Secrets of a Professional Writer

October 3rd, 2011 § 0 comments § permalink

There are millions of aspiring writers in the world, but very few ever make it on a professional level.  Becoming a writer takes more than good grammar and a few creative ideas.  It also takes a lot of sweat equity.  There will be countless hours behind the keyboard and many more pounding the streets and knocking on the office door of one publisher after another.  You can make it as a professional writer, but there are a few things you need to know ahead of time.  Here are a few secrets from professional writers that can help you in your journey.

First, write everyday.  This is the cardinal rule of becoming a good writer.  Your skills will improve the more you write and if you get out of rhythm, it can take a long time to get back in.  Whether you are in the office, at home on the weekends, or on a Caribbean vacation, spend at least five minutes each day writing.  If possible, write more than that!  Keep a journal if you don’t have an assignment to keep you busy.  Just always find a reason to write.

Second, ask great writers how they achieved success.  Write a letter to your most admired writers and ask for advice.  Many will freely guide you if you just ask the right questions.  It is easier to forge the path alone, but you will have more success if you have someone there to guide the way for you.

Third, remember that writing is just the first step.  Never publish or submit a first draft no matter what.  Even if you are short on time, at least read back through your article or manuscript once.  It is so easy to make little errors while you are in a hurry.  Great writers know that the actual writing is only one part of the process.  Instead, you will need to proofread, make corrections, proof again, etc.

Combatting Writer’s Block

July 22nd, 2011 § 0 comments § permalink

It never fails to happen at the worst possible moment.  You sit down at the computer with a deadline looming close at hand and all of a sudden your mind is as blank as the word document.  You start a sentence fifty times and never hash out an idea that works.  You try and try to put together a complete thought that will work, but it always seems to fail.  So what can you do to combat writer’s block?  How can you get the ideas flowing again, especially when you don’t have much time?  Here are a few things that work for me.

First, pick up a book and start reading.  Sometimes reading someone else’s words is all it takes to get your mind flowing again.  It might be a character’s emotions that trigger an idea or an unexpected twist in the plot.  Sometimes it is just as easy as getting away from your own assignment long enough to feel refreshed enough to type something creative.

Second, turn on the television.  There is always something happening on the television so you will never have a lack of inspiration.  Watch the news or watch your favorite reality show.  Just get away from the computer for a few minutes and give yourself time to gather your thoughts.  Sometimes inspiration will hit you through comedy and other times it might just happen during a creative commercial.

Third, go for a walk.  Fresh air is always the key to get my mind flowing again.  After sitting in a stuffy office for hours, I need to get outside and let the fresh air flow through me for a few minutes.  Just a walk around the block is usually all I need to fight writer’s block and be productive in my writing job once again.

Protecting Your Work

April 3rd, 2011 § 0 comments § permalink

Nothing is worse for a writer than having someone steal the words that you worked long and hard to achieve.  Unfortunately, plagiarism is a major problem in today’s world, especially since the emergence of the internet.  Now, people can steal your work in an instant.  It’s as easy as copy and paste and nothing can be done to reclaim those words as your own.  Sure, you can fight against plagiarism, but ultimately the creator’s rights are often quickly forgotten when it comes to online content.  So how can you protect yourself from plagiarism online?  Here are a few tips to help you get started.

  1. Get a subscription to Copyscape.

Copyscape has a free service where you can scan your website to see if the content is found anywhere else online.  You can also subscribe to Copyscape premium and check large chunks of text for online plagiarism.  This service costs only five cent per search and it can be invaluable to protect your content on the internet.

2. Post a notice against plagiarism.

If you have a blog or website where you post new content frequently, add a notice about plagiarism.  It can be something simple like, “Please email us here to get permission for reproduction.”  Another option would be to end each post with the phrase “Do not use without permission from author.”

3. Confront the Content Thief.

If a copyscape search shows that your content is being used online and you didn’t give permission for it, contact the website’s owner.  Don’t be afraid to speak up about your content when it is used without your permission.  You have a right to ask for your name to be placed as a byline on anything you write.  Handle the situation with courtesy and in most cases, the content thief will make things right.

What Happened to Good Old Fashioned Pen and Paper?

August 7th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Today more and more people are putting down the old pen and paper. It’s rare for anyone to receive a handwritten letter or even a mailed card these days. We read less newspapers and more online content. We get our news and media updates through social media and blog posts. For example, we had major wind one day and the sky looked eerie. Did I go to the weather channel or look up Accuweather? NO, I simple signed into facebook and quickly read a status update that we were under a tornado watch. Funny when you think about but you know I’m not the only one.

Anyway writing may not be with pen and paper but with a computer and a blank blog content post page. You know that you want to start blogging about your family and stop sending out the family newsletter. To help you write a blog post here are a few tips. This may come as a shock, PLAN! Plan ahead. Set aside time for you to devote to writing. Keep a little notebook close by at all times. You will have ideas for posts from out of nowhere so write them down.

Make your writing personal. Readers like to relate to the person writing the blog and not so much the content. Use anecdotes it does help. Try not to force yourself to write but just jot down a few things and come back to them later when you’re refreshed. Photos are great. People like to have a visual of what all the writing is about.

Keep your post short but make them meaningful. Too lengthy and you’ve lost the reader, unless it’s a tutorial but even then try to make it short with great detail. Comments and criticism can be your friend. Don’t let people get you down but pick out the point and see if you need to adjust your wiring skill.

Blogging can be fun, try it.

How Voice-Recognition Software Can Make Your Life Simpler

May 17th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Have you ever felt like your typing speed held back the free flow of thoughts? If only there was a way for you to get your words down on paper without actually having to type them. Thankfully voice-recognition software solves this problem and every year the software continues to improve. From the early days when voice-recognition was sporadic at best, today software is able to recognize accents, adjust for local language, and control almost every aspect of how your computer operates. The freedom that this provides allows those who do not have great typing skills to be more productive than ever before.

If you been on the fence about using voice-recognition software now is a great time to get a try. Most of the more popular voice-recognition software companies offer money back guarantees if it turns out that their software is indeed not able to accurately translate your voice into text clearly, so really you have nothing to lose. The process that the software uses to learn your voice is not very time-consuming in fact the learning process can often be completed in less than ten minutes. Once the software recognizes your initial speech pattern you will provide you with ways to increase the accuracy on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis.

You’ll be amazed how much your productivity increases. Most research shows that voice-recognition software allows the average person to increase their output by three times what they were able to produce when they had to type. If you work at typing intensive business environment and you have never felt that your typing skills were quite up to the task, do yourself a favor and invest in voice-recognition software today.

Paypal is Criticized by Writers Citing Censorship

February 29th, 2012 § 0 comments § permalink

Just when you think that words like censorship and book banning are terms you’ll never hear again, you find out you’re wrong. In the past it has always been schools, churches, and governments who famously told people what they could and couldn’t read. The latest bout of censorship comes from an unlikely source. PayPal is the organization that has started telling booksellers what they can and can’t sell.

The organization that the online banking service has decided to go after is SmashWords, the leading seller of eBooks after Amazon and Barnes and Noble. Without any pomp or circumstance PayPal informed the eBook retailer that they had a choice. Smashwords could stop selling erotica the online financial group considered offensive, or the company could lose PayPal’s services.

In PayPal’s defense, they didn’t tell Smashwords that they would no longer be able to sell any erotica (a genre that has benefited greatly by the creation of eBooks). PayPal has decided that it can no longer assist with the buying and selling of books that contain rape, bestiality, or incest. As of right now, other forms of erotica are still considered acceptable.

To the average person on the street, PayPal’s withdrawal might not seem like a big deal. All that Smashword’s customers have to do is purchase the eBooks with their credit card. However, an incredibly large portion of Smashword’s revenue relies on PayPal. Not only do online customers use the trusted banking service to make purchase, but Smashwords also uses PayPal to pay its authors. The loss of PayPal could cripple the online bookseller.

If PayPal is successful in dictating the types of books that Smashwords can and can’t market, one has to assume that it will only be a matter of time before PayPal tries its censorship techniques on other booksellers and with other genres.

How to Get Published

December 16th, 2011 § 0 comments § permalink

Every writer dreams about signing a big publishing deal. For years, I would walk through Barnes and Noble and stare at that “Best Seller” rack in the front. I would imagine how it would feel to see a book with my name on the glossy cover featured on that rack. I imagined hundreds of people standing in line to meet me at book signings. I thought about traveling the world to talk about my brilliant novel and how I came up with such creative storylines.

Of course, then I would snap back to reality when some guy would carelessly bump into me, spilling my latte down the front of my shirt. That is the moment where I always remembered that my life as a writer is not quite as glamorous as I had imagined.

Sure, I am a successful writer. In fact, my writing income has allowed me to live in a beautiful 4-bedroom house on an island on the eastern seaboard. I have gorgeous views of the ocean on the south and the intercostal waterway on the north. My husband spends his days doing non-profit work and my kids enjoy a comfortable existence. Still, there are no book signings and I don’t have a best seller in any bookstore.

Instead, I turned to electronic publishing. Instead of spending years sending unanswered query letters to publishing houses that rarely even opened their mail, I went the indie route and started publishing my work as ebooks. Through Amazon Kindle and Barnes and Noble Nook, I have been able to successfully enjoy a nice steady income writing from home in my free time.

While best selling authors make a nice income due to large advances and huge contacts, they also have stressful schedules with lots of travel. They are also paid royalties in pennies. By publishing electronically, I can spend my days at home with my family. I enjoy an average royalty rate of 70% on every book that sells.

If you are an aspiring writer who feels like publishing just won’t happen for you, don’t fall into the trap of writer’s depression. Wipe the latte off your shirt and turn on your laptop. Submit that manuscript for online publishing as an ebook and watch your writing income begin.

You Have the Right to Decide

December 18th, 2010 § 0 comments § permalink

Just like there is a long list of sites for people interested in shopping, there are plenty of online bingo sites to choose from to suit pretty much everyone who likes games. Most of the differences in the sites come about when looking at the type of games that are offered by each site. Some players visiting the sites will want low risk games while others really like the games that offer a larger jackpot.

If you are new to the idea of playing games online, you may want to look at the sites that will allow you to play bingo for free. Yes, those sites do exist! Many sites will allow players to do this so that they can try out their games. Another option for those who do not want to spend money up front is to play the games that do not require a deposit.

If you are not sure what kind of game is the right choice for you, consider looking at online reviews to see what other players like about PoloBingo. You may also find out why the RedBus Bingo Bonus is so popular among players. Reading why other players like games is a great way to find out which games will fit your needs the best.

Perhaps you are one of those people who love the idea of winning big when playing games. Consider trying one of the new bingo sites to see if they have anything that may fit your needs. Finding a game you like is very important so that you can have fun while playing.

Thank goodness there are so many choices for you to choose from. Considering that there are so many different kinds of people in the world it is no wonder that there are many different tastes when it comes to playing games. If you have already read all of the reviews and are still having a hard time figuring out which one to choose, maybe playing all of them that you are interested in will help with your decision. Sometimes having a variety to play makes switching games even more fun.

Shopping for Electronic Cigarettes Online

December 17th, 2010 § 0 comments § permalink

You can buy e-cigs in a variety of places.  Most convenience stores carry at least one brand of electronic cigarettes since they are rapidly becoming popular among smokers around the world.  You can also buy e-cigs and the refill cartridges at most smokers shops.  Even if they don’t carry every possible brand, they will at least have the most popular brands such as South Beach Smoke and some places will even honor South Beach Smoke coupons to allow for a greater discount.

If you want to save the most money on your purchase, then the internet is the place to buy your electronic cigarettes.  The internet is full of electronic cigarettes reviews such as the popular Blu reviews.  These usually point to great deals where you can buy e-cigs at a steep discount and also let you know about e-cigarette coupons that you can use to save even more money.

In fact, I found some great e-cig coupons on the website, ElectronicCigarettesReviews.net.  Here are some of the best coupons that I found on this site:

When you are shopping for electronic cigarettes online, keep your eyes peeled for a few special promotions.  First, look for “Buy One, Get One Free” deals on refill cartridges.  You can never have too many of these on hand, especially when you are buying online and shipping times can vary.  You should also look for deals offering free shipping.  Sometimes the shipping costs are more expensive than the prices you are going to pay for your starter kit or refills.

You can check around on some of the forums and blogs devoted to electronic cigarettes to find the best deals each week.  Even if you order from one site at first, don’t be afraid to switch it up and order from someone else the next week.  Then you can get the best prices possible.  Another thing to check on is referral programs.

Some companies will give you credit towards future purchases for referring new customers.  You could start a blog or spread the word through Facebook so that other smokers can purchase from your favorite electronic cigarette company.  Then make sure you ask them to use your referral code when placing their orders.  That way, you get credit and can enjoy free electronic cigarette refills as a result.

When you take advantage of the online deals, you can cut the costs of your smoking habit in half.  Watch for sales and free shipping events.  Always ask about referral programs and spread the word to family and friends.  Then you can enjoy your electronic cigarettes for the lowest price possible by ordering online.

The Power Behind the Plug

November 16th, 2010 § 0 comments § permalink

Electric vehicles like Nissan’s electric car, the Nissan Leaf, are a pretty new development for us as a reliable means of transportation.  They come in all shapes and sizes from electric cars, to electric bikes and electric scooters. They all serve one purpose however and that is to provide a means of transportation while protecting the environment.  There are all sorts of manufacturers making these new EVs and they are becoming more and more common to see tooling along the interstate.

So beyond the cute factor, this type of EV has a lot of other things going for it.  They run on electricity so no nasty emissions or toxic byproducts are being put into the atmosphere.  This makes it an excellent choice for anyone who is environmentally conscious.  We put off tons of horrible emissions by sitting in traffic, waiting in drive through lines, and sitting at stop lights.  These electric cars are a way to stop these harmful pollutants from further destroying the atmosphere.

The work of the electric car is simple.  All electrical cars run on batteries that provide electricity to an electric motor in the car.  That engine then runs the transmission, and the transmission spins the wheels.  Voila, you have a motorized vehicle without all of the damaging effects.

The electric cars such as the Chevy Volt EV and the Mitsubishi i-miev are also surprisingly economical.  For a new and trendy product, this one can certainly save you a bunch of money.  First figure out how much you spend on gasoline in a month.  Then multiply that by the life span of the car.  It is pretty evident that the cost savings from making the switch from a gasoline engine will pay for itself quickly against the cost of the car itself.  These products are initially expensive for certain, but after you get past the initial sticker shock, you will find that all the benefits outweigh the cost rather quickly.

There is a drawback to the electric vehicles other than the cost that it is important to be aware of.  The electric car runs on a battery which inevitably needs to be charged.  This will require your vehicle to be unoperational while it’s charging and that does take a significant amount of time. This can be important to realize if you need access to a vehicle at all hours.  Although a typical battery charge lasts for between 150 and 300 miles, it takes a while to recharge it between runs.

So the choice between a gasoline run car, a hybrid car and an electric one may be easy for some and more difficult for others. The important thing is that you explore all your options and the pros and cons of each one.  By being completely educated, you will be able to make an informed decision that you will be happy with for many years to come.