From the daily archives: Saturday, January 9, 2010
Can Quick Grammar Guide & Checker solve our grammar writing problems once and for all? English writing is one of the most important forms of communication today, it is necessary to maintain it correct and professional. Let’s take a look and see how recent technological improvements can help us on improving our writing skills.
Quick introduction
What is Quick Grammar Guide & Checker all about? Well, it is one of these innovative solutions that technology keeps bringing in order to make our life easier – in our case it is about fixing our English writing. By simulating the human mind, this technology analyzes your writing by comparing it to a dynamic large database that contains proper variations of your text. Sophisticated language processing solutions usually offer the following: editing and proofreading, checking on spelling and typos, and most importantly – analyzing our grammar writing.
Important benefits
We can easily find several important advantages while using this technology:
* Significantly enhancing the capabilities of our existing text editors.
* Improving our self confidence with our writing.
* Improving the image we want to project through our writing.
Extra research on this solution would probably bring up additional benefits that aren’t mentioned here, as this important webmarketing technique keeps changing, bringing us fresh solutions that help us on improving our English writing and editing skills.
Quick summary
If we summarize the main benefit provided by this powerful Quick Grammar Guide & Checker – it is helping us on identifying possible writing errors before we deliver or publish our writing assignments. Everyone agrees that it cannot completely eliminate our writing problems; however, it can significantly help us on improving our writing skills. Undoubtedly we can expect this exciting technology to further develop itself, for one simple reason: writing is one of the most important tools that help us achieving many of our goals.
Author: Gil Lavitov
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Apology letters are best used to convey an apology you won’t or can’t make in person. Many situations requiring an apology escalate to conflict when parties meet face-to-face. In these cases, a letter disconnects the writer from the reader and suspends the confrontation. Likewise, if you’re responsible for the situation, apology letters allow you to convey your regret from a distance.
Apology Letter ~ apologizing to boss for misconduct.
Follow this outline…
Format
1. Use the Friendly format arrangement for Apology Letters:
a. to the right side of the letter header place the return address
b. make two carriage returns
c. directly below the return address, place the date
d. make three carriage returns
e. do not include a reference line
f. begin your letter
g. indent the body paragraphs five spaces each
h. center the closing and signature so that the left-most character of each are justified to the center of the page if the paper were folded.
Wording
1. Present your apology without conditions. Do not divide the responsibility, such as, “Please accept my apology, even though I know we both were somewhat responsible…”
2. If the blame clearly belongs to a third party and that is understood by the reader, apologize, but explain that the consequences were beyond your control.
3. If you are responsible for the situation, accept the blame.
4. The opening paragraph of our letter eloquently places the blame on the writer. The same paragraph goes on to describe the feelings the writer has toward his actions.
5. The next two paragraphs cleverly ask for forgiveness (and subtly suggest that the writer hopes to continue his job) before closing with a Thank You in the final paragraph.
Tone
1. Maintain a formal tone whether making a professional or personal apology.
1. With time being as critical to everyone as it is, sending an Apology Letter via email, once considered a faux pas, is now becoming increasingly more accepted.
a. Send your letter in the same format as you would for snail mail – this conveys to the reader that you took the time to create a professional correspondence.
b. Depending on the circumstances, send the message from the appropriate email account: personal email account for a personal
correspondence, professional email account for professional correspondence.
Printing
1. Before printing, decide on what paper to use. For Apology Letters, it is best to use high-grade card stock.
2. Print your letter and envelope on the same printer using the same font and an envelope that matches the stationery.
Signature
1. Make three carriage returns between the closing and your typed signature. Inside this space, sign your name for professional correspondence. For personal correspondence, there is no need for a typed signature. Simply, sign your name.
Visit www.LetterRep.com [http://www.letterrep.com/free_edit.php] for Apology Letters, hundreds of sample personal and business letters and Online Tools for Addressing, Dating, Editing, Formatting, Printing, Emailing and Faxing.
Author: Robert Noyes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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If youve read any of my work before, you probably know that I’ve been in publishing since 1987, have been a freelancer since 1993 and ran an editorial staffing agency in New York City from 1996 through 2004.
Some lessons Ive learned from this crazy journey are as follows:
1. Staying abreast of technology is crucial: Back in 1998, I was pushed to get a website for my company because clients and candidates were asking questions like, Can I apply online? Can I download the contract from your site? Can I post a job to your website?
Well, as we didnt even have a website, I would embarrassingly say no. The loud silence, especially from clients, on the other end of the phone line got to be too much.
Going through the process of getting a website taught me the value of staying on top of technology. I learned that while I dont need to be a hard-nosed techie, to stay competitive, I had to know enough to be able to stay competitive. This meant not only getting a site, but learning how to update it myself.
One of the wonderful things about technology is that new tools are constantly being developed for those of us who are NOT tech-savvy, eg, FrontPage software for building websites, autoresponder software, listserv software for building mailing lists, etc.
2. Writing is a skill: Obviously, you mutter. However, many writers dont treat their craft like it. I single out writers because, in my experience, proofreaders, copy editors, indexers, editors, graphic designers, illustrators, etc. all seem to see intrinsic value and take pride in their work.
Many writers take their craft for granted. Maybe its because society views writing as just words on paper. After all, once you know your ABCs, you can write, right? Well, editorial professionals know better than anyone that this is not so.
One thing I advise all professional writers to do to combat this lackadaisical attitude is to treat their writing like a business skill. Just like being a professional coder, artist or web designer when you put yourself out there, market and treat your skill like the highly valued commodity it is.
Let it be reflected in your perfectly prepared marketing materials eg, your website, brochure, postcard, etc. Also, when you speak with potential clients, be sure to use a professional tone. No one is going to believe that you write professionally if you dont talk like it as well.
3. Freelancing full-time is not hard: Its not easy, to be sure. But, building a successful, full-time freelance career is not terribly difficult, if:
a. You have experience within your discipline. Most successful freelancers Ive encountered have worked full-time within their discipline at some point.
b. You are willing to work fulltime and freelance on the side for a period of time. Many freelancers leave their jobs once they got too burned out doing both, or secure a big project that allows them to make the leap.
c. You plan for it. Some freelancers (the most successful ones I might add) are more calculating about their careers.
What I mean by this is that they plan a year or two out knowing that they are going to leave their jobs. So, they save 6 months or a years expenses, pay off credit card bills, buy equipment while working full-time, etc.; then, they make the leap.
The ones I know who followed this path are, not surprisingly, the most successful meaning, they have gone on to hire employees. A few even opened offices and became official businesses because their client load demanded it.
Can you build a freelance business if you dont have these three things? Absolutely! However, it is even more critical that you devise a plan of how youre going to go about it. Having experience and industry contacts makes it easier, but the web makes it easier than ever today to start a freelance business.
4. Marketing is a skill that must be developed: When most freelancers start out, they may have two or three clients who keep them pretty busy. BUT, the day comes when the projects dry up (it always happens) and you have to scrounge for business.
Its at this point that many panic and start looking for a full-time job again. When I was recruiting, I received more than a few panicked calls, eg, I have to find something — quick!
Invariably, I was unable to help them (see Point #5 below). It usually was a moot point though because within a month or so, some project would come along and they would no longer be interested or available for a full-time job.
It was during this time that I got interested in the whole topic of freelancing as a business. Most freelancers focus on their craft and not the business of freelancing. However, as I preach ad nauseam on InkwellEditorial.com, to be successful as a freelancer, you must, must, must learn how to market if you want a full-time, sustainable career as a freelancer.
5. Employers dont like to hire freelancers for full-time jobs: It was my experience when I was recruiting that if you freelanced full-time for a year or more, employers were very hesitant to hire you as a full-time employee. Why?
Because most think that you are only seeking full-time work because you have hit a rough patch financially. Logically, it just makes sense. I mean, who gives up a successful freelance career to go back to the 9-5 grindstone? Most employers figured that as soon as the next big project came along, their new hire would be out the door.
I have seen it happen on many occasions so much so that when I was recruiting, I would screen out those with a significant freelance history because the chances that they would leave was just too great.
I once lost a $6,000 placement fee because the employee quit 10 days before the 90-day guarantee. [Most recruiting firms give employers a 60 or 90-day guarantee that the employee will stay put for at least this amount of time, or they dont have to pay.]
6. You cant change your rates every year: Charge enough that you dont have to change your rate for three years. I know some make take umbrage with this, but Ive found editorial (eg, writing, copy editing, proofreading, indexing, editing, etc.) to be a very static industry. It is not one where you can raise rates yearly.
Some of the companies I freelanced for back in 1993 still pay the same rates today Im not kidding! So, I advise all freelancers who are just starting out to start out charging enough so that they dont have to change their rates for three years.
Its been my experience that after this period, you can increase rates without worrying about losing even one of your clients. Putting forth the argument of, we havent raised rates in three years somehow seems to make it fair for them.
Working on this time schedule, I dont ever remember losing a client. I think its a combination of clients being comfortable with your work and them thinking, after three years, an increase is only fair.
7. You must develop a niche: Ive known a few freelancers who did several things successfully (eg, designed websites and wrote the copy for them), but this was the exception, not the norm.
Most successful freelancers niche it. What I mean is, they develop a niche and stick to it. In my opinion, it is far easier to become successful like this than being a generalist.
Trust me, those sites where you see freelancers touting that they do everything from writing to web design to illustration are not making that much money, or they are farming the work out to other freelancers.
Most clients like to know that they are getting a knowledgeable professional who has a history and body of work within the discipline they are being hired for. If it is a pharmaceutical company, they want a writer who has done this type of writing before.
So, develop a niche and market the hell out of it!
8. Patience is a virtue: Even after all of my years in the industry, Im amazed by how difficult it can be to be patient while I grow my business. I have lists and lists of ideas that I want to implement and there just never seems to be enough time.
This is easily a career where you can work nonstop all the time. An idea for an article pops in your head and instead of jotting down the idea, you find yourself writing the whole article; you go online to do some research, and before you know it you have spent two hours surfing the net on an unrelated matter; you log on to check email, and in an instant, you find yourself redesigning a section of your website; the list is endless.
This is an issue I still struggle with; although, I have gotten better about stopping. So, instead of browsing for 2 hours, it might be 30 minutes before I literally make myself stop and go back to my original task.
The best advice I can give to stop this kind of behavior is to think of your long-range goals and ask yourself if what youre doing this very minute is getting you closer to them. If not, stop and get back on track.
9. Retirement is not planned for: I can count the number of times on one hand that Ive had conversations with freelancers about retirement. Most small business owners (and thats what freelancing is, small business ownership) have an exit strategy, or a day where they envision doing something else.
For some reason, editorial and creative freelancers dont think this way. Well, while you may be able to write or design websites from anywhere at any age, whos to say youre going to want to when youre 70?
In my quest to get freelancers to think of themselves as businesses, one of the things I wish more would do is plan for retirement. This includes looking into 401K plans, buying investment real estate, building a sellable business, etc.
Again, just because you might be capable of churning out material long past retirement age does not mean that you are going to want to. So, plan for the day when you wont have to.
10. Longevity pays: The longer you freelance, the easier it gets. My business mentor said to me once, when you first start out, you are just greasing the pipes. After two or three years, clients will not be quite so hard to come by.
Its just like search engine positioning — the longer your site is on the web, the more frequently it is spidered by search engine bots, the more results it shows up in, the more popular it is, more people find it and voila! you have a popular site.
If you are constantly marketing and networking, eventually, it will seem effortless and referrals will flow in. Thats because you build traction just by being around. Many freelancers dont hang in there long enough to get this type of seamless recognition.
In conclusion, freelancing is a wonderful career — if, like anything other venture you enter, you take it seriously enough to work it like a business.
Author: Yuwanda Black
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The day I learned this writing tip was the day my writing got a whole lot easier, faster, and more fun. It’s no secret really, but this one tip could change the way you write articles for the Web, for your ezines, your blog, for all sorts of marketing content:
It’s called the “Make a list” technique
That’s right. Not too complicated, is it? As Jeff Herring, The Article Guy, puts it: “If you can write a 7-item grocery list, you can write an article.”
Ever since I learned that, getting started with writing (some say this is the most difficult part) has become a snap. If I’d known it was this simple, I might have skipped graduate school.
Here’s how it goes in my head: Say I need to write an article on “ezine publishing.”
How do I know that I need to write about ezine publishing? I did a keyword search and my newsletter site it doesn’t come up on the first page of Google when people search on the keyword phrase “ezine publishing.” The site comes up on page 3.
If I have more web pages using the keyword phrase “ezine publishing”, I should improve my page ranking. Therefore, I need to publish more articles using those keywords on my website, on my blog, and in my ezine, which gets archived on the Web, and submit these articles to article directories.
Here’s how the “Make a List” writing tip works:
I started with all the reasons why it’s important to publish an ezine and made a list. I came up with 8 good reasons. Then I looked at what goes into publishing an ezine and made a list. I discovered there are four different components you have to pay attention to. Then I looked at writing an article for an ezine, and made a list of 10 important things to include in the article.
You see how this goes? I have just created three different articles:
1. 8 Reasons to Publish an Ezine
2. 4 Essential Steps to Ezine Publishing
3. 10 New Rules for Writing a Successful E-Newsletter
I ended up writing a special report that includes all three sub-topics.
Next I’ll be writing “10 Easy Article Writing Tips”, based on what I have been talking about here. I gotta walk my talk, you know, and this 10 tips list just got created while I was writing this article. That’s the power of the secret “Make a List” tip. Writing gets easier, faster, and better.
Author: Patsi Krakoff, Psy. D.
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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1. Stick with facts. Unlike when writing novels or fiction, you cannot really over stretch the truth or be very imaginative when writing newspaper articles. This is because your readers are looking for facts and nothing but facts. Before you write your news articles, it would be best if you gather all the information first and present them in such a way that you’ll be able to grab your readers by the throat.
2. Keep it short. Writing newspaper articles is all about presenting facts as they are. You don’t need to interpret them and you don’t need to use lengthy introductions. After writing your articles, check them out and see if you can take out words that are not really necessary on your content. The shorter your articles are, the better.
3. Keep it simple. Use the preferred language of your readers when writing your articles. It’s important that you make it hassle-free for these people to understand your chosen stories. When needed, substitute big words with common terms. Also, keep your sentences and your paragraphs relatively short.
4. Ask for feedback. Before you submit your articles to your editors, it would help if you show them first to a trusted friend. This person must be able to help you out in identifying the weak points of your articles. Make necessary revisions when and as needed.
5. Choose your topics wisely. As your main goal is to keep your readers updated on the things that’s going on from inside and outside the country, ensure that you stick with topics that are current and newsworthy.
Author: Sean R Mize
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Many years ago most personal letters, after an extremely formal salutation, began “I take my pen in hand.” We do not see that at all nowadays, but the spirit of that saying still lingers. Pick up the average letter and you cannot fail to notice that the writer has grimly taken his pen in hand and, filled with one thought, has attacked the paper. That one thought is to get the letter writing over with.
And perhaps this attitude of getting the writing over with at all costs is not so bad after all. There are those who grieve over the passing of the formal and dignified letter and others who regret that the “literary” letter – the kind of letter that can be published – is no longer with us. But the old letter of ceremony is not really more useful than a powdered wig to a modern man, and as for the sort of letter that delights the heart and lightens the work of the writer – well, that is still being written by the kind of person who can write it. It is better that a letter should be written because the writer has something to say than as a token of culture.
THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER
No one can go far wrong in writing any sort of letter if first the care is taken to set out the exact object and desire of the letter. A letter always has an object – otherwise why write it? But somehow, and particularly in the dictated letter, the object frequently gets lost in the words. A handwritten letter is not suitable to be too wordy – it would take too much time and trouble to write. But someone dictating may, especially if interrupted by telephone calls, ramble on about what they want to say and in the end have used two pages for what should have been said in three lines. On the other hand, letters may be so brief as to produce an impression of abrupt rudeness. It is a rare writer who can say all that need be said in one line and not seem rude. But it can be done.
The single purpose of a letter is to convey thought. That thought may have to do with facts, and the further purpose may be to have the thought to produce action. But plainly the action depends solely upon how well the thought is transferred or conveyed in the letter. Words are used in a letter as a vehicles for thought, but every single word is not a vehicle for thought, because it may not be the kind of word that goes to the place where you want your thought to go; or, to put it another way, there is a wide variation in the understanding of words. Where an exactly phrased letter might completely convey an exact thought to a person of education, that same letter might be meaningless to a person with less understanding of complex words. Therefore, it is unwise in general letter writing to resort to using unusual words.
There is something of a feeling that letters should be elegant, that if you wanted to express yourself simply and clearly, it is because of some lack of sophistication, and that true sophistication breaks out in long, deep words and complicated constructions. There could be no greater mistake. A person who really knows the language will write simply. A person who does not know the language too well, and is affecting something, which he thinks is culture, has what might be called a sense of linguistic insecurity, which is similar to the sense of social insecurity. Now and again you meet a person who is afraid of making a social error. He is afraid of picking up the wrong fork in a restaurant, or of doing something else that is not done in polite society. They have an uncomfortable time of it, but any one used to social etiquette takes it for granted. It is the same with the writing of a letter.
There is no reason for writing a letter unless the objective is clearly defined. Writing a letter is like shooting at a target. The target may be hit by accident, but it is more likely to be hit if a careful aim has been taken.
CHILDREN AND LETTER WRITING
In this modern age of email and text messages, the act of sitting down and writing a letter by hand is quite a dying art. It’s a shame to think that the current generation of young children may grow up never having to write a letter by hand, so why not encourage them to sit and write to grandparents and family members who may not possess a computer, or even know how to send a text message. These letters will be received with great pleasure and affection, and will often become treasured possessions.
Before you know it, even writing a letter to Santa will be done on a word processor. How much more fun is writing a letter to Santa when you can get creative with paper, pen and colourful crayons.
The World Wide Web is a great resource for information, so why not research some pen pal sites that encourage communication between children in different countries using the traditional pen and paper. What can be better than that sense of anticipation awaiting the next letter full of thoughtful and personal messages from a friend in another country?
Author: M Newbold
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Multi-cooker
Technical Writing in India: Is it as good as anywhere else?
Technical Writing generally translates to a piece of writing that conjures up an image in the mind of a layman about any device or software application.
In other words, the job profile of a technical writer involves writing and designing user guides, brochures and white papers for a plethora of products.
Though these procedures are not new, their categorisation under the term Technical Writing is quite recent. The latest entrant in the software field is not a whiz kid from IIT, but might be a journalist or an English literature graduate. This option is here to stay, what with India slowly accepting the prospect of technical writing as a full-fledged career at par with more popular contenders.
Now, the Indian technical writing scenario would seem very bleak for an onlooker who doesnt delve deeper into the layers. This field was practically unknown till the 1990s. Tata Consultancy Services was a pioneer in creating a need for the current crop of technical wordsmiths.
Over a decade old, this profession does not have many takers, but does boast of a strong following in the various metros. In Bangalore the number is believed to be 500-600. Even by an optimistic view, the number of technical writers across the nation would be approximately 6000. These statistics prove that, corporate bosses and the software industry as a whole recognized the need for a specialized documentation team very lately.
The technical writing job has long come out of the confines of being a strict documentation-related activity. In some organisations, technical writers are asked to pitch in for test case development, product testing, creating API code, creating java documentation etc.
More recently, a technical writer has grown to don the garb of a graphic designer, web-content developer etc. Since a technical background is not a prerequisite for a technical writer, many writers foray into the field even with a Humanities background.
The one and only criterion, going by the current Indian standards, would be a firm grasp over the Queens language and a strong analytical mind. The prevalent need, is however to meet International standards in English usage. US companies recognise the need for a trained technical writer and that adds to the hiring and training impetus for technical documentators.
The US provides a lot of scope and opportunities for training and specialized study of the subject. In comparison, Indian universities shy away from offering unconventional and lesser-known courses aka Technical writing. The technical writers, who already exist in the industry having created a golden niche, are fast emerging as the trainers for this career option. Some of the Indian universities like the Calicut University and the Mumbai University have woken up to this profession and have included the subject in their curricula.
This trend, may give the Technical Writing profession the impetus it requires. The final recruiters, Corporates, MNCs need to step in boldly to hire and provide customized training to fresh technical writers.
This might beckon the golden dawn for Technical Writing in India!
Copyright Nithya K
Author: Nithya K
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Years ago, I remember reading a quote, “The good thing about being depressed is that you can catch up on your sleep”. The author may have been Erma Bombeck, but I am not certain.
The point of showing you the above is to illustrate the possibility of finding jobs online by writing. Is that depressing? Certainly not, and only if you let yourself believe that it is difficult or impossible to find these types of assignments. But as my research has found, it is not.
There are multiple sites that allow you to become a member, in most cases free, and list your credentials. Then you can bid on jobs posted by others from around the world. Does this work? It most certainly does, and let me give you an example. At this moment there are more than 1500 open projects, and you can bid on as many as you feel qualified to undertake. Can you be certain that you will be chosen for the project? No, others will be bidding on the same project, but if you are persistent and creative with your bids and offers, you will at some point be the chosen writer. Once chosen, it is your task to do the best job possible, obtain good feedback, and then repeat the process. You will find the second time around much easier, since (if you have done quality work) your feedback will reflect this.
What I mention above can be repeated on multiple freelancing jobs across the web: Elance, Scriptlance, Getacoder, and RentaCoder to name a few. They all have slightly different policies, but all offer much the same service, bringing together those who need something written with those who can do the job. Projects number in the thousands, and can pay anywhere from a few dollars per articles to hundreds of dollars per assignment.
Possibly the most profitable arrangement, if this is to your liking, is to create long-lasting contacts with those who need a writing job done on a consistent basis. With that thought, it is imperative you give your best to each assignment. Not only will this satisfy your ego when the client says “job well done”, but also foster those enduring relationships and result in a fatter bank balance.
Of course, listing your credentials on Elance, Scriptlance or other job related sites is not the only way to find work. There are also multiple job boards and classified sites (such as Ebay and Craigslist) that allow you to quickly and easily reach a worldwide audience. As your name, website and reputation begin to circulate online, you will find repeat clients coming back and referring you to others.
Your search terms should include the following:
Freelance Writing Jobs Boards
Writers Wanted
Writing Jobs
Copywriting Jobs
Technical Writing Jobs
Submission Guidelines
Those are all topics you can and should use for your quest. Are there writing jobs online? More than you can possibly imagine, so instead of being depressed and catching up your sleep, start bidding on those jobs. You will soon find yourself sleeping like a baby, restful in the knowledge that you are following your dream and listening to your inner muse.
Author: Andrew Morris
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: How Electric Pressure Cookers Work
Is literary fiction the yin to commercial fiction’s yang? I think so… But you’ll have to decide what you think for yourself, because opinions vary far and wide. It’s a hot topic in the fiction writing world these days… maybe it always has been.
Many writers wonder about the differences between literary fiction and commercial fiction. Below I’ve broken each category down to show the most significant contrasts between the two.
Literary Fiction:
- Confronts life as we know it
- Action makes little (or no) difference to the conflict
- Resolves the story, but not necessarily the conflict by the end
- Confronts issues pertaining to the human condition
- Is challenging and thought-provoking
- The beauty of the writing is often remarked upon–often aspires to win awards in the literary world
- Focuses more on the poise of expression, psychological acumen, and character
Commercial Fiction:
- Diverts us from life for a while
- Action always makes a difference to the conflict–can be good OR bad
- Characters aren’t always realistic, they often seem slightly cartoonish
- Social issues described are similar to the ones portrayed on sitcoms or in movies
- Can be read quickly and easily–without too much thinking involved
- Written to entertain a much wider audience
- Focuses more on narrative and plot
However, what most other articles, sites, and writers don’t focus on are the things that two types of fiction SHARE. It’s also important to understand a few of the similarities between (good) literary and commercial fiction.
Ingredients for a good piece of fiction, be it literary or commercial:
- Good fiction is grammatically accurate and well edited
- Good fiction is character driven
- Good fiction evokes emotions from its readers
- Good fiction is written with specificity (write concretely, not vaguely)
Do you have to label your fiction writing as literary or commercial? I don’t think so, necessarily. But it is a good idea to understand the basics if you’re working your way into the writing/publishing community.
Author: Sara McClung
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable pressure cooker
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