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26 March 2010

Chapter By Chapter: Ten Self-Editing Questions Every Writer Needs To Consider

Congratulations, you've finished your first draft! Take a day or two to celebrate your accomplishment. Then, get back to work-you have a manuscript to edit.

When writing a book, self-editing skills are important to your success as a writer. However, many writers don't know where to start when it comes to looking at their own writing objectively. They can easily skim through for grammar and punctuation errors, but when it comes to the effectiveness of the content and images they create on the page, their own perceptions can be very different from what a reader reads.

Every writer needs an editor, but all writers can use the following ten self-editing questions to think critically and objectively about their own work.

1. Are your chapter titles effective and clear? For instructional works, they should tell readers what's coming up in the chapter. For a book about your life story, chapter titles can be more creative in their purpose. Still, look at them all to determine how they work together and whether or not they help establish the theme.

2. Do your opening sentences hook your readers? This is critical for both narrative and how-to works-grab your readers right away and don't let them go.

3. Do your introduction paragraphs effectively introduce the content contained in that chapter? For life stories, the first paragraph should set the tone for what's coming.

4. Are your subheads effective and clear? Subheads help guide readers through your material, much like chapter titles.

5. Do your chapter titles and/or subheads collectively work together to reinforce the theme and goals of the book as a whole?

6. Where do you need more subheads to make the information more manageable for your readers? Where do you need to transition between scenes?

7. Are the examples you use effective in illustrating your points, and reinforcing the theme? For memoir writers, does each scene move your story forward?

8. Are your main points clear throughout your chapters? For life story writers, are your story and theme clear throughout each chapter?

9. Is the information, or scenes, within each chapter presented to the reader in a logical way?

10. Does each chapter close in such a way that leaves your readers anxious for what comes next? In other words, don't let them put your book down for long!

Just like every writer needs an editor, every writer needs to learn how to think about their own work objectively-they need to see their own words as a reader will see them. This can be challenging, but it's definitely not impossible. When you use these ten self-editing questions, you'll be able to better see the challenges and inconsistencies in your own writing, and your writing project--whether your life story or the next best-selling self-help book--will be much better as a result.

20 May 2009

English Writing Software© - 3 Benefits You Can Use Now!

By Jane Sumerset

Until recently, the idea that computers could correct your grammar was not thinkable. Today, we have English writing software that does just that. Essay Punctuation & Grammar Software is designed to help correct common mistakes writers make when writing articles, term papers, books and other documents. This software is surprisingly intelligent and versatile. It contains a large database of correct English usage enabling it to compare what you have written with this information. It can then suggest alternatives to your usage.

For people who must write a great deal, whether for school or work, English writing software has the potential to be an invaluable tool. Writing skills, often not taught well in modern schools, are nonetheless essential in many areas of life. There are three main areas where this kind of software can help people.

1. In your everyday work environment you may have to frequently send out emails and write reports. Improving your writing can enhance your reputation and credibility with coworkers and managers.

2. If you are in any kind of technical field where you have to convey information to others in your field, or the public, you must communicate in written form. This material should be as clear and grammatical as possible.

3. If English is not your native language, but you are learning it, you would like to communicate as clearly as possible in English. For this, English writing software can provide a quick solution.

These are only a few of the situations where this innovative software can be useful. The point is, we live in a world of communication, and anything that improves your ability to do this will enhance your life.

If you...

* Speak English as a second language and want to impress everyone with perfect essays, emails or letters – every single time

* Need an easy way to generate rich and interesting content for your website - quickly and without any worry

* Want to take your writing to the next level – and even discover a few little-know tricks along the way

* Need to boost conversions on your website (or enrich your letters and reports) with mere minutes and a few clicks of the mouse

* Want to write fresh articles(and renew old articles) in record time

Just imagine being able to...

* Sit down at your computer and write without ever worrying about mistakes, boring text or duplicate content!

* Save time gain the respect hat you deserve. All you have to do is to hit the F2 button and know that everything you compose is perfect and compelling!

Use it for:

Business Writing, Letter Writing, Essay Writing, Article Writing, Creative Writing, Email, Instant Messaging, Social Media, Blogging, Legal writing, Medical writing and much, much more.

Instantly you will sound more professional and you will ensure that your message gets across the way you intend.

Simple spell check will never be able make you a better writer, and it will never help you master the English language – but with the right tool the possibilities are endless.

This software is so easy to use that all you need to do is press a button and let it do all of the work for you!

You will receive options to change the spelling, improve your sentence wording and replace boring words with exciting and enticing ones!

Just think of the respect that you will earn and the great first impressions that you will be able to make.

It's going to skyrocket your ability to write perfect English – and it's going to do it quickly and easily.

And what is all that worth to you? If you took writing courses you would be looking at hundreds if not thousands of dollars. And you would have to buy at least 3 other software programs to equal the power of it.

You can instantly download your package after purchase and begin to craft impressive and influential emails, letters, reports and proposals today

You will be amazed when you read your very own writing! You will have the confidence to tackle even the most difficult writing tasks!

About the Author: Watch how advanced English writing software instantly puts your writing to an expert level and learn how innovative NLP writing technology can help you to write persuasive copy.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=306706&ca=Writing

You Can Learn Writing Style - What is Technical Writing?

By Deanna Mascle

Technical writing, sometimes called business writing, is writing for a specific purpose and with a specific goal. Usually its goal is to inform/instruct or persuade/argue. Technical writing can really be considered transactional writing because there are two people or groups involved in the communication. One party has a clear goal to inform or persuade the other party. This is real-world writing in every sense. You may not be aware of how much it already impacts your world through textbooks, instructions, web sites, and communications from many businesses and service organizations. There are professional technical communicators but only large organizations have them and even then they are not there to do your daily work for you and that is why it is so helpful for many to take at least an introductory technical writing class.

Why is technical communication important and what will you use it for? Actually, technical writing will be used by most college graduates as a regular part of their work. It is much more likely that you will use technical writing than either academic or creative writing unless you specifically enter those fields. A few examples of why you will likely need these skills include: getting a job – preparing a resume or curriculum vitae, cover letter, application, and portfolio; doing your job – preparing memos, letters, reports, instructions, case reports, reviews, assignments, descriptions, etc.; and keeping your job – communicating with management, co-workers, peers, patients/students/public.

What separates technical communication from other forms of writing, such as academic writing? Technical communication has a specific audience and is purposeful, usually intended to solve a problem for that audience. One area that really sets technical communication apart is that it is quite often collaborative. Technical communication is also focused on readability issues, not only the use of clear writing, but also page design and graphics. The excellence of technical writing is judged by clarity, accuracy, comprehensiveness, accessibility, conciseness, professional appearance, and correctness.

There are seven principles to guide technical writing: remember your purpose (to inform or persuade), remember your audience (their concerns, background, attitude toward your purpose), make your content specific to its purpose and audience, write clearly and precisely (active voice, appropriate language to audience), make good use of visuals (good page design and graphics), and be ethical (truthful, full disclosure, no plagiarizing).

Technical communication serves both explicit, or clear, and implicit, or implied, purposes. Explicit purposes include to provide information, to provide instructions, to persuade the reader to act upon the information, or to enact or prohibit something. Implicit purposes include establishing a relationship, creating trust, establishing credibility, and documenting actions. Most technical communications are based on a problem statement which gives your document a clearly stated objective for your benefit as well as your reader's. The problem statement defines the problem, by doing more than simply stating your topic, it goes on to explain what about that topic is at issue. For example, if your topic is career guidance then your problem could be the fact that many adults need help identifying a career that suits their strengths and abilities and the solution that your document will present is to create a comprehensive clearing house that helps people identify career paths through military, vocational training, and higher education.

About the Author: You can learn writing style and find more writing advice at http://answersaboutwriting.com

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=292838&ca=Writing

19 May 2009

Tips On Writing A Memoir

By Trevor Johnson

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

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

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

Dust off the cobwebs of your memory.

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

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

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

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

Are you going to write or speak your memoirs?

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

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

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

About the Author: Get more tips on writing a memoir and start the process of writing a memoir.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=230900&ca=Writing

18 May 2009

Revisiting the Right Stuff

By Lee Emory

Brace yourself. This is definitely one publisher's opinion piece. If you're an author over the age of 50, then you'll understand the points in this article, but if you're younger than 50, you may not have a clue or be able to relate to anything said here. ::Sigh::

Revisiting the right stuff. What is the right stuff?

There was a time when our vocabularies were more widely used in our writing. (I do not speak of five dollar words here, but common words used to vary sentences.) However, many of the books today reflect a disease I call Hollywood-itis. This disease encompasses using profanity in every other word of dialogue, or nearly so. Even many of our cartoons use inappropriate language and thus have become much less funny and some of them downright distasteful. Most of our current TV commercials are appallingly stupid, insulting anyone with even one side of their brain working and the other side dead. There is such a thing as producing something so stupid it's really not funny. It's pathetic. Have I ever purchased anything after watching one of those idiotic commercials? No. Never.

Many of the book signings and conferences I attend and participate in become great forums for hearing what the buying public wants. I constantly hear from people buying books that they are sick to death of filthy language, among other things. Many ask me about such content in my books before they'll buy and I don't blame them for asking. I'm glad they do. Many of them tell some of the books they've bought are not only offensive, but distracting. It yanks them right out of the story.

"Oh, but our culture has changed," some of you shout at me. "Our dialogue wouldn't sound real unless we incorporate trash language into our writing."

Nonsense.

Clear, concise writing and wordsmithing does not depend on profanity for its success.

"You are moralizing!" someone just shouted at me. I can hear you. Call it what you want. The fact is liberal profanity in any written work lacks class and intellect in the rendering. Good writers get their point across without the heavy overuse of it. You have only to read the classics to know the truth of this. They are still classics. Gee, I wonder why? Does it really take a genius to figure this out?

I once received a young adult submission that was so chock full of profanity, which is the way many young people speak today, that I insisted the author make revisions or it wouldn't be acceptable for publication in my company. Her argument was that the dialogue wouldn't sound real. Again I say nonsense. Do you mean to tell me that if a young person is reading a book full of exciting, active words showing them a story they're really getting into, that they miss hearing the filth? If it's a good book, chances are those young readers won't miss what's not there, but they will read and enjoy what IS there. If they can't enjoy a book without that sort of language, then what does that say for their upbringing, their mindset and education? Not a great deal to recommend it, I'd say. How much of that stuff are they hearing at home? This has become another facet of the breakdown of our education in America. But that's a whole other article.

Authors, you have the opportunity to "Revisit the Right Stuff" in your books. Show readers how really talented you are at crafting a wonderful, memorable book that won't have to be packaged in a plain brown wrapper and hidden from your children or your grandmother. Encourage all your author friends to use active verbs and engaging scenes in their works. Encourage all authors you know into getting back to CLASS writing. If you're showing anger, show it, don't shout it at the reader in the form of disgusting profanity to get your point across. Give your characters enough dialogue and animation to show us they are angry or in a rage. In today's environment, this is a challenge to many of you. Step up to it. Show us your right stuff.

The Exceptions

I envision a lot of tongues in cheeks out there at this point, so let me further clarify. When I speak of disgusting profanity, I am not talking about the occasional damn or hell used in dialogue. Those expletives do not conjure up demeaning or sexual images in a reader's mind and they are as common as apple pie. A helpmate to blowing off steam. One still does not have to use expletives, but these are far less distracting and offensive to a reader than some of the other profane words, which I will not mention here for obvious reasons. You've all heard and read them.

On the other side of the coin are authors and readers who tell me they are not bothered by foul language in books. Fine, but there are far more people who are, and why should we authors not try to write our very best for them instead of turning them off reading altogether? I've seen this happen too many times and it's heartbreaking; it's also damaging to the industry as a whole. People won't buy books, if they no longer read for the sheer want of quality books.

I'm not saying books have to be syrupy sweet. Not by any means. In certain suspense and thrillers, profane words occasionally spoken by the villain or antagonist can be sometimes tolerated, even by the most prudish reader, because those awful characters would most likely speak that way. But the key word here is occasionally. It is unnecessary to overuse foul language, even in our dastardly characters. Hone your vocabulary, instead, to draw your villain well without all that. However, your heroes and heroines will rarely use profanity or they won't sound like heroes and heroines.

One of the exceptions might be if a hero is about to be shot full of holes. He wouldn’t say "Oh, shucky darn," would he? No, so let's be realistic here. In my thriller NIGHT FREEZE, the word my main character uses as an expletive appears only once in the entire book, and it's not the "F" word. Even my extremely warped serial killer comes across as one scary dude without my using a lot of profanity. A challenge to write indeed, but it can be done. As a publisher and senior editor I long to see higher quality writing that took some real thought, some real blood, sweat and tears To make it the right stuff.

About the Author: Lee Emory is an author of ten novels, numerous short stories and articles, who is also a professional editor for 40 years. She is the owner of/Senior Editor for Treble Heart Books Publishing. Lee teaches writing workshops and speaks at numerous writers’ conferences. Visit Treble Heart Books or email leeemory@earthlink.net to learn more.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=300944&ca=Writing

Revisiting the Right Stuff

17 May 2009

Writing Away Diminishing Hopes: The Dark, Stark Realities

By Lee Emory

Remember when you were a brand new writer? Remember the stars in your eyes and the dollar signs floating through your imaginations? I do. If you're a new writer, look in the mirror and what do you see? If you're wearing rose colored glasses or your eyes are shining like laser beams from the enthusiasm you have for the manuscript you just completed, then listen up.

If you're an author who has been writing for a long time, then you have already experienced the many roadblocks thrown up in our paths. Most especially the last few years. Large publishing houses and large organizations such as Mystery Writers of America, Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime (the list goes on) have now passed clearly discriminatory bylaws prohibiting the acknowledgement of writers and their books unless their publishing houses print a thousand to however many thousand books of each title. Your publisher is no longer "approved." Despite how many awards they've won. This of course was done to eliminate small presses and POD (Print on Demand) publishers from their lists. Amazon has removed all their POD titles from their sales site unless the authors agree to have their POD books printed through them.

Add to this unpalatable stew, the large chain bookstores will rarely if ever allow small press, POD or self published authors to display their titles in their stores nowadays. It's much harder for small press authors to get book signings in one of them. They refuse to order directly from the small publishers unless they can order through Baker & Taylor or Ingram. Many of us small presses have our titles registered with those distributors, but the distributors do not warehouse small press books. So, when you go to a large chain store and want to do a signing, the clerk looks up in their database to see if your title is available at B&T or Ingram. When they don't find it in their database, it's because the books are not in the warehouse and therefore the store has no visibility as to the availability of the book. They tell the author the book is not available at B&T or Ingram. This is a brutal whirlwind that I, as a small press publisher, fight on a daily basis and have suffered through for years.

My less than assertive authors become deeply disturbed and discouraged by all this and consequently don't even try to market their books or try other ways and means to get their books and their names out there to the buying public. My more assertive, determined authors are selling well despite all these negatives. It takes guts and determination to make it work along with an unwavering belief in your ability as a writer to have something to say a customer will want to read. Sometimes marketing even takes an investment of money on the author's part. Of course no one has any money to spend on their own writing careers, so that's an absurd way to way to risk their precious dollars. What? Spend money on my own writing? There's no money to spare for that. If you haven't got the confidence in your own ability to risk spending what it takes to get your name out there, who else is going to do it for you? What guarantee do I have? None. There are no guarantees in this business. But nobody wins if they don't try. That truth IS set in concrete. Make no mistake.

Turning Dark into Light

People in the artistic fields will be the first to tell you there can be no light if there is no dark. In other words, your background must be dark before you can make light shine through. Painting light on light backgrounds will not work. Okay, so where is this going?

If you really are a writer, then you must write no matter what. Writing fills a deep emotional need inside us. Naturally we want to share our stories with others, and a little praise for a job well done now and then doesn't hurt either. As writers we all covet this.

So how can we combat all the negatives slamming us in the face in the current writing industry's negative, glutted atmosphere? In this atmosphere, writing a good book is the easy part. It's the marketing that's the largest challenge. You're the only one who can create a demand for your book, so how do you go about it? Let me count the ways.

Your book is of most interest to what genre(s)? If there is more than one, state which is your main focus; it's important to know all of your potential audience. Use other genre audiences in parallel with your main focus audience.

Prepublication Marketing:

Three to four months prior to publication, schedule presentations and talks about your book to various groups and organizations who might be interested in your genre.

A web-based marketing effort is also a must. If you don't have a web site, get one and start blogging. If you can, start a newsletter either monthly or bi-monthly.

Post Book Release Marketing:

If you can afford it, hire a highly referred publicist and start a campaign to create interest in your title, your genre; write articles for display on your web site to get your name out there often, again and again.

Submit your book to as many reviewers who review your genre as you can. Post any positive reviews on your web page and/or newsletter or blog.

Enter as many prestigious writing contests as your budget will allow. Be careful to enter it only in the right category and follow their rules for submission to the letter to avoid disqualification.

Transmit news of your book's release to every independent bookstore you can look up in the library lists or on the internet. Attractive postcards with your cover and brief synopsis or flyers work well for this. Yes, I know. It costs money for postage. Do it. It's a must.

Produce a web site blog or podcast and/or interviews where you will discuss your book and answer questions about it to those who show interest. This is called a Blog Tour. Participate in Q&A sessions on already established blog sites.

If you have no-cost air miles coming, use them to visit other cities where you can arrange several speaking engagements and book signing events at libraries, independent bookstores and the like. Be sure the events are advertised in their local newspapers prior to the event. Don't limit yourself to local places only.

Turning dark into light isn't impossible. It just takes hard work, determination to beat back the negatives of a glutted industry until they are bloody pulp. Today, at this moment, the greatest tool we small press authors have is the internet. There is no more vast audience. Learn all you can about utilizing its tools, ways and means. Be willing to spend a bit of money. Save for it if you must, and most of have to; make it a budget priority. This is your writing career. You must be willing and able to expend the energy and dogged belief in your work to make this work. Monetary rewards if any will be come slow and build with time as long as you don't give up.

If you're a smart author and have spent a great deal of time learning your craft before submitting, then you're ahead of the game at least that much. But, if you've been lazy or lax in learning the craft, then you can spend years slogging through piles of form rejections and disappointments even before you can paint a dark background so your light will shine through. Writing a good book is only the beginning of the journey. You, the author, must possess the passion and gutsy determination to become known as an excellent writer despite all the negatives others can throw at us. Write away those diminishing hopes. Market away the naysayers.

In closing one of the best pieces of advice I can give you, whether you're published in a large house or small, or still aspiring to be published, is to acquire a copy of RED HOT INTERNET PUBLICITY by Penny Sansevieri. If you don't have the book, get it. Study it from cover to cover. It will open your eyes to methods you never dreamed possible for marketing your work in today's environment.

About the Author: Lee Emory is an author of ten novels, numerous short stories and articles, who is also a professional editor for 40 years. She is the owner of/Senior Editor for Treble Heart Books Publishing. Lee teaches writing workshops and speaks at numerous writers’ conferences. Visit Treble Heart Books or email leeemory@earthlink.net to learn more.

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=301328&ca=Writing

28 April 2009

The Basics of Essay Writing

Title: The Basics of Essay Writing
Author: Gene Grzywacz
Word Count: 800
URL: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=295613&ca=Writing
Format: 64cpl
Author Contact: http://www.isnare.com/eta.php?aid=295613
Easy Publish Tool: http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=295613

Every college student hears each and every professor say that writing an essay should consist of the basic component or parts. So what are they talking about, of course everyone knows that it must have a couple of paragraphs, a sentence detailing what it is about and must not be riddled with errors, but what all does the basic components consist of? There are a few more issues that the professors are referring to and the purpose of this article is to help you better understand the basic components and get an A+ for understanding the fundamentals.

Introduction

Everyone knows what the introduction is and what all it includes, right? Wrong many students fail miserably in the very opening statement of the essay because they do not have a clear understanding of how to write the introduction. Many professional writers and students alike write the introduction very last. That is because the essay may take a couple of different turns and the information in the introduction should detail exactly what is in the paper. The introduction length will vary with the different types of essays or research papers, but generally the introduction is only a paragraph or maybe three at max. Toward the end of the paragraph, the writer should sum it all up with the thesis sentence, topic sentence or clarifying statement. This gives the reader the ability to determine the direction that the author is taking with the paper as well as gives them an introduction to the topic at hand. This is very important and one of the most cited things from professors.

Hypothesis

Writing a hypothesis is not as difficult as many students believe it to be. Basically, a hypothesis is a statement about the writer beliefs about the relationship among the factors. It can be that one thing leads to another or may not have any effect at all. A hypothesis statement is generally one to two sentences and is a to the point statement. Sometimes an essay will call for a topic sentence or purpose statements, which is closely related to a hypothesis statement. The technical definition for a hypothesis is the writers believe about what will happen when an experiment is conducted. If the experiment was how sugar affects small children, the hypothesis statement maybe something like this: The consumption of sugar by small children will cause them to have sudden bursts of energy and become hyper. This is of course generic, and only an example.

The Essays Body

The body of the paper is by far the longest section of the paper. It includes several paragraphs that explain the topic at hand. The body of the paper actually details the information and proves or disproves the hypothesis. There are many different topics, citations, references and other information that leads the reader to understand what the paper is all about. Without clear and concise thoughts the reader will be lost in a paper full of jargon. Many students make the mistake of adding fluff to the paper that is really not relevant and can lead to a very poor grade. The best way to avoid this and have a good transition and a clear meaning within the paragraphs is to be well versed on the research pertaining to the topic at hand. It is very obvious when a writer has not preformed the necessary research or does not know about the topic. They may think that they are able to fool the professor or readers, but often times they are sadly mistaken. Another very important part of the body is the transitioning between paragraphs, ideas or other parts of the paper. In some cases this is called bridging and it means that one idea leads to another thought in the paper. For example if the student is writing a paper on sea life and needs to transition from Wales to dolphins the last paragraph about whales would link the two animals maybe even having a statement about the next topic, which is dolphins.

Conclusion of the Essay

The conclusion is the favorite part for many students when it comes to writing essays. This is because it is the area of the paper that is summarizing and it is almost finished. The conclusion is a very important part of the paper because it not only wraps up the thoughts and ideas of the paper, but also looks to a new direction for the topic at hand. This is just another way of summarizing the paper and giving the reader a feeling of completeness or closure to the thought or ideas expressed in the paper. The conclusion is generally between one and three paragraphs and summarizes the entire paper.

About the Author: Visit Gene's website for more information on Essay Writing, College Study Skills and other College Tips .

Source: www.isnare.com

Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=295613&ca=Writing

14 April 2009

7 Steps to Editing Your Written Work

Title: 7 Steps to Editing Your Written Work
Author: Brian Vogt
Word Count: 646
URL: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=293452&ca=Writing
Format: 64cpl
Author Contact: http://www.isnare.com/eta.php?aid=293452
Easy Publish Tool: http://www.isnare.com/html.php?aid=293452

Editing is an extremely important part of the writing process. When you begin editing, remember that it's not just about fixing spelling mistakes. It's about polishing up the whole project, tightening up paragraphs and making your ideas transparent.

Here are 7 great steps to editing your own work

1) Print out a copy – Once you've finished typing up your work, adjust the document so that the pages have wide margins that you can write in. Print out a copy and leave the writing task for a while. A few hours is good, but a whole day is even better. When you decide to come back to it, use a different color pen to make corrections, mark things that need to be removed, and write in things that you want to add.

2) Abbreviations and Acronyms – These are excellent as they save both the writer's and reader's time. However, you should make sure that you've defined each abbreviation in brackets when you first use it (apart from the really obvious ones USA, UK, Dr., Ph.D etc). The abbreviation can then be used with the safeguard that readers unfamiliar with it are not confused.

i.e. The APC gene (adenomatosis polyposis coli) has been linked to cancer. The APC gene normally regulates how often a cell divides. In cancer patients, the APC gene allows the uncontrolled growth that causes cancer tumors.

i.e HWAA (How to Write Almost Anything) is a is a fantastic resource for any writing project. Whether you're a novice or a seasoned writer, the HWAA system will help you in every step of the way.

3) Diction (your choice of words) – To make the right choices, keep in mind who your audience is. If you're writing a technical report for school, make sure you use the jargon you've been taught, to show your understanding. If you're writing web content for the general public, get rid of jargon and select words that any Average Joe can understand. Diction aids your readers' understanding.

4) Punctuation – The best way to check for correct punctuation is to read your work out loud. Long winded sentences may need to be divided into two or three sentences or you could use a conjunction or semicolon to separate them. Did you notice that That sentence is a bit long and is more readable this way "Long winded sentences may need to be divided into two or three. You could also use a conjunction or semicolon to separate them."

5) Grammar - Make sure sentences are complete and contain a subject and a verb. Tenses are also something you need to watch out for. It's not rare to see a writer incorrectly jump from one tense to another in the very same paragraph!

6) Which brings me to the issue of paragraphing. Paragraphs help to structure your ideas. You can use the TEE ( Topic sentence, Explanation, Example) acronym when analyzing your paragraphs. The example part is pretty flexible, depending on your topic. It's vital for technical topics.

7) Accuracy – It's really important to check that any dates, names, figures and statistics are correct. This can easily be done by calling up an appropriate organization, a quick search on google, or referring to books at the library.

Once you think you've finished the writing process, another useful tip is to get someone else to read it. Let them ask questions if they don't understand a particular point. This probably means that you haven't explained it well in your work.

Written work expresses your ideas when you're not there to explain them yourself. In order to convey the message to your readers clearly, it's important to edit well. Your readers want to enjoy your work. Proofreading can help them do exactly that, without the distraction of errors.

About the Author: Brian Vogt is an author and the creator of Text Block Author, the software for writers that is specifically designed for this method with writing. To learn more about Text Block Author, visit the website: http://www.textblockauthor.net

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08 April 2009

3 Things You Can Learn From Ghosts About How to Live a Happy Life

Title: 3 Things You Can Learn From Ghosts About How to Live a Happy Life
Author: Melissa Van Rossum
Word Count: 751
URL: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=292402&ca=Writing
Format: 64cpl
Author Contact: http://www.isnare.com/eta.php?aid=292402
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I've interacted with ghosts for as long as I can remember. They were my playmates when I was younger and as I got older, in an odd sort of way, they became my teachers. Ghosts have followed me everywhere I've ever lived and have haunted me at all hours of the day and night. For most of my life to date I never knew why. And then I met a shaman who showed me why they came to me. They were lost and they needed my help. They needed a guide to help them find their way home.

As I began guiding them home, many of them told me their stories. They didn't consciously choose to become ghosts. But their fears, their limiting beliefs and their unwillingness to change got the better of them.

Ghosts give us valuable insight into the predictable results of a certain way of life. By their very existence ghosts teach us what not to do just as a drug addict or an alcoholic shows us the inevitable end of misery and loss as a result of their ill-fated choices.

Below are three powerful lessons that I've learned from my interactions with ghosts:

1. Depression must be faced and resolved, there is always an answer and a remedy to our suffering - Many of the ghosts I've met were so depressed and isolated in life that they committed suicide in an effort to end their suffering. They endured their grief and their suffering and hoped against reason that the next day would be different. Often without reaching out for help, and certainly without persevering to find the answers, they simply gave up hope. But what they found, is that there is no death, there is no end. And what they eventually learned, is that the depression was something they were meant to figure out and move beyond. After their death they saw that it wasn't as bad as they thought it was and that it was going to get better. There is always a reason and a remedy to our painful emotions, and we are the ones who are responsible for finding these answers.

2. Hanging on to Anger and Resentment Will Ruin Your Life... and Your Death - I've met several ghosts who held on to their anger and resentment over betrayals and injustices right up until their dying day... and beyond. They were so immersed in their own anger they couldn't manage to move beyond this life when it was time for them to do so. They didn't want the peace that the after-life offered. They wanted revenge. (In my experience, these are usually the ghosts that haunt - in the truest sense of the word.) Resentment is most often a resistance to move ahead, to change and grow in the ways we are called to. As ghosts often do, particularly the ghost brides I've met who were still angry over being left at the altar, we can fail to see the true meaning within a failed relationship or opportunity. Most often it's a doorway that leads us on to a deeper desire, and an answered prayer as long as we're willing to evolve in the way we're called to.

3. Suppressing Your Authentic Self will Keep You Afraid and Angry for the Rest of Your Life - Many of the ghosts I encounter are deeply mired in their own illusions. Many of them lived lives where they denied their authentic identities in fear of judgment and persecution. One religious woman who denied her homosexual identity was too afraid to cross over because she feared being punished in the way her church would have judged and shunned her. It took me a while to get her to see that the judgment was on this side of the veil, not the other way around. Limiting beliefs and self-judgment will only keep you angry and afraid in life, as well as in death. Regardless of society's ability to accept you as you are, you need to find your own loving self-acceptance and self-support. From there you will begin to find others who can share with you what you’ve learned to first give to yourself.

Not everyone who lives their life without awareness will become a ghost. But everyone who fails to embrace this wisdom, does become a bit ghost-like in that they lose a bit of themselves every day.

About the Author: Melissa Van Rossum is an accomplished psychic, empath and author. Her life's work is to help people realize their dreams by finding their Divine Guidance. Their Way Home shares stories of her encounters with ghosts, who searched her out to guide them home. To learn more, visit All You've Ever Known and Their Way Home.

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04 April 2009

The Birthday Party

Title: The Birthday Party
Author: Morgan Delaney
Word Count: 838
URL: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=292397&ca=Writing
Format: 64cpl
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Early in the Spring of 2004, I was invited to a birthday party. I need to point out that this was no ordinary birthday party. You see, this was a celebration of eighty years of the life of a Matriarch, whose children recognized and embraced her significance in the forming of their lives and of their children's lives.

Eleanor is the "Granna" to my dearest friend. But, because of the distance, I had been with her a few times over the course of my friendship with her granddaughter.

Eleanor is, and always has been, a "significant" person in that her presence affects you. Perhaps it is the paradox of her manner, which can be both gentle and strong in the same moment. Or, could it be the way her conversations, often laced with humor, also contain the wisdom of a sage? She has suffered as all of us who live on this earth have suffered, but unlike many of us, she lives and ministers with dignity and genuine affection. All of this being true, from the little I have observed and all I have been told, the paradox is rather the way that she knows her worth, both to herself and to others. Eleanor is the most authentic person I have ever met.

And, so it was on that gorgeous day in San Francisco that a celebration of love was bestowed upon her.

I had not attended with the notion that the experiences of that day would be remembered in a magazine. But, the events, the emotion, the devotion for this woman so touched me that I was compelled to share the occasion with you, for she is a living and vital contradiction to the world's expectations of women, and we all love her for it.

Around 2 0'clock in the afternoon, the families and invited friends began arriving at the home of the eldest son, Jon. Though Eleanor's spirit remains strong, her health is sometimes failing and the decision had been made to celebrate here rather than a hotel. And, as the events of the day unfolded, the backdrop of this beautiful home was ideal for the intimacy that evolved. How wonderful to watch so many generations laughing, singing and reminiscing together as the common thread of their heritage continued to weave them together. Yes, I felt like an outsider in a way, for only those who had shared the common wealth of this uncommon woman, and had had their thoughts and values shaped in so many ways by her, could truly revel in the joy of their shared memories. But, I felt so privileged to just watch the dream happen. No sense of a generation gap here. And, what was most obvious was how they genuinely cherished their Mother.

There were pictures of crayon presented by the little ones to their "Great Granna," and a few precious poems expressing their feelings for her. Then, the older ones joined with them for a chorus of songs that had once been taught by the "Birthday Girl" to her children so long before. Spider songs and lullabies, even an old, forgotten Christmas carol, transported Eleanor back in memory to a time long past, a time when her hair was gold instead of gray, and her greatest joy was running to the source of a child's voice calling "Mommy, watch me!" Tears mingled with laughter as we all were allowed to share in these moments.

So the afternoon passed, each generation taking their turn to remember with songs, poems, endless wishes, and stories told as only families know to do, of the many days that had come before this one. Stories of the one whom they had gathered to celebrate this day, the one who is their source.

But, the best of all was saved for the last. Eleanor's own four children, all now in their sixties, had each written a letter of memories remembered most about their Mother. These letters, each one framed, were passed around the living room for all of us to share and enjoy. I have never read sentiments so beautiful, and I had the overwhelming sensation inside of me that I was reading, watching, and experiencing what the whole world of humankind longs for, all written down inside these beautiful letters.

My expectation was that eldest son, Jon, would present these four poignant letters, each one written in calligraphy and framed in dark mahogany, to Eleanor as a token of their love and also of this stunning day. Instead, each of the four grown children produced from under the dining room table several more copies of their particular letter, framed as the first, and began to give them to each of their children… and to their children.

It was then that I recognized that in these letters, and in this day, and in their lives, the gift to Eleanor from her children was the gift of remembrance.

About the Author: Relationship expert, consultant, and educator, Morgan Delaney, MS, empowers single women with the real secrets about dating and relationships, based on a decade of research in the fields of developmental psychology, brain-based gender differences, and the fascinating mysteries of the male psyche. To learn more about Ms. Delaney's relationship research, and forthcoming books, visit Single Sisterhood.

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