From the daily archives: Friday, January 29, 2010
Writing newspaper articles is the bread and butter of journalists. They get paid for writing news articles. If this sounds enticing to you, let me share the secrets on how you can make more money from this field:
1. First, strive to be best in your chosen field. Whether your covering sports and entertainment or you’re writing about more serious stuff like politics and economy, it’s very important that you’re considered the best in your field. You see, if people look up to you and if you have huge following, it is more likely that you’ll be offered huge salary as you’ll be considered a huge asset in your company.
2. Build a great reputation. Reputation can be everything in the field of journalism. It’s very important that your readers and your publishers consider you as someone who’s trustworthy and someone who has integrity. Aside from making sure that all your stories are based on facts, it’s also important that you live a decent life. You can’t expect your readers to respect you if they hear nasty stories about you, right?
3. Improve on your craft. Stay on top of your game by constantly looking for ways on how you can be a better journalist. Start by taking advantage of relevant seminars and training programs where you can get useful tips and techniques. Also, make it a habit to ask for feedback from your publishers and from neutral third parties so you’ll know the things that you lack and the things that you can to do excel in this endeavor.
Author: Sean R Mize
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable pressure cooker
At some point in our lives, every one of us has written a letter. Whether it was to catch-up with a distant friend, thank a family member for a gift, or present Santa with a long list of Christmas wishes, we had no problem writing our letter and sending it in the mail. Yet, for some reason, when it comes to the business world, many of us are hesitant to write a letter. We may doubt its importance or feel intimidated by its formality. Most of the time, we’re just unsure of how to put our thoughts into organized words.
Writing a letter is a great method for contacting someone and presenting your ideas without being intrusive. Although it is just as important and effective as speaking with others face-to-face, it is one of the most underdeveloped and unused tools in the business world. When you know how to write a well-developed letter, you open up opportunities and possibilities for effective communication.
No matter the purpose of your letter, chances are you can find a template online or in a book that will help you structure its components. However, there is more to a letter than knowing where to put the date and salutation. An effective letter is an invitation. It is an introduction that encourages and elicits a response from the recipient. Therefore, every word you use is influential in determining how you and your message will be received and if it is strong enough to generate the desired response.
There are three keys to remember when writing an effective letter: 1. Be relevant, 2. Be concise 3. Elicit action. Understanding these concepts will help you create a letter that is well-written and purposeful.
1. Be Relevant
Unlike an unexpected phone call or visit, letters are wonderful because the recipient can read them at their convenience. However, it’s important to remember that you are still interrupting what could be a very busy day for them. Make sure that your letter captures and keeps their attention by making every word relevant.
Being relevant means that your letter focuses on what is important and interesting to the recipient, not to you. If you are trying to persuade them to consider a product or idea, explain to them how that product or idea would help them. If you are writing a cover letter for a job interview, describe how having you on their team would benefit their company. It’s okay to talk about yourself, but do so in a way that puts the focus on them instead of you.
2. Be concise
Remember, a letter is an invitation, and invitations are never long. No matter how relevant the material may be, too many words will dilute your message. Writing too much is as bad as learning everything there is to know about a person the very moment they ask you out on a date. Being too wordy or lengthy will only confuse the reader and distract them from the letter’s purpose. Make your letter a simple but powerful introduction that arouses curiosity and interest. Trust in your message and let it speak for itself.
3. Elicit Action
Without purpose, your letter is meaningless; it produces nothing and is easily forgotten. The strength of your letter is in your ability to encourage action. Whether you are trying to get someone to buy a product or you are trying to get an interviewer to give you a call, recognize the purpose of your letter and shape your message around it. You must take their hand at the salutation and direct them through your message, leaving them at the end of the letter only after you have shown them the next place to go. If you make the journey easy on the reader, they will be more likely to do what it is you are asking of them.
The impression you make in a letter is just as important as the impressions you make in person. It can affect a person’s decision to call you, interview you, or do business with you. Use the brief time you have to make a real impression on the reader; one that promote communication and encourage them to accept the invitation you have offered.
Author: Gina Sares
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Smart cooker
“First, have a definite, clear practical ideal; a goal, an objective. Second, have the necessary means to achieve your ends; wisdom, money, materials, and methods. Third, adjust all your means to that end.”
Aristotle, BC 384-322, Greek Philosopher
Divide and Conquer
Last week I showed you the first step you should take to become a successful technical writer. We identified our goal and made it Specific, Attainable, Measurable, and Time-Bound.
Here’s what our goal looked like, “I want to be a successful oil and gas technical writer making $60,000 a year by January 23, 2010.” Your next step is to divide this goal into smaller, monthly and weekly goals. To do this you need to have some sort of a journal to record your goals. This serves two purposes.
First, you can keep track of your goals. And second, once you accomplish a goal you can cross it off. This will give you a feeling of satisfaction and keeps you motivated.
Now let’s break down that goal. To achieve your goal of making $60,000 a year as a technical writer by 2010, you decide to do 2 things by the end of this year. First, you’ll take a course in technical writing and complete it by the end of this year. Second, you’ll do 5 freelance technical writing assignments.
Let’s assume you have a full-time job and are trying to become a technical writer on the side. You can only devote 2 hours a day towards becoming a technical writer.
So your first task is to find a good technical writing course. By doing some basic research on the internet, you can find some very good courses. And after you’ve made your choice, you invest your money in a sound technical writing course.
Your next step is to divide your technical writing course into 8 sections. You’re doing this because there are roughly eight months left this year and you goal is to complete each section per month.
Next you would take each section and divide it into 4 subsections. Because there are 4 weeks in a month, you would tackle each subsection per week.
By devoting just 2 hours a day to the course, you’ll be surprised to find the progress you make. In fact you may finish the course much faster than you first planned.
In 5 months you’ll feel fairly confident about taking on some basic technical writing assignments. And so you devote one hour to learning technical writing and the other hour to finding freelance opportunities.
There are a number of freelance opportunities available on the internet. Two websites to check out are:
http://www.guru.com
http://www.elance.com
Once you have a few assignments under your belt your confidence level will increase. You can include these assignments in your resum and next year start looking for that $60,000 a year job.
That’s how I landed my first technical writing job. I learned technical writing in my spare time and did some freelance work. In fact I did not even charge my first 2 clients. All I asked from them was a good reference. And they were happy to provide me with one. Two to three glowing references on your cover letter will go a long way towards getting a high paying technical writing job.
Divide your goal into smaller goals and set targets for yourself. Pursue these targets with determination and your dream will come true.
Author: Bryan S. Adar
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Pressure cooker
Resume writing may not seem difficult for a writer like you, but for the average person it can cause serious anxiety attacks. Resumes are a job seeker’s first impression at a potential new job – so he wants to get it right. Many people (rightly) don’t trust their own abilities to prepare a great resume, so they hire a freelance resume writer to do it for them.
Resume writing can earn you anywhere from $30 to $300 per resume, even if you’re a novice. No, it’s not a typo, and it’s not a bad chunk of change for one or two hours of your time!
How can I get freelance resume writing gigs?
Everyone needs a resume. Students looking for their first job, executives who want to move up the ladder, stay-at-home moms who are ready to go back to work, retirees who want a little extra cash… the list goes on.
The best way to find these jobs is to make it easy for the jobs to find you. Place an ad in the newspaper (weekends are usually best); or better yet, put one in the Yellow Pages. Even a small ad will draw much attention.
You can look online, as well, but usually the few you can find don’t pay very well. A resume writing service may also hire you for your freelance services, but you’ll make more money if you’re in business for yourself.
What skills do I need to write a good resume?
First, you need flawless spelling and grammar. You also need an eye for aesthetically pleasing formatting. A resume should flow logically, with lots of white space, professional fonts, that sort of thing.
Various jobs call for different resumes; if you aren’t sure what goes best with what, then invest in a book on resume writing from your local bookstore. It will give you essential tips to write different resumes that, at first, may seem foreign to you.
It also helps if you’re creative, especially if your client’s work history is less than awe-inspiring. Have they done any volunteer work? Do they have any hobbies that may be marketable as skills? Remember, people are hiring you to showcase them in their best possible light.
Of course, it’s always a good idea to have a portfolio to show your future clients. If you don’t have a portfolios of samples, then make some resumes up and put them in a folder. You don’t need any actual experience, as long as you’re willing to put in the time to create some samples.
What should I say to potential customers?
Okay, you’ve placed your ad and someone has contacted you to write a resume, but the person is wondering how much it costs. Now what?
Let’s say you get an email from someone that says:
Hi there. I am in desperate need of a new resume. I’m in a dead-end fast food job and I really want to do something else. How much does it cost to get a new resume? Thanks, Rebecca.
Do you write this poor soul back with: “Thank you for your inquiry. My fee is $75 per resume”? NO!
Although it’s veiled, Rebecca’s email asks much more than the price of a resume. She hates her job and she is desperate to move up in the world. Working in a fast food restaurant tells you she probably doesn’t have many skills or anything better than a high school diploma (if that). She also probably doesn’t have much money. In short, Rebecca wants to know if you’re the person to help get her out of a depressing situation.
A response like the one below sends the message that yes, you are the person right for the task.
Hi Rebecca. Thanks for your email. It sounds like you don’t have too much job experience, but don’t worry – a good resume will show your new boss how great you were at your old job and how fast you can learn new skills. For $45, I can make you a brand new resume with a real ‘wow’ factor. Looking forward to hearing from you!
Remember, your clients don’t just want a resume. They want a job. Show them that you can help them get that job within their budget, and you’re on your way to a profitable career in freelance resume writing!
Author: Brian D Scott
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: WordPress plugin Guest Blogger
Several different sources provide listings of fiction contests. The Novel and Short Story Writer’s Guide can be a resource and many writers have a copy. You could Google fiction contests and similar keyword clusters and bookmark like a loon, but that would be a tedious amount of effort. Using a printed or ebook of recent contests seems like a reasonable path to take. If you are unhappy with the Writer’s Guide, look for a book with a name like The Colossal Guide to Writing Contests or something like that.
However you obtain your list of contests, the next step is to narrow down the choices. If you already have a short story that you’ve written or are in the process of revising, narrowing can be a bit easier. You will look for the contests where your story would be a fit. Apply a few filters to develop a short list of contests that would be suitable for your story.
Some examples of filters you may use to narrow down the story:
- Genre. If you have written a science fiction story, the Kittens Do the Cutest Things contest is probably off your list and the What If? Science Fiction Contest would be on it.
- Writing style. If your story is stylistically postmodern and you fancy yourself a literary fiction writer, contests sponsored by literary publications would be on your list and most genre fiction contests are probably not on it.
- Some contests are very specific about the theme or plot of candidate stories. Best not enter your fiction in a contest of short stories relating in some way to the Mississippi River if your story has absolutely nothing to do with the Mississippi River.
- Children’s literature. Don’t be a silly person and submit an adult story to a children’s literature contest.
- Time frame. How long would you be able to complete the story? If it is already done, then perhaps you want to select a contest with a deadline in the near future. If you anticipate that it will take weeks or months, plan accordingly. If you think it will take you years, you should probably rethink whether you should be evaluating fiction contests at this time.
- Entry fee and prize. Naturally, you want to enter a contest with the lowest possible fee and the greatest prize. Calculating the trade-off can be tricky.
Now, out of the gazillions of short fiction contests that exist, you have hopefully narrowed down the number of fiction contests down to ten or twenty contests. A much more manageable number to make a final decision on.
Author: Kurt Crisman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger
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: Bumper guardian
“Use” and “utilize” are two verbs with distinct meanings. Don’t confuse them.
“Use” is to employ objects for the purposes they were designed for.
“Utilize,” on the other hand, is to employ objects for unintended purposes.
Authoritative proof:
The Oxford English Dictionary defines the verb use as “to make use of (some immaterial thing) as a means or instrument; to employ for a certain end or purpose.”
But utilize is defined as “to make or render useful; to convert to use, turn to account.”
MSN Encarta Dictionary defines to utilize as to make use of something, or find a practical or effective use for something.
And here is the logical proof of the crucial distinction between these two verbs: the logical extreme of “use” is “abuse,” referring to the act of using something in ways that is contradictory to its original “mission statement” or designed function.
But there is no corresponding logical extreme for “utilize” like, let’s say, “disutilize” or “abutilize” since by its very definition, to utilize something means to use it in ways that is different than the purpose for which it was originally designed or created. “Abuse,” so to speak, is a built-in semantic component of “utilize.”
WRONG: “The TV set utilizes coaxial cable to connect to the antenna.” (A TV unit and a coaxial cable were meant to be used together, by definition.)
CORRECT: “The TV set uses coaxial cable to connect to the antenna.
CORRECT: “The TV set utilizes paper clips to connect to the antenna.” (A TV set is not designed to use paper clips to connect to the antenna. That’s a highly unusual improvisation and — in the stretched sense of the word — an “abuse” of paper clips.)
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Author: Ugur Akinci
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Gadget reviews
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: Duty on LCD/Plasma TV
So who would like to be a great screenplay writer? More than likely, every single person that has even remotely fathomed the idea of writing a screenplay aspires to greatness. It is simply the common nature of the muse. Of course, wanting to be a screenplay writer and becoming a great screenplay writer are two different things. Screenplay writing can be quite difficult although this difficulty can be diffused through understanding a few simple scriptwriting tips that can aid in boosting a screenwriter’s potential. Not surprisingly, many of these scriptwriting tips derive from the process of reading screenplays.
Read as many good scripts as you can get your hands on. When a script has succeeded on aesthetic and commercial levels, it will provide a treasure trove of information on how to craft a solid narrative. Yes, being a prolific screenplay reader is often overlooked on the journey to becoming a good writer. As such, reading as many solid scripts as you can get your hands on are of paramount importance.
Read a few bad scripts while you are at it. No, reading a bad script is not a waste of time. Often, the flubs, flaws, and errors found in poor scripts can provide an insight into where the script went wrong and how to avoid such mistakes. Few scriptwriting tips mention that there is value in bad scripts. Yet, the truth of the matter is there is a tremendous amount of value in them. You just have to know where to look and this will become apparent as you comprehensive of screenplay devices
Looking over a shooting script while simultaneously watching the film it is based upon on DVD. This is an old trick many screenwriting professionals employ. By reading while watching along with the film allows you to see how the visual elements of the screenplay are translated onto the silver screen. To say this will open doors of perception as to how the movie is crafted from a screenplay would be an understatement. Consider this among the most helpful of scriptwriting tips.
Look at how screenwriting format is presented in the screenplay you are reading. Yes, screenplay format is standardized as any screenplay analysis will tell you. But, how does a particular master screenwriter weave his narrative into the confines of screenwriting format and make it work for him? When you can figure this out, you can apply such principles to your own writing and improve it immensely.
Try to get your hands on as many screenwriting coverage reports as possible. These are not always easy to procure but they are valuable. Such coverage reports give you an insight into how a script reader works and thinks which aids you in developing your own screenplay in a positive manner. Here is an important scriptwriting tip: when you know how readers think, you increase the odds of getting positive coverage from them.
Procure a few quality books on the subject of screenwriting and devour them. Some books are truly stunning and well worth looking into. Pick up a few of the good ones and see for yourself!
Author: Paul V. Warner
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Programmable Pressure Cooker
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