Archive for the ‘Technique Guidelines’ Category
The Secret of Editing Your Book Yourself
Unedited Guest Article by Steve Manning
There’s a lot you can do to edit your own book, chapter, paper, brief, essay and so on. And it’s pretty straight forward stuff. Nothing complicated or magical. But before we get too far into the process, I want you to know that there is definitely a secret objective when you edit your book.
Here’s How to Write a Report That Will Knock Their Socks Off
Unedited Guest Article by Peter Kirkham
Wanting to knock someone’s sock off by learning how to write a report?
During your business life there may be many business reports of various types that will need to compose & write and many of them will be written before your business is actually operating, so they’ll more than likely appear in your marketing plan.
Map Making for Fantasy Writers
This is not something one would usually find in a writer’s site, let alone a “how to make money writing” blog. But I thought it cool and interesting and a nice Sunday diversion from our usual fare — and an informative one at that. This historically hasn’t been a genre I’ve cared much for, but I’ve recently been thoroughly enjoying reading through the Eragon series (that’s Eragon and the two follow-up tomes, Eldest and Brisingr), a thoroughly enjoyable experience that no doubt is the reason why this article caught my eye in the first place. I don’t how this useful this info would be for you, but what the heck, here you go! — EES
Article by Will Kalif
Maps are a wonderful addition to any fantasy novel. They give the reader an added level of information that helps them visualize and experience the world you have created. A good map can also help you in the writing of your novel. Here are some resources and tips to help you make good maps as a supplement for your writing.
Benefits of the Collaborative Writing Process
Article by David Clair
The most obvious advantage of the collaborative writing process is summed up well in the old saying, “two heads are better than one.” Having more than one person working on a writing project increases the amount of combined knowledge of the authors. In areas of intelligence where one person is weak, others may be strong, and vice versa. If utilized properly, the collective intelligence of a group of writers can be a powerful resource.
Write a Memoir – How to Write About What Troubles You the Most
Article by Melinda Copp
Everyone has a story to tell, and unfortunately those stories aren’t always pleasant. What makes memoirs and other personal stories of recovery and triumph so appealing is that struggle is universal. And writing about it is one way — a great way — to make sense out of what troubles you the most.
5 Ways to Speed Up Your Writing
Article by Barry R. Parker
One of the major tools every writer needs is the ability to write fast. If you struggle with each word, revising everything again and again, your productivity will suffer. You have to be able to write fast, but at the same time you have to write well. This means that everything you write has to be clear, concise, easy to read and interesting, and it has to be done with speed.
Writing Check — 6 Secrets of How to Write Persuasively
Article by Jane Sumerset
With any kind of writing, you are trying to convince someone of something. You want the person reading the letter, report or email to buy something, subscribe to something or perhaps hire you for something. In any case, you have to get and keep their attention for at least a few minutes and hopefully get them to take action on your behalf. Here are some tips to help you get results using writing check software:
What to Do as Soon as You Get an Idea to Write About
Article by Douglas Robert
We’ve all been there before. Suddenly an idea hits you and you realize it’s valuable. “What a great idea” you proclaim. But later as you try to recall your original gem, you struggle, only to find that your original thought and enthusiasm has suddenly taken wings.
Article Marketing: Maximizing Your Articles’ Marketability
Article Marketing, as you probably know, is the practice of pumping out free articles and having them available through online Article Directories free for other websites and ezines to reprint and publish. Typically, in return, you get a short bio/marketing pitch at the end and a live backlink to your website. Of course, you can also soft sell whatever it is you’re selling through the articles themselves (even services), but those backlinks really seem to be the primary benefit to authors.
Regardless, if you’re thinking of doing Article Marketing, you’ll obviously want to maximize your articles’ marketability. And in this playing field, that’s by having articles that publishers will be interested in, and will be interested in for a long, long time.
Learn to Tell a Story
I’m not usually big on running articles that teach us how to write and communicate, but this one’s just excellent. Really liked it. I think you will too. Must read! — EES
Become a Better Storyteller
Article by Barbara Winter
What skill can put you at ease in social situations, make your business memorable and keep your curiosity on high alert? I’m talking about something as old as recorded history and as familiar as an hour on CNN. You probably grew up with it and are still drawn to it. It is, quite simply, a universal connector that helps us understand each other and ourselves, makes us desire things, gives us a sense of possibility. This magical tool is storytelling and it belongs in every entrepreneur’s toolkit.
So what does it take to be a great storyteller? The fundamentals are pretty simple.
Manuscript Submission How-to Checklist
In one short article, Mr. Sanders has managed to cover just about everything I remember reading way back when in those “how to become a published writer” tomes. Bookmark this for when you may need it.
I have to say though, I realized as I quickly glanced through this that I don’t really remember the last time I had to actually print and snail mail a submission, Internet age and all that. But that’s me and the folks I’ve been dealing with. Quickly glancing through the market listings, a lot of them still discourage electronic submissions. Go figure.
As for my submission checklist, it’s a very short 2-itemer. The first is also Mr. Sanders’ first: They almost always have editorial guidelines/submission instructions. Get or ask for them. Then follow them.
The second is: Bust your hump to find an actual live person’s name to send your submission to. Else you’re pretty much guaranteed to just end up in the good old slush pile, something you’ll want to avoid if you can by taking just a little bit of effort to find a warm body. —EES
Marketing Your Manuscript to Publishers – The Do’s and Don’ts of Marketing
Article by Nick Sanders
It is extremely important that your manuscript is clean, clear and easy to read. For writers of both fact and fiction, there are a few do’s and don’ts for anyone writing for a publication.
Some Useful Rules for Submitting Manuscripts
A Few Magazine Design Tips
Here’s a nice little change from the Wordpreneur standard fare. Although it’s quite clear that you’re not going to be a “good” magazine designer (or even a mediocre one) just be reading this short article — people not only go to school for years to learn this stuff, experience IMO is vital, even if you already have an “eye” for this sort of thing.
Part of your evolution, however, is the need to constantly expose yourself to “design how-to” articles like this. Eventually, something just clicks. So here you go.
On a related aside: Many of the principles of good publication design are applicable online as well. If you’re a DIY blog and/or website publisher, a quick scan through may prove beneficial. — EES
How Not to Design Your Magazine
Article by Alice Elliott
There are particular fundamentals you should be knowledgeable of when producing a magazine. First is the layout and presentation that enables readability, second is its content and reputation for good value, and third is its readership and distribution.
What Makes a Great Book?
I just spent most of last week, all of the weekend and most of today writing three guidebooks. Now she tells me this. Heck if I’m starting over from scratch. 
— EES
9 Elements of a Great Book
Article by Mary Carroll Moore
Before You Send Out Your Manuscript, Be Sure These are in Place
According to National Public Radio, 291,000 books were released in 2006. That’s up from 172,000 in 2005. Seems like everyone wants to write a book. But so many books get unread, unseen, unloved by the readers who could enjoy them. Most people who set out to write a book never do. Why?
Because unlike writing a story, poem, essay, or article, completing a book-length manuscript takes real stamina.
Tips for Children’s Writers
Maybe it’s just me, but the do’s on these kinds of lists seldom impart any new information. Seldom. This one has something “new” and interesting though — don’t miss the “hot areas” bullet.
Now the don’ts… those are where I usually learn at least one thing useful. This piece delivers at least a couple, and two good reminders to boot. — EES
Infopreneuring Content Secrets: 4 Methods
Here’s a decent vintage Wordpreneur piece on developing content for publishing projects and products. If you’re a freelance writer, you may want to show technique #3 to prospective ghostwriting clients. — EES
Article by Stu McLaren
If you don’t have good fresh content to use for new products, your momentum comes to a crashing halt and so does your business.
So the question begs itself, how do you consistently create new content?
Here are your four basic options:
eBook Writing Formats: How to Make the Words Flow
Can someone suggest a better term than “Writing Formats” please? Nothing comes to me at the moment, at least nothing that isn’t just as generically meaningless when read out of context. And it’s a simple concept too — you immediately “get” what this vintage Wordpreneur article is all about as you quickly scan through it. You’ll also “get” that these tips are useful for lots more than just ebooks. Good stuff! — EES
Article by Dina Giolitto
Nervous about writing your first ebook? Never fear. ebooks are written in a conversational, informative style that’s easy for the reader to understand, and easy for you to imitate as you write them. Whether it’s 10 pages about Smart Finances, 50 pages on “How to Care for Your Cat” or 250 pages covering “Secrets of the World’s Best Yoga Masters,” there are several ebook formats you can write to that are thought-provoking enough to get your words flowing, and flexible enough to make them as long or short as you like. Each of these formats is extremely appealing to the readers for its breezy, informative style.
Flannery O’Connor on Writing the Way You Want To
“There’s many a bestseller that could have been prevented by a good teacher.” — FLANNERY O’CONNOR
Blaise Pascal on Keeping it Short
Regarding yesterday’s quote attributed to Mark Twain, reader Steve Kayser brought to my attention that “Twain cribbed that quote from Blaise Pascal.”
So I did some quick checking just now (Google is one heck of a writer’s tool, don’t you think?), and it seems that Steve’s spot on.
Mark Twain on Keeping it Short
Here’s the quote I like to use to remind me to try and keep my writing short:
“I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” — MARK TWAIN
Simple Writing Tip from Ernest Hemingway
“My aim is to put down on paper what I see and what I feel in the best and simplest way.” — ERNEST HEMINGWAY