are often somewhat autobiographical. This is true with my novel.
But I won't specify what parts are true and what parts are pure fiction. I drew
from my own real-life experiences and suggest you do the same. Surrogate
Warrior deals with industrial espionage and a retired CIA agent's efforts to
find the leaks of corporate secrets.
My second novel tells the tale of a serial
killer that sets up shop in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. Is this
autobiographical? Am I an experienced serial killer? No... I am not, but I am
somewhat of an expert in criminal and crime scene investigation. So you see, a
novel's success is partially based on its credibility. Draw from your
experiences, things of which you have some real experience. If your novel is
ready, check out e=Book formats. If not-get started on it!
3/4s of a Century is behind me. Am I really
too old to be seeking a new career as a novelist? No way! I have reasonably
good health, but more importantly, I still have a burning desire to achieve a
level of self-satisfaction, while providing a measure of entertainment to my
readers. You might say I wasted a lifetime getting to this point. But the real
point of how this story became a reality is based on words spoken by Winston
Churchill to a graduating class, "Never, never give up."
The link below is to Amazon's Kindle page for
"Surrogate Warrior." My hope is that this novel will serve as an
inspiration to you. Purchase a copy of "Surrogate Warrior" and see
for yourself. Analyze my character and plot development. The cost is just
$9.95-but if you look at it as a How-To-Guide, it will be the best investment
you can make. Surrogate
Warrior.
Remember this, "If it is to be-it is up
to me!"
Expert Author Don Penven is a freelance writer
and professional photographer based in Raleigh and Morehead City, NC,
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