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Technical Skills | Personal Journals, Memoirs, and Letters | Professional letters

Fiction and Novel Writing | Poetry | Writer's Block and Inspiration
Professional Writing | General Writing Tips
Technical Skills Writer's Block / Inspiration
● How to improve writing skills with writing ● How to overcome writer's block
exercises ● A cure for writers block
● Improving writing skills ● Overcoming writers block: five writing exercises
● Common grammar mistakes ● Overcoming writer block
● Glossary of writing terms ● Overcoming writer's block
● Punctuation rule: how to correct a comma splice ● Overcoming writer's block
● Grammar & Punctuation: proper use of the colon ● Overcoming writer's block
● Proofreading tips ● How to overcome writers block
● Punctuation: semicolon rules ● Overcoming writer's block with the help of your
● Rules of English grammer kids
● Writing an introductory paragraph ● Writer block: how to treat it, how to beat it
● Overcoming writer's block
Personal Journals, Memoirs, and Letters ● Overcoming writer's block
● How to overcome writer's block
● How to write a memoir ● Tips on overcoming writer's block

● How to write a family newsletter
● How do i start a journal? ● How to be a great writer
● The importance of keeping a personal journal ● Dream journals: get story ideas in your sleep!
● How to journal for therapy ● Using dreams for story ideas
● Personal journaling-- a different kind of life ● Writer and critique group
insurance ● Mornings for creative writers
● Personal letter writing ● Help for writers: advantage of writers groups
● Journaling method for writers ● Brainstorming term paper topics
● Journal writing is good therapy ● How to brainstorm ideas for short articles
● Journal writing tips ● Learn to write in twenty minutes a day
● Journal writing for the writer ● 25 Tips every writer should know
● The value of writing a daily journal ● How to improve writing skills
● Learn how to write a letter! ● Writing for success
● How to write letters your friends will love ● How can I become a better writer?
● Keeping a journal ● A creative writing exercise
● Inmate pen pals ● Creative writing tips: let your creativity show
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● Daily journal writing benefits ● Motivation and inspiration for struggling writers
● How to write a family newsletter ● Starting a writing workshop
● How to maintain a journal ● Ideas for writing
● Memoir writing through the generations ● Finding time to write
● How to write a memoir
Professional writing
Professional letters
● How to self publish a how- to book
● How to write a thank you card ● The tenets of submitting a manuscript
● Writing the great complaint letter ● Writing for city websites
● Effectively writing a complaint letter ● Great markets in which to sell your first story
● How to write a perfect query letter ● How to make a portfolio
● Writing a letter of complaint ● How to write a book proposal
● How to write mission and vision statements ● How to write an effective query letter for a non-
● Writing a letter to the editor fiction article
● Writing donor thank you letters ● The paying writing market
● Marketing tips for freelance writers
● How to make writing thank you notes easy!
● Writing a short story manuscript format for
● Elements of writing a great query letter
publication
● Learn how to write a thank you note
● How to submit a short story manuscript to an
● Learn how to write a letter!
editor
● How to write a query letter ● Free web publishing: how writers can profit in
● How to write an effective complaint letter cyberspace
● How to write effective complaint letters ● How to secure a literary agent
● 5 tips for writing business email newsletters ● Editing services: Do you need them?
● Writing screen plays to sell
Fiction and Novel Writing ● Launching your unpublished books in the media
● Writing a cover letter for short story submission
● Writing flash fiction using bubble diagrams ● How to choose a market for your writing
● How to write a romance novel ● Self publishing on internet
● Tips for novel ideas ● Building a career in writing after first publication
● How to write longer fiction ● How to decide if freelance writing is for you
● Creating the perfect setting for writing fiction ● Writing for publication: five attention getters not
● How to write a short story the creative way impressive to editors
● Writing a good plot outline ● Guide for freelance writers
● How to write fiction ● Freelance writing information
● Novel writing tips: what tense should i use? ● Agents for writers: should you have one?
● Write a romance novel in three months ● Write a non-fiction book proposal
● Write a better novel: final draft ● How to market and promote a book
● Write a better novel: first draft ● Writing tips for writing under a pen name
● Write a better novel: second draft ● Should a writer adopt a pen name?
● Creating dialogue in fiction ● Getting published in magazines
● Create interesting and believable fiction ● Learn newspaper editorial writing
characters ● Make the most of your writing editor appointment
● Creating a character profile ● Writing a newspaper press release
● Writing technique: character development ● How can you become a freelance writer
● Creating fictional characters ● How to get an article published in a magazine
● Writing fiction for fun
● How to write short stories General writing tips, ideas, and advices

Poetry ● How to write a title

● Non fiction writing
● How to write poetry ● Five traps to avoid when re writing a manuscript
● How to write a haiku? ● How to write song lyrics
● How do you write poetry? ● How do I write a book synopsis?
● How to write poetry ● How to write an effective speech
● How to write a haiku ● Information on how to write a book review
Poetry inspiration: making your life experiences
How do you write a book synopsis?
●
●
into poems
● Writing short stories that work
● Tips to poetry writing
● Getting started writing children's books
● How to write poetry
● How to write an essay
● How to publish your poems
● How to write a research paper
● How to write a poem
● Writing children's books: choosing the right
● How to write a sonnet
audience
● How to write a haiku
Writing narrative personal essays
Poetry writing tips
●
●
● How to write a haiku ● Writing children's stories

● How to write (good) poetry ● Writing a cover letter for poetry submission
● How do I write a haiku? ● Writing a character sketch essay
● How to write limerick poetry ● How to write an autobiography
● Organize a poetry writing workshop ● Tips and resources for the teen writer
● How to interpret five common criticisms on ● Creative ways to publish children's stories
poetry ● Writing a research paper
● How to write an obituary
● Tips for writing an essay
● Article writing tip; the best title for your piece
● How to write a good film review
● Writing tip: point of view
● Guideline to writing an essay effectively
● Writing film reviews: you too can be a critic
● Song writing tips
● How to write jokes
● Writing an essay
● Writing books for children
● Fanzines - television & publication?
● Five fast and easy steps to writing nonfiction
● How to write a working screenplay
● Writing a nursery rhyme for children
● How to write biographies: the basics
● How to win an essay contest
● Writing children's picture books
● What is a chapbook?
● Starting a critique group for writers
● How can I write a book
© 2002 Pagewise, Inc.


How to improve writing skills with writing exercises
How to improve writing skills with

writing exercises
I take writing classes and workshops whenever I can. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut,
but when you have someone dishing out writing assignments, you're forced to pull
yourself out. Here are 5 exercises I've done over the years. Stretch yourself!
1) Take a mediocre, horrible or fabulous piece of your writing. It doesn't need to be long,
just writing. Go through it and look for non-descript words, such as 'nice', 'beautiful' and
'wonderful'. List these words, and detail what they are actually supposed to be
describing.
A nice outfit - Nice means as many things as there are people! Does nice mean green or
blue? Cotton or polyester? A skirt or pants? Matching or eclectic?
A beautiful day - Some folks like rain, some love the sun. Are there clouds? Is it morning
or evening? Is it a day to lounge at home or go out and socialize? What constitutes a
beautiful day? Beauty? What's that?
You can see by these examples that non-descript words rob your writing of what makes
it unique - you!
2) This is one of my favorites. I came across it as I was studying metaphors. On the left
side of the page, list tangible nouns. Ocean, flood, steam shovel, cinder block, spoon. On
the right side of the page, list intangible nouns. Respect, desire, hunger, flight. Now
combine them in a phrase like this:
'a of '. Examples would be 'an ocean of respect', a spoonful of desire'. Let yourself get
carried away with this, and you will come up with some very powerful images.
3) Open up a dictionary. Choose a word and write about it for 10 minutes, non-stop.
Choose another word and do the same. Choose a third and write 10 more minutes.
Although you have three different words, there may be a common thread running
through them. Look for it. The day I did this, the rainy weather permeated my three
pieces of random writing. If a thread is not there, try and connect these three separate
pieces of writing.
4) Make a list about something. Choose something ordinary and make a list of things
about it or related to it. Do it off the top of your head, taking just 10 minutes or so. Now
read it. You will feel a rhythm to it after a few lines, and it will sound poetic. If you make
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How to improve writing skills with writing exercises
a list about a kiss or love or flowers, you may have a sweet poem when you're done.
The class I did this in listed a yard sale. Sounds dull? It was actually very interesting to
hear what everyone had to say about a yard sale, the contents, the seller, the other
buyers, the type of day it was and so on. A yard sale is not dull subject matter!
5) Find a picture in a magazine. Make sure it interests you. Look this picture over
carefully for just a minute and write about it for at least 10 minutes. Describe the detail,
the light, the subject matter. Are there people? What are they thinking? How did they
get there? Who are they? You could do the traditional 'Who What When Where Why'
routine. You'll be surprised at how much you can see in a picture when you have to!
These are just a few exercises to keep your creativity flowing. You can enhance them by
doing them with your writing friends, too. It's entertaining and enlightening to hear how
others respond to the same exercises. Don't be afraid to try a class or a workshop,
either! Good luck and have fun!
Written by Nan Fischer
Title: How to improve writing skills with writing exercises

Description: Question no more how to improve your writing skills! You will be able to
stretch your imagination and your use of words with these five writing exercises that
explore description and metaphors.
Copyright 2002 by PageWise, Inc.
DISCLAIMER: PLEASE READ - By printing, downloading, or using you agree to our full terms. Review the full terms by clicking
here.
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Improving writing skills
Having good writing skills can be very useful at times. If you are a student it will be
helpful when you are writing a research paper or thesis and for aspiring writers it will be
an essential quality. Some could naturally have good writing skills while some may lack
it. If you ever feel that you can never gain good writing skills, you are wrong. Everyone
can attain quality-writing skills if they try. Here are some helpful tips to improve your
writing skills.
Write - Write something each day. If you don’t practice you won’t gain anything. This is
very true in the art of writing. You have to keep on writing to brush up your skills. But if
you are wondering on what to write about, not to worry as I can give you some ideas.
You can write about an incident that happened to you or about anything interesting that
caught your eye when you were walking on the street. But if nothing interesting
happened while you were strolling, get creative and think of anything to write. It doesn’t
matter what you write as long as you attempt to write something.
Take courses - Courses can give you a good guidance to writing. With the rapid growth
of on-line courses you can even opt for an on-line creative writing course. Most of the on-
line courses would be short and if you are a novice at writing it would be more advisable
to pick a classroom course where you can interact with the lecturer.
Join newsgroups – Newsgroups can be very helpful for you as the members can give
you advice. By joining a writing newsgroup you could be interacting with the members
who could be experienced writers. By sharing information and tips on the craft of writing
the experience of joining a newsgroup is interesting and useful.
Subscribe to newsletters- If you ever come across a website where they offer useful
writing tips and information for improving your writing, it would be wise to subscribe for
their newsletter. Subscribing to newsletters is free and you will get loads of information
through the useful articles.
Criticism - Write something and allow it to be read by a critic. If you always write but
never show it to someone to read and edit the article, you might not be able to spot the
mistakes in that piece of writing. Once you have written the article, proofread the article
and check it for errors. Then get a critic (it would be great if the person is an
experienced critic) to comment on your work. This would enable the person to give you
feedback on your work and at the same time you can learn how good is your standard of
writing. Even if your first article gets a lot of criticism do not lose heart. Take the
experience as a learning one and remember not to make the same mistakes again.
Read - Reading is another way to help you. You could go to the library to search for
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books on writing. You can read the non-fiction books on how to improve your writing as
such books would guide you along on the essential steps on writing well. Apart from non-
fiction books you could also read fiction books of a wide range of categories. This would
allow you to observe the styles of various authors and would be helpful to you in the
future if you decide to write a novel yourself.
Written by Anusuya Vethanayagam
Title: Improving writing skills

Description: Improving writing skills is easy with these techniques.
here.
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Common grammar mistakes
A debate rages in academe concerning the teaching of Standard English. Some contend
that attempting to instill Standard (i.e. correct) English in students amounts to an act of
cultural fascism, encouraging class divisions and perpetuating stereotypes. Perhaps, the
most extreme form of this position is the Oakland, California, school district's
abandonment of Standard English in favor of Ebonics or Black English.
The opposite side of the debate contends that Standard English is a tool for effective
thought and without its mastery a student is condemned to second-class citizenship in
the world of work and letters. It's probably safe to say that a majority of English
teachers subscribe to this position.
Whatever the status of the debate and the response of the school, one thing is clear.
Speech and writing will go on, and unfortunately, despite the pleadings of idealists, some
of us will be judged by lapses from Standard English. In short, speaking and writing
errors signal one's background, the success of one's education, and one's own concern
for correctness just as blatantly as an arm-cast signals a broken arm.
Since this is true, what then are some of the most common spoken and written errors
and what if anything can or should be done about them?
Wrong Form of Verb
This mistake serves as a glaring marker of humble social origins or failure to master
elementary school training. Depending on tense (time element) verbs have different
forms or principal parts. The most common forms of this mistake are: He "come" late to
school, and I "set" in the back row. These two gaffes are easily mastered if one
remembers that "set" means to place, while sit and its past tense sat refer to putting
one's weight on the posterior. For example, I sit in a chair, and yesterday I sat in a
chair. With "come" the key is remembering that the past tense of come is came. Hence,
Joe comes today and Joe came(not come) yesterday.
The absolute essential principal parts to master are these. I see today; I saw yesterday
(not seen). He gives today; he gave yesterday (not give).
On the other hand, lie and lay constitute another bugaboo of the same type, but failure
to use these forms correctly is so widespread at every social level, that the mistake is
unlikely to even be noticed. For those who care, however, "lie" is to recline and "lay" is
to place something down. However, the issue is confusing because the past tense of "lie"
is, also, "lay"; thus, I lie (not lie)in bed today; I lay in bed yesterday.
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Subject-Verb Disagreement
In standard English verbs agree with subjects in number. This type of mistake in its
simplest form is another obvious social marker. A common glaring example is "it don't."
The problem here is that "it" is singular and "don't" is plural. The correct form is it
doesn't or he doesn't. The trick is to make the subject and verb match in number (not
tense, which is another issue altogether).
Additional examples of this type error are-- Dogs with puppies "needs" (should be plural
need)lot of vitamins, and Sailors with scurvy "has" (should be plural have) sore gums.
There is, however, a second type of subject and verb disagreement that commonly
occurs where the speaker is confused because a second noun intervenes between the
subject and the verb. For example--the captain of the guards "don't" like ice cream. This
is incorrect since the subject governing the verb is captain, not guards.
Unfortunately, this type of error is not easily corrected because one must be able to
successfully identify the subject as opposed to the noun nearest the verb. Furthermore,
correctness demands a kind of instant grammatical analysis that only those who are not
likely to make the mistake in the first place can perform while speaking on their feet.
The Good or Well Dilemma
If there's a single usage error that can be said to be afflicting well-meaning Americans
today, it's when to use "good" and when to use "well." A bad choice here can make one
look incredibly naïve. The problem centers around school warnings against "good" used
as an adverb. For example, schools have rightly taught that He hits the ball "good" or
She bowls "good" is incorrect. Yes, but while incorrect, the preceding errors are
essentially minor and unlikely to provoke scorn.
The problem occurs when one develops an inordinate fear of good and begins
substituting "well" in every normal "good" slot. Then egregious errors pop up. People
then say, "Have a well day" or She's a pretty "well" singer. Horrors! The cure here is just
to go with "good" and take the blame for an occasional slip.
However, purists will want to get it right. In that case, remember "well" is an adverb, for
instance, she knits well. "Well" here modifies the verb knits. "Good," on the other hand,
is an adjective. He's a good singer. Good modifies the noun singer.
The tricky decision happens after a linking verb which will not use an adverb. Therefore,
I feel "good" or he's "good" at pool are correct because "feel" and "is" are linking verbs,
and linking verbs don't take adverbs.
Pronoun Hell
Pronouns like nouns have what is known as case and shift their form depending on case.
In other words, within a sentence they may function as subject, direct object, object of

preposition, or indirect object and vary their form depending thereon. The dilemma for
the speaker is inserting the correct pronoun in terms of its function in the sentence.
Garden variety pronoun errors include--him and me went downtown, or the boss gave he
and I a raise. Unfortunately correcting this type error takes a modicum of grammatical
skill, for one must determine the role of the pronoun in the sentence. Thus, "he" and I
went downtown is correct inasmuch as "he" is the subject of the sentence and "he" is a
subject-case pronoun whereas "him" is an objective case pronoun. Ironically, and much
like the school-inculcated fear of "good," "him" has developed an aura of incorrectness
that then drives a speaker to say gave "he" and I a raise, when in fact "he" and I stand
in an indirect-object position in the sentence and therefore demand objective case
pronouns--"him" and me.
Other common pronoun errors are--talks to "hisself" (should be "himself;" "hisself" is

always wrong) and taller than "her"(should be "she"). The latter of the two mistakes is
so widely made that the correct form actually sounds stilted, but technically speaking
taller than "she" is correct since "she" is the subject of an understood verb "is."
Who or Whom
And finally there is the dilemma of whether to say who or whom as in these situations--
Who/whom was at the door? or Who/whom did you give the money to?
The good news is this. Speakers at all academic and social levels tend to either ignore or
be confused by the distinction between who and whom, generally choosing "who" and
letting it go at that. A result of this is that in situations where "whom" is the correct
form, choosing the correct form again may again actually sound somewhat stilted. The
bottom line for most social situations is go with "who" as chances are your listener won't
know the difference either.
However, if one chooses to be fastidious, it works like this. Because "who" and "whom"
are pronouns, they have case as determined by function in a particular sentence. Thus,
getting back to the examples above. "Who" was at the door is correct because "who" is
the subject of the sentence and "who" is a subject-case pronoun. On the other hand, in
the second example--"whom" did you give the money to is technically correct because
the pronoun "whom" is the object of the preposition to and "whom" is an objective-case
pronoun.
Title: Common grammar mistakes

Description: Survey of five common grammar mistakes with advice on how to cope
with each.

here.

Punctuation rule: how to correct a comma splice
Punctuation rule: how to correct a

comma splice
A comma splice is a type of run-on sentence. It is the attempt to join two independent
clauses with a comma. Independent clauses must either be joined by a coordinator (one
of the coordinating conjunctions or one of the correlatives), or separated by a full stop (a
period, question mark, exclamation point, or semicolon).
I. Coordinators
CORRELATIVES:
either . . . or
neither . . .nor
not only . . . but also
both . . . and
COORDINATING CONJUNCTIONS:
and
but
or
nor
yet
so
(Most grammar and usage textbooks also include “for” in the list of coordinating
conjunctions, but it actually functions as a subordinating conjunction, translating more or
less as “because,” and therefore should not be treated as a coordinating conjunction.)
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II. Stops
END-STOP PUNCTUATION (FULL STOP):
period (.)
question mark (?)
exclamation point (!)
semicolon (;)
III. Independent Clauses
An independent clause is a clause that can stand alone as a sentence. Whenever two
independent clauses are next to each other, they must either be completely separated
(with end-stop punctuation) or completely joined (with a coordinator).
1. One way to correct a comma splice is to add a full stop (end-stop punctuation)
between the two independent clauses.
--EXAMPLES--
WRONG:
A person who is hard of hearing is not trying to be annoying, it takes only a little effort
to help him understand what you are saying.
CORRECTIONS:
A person who is hard of hearing is not trying to be annoying. It takes only a little effort
or
A person who is hard of hearing is not trying to be annoying; it takes only a little effort
WRONG:
My parents can’t make it this weekend, they have other plans.
CORRECTIONS:

My parents can’t make it this weekend. They have other plans.
or
My parents can’t make it this weekend; they have other plans.
2. Another way to correct a comma splice is to join the two independent clauses with a
coordinating conjunction.
--EXAMPLES--
WRONG:
The biology club will meet on Friday, several important issues will be discussed.
CORRECTON:
The biology club will meet on Friday, and several important issues will be discussed.
WRONG:
Our Uncle Tom died rather suddenly, my brother Allen was tapped to manage his
business until a suitable replacement could be found.
CORRECTION:
Our Uncle Tom died rather suddenly, and my brother Allen was tapped to manage his
WRONG:
He agreed to do the job for awhile, he hoped they would soon find another manager.
CORRECTION:
He agreed to do the job for awhile, but he hoped they would soon find another manager.
WRONG:
Our uncle’s partners knew Allen would stay for only a few months, they hurried to
interview possible replacements.
CORRECTION:

Our uncle’s partners knew Allen would stay for only a few months, so they hurried to
3. A third way to correct a comma splice would be to change one of the independent
clauses into a dependent clause, which can then be set off from the main clause by a
comma if it is a non-restrictive dependent clause.
--EXAMPLES—
WRONG:
My parents can’t make it this weekend, they have other plans.
CORRECTION:
My parents can’t make it this weekend, because they have other plans.
WRONG:
The biology club will meet on Friday, several important matters will be discussed.
CORRECTION:
When the biology club meets on Friday, several important matters will be discussed.
WRONG:
Our Uncle Tom died rather suddenly, my brother Allen was tapped to run his business
until a suitable replacement could be found.
CORRECTION:
When our Uncle Tom died rather suddenly, my brother Allen was tapped to run his
WRONG:
He agreed to do the job for awhile, he hoped they would soon find another manager.
CORRECTIONS:
Although he agreed to do the job for awhile, he hoped they would soon find another
manager.

or
He agreed to do the job for awhile, though he hoped they would soon find another
manager.
WRONG:
Our uncle’s partners knew Allen would stay for only a few months, they hurried to
CORRECTION:
Because our uncle’s partners knew Allen would stay for only a few months, they hurried
to interview possible replacements.
IV. Conjunctive Adverbs
A frequent cause of comma splices is the mistaking of a conjunctive adverb for a

conjunction. Although conjunctive adverbs have a weak conjunctive (joining) quality,
they are actually sentence adverbs, not conjunctions, and cannot be used to join
independent clauses. Here is a list of the most commonly used conjunctive adverbs:
accordingly
also
anyhow
as a result
besides
consequently
for example
furthermore
hence
henceforth
however

in addition
indeed
in fact
instead
likewise
meanwhile
moreover
namely
nevertheless
notwithstanding
otherwise
similarly
so
still
then
thereby
therefore
thus
yet
Whenever a conjunctive adverb appears BETWEEN two independent clauses (rather than
simply as a modifier WITHIN a single independent clause), the two clauses must be
separated by a full stop.
--EXAMPLES--

WRONG:
She will never agree to give you an extension, therefore you had better get that paper
finished tonight.
CORRECTIONS:
She will never agree to give you an extension; therefore you had better get that paper
finished tonight.
or
She will never agree to give you an extension. Therefore you had better get that paper
finished tonight.
WRONG:
Most freshmen feel overwhelmed by the workload in their college courses, nevertheless
they usually spend more time socializing than studying.
CORRECTIONS:
Most freshmen feel overwhelmed by the workload in their college courses; nevertheless,
or
Most freshmen feel overwhelmed by the workload in their college courses. Nevertheless,
Title: Punctuation rule: how to correct a comma splice

Description: An explanation of how to recognize and correct this common error and
follow punctuation rules.
here.


Grammar & Punctuation: proper use of the colon
Grammar & Punctuation: proper use of

the colon
The colon (:) is most often used to formally or emphatically introduce series, lists,
appositives, and quotations. Generally, a colon implies a "promise," and what follows the
colon "delivers on" that promise.
1. When extra emphasis or a degree of formality is desired, a colon can be employed to

introduce a word, a phrase, or a clause used in apposition to a substantive (a noun or a
noun substitute) in the introductory statement.
EXAMPLES
WORD
There is one thing a human being simply cannot do without: hope.
PHRASE
Her goal was easily stated: the state championship.
One factor cannot be ignored: the bottom line.
CLAUSE
There was only one question left to answer: who had sent her the first warning?
Don't overlook the most important rule: never argue with the boss.
2. A colon is frequently used after an introductory statement that clearly indicates that
something--a list or an enumeration, for example--is to follow.
EXAMPLES
The children were asked to bring certain supplies the next day: crayons, scissors, glue,
glitter, and ribbon.
A number of unexpected problems cropped up: the orders didn't go out on time, there
was a breakdown in communication with the branch offices, and our top salesman was
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recruited by another company.
The major holidays for the upcoming academic year are as follows: Labor Day,
Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's Day, and Memorial day.
3. If a quoted passage is formal, long, or paragraphed separately, a colon is used to

separate the introductory statement from the quotation that follows.
EXAMPLE
John F. Kennedy issued this stirring challenge: "Ask not what your country can do for
you; ask what you can do for your country."
4. A colon is used after the salutation of a formal letter or a business letter. (A comma
follows the salutation of a fiendly letter or an informal letter.)
EXAMPLES
Dear Sir or Madam:
Gentlemen:
To the Selection Committee:
5. A colon is used to separate the title of a book or article from its subtitle.
"High Risk: Children Without a Conscience"
______
COMMON MISUSES OF THE COLON
1. Do not use a colon to separate a preposition from its objects.
WRONG
She was in charge of: registration, cabin assignments, and camp clean-up.
CORRECT
She was in charge of registration, cabin assignments, and camp clean-up.
2. Do not use a colon to separate a verb from its objects.

WRONG
I like to play: soccer, racquetball, and ice hockey.
CORRECT
I like to play soccer, racquetball, and ice hockey.
3. Do not use a colon after "such as."
WRONG
I enjoy playing physically demanding sports such as: soccer, racquetball, and ice hockey.
CORRECT
I enjoy playing physically demanding sports such as soccer, racquetball, and ice hockey.
4. After a word, phrase, or clause has been introduced by a colon, the sentence must
end with the introduced element. (The main clause cannot be picked up again after the
introduced element.)
WRONG
We were offered a choice of desserts: pudding, an assortment of pastries, and a fruit

cocktail, but we were too stuffed to eat another bite.
CORRECT
We were offered a choice of desserts: pudding, an assortment of pastries, and a fruit

cocktail. Unfortunately, we were too stuffed to eat another bite.
Title: Grammar & Punctuation: proper use of the colon

Description: Frequent misus of grammar & punctuation is common. Although there are
only a few rules governing the use of the colon, this form of punctuation is frequently
misused.
here.


Proofreading tips
Proofreading tips
The skill of proofreading is necessary whether you are a student, a professional writer, or
someone who creates lots of office memos. No matter the context in which you are
writing, there are systematic procedures that you can follow to ensure you produce the
best work possible.
There are three types of proofreading: Comparison, content, and format. A comparison
proofread may not be applicable to every project you do. It applies to projects in which
you have an original document you are copying from. This 'original document' could be
your own handwritten notes, they could be a typed document that needs to be re-typed
because a file was lost, or they could be a document with changes scrawled by hand all
across the pages. A comparison proofing requires a word for word, character for
character comparison of the new document and the old document. The purpose of this
reading is to make sure that the exact same words and punctuation are in both
documents. A comparison proofread is the first type of proofing that will take place.
For a content proofread, you may put aside the original document and focus on the new
document. At this stage you will be looking for correct sentence structure, logic, spelling,
punctuation, and factuality. You will also be looking for consistency. If your memo says,
"(s) he would be in violation of company policy” and then later states " he/she would
need to report the incident to the appropriate supervisor", there is a consistency error. A
change should be noted to use either "he/she" or "(s) he" consistently. The purpose of
the content read is to make sure the document is correct and reads well.
Finally, a format proofread is performed. A format proofing is just what it sounds like.
You are looking for a correct format and consistent format in the document. There are
certain formatting conventions that are followed when typing, for example, a business
letter. There may also be specific formatting rules when typing a memo for company. An
easy way to start a format proofread is to 'scan the edges' of the document and look for
anything that sticks out and doesn't look right. Then look at the overall page: Does it
look balanced? For example, is the text consistently justified or consistently left aligned?
Now scan the document and pay attention to the spaces instead of the words. Take out
any extra spaces you find within the text. Finally, this is the time when you will check
page numbers and footnotes, if applicable.
Give yourself ample time to go through each of these three types/stages of proofreading
for the cleanest most professional resulting document. The following tips will help you do
a more accurate proofing at any stage:
1. Always proof from a hard copy. Do not try to proof a document from your computer
screen; you will miss many errors this way.
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Proofreading tips
2. When marking the document, try using proofreader marks. If you are unsure of the
proofreader mark for a particular correction, write out the change you want to make. Be
clear and specific about your corrections, do not simply circle the errors.
3. When possible, do not proofread your own work. You know what you mean to say, so
you are more likely to skim over errors. If you are able, get more than one person to
proofread your work. Everyone has different strengths and they will find different errors.
4. Break down your tasks. When you are doing a content proofing, the number of things
you need to look out for may overwhelm you. It is best to break it down into quicker,
more specific proofreads rather than one big proofread. For example, do one proofing for
spelling and punctuation, next proof the document for grammatical errors, then do a
third content proofing for factuality and consistency.
5. When you are doing a comparison proofread, use a straight edge (such as a ruler or
piece of paper) as a guide. If you carefully move the straight edge from line to line on
the original document, you are less likely to miss omitted text in the new document.
6. During a proofing for spelling, try reading the document backwards. When each
individual word is looked at, outside the context of a sentence, you are less likely to miss
spelling errors.
7. After corrections have been made, don't forget to proof the revised document. First
check to see that all the corrections were made, then read over the document one more
time to make sure you didn't miss something the first time around!
Title: Proofreading tips

Description: Proofreading tips to help professional writers, students, or anyone that
writes as part of their work day. Error free writing and typing is possible!
here.
http://ny.essortment.com/proofreadingtip_rvww.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:33:45 PM]

Writing an introductory paragraph
When you set out to write the introductory paragraph of an article, there are a few
factors to keep in mind. The more organized you can be ahead of time, the easier your
article will flow in the direction you want it to.
First of all, think of the entire article you are planning to write. Ask yourself what the
goal is of your writing. Do you seek to strictly inform or is your approach going to be
more complex? If you think that the reader may have a difficult time understanding what
point you are trying to make, the introductory paragraph can give some guidance to
anyone who may struggle with your writing.
What the introductory paragraph should do beyond providing a starting point to your
article, is summarize the point of writing anything at all. It should also be something you
can draw from when you want to write your conclusion for they often say the same
things, just in a different way.
So think of it this way: Not only is the introductory paragraph a starting point on your
road map, it is also a smaller version of the map showing the course in which you will
go. For example, if you want to write an article about how to follow a particular career
path, you would not likely start out by discussing how to get that job if education is
necessary first. An introduction could make note that the particular career you want to
follow provides excellent job opportunities but important education is needed first. That
way you are summing up two points together but being sure to point out that one follows
another. Then when you start to write the process it takes to follow that career path,
your reader would already understand the direction the article is going to follow.
If your article will happen to have a particularly philosophical point of view, then you can
pose questions in your introduction leading the way to the remainder of the article.
Suppose you want to explain how people should strive to get along in their relationships
by focusing on their own internal issues first. You could give your reader something to
ponder while they read the rest of your writing. Maybe they could be thinking about all
the ways they react to any given situation and how that might be related to something in
their past. It could give more meaning to your whole piece rather than stating matter-of-
factly that they need to fix their own problems first before they can get along with other
people.
Quotations can also be a fine way to start out an article. Either one from a philosopher or
famous person or a quotation gained from a person interviewed for the article. No matter
which you choose it can be a powerful way to approach your writing.
So look ahead to your goal, the direction you want your article to take and how impacted
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you hope your readers will be and follow that path with courage and determination to be
the best writer possible.
Title: Writing an introductory paragraph

Description: Learn some basics of writing an introductory paragraph to grab your
reader's attention.
here.
http://msms.essortment.com/writingintroduc_rhof.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:33:53 PM]

How to write a memoir
If you have ever thought of writing your own memoirs, you might have been stopped by
feeling like no one would ever want to read about you! This is absolutely not true. If you
write your memoirs well, they will, at the very least, be a treasured family heirloom.
There are fascinating stories in even the most ordinary lives and all we have to do is find
them and bring them to the page. Using colorful language and developing lush stories is
all we need to do to keep our memoirs from becoming a boring history lesson. Keep in
mind that memoirs can be like home movies, if you don’t make it interesting to readers
that don’t know you, they most likely won’t be much more interesting to those who do.
Memoirs should start from the beginning, but don’t bore your audience with minute
details about your birth. Make facts short and elaborate wherever you have an
interesting or unusual story. Maybe there was a horrible storm the day your were born,
or your mother gave birth to you in the family home, focus on the most interesting facts
to present to your reader. Unless the doctor that delivered you had a witty comment or
other notable features or personality, don’t bore your readers with his name, where he
went to medical school and how many children he had. Likewise, don’t go through every
single age chronologically whether anything happened worth noticing that year or not.
Include mentions of any vacations you took, people you met along the way and any
particular difficulties you may have had. Did you have troubles in math? Tell about it.
Family members especially will love to hear about things like this that can cause them to
say, oh, maybe it runs in the family!
Unless you’re sure they won’t mind, don’t include the full names of anyone that wouldn’t
appreciate being made public in your book. Although it is a factual book and your
memoirs, you shouldn’t make public the private lives of others whom you are no longer
associated with. Memories can be fuzzy things and what if you didn’t get the story quite
right, you may be sued for libel!
If there are any goals you worked towards during your lifetime, career dreams, things
you wanted to accomplish, include these in your memoirs and include what steps you
took to achieve your dreams. If you accomplished what you set out to do, tell about how
it made you feel to finally realize what you’d been working towards and give any advice
that helped you get there.
Try to get the dates right. If you include fairly accurate timelines, it will be easier for
people to check out what else was going on at the same time and it will give your
readers a frame of reference to work from. It also gives credibility to your memoirs when
you can associate them with a certain time period. Even if your memoirs never get
published, they will serve as a valuable family history which will be treasured for
generations to come. Even if you are not a writer, you should try to assemble some sort
of memoirs to leave a record of your life and accomplishments, no matter how large or
http://vt.essortment.com/howtowritemem_rmtv.htm (1 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:34:03 PM]

small.
Title: How to write a memoir

Description: Writing memoirs is something everyone should do, whether they are a
writer or not. Memoirs can be a valuable family heirloom.
here.
http://vt.essortment.com/howtowritemem_rmtv.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:34:03 PM]

How to write a family newsletter
THR FIRST EDITION OF YOUR FAMILY NEWSLETTER ROLLS OFF THE PRESSES! Though
it’s more likely that this landmark issue will roll from a computer printer, the headline
excitement should be the same. A newsletter is a wonderful project to bring your family
together. Hopefully, it will also be an educational experience so couched in fun that
children won’t notice all the writing and design skills they’re practicing. In fact, the only
absolute rule to ensure the success of this project is that it must be fun! Let this be an
instance where children take the lead. They might choose to form an editorial board or
they could prefer taking turns as managing editor. Give them as much editorial and
artistic control as their ages can handle. After setting limits regarding offensive material,
foster an atmosphere governed by freedom of the press and team spirit. A newsletter
may become a document of family history that is as rich and telling as a photograph
album.
That said, let the creativity begin! All aspects of your children’s lives contain material to
be explored: best dinner of the week, wish lists, recently seen movies, a sports award,
silly jokes, or a school subject they’ve recently discovered. (If articles seem closer to a
Mad magazine style than to your local newspaper’s, just enjoy the humor!) Individual
writers should contribute according to interest and writing ability. A third grader might
interview grandparents about important life stories. Preschoolers often find great delight
in seeing a silly tale they’ve dictated to an older sibling in print, especially with an
accompanying drawing. An editorial page is a great place for teenagers to discuss their
opposition to a family policy. Even your one-year-old can contribute a scribble.
Children can make a game of examining all sorts of publications, from glossy magazines
to PTA mailers, for ideas about material, format and design. Computers allow for
multiple options in your newsletter’s look, and experimenting with different styles will
enhance your children’s computer literacy. Though not all software programs offer the
same variety in font selection (“font” means the overall style of letters, such as Helvetica
or Times New Roman), they all provide some diversity. Through experiment you can
choose which styles you like, with the option of changing fonts for different sections of
the newsletter. For instance, an editorial could be well served by a serious-looking font,
latest family news in a more whimsical choice. All software programs will provide both
italic and bold, and of course you can change point size (the size of the letters) for
headlines and subheads.
Computer programs also let you format text to add boxes around sections you want to
set off, create more than one column, and underscore subheads. In terms of including
drawings, cartoons and photographs, if you have a color printer and scanner, you’re all
set for business, but any copy shop can provide the same results for a moderate fee. If
you would like a spiffier look, desktop publishing programs are available, ranging in price
from $20 to more than $100. Most likely, you won’t care to splurge on an expensive
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package unless you’re certain your family newsletter is a serious project. If you don’t
have a computer at home, many public libraries service communities with systems
access, or see if your child’s teacher--so impressed with this project she might develop it
into a class activity--will make a school computer available.
Finally, though, this project could exist in a computer-free environment—a few

handwritten pages filled with your children’s ideas. If your newsletter becomes a creative
experience in which your kids learn to work as a group, gaining a sense of closeness, it’s
a special event. Whether it winds up as a brainstorm thrown together when the mood
hits or turns into a formal publication distributed to friends and relatives, the ideal family
newsletter is the one that your family creates.
Title: How to write a family newsletter

Description: How to keep in touch through the unique format of a newsletter!
here.
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The importance of keeping a personal journal
The importance of keeping a personal

journal
KEEPING A JOURNAL
How is it that you would define your life these days? Is it exciting, or painful or boring or
may be just meaningless. No matter how is it that you see your life, but the fact remains
that good or bad, 'this' is the life you have and there is no escaping it. Accept this and it
would easier for you to come to terms with the undesirable things in your life.
But acceptance doesn't fall upon us just like that, we have to cultivate it. It is only when
we have acquired the maturity to know that this is our life and it can not be otherwise,
that we get the strength to make whatever changes we can think of in order to make our
lives better.
Just cursing your life wouldn't make the negative disappear. It would still be there and
chances are that your neglecting your life would make it even worse than it already is. It
is like ignoring some pain in your body, if you do not acknowledge the pain, you would
not try to do something about it and nine times out of ten, the pain wont just disappear,
it would only reach an excruciating degree. And then it may already be too late to do
anything abt it.
Life is a very beautiful gift and you must remember that good and bad events both make
up our life. So it is not the good or the bad circumstances that make us a winner or a
loser but it is the way we deal with them that determines who is a success amongst us
and who a total failure.
Normally days would pass by us so fast that before we know, our 24 hours have come to
an end and a new day is staring us in the face. You may not know how to slow things
down, but it is possible to take some time out to record the events of each day and to
analyze them. An honest analysis of each day would help us see what went wrong and
why and what needs more attention. It also teaches us to be grateful for everything that
went well and for simple beautiful things in our life, which we may not notice otherwise.
So how is it that you can record each day, obviously you can not carry a camcorder all
day long. But there is simple and more economical alternative. Keep a journal. Have a
personal diary in which you must write down something about your day. The best time to
do that is naturally before hitting the bed. There are a few things to remember in order
to get the most out of having a personal journal.
Write everything down:
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Don't hold yourself back when writing. It is good to put down just about everything that
happened or you gave a thought to. Don't wait for an important event to take place,
remember every day is important because it will never come back. Never ever.. so it
needs to be paid attention to.
There is no contest going on. No one cares what your skillful you are. If something needs
really significant took place, and you feel it needs more mention that others, do write
each and every detail of it. What happened, how you felt, what you think you should
have done and didn't do. Just keep writing.
Remember no one cares about your writing skills. Because you wont be showing your
personal stuff to anyone in the first place. And please don't worry about someone else
reading it. Because all these little worries would keep you from writing candidly and
honestly and chances are you would miss out on important details.
Do not forget to put down some pleasant thoughts:
It is very important that even if you have had an awful day, you must, without fail,
mention something pleasant that happened that day. I know it is very difficult to even
think positive when all your life seems to be in a mess, but it would do you good to let
your mind move from the negative track even if it is just for a few minutes.
Be grateful for simple small things in your life. The kind passenger who let you have his
seat, or the adorable child who chatted your ears off in the bus. Do remember to
mention them in your journal. It will not only relax you for sometime but in the long run,
you would find yourself appreciating these small gestures that brought a smile on your
face.
Think one good thing about that rude person:
When you are writing down about that rude person who you think has ruined your day,
whether it is your boss or your boyfriend, it is okay to call him anything you want. Do
mention how you felt, what you should have said and what is it that you want to do
about it. Yes, it is ok to vent your feelings about him.
But in the end, force your self to mention just one good thing about this person even if it
is seems negligible. It is only natural that you wouldn't want to think anything nice about
him, but make yourself do it. It would help you get control over your negative emotions
and put things in the right perspective. You are likely to over react when you are hurt
and upset, so try to gain some control over your emotions before you decide to do
something about him or his behavior.
Make a list of next-day goals:
We all have plans for our lives, before going to bed each day, make a list of all those
things that you would want to achieve the very next day. These very short-term goals

would help you achieve more than you ever can without a list.
For example, you have to make a call which you have been postponing for some times
now, make sure you put it down on your list of do-to things. How long will it take, a few
minutes? So don't delay it any more and just do it. So whatever it is you want to do, not
matter how small, out it down and do as many as you can the next day. It will put your
mind at ease and give you a sense of achievement.
In the end, write down a prayer:
It is another very important part of a personal journal if you really want to achieve
something out of it. Put down a heart felt prayer. We all want things from God, just write
them down. This will help you know just what is it that's really important to you and
whether you believe it or not some of your prayers even get answered. Remember " A
single grateful thought raised to heavens is the most perfect prayer".
So friends, wish you all the best and Happy Writing!
Written by Kiran Piracha
Title: The importance of keeping a personal journal

Description: It is important in a persons life to be keeping a personal journal. Journals
are to be filled with meaningful things if real benefits are to be reaped.
here.

Journal writing tips
One of the elements common to most famous writers is that nearly all keep a regular
journal in which they write down their daily accounts. Keeping a record of your life gives
you an insight into your subconscious mind that would not have been possible otherwise.
Also the habit of writing something daily unleashes your creativity and writing skills as
you try to transcribe the events of the day into words. By giving you an insight into your
consciousness, it helps raising your emotional quotient (EQ) and in controlling stress.
Most people at some time or the other do try to keep a daily journal but miss out due to
some simple mistakes. Following a few basic guidelines will enable you to start a journal
and more importantly to enjoy keeping it regularly.
The first thing to decide is what to put down in your journal or diary. This is where most
people trip up by not knowing exactly what to write in it. They complain of not having
anything to write as nothing ‘important’ happened during the day. The mistake they
make is in assuming a journal is just a record of the day to day events in their lives.
Instead, the journal should deal not with the events that happened to you but what you
yourself achieved during the day, not with your daily routine but with your experiences
during the day.
What you should put in your journal is the thoughts and feelings that went through your
consciousness during the day. It is equally important to know what not to write down.
While writing down your account, try to recall what experiences you went through: what
made you laugh, what made you cry, what touched you deeply. Remember, you are
writing down your account so that you will be able to access this phase of your life at a
later date. You will then hardly be interested in recalling at what time you had woken up
on this date or what you had had for breakfast. The coffee might have been particularly
good, but it is hardly something that is going to interest you much later. On the other
hand, if during breakfast, your partner had given you a particular look that had sent your
pulses racing, you will enjoy rediscovering that feeling from the past again. Similarly, if
you have just given an exhilarating presentation in the office, you don’t have to put
down the details of the presentation itself, instead you should describe the reactions to
it: who was encouraging, who was catty, who gave a particularly warm compliment. You
must also write down your own reactions, how thrilled or proud you were and so on.
Also while writing down your account, give free rein to your creativity. Use all your
senses and writing skills to analyze not just your own emotions but also those of others.
You will discover as you do this that you are far more aware in your subconscious mind
of other people’s feelings, and this in turn will sharpen your own EQ or emotional
quotient.
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In trying to recall what to put down, you will find that the situations that stick the most
in your mind are the ones that made you laugh. In fact, this is the best way to start, at
the end of the day simply put down all the events that made you laugh, all the
wisecracks of your friends and others and their conceits. Recalling these at the end of
the day is the surest way of controlling stress. Also put down how much you laughed,
whether you laughed till you had a bellyache or whether it made you laugh much later
also. You will find yourself laughing all over again as you describe the event, and this will
heighten your emotional stability, your emotional quotient (EQ).
Another thing to remember is that you don’t have to write every single day, avoid
making your journal writing into a chore. Instead keep a small pocketbook by your
bedside and at the end of the day, just scrawl down a few notes of the day’s events that
will bring them back to you when you sit down to write. For the same reason use a good
notebook instead of a datefilled formal diary. You may also use a laptop or other
computer if you are comfortable with one. Then every three or four days or whenever
convenient, you can write down your account from your notes.
The aim of writing a journal is to enable you to return to it someday and relive the highs
and lows of your life. But even more than that, writing the journal itself acts as an outlet
for your subconscious mind.
Nearly all successful writers keep a journal regularly. By regular journal writing, you can
give free rein to your creativity and hone your writing skills. It acts as a catharsis for
your pent up feelings and will help raise your emotional quotient (EQ). It remains as a
treasurehouse of memories for you, and gives a permanency to the events in your life.
Your journal will act as a powerful tool for you to analyze your life, and add new meaning
to it.
Title: Journal writing tips

Description: Journal writing tips about this enjoyable and self reflective activity, which
enhances your creativity and sharpens your EQ (emotional quotient). Some tips on how
to start one.
here.


The value of writing a daily journal
For as long as people have lived, they have written things down. In caves, on scrolls, in
books such as the Bible. Man’s longing to write is as old as his thoughts, and it has been
used as a form of communication for centuries. Possibly one of the most potent forms of
communication is a person communicating to his or herself, and to the world, in the form
of a Diary or Journal. Diaries are not just pretty teenage books with locks on them hid
under pillows. They are helpful for anyone to understand themselves and the world
better. Here are a few benefits of journal writing.
Journal writing, or journaling, is a way to document events in life, which can be looked
back upon to find patterns of mood, health and environment. In our busy life, one day
seems to blend into the next and many a thought evaporates and is no longer clearly
remembered unless written down. If one tries to recall where one was at or what
happened at a particular moment, a short journal entry will help bring it back to life. A
picture is worth a thousand words, but a few words added to the picture complete the
story.
Journaling can also be a cathartic tool. The letter that is never sent (don’t leave it out,
someone might mail it), the things better left unsaid, the secret crush; these are all
things that can be set down on paper to work through. Many therapists and self help
groups recommend journaling as a recovery tool.
Carry the journal everywhere. Writing ideas as they occur prevent missed opportunities
later when the brilliant idea is just out of your mental grasp. Keep your writing with you
everywhere, for a couple of reasons. First, you want the convenience of being able to jot
down a thought, anytime anywhere. Second, you don’t want to be at work and have
your unemployed roommate reading your journal while watching the daytime soaps.
Temptation is hard to resist, even nice people snoop, so be aware. If you journal on a
computer, have a password that only you know. I would not recommend journaling
anything private on your work computer, as anything on an employer’s computer is
considered their property and an idea can be stolen or your privacy can be invaded
anytime. No one wants the company Techno geek to hack into their journal because he
can and the voyeur in the next cubicle could be spying as you type your password.
However, a discreet pocket or purse size notebook can take a person back to the days of
playing “spy” and no one has to know what you are scribbling during that boring board
meeting. If you know shorthand or can make up a code language, all the better. Just
keep writing.
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Title: The value of writing a daily journal

Description: How writing a daily journal (or journaling) can be used for self direction
and recovery. How to keep a journal and keep it away from prying eyes.
here.
http://riri.essortment.com/writingadaily_rssx.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:34:45 PM]

How to write a thank you card
A thank you card is necessary after you have been a guest at someone's house for
dinner, stayed at their house as an overnight guest or longer, received a gift such as
flowers from them, or received any sort of significant kindness and generosity from
them. By significant this means that a thank you card is not necessary if a door is held
open for you or some other small act of kindness is performed. A verbal thank you would
be enough in this case.
Writing a thank you card is a burden for most people and some will try even desperately
to get out of it or just ignore it altogether, but it should not be this way.People deserve
to be thanked for their acts of kindness and thoughtfulness. You expect to be thanked
too, don't you?
How do you go about writing a thank you card? You simply start by taking afew minutes
of your time andsitting down at the table. You can purchase a pre-written card which will
make it easier for you. Or you can start with a blank card or a sheet of paper and
compose your own original card, note, or letter to the person that you owe thanks to.
Think about the necessities of the card or note, and what you completely want to say to
them. Of course you will start with the phrase Dear (the name of the person) and then
go from there. Be sure to write down in your thank you card the type of gift or service
that they gave you or performed for you. Thst is, if Aunt Mildred gave you a toaster for
your wedding, then specifically thank her for the toaster she gave you as a wedding
present. Donot just thank a person for the present as that is too general and it makes it
sound like you do not really remember what gift they gave youm or, what they did for
you.
Tell the giver how you wil use their gift.If it was money tell them for example that you
are going to put it towards the purchase of a new coat for the winter. This makes the
giver feel good by letting them know what you are goiong to do with their gift. Or, if the
gift was a waffle iron, for example, tell the gvier that you and your family will enjoy hot,
fresh waffles and will think of him/her every time you use it. This isn't a lie, you know,
as most people are reminded of the giver every time they use or look at soemthing that
someone else bought or gave them.
Finally, end your card or note with anouther thank you and then you can properly sign
off of your card or note. Remember to personalize the card to the person who will
recieve it. Don 't make it sound like its a card that anyone could receive. Let them know
how much you appreciate their generosity. And, above all, tkae the short amount of time
it takes to sit down and write that thank you card that you ahve been putting off. You
will be glad that you did, and the reciver will too.
http://il.essortment.com/thankyoucardh_rhqc.htm (1 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:34:58 PM]

Title: How to write a thank you card

Description: How do I write a thank you card? Read this article and learn how.
here.
http://il.essortment.com/thankyoucardh_rhqc.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:34:58 PM]

Writing a letter of complaint
Occasionally we find ourselves on the receiving end of a defective product, company

error, or poor service. This experience can be so infuriating that we feel we must
mention it to someone in charge and have the situation rectified. However, many of us
choose instead to swear off a company or product altogether simply because we lack the
skill and confidence to express our disappointment. This is a small tragedy since many
businesses are fully prepared to remedy any problems that arise. With a little know-how,
you will be able to get the results you deserve and find happiness in the consumer world.
The most important step to customer satisfaction is the need for you to act immediately.
Not only do most companies have a fourteen-day return policy but you may need to
recall details of your transaction and you will need to act while the events are fresh in
your mind. Before you sit down to write your complaint letter, ensure that you have
made photocopies of all pertinent information such as product and postage receipts,
warranties or contracts, as you will need to back up your request with tangible proof.
Before composing the letter, take a moment to think about how you want the situation
to be rectified. You must clearly outline your demands for the company to be given the
proper opportunity to please you. Do you want your money back, a replacement product
or perhaps credit applied towards your account? Once you are certain of your request
you will then be ready to compose your letter.
It is not necessary to know the name of the person that will be receiving your letter, so it
will be quiet acceptable to address your letter; "To whom it may concern". When relating
the information, stick to the facts only. No need to get insulting. Your letter only needs
to be a few sentences long, just enough to get the point across. State the "when" first,
followed by the "what" and the "how". A sample letter is shown below.
To whom it may concern,
On April 1 2000 I received a book entitled, "How To Write A Complaint Letter." by the
author XXX. I believe I was shipped this book in error as I had ordered the book "How To
Write A Love Letter" by the author YYY on March 15 2000 and to date I have not
received the book. I am returning this book and including my postage receipt. Please
credit my account the amount of the postage and send me the book I had originally
ordered entitled "How To Write A Love Letter" by YYY, product-number 011011.
Yours Truly,
Your Name Here
Account number 777 777.
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The "when" in this example is April 1 2000. The "what" is the situation of the shipping
error and the "how" is the credit on account for postage and a second request for the
desired book to be sent. The complainant will include the postage receipt and a copy of
the original order form, proving she ordered the book in the correct manner. The
complainant should also photocopy the letter for her records.
If you give a company the opportunity to right a wrong, many times they offer their
customer an additional bonus such as a gift certificate, coupon or free product. I have
written complaint letters to several companies and have always received the results I
expected as well as a few unexpected extras. If you take the time to express your dis-
satisfaction, many companies will not only meet your requests but will thank you for
giving them the opportunity to do so. While you have your pen and paper out, why not
take the time to commend a company or sales person that made an effort to please you?
It will do your heart good to know you gave someone a boost.
Written by Melanie Cossey
Title: Writing a letter of complaint

Description: Writing a letter of complaint can be effective. Have you been less then
impressed by a product or service? In this article I will discuss how to write a letter to a
company to get the results you deserve.
here.
http://wywy.essortment.com/complaintletter_rcst.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:35:06 PM]

How to write a perfect query letter
You have the power of life and death in your hands. Or should I say at your finger tips?
You can open the door to a bright new future or put a nail in your own coffin! I’m talking
of course, about your query letter. Your query letter is an editors first impression of your
writing (and we all know how important first impressions are). It is actually the first
piece of work that you will submit to them. An editor will get a glimpse of your ability as
a writer as they read your query letter. You may be saying to yourself
that I am over reacting. This isn’t the important part. The article is the place where you
must concentrate all of your efforts. This is just a query, right? Wrong! Editors see it
much differently. They take query letters very seriously and so should you. Your query is
your way of getting your foot in the door. A door that will either be flung wide open or
perhaps shut and locked! You may be cheating yourself out of great writing assignments.
Assignments that you would actually be perfect for, all because of a poor query letter.
I have received assignments solely on the content of my query. I have had editors tell
me that they enjoyed reading my query letter so much that they could hardly wait to get
to the actual article! Some have also shared with me experiences where the queries
were so boring that they said they could not even imagine having to read anything more.
While it is important to keep it professional, it is also possible to still be interesting as
well. Editors are people too (no matter how hard we find that to believe), and they love
a good letter just as much as the rest of us. You can get a feel for the type of editor that
you are dealing with by reading several issues of the publication that you would like to
write for.
By doing this you will get to know the types of articles that this editor finds appealing.
Often there is a certain niche that needs to be filled. If you notice a large amount of
comical or easy going pieces, then you may want to be slightly humorous in your query.
Show your lighter side. If the stories seem to be cut and dry. And filled with facts and
figures, your best bet is to be strictly business in this case. There is a good chance that
this editor is the no nonsense type. Finding favor with an editor will not only increase
your chance of being published, but will also help you to get the honest unbiased
feedback that you need to succeed. Even if the editor is not completely taken with the
idea that you submit, if he feels you have talent and likes your style ... he may point you
in the right direction and give you the advice that you need to help you create the type
of work that he is in need of. Possibly an avenue for future assignments as well as an
opportunity for future publication.
Your query is your chance to grab them by their tails. It is the free sample, or taste if
you
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will, that will cause them to desire more! Give them something that will cause their
mouths to water. Your query can be that aroma that reminds them that they are hungry.
This is the time when you have their undivided attention. They are reading and
examining your work intently. They are concentrating on you and you alone. Spark their
curiosity. Cause them to raise an eyebrow at you. Think of your query letter as a
personal interview. Put your best face forward. What makes you interesting? What areas
do you shine in? Why are you the perfect man (or woman) for the job? What you lack in
experience can be made up by what you possess in talent. This is your chance to
wow em! Remember, you’ve got their attention ... don’t lose it.
This also applies to publications that ask you to contact them for more information. I
once got an assignment immediately because the editor said that she found my inquiry
so fascinating that she knew the story must be even better! Put as much effort into your
queries and inquiries as you do the actual article. Sell yourself. Do what you do best to
help you get what you want. You’re a writer, so write a query that is as interesting and
exciting as that thriller you are working on. Be as passionate about getting assignments
as you are when you are lost in the pages of your most recent love story. Remember, a
successful query is the first step to being a successful writer. It’s as simple this ... if the
sample is good they’ll want more.
Title: How to write a perfect query letter

Description: If you want to get an editor's attention ... here's how! Learning how to
write a perfect query letter can open doors that you never dreamed of.
here.
http://dede.essortment.com/howtowriteque_rexr.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:35:13 PM]

Writing a letter to the editor
Writing a letter to the editor
Do you want to write a letter to the editor -- and ensure it has the best chance of being
published? Keep it short, keep it focused and keep it within the bounds of good taste.
The bigger the circulation of the publication to which you are submitting, the more
competition you face in having your letter selected. The letters editor may have
hundreds of choices in each day's mailbag, arriving by ordinary post, e-mail or fax. To
make sure your letter is compelling enough that the editor will not toss it in the reject
pile:
1. Put your full first and last name, address, phone and/or fax numbers (day and
evening) and your e-mail address at the top of the letter. Most publications will want to
call the writer to confirm authenticity: (i.e. that you are using your correct name -- not a
phony name -- and that you did in fact write the letter).
2. If you are referring to a previously published letter, a news story or column, identify it
by its headline and the date it was published (Re: Davenport grinds out a win, Aug. 17).
This enables the editor to quickly check the original item to verify any references you
have made to it (i.e. quotes, statistics, etc.).
3. Cut to the chase. You don't need a long, rambling introduction to your subject. Just
focus on one or two key points that you want to make and then get out.
4. Write short, punchy sentences, grouped in two or three paragraphs.
5. Be witty. Let your sense of humor and irony shine through. You can even be a little
wicked, as long as you don't cross the line of good taste.
6. Avoid wornout cliches and weak puns (groan).
7. If you are responding to a columnist's views (or any other opinion piece), don't launch
a personal attack on the columnist -- attack his/her views. Offer a countervailing
opinion. Try to advance the debate so that other readers might join in the discussion in
subsequent letters.
8. If you have read a news story or feature article that relates to something you've
experienced, respond by putting your own personal twist on the subject.
9. Don't send copies of your letter to a whole host of publications. Make it an original to
the publication you really want to publish it. If you don't get a confirmation call within a
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5 tips for writing business email newsletters
message will not reach the widest possible audience.
In general, the most effective e-mails are 500 words or less. But if you must go into
more depth, make sure that you do not exceed the 25K file size.
4) Provide an AOL version or links.
When you provide a link in your newsletter, most readers will be able to click on it.
However, that link won’t work for America Online mail readers. Depending on your list,
that could be anywhere from 10 to 50% of your subscribers.
To make a link work for AOL, do the following:
linkname
In the example above, the AOL user would see a link on the word “linkname” that would
take them to www.yoururl.com.
If you don’t want to clutter your newsletter with AOL links, send the @aol.com portion a
different newsletter. But don’t treat these readers like second-rate citizens, unless you
like second-rate response.
5) If possible, make your newsletter personal and exclusive.
If your technology allows it, add in personalized addresses (Dear X), and provide your
readers with exclusive benefits. For e-commerce newsletters, this could be a newsletter-
only sale, while content newsletters should get insider features.
The goal is to make your newsletter reader – who is likely to be your strongest customer
– look forward to getting your newsletter. Do this, and your program will always be
effective.
Title: 5 tips for writing business email newsletters

Description: An e-mail newsletter is a great way to get customers coming back to your
site. These 5 marketing tips will help your newsletter writing efforts.
here.
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5 tips for writing business email newsletters
http://vava.essortment.com/tipsbusinessem_pxc.htm (3 of 3) [2/5/2004 12:35:58 PM]

Writing flash fiction using bubble diagrams
Writing flash fiction using bubble

diagrams
Outline a draft story in your coffee break! Impossible? Not if you use the BUBBLE
technique which will concentrate your attention on short, easy-to-answer questions.
The technique described below is open-ended. There are no prescribed story-starters as

you provide all stimuli yourself. It is a creative technique that utilizes the mind`s ability
to weave meaningful connections between disparate elements.
Steve Moss, Editor of „The World‘s Shortest Stories“ (Running Press) says about the 55
word stories in his collection, „...for our purposes a story is a story only if it contains the
following four elements: 1) a setting, 2) a character or characters, 3) a conflict and 4)
resolution.“ Using the bubble method as described below, your story will contain all of
these vital elements.
The method is split into three parts - DROPPING THE NET, BRIDGING THE GAP,
CATCHING THE FISH. Writing flash fiction means writing fast and writing tight. WRITING
FAST - it should take you about 5 minutes to accomplish the first stage and about 10 to
15 minutes to accomplish the second stage. We shut down your internal editor to get
you from a point where you have no story to a point where you have written a rough
draft. In the third stage we WRITE TIGHT. Reawaken your editor to get the story honed
down to an entertaining short-short of less than 200 words.
Ready to start?
Get a blank sheet of paper, a magic marker and a timer that can be set for seconds and
minutes.
DROPPING THE NET
Write down these words - „SETTING“, „HERO“, „PERSPECTIVE“ - in block capitals in the
center of the sheet spaced out evenly one below the other. Now circle them. These are
your BUBBLES.
Now draw 8 lines irradiating outward from each of your BUBBLES as if you were drawing
spider legs. You should now have 3 „spiders“ one below the other in the center of the
sheet of paper. At the end of each line, you will be writing words in block capitals, which
you will also encircle. The time limit for writing down 8 words will be 60 seconds. Write
the words quickly without thinking too hard. Set your timer to 60 seconds. For SETTINGS
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write 8 settings that come to mind spontaneously: e.g., HOSPITAL, JUNGLE, MOON, etc.
They can be ordinary or whacky or a mixture of both. Now reset your timer and move to
EMOTION. Write down 8 emotions - e.g., LOVE, DISAPPOINTMENT, GREED, JOY, etc.
Next, move on to PERSPECTIVE. Set your timer again to 60 seconds and write down 8
different ANIMALS. For example, CAMEL, MOUSE, LADYBUG. (These ANIMALS will
encapsulate the predominant PERSPECTIVE of your HERO, i.e. how he or she views the
world. ANIMALS are rich in associations so by playing with the idea of an ANIMAL as a
framework for personality you mine a rich field of connotation. I will show exactly how
this works later. For now just jot down the ANIMALS)
Pick one idea from each bubble and highlight it with the magic marker. For example you
might choose JUNGLE from your SETTINGs BUBBLE, JOY from your EMOTIONS BUBBLE,
and MOUSE from your PERSPECTIVE BUBBLE.
Now make new BUBBLES on a clean sheet of paper and write the words you selected
inside This time write them horizontally across the BOTTOM of the paper.
In our example the bottom of the sheet would look like this:
JUNGLE JOY MOUSE
Encirle each of the words to make them into BUBBLES.
This forms the BOTTOM LINE or FINAL SCENE of your story.
Why that? In writing flash fiction you need to write fast.. To write fast, you must know
where you are going. You have just given yourself a DESTINATION. We still have no idea
of what the beginning of the story is but we know that at the end of your story your
HERO (man or woman, young or old - doesn`t matter) will have the perspective of
MOUSE (maybe he will be feeling shy or timid?). He will be in a JUNGLE (either physically
or metaphorically -more about that later) and he/she will be feeling the EMOTION JOY.
Next step: Draw a line upwards from your centre BUBBLE - (EMOTION). At the end of
the line, near the top of the page, write LACK OF and your original EMOTION. In our
example we would write in LACK OF JOY. On the right hand side draw another BUBBLE
and write the word HERO? inside. To the left of the EMOTION BUBBLE write the word
SETTING? and make that into a BUBBLE.
Example:
SETTING ? LACK OF (JOY) HERO ?
This is the TOP LINE of your story. Initially, your HERO, for whatever reason, is suffering
from A LACK OF (in this case) JOY. We don‘t yet know the SETTING he or she is in and
we also do not know if our HERO is a man, woman, child (or something in between!).

Between the TOP LINE and the BOTTOM LINE, in the center of the page, write
CONFLICT??? and encircle it. CONFLICT is important in any story, micro-fiction included.
By encountering a CONFLICT, the HERO undergoes a CHANGE. This CHANGE leads to the
RESOLUTION of the story as seen in the BOTTOM LINE.
The complete page should now look something like this (with more space in between).
SETTING ? LACK OF (EMOTION) HERO ?
CONFLICT???
JUNGLE JOY MOUSE
This is the framework of your story. All you need to do is hang on some flesh.
Now set your imagination to work. We will take the words in the BUBBLES as
springboards. Don`t stick to them slavishly - let your imagination weave its own pictures
and associations. The answers I have given below are merely suggestions. Everyone who
does this exercise, even with the same stimuli, comes up with completely differnt
responses.
Look at the BUBBLES on the TOP LINE
Again draw spider legs out from each of the BUBBLES and jot down spontaneous
responses.
We will ask WHO, HOW, WHERE, WHY questions.
Again WRITE down the answers to these questions FAST.
Look at the BUBBLE on the TOP LINE where it says HERO.
WHO is the HERO?
The HERO IS SOMEONE WITH THE PERSPECTIVE OF A MOUSE i.e. someone quiet, shy
and easily intimidated. Jot down your ideas at the end of the lines.
HOW is he feeling initially?
He is suffering from a LACK OF JOY, maybe he feels frustrated as he is stuck in a boring

job. Jot down your ideas at the end of the lines.
WHERE is the HERO at the end of the story?

The HERO is in some sort of JUNGLE. Maybe AN AMAZONIAN RAINFOREST or a

COMPLICATED JUNGLE OF A RELATIONSHIP. Jot down your spontaneous ideas.
HOW is he feeling?
Joyful. Perhaps he has discovered a rare Amazonian medicinal plant. Or maybe he is

caught in the throes of indescribalble bliss even though he doesn`t know for sure what
his next step will be (emotional jungle?) Write down your own ideas.
BRIDGING THE GAP
WHY is he there?
Try to forge a story line that will take your HERO all the way from the TOP LINE down
through a CONFLICT to the BOTTOM LINE. Jot down your ideas as to the HERO´s
persona (job, marital status etc), the initial SETTING (his office, the street, his home etc)
through to the impetus for change, CONFLICT??? (loses job, falls in love, reads an
interesting ad)
These questions set up a CREATIVE TENSION between your skeleton view of the INITIAL
SITUATION and the FINAL SCENE. Your mind searches for the UNKNOWN CONFLICT that
has taken the HERO form the EMOTION AT THE OUTSET to the FINAL DESTINATION.
At some point the story will take over and you will want to start writing. Set the timer to
10 minutes (or 15 if your coffee break is longer) and scribble down the bones of a story.
Don`t worry about expressing yourself particularly elegantly. The task here is to
RELEASE THE TENSION you have set up between the beginning EMOTION and the FINAL
SCENE.
CATCHING THE FISH
In the first two stages we set ouselves TIME LIMITS to WRITE FAST. In the final stage
we set a WORD LIMIT to WRITE TIGHT.
The first draft of the story is there on the desk in front of you. How long is it. Maybe 400 -
500 words. Slash it by half. That`s right. Reduce your word count by throwing out all the
unnecessary words, phrases and ideas. It sounds brutal and it is. But it is also effective.
By writing tight, you are able to CATCH ONLY THE HIGH QUALITY FISH. As you reduce
your word count, you will find that you automatically REWRITE. Better words and
expressions pop to mind. Use them. But set yourself a WORD LIMIT- I recommend either
60, 150 or 200 words. This is the single most effective way I know to WRITE TIGHT.
If you complete all three stages, you should have a finished manuscript of 200 words or
less. It will encapsulate all the elements of a traditional story line, You will have a HERO
in a SETTING in which he comes across a CONFLICT. By resolving the CONFLICT he will
have undergone a CHANGE.

Now all you need to do is submit it.
Written by Carole Eilertson
Title: Writing flash fiction using bubble diagrams

Description: Flash fiction is a new genre. Writing ultra short stories is easy if you use
the bubble diagram method
here.

How to write a romance novel
So you‘ve been reading romance novels for as long as you can remember and now you
think you’re ready to write one. Congratulations you’ve taken the first step. Everyone
has at least one book in them. Now it’s time to put your thoughts onto paper.
The best way for beginners to start is to jot down your ideas. Write where you are
starting the story and where you are going to end it. This will be your plot. You may find
you have a couple of subplots along the way but don’t fret, must good books do. Next
you‘ll want to jot down ideas for different events that will occur in your story. When you
start to write your book, if you follow these simple directions, your story will flow and
you will hit each major event you have decided on.
Now you want to name your characters. This is a big deal. These are the life of the story.
You may have certain names picked out already however, don’t be surprised that if you
the way, one of your characters changes their own name. All of a sudden you know the
character is not who you thought she was but she “tells” you the name she wants to be
known by. This happens to a number of great writers. The characters “live and breathe”
inside their minds.
Once you start with characters, you should always keep notes about each person you
write about. You’ll want to have a list of their names, nicknames, ages, hair color and
style, eye color, height and weight, special talents and any other information that you
think is important to your story.
Some writers will tell you to write X amount of pages per day or week. This is a good
rule of thumb. If you are going to want to have your book published, you need to make
writing your book a real job. Set goals for yourself and follow the rules and deadlines
you have set.
After you've written your book, it is always helpful to have someone read it to check the
flow and content of the story. Then you should check for any inconsistencies. Take a
week or two away from your book and then go back and reread it. Keep notebook handy
for thoughts or changes you want to make.
When you’ve finished, research the romance book publishers market. The Internet is a
great tool for this. Search out each house’s guidelines and decide where you’re story fits.
Most if not all the publishing houses want a standard formatted manuscript sent to them.
Upon request, they will give you their writing guidelines. Follow them to the letter for
submission or your manuscript will never even be looked at.
After you’ve written your book, reread it, made your changes and researched the
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publishing houses, you’ll need to write either a query letter or a book synopsis. Which
ever you choose to do, they should both include highlights of your book without getting
bogged down with too much detail. Remember, almost all romance books have the her
and heroine falling in love, fighting conflict, either inside or out and in the end, the
obstacles are overcome and they live happily ever after. Make sure your synopsis
mentions that these things have happened.
Next you’ll need to write a cover letter addressed tot he specific editor for the line you
are targeting. In this letter, tell a little about yourself and any background you may have
in writing. NEVER put anything negative about your lack of experience or anything
negative about your book in this letter. That will kill the book before it even gets read.
When you’re ready to send out your manuscript be sure to include a self-addressed
stamped envelope in your packet. Send it out. Sit back and relax or start your next
book. Remember, publishers get hundreds of manuscripts and it takes awhile to get to
all of them, but they do.
Good luck and happy writing.
Written by Vanessa Mullins
Title: How to write a romance novel

Description: Learn how to write a romance novel with this easy guide.
here.
http://vava.essortment.com/howtowritea_rdcd.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:36:23 PM]

How to write longer fiction
Many writers experience a block when trying to move from shorter forms of fiction
writing to longer forms like the novella or novel. This block is completely natural. Short
stories and poetry are easily contained within formats that the writer can control. Longer
fiction often looms so large that the writer fears becoming lost in his own sentences. To
make a healthy progression from short fiction to long fiction, try to remember that long
fiction can always be contained within several chunks. In fact, the following steps will
address the ways that long fiction can be formed without ever leaving the safety of
small, controlled fictional formats:
Step One: Outlines
Outlines are a fiction writer's best friend. Don't let your story control you. Carefully lay
out a ground plan addressing each chapter. Break chapter into halves, thirds or quarters
and outline those as well. The smaller the sections you are writing, the easier it will be to
see how they fit into the larger picture.
Step Two: Consider Multiple Subjects.
If you are having problems conceptualizing a long fiction story in its entirety, then
consider making it two or three stories instead of simply one. It's a common thing to
have a book begin with a chapter on one thing, then continue with a second chapter
contiaining an entirely new story. This is a wonderful exercise for the imagination, if
leaped into, because your creativity will exert itself making stories meet.
Step Three: Try Writing Backwards
Take a look at the outline you've put together. Chances are, most of the action and
conclusion appears in the end of the text. Many writers find that if they write the ending
of a piece first, then proceed to the beginning, there are no loose ends to tie up after
writing. Creating backwards is the easiet way to coherent whole. It also eliminates the
gaping hole that many writers sense at the end of a manuscript. Creating an end to
proceed toward creates a comfortable journey.
Step Four: Combine Your Short Fiction Talents
The shape and content of novels has changed greatly. It is often possible to find poems,
short stories and factual information inside a novel's storyline. If you are at an utter loss
for how to proceed to longer work, toss a bunch of shorter works into the pot. For
instance, take a good short story that you've written, then insert a poem. Take the short
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story and the poem, and insert it into a chapter. Take the chapter and make more like it,
then combine. You may be surprised at the freshness and creativity that this produces.
Step Five: Give Yourself Time
It is a common thing for a writer to create a rough short story, put it down for a few
months, and then come back to it with a clear idea of how to edit and finish it. The same
thing applies to longer fiction. Give yourself time to write and re-read what you are
putting down on paper. This practice is especially suited to the novel and novella,
because much work must sit untouched for periods while other pieces of the work are
being created. Even when your work is complete, set it down for a month or two, and
then approach it with a clean slate. This procedure gives fiction work a burnished aspect
that will appeal to editors.
Written by genevieve thiers
Title: How to write longer fiction

Description: Learn how to write fiction and find ways to extend your shorter fiction into
long works.
here.
http://sd.essortment.com/howtowritef_rdwm.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:36:30 PM]

Tips for novel ideas
There are so many ways to come up with ideas for writing a plot or creating fiction.
Sometimes it's as easy as looking around oneself to find that great idea. Here are some
tips for novel ideas...
The six ?’s of story telling
Questions always lead to something. Whether it is the right answer, or a new idea or
thought, questions can become a pathway to new story ideas. These are the basic six
questions you want to ask yourself when coming up with a new story line. But don’t stop
here. The key is to ask yourself detailed questions about your story line and leave no
stone unturned. The five ‘W’s’ and the ‘how’ questions have always been a good
guidance tool for this. Never forget these questions when writing:
How?
Who?
Why?
What?
When?
Where?
Stretch your mind by reading
In a time where the television has taken control of most of our homes, we need to break
out and re-discover words. Sure we can get ideas from watching television but it doesn’t
work our minds like reading does. Reading both fiction (novels) and non-fiction
(newspapers, magazines, etc.) will help keep you updated on what’s happening in the
world and it will increase your memory bank.
Depending on what genre you are interested in, be sure to read other writers from that
genre. If you like romance, read romance. If you like westerns, then read westerns. Non-
fiction, read biographies or self-help books, or whatever else you like. Get to know that
genre and what the publishing industry is offering readers.
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You can even dig deeper when reading a fiction novel. Watch for a theme. All fiction
books have themes such as ‘love triumphs all’ or ‘good guys finish first’, etc.
Be a watcher – of people and places
This world is a busy place. The goings-on around us can supply us with endless plots and
scenes…if we are paying attention.
Observation is a key tool to discovering how the world works. As an observer, try a few
different ways to discover new ideas for your writing.
Imagine the scene as if you were experiencing it or seeing it for the first time
Imagine the scene as you are now
Imagine the scene as if you knew you were going to die soon
Imagine the scene as if you were seeing it for the last time because it won’t happen
again in your lifetime
By doing this you will give yourself a broader writing point-of-view. You will open up the
doors to great storytelling and your characters will become much more realistic and
reliable to your readers. You will also find that your readers will connect better with
them.
People are constantly fascinating me. The way they act, speak, watch, look, dress, walk,
etc. I could sit in one spot and watch people pass by for hours. There are so many places
to ‘people watch’ such as: the airport, shopping malls, buses or any other transport
system, when you’re stuck in traffic, in a dentist or doctor’s office, etc. Don’t just watch,
but discover how the people react to what’s happening to them and around them.
Ask yourself questions about why they do what they do? Why do they look happy or sad?
Are they on vacation? Where are they from? Why are they here? There are so many
questions, and it’s these questions that can lead you to new story ideas. Let them flow
and write down your answers.
People watching can stretch the borders of our imagination. Wherever you go, always
bring paper and a pen with you. You never know what will happen. You might just see
something that will spark your imagination and set you on a new journey of storytelling.
Sounds
Sounds are important to describe in any story. They give more shape and substance to
your scenes. Your readers become more entranced when they are given more
information.

Reading should be like living for your reader. It should be a world that contains all the
senses. Touch, taste, smell, sound – these are all key to making your story come alive
for your reader. Listen to the sounds around you, wherever you are. Take a moment to
close your eyes and listen to what is happening instead of just watching.
Write down the sounds you hear around you and give a detailed account of each of
them. Good listening skills can and will increase your ability to write great stories. By
listening, you become more aware and prepared to provide details of the sounds you
need to make your story credible.
Dream and Fantasies
Dreams can often provide you with incredible stories because there seems to be such a
freedom of the mind when we dream. It’s been said, ‘dreams are a window into our very
soul’. If this is true, then writing from our dreams could be a great way to write from our
hearts, and in that, find out what we’re passionate about. I always keep a notebook and
pen beside my bed. If I dream something that I think I can use in a story, I always jot it
down for future reference.
Fantasies provide us with another great way to glean new story ideas. We all fantasize at
some point in our lives. It can happen in school, in a meeting, on an elevator, etc. This is
another great way to open up and stretch your imagination for new stories. Take time to
sit and allow your mind to take you wherever it wants to go. It’s amazing what ideas for
story lines and scenes come to light during this time.
Journaling
Journaling is a great tool for writers. It’s a place where we can write down all our
secrets, thoughts, ideas, scenes that suddenly come to mind, sounds or smell or sights
that we don’t want to forget and anything else that pops in our heads. Journals, in a
way, can become a friend to us, or a confidant that we share with. For some, it is our
chance to open up ourselves and become extremely vulnerable. This is a tool that writers
can use to stretch and improve their writing skills.
I hope all these tools send you on your way to great story telling!
Written by Krista Barrett
Title: Tips for novel ideas

Description: Novel ideas for writing a plot or creating fiction is easier htan you believe.
Sometimes it's as easy as looking around oneself to find that great idea. Here are some
tips for novel ideas...

here.

How to write a short story the creative way
How to write a short story the creative

way
Writing a short story can be creative and fun if you don't get bogged down in too much
technique and protocol. Many, many people are drawn to writers workshops and creative
writing classes in search of learning to write.
Unfortunately, workshops and classes are not always the best avenue to learn how to
write. When it comes to writing a short story, you can learn all the technique in the
world and still not write a great short story.
If you choose to take a workshop or class, make sure it is the one for you. It might not
benefit you to take a workshop or class that has too much focus on technique and
writing the "right" way.
Writing a short story is an extremely creative process, and it is important to let the
creativity flow. While many people find workshops and classes to be very beneficial, the
key is to find the one that works for you.
Sometimes too much focus on grammar, spelling, and the so-called technique of creative
writing can sap the creativity out of the process. The point of creative writing is to write
creatively. Although that might seem obvious, there are plenty of writers who forget to
make this a priority.
Assuming that writing creatively is your priority and that you want to write a short story,
try a few helpful hints. Nobody has the exact recipe for how you write best, so it is
important to remember that there are no hard and fast rules.
- Do something creative for yourself before you begin to get yourself in the right mood.
Light candles, play soulful music, dance in your living room, call a creative friend, walk
the beach, or do something that inspires you and validates your creativity.
- If you have a faith in nature, the universe, God, Buddha, Allah, or any other so-called
higher power, you might want to say a prayer, do a meditation, thank your creator, or in
some other way affirm your trust and faith in this entity. If you do not believe in a higher
power, that is okay. This is only a suggestion that some writers find to be helpful.
- Start writing. You do not need to plan ahead. You do not need to take notes or form an
outline. You certainly may do so if you wish. But to really stay true to creativity, trust the
process of it. Be creative. Let your imagination and inspiration guide you. There is no
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How to write a short story the creative way
right or wrong, no good or bad. Just let yourself play and enjoy writing creatively.
- You might find along the way that something keeps trying to bog you down, such as
that old feeling that your writing isn't good enough and that your technique is not up to
par. Do not worry about your technique for now. Unless you plan to win some great
award, this should not be an issue. Even if you want to win an award, remember that
some of the greatest writers of all time did not worry about technique. Look at James
Joyce, for instance. His book "Dubliners", one of the most famous books of all time,
certainly did not adhere to any traditional sense of what a book "should look like".
- The final, and most important, took is to ENJOY YOURSELF. Let the writing flow. Don't
worry about editing as you go along. Certainly you can edit along the way if that makes
you happy. But you might enjoy the creative writing process more fully if you let your
imagination lead the way - and let the creativity fall into place.
Title: How to write a short story the creative way

Description: Writing a short story can be creative and fun if you don't get bogged down
in too much technique and protocol.
here.
http://nh.essortment.com/howtowritesho_rynt.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:36:49 PM]

Creating the perfect setting for writing fiction
Creating the perfect setting for writing

fiction
When writing fiction, a writer spends a great deal of time concentrating on the plot of the
story, the characterization of the people in the story and the beginning and endings of
the story. However, another exercise that demands just as much attention is the
development of the setting. Your characters and plot can go no where without the
correct setting. And, your setting is not going to help your story at all unless you create
the detail your reader needs in order to place him self in your characters' world.
Setting is very important for three reasons. First of all, your characters need an
environment that will help deliver their story. It has to be a place that is in keeping with
your plot and theme. If there is not a setting for the story to take place, there is no
story.
Second, your setting will help you develop your plot. A plot that takes place in a sea side
harbor is going to be a lot better developed for your story of the intricacies of
industrializing the canning industry, than is a desert reservation. Keeping in mind what
kind of story your are telling will automatically give you ideas about your setting. A
fantasy story about mole people is not going to be very viable if it takes place in a
desolate barren land with no hills.
Third, your characters will be better developed if their setting is clear to your readers. It
is hard to understand why a character would lock themselves in a basement due to a
phobia about tornadoes if he or she lives in a place where there are no tornadoes. Your
readers just may consider this a bit too odd to keep reading. Hence, a cowgirl trying to
save her family's ranch will be right at home in a western wilderness setting. The fact
that she can walk in the fields at night and not be startled by the calls of owls and
coyotes will tell your reader a lot about what kind of character she will become.
Now that we understand why our setting is so important, lets look at some ways to
create a believable and workable setting. You don't want your setting to be too rigid. It
may need to change as your story develops and your characters grow. That office
building may need to start out as a storefront until your character has found his fortune
to build the skyscraper of his dreams.
Always keep in mind your plot and your characters as you develop your setting. A reader
is not going to understand a long monologue by a character about the beauty of dirty
slums that he grew up in and caused his sister to die from rabies due to a bite from a rat
living in the same apartment building. However, a remembrance atop a high rise
apartment building about the first time a that girl made love to that very special boy
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Creating the perfect setting for writing fiction
during a hot summer night would cause such a monologue.
Be careful of details. You want to have enough details that your reader gets a clear
picture of the surroundings. However, if you try to get too detailed, the prose of your
story will become tedious and your reader will lose interest quickly. It is important to
note that the sun is a burnt orange as it descends behind the skyline of your city. But, if
you go to great lengths to describe the rays of the sun and the different shapes of the
buildings that comprise your skyline, your reader just may forget that there is a vampire
waiting in the basement of one of those buildings.
Setting is a great way to allow your reader to become part of your story. If done
correctly is will pull your reader into your writing and absorb his or her thoughts
completely. But, if overdone it will make your reader put your story down and forget it
even exists. Give your reader some credit that he or she can figure some things out for
themselves and let them munch happily on the events in your story while enjoying the
scenery.
Written by Chrystal McCoy
Title: Creating the perfect setting for writing fiction

Description: Here is an article to help create a setting for your fictional writing.
here.
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Writing a good plot outline
You were just hit with a great idea for a novel. You’re inspired, energized, psyched, and
can’t wait to start writing. STOP! Back away from the keyboard. Have I got your
attention? Good. The first thing any writer should do before starting any serious writing
is to craft a plot outline. A good outline is like a blueprint of your story. The same way an
architect would never start building a house without first knowing where he was going,
neither should a writer start building his story without fist knowing where its going.
Your outline can be detailed – with scene descriptions and dialouge, or brief – with only a
few lines describing the main action in each scene. Which ever method you choose, its
best to rework it roughly three times. The first draft isn’t expected to be perfect; Its
purpose is to give you the main shape of the story – letting you know what you need to
get from point A to point B. Start this outline by writing the beginning scene, the end
scene, and all other major scenes you already envision. This will give you an idea of
what other scenes you need. Fill in these extra scenes until you think you have a fairly
well fleshed out story. Try to write a set amount of scenes each day, and never stop
when you’ve run out of ideas. Stop in the middle of an idea so you don’t start “cold” the
next day. The time this draft will take varies considerably from person to person, and
depends on how detailed you are and how long the book you’re writing is. For some it
might take only days, while, for others, it might take weeks. When you do finish this
draft, then put it aside for a few days to give it a “cooling off” period. When you think
you can look at it objectively, then take it out again, and start revising.
Start the second draft by taking out a pen and coffee, and reading through what you’ve
written. Jot down any thoughts you have, and ask yourself these questions: Do the
scenes switch easily from one to the other, creating a continuous piece? Are all the
scenes in the correct order? Is the pacing right – should a scene maybe be added, or
deleted? Try to look for a central “theme” in your work – the main point it’s making or
story it’s telling. This isn’t necessarily a moral, just a central “idea”. Once you get down
to your story’s true “core” you’ll be able to better see what needs to be reworked. In a
good novel, every scene some how relates to the main “core. Any scenes that don’t
relate need to be either cut out or reworked so that they do. Take your time with this
stage, reworking the outline until everything seems to fall into place. When you think
you’re finished, put it aside again – this time longer than the first.
When you take out your outline for the final draft, and read through it again, you will
probably find only minor changes that need to be done. A scene added, or maybe just
reworked. If you aren’t sure about something, like the beginning or ending, then
experiment with it and see what else you can come up with. Remember though, that
even your best draft of an outline probably won’t remain completely unchanged
throughout the whole novel. Just as Architects get ideas as they build, so will you as a
writer. As long as you have a blueprint, you can experiment with these changes without
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damaging the structure.
Title: Writing a good plot outline

Description: Great houses start with blueprints, and so do great Novels. Learn about
writing a good plot outline for you story.
here.
http://meme.essortment.com/writingplotout_rtuj.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:37:09 PM]

Writing fiction for fun
Some people write for money. Others because they have to. But some people enjoy
writing. It can be a fun and interesting hobby. I have several ideas on how you and your
friends can do some basic writing exercises just for fun.
You can get a group of friends together for a “Round Robin” as it’s sometimes called.
This is where one person writes part of a story. Then another person continues it. You
could go on and on for as long as you want, just continuing the story. To spice things up,
you could divide everyone into two groups and have one person write the same
beginning for each. Then each group will continue the story, and the end result will be
very different and pretty funny.
If you don’t like that idea, try getting some friends together and have a writing contest.
One base topic is set and everyone must write about it. Usually this is best if it’s
something fiction or a personal experience. A good example is to have everyone write
about their biggest fear. Then you can have two or three people who have not written
with the group to judge all the stories. Whoever has written the most compelling one
wins. You can include prizes to make it more challenging.
If you can’t seem to get a group together, there’s plenty you can do on your own. Try
writing in a journal if you don’t already. It may seem boring for the first few days, but
trust me it gets to be fun. And don’t just write about what you did or who you saw,
instead write about your emotions. Anything that comes to your head. This will not only
help you grow as a writer, but you can look back later on and see the progress you’ve
made.
And if none of these sound interesting, then try to set a personal goal and then try and
beat it. For example, if you write 5000 words in one day, try and do better the next. If
you do beat it, try and beat that new standard. This will probably help you to improve
your writing more than anything, and it also improves your self-confidence.
The most important thing is to remember that these are all just games. Don’t take them
too seriously.
Written by Frank Flowers
Title: Writing fiction for fun

Description: Writing fiction can be fun, if you know how to make it fun,
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here.
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How to write short stories
Some of the best fictional stories are short stories. A short story is a
usually a fictional story or it could be otherwise, but it is short enough to
be read in one sitting, hence the name “short story”. The thing about
short stories is that because they are short you do not have too much
time to introduce your characters and to set up the scenes. The idea is to StudyWeb
keep it fairly simple and make it fairly fast paced.
When writing short stories, keep the number of characters in your story
to a minimum. If you spend all your time introducing characters, your
reader may lose interest and you may run out of time for all the action of your story.
Make sure that all the characters you include are necessary to your story.
Before you start writing it is a good idea to briefly plan out your story. Make a list of
possible characters and describe briefly what you want to happen in your story. In your
plan you should have an introduction paragraph that sets the scene and introduces your
characters. There should be a few paragraphs in the middle of your story, these should
be where all the action happens and should be the core of your story. Always finish with
a conclusion that rounds it all up and brings the story together.
Your introduction should make an impact on your reader. It should be precise and
present the characters and events sharply. The idea is to create just enough excitement
that the reader desires to read on. Don’t give out too much information in your
introduction. Leave most of the information and action of your story for the middle of
your story in the core part.
The core of your story is where is all happens. This can be just a couple of paragraphs or
several depending on the length you intend your story to be. Pace your story out over a
few paragraphs but remember to not give more information than is necessary.
Concentrate on what your story is about and try not to go off track on to information
that is not needed. Keep it to the point and keep your reader interested. As you come
towards the end of the core part of your story, start to finish the story up, or prepare it
for the big conclusion.
The conclusion is where it all ends up. Your conclusion should be one to two paragraphs
and it should bring the whole story together. It should answer any questions raised in
the core part of the story, and finish off the story. You can conclude your story with a bit
of a twist or a surprise to keep the reader guessing or wondering what would be next,
but it does however need to bring a feeling of finality to the reader. Sometimes the best
short stories are the ones that leave you guessing, so do not be afraid to create a bit of
mystery in your conclusion but make sure the story feels finished and concluded.
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When writing short stories be precise and do not “babble” on about unnecessarily things.
Try to keep it simple and to the point. Try to keep the reader interested, intrigued or
guessing. You do not have much time in a short story to explain yourself, so describe
your scenes well and with descriptive words. Be careful not to over use big words and
create a story full of fancy language, keep it direct and simple. You story should flow
from one paragraph into the next and not have an interrupted feel about it.
Writing short story fiction is easy and just about any one can do it. It is quick and it
doesn’t take long to pull to together a story with a few ideas. If you feel stumped about
what to write about, write about something you know and take it from there. What have
you got to loose? Give it go today!
Title: How to write short stories

Description: How to plan out your paragraphs and write short stories and short story
fiction.
here.
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How to write poetry
How to write poetry
When in grade school, you are given a choice either to recite poetry or create and read
poetry. Which did you choose? In writing poetry, one does not have to be born knowing
rhyme. It is basically written upon how that writer feels. You can see this when studying
poets from the 17th century to present day now. Just different articulations on the
vocabulary. Most people think, when attempting writing poetry, that they would get
laughed or not accepted because of their lack of knowledge in the “world of the poets” or
limited vocabulary. Not true. Please understand that one’s ideas and views are different
from the next person.
The key word is FOCUS. “ Who are you writing for? What will it be about? Will I let others
read it? Do I care if it is being read? How long will it be? What rhymes with A?”, are
questions that should not be in your head. “Topic, Structure, Feeling, and Mood” should
be there. Example. “I want to write a poem to my girl friend.” TOPIC=Girlfriend,
STRUCTURE=Based upon if your girlfriend likes to read or not, FEELING=Love,
MOOD=Seductive.
So you have the tools but the words do not come to mind! FOCUS....they will. Your
example is that you want to write to your girlfriend. How does she make you feel?
BOOM!!! She makes you feel special. This could be the first line you write. But do not
write yet, that could also be your last line. When writing poetry, you have no set
guidelines. Remember your MOOD. Begin by writing things you know will bring the
MOOD on in the piece. The end result could be that “she makes you feel special” or
beginning with “she makes you feel special by doing _____”.
You have the MOOD and you are FOCUSED, let's begin. All poems do not have to begin
with a topic, or a setting, or an event. You can begin yours with a word, or a everyday
saying, or a descriptive event. Your poem, no matter how long it is, can be 20 words but
written in a way to look like a two word sentenced piece. Writing poetry has no
limitations. Be sure to put all emotion into the piece. Meaning, describe your emotions to
the point of where the reader feels them with you. If you cannot do that, then be blunt.
Your reader may enjoy this as well.
Remember, in poetry you must FOCUS. Your piece you created must fit the MOOD you
set. If your mood is seductive, bring that poem to a “kiss and not tell” closing. Or, if you
do not desire that, bring it to an abrupt ending making the reader want more to read.
The choice is yours. The poem is yours. The mood is yours. The feeling are true.
In closing, original poetry written is a result of emotions, external situations, the want to
share, or just plain passion. Your poetry that you create is an extension of yourself and
yes, it will be judged by those who read it. But do not be afraid to write and get “not so
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How to write poetry
good” reviews. Poetry is like an art of work Keep writing, you can only get better.
Title: How to write poetry

Description: Learn how to write poetry, the art of writing rhyming or non rhyming
sentences to express emotions, events, and translations. See how easy it really can be
creating your first piece.
here.
http://de.essortment.com/howtowritepoe_rzbq.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:37:55 PM]

How to overcome writer's block
All writers have experienced it at one time or another...the dreaded writer's block! What
is it, you ask? Writer's block is that terrible menacing mental block that prevents you
from writing! There you sit, at the desk, pencil in hand, tapping it against the desk top.
You are unable to focus, unable to write. It has happened to the best of us, whether it's
a letter, an essay, a book report or a book that we are trying to write. Or maybe you
write one line, only to erase it or crumble the paper up and toss it into the trash. When
writer's block gets a hold of you, you can fight back! The first thing you must figure out
is why you are having writer's block and then decide what you can do to sneak around it!
Why can't I write?
Writer's block is caused by many different things. Here is a list of reasons that could be
causing you to be unable to write.
> No interest in the topic. If you are so uninterested in the topic that you can't even
write about it, why would anyone want to read it? Try changing the idea or the slant to
something that you can become more interested in. If you are writing an essay for
school and the topic was assigned by the teacher, ask if you can be assigned a new
topic.
> Not having enough information on the topic. If you are trying to write about something
that you know nothing (or very little) about, chances are you will have little success. Try
to do some additional research or talk to others who are knowledgeable on the topic. The
more you learn on the topic, the easier it will be for you to write about it.
> To tired to concentrate. If you are like many freelance writers, you go to work at your
day job, run your errands, cook dinner, take care of the pets, spouse and the kids and
are so drained that you are too tired to write! Writing takes time and concentration. If
you have too many responsibilities that are constantly interfering with your writing, get
rid of all of them. Just kidding, of course you can't do that, but seriously, set aside a
scheduled time that is only for writing. No interruptions, no phone calls.
> Your idea is under-developed. Sometimes writers get so excited about an idea that
they want to start writing it at once. However, if you haven't thoroughly researched your
idea, you may find that you aren't able to develop the idea as you had planned. This
goes hand in hand with #2, Not having enough information on the topic. Do more
research so that you are able to better develop the story.
What can I do to get around writer's block, or stop it altogether?
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You may not be able to stop it altogether. From time to time, everyone experiences
circumstances that preoccupy their minds or cause them to lose their focus and
concentration. But, there are some things that you can do to dance around writer's block
when it tries to grab a hold of you.
> Create an Outline! Remember back in high school when your English teacher would
make you do those outlines? Those are great to use when you are going through writer's
block. Instead of composing long sentences or ideas, jot down two or three major ideas.
Label the major ideas Idea 1, Idea 2, and Idea 3. Place Idea 1 at the top of the page,
Idea 2 in the center and Idea 3 toward the bottom. Now list two or three things that
come to mind about each idea. Use these ideas to develop your sentences and
paragraphs. This will help you determine a beginning, a middle and an end to your
article.
> Write every day!
Writers need a schedule for writing. Just as a star athlete has to practice to stay adept at
his craft, so must a writer. Try to write something everyday, even if it is journal writing
or freewriting.
> Work on several articles simultaneously.
Sometimes, writers will get burned out while working on an article. If you find that you
can't focus on the topic, try switching to another topic. Often it is helpful to put the idea
aside for a while, when you come back to it, you may have a different perspective.
> Practice Freewriting
Freewriting is writing about whatever comes to mind. Anything at all. Start writing about
your topic and continue to write ideas for five or ten minutes, or until you can't think of
anything else to say about your topic.
If you can't think of anything to say about your topic, write about whatever is on your
mind. If you are thinking that you forgot to take the trash out, then you can write that.
Freewriting is sort of like talking to yourself, but doing it with ink. Just keep the ideas
flowing, even if you can't think of anything to write about. Pick an object on your desk
and write about it.
The worst thing you can do is to give into the writer's block. Finding out what your
obstacles are and how to work around them will keep you writing. And when all else
fails, you can always resort to writing a grocery list or honey-do list.
Written by Victoria Walker

Title: How to overcome writer's block

Description: Whether you are writing a book, an essay or a letter, this advice will help
you to overcome writers block!
here.

A cure for writers block
Everyone suffers from writer’s block at some point. Whether it’s writing an essay, a
letter, even a note, we may find ourselves completely blank on how to start it off and
how to word it. Well after spending a lot of my time writing, I think I’ve found a good
way to get the ball rolling. It’s pretty simple actually, so simple it’s ridiculous. The secret
to getting rid of your writer’s block is to keep a journal.
I started a journal as an experiment, just so I could look at my feelings and thoughts

each day. I forced myself to write, even when I was stumped. Most people have a hard
time just starting off with the first sentence. Well with a journal you can just write the
first thing that comes to your mind. Write a quick sentence on what your day has been
like or who you’ve talked to. I’m sure that you’ll find after the first sentence you should
be able to write a good journal entry without worrying about grammar or spelling. Also,
the pressure of someone else reading it isn’t there, it’s totally for you. The whole point of
the journal is to be able to write without anyone reading it. It’s there only for you and
you have total control.
“Ok, I’ve done a journal entry, now what?” I think after you write it, you’ll know the
answer to this. I find that after writing a paragraph or two in my journal, lots of ideas
come to my mind. I’m already into the flow of writing so I just switch topics and boom, I
no longer have writer’s block. Like I said, it’s simple. You just write a few words about
your day and you’ll find yourself in the mood to continue. This should work for most
people, but not for everyone.
If it doesn’t work for you, then I have another method. Set a time where you’ll write
everyday. Clear your schedule for about an hour, and then just write. Force yourself to
write, no matter what the topic. Continue this for a few days and you’ll find yourself into
the flow of things. People naturally get into habits and want to stay with them. Try and
make writing a habit for you.
And if you’re still stuck, the only other option is just waiting it out. If you’ve had writer’s
block for a long time, I suggest taking a weekend off and watch a lot of movies and read
as much as possible. Don’t even think about writing. After the weekend you’ll find
yourself full of ideas. You may think watching movies will do anything but help you write,
but just try it. I’ve gotten some incredibly wonderful story ideas from movies, and after I
watch something I find myself writing.
Remember, everyone get stumped on how they should right. It’s hard to break out of,
but when you do you actually become a better writer. So take my advice and see if it
works. And always keep writing.
http://txtx.essortment.com/curewritersblo_refg.htm (1 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:38:43 PM]

Written by Frank Flowers
Title: A cure for writers block

Description: Tips to help cure writers block.
here.
http://txtx.essortment.com/curewritersblo_refg.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:38:43 PM]

Overcoming writers block: five writing exercises
Overcoming writers block: five writing

exercises
The phenomenon of writer’s block has had many a writer burning the midnight oil trying
desperately to compose a piece. In a world of fast-paced deadlines and fickle audiences,
it is a writer’s worst nightmare. While writer’s block is often a very complex problem, its
solutions are usually simple. The following are five carefully composed exercises that are
designed to combat the worst kinds of writer’s block.
Step One: Write for Yourself
Many writers sit down to the blank page prepared to write the next Great American
Novel. This is neither practical nor healthy. Letting the expectations and standards of the
outside world slip into your private sphere is almost certain to leave your mind blank
within minutes. To combat this tendency, take a piece of paper and write whatever you
want for as long as you like. It doesn’t matter if it’s a masterpiece or absolute crap, as
long as the pressure is off. Then read it. Chances are nine out of ten that it will be some
of the most real, relaxed writing you’ve done in a while. Try this exercise several more
times, and pretty soon you’ll be approaching every piece as though it were simply a
rough draft, with amazing results.
Step Two: Remember Your Motivation
Often the pressure of writing something leads one to forget why they’ve chosen to write
it at all. Take a piece of paper and make a question list. Ask yourself why you started
writing in the first place. When you feel yourself answer, ask “Why.” (Example: I started
writing because I love the freedom. Why? Because being able to do my own thing is
important to me. Why? ) After a period of time you might be able to unravel the cause of
your writer’s block, and discover the motivation to move forward.
Step Three: Make a U-Turn
Many writers often feel that their writing becomes “stale” for reasons that they can’t
explain. Writing in one genre for a long period of time make actually lead to writer’s
block. To keep your writing fresh and retain a sense of challenge in every piece, write
things that are completely opposite to your normal routine. (Example: If you are a
serious writer, try comedy. If you are a woman, write as a man, and vice-versa.) Then
bring this freedom back into your daily work. You’ll notice a difference almost
immediately.
Step Four: Try a Disguise
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Overcoming writers block: five writing exercises
Writers are well known for their ability to step into the skin of a character and make it
come to life. Sometimes, however, a little more than imagination is needed. Try dressing
in an article of clothing that your character would wear. (Example: For a detective story,
wear a trench coat. For a war tale, wear camouflage.) If you really want to get into
things, throw on accents and parade around the house in character. You may scare the
neighbors, but your writing will take a turn for the better.
Step Five: Use Outside Influences
More often than not, writers become blocked for lack of a story. There is an easy solution
to this problem. Take a radio or TV and place it near your writing space. (If it is a TV,
turn it so that it is not facing you.) Then let your stories take their inspiration from the
greatest pool of strange stories around: the daily news. Write on the first story you hear,
or jump from story to story recording reactions. This exercise is guaranteed to give you
a large set of ideas to work from while you write.
Written by genevieve thiers
Title: Overcoming writers block: five writing exercises

Description: Experiencing the frustration of writers block? Follow these five simple
exercises to create inspired prose, poetry and news in all situations.
here.
http://ar.essortment.com/overcomingwrite_rcke.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:38:51 PM]

Writer block: how to treat it, how to beat it
Writer block: how to treat it, how to

beat it
You have a plethora of abstract ideas and concepts that you would like to explore, and
you could do it too, if you only come up with one sentence. Just one brilliant sentence
that would glitter and shine like a beacon to take you the rest of the journey.
But brilliance hasn’t made its appearance yet, and even a glimmer of a real concrete idea
hasn’t even whispered in your ear. But if you were to be honest with yourself, you
probably already have an idea of what you want to explore, you just don’t know where
to begin.
You know you are blocked when something like this happens to you:
You decide you would like to write a story about a childhood experience. Perhaps
something quite moving and poignant happened, where your whole concept of the world
was forever altered. Your mind begins going through all of the memory files, your best
friend’s face appears, who shared the experience with you. You realize how much this
friend meant to you, how you both shared this particular event, and how a bond was
forged in childhood because of this event.
You type your first sentence.
“My best friend Billy was a really great friend.”
Then you hit the delete button exactly forty-nine times. For an opening line, it reeked.
That first sentence didn’t even scratch the surface much less hook anyone.
Often your mind is so full of great ideas, insights, facets and themes that you can’t seem
to separate all of those complexities into one central idea. This is often the reason a
writer becomes blocked. It’s not that you don’t have any ideas; the problem is you have
too many ideas. The trick is to hone in on one concept then build from there.
Your muse didn’t fail you; she overwhelmed you with too many pictures, sounds,
emotions, textures and smells.
Set a kitchen timer for ten minutes and write the longest sentence you possibly can.
Close your eyes and write with absolutely no punctuation. Instead use connectors: like,
and, but, yet, instead, however.
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Here’s an example:
“Riding my bike past a field of sunflowers, all their faces gazed toward the sun like a
mass of fanatical religious zealots, all dressed the same yet in their sameness was
beauty and grace all aching for the love of the warm yellow golden light to touch and
nourish them but their amber faces were happy and round and they bobbed as they
noticed me free wheeling by on my magic bike on an unforgettable warm summer day…”
The idea of this exercise is to escape from the rules of writing so that your imagination is
free to draw from your own very personal experiences and insights. Write whatever
thought pops into your mind, and try to expound on every idea that appears. Eventually
you will discover a theme or idea that you will want to revisit.
Writers are a special group of people. They need to interact with other writers for
support and inspiration, as well as the occasional kick in the pants.
If you are not already involved in a writer’s group, try to acquaint yourself with one. If
your town doesn’t have a local group you can join then get resourceful! There are
literally thousands of groups you can join via the Internet.
If you are a writer, then to go deeper it’s safe to say that you are a great observer.
Every artist has a deep well within their mind where ideas and emotions connect to form
stories. It is vital that the writer replenish that well often.
“But how do I replenish my well?!”
The writer must spend time doing the things that bring him joy. Perhaps a walk through
the rose garden, or going to church will nourish that imagination. For some writers, just
spending a day with their children, grandchildren or volunteer work will fill the well.
If you don’t have enough time for such nonsense, then your writing will suffer. The
process of creation requires a lot of energy, and if you are tired, that will reflect in your
writing. Make sure you are getting enough sleep and you aren’t too busy for your writing
time.
Make writing a priority and an integral part of your daily routine. The more you write, the
better your writing will become.
There are a great number of books on the market that deal with the problem of writer’s
block.
Here are some favorites:
“Writing Down the Bones” by Natalie Goldberg
“Writing the Natural Way”, by Gabriele Lusser Rico

“Writing the Wave,” by Elizabeth Ayers
“Writing On Both Sides Of the Brain,” by Henriette Anne Klauser
Title: Writer block: how to treat it, how to beat it

Description: How do you overcome that blank page? Learn about writer block and how
you can release the pent up creativity!
here.

How to be a great writer
Becoming a writer: to many people this sounds like an easy job, but being a writer does
not mean just putting words correctly on paper; writing has to come from the heart.
Here are some tips to consider when deciding to pursue this career.
1. Your heart must be in it: if you start writing and the words do not flow, or you have to
force your thoughts to get them on paper, this is not going to be a love for you. Most
well-known writers have been known to write thoughts and feelings much better than
being able to speak them.
2. Being a good writer doesn't mean just a person who can spell well. Many writers get
so caught up in their writing or typing that they may indeed make many typos, so do not
let this issue disturb you. As a matter of fact, many great writers have people who
actually proofread for them, because when the words just seem to pour out, so do many
typos.
3. To start writing, pick subjects that you really feel deep in your heart. Anyone can take
a subject and give you facts, but a good writer also shows you heart behind the words,
so start slowly by picking subjects you really have a feel for. This will give you a better
article.
4. Practice... we have heard time and time again that practice makes perfect. This is true
with any career. You will continue to get better as you go along, so if your first article
doesn't make the grade, don't give up, just try harder.
5. Be a good reader. Before you become a great writer you first need to spend lots of
time being a good reader. Read all kinds of stuff: fiction, nonfiction, children's books,
everything. This will give you a feel for how the words will look and sound on paper.
6. Finally, decide what kind of writer you want to be after you have written in all
different fields; test the waters.
7. After you write some things, have others read your work and give you an opinion. I
have found it's best not to use family members, because they will always tell you it is
good, and they won't point out the errors. You need someone who is a good critic, as
that is the only way you will learn.
8. Be prepared for let-downs, especially when you first start writing. Remember
everyone doesn't start out being good, at least not right away. Never let any bad
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remarks about your work get you discouraged; learn from your mistakes and learn from
your critics. Some of the advice you get may help you to one day become that great
writer you have always dreamed you would be.
9. Submit your work to many places to get noticed. Now with the World Wide Web it
makes it so much easier for writers to get their work seen, and once you get you
reputation established people will even ask you to submit your work.
10. Save as many copies of your words as possible. You may find once you write it you
may not be able to re-write your work twice. Keep journals of when you wrote your
work; this will also give you a chance to look back on all of the stuff you have ever
created.
Written by melissa ransom
Title: How to be a great writer

Description: Learn how to be a great witer with these tips.
here.
http://meme.essortment.com/howtobeawri_rkcu.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:39:16 PM]

Dream journals: get story ideas in your sleep!
Dream journals: get story ideas in your

sleep!
Ideas for short stories and novels are everywhere. In your family life, work
surroundings, the mall, grocery store, newspaper and on TV just to name a few. In order
to find those ideas it may take a little soul searching as far as what, you want to write,
and for what reason. If you’re simply writing for an article, the ideas you choose don’t
have to be that broad. But if you’re trying to write a short story or novel for a contest or
the bestseller list, then it may get to be a little harder, but nonetheless the ideas are
right before you. Finding ideas may be even harder when you are given a certain theme
but in this case you will have to do a little more research to be able to get your point
across.
Ideas for short stories and novels that are found in everyday life have pretty much been
done,
over and over again. Because most of those ideas have happened to all of us or
someone close to
us, the trick is to turn that idea into a bestseller. To make that idea jump from the page
and walk right into the hands of book buyers. Your idea has to be the changed around,
so well that it will trick the world into believing that it’s new, and untouched.
I believe the best way to find these ideas are to keep a dream journal. Or should I say
there are ideas floating out there while you sleep.
I keep a dream journal and I have learned how to get my best ideas from my dreams. I
have learned how to relax my mind, and to allow myself to go into a positive dream
state, and you can do it too.
First of all buy a little notebook, a pen/pencil to write with, and a book light.
Place them right under your bed in a spot you can reach.
Before going to sleep every night, lie on your pillow, and talk to your dream maker.
Ask for specific dreams, ask for clear dreams, ask for the ability to remember the
dreams.
It will take some time to train your mind to remember your dreams, but it can be done.
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As soon as you wake up in the morning, don’t move, except to grab your notebook,
pen/pencil and light.
Click on your light, open your book, and start writing.
(If you don’t sleep alone and have a chance of disturbing your mate, put your journal
next to the toilet, and write in the morning.)
You don’t have to write in complete sentences, just write keywords that will help you
remember your dreams, and then go back and write the full sentences. Don’t forget to
write the date and time on each page.
Add any thoughts, positive or negative that may come to mind about your dream. Or
what the meaning of the dream may be.
After you have cleared your mind of any thoughts left from the dream, thank the dream
maker before getting up. Turn off your little light, close your dream journal, and get
ready for your new day.
Be sure to keep a smaller notebook with you at all times to jot down any other thoughts
that may come to you during the day. Sometimes your dreams will come to you once
you’re on your feet, so be ready to write them as needed.
After a few days of doing this project it will become a part of your daily routine and you’ll
have so many ideas to use in your writing you never see writer's block, again.
Written by Stephanie Storey
Title: Dream journals: get story ideas in your sleep!

Description: Dream journals: How to find ideas for you short stories and novels while
you sleep.
here.


Help for writers: advantage of writers groups
Help for writers: advantage of writers

groups
Every aspiring writer likes to hear how wonderful his or her work makes a reader feel.
Each one wishes to touch a soul at least once with his or her words and gift of weaving
those words together to form some kind of meaning. The problem with getting only
positive feedback is that there is no promotion of growth for the writer. And, the writer is
unaware of any problems his or her work may have that prevent him or her from
becoming published.
Writer's groups are a rich resource for all writers. These collections of personalities that
all share the same dream provide invaluable support and resources for any writer. If you
are a writer and have not joined a group yet, it is time for you to think about doing so. A
grammar and spell check function on a word processor can only do so much. Writer's
groups will give you the constructive criticism and resource information you will need to
get published.
There are two ways to become involved with writer's groups. Either in person or online.
The question you may have is "How do I find these groups?" It is a lot easier than you
may realize. In person groups are all around you. It's just a matter of knowing where to
look.
You can start by going to your local library. The resource librarian will know how to help
you begin looking if she or he doesn't know of a group personally already. Newspapers
are a good place to check, also. Look in the want ads to see if there are any groups
advertising for new members.
If you still can't find a group, check with your community center or the city hall to see if
there are any groups registered using city buildings for their meetings. One other place
you can check is with any local colleges or adult education classes. And, finally, if you
have found no luck with any of these, start your own group. Advertise on community
bulletin boards and grocery store bulletin boards. Use the newspaper if you can afford it.
Just get one started.
Finding online groups is just as easy. Of course you can just go to any search engine and
type in words like writer, author, groups, or whatever comes to mind to help you find
any groups with websites. However, this could prove to be a long tedious search. It is
best to find bulletin board and chat communities that host a variety of different topics
oriented boards or rooms. Some of the places that have countless groups are:
Egroups
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Topica
Yahoo! Clubs
These are just a few of the places that will have writer's groups. Egroups and Topica are
great because they come straight to your email box and you can reply just by sending an
email. With all three places you can start your own group if you wish.
The best ways to find writer's groups is to find bulletin board or chat communities and
then look through the boards and rooms for ones that are geared towards writers. There
are two other places on the web that can give you invaluable exposure and access to
experienced and talented reviewers. Those places are:
Zoetrope
Themestream
There are bound to be even more if you take the time to research them. Keep in mind
what you want to gain and contribute to a group. Read the group's guidelines before
joining to make sure you are able to commit what is necessary. If you write a specific
genre, try to keep away from groups who only want other genres. If you write only non-
fiction, don't try to join groups that are geared for fiction writers.
Once you find a group, introduce yourself and have a sample of your work ready. Keep
your introduction as brief as possible. Include personal stuff as well as any publishing
credentials you may already have acquired. Also, include all the types of writing in which
you are involved. This will give your group a good sense of who you are and give them
insight into your writing, which will help them help you in a more effective way.
No matter where you find your writer's group, have fun with it and remember to take
constructive criticism in the spirit in which it is given. It is a helpful tool that will guide
you to a successful writing career.
Written by Chrystal McCoy
Title: Help for writers: advantage of writers groups

Description: All writers need help, support, and constructive criticism in order to grow
in their craft. Writer's groups are wonderful tools that can help a writer achieve his or
her goals while allow him or her to make lifelong connections.

here.

How to brainstorm ideas for short articles
How to brainstorm ideas for short

articles
Even if our writing aspirations include writing the Great American Novel or the next
bestselling movie script, the bread-and-butter of the freelance writing world continues to
be short articles and stories. With the explosion of the Internet and the continued growth
in the print magazine industry, content will be the new mantra of the working writer.
Companies with Web presences will need fresh content as never before, which should
keep freelance writers working for quite some time. Everyone from the church secretary
who creates a monthly newsletter to the editor of a national magazine needs short
articles to fill the pages, making freelance writers very valuable commodities indeed. But
where do writers get their ideas for new articles, and what should a writer do if the old
brain pan seems to be running dry? Here are some ideas on how to generate short
articles on just about any subject you can imagine.
1. When in doubt, brainstorm. This is one of the most time-tested methods for
generating new ideas, so don't skip this step unnecessarily. In order to have a good
brainstorming session, clear off your entire agenda for a few minutes. You need to
devote all of your attention to the brainstorming process in order to benefit. If you work
with other writers, suggest a group brainstorming session. Begin the session by clearing
your mind of any preconceptions. There is no right or wrong, marketable or
unmarketable, useful or useless- just ideas. Pick a subject and just start talking about it.
Snow. Snowballs. Winter weather. Bad driving. Snowball fights. Blizzards. Slush.
Shovelling driveways. Snowblowers. Snowplows. Kids home from school. Colds... You get
the idea. Riff on connections, other related subjects, feelings, memories and so on. Take
those rough ideas and turn them into marketable ideas for short articles. From the above
example, here's what a writer might submit as a query:
Ten Worst Blizzards in History
How to Shovel Snow Safely
My First Snow Ball Fight
Ideas on Entertaining Children on Snow Days
How to Drive Safely During a Snowstorm
Five Ways to Earn Extra Money During Winter
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You can always take a few minutes out of every day to brainstorm, which can unblock
your creative side on those days when inspiration is not working.
2. Go beyond the nuts and bolts of your subject. Many experts who become freelance
writers become frustrated after writing all the 'how-to' articles they feel are useful. For
example, a professional bowler may write articles on ball delivery, lane conditions,
spares, scoring, tricks, leagues and ball selection. He or she may feel that the subject of
bowling has pretty much been exhausted, and the chances of creating any more useful
articles are slim. This is the perfect opportunity to start thinking 'outside the box'.
Writing articles on a subject you know very well does not have to end when you've
covered the 'how' side of things. You still have why's, where's, who's and what if's to
consider. Let's take our bowling expert's situation, for example. Here are some questions
to ask yourself when generating new ideas on a subject you believe is tired:
What is the history of bowling?
Who are some of the best bowlers in history?
Have there been any recent equipment changes?
Where do you see the sport going in the future?
Have there been any humorous bowling incidents?
You can adapt these sorts of questions to any other subject you seem to stuck on.
Histories, famous figures, strategies, theories, trends and forecasts, personal anecdotes-
all of these elements can help generate new ideas, even if you believe that the 'how-to'
element has been exhausted. Think outside the box for new ideas.
3. Keep an eye on other mediums for new ideas. One concern for beginning writers is
the fear of plagiarism. They may feel that any idea generated or inspired by another
medium will be considered plagiarized. This in turn leads to fewer and fewer ideas, and
can cripple the creative process. Rest assured that writing an article on your own after
seeing a television program on the same subject is not plagiarism. Using the exact
phrasing and not crediting outside sources for information will hurt a new writer much
more than writing an original article based on ideas you heard on a news program.
Information in and of itself is free to all, and general ideas are not protected by copyright
laws.
You are perfectly free to write a story on fire safety after seeing a local news report, or
submit an article on child abuse after seeing a documentary on a public television
station. Mediums such as television, movies, radio talk shows and newspapers can help
generate a lot of useful ideas. As long as you use that idea as the basis of an entirely
original article, you are not in any danger of plagiarism. If you use quoted material or
research, include phrases such as "According to Dr. Dave Winters, head cardiologist at
Pratt and Whitney, the incidence of heart attacks among veterans is climbing..."

Real plagiarism comes as a result of improper quoting or not quoting at all. Using facts
that are public knowledge is not considered plagiarism unless those facts are copied
verbatim from another uncredited source. If you make sure that your article is original,
then you can get a lot of inspiration from watching the other media outlets.
4. Nothing replaces observation. If you are completely stuck for new material, take time
to observe your surroundings. Watch people interact in a public park or mall. Engage in
conversations with friendly strangers, or professionals you encounter. Join in an online
discussion group to see what concerns are currently on people's minds. By taking time to
recharge your creative batteries, you may discover some renewed interest in writing.
Many interesting article ideas can be generated simply by taking the time to consider
what potential readers really want to know.
Written by Michael Pollick
Title: How to brainstorm ideas for short articles

Description: If you ever feel like you've run out of ideas for short articles, try these
hints and brainstorming ideas designed to inspire new proposals and queries.
here.

Learn to write in twenty minutes a day
Someone once told me that to learn how to write you have to write. The rest of that day
I was fuming. All that I had asked was a simple question. All that I had wanted in return
was a simple answer. That night, I was still so angry that I grabbed my journal and
wrote for twenty minutes. when I finished, it dawned on me; I was learning to write.
Keeping a journal has been an essential key in my education as a writer. Every night, I
sit down and pour my soul out on to the paper. It doesn't have to be pretty. It doesn't
have to be perfect. It doesn't even have to be interesting. It just has to come out and
make it's way onto the page.
This one nightly ritual has freed my mind more than I can ever explain. One of the most
important things it has taught me is that my first drafts do not have to be perfect.
Whether it was a story or an article, I would get frustrated when what I wanted to say
didn't come out right the first time. It had gotten so bad that I would stare at the blank
piece of paper and nothing would come out. I was convinced that it wasn't good enough
to put down.
When I write in my journal I come to understand that what I write doesn't have to be
perfect the first time out. As a matter of fact, when I can get to the point of just writing
and not editing myself as I go my prose comes out much clearer and filled with more
feeling. The same person that told me that I have to write to learn to write also gave me
another piece of advice that had confused me at first. He told me that you have to write
everything in you mind out when writing a first draft. When you go back to edit it you
find that 10% of it was what you actually wanted to say. You just could not have gotten
to that 10% without writing the 90% junk.
Keeping a journal has also helped me discover my writing voice. For so long I heard
about this mysterious voice that every writer has. I belived that is would come naturaly
and that is why my inability to write perfect prose on the first shot would distress me so
much. If all of the writiers had a voice then were was mine?
Only the actual act of writing can bring out your inner voice. By choosing words and
deciding where to use them do you find the way you like to say things in your writing. To
get to your inner voice, you have to peel back the layers of junk and copies of other
writers until you get to the real thing.
You can use your journals in several different ways to acheive your goal. Many people
use it as a diary. They use the pages to get out all of thier emotions that were pent up
during the day. That is what I use my journal for. You can also use your journal as a
mini writing class. By devising assingments for you to do you can get your creativity
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flowing for your other writing projects. I use a seprate book just for these such
assignments.
There are many types of exercises you can do to help develop your professional skills
and open the wellspring for ideas for your writing. Work on observation and description
by going to a place you have been to a thousand times and trying to describe it. Explain
what you see as if you are talking to a person who has never seen it before. This can
help you create a sense of place that is needed in all types of writing.
Another good exercise is to take a confrontational incident that has happened between
you and another person and write a scence form their point of veiw. This is not only
good writing but also good therepy. You never know how things change when you look
at them from another perspective.
There are no hard and fast rules to keeping a journal. Some people like to type on thier
computer while others prefer to use a pen. Some people use a sketch book so that lines
do not limit them while others prefer lined paper. Some people like to use the same type
of book for every journal in thier library. I use all kinds of notebooks. My only
requirement it that they are appealing to the eye. I have some with flowers on them and
some with cartoons. all you have to do is get your feelings out so you can read them at a
later date. You might be amazed at what you find.
Title: Learn to write in twenty minutes a day

Description: Learn to write in twenty minutes a day by keeping a journal.
here.
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How to improve writing skills
The most important thing to discover with regards to writing is your "style". Once you
lock in on your style, all the rest will follow closely behind.
How do we find our style, know our style, or realize, if and when we've got a writing
style?
1. Finding your style
Finding your style comes from many things, but high on the list is a lot of reading. I
don't mean just this year. For a lifetime. Your style could be a combination of those
writers you love to emulate, dream to be. Really, this is not a blatant thing, but an
unconscious one. But I like to think those I admire are a little bitsy part of my writing
style today. All those hours spent curled up with books, both good and bad, had to
influence what I do as a writer.
Style also comes from your upbringing, your parents, your life's experiences, your beliefs
and the area you live in. Values instilled in you growing up are hard to get rid of when
you're writing. You can't do it. Well, I guess you can in fiction, but that's another story.
2. Knowing your style
I've often asked friends who were writers, and some that were not, what is my style?
They tell me all the things I'm good at writing about and how I make them laugh, but
that wasn't it. What I wanted to hear was not that. Some time ago I sent samples of my
writing to a few friends, and they both decided that night, while perusing some of my
writing, that I was a combination of Erma Bombeck and Dave Barry.
I have to admit that I have never read Dave Barry faithfully although I am familiar with
his style and flair for writing. I am quite familiar with Ms. Bombeck and knew Erma had
made people laugh for years and also knew she had passed away. I feel honoured that
many feel I write similar to Ms. Bombeck, but I have no desire to "replace her".
3. Do you have a writing style yet?
Don't worry, your fans will let you know, and by fans, I mean your readers. They will tell
you what they enjoy about your writing. With me, it's humor, a wry and quick wit, an
open way of writing, an honest approach, and a quirky way of looking at life. Expressing
myself in words comes easy to me, and I know that readers like the emotions I evoke
with that expressiveness.
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On the discovery journey of locating your own style, I say don't look too hard. You'll read
all about style in Writer's Digest and other places.
The words of the wisdom? Just be yourself and let your "self" enter whatever you write
and there you will find your talents and hidden potential.
Title: How to improve writing skills

Description: A guide to developing your writing skills.
here.
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25 Tips every writer should know
People who begin writing for a career often don't realize what they are getting
themselves into. Venturing blindly into the writing business usually leads writers back to
that old 9 to 5 job they hate.
So what is it that writers really need to know before they begin writing? First things first,
answer these questions to decide if writing should be a career or a hobby.
* Do you want to be wealthy from your writing, or would you be just as happy writing for
free?
* Do you enjoy researching?
* Are you easily motivated?
* Would you be willing to write non-fiction brochures about the life of the aardvark, or
are you determined to write only about well-read issues?
Now if you answered yes to these questions, chances are that writing may be a good
career choice for you. Now you need to know the most important aspects of the writer's
life.
1) Expect Rejections! You will not sell everything you write, you probably won't even sell
most of your ideas. Get used to it and move on to the next idea.
2) Don't expect to make a lot of money. That's why we are called "starving artists."
Writers often have to write as a second career, as a spare time passion.
3) A writer should be able to write on any topic. Read the newspaper, books you
normally wouldn't read, or surf the internet for ideas you may not have considered. The
majority of money to be made is in the non-fiction market.
4) Be prepared to research. You will often spend more time researching than writing.
Writers must research markets as well as their ideas.
5) Research how to write query letters. Try your hand at a few before submitting any.
Each query letter you write will get better. Have a friend critique for you, or join a
writer's group.
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6) A writer must be patient, flexible, and have some skill in writing.
7) Be prepared to wait for editors to reply. Editors are overworked and underpaid, just
like you.
8) Look for online markets. The internet is quickly becoming one of the best ways to
become published and there are some great high paying markets. Starting online will
make it easier for you to break into print.
9) Be assertive. Grab opportunities when they arise. Don't wait for publications to post a
notice that they're looking for submissions; ask for article assignments and send your
resume and ideas to them.
10) Be willing to negotiate. You don't have to settle for the price they offer. Many editors
are willing to discuss payment and rights offered.
11) Keep your query letters short. They should be no longer than 3 short paragraphs.
First paragraph should contain a hook, or an excerpt from the article itself. Second
paragraph should include a working title, approximate word count, sources or interview
subjects and what department it would be best for in the publication. Third paragraph
should briefly list your credentials and why you are the most qualified to write this
article.
12) Don't write articles before you query. You have a very slim chance of selling the
article as is, without changing the slant.
13) Join a writer's organization. Not only can they offer you plenty of advice on writing,
but they also look great on a resume.
14) Don't take rejections personally. Most editors don't have the time to offer their
reasons why they can't use your article, but most of the time it's not your writing ability.
15) Treat editors like normal human beings--who can make or break your career. Be
personable, but professional and courteous.
16) Don't call an editor without his/her permission.
17) Always send an SASE with your query letters and manuscripts.
18) Put forth your best work. Always. Don't ever do a job halfway.
19) Always query first, unless an editor specifically requests manuscripts to be sent.
20) Send your query letter to more than one publication. The odds that more than one
editor will want the same article is slim.

21) Don't berate yourself, or your writing.
22) Act confident. Act professional. It will show in your writing.
23) Every writer gets criticized. Every writer has work that needs revision.
24) Keep a journal for brainstorming. Every day pick a simple topic and think up
different articles/essays you could write on that topic.
25) If you start to find writing to be a chore, rather than a goal, stop for a while. You can
always go back to it later.
Writing should not only be a career, but should be something you love. We all have our
own story--now is the time to tell yours.
Title: 25 Tips every writer should know

Description: Top 25 tips that every writer needs to know before they choose writing as
a career. This article covers everything from queries to publishing.
here.

Writing for success
Writing for success
Many writers are born procrastinators. Writing and mastering the art of procrastination
often seem to go hand in hand. Truth is, those "hands" should not be running through
our hair, lamenting our writer's block while waiting for some inner muse to "tell" us when
the time is right to write. These hands should be clutching a pencil scratching away at a
large yellow pad or poised above a keyboard plunking out the next chapter to our book.
If you want to reach some level of writing and publishing success, you must write.
Following that, you must rewrite and rewrite again.
The concluding step is not to stick it in some drawer and/or allow it to ferment upon our
computer hard drive, but instead to submit it for publication.
There really is no other way. How do you escape the miring muck of self-doubt and lack
of discipline and start traipsing down the path of writing success?
The following will give you a boost out of the stagnant muck and get your work into
readers hands.
First: You will write for a minimum of 15 minutes per day. Yes, per day. Allow yourself
no more excuses. None. Nada.
You are hereafter not allowed to listen to that repetitive, negative voice inside you
questioning how you will EVER find the time. You wouldn't be reading this if you didn't
want to find the time, would you?
Fifteen minutes is findable by everybody. Get up fifteen minutes sooner than normal. Go
to bed fifteen minutes later than normal. Write at your kids hockey game. Write while
you're eating your lunch.
The point is you, yes YOU, CAN set aside that seemingly oh-so-elusive block of 900
seconds and you WILL use that time to write.
"What will I write?" You might ask. "What if I'm not inspired?" Tough. Write anyway. Go
ahead and write the reasons why you don't want to write. Keep doing that long enough
and believe me, you'll come up with something worthwhile to write mighty quick.
Odds are, you will also discover that you are writing longer than fifteen minutes with no
idea where the time went. That's called finding your flow. When you're in the flow you'll
notice that when you re-read your work you not only don't cringe, you actually grin.
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Writing for success
Once you've reached this point, sit down and list (in writing of course!) your writing
goal(s). Your long-term goal might be to have a novel published within 3 to 5 years.
Your short-term goal might be to pen the outline and synopsis of your book and
complete the first several chapters within boundaries of the coming year.
Or perhaps your long-term goal might be to have a chapbook of your poetry published
and your short-term goal is to write a certain number of poems and have submitted at
least a couple of them for publication in the not-so-distant future, as well.
Every goal varies for every writer. It certainly wouldn't hurt to pen Op-ed's and submit
those in the process, and to flex your writing muscles at every given and publishable
opportunity. Poetry contests; Website's looking for writers; look around, you will likely
notice many of them.
And no matter what, don't tell yourself you can't write, and that you will never be
published because you're just not good enough.
The fact that you are reading this shows a keen interest and a certain sense of
committment to yourself and your talent and that is vital.
What you must do is to allow yourself to reach for your writing goals. Dreaming of
achieving writing success is fine; but only as long as you wake up quickly and follow it up
with action.
Follow these steps and you will likely encounter success in one form or another. And yes,
you will also likely encounter rejection. It's part of the package, people.
You can allow these little blurbs to defeat you or you can look at them realistically, and
see if you can glean anything helpful from them. In either event, you must continue
writing and submitting.
It is completely true that the same written work which winds up buried in the grave of
one editor's "circular file" could then receive an enthusiastic thumb's up and fat check (or
at the very least, contributor's copy!) from another editor. It's happened more than once
to a writer whom I know very well... ;)
Take your inspiration from your work and your own drive, as well as those editor's who
note positive comments about your submission. Also, draw staunch determination from
the same aforementioned sources--adding a haughty dose of "I'll show you!" from those
editor's who perhaps were not so kind, for good measure.
Above all, trust in yourself and your abilities to write and just as importantly, your
courage to face the writing unknown. That is the only way to become acquainted with
writing colony which you want to be a part of.

Writing for success
The induction into the world of published writer-- often via a letter of acceptance from an
editor (for YOUR work) is truly unforgettable.
It is worth it. So are you. So get to it and write. Write on!
Title: Writing for success

Description: Those who find publication are those who write and submit with confident,
determined regularity. Learn how you, too, can be published and achieve your writing
dreams.
here.

Creative writing tips: let your creativity show
Creative writing tips: let your creativity

show
How can I allow me creativity show in my writing?
You can spice up your writing by adding something creative or even something new that
you've never seen done. We writers try to look at the world a little differently. In order
to keep those ideas fresh; try using a touch of magic.
What do you mean by magic?
Writers use "magic" in many ways to dress-up their writing. Every writer needs to find a
style that works for them. Many times the techniques that fiction writers use will help to
touch your reader. You can bring a little pizzazz to your non-fiction articles by using
these many different techniques. Just because it is non-fiction doesn't mean that it
shouldn't be dazzling prose. You can use many techniques to bring impact, adding
sparkle to your message. Here are some ideas.
1. Use over-exaggerated examples to describe a point. Here are a few examples:
· Ex: Your prose will reach out and grab the reader!
· Ex: If you employ these techniques then you can write like a best-selling author!
2. Humor can make the reader smile, leaving a pleasant feeling. Here is an example:
· Ex: It's too bad I'm not a writer. Then I would be able to tell you how to do all of these
wonderful things.
3. Often a creative analogy can make your reader relate to your ideas. Using something
that the reader can relate to will often help them to hear what your message is much
more clearly.
· Use a funny anecdote or humorous analogy.
· This technique makes your point more real to your reader, while entertaining him or
her immensely.
An example of this:
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· Ex: Writing a great non-fiction article is like raising a child. If you instill the right values
in your child and give them caring guidance, you will raise a morally conscience, loving
child.
4. Add a metaphor to your article. Here are some examples:
· Ex: Your article will sing!
· Bring your readers into your soul.
· Your article will
5. Use a simile to brighten things up.
· Your article will read like a Nobel Prize winning book. This is both over exaggeration
and simile.
· Think like a poet.
· Write like a demon.
6. Use Alliteration to spice things up.
· Ex: 'Make your story sing' is both alliteration and metaphor.
· Ex: Try using whimsical words of wonder.
7. This is a good example of using a story:
· One day a writer was reading an old magazine and saw an article about writing that
she thought had a good topic, but the writing didn't touch her. She thought that the
article needed something, but she wasn't sure what. Well, after awhile she put the
magazine down. The article was rather boring, almost like reading an Encyclopedia. Just
as the woman was setting the magazine down, the page flipped back to the first page of
the article. She looked down, realizing that this was her very own article from a few
years back. Right there in black and white was her name staring her in the face. She
picked up the magazine for further inspection, noticing that it was over fifteen years old.
This piece had been sold long before she understood the art of adding creative fiction
techniques to her non-fiction articles.
I hope that by reading this article many of your questions were answered about how to
add your own creative touch to your article. Now you will be able to add your fingerprint
to each new article. The next time that you search your mind for a fresh approach,
hopefully this article will come to mind. Good luck with all of your writing goals. Now, go
write an article!

Title: Creative writing tips: let your creativity show

Description: Creative writing tips: helps the writer who struggles with using creative
fiction techniques. In this article, you will find a smorgasborg of scintilating ideas!
here.

Motivation and inspiration for struggling writers
Motivation and inspiration for

struggling writers
Your "great American novel" may have started with a bang, but now it's all you can do to
drag yourself to the keyboard.
Long writing projects often become difficult as self-doubt, writer's block, and endless
everyday distractions begin to pile up and take their toll. The enthusiasm that was nearly
overflowing at the beginning has dried to a trickle. Even worse, that old advice, "Do
something else and you'll come back feeling refreshed and ready to write," hasn't
worked.
But before you give up, try these ten ideas for interest retention:
1. Keep a journal of all the triumphs and pitfalls you've experienced. Include what you've
already achieved and what you hope to accomplish in the near future. Rereading it may
stimulate new ideas and dredge old tangents to the surface, giving new direction and
renewing inspiration.
2. Pretend your story is a movie. Who would star in it? Where would it be filmed and who
would direct it. What songs would you have on the soundtrack and in what part of the
movie? While you may never see (or want to see) your work on the silver screen, this
will get your mind thinking in new ways.
3. Edit what you've already written. Editing will not only improve what your work, it will
temporarily give your mind a break without letting it shut down all together. This
"working vacation" can often do wonders.
4. Visit the setting of the novel or a place that reminds you of it. Immersing yourself in
the location of the book is, in many ways, like immersing yourself in the book itself.
Local people and events may provide the inspiration you need.
5. Make deadlines (and actually stick to them). Because so many of us are

simultaneously goal oriented and procrastinators, self-imposed deadlines are excellent
motivational tools. Break a large project into smaller pieces and give yourself a time limit
in which to accomplish these smaller tasks. Write your plans down, since you'll be more
likely to stick to them when they're in black and white.
6. Reward yourself. Much more important than the actual deadlines, the rewards you
give yourself after meeting them will make self-discipline much more appealing. A
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reward can be anything - a candy bar or a cruise to the Bahamas. Just make sure that
your treat is something you wouldn't normally do or buy and that you have both the time
and budget to enjoy it.
7. Work out of order. If you're at Point A and know what to do at Point C, but have no
idea how to get there, go ahead and jump ahead. If you have a scene, or even a
sentence, floating around in your head, write it down. The next time you have writer's
block or are bored with what you are currently working on, gather all these loose tidbits
and see what you can do with them.
8. Make a dust jacket. If your manuscript was finished, what would you say about it?
How would you summarize your work to make it appealing to the casual reader? A view
of the bigger picture may clear up your mind as it struggles with details.
9. Do something for your novel besides writing. Write a poem or a quote to stick at the
beginning of the first chapter. Draw a map that details the setting or make character
sketches for easy reference later. Again, this productive down time will utilize your
creativity and breathe new life into your project.
10. Talk to people. Tell everyone what you're working on, what you've done and what
you hope to do. Let them read and critique what you've written. Not only will they be
able to give you advice on how to improve your manuscript, but, more than likely, they'll
pressure you to keep writing so they can read more. Family and friends can give you
that extra push you may not be able to give yourself.
If none of these suggestions have helped, you may need to take a serious look at your
writing project. But, with a little effort and creative thinking, you should be back on track
in no time.
Title: Motivation and inspiration for struggling writers

Description: Inspiration and some nonconventional ideas, to motovate and inspire
writers who are struggling to stay interested in their long-term writing project.
here.


How to self publish a how to book
Do you have a vast knowledge of something? Is there a book waiting to get out? Have
you been told that you know so much that you should teach a class? Have you found
yourself just spewing out advice every chance that you can get? If the answer is yes, it’s
time to write a book.
If you feel that you don’t have the proper English writing skills to publish a good quality
how to manual, don’t fret. There are tons of Ghost Writers available to lend you a
helping hand. In the mean time, let’s talk shop. The following is a step by step guide to
self-publishing:
1. Find a topic that you know a lot about and jot down all the things you know.
2. Prepare an outline from the noted you have jotted down.
3. Expand on your outline by writing topic related paragraphs that seem to follow some
type of order. This is where you will begin to organize your thoughts and put them in
such an order that someone can follow your directions and accomplish the task or tasks
that you have set out before them. Think of it as following a recipe and waiting for the
final product to come out of the oven.
4. Once you have your paragraphs written, type them using a 12 font. Use the grammar
and spell check on your document to make sure that the best possible copy has been
written.
5. Purchase a newsletter program such as Publisher 98 and copy and paste your written
words into Publisher 98. Once the words have been inserted, you can add logos,
pictures, graphs and more.
6. Apply for a Copyright from the US Office of Copyright. You will be asked to send in a
completed draft of your work along with a check. Once the office receives your check,
they will issue you a library number.
7. You can now head on down to your local printer and have copies of your manual made
up. This is where the real expense comes in so make sure that you have looked into all
possible options before you agree to a printer’s fee. Printing fees can be anywhere from
$5,000 to $50,000, up-front. Don’t have that kind of money? Don’t worry. Just head on
down to your local Kinkos or Staples Copy Center and have them make copies of your
book, bind them with a spiral bind and a front and back cover. A 63 one-sided book will
cost $8 per book, but you can have them made on an as needed basis.
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8. Once you have this prepared, head on over to the internet. You can find many FREE
websites, that you can build yourself. Place an eye-catching advertisement on the web,
along with an excerpt of your book and a table of contents. Give them your email
address and a PO Box to send cashier’s checks to or sign up with a credit card server
(often as low as 1.9% transaction fee).
9. Go on over to the search engines, and place your web-site out there for others to see.
10. Now look for websites that relate to your how to manual and ask if they would be
willing to reciprocate a link exchange.
11. You can also improve the sells of your manual by performing speaking engagements.
After your speech has been given, go to the back of the room and wait for sales to come
in.
12. You can even call up local bookstores, and stores across the nation and promote
your book.
Title: How to self publish a how to book

Description: Learn how to self publish a how to book: take an idea and turn it into a
self-help manual.
here.
http://va.essortment.com/howtoselfpubl_rvla.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:41:27 PM]

How to make a portfolio
If you are a writer looking for work, the most important tool in your arsenal will be your
portfolio. Editors and publishers want to see examples of your work and what kinds of
places you have published with before and they don’t want to get a stack of photocopied
papers and folded up newspaper clippings. If you want to present your best side to a
prospective editor or publisher, it is important to be professional, organized and
thorough. If you want to be chosen out of the hundreds of other writers on the editors
slush pile, you need to stand out and present yourself coherently and with style. The
portfolio you create could make or break your next writing contract. Before you start,
you’ll want to pick up some report folders, the kind with the sliding bracket on the edge
are the easiest to put together, but you may find a loose leaf type folder even more
professional looking and weighty enough to not get lost in a pile of envelopes.
Get about twenty good quality laser copies of any articles you have published in the past
3 years. If your article included color photos, have them copied in color. On the bottom
of each copy, type the name of the publication it appeared in along with the date. Make
sure you produce copies of ALL of your clips, not just the best ones. You want to build an
arsenal of different types of writing so that when you are querying for a job, you will
have a full artillery. Clips can include brochures, newspaper articles, nonfiction articles,
poetry, fiction, advertising copy, anything that you have written that has been published.
The more different kinds of examples you can assemble, the better.
Before you assemble your portfolio, you will want to work up a resume to include in the
front of your package. Include any relevant credits you have accumulated no matter how
obscurely related they may seem. Also include any information that really doesn’t have
anything to do with writing at all. You never know when an editor is looking for an expert
in a field you may have experience in to do an article. Even if your editor isn’t interested
in your query, if he sees something in your resume that looks interesting, he may ask
you to do an article pertaining to it.
You can tailor make your portfolio to suit the interests of any particular editor. If, for
example, you are querying to a children’s magazine, include in the beginning of your
portfolio any examples of writing you have done related to this field, followed by a few
examples of other things you have published. It is always good to show versatility, even
when working for a targeted audience. If possible, you should include a photo of yourself
in your portfolio, sometimes magazines like to include photos of their authors and it also
helps the editor to put a face to your writing, a big advantage!
Above all, make your portfolio user friendly and unpretentious. An editor can tell by your
portfolio whether you will be difficult to work and you want to give the impression that
you are easy going, though professional and talented. Portfolios add up to a big plus in
your favor if you send them along with your query, you will be less likely to get ignored
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as a nice looking portfolio is tempting for editors to look through.
Title: How to make a portfolio

Description: How to make a professional portfolio to increase your chances of
publishing your articles.
here.
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How to write a book proposal
First make sure a book proposal is the appropriate document for you. Many new writers
make the mistake of using a book proposal for fiction. While that is not entirely unheard
of, it is not the usual way to get your work in the hands of a publishing house. Book
proposals are often used to market non-fiction books and you may send a book proposal
to an agent or editor without having finished the book first. If your interest is fiction,
your document should be polished and complete before sending it on. Also be sure to
check the Writer’s Market or other reference to see if the agent or publisher you are
targeting accepts unsolicited proposals. Many agents and publishers would rather a short
query letter before being faced with the whole proposal document. You can also request
a copy of their submission guidelines at this time. Don’t forget to include a stamped, self-
addressed envelope.
Before Beginning
Thoroughly research your subject before beginning. Are there any books out there like
yours? If so, is there room for more? Before developing your idea you should research
the market and find out what has been published and what sold and what did not. Talk
to your local librarian and bookstore manager. They can tell you what has been popular
and what has not. While you have the bookstore manager’s ear it doesn’t hurt to explain
your idea and ask what genre he or she would put your book in. You want to be clear in
your proposal just what shelf your book will sit on and who will be interested in buying it.
You can also check out Publisher’s Weekly to see what is current in the market.
Your proposal should include: a cover page, pitch, detailed table of contents, sample
chapter, and attachments detailing related news and your qualifications.
Cover Page
The cover page is pretty self-explanatory. Include the title, your name, your address,
and your phone number and email.
The Pitch
The pitch section will outline your idea, what market it is intended for, who the
competition might be, publicity and promotional ideas and some information about you,
the author. Explain your idea in several paragraphs clearly and concisely. Don’t beat
around the bush. Describe the market of readers who will be anxiously awaiting your
book. Are they young or old? Male or female? The publisher wants to know that you have
done your homework. Be honest about whom you think the competitions will be. If you
think it will be a tough market, say so. Give details about how you plan to publicize your
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work and make sure the agent or publisher is left with the impression that you will work
hard to get the word out. Lastly, list your qualifications. Why are you the person to write
this book and how are you qualified in the subject? Don’t be modest.
Table of Contents
You should have worked out how many chapters there will be in your book and what
each chapter will cover. While this is something that should be given a lot of thought,
you don’t have to feel it is written in stone. One of the reasons for sending a proposal for
non-fiction is to have the editor give some input for the content of the book. Changes
can be made later if needed.
Sample Chapter
While the sample chapter is often the first chapter, it doesn’t have to be. If you think
your third or fifth chapter will be more attention getting, then send that chapter. Make
sure there are no errors and remember this is what is going to set the tone for your
book. Is it going to be an academic document, a humorous piece, or a practical how-to
book? Think about your style and consider if it will work with all the other chapters you
plan on writing.
Supporting Material
The last part of your proposal should contain any recent news clippings related to your
topic or media attention you have received. The purpose of this section is to give
credibility to the author and the idea.
Sending it Off
Proofread your proposal and have someone else look at it as well. Then put it in a drawer
and take it out a week later and check it again. Once you are satisfied that there are no
errors pack it up (without shredded paper or Styrofoam peanuts!) and send it out. If you
want your document back be sure to include a stamped, self-addressed envelope with
the appropriate postage. Once you have sent your proposal, move on to another project.
Mark your calendar for two months later. If you haven’t heard form the agent or editor
by that time send a polite note asking if they received your proposal. If they are not
interested then try another publisher. Just because one agent is not interested doesn’t
mean your idea isn’t good. After all, Harry Potter was rejected eight times before J.K.
Rowling got an acceptance.
Title: How to write a book proposal

Description: Learn how to write a book proposal, what the elements are and how to
create them.

here.

Marketing tips for freelance writers
Writers just starting out and hoping to publish need to do more than perfect their writing
skills, including syntax, grammar and lucid use of vocabulary, learn to do excellent
research and polish their prose. In fact, the business of writing, the sale of pieces of
writing for profit with corresponding protection of rights is an important part of a free
lance writer’s work. This piece will suggest a series of steps for the beginning writer who
must acquaint him/herself with markets in order for sales to begin.
First, choose a genre or type of writing, or perhaps a couple of them, and place your
focus there.Will you write fiction or non-fiction? Poetry is altogether another subject, and
markets for poetry will not be dealt with here, nor will play or script-writing.
If you will write fiction, aim for short, picaresque, well-told stories with well-motivated
characters and concrete details at every turn. The time for novel-writing should probably
be after you have proven your skills as a writer of short fiction, although this is not true
for all novelists.
If you decide to write non-fiction, you will have a broader market selection, and must of
necessity choose a few subjects on which to base your early work. Later, with research
and writing experience, you can dabble in more than one area with ease, but to work,
say, in celebrity profiles, business writing and sports writing nay confuse the issue and
triple the amount of research you must do.
But, if for example, you decide to write health and medical articles, incidentally, an up
and coming area for free lancers, you can hone yourself as an expert by the volume of
your work alone, and your research can also double or triple for use in more than one
article. Free lancers must work fast, and efficiently, to produce even a modest income.
Be logical in your choice of what to write; if you don’t have a scientific bent, don’t decide
to write technology articles. If you are impatient with details, don’t bother trying to do
craft how-to pieces.
Let’s assume you’ve chosen Health and Medicine to begin with, because there are a few
subjects in this field you know a bit about, and even more you’re interested in. Because
you once had a sports’ injury that required extensive physical therapy, you know a little
about such injuries. Start doing your research, but in the meantime, research the
markets and find out where you might be able to pitch a piece on such a sports injury.
With a specific market in mind, you’ll know how to slant your article, how long to make
it, and whether to query the editor before it’s completely written or whether they’ll want
to see a completed piece.
Where do you find out these things?
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Without a hesitation, go to writing magazines like The Writer, Writer’s Digest and Byline.
Obtain copies at the library or invest in them at your mega bookstore, and start poring
over the market suggestions in current and back issues. You may come up with five or
six magazines outside of the top ones like, say Sports; Illustrated, which you may want
to save for you fame and glory days.
See if your chosen selections are looking for pieces on sports injuries, sports’ medicine or
the physical therapist’s role in keeping athletes fit. Just reading these Writer’s
Guidelines, or Submission Guidelines will help you decide how to slant your article. If you
can’t locate some specific markets in the magazines, go online and do a search, or go
directly to some e-zines which may also be looking for such pieces. E-publishing is
incidentally a great way to get started. Even if you have to publish for no pay, get a few
“sales” under your belt will help your resume when you query an editor and try to sell
later.
There’s also a possibility that straight print magazines who want your piece won’t pay
either, except in copies. As a beginner, you’re in a bind, and may have to accept that
route as the best starting point, when you have no experience of sales. You decide when
you’ve had enough of that routine, though, and when you’re ready to get paid or die
trying. My first two short stories were freebies, but the thrill I got from seeing my work
in print, and the nice comments I got from the editors of those two literary magazines
was pay enough. Later I got paid small amounts, and twice had the pleasure of seeing
the cover of two more magazines push my story, with illustrations and headlines—a
thrill.
Finally get paid for short stories took a few years, and, incidentally, I’ve never made as
much from short fiction as from noon-fiction. So if you’re eager to publish, stay with non-
fiction and study the markets. Eventually, you’ll graduate to the Writer’s Annuals, a
compendium of all kinds of markets for writers. Most libraries have a few of these
annuals in their reference departments, and often you can take out the year-old volumes
for study at home. Writer’s Market 2000, for example, is a Writer’s Digest Books
selection that costs about $25.00, and offers updated market listings. There are also
subject-particular references, such as Christian Writer’s Market Guide Annual, Business
Writer’s Guides, and so on.
Study your Writer’s Market like a Bible. You will discover small, niche markets that don’t
get 1,000 submissions a month like Sports’ Illustrated does. Aim for the small guys first;
they’re hungry for you and your well-written articles. Also, don’t neglect newspapers,
local and regional. A regional newspaper near my town is large enough to pay at lest a
two-figure amount for my travel and food articles, while my local paper will not, even if I
occasionally offer them a freebie for public relations’ sake.
Another tack for marketing is to connect yourself to a writers’ group. I found mine when
I took a college evening course called Writer’s Support Group. After a helpful eight-week
course, a group of us decided to continue to meet, critique each other’s work and
educate one another by sharing market tips and advice. We were all pretty much
beginners, but the mutual support we were able to give and receive in our group has
been a godsend.

Learn your markets, focus your work, find support and educational resources, and you’re
well on your way to a free-lance writing career. If you have enough determination and a
modicum of skill and marketing savvy, you’ll make it.
Written by Eleanor Sullo
Title: Marketing tips for freelance writers

Description: Marketing tips for freelance writers. Useful resources and offers vital
suggestions for writers at the erearly stages of their careers.
here.

Writing a short story manuscript format for publication
Writing a short story manuscript format

for publication
Persistence. Talent. Imagination. These are the hallmarks of a good fiction writer.
Without them, you'll never succeed in the overpopulated field that publishing's become
these days. Even with them, you're not guaranteed success. Nevertheless, there are
certain conventions that, when followed, can give your manuscripts that professional
look and feel that sets them apart from the rest of the slush pile. Among these, the basic
rules of manuscript formatting loom largest.
Ten Not-So-Little Rules
Every writer develops his or her own style, even when it comes to marketing their work.
Nevertheless, there's a basic body of rules every writer should know. In time, these rules
will become so familiar that you'll use them without even thinking about them.
1. Print your stories on white 20-pound paper. There's no need to use anything else,
since 20-pound white bond is the industry standard. It's also cheap (copier paper works
just fine). Colored paper is annoying and amateurish, and erasable paper isn't
particularly erasable.
2. Always type or word-process your manuscript (or at least have someone else do it).
No self-respecting editor would ever consider a hand-written manuscript.
3. Try to print your article with a laser printer; you can get a good one new for less than
$250 these days. If you don't have one, borrow a friend's, use the office's during
lunchtime, or go to Kinko's. Inkjet printers are OK, but dot-matrix printers don't cut it. If
you're one of those prehistoric hard-cases who still pecks away at a typewriter, always
use a clean, sharp ribbon.
4. Avoid double-sided copies or printouts. They're too hard to read and edit.
5. Use Courier, Courier New, or a similar easily-read font. You don't want the editor to
get eyestrain, do you?
6. Double-space between lines. Never triple space. Use two double-spaces to indicate a
scene break or the passage of time. The first line of each paragraph should be indented
about half an inch.
7. Make sure your margins are at least one-and-a-half inches wide (but don't overdo it).
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Leave the right margin unjustified; this makes it easier to edit.
8. On the first page of your manuscript, include your contact and rights information. In
the upper left corner, type your name, address, phone number, and e-mail address (if
you have one). In the upper right corner, type the estimated word count. On subsequent
pages, include a header in the upper left corner that briefly identifies your manuscript
and its author (for example, "Joe Blow/Story"). Page numbers should be centered at the
bottom of the page, but don't bother with a page number on page one.
9. About a third of the way down the first page, center the text and type the story's title
in bold caps. Keep your text centered, drop down one double space, and type the word
"by" followed by your penname. Then press Enter twice, left justify your text, indent
your paragraph, and start typing your story. Continue until done.
10. Once you've brought your opus to a close, drop down two or three lines, center your
text, and type THE END in bold caps. Ta-da, you're done!
This is what your properly-formatted title page should look like:
John Q. Scribbler 700 words
1600 Marvin Gardens
Atlantic City, NJ 21000
(123) 456-7890
writer@someisp.com
HOW TO FORMAT A SHORT STORY MANUSCRIPT FOR PUBLICATION
by Jake Scribbler
Persistence. Talent. Imagination. These are
the hallmarks of a good fiction writer. Without
them, you'll never success in the dog-eat-dog
field that publishing's become these days. Even
with them, you're not guaranteed success.
Nevertheless, there are certain conventions that,

when followed, can give your manuscripts that
professional look and feel that sets them apart
from the rest of the slush pile. Among these, the
basic rules of manuscript formatting loom largest.
Ten Not-So-Little Rules
Every writer develops his or her own style,
even when it comes down to the marketing aspects
of their work. Nevertheless, there's a basic body
of rules every writer should know. In time,
these rules will become so familiar you'll use
them without even thinking about them.
******
THE END
Title: Writing a short story manuscript format for publication

Description: Details about the best way to format a short story manuscript for
submission.
here.


How to submit a short story manuscript to an editor
How to submit a short story manuscript

to an editor
Writing fiction at the professional level isn't for the faint of heart. Any writer who wants
to remain competitive in the field must be blessed with talent, imagination, and
(especially) perseverance. As if that weren't enough, he or she must also learn to be a
good businessperson -- and that means mastering the basics of marketing, negotiation,
manuscript formatting, and manuscript submission. This article covers the most often
overlooked of these subjects, the submission of the manuscript itself.
Ten Important Rules
Before you submit your story to a professional publication, you need to learn the basic
rules of the game. Study these, learn them, and internalize them until they're second
nature. Along with formatting, they're the key to your success as a fiction writer. Editors
won't look twice at your work if you don't follow the rules.
NOTE: Many of these items assume that you'll be submitting your article by snail-mail.
Electronic submissions may be the wave of the future, but most editors haven't gotten
around to accepting them yet.
And away we go:
1. Don't submit to a market unless you've studied it carefully. While few writers are
careless enough to submit a regency romance story to a hard science fiction magazine,
it's not uncommon for editors at such a magazine to be inundated by piles of soft SF,
sword-and-sorcery, and fantasy stories.
2. Unless you're submitting a work that the editor has asked for specifically, or if you
have special instructions for the disposal of the manuscript, don't bother with a cover
letter. Most editors think they're a waste of time.
3. If you're submitting the story by snail-mail, always be sure to include a self-

addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) with it. Make sure the SASE is big enough for the
entire manuscript to return in (usually 9 by 12 inches are larger). Always use stamps for
your SASE, because the Postal Service won't accept a SASE with metered postage. If the
manuscript is disposable, let the editor know and include a smaller SASE for their reply.
If you're submitting electronically, ask the editor for submission instructions and follow
them to the letter.
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4. Snail-mail manuscripts should be submitted in a large envelope, at least 9 by 12

inches in size. This will give you plenty of room for your manuscript, SASE, and any
other items you need to include. One exception: very short manuscripts can be
submitted in a plain business-sized envelope.
5. If you're including a computer disk or other electronic media in your submission,

invest in a disk mailer to keep it safe. Label the mailer with your name and story title,
just in case it gets loose in the editor's office or mailroom. You should also label the
exterior of the submission envelope with the legend "DO NOT BEND. ELECTRONIC MEDIA
ENCLOSED."
6. For a more professional look, type or print the editorial and return addresses on
adhesive labels and attach them to the appropriate spots on your submission envelope.
7. Submit all snail-mail manuscripts by First Class mail. Why? It's not that expensive, it
looks more professional, and it arrives more quickly than other classes of mail.
8. Unless the editor has asked otherwise, always submit the complete manuscript.
9. Try to submit your story to the proper editor. Sending it to the wrong place will delay
its consideration, or might simply get it lost altogether. If you must, call the editorial
office to verify the name of the editor, but don't make a habit of this.
10. Never call an editor about a submission. This will only irritate them. After the
reporting period has lapsed, submit a politely-worded query asking about the piece's
status. After a month, follow it with another, similar query. If this doesn't result in a
reply, wait a bit and then send a letter politely withdrawing the story from consideration.
Yes, this is a lengthy process, but you do have other projects going in the meantime --
right?
These rules won't sell your story by themselves -- you have to have the right idea and
right execution, too. But if keep them in mind, along with your formatting requirements,
you'll be on your way to a publishing success. You might not sell the story right away,
but it'll look damn professional while it's on an editor's desk.
Title: How to submit a short story manuscript to an editor

Description: A guide for how to properly submit a short story manuscript to an editor.
here.


Free web publishing: how writers can profit in cyberspace
Free web publishing: how writers can

profit in cyberspace
In the opening chapter of Olivia Goldsmiths' novel The Bestseller, the main character, a
writer, receives twenty-six rejection letters and promptly hangs herself. Written in 1996,
the premise is almost laughable today. The Electronic Publishing Revolution is here and
writers no longer need to rely on a handful of publishing powerhouses to get their books
into the hands of thousands of hungry readers.
Any revolution begins with a small group of individuals who are fed up with the tyranny
of those in power. Throughout the literary world, the cry is being heard loud and clear as
the Internet on-line publishing services become the voice of the oppressed writer.
Ever since the invention of the written word, publishing has been a long, tedious and
sometimes painful process. It may take months, sometimes years, to complete a novel;
even longer to find an agent. The agent then submits the manuscript to a group of
editors at major publishing houses, who could hold onto it for months. It takes only one
editor to kill it.
With buy-outs and mergers, the number of publishers has diminished rapidly over the
past decade. And with that, the opportunity for writers to have their work published
diminished as well. The odds of being published became almost as slim as winning the
lottery. Until the miracle of the Internet began to turn the tide.
What the printing press and the copier did for writers of the parchment and quill age, the
Internet and electronic publishing will do for aspiring authors in the new millennium.
Ebooks, books that are published in CD-Rom or 3-1/2" floppy disk format, are growing in
number, especially in the fiction market. Ebookstores, such as www.ebookshoppe.com,
list over three hundred titles, with more being added every month.
Production costs are low so that the average price of an ebook is much more affordable
than typical hard cover or even paperback releases. With the introduction of Ebook
readers early this year, text books and encyclopedias that used to take up shelf space
and weigh several pounds can now be stored and transported in a small carry case and
read anywhere. Ebook pages can also be downloaded and printed from any computer
and read in hard copy format.
Print-On-Demand is another publishing innovation that saves time, space and trees.
When a book is ordered from an on-line store, such as Amazon.com, the publisher prints
and mails the book, usually within twenty-four hours. This eliminates huge inventory
costs and awards greater royalties for the author.
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But the greatest benefit of this new industry is the freedom it allows both the writer and
the bibliophile. No longer will authors be at the mercy of a handful of agents and an even
smaller handful of publishers for their works to be read. For the first time in the history
of publishing, the writers are in control. And the literary community is now free to
discover a wide variety of wonderful literature, exceptional writing, and a diverse
selection of authors who have been kept silent.
Best sellers will no longer be decided by an elite group of publishers. Millions of people
from around the world will now have instant access to thousands of titles, in hundreds of
categories, from sources that would never have been published with conventional
methods. New genres are being created everyday. Where, in a typical bookstore, would
you find Erotic Science Fiction? Even today's mega- bookstores would have to be the size
of a small city to be able to hold all the titles that will soon be available through this new
publishing medium.
But the opportunities for writers in cyberspace isn't limited to novels. Publishers of paper
magazines are discovering the enormous savings of internet publishing. Former paper
publications such as OMNI have transformed their magazine to on e-zine and finding
their readership has increased substantially. New e-zines are appearing on almost a daily
basis, and these magazines need talented writers. From the exotic to the erotic, free-
lance writers on the internet are finding themselves in high demand. Never before in the
history of the written word, have writers had this much opportunity to make money from
writing. And this is only the beginning!
A new resource for writers in Cyberspace has just been published. Writers Market for the
Internet by Anthony Tedesco, lists over 200 paying web sites, ezines, Print On Demand,
and ebook publishers.
The Electronic Publishing Revolution is here. The battle cry has been sounded and the
literary community will never be the same.
Written by Robin Westmiller
Title: Free web publishing: how writers can profit in cyberspace

Description: Learn about free web publishing and how you, as a writer, can profit in
cyberspace. The Electronic Publishing Revolution is here and you can be a part of it!
here.


Self publishing on internet
New writers have a tough time getting that first book published. Luckily, many can be
"discovered" by publishing on the Internet, which can often lead to their work winding up
in print, or "hard-copy."
However, many of the current electronic publishing Web sites are little more than vanity
presses. The majority require fees to publish books online, so new authors are paying up
front costs of $700.00 or more. The author will then receive as little as 10% in royalties
and have to pay for expenses, such as credit card disputes.
The average cost of an e-book is $5.00 for titles written by unknown authors. Ten
percent of $5.00 is $.50. If you are an author receiving royalties of ten percent on a
printed book priced at $20.00, you're way ahead. Even at forty percent on a $5.00
digital book, your chance of selling as many as you would in print form is unlikely.
The reason for that unfortunate fact centers on marketing. Like self-publishing houses,
electronic publishers don't seem to do much advertising the work of their authors. For
obvious reasons, their market is the unpublished author.
Currently, if you are an author wanting to publish on the Internet, you have two options:
go with an electronic publisher and pay them to publish it, or become an Internet self-
publisher. The advantage of the former, and it is a big one, is that an electronic publisher
will handle all of the ordering process. They take care of delivering your book to the
reader, and most importantly, credit card processing.
But there are also advantages to becoming an Internet self-publisher. The most obvious
is the 100% royalty on your work. And there is something to be said for having complete
control over its production.
The first thing you will need is a Web site, and one of the easiest things to find on the
Internet is a company to host it. Things to consider when choosing a Web host are
connection speeds, reliable servers and included features. There are two very important
features the author needs. One is a password-protected directory; the other an auto-
responder.
A password protected directory is simply a space on a server that requires a password to

access. You will want to upload a plain text file of your book to this directory. Then once
a customer orders your book, he or she is given that password.
The next thing to acquire is a merchant account. This is by far the most difficult and
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sometimes, the most costly aspect of the self-publishing venture. But it is as necessary
as any other step to take. The one thing that makes electronic commerce successful is
the impulsive buyer. If the customer has to take the time to write a check, address an
envelope, and drop it in the mailbox, he also has time to change his mind.
One option is the growing number of processing companies found on the Internet. For a
fee and/or percentage of sale, they will process credit card orders and deposit your share
in your bank.
Once everything is set up, the next step is promotion. One of the best and least
expensive ways to reach people on the Internet is through mailing lists and newsgroups.
But before you start promoting your book using these free mediums, take some time
and read what other members are posting. And don’t post an advertisement in a mailing
list that is strictly discussion. You will certainly learn the meaning of “flame” if you do.
So once you find the appropriate list, write an ad describing your book. As an incentive,
offer the first few chapters for free, followed with the URL to your Web site. Once there,
potential customers will find an email address where they can request the free portion of
your book.
This email address actually leads to your auto-responder. Once it receives an email
message, it automatically sends the free portion of your book to the email address of the
person sending the message without you having to do a thing. So anytime of the day, a
reader can make a request, receive the chapters and read them. Then with their credit
card, they can order via your online form the password that will allow them to access the
remaining chapters stored in your password-protected directory. The other advantage of
the auto-responder is that you will know how many people request your free chapters.
This lets you know the effectiveness of your ad and if you are providing enough “hook”
for your readers to purchase the rest of your book.
This whirlwind tour through the Internet self-publishing concept leaves out many
important things to consider. For example, how long do you want customers to have
access to the book? Do you give them a few weeks to read or download it and then
change the password? And once your hard work is out there for the world to see, how
much protection do you have over copyright infringement?
If your goal is to get your work out there while making money for your labor, Internet
self-publishing is an inexpensive way of doing it. And as long as the work doesn’t stop
with the words “The End,” you may accomplish your goal and more.
Title: Self publishing on internet

Description: Electronic publishing costs money, but self publishing on the internet
allows writers to publish their ebooks online at their own Website and keep 100% of the
royalties.

here.

How to decide if freelance writing is for you
How to decide if freelance writing is for

you
So you want to be a writer. You’ve written some short stories, some articles, maybe
some poetry or even a novel. You’ve thought about becoming a freelance writer, but
could you do it full-time? You’ve got bills to pay, maybe a mortgage and some kids to
feed. You might work at a job you tolerate, but you dream of writing, of being a writer,
of making a living from being a writer. Does this describe you? Well, you can be a writer,
especially if you consider a relatively new and fairly lucrative market: Internet writing.
You CAN make a living by being an Internet writer. But there are a few questions you
should ask yourself before quitting your day job:
Can you be both boss and worker, salesman and office manager? You have to write
enough to make money, which at least at first, will probably be quite a bit. And being a
writer, you already know you have to be a good editor. No publication wants an article
riddled with errors or typos. You have to sell your work and yourself to editors and
publishers. You have to able to manage your business efficiently, unless you are one of
the lucky few who can afford a secretary.
Do you have a financial safety net? Some writers say you should have three months’
worth of income saved; some say a year. But if your income is the only one you have to
depend on, you need to have as much in the bank as you are comfortable, and only you
can decide that. It depends upon what your expenses are, how much savings you have,
and if you have other means of income. Many writers start out writing in their free time
at first, and then moving to full-time when they become successful enough to do so.
Only you can decide when that is.
Can you write? Writing for the web is different from any other kind of writing. You have
to be able to write in a conversational style and put the information into an easy-to-read
format such as bullets. You will have to be clear, concise and able to write short, tight
paragraphs. Surfers often have short attention spans, so you have to grab their attention
with great text. You don’t have to be the greatest wordsmith that ever lived, but you
should know the basics of writing and grammar. But most of all, you have to have a
passion for writing. If you truly love writing, it will show in your work, and that will carry
you the rejections.
Can you take rejection? Yes, there will plenty of those. And if you’re anything like most
writers, you’ll have more rejections at first than you have assignments. But you just
have to believe in yourself and be persistent. It takes time to get established as a writer
and get jobs that pay, let alone jobs that pay well. Know that you can do it and that your
hard work will pay off. It’s great if you have a support system, friends and family who
also believe in you, but that will carry you only so far. You have to believe in yourself.
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How to decide if freelance writing is for you
Can you market yourself and your writing? You have to be business-like. You are a
salesperson. You have to sell yourself to editors, and when you land a job, you have to
sell the publication to the readers with your content. So act like a salesman: be a
professional marketer for yourself and it will pay off.
Are you self-disciplined? If you work from home, you have to separate your home life
from your work life; don’t get distracted by the kids or the dishes. You have to ignore
the mounting pile of laundry. You must be able to schedule your work time so that you
can meet deadlines without a boss hanging over your shoulder.
O f course you love your literary writing, but the fact is it is much easier to make money
from commercial writing than from “literary” writing. Advances for a nonfiction book can
run between $5000-$25,000, but an advance for a first-time novel is likely to be much
less because there are so many would-be novelists. Everyone wants to be the next Great
American Novelist. No one wants to be the next Greatest American Copywriter, so you
stand to make a lot more money at that. No one says you have to give up your dream of
publishing your novel. I’m simply suggesting that if you want to make money at writing,
you should definitely consider Internet writing. If nothing else, it could get you out of
that job you hate, pay the bills, and leave you with more free time to write that novel of
yours.
Title: How to decide if freelance writing is for you

Description: Some key questions you should ask yourself when deciding to become a
freelance writer.
here.
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Writing for publication: five attention getters not impressive to editors
Writing for publication: five attention

getters not impressive to editors
The world of freelance writing has a very strong appeal to those of us who would love to
see our writing get world-wide exposure. For many beginning writers, the thought of
having something we created ourselves being read by hundreds, thousands or maybe
even millions of people can become an obsession. Some writers are not content to work
within the confines of the established freelance system, however, and resort to attention-
grabbing tricks in order to impress an editor or exaggerate their own accomplishments.
These would-be writers can actually achieve some of their goals through the use of these
tricks, but ultimately a solid writing career is based on hard work and dedication, not
Jedi mind games. If you are just starting out on a freelance career, you may be tempted
to try some or all of these gimmicks yourself, but do fight the temptation. Freelance
writing can be a tough field to break into and find success, but it is most rewarding when
done honorably. Here are five things you do NOT want to do to impress editors or
improve your chances of publication.
1. Exaggerate your publication history. Many editors request cover letters or brief bios
that give them some idea of your previous writing credits. Some writers translate this
request to mean that they won't get hired or accepted unless they can list a tremendous
amount of bona fide writing credentials. They will pad out their 'curriculum vitae' with
non-existent publications, false acceptance claims and exaggerated educational
backgrounds. Undoubtedly, some unscrupulous writers have gotten away with this form
of resume padding, but you wouldn't want to be one of them when the real truth comes
out. You never know where an editor has worked before, or what schools they may have
attended. Never put down a reference or a publication credit that you cannot verify. If
you have limited experience, say so. List what credits you do have, even if they sound
minor or amateur in nature. Editors may take a chance on a young unknown if the query
letter is well-formed and the cover letter sells the sizzle. You should never resort to
unprovable background information.
2. Submit work to the same editor every week, regardless of his decision. If you really
want to get on an editor's bad side, keep sending out the same type of material he
rejected last week. Some writers have been lead to believe that editors live to be worn
down. This is the same tactic that young actors sometimes employ to get auditions from
high-profile directors. It may work once out of a thousand times, if at all. Resubmission
of inferior work to the same editor amounts to harrassment, and may lead to legal action
if taken too far. If you receive a rejection letter from a magazine editor, either resubmit
the work to another editor at a different magazine, or rework the piece until you believe
you have improved it sufficiently. Always wait a considerate amount of time before
submitting new work to any editor, whether or not he or she accepted your previous
submissions. Success is not an invitation to overload someone's desk with more and
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more submissions.
3. Call an editor on the phone for updates. No matter how many times the guideline
books tell a writer not to call the editor directly, some writers just don't get the hint.
They will call the editor's direct line within weeks of a submission and ask for feedback or
decisions. Again, you may get extremely lucky and catch the editor in a good mood, but
that is a rareity. Calling an editor on an unsolicited manuscript submission is considered
rude and unprofessional in most publishing circles. You may believe that such phone
calls imply a writer's strong interest in the magazine or his willingness to follow up on a
submission, but you would be wrong in most circumstances. Editors face what is referred
to as the 'slush pile' every working day. This is that ever-growing pile of unsolicited
manuscripts that demand their attention. Even if they could answer the phone, they
won't appreciate any writer's inquiry on a manuscript they probably haven't even seen
yet, much less formed any sort of opinion on its merit. Do yourself a favor and stay off
the phone unless specifically requested to do so in the course of acceptance.
4. Overstate your writing level and ability. Ambitious freelancers sometimes feel the
necessity to exaggerate their level of expertise or writing level in order to land the higher-
paying assignments. Their hope is that the story will write itself and their lack of native
ability will not be noticed by the editorial staff. If you want to continue working for a
particular magazine, never try to appear more knowledgeable on a specific subject than
you are. A good freelance reporter depends heavily on interviews with bona fide experts
in the field he or she is covering. The skill of writing comes into play much later, when
the thoughts of the experts are blended in with the author's own observations. If you
don't have the proper skills or knowledge to take on a freelance assignment, don't
accept it for the sake of a publishing credit. Know your own limitations and strengths
before pitching your skills to a specialized magazine.
5. Argue the merits of your rejected article. If a manuscript is rejected by an editor,

there is usually a reason behind it. You may never be privileged enough as a freelancer
to learn what that reason was, but you should learn to live with rejection slips in the
writing business. Some beginning writers take rejection very hard, and feel obligated to
fire off complaint letters that defend the merits of their rejected works. The hope is that
an editor will take a second look at the piece and realize just how misguided and
shortsighted he was. The reality is that the editor realizes precisely what he will be
missing in his life by rejecting your article, and he will not be moved. Never waste
precious time and energy arguing a rejection decision. Simply move on to the next name
on your list and hope for a better result. If you argue with an editor now, he or she may
remember your name for a very long time. Try to maintain a good professional
relationship with the editorial staff, even if the acceptances aren't exactly flowing in yet.
Title: Writing for publication: five attention getters not impressive to editors
Description: Freelance writing for publication can be such a competitive field that some
beginning writers resort to attention-getting tricks to impress editors. Here are five tricks
to avoid as a fledgling writer.

here.

How to market and promote a book
As an author, you've spent months, maybe even years working on your novel, and finally
after trudging through agents, publishers, rejection letters and pessimistic friends, you're
holding your finished book in your hands. But don't bask in the glow of accomplishment
for too long. The real work is just beginning.
Whatever path you chose for your book, whether it's published by a major publisher, co-
publisher, self-publisher, Office Depot and Kinko's, or your handy lap-top and HP laser
jet printer, no one will know about it unless you are ready to take the next step;
marketing and promotion. Unless you have mega-bucks to hire your own publicist or
marketing company, you will spend about ten percent of your time writing and 110
percent working hard to have what you wrote, read.
Contrary to the opinion of professional PR firms, there are many low cost ways to
promote yourself and your book. The easiest, and least expensive is to make your own
business cards using your home computer and printer. If you don't live near a store that
sells pre-designed business cards, there is an excellent catalogue company called Paper
Direct that carries a complete line of business stationery. (order their catalogue by
calling 1-800-4-papers.) You might find a theme card that will work well with your
promotional material as well as matching brochures, postcards and letterhead.
Colorful cards are attention getters. I use several different designs for my writing in
general and a more specific design for my novel which has a picture of a wine bottle and
glass on it. I've printed the caption "Wake Up with Red Wine For Breakfast" a small one
line description of my book, phone number and web site. The computer printed cards
work well if you're going to a lot of different events. At the recent L.A. Times Book
Festival, I substituted my phone number with the booth location number so when I
handed out the cards on site, people could find the location of where to purchase my
book.
At my recent booksigning event, I replaced the booth location, with the Barnes and
Noble's store address and phone number. All these changes were free. The box of 500
cards was just under $30.00, and if you print out only what you'll need, you can use
them for any event or promotional occasion.
Free ink is always the best. If you have children, they are an excellent source of free
press and promotion. Buy some iron-on transfer paper and make your own t-shirts with
a picture of the cover of your book on one side, your web site, or other information on
how to buy your book on the back. Strongly suggest they wear it on "story telling days"
at your local library or book store, especially if you're holding a booksigning there. City
events in the park, street fairs, parades, anywhere there are crowds, take the kiddies.
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PTA events, school and extracurricular activities all are excellent places to promote your
book. Cute little kids make excellent billboards! The cost is low (maybe some ice cream)
and the exposure is high. Of course this won't work if your children are pre-teen or
teenagers. Unless you're book is cool.
Your car is another excellent advertising tool. Traffic is an wonderful opportunity to

promote your book. If your state has personalized license plates, find a way to put
yourself or your book title on the plate. (Mine reads: GR82B RW) However, if this is
impractical, find a company that makes personalized license plate holders. Mine is red
with white lettering and has "Wake up with Red Wine For Breakfast" imprinted on the top
line, and my web site on the bottom line. If you own a truck, you can have magnetic
signs made of the cover and display your book right on your vehicle!
If you're in the business community, join the local Chamber of Commerce. Attend
mixers, breakfast meetings, network to anyone and everyone. Do NOT be shy about
your book, (but don't be obnoxious either!) People will be more inclined to buy books
from author's they know, especially if you personally autograph their copy!
Make a list of the local bookstores in your area, and contact their community relations
managers. Both Barnes and Noble and Borders has a complete listing of their store's
locations on their site. And if you are invited to a store, don't forget to bring a gift for the
person who made the booking. I give them pewter pens that I sell in my store because
they're not available anywhere locally. Hopefully, they will tell other CMR's of your
generosity and will schedule an event for you just for the free gift!
Collect all promotional material written about you and your book. Make copies of all your
interviews, reviews, articles, photos and create a full press kit for radio and local
television stations. Try to get on your local cable shows that may have topics related to
you or your book. Create a new angle to promote yourself. Radio and television interview
shows are saturated with authors looking to talk about their books. Find a new approach,
something interesting that will spark their interest. I've written an article about the new
"Electronic Publishing Revolution" and have been receiving a great deal of press on the
subject, and I always find a way to promote my novel, which takes place in a Los
Angeles radio station, especially when trying to book a radio talk show.
On the Internet, one of the best sites for information on marketing and promotion can be
found at iUniverse authors tool kit. Here you will find sections on Publicity, Marketing,
Cracking the Media and Essentials for marketing and promoting your book. It's a huge
source of valuable information, but it will be up to you as to how much of it you use. Join
the www.egroup.com and check out the many lists about writing, publishing and
marketing. I have my own list for Print On Demand authors, and belong to three others
where we share ideas and support each other's efforts.
Another excellent and inexpensive way to get your book into the hands of reviewers is
send them disk versions of your work. Most authors write their novels on a PC, saving
their files in a variety of formats. Once their book is published, getting it into the hands
of reviewers can be a costly process, both in the cost of the books and in the postage.
No longer. Adobe had created the perfect way to promote your entire novel in an easy

and inexpensive way. Their site can save any file, up to three, for FREE! Once saved, it
can be copied onto disks which can then be mailed to anyone with an Adobe program,
which can also be downloaded from their site for FREE. This is an excellent way for
authors to send out copies of their books, provided you send an email with instructions
as to how to upload your file. You can also use this method to offer an "ebook" of your
novel as a tease, or sell them at a fraction of the cost for those who are interested in this
new and exciting format.
Most importantly, schedule your time. If possible, plan one or two days a week, to
concentrate on the marketing aspect of your new career. Avoid unnecessary meetings,
clubs and activities that take away from your main focus: to get your book and yourself
noticed! Don't join a lot of writer's clubs. Those that can, write. Those that can't go to
meetings. And those who attend meetings very rarely buy or read other member's
books! At this stage of your writing career, there are only two things you should be doing
in your spare time: writing and promoting your work.
Remember, overnight success takes about 10 years. You will become very educated,
very tired, and very satisfied when you see all your hard work pay off.
Written by Robin Westmiller
Title: How to market and promote a book

Description: How to market and promote a book. There are a number of creative,
effective and inexpensive ways.
here.

Should a writer adopt a pen name?
Richard Bachman, Lewis Carroll, Mark Twain, Trevanian, George Sand- what do all these
authors have in common? They are all pen names created by best-selling or critically
acclaimed authors. Few people have ever heard of Charles Dodgson's scholarly works on
such arcane topics as croquet, but almost everyone has enjoyed Lewis Carroll's Alice in
Wonderland. Indeed, few viewers suspected that the science fiction writer behind the
movie "The Running Man" was actually horror master Stephan King using a pseudonym.
Pen names have been used throughout the ages by authors who either seek anonymity
or a more 'marketable' presence. So should you as a beginning writer consider doing the
same? Only you can decide if a pseudonym is the proper route to go with your first
publications, but here are some pros and cons to adopting a pen name you should
consider first.
PRO: Pseudonyms can increase an author's overall marketability. If you write

action/adventure novels, you may want to adopt a name that is more suited to the
genre. "Rivers of Blood" by 'Tank McThunder' may appeal more to the readers than
"Rivers of Blood" by Murray Fishbinder. Not that there is anything intrinsically wrong with
the Fishbinder name, but in a promotional sense you need to hook your readers from the
beginning. Other pseudonyms may take on even more significance, such as "Trevanian"
or "Phaedrus". As a marketing tool, a good pseudonym can boost sales and create
enough positive buzz to give your 'name' some strong selling power.
CON: A poorly chosen pseudonym can hurt your chances of acceptance. As a beginning
writer, you have very little leverage with publishers as it is, so you may not want to
muddy the waters further by using a pretentious or gimmicky pen name. Insisting on a
blatantly obvious pseudonym may make you a one or two hit wonder, but won't give you
staying power. If your own name is reasonably marketable and your work is meant to be
taken seriously, you should not resort to a meaningless pen name. Later in your career
you may feel the need to use a pen name for works outside your established genre, but
you need a name and reputation first.
PRO: Pseudonyms can make artistic statements for the author. Sometimes a writer takes
on a subject that is highly controversial or threatens to expose secrets. Rather than
remain anonymous or risk personal injury as the named author, you may want to use a
pen name for protection. The pen name you choose may reflect some element of the
controversy, or establish your credibility as an expert on the subject. "Secrets of the
Emergency Room" by 'Dr. Dread' may sound like a gimmick, but it does establish that
the author is a doctor and that his or her information may jeopardize careers. In a
different vein, you may choose a pseudonym based on a character you enjoy from
literature or history. A well-chosen pseudonym can add an air of mystery or intrigue.
CON: Pseudonyms can create 'identities' from which there is no escape. In the same way
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that an actor may be linked forever with a popular character, an author may be linked
forever with the character created by a pseudonym. Some authors may create elaborate
backstories to give dimension to their alter ego pseudonyms. In essence, the
pseudonym's fantasy personality may overwhelm the actual writer's persona. Many
authors who use pseudonyms discover that they must keep using that pseudonym long
past its usefulness. Efforts to publish works under their real names may be met with
rejection or reluctance. If you are comfortable with the idea of perpetuating a character
that writes your books, then a pseudonym can work. If you are concerned that a
gimmicky pen name will take away your future credibility, then don't use one.
PRO: Pseudonyms can offer an author some protection in the business side of publishing.
Many beginning writers dream of the day when a major publishing house accepts their
first novel or signs them to a multi-book deal. But the reality is that writers still must
work for a living, even if their first book is accepted. Sometimes a publishing contract
limits a writer to the number of outside projects he or she can do under their name.
Pseudonyms may provide a way that freelance writers can continue to work while under
contract. If you honestly believe that you may need to work under these conditions, then
use a pseudonym for any work not covered by the contract with the publisher.
CON: Using a pseudonym to deceive publishers or the audience can come back to haunt
you. If you know that you are using a pen name to circumvent the terms of a legitimate
contract, the penalties can be stiff. Even if the publisher does not make the connection,
your audience might. Using a pen name for deceptive purposes makes you look
thoroughly unprofessional. If you have some legitimate concerns about your contract,
work out
a reasonable compromise with your publisher. You may be able to continue working
under your own name without penalty. By unilaterally deciding to use a false name to
get around the process, you run the risk of breeching your contract and facing civil court
action. Pseudonyms are not illegal in themselves- it is the improper use of pseudonyms
that could be actionable.
Written by Michael Pollick
Title: Should a writer adopt a pen name?

Description: Many fledgling writers want to adopt pen names, much like some famous
authors have done through the ages. Here are some pros and cons to consider about
using pen names.
here.


Getting published in magazines
You've typed out your great-grandmother's secret barbecue sauce recipe, and now you
want to share it with the world because, let's face it, she could make a barbecue sauce!
How do you go about sharing it?
Why don't you submit it to a magazine? The publication doesn't have to be a huge one -
most magazines are read by a lot of people, and those people tell their friends and
family, who tell THEIR friends and family, who...you get the idea.
The first step to getting your work published is simple: Write the thing. Remember, it's
almost always a lot more enjoyable if you're writing for the fun of it - though writing it
because the money's not bad is good as well. My point is simply this: keep your priorities
straight. For the moment, this is just something you do in your free time - your next
meal doesn't depend on whether or not you write this.
Now you have to find a magazine that will accept it for publication. For example, if
you've got a short collection of recipes using a certain common ingredient, Playboy may
not be the magazine for it because the overall theme is different. Go for the magazines
that publish work similar to yours in idea and theme - in other words, send personal
stories to Readers Digest and great recipes to Martha Stewart Living or The Joy of
Cooking.
Now that you've found a few magazines you wish to hit up for publication, you need to
write them a letter explaining (politely, of course!) that you've got an idea. It's just like
working here at Writeforcash - give a short proposal, a topic description, and a little bit
of information directly relating to the article you wish to write. In other words, this
doesn't have anything to do with sucking up, rambling for hours, or the like - stick with
the facts, and tell it like it is.
Send one letter at a time for each article. In other words, don't hit up more than one
magazine at a time for the same article. Be patient, as this could take a bit of time
depending on how busy these people are.
Speaking of people, who do you address your initial letter to, anyway?
One of the assistant editors. Never go for the editor-in-chief - he or she is guaranteed to
be busy dealing with people that are already published, along with the other editors and
staff. In other words, they won't have time for newcomers such as you or myself -
they're busy with the already-familiar people. Address your letter to one of the assitant
editors (usually named on the publication's masthead, of course) because they've got a
little more time AND they're eager to discover new, fresh talent - give them the chance
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to prove themselves at their place of work, why don't you?
Also, while you're at it, going about this a bit early never hurts. A lot of magazines have
printing schedules that are up to a year in advance - six months is usually a fair
estimate. Send your proposals in as early as possible so that your chances of getting a
check are better.
Please remember the following:
Don't discuss money during the initial letter. Remember, you're just trying to get noticed
at this point - they'll make an offer to you if they like what they read.
Be patient. This takes time and effort - on your part as well as the parts of everyone
working for the magazines your proposals were sent to.
Enjoy this! It's not pulling teeth, it's WRITING! This is one of my favorite things to do
and, if you're anything like that, you'll get a bigger kick out of writing it than you do the
check (although the money certainly doesn't hurt).
Title: Getting published in magazines

Description: Tips for getting your writing published in magazines.
here.
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Writing a newspaper press release
Local papers constantly seek copy to fill their hungry pages. Yet, a lot of people can’t
seem to write a news release a hometown editor will print. But, there is hope if you want
to push a new business in town or just tout your child’s sports team accomplishments.
Here’s what I've found busy editors look for.
The first thing you should know is what goes into a standard press release. If you’ve
ever heard journalists discuss their trade, you’ve heard them use the words who, what,
when, where, and why. Make sure you hit all of these concepts when you write your
press release. For example,
“After a year of record sales in his first establishment, Ted Jones of Ted’s Hot-dog Stand
opened his second restaurant on June 15 on the corner of Blain and Oak. He hopes to
triple his sales in the new location.” There. You’ve hit all the pertinent facts. Now expand
upon them. Tell a little bit about the history of Ted’s Hot-dog Stand, for instance. Give a
reader a reason to read the item.
But, don’t stop there. If the five w’s are the only points you write about, harried editors
may just see your story as a blatant case of advertising only and may refuse to run it for
that reason.
So what can you do to enhance your chance of publication? Add a newsworthy point to
the release. Did Ted say he’d give ten cents from the price of each hot dog to the local
food bank? That would make the story newsworthy and highly increase its chances of
seeing print.
When you’ve covered the item you want to push and added a newsworthy tidbit, stop.
Close your piece. Two or three double-spaced pages, or about 500 to 700 words, is a
good length for submission to a local paper.
How do you “design” your press release? One standard format is to print your name,
address and phone number in the upper left hand corner of the page, single spaced.
Drop a few spaces down and type in the words “Press Release”, centered. Two spaces
down, type “For Immediate Release”, also centered. Two or three spaces down,
centered, type your proposed headline. Drop four more spaces down and begin your
text, indenting the beginning of each paragraph about five spaces. Always double-space
your copy and print it on one side of the page only.
Now, how do you submit your press release? Many small-town newspapers accept only
hard-copy releases--that is old-fashioned print on white paper. So be ready to print your
piece and mail it via the U.S. Postal Service. Fold the manuscript in thirds and use a
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Number 10 white
business envelope. Be sure to keep a copy of your article for your records. Newspaper
editors receive hundreds of press releases every year, so don’t expect an
acknowledgment of receipt.
Just watch the pages of your local paper to see when your release is run. Home-town
newspaper editors are always on the look out for good copy to fill their pages. If you can
write a good press release with the extra value of newsworthiness, there is no reason
that your words won’t see print in the next edition.
Title: Writing a newspaper press release

Description: How to write press releases that newspaper editors will print.
here.
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Non fiction writing
Non fiction writing
1. How can I add angle to a Non-fiction Article?
Before sitting down to write any piece of fiction, you should be sure that you have an
angle. Whether it is a news story for a local paper, an article to be sold online, or any
non-fiction piece that you will be selling to a publisher, your article should represent a
strong voice. Now this doesn't have to read like a testimonial. There are ways to make
your article appeal to the reader without using first person.
2. How can I add an angle to my article without using first person?
· A good way to do this is to think in the third person frame of mind. First of all, refer to
yourself in the article as "we" helps. Just replace I with we. It is amazing how a simple
switch of pronouns comes off so clean and professional. Observe this comparison:
a. I always am looking for new ways to incorporate an angle into my articles.
b. We writers are always looking for new ways to incorporate an angle into our articles.
· Notice that the latter sentence just sounds cleaner and crisper- much more
professional!
3. Can I use first person in some cases?
· Yes, you can use this when you ask questions like presented in this article.
· NOTE: Try to use first person pronouns very sparingly.
· Avoid the use of boorish testimonial writing in non-fiction
4. How can I use persuasive techniques without sounding preachy?
This is the key to adding an angle, but it is also the difficult part too. You must persuade
your reader without them being conscience of it.
· You do this by getting them interested in the topic or by involving them in the article.
· Some authors of non-fiction pieces use "we" for that very reason. This makes the
reader feel like part of a team.
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Non fiction writing
· Other authors choose to drive their readers to change or right some wrong that plagues
the world. These authors challenge the reader to make a change in him or herself,
prodding them into action. Without the reader even realizing, many times they are
absorbed quickly into the article.
5. What is another way to involve the reader in my article?
· Try to ask questions that your reader may also be having, like you see here in this non-
fiction piece.
· Use examples of real life instances to touch your readers. An example of this would be
a story about a writer who never was a success until he or she learned the value of
adding angle to an article. You might want to give examples of the writer's first attempts
that were considered very boring and read like textbook or encyclopedia.
· You can use the name of famous people also to move your readers, connecting them
with your message.
6. How should I begin my article for the best possibility of my angle touching
the reader?
· Many writers often start off with a question.
· Other writers like to make a very bold statement, provoking the reader to think about
the subject of the article.
· Some writers also like to begin with a quote. In this case, perhaps a quote from
Longfellow or Poe about writing.
7. How should I end my article?
· End the same way as you began it. Think of the article as a funnel. You start out broad
and finish up very narrow. If you started with a quote, finish with a comment on the
quote.
· If you started with a bold statement, end with a reiteration of the statement or some
comment about it.
· When you begin with a question, it is good to mention that you hope all of the reader's
questions were answered by your article. Often you can give additional options for more
information like libraries online, books, ETC.
8. What should I check my article for when proofreading for the effectiveness
of my angle?

Non fiction writing
· Of course, check for the use of first person passages.
· Also look to see if you used third person effectively.
· Read the article as if it were not your own.
· Ask yourself if the article would move you.
I hope that by reading this article many of your questions were answered and that you
are now able to add an angle or slant to your article with much more ease. If you need
additional help with adding an angle to your article, many writers find the use of Internet
search engines and their local libraries very helpful. Also trade magazines and papers
aimed at writers are a great place for writing tips. When you search, look for writing tips
or advice. Good luck with all of your endeavors!
Title: Non fiction writing

Description: These writing tips and tricks for writing non fiction will reach out and touch
your audience!
here.

How to get an article published in a magazine
How to get an article published in a

magazine
Here are a few things that I learned from researching in the library and on the Internet
that helped get my first article accepted for publication. These tips should increase your
odds of being published.
One of the most important things is the idea for the article. Finding a niche that very
little has been written about or finding a unique angle to the subject is a good start. The
editor will give more consideration to a new topic or angle. If you want to write an article
that has been covered in the magazine, make sure it has not been covered in the last
three years.
Another thing is to find a market for the article. I had been a subscriber to the magazine
for 2 years before I wrote the article. Most editors will tell you to read at least the last 6
issues of their magazine in order to get a “feel” for their style and focus. Be sure to look
in the advertising section of the magazine. As you look through the ads, ask yourself the
question “What kind of people would want to buy this?”. I found this very helpful in
determining the type of readers a magazine had.
Write about what your know. For my first article I chose to write about designing welded
structures. It has been my job for over ten years. I was able to write most of the article
by drawing on my experience as a mechanical engineer. Another benefit to writing about
what you know is that you already have credentials. When the editor saw that I was an
engineer, I think the fact that I didn’t have any clippings was not a problem. Your
subject doesn’t need to be about your job. It could be about a hobby or personal
experience.
Another thing is to present your article in a professional manner. Get a copy of the
writers’ guidelines. The guidelines will tell you what kind of articles they buy, how long
they should be, how much they pay, what format they prefer, and any other particulars
that might be important. You can get these by simply writing the magazine and asking
for them. Be sure to enclose a SASE for their reply. Do not e-mail the editor unless the
guidelines say it is acceptable. Most magazine editors prefer that you “query first”. This
means that you send the editor a query letter. A query letter is a letter stating your idea
for a story and a paragraph about yourself (qualifications, clippings, etc.). The query
letter is your sales pitch for your article idea. There are several books on how to write
query letters. One of my favorites is Queries and Submissions – Elements of Article
Writing Series by Thomas Clark. After you send the query letter, the editor will probably
do one of two things. Either you will be rejected or you will get the go ahead. Be sure to
double space your manuscript. It is also a good idea to use 12-point type. Resist the
temptation to use fancy fonts.
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How to get an article published in a magazine
The last thing is to keep trying. If you get a rejection, send a query letter on your idea to
another publication the same day. Never give up.
Title: How to get an article published in a magazine

Description: How to get an article published in a magazine: focusing on beginning, non-
fiction, free-lance writers.
here.
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Five traps to avoid when re writing a manuscript
Five traps to avoid when re writing a

manuscript
Almost every writer, famous or struggling, can recall instantly the first time they were
asked to rewrite a submitted manuscript. Seeing their prized story come back from the
editor's office with red ink marks can be a humbling and disheartening experience for
any writer, regardless of their status in the publishing world. Rewriting is a difficult
process- one that asks the author to go back into a story and start tearing out the walls
and floorboards. We would all like to believe that our own work is good enough to find
acceptance without the spectre of rewriting, but that is rarely the case. Anyone involved
in a creative process should understand that ideas may have to be reworked or
rethought in order to insure future success. While the rewriting process may be painful
at times, it is also a necessary evil in a competitive publishing world that demands the
best work possible.
But there are several 'traps' that writers may discover during the rewriting stage. These
traps may keep a writer from making the changes necessary, or fill a writer's mind with
enough self-doubt to render him unable to continue with the project. Here are five such
traps to avoid while rewriting your own manuscript, along with some advice on how to
get out of them if needed.
1. Beware of Self-Doubt. This is a very common trap for the beginning writer who has
not been faced with the demands of extensive rewriting. Suggestions for rewrites are not
intended to create doubt in your own ability as a writer. If your work has merited such
careful editorial guidance, then you should know that the basic structure is still good.
You should keep in mind that you are not being asked to build a new house, just tweak
the furniture that is already there. Self-doubt can cripple a writer's confidence at a point
where he or she needs the most confidence yet. Work on the rewrite just as hard as you
worked on the original manuscript- don't view it as punishment for not being perfect the
first time. If you feel that you are indeed in the grips of self-doubt, take some time away
from the project to re-affirm belief in your own writing ability. Talk over your concerns
with a trusted friend or fellow writers. Rewrite from a position of strength and
confidence.
2. "The Editor Doesn't Know What He's Doing." You may start looking at the editor's
suggested changes and begin to wonder if he has lost his mind. How dare he insist that
you expand that character or eliminate that chapter. He's not the genius around here-
you are. Sound remotely familiar? Writing is a collaborative process, and the relationship
between writer and editor should be a cordial and professional one. You may feel
passionately about a suggested change, but you still have an obligation to explore an
editor's point of view. If you have a strong argument against a suggested change, by all
means present your case to your editor. But don't allow pride or stubborness to stand in
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the way of the entire rewriting process. Sometimes it's best to rewrite the manuscript
per your editor's suggestions, then hash major disagreements out in a different forum.
3. Never forget the intended audience. Many rewriting suggestions are technical in
nature- a paragraph needs tightening or a certain passage is confusing. These changes
can be made relatively painlessly, and should not affect the main thrust of your story.
But occasionally the suggested changes will take your story in a direction you may not
have anticipated. Before continuing on the rewrite, make sure that your intended
audience will also accept these changes in plotline or character. If you are writing a
series of science fiction novels, for example, the audience may remember an important
plot twist in an earlier book that you have forgotten in the midst of rewriting the present
book. Although rewriting for improved readability and cohesion should be your primary
goal, never sacrifice established characters or plotlines in the process. Keep your
audience's expectations firmly in mind when rewriting for content.
4. Why bother rewriting? This trap may come up as your list of potential new projects
grows and your interest in unfinished business shrinks. Going back into an older
manuscript in order to fix mistakes can be half as exciting as it sounds. You may believe
it would much easier to abandon this project in favor of some new and exciting idea for a
novel. Rewriting and polishing a manuscript is hard work for a writer, both mentally and
physically. You must fight the temptation to leave a promising work in limbo simply
because the task of reshaping it seems daunting. Many famous literary masterpieces
were rewritten dozens, even hundreds of times before publication. If a project shows
enough promise to merit even one rewrite, then you should view it as a badge of honor
to start the process. No one ever said the writing world was going to be easy.
5. Overcorrection. The final trap will continue to spring up throughout every rewriting
session you do. You will be tempted to make more and more changes to your manuscript
until it is barely recognizable. No one is asking you to rebuild the Pyramids or reinvent
the wheel from scratch. There are parts of the original manuscript that work perfectly
well as written, and should not be touched at all. But as the writer/tortured artist, you
may be tempted to scrap the entire project and start over. This would be a complete
waste of time and energy on your part, because the original work obviously doesn't
deserve such extreme measures. For the first rewrite, concentrate strictly on the
suggested changes made by your editor or trusted critic. Once those changes have been
made, stop rewriting and start resubmitting. Don't second-guess the entire manuscript
based on minor changes. Trust the collaborative process to point you in the right
direction for future rewriting efforts. Gaining distance and perspective on a manuscript is
the best gift a writer can give him or herself during the difficult rewriting phase.
Title: Five traps to avoid when re writing a manuscript

Description: When re writing manuscripts, the process of reworking a piece can be very
difficult for the writer. Here are five common traps when rewriting and how to avoid
them.

here.

How to write an essay
When you are writing an essay, the first step is to choose a topic and determine what
direction or point of view you will take. Your essay may try to persuade the reader to
share your view on the topic, it may try to explain to the reader how to complete a
particular task, or it may try to inform or educate the reader on a particular topic.
Every good essay will follow the following outline:
1.
Outline of your topic
2.
Introduction
3.
Thesis
4.
Body (Usually 3-6 Paragraphs)
5.
Conclusion
OUTLINE
To create your outline, list the topic you have chosen as item 1. Under item 1, list three
to six main ideas about your topic, list these as A, B, C, and so on. You will use your
outline to construct your essay's paragraphs. Your outline may look similar to this one:
1. Topic Idea
A.
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This idea about topic
B.
This fact about topic
C.
This information about topic
Introduction/Thesis
The first paragraph consists of the introduction and a thesis statement. The introduction
should attract the reader's attention and give the reader an idea of the essay's focus.
You may begin with an attention grabber such as intriguing information, captivating
dialogue or a startling fact.
Start with a few sentences, explaining your topic in general terms and lead into your
thesis statement. Each sentence of your opening statement should become a bit more
specific, until you reach your thesis.
The thesis statement tells the reader what the essay will be about, and what points you
will be making in your essay. In your thesis, you should state the topic of the essay and
state the point of the essay or the main ideas on your topic that you determined in your
outline.
BODY PARAGRAGHS
The body paragraphs will describe and explain your essay topic. Each of the main ideas
that you listed in your outline will become a paragraph in your essay. If you had three
main ideas, you will have three body paragraphs.
Start by writing down one of your main ideas, in sentence form. In three to five
sentences, explain your views or the facts surrounding this main idea. Go on to the next
main idea, which will form paragraph 2, and follow the same steps until each main idea
has been turned into a paragraph.
Conclusion
The conclusion brings closure to the reader. Three or four sentences are all that is
needed to write a conclusion. You may use your conclusion to sum up the points of your
essay, to provide a final perspective on your topic or to simply review the main points.

Title: How to write an essay

Description: Follow this guide for how to write an essay. A step by step guide to each
part of the essay from outline to conclusion.
here.

How to write a research paper
Research paper, term paper, reference paper, investigative theme - they all mean one
thing and that is the preparation of a paper that must use sources to document given
facts. Questions usually abound: Where should one start? How are resources organized?
How are notes taken? What is a bibliography?
Writing a research paper can be overwhelming. Breaking it down into steps helps.
1) Choosing a topic
Finding a topic of interest is a good start because searching for information is more fun if
the person is intrigued by the subject matter. A topic usually begins as a broad category.
Then, it must be narrowed. For instance, a subject of interest might be American history.
However, it is much too broad a category to be covered adequately in one paper.
Narrowing the topic would mean choosing one instance of historical significance or one
person in American history to research.
2) Finding material
Before a paper can be written, material on a subject must be gathered. Public and
Internet libraries offer excellent resources. Books that might not be on the local library's
shelf can be requested from another library by "inter-library loan." Current magazine and
newspaper articles are also good resources, and in fact, often have the most recent
information on subjects. Internet surfing can produce results leading the researcher to
other books or web sites offering up-to-date sources.
3) Taking notes
As possible resources are scanned, those with information that will be useful in writing
the paper should be set aside. Other sources that are not applicable may be returned.
Note-taking can begin with the most valuable source - the book, magazine or Internet
article that is most comprehensive - and then progress through all the sources that have
been collected. One note card should be used for each major point. Information incident
to the source can be written in a corner of the note card: the name of the book or
article, the place and year it was published, and the company that did the publishing.
Magazine volume numbers or month and year designations should also be notated. This
will be useful later in making the bibliography. Incident notes are those that that list
people, places, events, dates and time. Summary notes recapitulate general information
in concise phrases and sentences that can later become a part of the body of the paper.
Facts should be translated from the source into the writer's own words. When more than
three words in a row are copied, the words should be quoted and the author given credit
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within the text.
4) Grouping ideas
When enough information has been gathered to adequately address the topic, note cards
should then be grouped by major points. Organization by grouping leads easily into the
making of an outline.
5) Making an outline
The first outline is preliminary. It can change as the paper develops, but it is crucial in
that it offers a place to begin, an organization of the writer's research and thoughts, and
a place for all of this to culminate in an ending. Outlines can utilize the traditional I, II,
and III of Roman numerals or they can be simple lists, depending on the person
preparing the paper and on whether the recipient of the paper requires the outline in a
certain form to be turned in as a part of the assignment.
6) Writing the paper
A research paper should be written in third person. That means it is not presented from
the standpoint of "I' telling the story or as a means of direction, using the word "you."
Third person writing tells a story or presents information from the standpoint of a
narrator. The writing of the paper is facilitated by using the outline for organization and
the note cards for the recollection of facts.
7) Proofing for errors
The best way to proofread any paper is to read it aloud. Introducing another of the five
senses activates other parts of the brain to make the writer more focused. Spelling must
be checked, as well as grammar and punctuation usage. Revisions should be made to
the first draft before final typing.
8) Typing the paper
Research papers should be double-spaced and typed using a font that is easily read such
as Times New Roman or Arial. Writing should only be on one side of each sheet of paper.
9) Preparing the Bibliography
The purpose of the bibliography is to list each source from which information was
obtained in the preparation of the research paper. Entries should be alphabetized by
authors, and where there is no author, by title. Names of books and magazines may be
underlined or typed in italics. Specific article titles should be placed within quotation
marks. Each source in a bibliography is written in the following order: author (where
there is one), title, place published, company that published, and year. Magazines are
notated with the article title first followed by the name of the magazine, volume,
month/date/year. Online and email sources are similar, still giving credit to the author

and title of the article first. Online should be indicated in brackets and the web site
given. When computer software is used as a source, this should also be designated by
use of brackets.
Bibliography samples:
Book with no designated author -
The Stone Age Dictionary of Elementary Language. Boston: Heritage Publishing

Company, 1969.
Book with author -
Baker, Samm. The Permissible Lie. Anchorage: Alaskan Publishing Company, 1998.
Magazine article -
"Moment Musical," Lyre Gazette, 70:106, November 27, 1989.
Online source -
Meyer, Anne. "The Tip-of-the-Tongue Phenomenum." [On-line.] Memory & Cognition,

20:715. http://www.memory.com/cognition/
Email source -
Fundermont, Dan. "Commentary on Brahms." Available email: psyc@puco.net
Computer software -
Miller, Thomas. The Monitor Tester (Version 4.0) [Computer software]. Houston: Psytek
Services, 2000.
(Note: all articles, books, web sites, and email addresses are fictitious and are only for
the purpose of demonstrating bibliography format.)
Research papers may be delivered in a variety of folder styles and choices. The one most
appropriate for the recipient of the paper should be chosen. The presentation of the
research paper is, after all, the first impression that the reader will have.
Title: How to write a research paper

Description: How to write a research paper. It isn't so overwhelming when there are

guidelines to follow. From the note card to the bibliography, step-by-step directions
organize thoughts into a written product.
here.

Writing childrens books: choosing the right audience
Writing childrens books: choosing the

right audience
Some think that writing children’s books is easier than writing books for adults. But, as
they soon find out, that’s not true. Children’s book writing can actually be more
complicated, since there are so many different types of books for different ages.
Books for the youngest children are called picture books. They are read to the child,
since they can’t yet read for themselves, and can have bigger words. But, you have to
remember to keep the plot simple. Adults read these to the children, but they have to be
simple enough for the younger children to understand. These books have pictures on
every page. Concept books, like those that cover the alphabet and counting, shapes and
colors, as well as those with a story, all come under the “picture book” category.
The next step up from the picture book is the picture storybook. They are for the child
who is a little older and can understand a plot that is a little more advanced. Still, they
are heavily illustrated. Children under ten usually choose these books.
When a child begins to read on their own, they graduate up to the “easy-to-reads.” This
is where you will notice both a change in the size of the words and the number of words
in the book. Children this age may be able to understand the meaning of many words,
but can’t always read them on their own. These books are also available in several
levels, for the beginning reader all the way up to readers who are almost ready for
chapter books.
When they are too old for easy-to-reads, children look to the more grown-up feel of the
chapter book. Chapter books are simple, usually short books, that are divided into
chapters. They usually have an illustration on every few pages, but not as elaborate as
the ones found in picture books. Kids read these books until they get to be about twelve.
The last step up the ladder is the young adult novel. These books are almost identical to
adult novels, but are not as long and usually not as complex. They are for teens, and can
start to have some “heavier” plots and subjects.
So, as you can see, when you say “children’s books” you are talking about a very wide
range of possibilities. But, once you know what the age levels are and the different
choices, it clears away some of the confusion. And, you will find that there is a place for
almost every idea you can come up with when you decide you want to write your own
book.
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Writing childrens books: choosing the right audience
Title: Writing childrens books: choosing the right audience

Description: Writing childrens books can seem complicated to the beginning writer. This
article explains the different books and the requirements of each.
here.
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How to write an autobiography
WHY WRITE AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY?
There are bad reasons:
- to make a million dollars (unless you're a celebrity or hero)
- to exact revenge - getting back at someone by spilling the beans
- to revise history - creating a false past
Then there are some good reasons:
- to leave a message to future generations
- to pass on your heritage
- to put closure to a period or episode
- to process experiences
- to preserve family history
- to share what and who you are
However, if you're not a writer the task can seem overwhelming. Here are some
suggestions. Start by making lists. Make lists of relatives, boyfriends/girlfriends, places
you've lived over the years, pets you've owned, schools attended and other things like
that. But the most important are the Life-Lists. Choose categories as you go along:
elementary school days; military life; college; family vacation; illnesses. More will occur
to you as you write. Under each category, write down a word or two to identify some
event that you want to remember.
Next, narrow each life-list to 10 core life events which will be the most significant or
memorable events to demonstrate that category. Write about each of your core events.
Start with a rough draft in which you simply concentrate on getting all the information
down on paper. Then go back and polish for details, grammar, and tone. If you're not
confident in your writing ability, you may enlist someone else's help to edit. But
remember, in an autobiography, it's important to retain YOUR VOICE in the final
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narrative. Your personality should come through. Using flawless grammar or fancy words
may very well take away from the charm and value of your autobiography.
Use a variety of writing styles throughout the book. Use the one which best suits the
event you're working on. One style is Narrative, in which you give a pretty much linear
account of events without much reference to underlying emotions or moods. Then
there's Descriptive writing, which is appropriate when you want to paint a picture of
something for your reader, either because of its beauty, its ugliness or simply because
it's very different from what that reader may know. There's Emotional writing, when you
have strong feelings about your topic and want to evoke some emotional response in
your reader. Action writing is characterized by short sentences with strong verbs. This
type of writing is for exciting events, when you want to carry your reader along in a
headlong rush to find out what happens next.
When you've done all you can with your autobiography, you're ready for finishing.
Organize all the pieces you¡¦ve written into some kind of order. If you don't type, have it
typed and saved on a floppy disk. This is also the time to engage an outside editor if you
so desire.
There are a number of ways to publish your autobiography. If you feel it has interest to a
large general audience, by all means send it to a publisher. A writing book will give you
details on submitting your manuscript professionally and there are other books that list
publishers interested in this type of work. But most of us will probably self-publish our
autobiographies.
If you just need a few copies (say for family members), take your final manuscript to a
copy store with a service desk. For a reasonable fee, they will not only make as many
copies as you like but they also can offer several choices for binding it. You can even
create your own cover which they will reproduce and attach to the finished book.
Or you can check those writing books for self-publishing companies which will produce a
professional looking book at your expense. Be warned that these businesses usually
require a relatively high print run and can be quite costly.
What will you do with your finished book? Family members will be delighted to be
presented with a copy, no doubt. You can donate a copy to your local library. The lives of
local people add a personal touch to the history shelves. By the same token, school
libraries and teachers might be interested in having a copy. If you've been active in a
particular club or organization, that group would probably also be grateful for a copy.
The most important thing is to begin. By putting your life story down on paper, you can
leave a lasting legacy for those who come after you.
Title: How to write an autobiography

Description: How to write an an autobiography that will share your life with relatives

and other interested people.
here.

Article writing tip; the best title for your piece
Article writing tip; the best title for

your piece
Have you ever noticed that certain articles get more attention from readers? Often, it is
the title that lends to the success of the article. Sure, the content of the article is also
important, but the title has to stand alone when it comes to representing what the article
is about.
A mediocre title suggests a mediocre review, whether this is the case or not. I have
written my share of mediocre titles, especially when my creative juices aren't flowing,
and have noticed that articles don't shout "read me" as loud as they could. Not every
article will be easy to dream up a creative title for, but an interesting one can make a
world of difference.
Think of your title as the main selling point of your article. Place great importance upon
the task of choosing a title, for it will pay off. Look at your article from various points of
view and try to see it in a unique light, and then use this newfound angle to construct a
title that will make people want to read more.
There are various approaches to this. As with this article, you can opt for the shocking
title, using visceral words that hit the reader in the gut and make them wonder what the
article is about.
There are suggestive titles which lead the reader to view the article. For example, "You
Must Read This." While I am not as fond of using these, I've often found myself reading
more of other people's articles because of a suggestive title.
Titles can allude to the content, giving the reader a taste of what's in store. Just make
sure that taste is an appetizing one. This involves taking some element of your article
and alluding to it by using a related idea, concept, etc.
"Tell All" titles pretty much sum up the entire article and leave no surprises, but can
serve useful in a few instances if you are sure your content will be able to carry itself
strongly.
Let's face it, even though you shouldn't judge a book by its cover, or an article by its
title for that matter, we all do to some extent. It is human nature to categorize and
label, as it is often an effective timesaving mechanism.
So, the next time you strike fingers to keyboard, pen to paper, or whatever the case
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Article writing tip; the best title for your piece
may be, blaze that article with a title that will scream "read me." You might just notice
that your articles are getting more attention.
Above all, be creative. Individuality is like a drink of fresh, cool water to a weary desert
traveler.
Titillate the reader with those titles!
Written by Vanessa Zanella
Title: Article writing tip; the best title for your piece
Description: When writing an article one tip that I cannot stress enough, is the need for
an effective title. One must catch the reader's attention.
here.
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How to write a good film review
Writing film reviews can be rewarding and enjoyable. Depending on the audience and the
market it is written for, there are several different things that you should keep in mind
during the writing process.
Firstly, what age groups are you writing for? A review for a school magazine would
warrant a different writing process than, say, a magazine enjoyed by adults. For a
children’s magazine, the review will need to be quite punchy. It should not be too long or
contain material that the age group would not understand. Writing for a young audience
often proves to be harder than writing for adults. With adult writing there is less need to
omit images that are controversial.
After watching the film that is to be reviewed, it is important to take notes immediately.
This will be of great importance when you actually sit down to write the piece. The notes
should be detailed enough to bring back to memory the images that you found most
appealing. This is, I believe, the most important part of the writing process.
Once you have established the audience you are writing for, it is time to retrieve your
notes and look at your basic ideas.
Firstly, you need to think of an imaginative title. For instance, if I was writing a review of
the film Apocalypse Now, perhaps a good title could be, ‘faith and hope disappear in the
midst of the Vietnam War’. This title gives a very brief idea of the nature of the film and
provides a starting point for the reader to focus on.
The second stage is to give a brief synopsis of the film. You could also state your early
opinions here, but don’t give too much away too soon. Your aim is to make the audience
want to finish the article.
After the synopsis, go into detail about what you thought of the film. Was it thought
provoking? Did it have lasting images and ideas that particularly enthralled you? Did you
think that it was a complete turkey? Whatever you view is, it is important to stress it in a
comprehensible manner. Examine the film more closely, try to go into detail about the
many ideas contained within the film. Don’t forget, what you enjoyed and remembered
from the images and ideas in the film are what could be the deciding factor in whether or
not the reader actually goes to see the film themselves. If you really enjoyed it or really
hated it, make it clear.
It is necessary to break the film down into its separate parts. By this, I mean that you
should spend time stating which parts of the film worked for you. Was the setting and
atmosphere successful? Did the plot flow all the way through the film or did it become
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disjointed and messy part of the way through? You must also look carefully into the
characterisation. A close examination of the key roles in the feature will provide your
audience with a better idea of how the film is going to be. Never simply say that you
loved or hated a certain movie without giving your reasons. Always explain why you feel
the way you do and back it up with descriptive examples.
Even though your article should show from the start what your opinions are, at the end
of the piece you should give a conclusion that states strongly what you thought.
Following these guidelines should provide you with enough information to start writing
your own reviews. When you write a good review you should find it rewarding, especially
if it is published.
Written by David Hill
Title: How to write a good film review

Description: A how to guide to writing a good film review that is interesting and
hopefully publishable in the writing community
here.
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Five fast and easy steps to writing nonfiction
Five fast and easy steps to writing

nonfiction
Writers trying to make a living with free lance writing, or at least trying to pad the pin
money, need to know how to turn their pieces around from a vague idea to a finished
product quickly, do research and not waste it, and organize their materials into a
readable article with time to spare.
For the purposes of this article, let’s assume you’ve chosen the topic you want to write
about and have done any necessary research. Perhaps your research notes are a few
scribbled lines, or an index card or two of details. You have an idea of what you want to
say, but organizing your material, and knowing where to start have you stymied. Here
are some simple steps that experienced and published writers say work for them.
A—BRAINSTORM: On a large sheet of notebook paper, or on your computer screen,

make a list of pertinent ideas, facts, theories and research findings you’ve gathered.
Don’t second guess yourself or try to place them in any order, just let the intuitive juices
flow and jot down everything that comes to mind. It may be a clearly dominant fact, a
question, a phrase or bit of color that jumped out at you. My brainstorming list for an
article I’m writing about how people use their gardens as spiritual refreshment includes
the following:
1-how I find it easy to pray in a garden
2-is it the process or the product that most touches?
3-Three different women, 3 different gardens
4-The clean, sweet smell of cilantro spilling out of the herb bed
5-The sunshine on my back
6-Yoga in the garden
7-Shaw quote—“finding God in a garden, dig in the dirt to find him”
8-How to get started on your own
9-Fills the spiritual vessel
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10-Happiness, ecstasy I feel in an English cottage garden
B—Begin to GROUP your list of findings or ideas into three or four groups.
As I began to group my items, I saw that #s 1, 4 and 5 reflected my personal

experience, so they were grouped together under I. The Shaw quote, with its bit of dry
humor and truth, stood alone to me, as #II. #’s 2 and 5 hit on the common result all my
subjects mentioned, so became #III. Forming IV were specific details about my three
subjects, #’s 6, 2 and 9. Although #2 seemed to overlap two groups, I left it at first, to
see where it best worked out. Finally, I had a hunch as I worked that #10 might make a
good ending, and lumped #8 with it, as part of the closing information to provide in
group V.
C—Check to consider if you need MORE INFORMATION from your research, or additional
research, or even some connecting ideas in each group of material.
Here I realized I needed more specific facts from my research to describe each woman’s
particular gardening benefits, so I went back to my research and added: #11, ONE
woman’s meditation space built into her garden, and #12, one woman’s use of her
garden as a subject of her painting. Both these items I added to Group IV.
At this time I sensed a bit of weakness in my coverage of one subject’s garden, so I

scheduled another phone interview with her to clarify some points and garner more
details. I plugged that information in as #13 under Group IV.
I also readily saw, with my charted outline, that my closing, after making suggestions for
readers to follow in starting their own spiritual garden, needed more transition material,
probably echoes of #2 and #9, which seemed, after I grouped them, like overriding
themes. I so marked Group V and left it with plenty of material for a neat, 2-paragraph
summary and closing.
D—ORDER the groups of material, considering which group constitutes a good

introduction, which a good middle, and which a decent ending.
Already I had a sense of which material would make for a moving and helpful closing,
Group V.
As for an introductory section, at first, I thought I should start the article with my own
awareness of my garden and my tendency to pray there. Then I looked at the Shaw
quote, Group II, and realized it made a perfect opening—humorous, yet touching and
non-threatening. I moved it to the Introduction spot.
Now I had a beginning and an ending. The other three groups clearly made a middle, but
in which order should I place them? Perhaps only in the writing could I tell for sure. For
the middle section, then, I had three groups of materials:

I, the portion about my own garden,
III, the portion explaining the common results all my subjects experienced, and IV, the
specifics of their experiences.
Eventually, this order worked well, but I could have easily changed the order later.
In addition, Group II was the introductory section and Group V the closing.
My garden-spirituality article now had a map, a way to proceed, and even if there was
some flexibility allowed as I went, it felt much more “do-able” than it had in the
beginning. I no longer felt swamped with an overwhelming amount of data and no clear
route to go. Putting meat on the bones of an article’s skeleton seems more like fun,
when the writer has taken time to outline or organize in this way or some other way.
With enthusiasm, I was now ready to start writing.
E—WRITE each section, being sure to make smooth transitions from one section to the
next.
From this point on, the article wrote itself. Occasionally, the outline of an article, or at
least which points you want to make and in which order, come to the writer before s/he
starts. But when the direction is less clear, and you have what seems like a jumble of
only semi-related facts to start with, this 5-step process is a big help. With your first
draft in hand, it is not much work to verify that your sections have been placed in the
right or wrong order. Make necessary changes in order, add extra detail if needed,
sharpen the writing, check for smooth transitions, find a catchy title, unless the
publication you’re aiming for, such as a newspaper, likes to come up with its own title,
and type “The End.”
You’ve BRAINSOTRMED, GROUPED your material, checked for MORE NEEDED

INFORMATION, ORDERED your groups of material, and WRITTEN the best article you
could write. Congratulations on a piece done using your best skills. It’s bound to sell!
Written by Eleanor Sullo
Title: Five fast and easy steps to writing nonfiction

Description: Tips for writers on writing nonfiction: how to brainstorm their ideas,
organize their material, and create a clear, focused piece on any topic.
here.


How to write a working screenplay
Writing a screenplay is by no means an easy task. It can be challanging and

overwhelming to say the least. To simplify the process, a screenwriter will take several
steps and follow certain formulas to achieve his/her goal.
The script has eight main elements, all of which are key to an effective screenplay.
PLOT - The events and action
CONFLICT - The struggles and obstacles
CHARACTERS - The inhabitants of your story
SETTING - The world of the story; time/place
STRUCTURE - The combination of all the elements
THEME - The controlling idea
MOOD/ATMOSPHERE - The tone or feel
POINT OF VIEW - The character we mainly view the "movie world" from.
Two questions you should always be asking yourself when writing a script are
1) What am I seeing?
2) What am I hearing?
And always keep in mind that actions illuminates character and character determines
action.
Start with your IDEA
Write your CONCEPT or LOG LINE - This is your idea in two or three short lines. (25
words or less)
Write you OUTLINE - This should give us a general concept of your story. Don't be too
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specific though. (2-3 pages)
Next, your TREATMENT - This is where you want to give all the ideas and concepts of
your story. All elements and details are disclosed in your treatment. (10-30 pages)
STEPSHEET - This is a scene by scene work through of your script - who's making what
happen, connections, tie-ins. Who, what, where, when, why and how.
Another very helpful tool is the CHARACTER PROFILE
Detailing each characters traits, relevant past, present and future.
Today in Hollywood and abroad, the industry standard format for scripts is the three act
structure. This was created by Aristotle for Greek theatre.
ACT 1 - In act 1 you want to establish all your characters, place, time, situations,
involvements. Everything that the audience will need to follow the rest of the film. The
main character takes on a problem or faces a problem of some sort about half way
through this act. This is called the inciting incident. (25%)
ACT 2 - In act 2 you should be building all that has been established. Relationships,
happenings and the problems your character faces. The complication should progress
and by the end of act 2 your main character should seem defeated by the problem. Or if
the end result is not positive then the character should seem to have defeated the
problems(s). (50%)
ACT 3 - This is where you want to resolve all that has been established and built. All
loose ends are tied in this act up to and including the final push to the climax. Especially
the character defeating or being defeated. (25%)
An interesting way of looking at it is
Put your character in a tree
Throw rocks at him
Then let him down
You will inevitably face obstacles can at times seem overwhelming - perfection, paralysis
and procrastination.
Counteract with these three p's: Patience - Progress - Passion
Keep at it. The only way to get better is to write. It doesn't matter what it is about, just
write. And remember, TELL A GOOD STORY!

Title: How to write a working screenplay

Description: Learn how to write a working screenplay!
here.

How can I write a book
Before beginning to write a book you can prepare by following these tips:
1. Write in a genre that you like. If it is enjoyable, you will be more likely to put more
time and effort into working steadily and finishing it.
2. Determine the reason you are writing and work toward that goal. If you want to
become a best selling novelist then you need to produce material that is well accepted
and will sell easily. If you are writing for your own pleasure and money is no concern,
then this will not be most prevalent.
3. Gather your ideas, research, and clippings in a notebook or binder so they are all
readily accessible when you begin writing.
4. Research your material. Even if you are writing fiction, you want to understand how to
make your characters believable. If non-fiction is your chosen path, you must present
documented resources for your facts and opinions of others.
5. Read articles from other writers about publishing books. Information from the
experienced is often very helpful.
6. If you plan to have your book published, it is a good idea to research the different
types of publication, whether you need an agent, and the cost you will have to pay up
front to make this a reality.
7. Make time to write. 15 minutes per day should produce one page. If you wrote daily
for 6 months, you would have approximately 180 pages. One hour per day could
increase that to over 720 pages, which may be longer than necessary.
8. Work during your “free time.” You have more of it than you think. Carry a tape
recorder or small notepad and take notes while in line at the grocery store or in a
doctor’s waiting room. If you use the tape recorder method, you could talk while you are
driving, sitting in traffic or stopped at a red light as long as you also concentrate on the
road.
9. Join a local writer’s group or one on the Internet for support. You will have someone
to turn to for encouragement, sympathy, or help.
10. Reread what you have written and make changes often. Don’t be afraid to go in a
whole different direction than you originally intended. Often change is good.
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11. Do not use any previously published material without written permission. Plagiarism
is against the law.
12. Do not use anyone’s likeness or quotes without their written permission.
13. Do not pressure yourself with a strict deadline if you cannot adhere to it. The goal is
to produce good material, not bad material written quickly.
14. Check the finished manuscript for errors in spelling, grammar, and punctuation
before submitting it. Consider hiring an editor to proofread and suggest any changes that
need to be made.
15. Brace yourself for rejection from agents and publishers. Only a small number of
books written each year actually get published by vested publishing houses. But with
today’s advances in the Internet, you can produce your own copies for a small amount of
money. It would be your responsibility to advertise and arrange payment methods and
shipping.
Written by Susan Padezanin
Title: How can I write a book

Description: How can I write a book? There are easy ways to spark your writing and
continue it until you have a book completed to your satisfaction.
here.
http://idid.essortment.com/bookwritehowc_rmtk.htm (2 of 2) [2/5/2004 12:47:32 PM]

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Hobbies: Writing - articles, hints, and tips for the freelancer and professional

Back to Hobbies, Sports & Leisure main site

Technical Skills | Personal Journals, Memoirs, and Letters | Professional letters

Technical Skills Writer's Block / Inspiration

● How to write a memoir ● Tips on overcoming writer's block

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Poetry ● How to write a title

● How to write a haiku ● Writing children's stories

© 2002 Pagewise, Inc.

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How to improve writing skills with

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Written by Nan Fischer

Title: How to improve writing skills with writing exercises

Copyright 2002 by PageWise, Inc.

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Improving writing skills

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Written by Anusuya Vethanayagam

Title: Improving writing skills

Copyright 2002 by PageWise, Inc.

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Common grammar mistakes

Wrong Form of Verb

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The Good or Well Dilemma

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Other common pronoun errors are--talks to "hisself" (should be "himself;" "hisself" is

Title: Common grammar mistakes

Copyright 2002 by PageWise, Inc.

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Punctuation rule: how to correct a

not only . . . but also

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END-STOP PUNCTUATION (FULL STOP):

question mark (?)

exclamation point (!)

III. Independent Clauses

My parents can’t make it this weekend, they have other plans.

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My parents can’t make it this weekend. They have other plans.

My parents can’t make it this weekend; they have other plans.

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My parents can’t make it this weekend, they have other plans.

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IV. Conjunctive Adverbs

A frequent cause of comma splices is the mistaking of a conjunctive adverb for a

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Title: Punctuation rule: how to correct a comma splice

Copyright 2002 by PageWise, Inc.

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Grammar & Punctuation: proper use of

1. When extra emphasis or a degree of formality is desired, a colon can be employed to

There is one thing a human being simply cannot do without: hope.

Her goal was easily stated: the state championship.

One factor cannot be ignored: the bottom line.

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recruited by another company.

3. If a quoted passage is formal, long, or paragraphed separately, a colon is used to