Archive for January 10th, 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
Provided by: Digital Camera News

Authorization Letters authorize someone to do tasks for you that normally require your presence to get them done. These tasks are more than picking up dry cleaning. They are used to authorize someone else to make important decisions for you. Take writing these letters very seriously. In order to have many important errands in life accomplished by others, a professional authorization must be written. Examples such as signing for important documents on a professional level or picking up children from day care on a personal level will definitely require these letters. Many establishments will have their own but some may ask that you draft one for them.

Wording

1. Our example above words this letter professionally ensuring that whoever the reader happens to be will understand that this is strictly business.

2. In our letter, after the opening paragraph and list of items, weve remarked that the named person can make decisions for us but we gave a contact number for us in the event unforeseen events arise.

Format

1. Use the Full Block format arrangement for Authorization Letters:

a. to the left margin of the letter header place the return address

b. make two carriage returns

c. directly below the return address, place the date

d. make two carriage returns

e. directly below the date, place the readers address

f. make three carriage returns

g. if necessary, include a reference line

h. begin your letter

i. begin each paragraph at the left margin

j. place the closing, signature and typed signature at the left margin.

Tone

1. Ensure your tone is professional and straightforward throughout the letter.

Email

1. With time being as critical to everyone as it is, sending an Authorization Letter via email 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 Authorization Letters, common bond paper will work.

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.

For samples of Authorization Letters, take a look at

LetterRep.com.

Author: Robert Noyes
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Digital Camera Times

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
Provided by: Beading Necklace

Memoir writing is becoming a highly popular thing to do amongst those who want to share their life stories with friends, family and those around them. Memoir writing for teachers and their students is a constructive process and is really good for getting kids’ “creative juices” flowing. In this article I’m going to present my top 3 memoir writing tips for teachers that you can use with your students, or with yourself to produce some really great writing that will be appreciated by all who read it.

Memoir Writing Tip 1 – Decide Who You Are Writing For

This is a highly important step in the memoir creation process. By deciding who you are writing for you will be able to craft you memoir in a more specific style that will be better tailored to its target audience. You could choose to write the memoir for close friends and family only. Taking this approach would allow you to use a more intimate writing style that would closely resemble an extended personal letter. Informal and colloquial language would be entirely acceptable and even recommended here to make a more “cosy feel”.

Or, it you wish your memoir could take a more impersonal, formal style and be more suited to reading by the general public. If you wish people who have no immediate social ties or pre-knowledge of your life to read and appreciate your memoir then you MUST use a controlled, formal style. Read other memoirs or purchase a decent memoir writing course to learn how to do this.

Memoir Writing Tip 2 – Don’t Tell Every Little Detail

Although it may seem necessary at the time, writing every little detail of your life is something that you shouldn’t do when writing your memoir. Teachers will probably appreciate the idea that only the truly significant information in one’s life needs to be shared in the writing. Things such as the color of your first sweater are probably totally superfluous. The only time that minute details should be used is when they actually have some significance in a greater part of your life. Otherwise, just keep it to the major stuff!

Memoir Writing Tip 3 – Just Write

All the planning and thinking that goes with learning how to write a memoir can be quite a daunting thing. The longer you think about it, the less writing actually gets done. Therefore, to get your memoir written, edited and published you just need to write! Write whatever comes to your head as long as it has some significance to your life. If you don’t like it down the track then simply remove it. By overcoming procrastination you will be learning what is easily one of the most important memoir writing tips for teachers – just getting “down to business”.

In this article I’ve written about 3 of the top memoir writing tips around that are of special use to teachers, but that can be employed by anyone, of any age to help write a memoir. Once you’ve decided who to write for, made sure that only the major events are included and you’ve made a plan you simply need to start writing. By using the tips contained in this article you’ll be on the right way to writing a great memoir!

Author: Daniel Phillipson
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty rates

How to start a novel begins by writing a short summary like those that will appear on the back when it is published. Many novelists will start writing a novel by defining its essence, a short, conscious statement of about 2-3 sentences, 5 at most, which can later be trimmed even further. With this statement or description of your novel, the novelist or novel ghostwriter can then begin asking questions and filling in the blanks.

In other words, consider the summary of your initial story to be similar to those that appear on the back of almost every published novel. The author has written a few sentences describing his or her novel, but has not told the potential reader everything, or even spoiled the ending. Nevertheless, while at the book store browsing books to read, you will have a better understanding about the novel by reading the back. At the same time, you will also have a great deal of questions, which have been focused or directed by the few sentences describing the novel. This is how to start a novel.

The answers to these questions, when applied to your own short novel summary, will help you to begin to outline your novel. Once the novel is outlined with a one to two sentence summary of each chapter, you can then go about developing each individual chapter…just fill in the blanks. It may change slightly as you start chapter one, but the main point is to begin with the basics. What parts are absolutely necessary and essential to your novel? Complete these parts first. Then, as you reread each of these parts once the rough draft of your novel has been written, you will in all likelihood have many additional ideas and determine additional parts and scenes that will strengthen your novel.

Knowing how to start a novel can begin by writing a short, novel summary like those that would appear on the back of the novel once it has been published. With this succinct, yet general few sentences or a paragraph, beginning novelists can act as a potential reader, whose mind will naturally begin to form questions about the summary. These questions — who, what, when, where, how, why — are applied to the little bit that is revealed with the summary on the back of the book.

It is important that your novel answer all the main questions your readers will have. When you start a novel, first write these questions as they relate to the brief summary. How you answer these question will be the creative part of your novel. How and by which characters these answers are told is the creative part of your novel, which can be further developed once you have finished how to start a novel.

Author: John Halasz
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: US Dollar credit card

My favorite history teacher used to advice me as follows: “To read the history of a country, read the books written by the native authors; you catch my point?”

To date I have been scrupulously following his advice, by reading authors like Parks, and Commager etc for the History of US, P.E. Roberts for the History of the British India, Neelakanda Sasthri, Romila Thaper and Sathyanatha Iyer for the History of Ancient India, Irfan Habeeb for the History of Medieval India, David Thompson and Ketelby for the History of Europe and so on and so forth.

The focal point or the essence of the above advice is, any book or history written by an author that touches the native history of the people and their culture etc will have more native flavor written by the native author, because he is more well versed in their culture, having born and grown up in their milieu and so his writing will have more appeal and reliability than the writings of a person, who is alien to that soil. Besides, an alien author who writes the history of a country other than his own mother country will certainly consult many authors of that country before embarking upon such venture.

The same theory applies when you embark upon into writing for International magazines. Even though writing for magazines, both in print and in the on line, has very good scope in English speaking countries like US, Canada, Australia, UK, Ireland, Europe and where English has been a second language or a medium in Asian countries like India, Sri Lanka, Singapore etc, still it is not a rosy picture for the authors who aspire to write articles in the International magazines.

Despite being well versed in the English language, being an adept too in writing articles, still the scope of every aspiring writer to venture into writing articles in the International magazines is somewhat limited, localized besides having other barriers like culture and your writing style etc.

For example Suite 101 is a very popular online magazine based in Canada whose bulk of readership covers people in the countries of North American continent like US, Canada and European countries. Any aspiring writer, who hails from a country other than US or Canada, who wishes to become a freelancer and contribute articles to Suite101, is invariably rejected citing the reasons that his or her style of writing as well as the subject content of his or her sample articles are not suited to the select readership of the magazine.

Some writers suggest that the articles in Suite 101 are mostly published in a third person format and style and if you master the craft of article writing in third person format and style, Suite 101 may open its door to you. But, in my opinion, even if you master the craft in the third person format and style, there is always the cultural barrier and there is every possibility of rejection of your application or query letter stating that your article content is not suitable to its bulk readers.

Recession is the another factor that narrows the scope of writing articles in the International magazines.You may be aware that a number of web sites like Helium, Today, e-How and Associated Content etc have taken a policy decision to make upfront payment for US writers only and Helium has even closed the door for Non-US writers from submitting articles in the web site. Helium has very good rapport and liaison with various on line magazines and web sites which seek web content and articles from Writers and it is needless to mention, for the non-US writers, the scope of writing articles for such magazines or web sites has been closed once and for all.

Other stumbling blocs are the cultural barriers and the mental predilection of a particular writer to write on a particular subject. When we refer to the cultural barriers between the East and the West, there is a general saying ‘East always remains the East and the West always remains the West and they can never meet’. Despite being an adept in writing, a writer hailing from India, cannot be a well versed person to write about the various aspects of dating culture that prevails in the western culture in an International magazine. Similarly, a writer hailing from US cannot write about the intricacies of the caste system or about the chastity of an Indian Hindu woman. Even in rearing children, the east, vastly differs from the west.

A writer from the east does not know much about the potty system or culture in rearing the young children as practiced in the western culture. Similarly, Western people are known for their liking or even we can say it as friendship with pets like dogs, cats, birds, horse etc and caring about their shelter, homes etc.In an International magazine, a western writer will definitely score over an eastern writer in winning a project for writing article on pets. Similarly, the LGBT marriage laws and their struggle to gain equality at par with others, is a subject matter exclusively meant for a US writer.

Mental predilection coupled with nativity or familiarity is the another stumbling bloc.For example, even though a writer may be well versed in writing articles on politics, if he or she hails from India, naturally the writer will be inclined to write articles that have a bearing on Indian politics, a writer from US, will naturally write an article on US politics. When you observe the trend of writing articles by various writers even in web sites like Triond, you can very well observe this factor: writers hailing from India invariably choosing topics that have a bearing on Indian politics, Indian political leaders, Indian Historical places of importance, Indian sportsmen, example: Sachin Tendulkar, the writers from US invariably choose a topic that have a bearing in their politics: eg: “If Obama is a racist, then you too”, about US healthcare policy etc, etc.

Therefore, under the prevailing conditions and factors mentioned above, as a writer, if you decide to embark upon for article writing in International Magazines, it does not provide you with a rosy picture or a very conducive atmosphere. Hence, writing articles for International magazines is not that much easy!

However, there is still a glimmer of hope for article writers who may aspire to write in International Magazines. Choosing a particular niche is one such remedy.If you choose to write on medical or legal topics only, you can still have a chance to break into International Magazines. But comparing with the medical niche, the legal niche still suffers from some handicaps.

While the medical articles may get an international recognition and acclaim, the legal articles do not enjoy such a reputation because, each country has it’s own laws and constitution and its own judicial system. Therefore, even if you choose legal articles as your niche, if you write for an International Magazine, a writer who is well versed in the system of laws which have a bearing on the article topic, will score over other writers. There are still other niche areas as well as general topics like History, Archaeology and scores of other subjects in which you can try your luck.

But when you have an urge to fulfill your desire of getting published in an International Magazine, still it is always safer and better to try your luck where you are born with whose culture, with whose system of laws, with whose politics and with whose leaders you are more familiar with. Till then sharpen your pen!

Author: Rama Lingam
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Credit card currency-exchange fees

What’s happening with your college term papers and essays? Unfortunately, that’s a question that a lot of student’s cannot or do not want to answer. I see students on almost a daily basis who have the term paper blues. Their biggest problem? They just can’t seem to get started. They procrastinate and rationalize. They put off doing their assignments until the eleventh hour. These students often succeed in convincing themselves that being able to write good term papers and essays is beyond them or just not necessary. This purpose of this website is to get you started on the road to writing good college term papers and essays. My simple steps in producing better essay papers should make writing papers at least easier if not easy. If you really want to be educated then you will have to learn to express yourself on paper. There is no way around this so adjust your attitude and decide you will learn to write a quality term paper or essay that says something.

Writing good term papers will certainly help you remain in college. Failing English is a major cause for students to wash out of college. You do not have to do this. Use the resources of this term paper site and you can succeed. Take a few minutes and at least see if you can comprehend what I am telling you on how to write great college papers.

Book reports are basically essays on a book you have read. If you have a choice pick a book you might enjoy. If you need to view some quality book reports do a search from one of the search engines on this site. The free college term papers and essays also have books reports for your viewing. What I want to tell you I learned by the school of hard knocks. The information I will provide you works well if you put forth a reasonable effort. The information you will receive by reading the Bullshipper’s advice on writing college essays and term papers is concise, simple and straight forward. You will be able to remember what I have to say. Really want to get off to a good start with your essay or term paper? You must or you would not be reading this. Determine the following before you attempt to write. (next column)

Getting Started

What is you essay writing assignment? Do you understand just what your professor or teacher is asking for? As a college professor I have seen many a essay and term paper writing assignments botched up because students failed to do as instructed. If you are having trouble determining just what the essay assignment is then ask your instructor until you are clear as to what is expected. Guessing can get you on a bind. Get to know your essay and term paper subject and just what you want to do with it. Determine just who you are writing for. Define a motive for this writing. Saying your teacher or professor is making you write an essay paper is not a motive. You want your essay to be interesting to a wide audience.

Do not produce an essay without a purpose. The first sentence you are going to write starts like this, The purpose of this paper is to…… You fill in the blanks.

References for a Term Paper or Essay Finding good references for you work is now easier than every with the use of the internet. During my days as a high school student we spent a lot of time searching out essay references the hard way. We had to climb around library bookshelves. We had to tinker with microfiche. We had to take copious notes on 3 X 5 cards. Oh, yes, we used typewriters and/or ink on paper. No one was even thinking of word processing. Here are a few simple steps to learn the subject you are going to write about.

Do your class assignments, read what your teacher tells you to. Do not bluff your professors or teachers. I tried this and it rarely worked. Learn to use the academic search engines. I cannot believe just how many of my students do not know how to do this. When I say academic search engines I am not talking about the common internet search engines such as Google and Yahoo. If you do not know what I am talking about contact your school library and ask them how you can connect to the academic search engines such as the Ebsco Host or the Wilson Web. You will never regret learning how to use them. They are easy to use and contain millions of quality articles on just as many subjects.

Read other term papers. You do not care if the papers are good, bad, or in between, just read other essays that concern the same subject you are going to write about. If you follow my advice on this website you will learn to tell the quality essays and term papers from mediocre essays and term papers. Even poor essays can have good ideas that may help you in your writing. This site has links to thousands of term papers and essays at a very low cost. You even get excepts from each paper. These links point to a real term paper buffet; all you care to read.

A word to the wise. I had three students in one class turn in the same exact essay, errors and all. They copied this essay off a free term paper site. They did not intend to write a decent essay. They decided to take the easy way out. They did not collaborate. Needless to say they got a lot of trouble. Dumb. I hope you take the extra time to produce a quality essay or term paper. The only way to get good at writing is to write. I guarantee this. Remember, “if you take from one author it is plagiarism; take from many authors and its research.” (Mizner, W.)

Author: Michael Cooper
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Canada duty