Writing Twenty Novels (In Ten Easy Steps!)
February 23, 2008
Writing Twenty Novels (In Ten Easy Steps!)
by: Steven Barnes
During a recent telephone conversation, I mentioned having sent off the last revisions for my twentieth novel, “Great Sky Woman.” There was a silence on the other side of the phone, followed by the question “How in the world do you do that? Twenty novels!”
The truth is that I know many writers who have written far more than twenty novels. It is not that unusual. In fact, if you are a working writer, the “perfect” output is very close to a book a year. Less often than this, and the readers stop anticipating your next book, and wander to another writer’s literary pasture.
There is a commonality to the behavior patterns of successful writers, and a commonality to the behavior patterns of writers who just can’t get started, can’t get finished, or stall out at their first or third book.
Successful, prolific writers:
1) Write every day. That’s EVERY day. They sit down, open their veins, and bleed into their computers. Yes, it can be painful, but if you don’t maintain this kind of regularity, rust creeps in. The connection between heart, mind and fingers is broken. And we mistake the struggle for our natural state.
How to Get Instant Attention
February 22, 2008
Most of us have seen a heckler at a baseball game. Sure, he’s likely to draw attention, both positive and negative. The louder he hollers, the more attention he gets.
But do you and I want that kind of attention? Probably not. What most of us want to do ? especially with our writing ? is to make a positive impression that stays with the reader.
That’s the reason I wrote the little book "Words That Stick"?to help writers create impressions that stick to a reader’s memory like duct tape.
So, here are five ideas to help you attract attention:
1. Begin with a unique headline. Some of my favorite headlines are slightly incongruous, or create curiosity. That’s what forces me to read more. Example: "Cold wave linked to temperature."
2. A second headline technique: ask a question. Example: "Do you have these symptoms of work fatigue?"
3. In the first sentence, offer the reader some benefit for reading the article. Example: "While biking through the woods last month, I made a discovery that changed my life."
4. Another way to begin: ask why. Example: "Why do I always remember where I left the keys, but never remember where I left the car?"
How to Effectively Hire a Ghost Writer
February 22, 2008
In today’s busy world, whether your business is large or small, it is easy to become over whelmed with day-to-day tasks. Suddenly you realize that you need to update your web presence content or you need to have a processes and procedures manual on-hand in case of key personnel being out. It just becomes too much to handle! Or perhaps you need to produce articles to promote your business, but writing simply isn’t your forte. What do you do? It’s simple; hire a ghost writer to assist you in performing your writing tasks.
Professional, well-qualified ghost writers can be contacted via any number of freelance project posting sites such as www.guru.com or www.elance.com , and others. These freelance project posting sites permit a buyer who needs writing projects completed, while maintaining all rights to the material upon payment, to post a project description and allow "Work for Hire" freelance writers to bid on your project. You can set the time length during which bidding is permitted and even request samples of the writers’ work for review.
When posting a freelance writing project for bid on any project posting site, you should strive to communicate facts clearly so that service providers can bid accurately on your project.
Art of Essay Writing
February 22, 2008
Art of Essay Writing
by: Susan Kassel
I love essays! I enjoy reading them, checking them, teaching my students how to generate them, but most of all I enjoy writing them! You want to ask why. I hope after reading my article you will understand. And I so much believe that you will also fall in love with the incredible world of essays. Let’s start our trip from a short background. The word “essay” originated from French word “essai” which means “attempt, effort, sketch”. And this translation reflects the essence of the task you are assigned at your college. Really, it is your personal attempt to give a challenging sketch on some engrossing issue. Unlike other academic assignments, essay suggests freedom of your creative work. Its main advantage is that you can write it on any topic, in any style. Essay is your own point of view on something you have heard, read, seen etc. The forefront of the essay is your personality, your thoughts, feelings and your life position. You have a unique chance to enter a reasonable controversy with other authors, as the teacher expects you to show your erudition in the subject. However, you should remember that regardless freedom of the writing process, it is not that easy at all. Because you are expected to find an original and capturing idea (even in the traditional context) and exceptional opinion on some problem.
Top Secret! The One-Year Path To Publication
February 21, 2008
Top Secret! The One-Year Path To Publication
by: Steven Barnes
There is a way to virtually guarantee your publication within a single year. No, it has nothing to do with self-publication. This path is not for dilettantes, and will push you to the limit, but it has worked for dozens of my students, and it will work for you.
It is based on writing principles first proposed by two giants in the publishing field, science-fiction writers Ray Bradbury, and Robert Heinlein, over thirty years ago. And no, you don’t have to be a science fiction writer. No matter what your ULTIMATE goal—novel, screenplay, playwright, or poet, you can adapt this method. It is designed to address literally every major problem you have or might encounter as a writer.
1) Write a story a week, or a story every other week.
2) Read 10X as much as you write.
3) Put your stories in the mail. Keep them in the mail until they sell.
4) Never re-write except to editorial request.
And there you go. Now let’s look back at the steps for a bit of further explanation.
How To Be Rejected By The Article Directories
February 21, 2008
How To Be Rejected By The Article Directories
by: Nicole Dean
Article writing is one of the best ways to increase your traffic and get more sales. You’ve heard it a million times so you decide to finally just do it. You write an article and submit it to the article directories, eagerly anticipating the flow of traffic. Instead you receive the dreaded rejection letter.
What did you do wrong?
1. Did you proof-read your article before you submitted it?
Popular article directory sites receive hundreds of submissions each day. It’s much easier for the owner to click “decline” than to edit your typo-filled or unformatted article. Before submitting, proof the article and proof it again. If grammar and spelling make you sweat, then hire a Copywriter or ask a friend to help you before you click that submit button.
2. Is it an Advertisement or an Article?
Article directory sites are looking for informative, useful content, not press releases or ads. If your submission reads like an ad, it will not be accepted. And, think about it — even if was approved on a fluke, do you think that website owners will be clamoring to publish your 500 word advertisement? Not a chance.
Your First Newsletter: 5 Sure-Fire Ways to Annoy People
February 21, 2008
I read a lot of newsletters. Some are great and some are not so great. I put together this article to highlight the five mistakes I see most often in people’s first newsletter.
1. When you’re composing your newsletter in your email browser, put everyone’s email address in the “To” field so that when someone receives your mailing they can see everyone else’s address.
Why You Might Not Want To Do This: With the high prevalence of spam (unwanted email) these days, people are very sensitive about their email addresses getting “out there”. Also, depending on the topic of your newsletter, your readers may not be comfortable being identified.
What To Do Instead: Put your own email address in the “To” field and use the Bcc. (blind carbon copy) field for everyone else’s addresses. A much cleaner look and you’re not compromising anyone’s privacy.
2. Don’t give your reader a way to unsubscribe, or ignore them when they ask that you stop contacting them.
The Secret to Drilling Down Deep in Your Target Market
February 20, 2008
Here’s another drill ripped out of the Field Guide for my Red Hot Copywriting Bootcamp. There are 20 drills total which take 15 minutes per day (my "recruits" get weekends off). Each drill stands on its own but put them all together and the impact on your salesmanship is phenomenal! So here is another one for you?
Copywriting is a team sport. There is you (the writer) and the reader. But the reader has all the power. She gets to decide when the game’s over. As soon as the reader is gone, no one is there to read the copy! So anticipate what’s going to keep her interested and intrigued ahead of time. Here’s how it’s done.
Pick a primary target market. (Yes you can have more than one, but the more specific you make your target market, the easier it will be to sell to them. So let’s go with ONE.) Now let’s narrow it even further. I coined a term called "tarket" which is a combination of Target + Market = Tarket.
Be a Jerk - And Watch Your Business Grow!
February 20, 2008
Who remembers the 1979 movie, The Jerk with Steve Martin? Do you remember the scene where Steve’s character finds the phone directory and runs around screaming, “The new phone books are here, the new phone books are here! I’m somebody!”
I was 17 years old when the movie came out and I fondly remember that scene. Why? Because in 1979, I didn’t have a phone number of my own. I remember laughing at Martin’s goofy character but privately thinking, “Imagine that, my name in print for thousands of people to see. How cool!”
What did I do when I got my first apartment? You guessed it. Looked myself up immediately when the new phone books came out and ran around yelling, “I’m somebody!” I hoped someone would find it hilarious that I was quoting lines from The Jerk. No one got my joke. But that didn’t stop me.
Secretly, I was addicted to seeing my name in print. I wanted more. Guess who is the happiest person in town when she sees the Verizon truck loaded with its stacks of books, glossy yellow on the outside, thin pages with fine print on the inside, each book with my unique personal gem (my name) deep inside, adorning one of those beautiful pages? I can’t wait to get my hands on those fresh, clean, new, pristine pages.
***Writing Is Fun!***
February 20, 2008
***Writing Is Fun!***
by: Michael Harrison
When I was establishing my consultants practice in 1990 I set about creating a book. The book was aimed at helping people to progress in their careers and shows how to assess yourself, prepare an interview winning resume’, market yourself and win the job at interviews, plus other real life tips.
Anyway I enjoyed the writing process, thought the book was good and sold a few copies. The effort of writing the book was not rewarded by the number of copies sold. I did not really have a low cost route to market.
In building my web site and writing a weekly newsletter I have realised that I do enjoy writing and drawing on my experiences. So recently I have been thinking of writing another book for sale on the internet.
Guess what? I got my original book out, re-read it and I am editing it as my next internet publication. The point of this article is to tell you what I realised when I read my ‘masterpiece’.