Steps to a Writing an Effective Press Releases

Want to get the most media attention and spotlight for your business? Then the first place to start is with a GREAT press release. Now I can almost see half of you leaving now, dreading the thought of having to write one of these. But wait!! I’m going to show you easy methods to make your press release work for you and get the attention it deserves. Ready? Let’s go.
We’ll briefly go over the basics because of their importance. Editors want to see things done the RIGHT way. I would bet that a lot of good releases simply get tossed out just because they aren’t set up properly. To a busy editor, that all too familiar “10 second glance” says a lot for you and your business; it let’s them know if you’ve done your research enough to warrant that release to be placed in their newspaper or magazine.
Here are your essentials:
"FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE" on the top left of the page.
Your contact name, phone number, e-mail address, and website follows.
Headline is next, normally in bold and centered on the page. Summarize what the release is about and capture their attention. Spend almost as much time on your headline as you do writing the release. It’s that important.
The press release body starts with the location of the release and the date (Margate, Florida, May 5, 2005.)
Most press releases are between 200-500 words, and no more than a page. The first paragraph has the most important information. Don’t save the best for last, it won’t get read. In this paragraph answer the questions, who, what, when, where and why?
It is recommended that you write press releases in the 3rd person and use short sentences and paragraphs. Do not go over board, trying to dazzle the editor, it won’t work.
Target your release. You will be sending your release to a specific audience so make sure that in your release you keep to what would appeal to that audience. What don’t they know that you can add? Nothing works better than getting an “AAH HAA” when an editor is reviewing your release.
Provide statistics. Do some research and find some relevant information that applies. You can easily do this through Google. Once you find your quote, do a Google search or Yahoo quote on that particular topic. However, don’t stop on the first Google link and take that for gospel. Research it a bit further. Have it come from a respectable company or magazine.
Include relevant quotes from experts in your field that will reinforce what you are saying. Approach authors, leaders in your Industry, and other experts that back up the facts you are stating in your release. They will normally appreciate the added publicity and you get the quote you’re looking for. For example, as an author I’ll often get asked to provide a quote for an article on home-based businesses or the virtual assistant industry. I welcome the opportunity as it provides me more publicity.
Also, if you have a satisfied client that you feel will add credibility to your Release, add a quote from them as well. The first time you mention the expert, write out their full name. Then list them by last name or Mr. and Mrs. Smith only. I normally prefer the last name.
The last paragraph should be your call to action. You’ve talked the whole release about your business or product, now tell them what to do with the knowledge they just acquired.
At the bottom of the release include ### to indicate you are done, followed by a short bio. Make sure if you include your website that you include http:// in front of it for search engine recognition.
Your bio should include your information, any books authored, etc. Double check this for accuracy. At this point, you’re tired and done with the Release. But if it goes out to the world with the wrong web address, the valuable time spent even writing the Release has been wasted.
That’s it; the basics for writing a press release! Now one other thing I’d like to add in, they work! They truly work. I’ve had a recent release get accepted by PRWeb (and yes they do reject bad ones!), and then go on to hit several other major newspapers and media outlines and the Google alert, which resulted in our paper in the area contacting me. You want to set up a Google news alert for your name so that you can follow the path and see when you make the news so you can follow up. Also, PRWeb at http://www.prweb.com/ has complete guidelines for setting up a good press release. Go with the extra money and spend $20.00. It’s worth it to get the additional exposure.

GET DISCOVERED THROUGH PRESS RELEASES

Do you have a service or product that you want to get in front of the masses? Maybe you have reached a new milestone in your existing business that you want to shout out to the world. Well, the easiest way to get the message out is through the power of a press release.Press releases have been around for awhile and can be a powerful tool in your marketing arsenal. If you have a little experience writing, you can create one on your own. If not, you can hire a professional to write one for you. It is well worth the money to get a professional job done.There are several elements that comprise a press release.1. The contact information, this allows the press to contact you for a possible story or for potential customers to come to your site to see your offerings.CONTACT: www.ABCcompany.comJoe Schmoe, President Phone: (123) 456-7890Boston, MA. 00000Email: schmoe@email.com2. The Headline, this is possibly the most important element of the press release because it must be "newsworthy." It can't be a sales pitch but must be crafted as though you are announcing a news item. For example:WHERE WILL YOU GO?Local Online Job Network Shows You the Path to Job Search Success.Not something like, ABC Company Is Offering The Best Job Hunting Technique In Town!3. The first paragraph of the press release needs to make the announcement. The thing to remember throughout the press release is not to make a sales pitch, that's not what it is intended for. It is meant to make an announcement about something that is considered news such as opening a new store, a new division, relaunching a business and so on. For example, Sterling Heights, MI—June 20, 2004—ABC Comapny, a new local online job network for residents of Massachusetts, is set to launch on July 1st to give job seekers an additional outlet to aid in their job search. This is announces the date of the launch of ABC Company.4. The rest of the press release should give background on the company, the product development or the service improvement etc. For instance, ABC Company offers numerous benefits to both those seeking a job and employers looking for local talent to fill positions. The benefits to job seekers includes the ability to search for jobs by location, date range, categories, job type and keywords. It will give a person the ability to view all jobs posted by a specific local employer.5. Add at least two quotes from an executive in the company. For instance, "We're very excited about the launch of ABC Company. Being able to provide both job seekers and employers with direct access to local jobs and candidates, respectively, is the best possible solution for both," offers Joe Schmoe, President and founder of ABC Company. Further down in the press release, add another quote like, According to Schmoe, “The benefits to local employers besides finding qualified candidates for positions, includes a reduction in time and effort in regards to recruiting new talent."6. Finish with something like, ABC Company is a local online job bank serving residents and employers of Massachusetts. They are based in Boston, MA. and can be reached by calling (123) 456-7890, by contacting Joe Schmoe via email at schmoe@email.com or visiting www.ABCcompany.com for more information.That's about it. Easy, simple and quick to whip up.Once you have the press release completed, you will need to distribute it. The best place to so that is at http://wwwPRweb.com because they offer a low cost solution to distributing your press release.If you need a professional to write a press release for you, please contact me at writetouch4u@verizon.net My press releases have netted press interviews and stories for many of my clients. I would love to help you "get your message out."Until next time, take care.Lorraine

The Secret to Writing a Captivating Speech for Any Occasion

You're going to write a speech. And you're scared to death. Sure, I know you're not afraid of the speechmaking. Spouting it out is comparatively easy. In fact, it may be fun. But writing-ah! That is another story.At the start let's write this speech to Joe. We'll pick out a typical Joe from your audience, a fellow who is a fairly good composite of the group. Then we'll write our speech directly to Joe. How do you think of the group to whom you're going to talk? Perhaps you think of them as gentlemen and scholars. Again as brothers. Or maybe more familiarly as 'you guys' or 'you lugs.' But no matter how you have them pegged, there is one Joe among them who is a cross section of all of them.Let's put the words down on paper just as you would speak them to Joe. Write the word 'Joe' up there at the start of the first paragraph, put a comma behind it, and write:Joe, as I stand up here on the platform tonight I can think of the time a few years ago when I met you in Kansas City. Remember, Joe? It was in that little restaurant with the blonde waitress. I still remember, Joe, what you said that night.Would Joe and a group of Joes listen to a story like that? You know they would. And whenever you start off so closely to this Joe's thoughts and interests, you are certain to get attention. Once I heard a speaker start a talk to a group of his dealers with, 'Gentlemen and Chiselers.' He smiled when he said it, of course, but the crowd roared. He was talking right down their alley. And all through the talk you could see that this man had thought of the Joes out in front of him when he was writing it to the one Joe who was a composite of the group. He wrote it just as he would talk to that Joe face to face. His talk was on the beam every minute.Writing to Joe, you keep your talk on a conversational level. Sit him across the desk and talk to him as you write. You can't go high-hat on a guy across the desk. You won't get up in the blue sky, over his head, if you imagine he is right there talking to you, asking a question now and then. Putting in an argument occasionally. Adding a thought or two. No, you'll keep down to earth where your talk belongs.This goes for any kind of audience. All groups are made up of Joes. You may be talking to bankers, lawyers, merchant chiefs, rich men, poor men, beggar men, or thieves. But in each group there is an average Joe. Pick out that individual and write your speech to him.By simply following this one piece of advice, you will be on the road to writing conquering your writers block, shoving nervousness aside and end up writing a great, audience captivating speech!

Publish or Perish: It’s Not Only for Academia,Part 2

The Writer's Journey Is the Biggest Payoff of All!There are ways, too, to share our writing short of being published. Several come to mind. I think of Terry, a writer in one of my weekly workshops. He’d been working on his book for several years and during that time, the make-up of the group hadn’t changed much. All five of us had pretty much been with Terry throughout the creation of his novel. When he read the last chapter for what he hoped would be the last time, we listened, wanting it to work for his sake, but knowing if it didn’t, we would tell him that, too. I remember my heart beating faster as he read. It’s working, so far… so far… I kept thinking. And it was! When he finished, we spontaneously burst into applause and cheering—there were even a few wet eyes! The ending was perfect. Grinning, Terry said, “This is as good as it gets, isn’t it?”I have to agree with him. For what agent, editor or reader is going to know all that it took for Terry to triumph as he did? No one else, but Terry himself, can love his characters so deeply as those of us who had shared in their creation.I think, too, of my own experiences during the writing of Petersburg. My daughter was a freshman at the University of Vermont. She was quite unhappy the first semester, so my husband and I made the seven hour trip to Burlington at least twice a month. During those drives, I read chapters and chapters of the book. He gave me feedback. We talked and argued over characters. He challenged me, as he is wont to do. Our love for the characters as well as the characters themselves grew with the sharing. And together we developed the plot. (I called him “The Plot Meister”.) We cried, too, as events brought pain, sorrow, joy, redemption and finally resolution into the character’s lives. I remember the day I read him the last chapter of Petersburg. We were driving down a highway banked in snow and tears were flowing so furiously, my husband had to pull over to the side of the road. Another memory… It was eleven o’clock at night and the phone rang. I picked it up and my daughter shouted at me, “How could you? I’ll never forgive you! Never!”“What? I asked. “What did I do?” She was very angry and I couldn’t imagine why.“You killed him! You killed _____!” (I won’t tell you who, in case you haven’t read Petersburg yet and would like to. Don’t want to ruin the suspense!) “How could you kill him off? I loved him. I’ll never forgive you for that. Never!”I smiled. My Inner Writer and I were taking flight!Even now, writing this brings back the intensity of these experiences, none of which would have been diminished if the book had not been published. And each of which hold far deeper, more tender places in my heart than any publication kudos.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~One of the great challenges that we face as writers is to understand in the core of our beings that the journey of being a writer is the biggest payoff of all. That’s when the magic happens, when unknown corridors within open, when writing becomes the song of the soul. There is inexpressible pleasure that comes from the unleashed imagination; the effortless flow of words; the appearance of characters who say the unexpected and do the unpredictable. There is inexpressible pleasure in waking up in the morning, hungry to return to my characters and their stories. Then there is no such thing as a “bad writing day.” Then there is only the writing, and my doing what feels as natural as breathing.I have come to believe that the “bad days” only seem more prevalent than the “good days” when I am dry of passion. And that only happens when the insidious brute, Publish or Perish, sneaks up on me. I hope one day soon to be fully free of the brute, to know as surely as I breathe that every day I write will be a good day, simply because I have written. In closing, I am taking lines from a cumulative poem, Why I Write from The Message Board of The Fiction Writer’s Journey. Why I Write…A cumulative poemWriting is soul, breath, it is the way intoself and the universe.Words become like one-way mirrors, our characters see their reflection, while we see through the mirror,in search of the II do not know I am. Giving life to imagination, filling it with color, texture, passion.Sipping the wine of words with the MuseI am emboldened, enlivened, at one with the Universe.Inside there is chaos waiting to be understood ... waiting to be written into order. And there is also order waiting to turn into wildness and freedom through words.Writing is a WOW!It is the punch of life pulsing through minds. To add flames to a fire that burns inside. To explore parts of my soul that I have not yet touched.To satisfy something with-in. To find a voice. To dig deep. To be.To revive the lilting, longing of the impervious soul…To feel my pen glide across the paperTo become more humanAnd somehow less.Less afraid to be the real you,Less willing to give into others.More willing to grow as a person,More able to fight your demons.I write because then I can be heard, and fully known....heard by the universe of my mind.To give in to the desperate longingof my soul to reveal itself.To provide a voiceFor silent thoughtsThat scream to have a choiceI write to remember who I am.to drink in the light of the moon…to illuminate the dayand extinguish the nightto fight fright.I write quite simply, because my characters want me to. They have a tale to tell, and have chosen me to tell it. Who am I to ignore such generous offers of story telling?

Writing The Blockbuster Book Proposal: How To Sell Your Non-Fiction Book

You did it. You crafted the perfect query letter for your non-fiction book, and as a result, an editor at a large publishing house has requested a full book proposal. At this point, you have a 50/50 chance of seeing your work on a bookstore shelf. The difference maker will be a strong book proposal that exhibits knowledge of your audience, what that audience needs and wants, and how that audience can be reached on a cost-effective basis.When an editor makes a request to see your book proposal, he/she will most likely send along a brief overview of the publisher's book proposal guidelines. You might want to make some subtle adjustments to your proposal in order to meet those guidelines. But under no circumstances should you wait for a book proposal to be requested before actually writing one. A well-written, professional book proposal takes several days, oftentimes several weeks, to compose. It should be the first thing you write – before both the query letter and the manuscript itself. Despite the guidelines, each proposal is unique, and the quality of yours will be THE difference maker in determining whether or not the publisher takes a financial risk with your book. So put your best effort into crafting a blockbuster book proposal. Below, you'll find a list of the basic elements of a book proposal that, if mastered, will all but guarantee the offer of a book contract.Element #1: The Title Page/Table of Contents: The first page of a book proposal is the title page. The title page states the working title for the book you are proposing along with your contact information (and that of your agent if you have one). Make sure to center the text. Generally, it isn't wise to use fancy borders or cutesy graphics. You're writing a business proposal. Make sure it looks like one. On the second page of your proposal, provide a short table of contents for the book proposal itself. List each of the following sections along with their corresponding page numbers: Summary, About The Author, Audience, Competition, Publicity & Promotional Opportunities, Outline, and Sample Chapters. Some will say the Outline and Sample Chapter sections are optional, but remember, you’re trying to sell a book. Providing the publisher with a sample of your writing, especially if you're a first-time author, might well mean the difference between acceptance and rejection.Element #2: Summary: In the Summary section of your proposal, provide a brief overview of the proposed book. Try to envision the blurb that will appear on the back cover of your final product. Make that blurb the opening paragraph. Show the editor you can hook him/her on your proposal from the very first sentence, and you'll convince them of your ability to hook a potential reader as well. Elaborate on the contents of your query letter by addressing the following subjects: the content, the audience, and the author. What is the premise of your book? What does it promise its reader? Who is the market for the book? How large is that market? And, finally, why are you the best person to write this book at this time?Element #3: About The Author: In the About The Author section of your proposal, go into greater detail about yourself. In general, it's best to use third person. But it's okay to use first person if you feel more comfortable doing so. Why are you the best qualified person to write this book? What are your credentials? Are you an expert in the field? Has your previous work been published (not just in books, but newspapers, magazines, ezines, etc.)? Are you a prolific public speaker? If so, how many speeches do you give each year? To what types of audiences do you speak? Do you have media experience or media contacts? If so, let the editor know. If you have limited experience in any or all of these fields, say so. Be honest and direct. Experience helps, but lack of experience itself will not lead to rejection. Misrepresenting yourself will. Never include information about your personal life unless it is essential to your ability to sell the book.Element #4: Audience: In the Audience section of your proposal, clearly define the market for your book. First, identify the demographic segment you hope to target. Examples of demographic characteristics are gender, age, political ideology, religion, nationality, education level, economic status, etc. Be specific. Research the size of the audience and back up your claims with real numbers. Avoid broad claims such as "everyone will love this book," and instead use such statements as "4.5 million college-educated Christian men between the ages of 21 and 29 will be drawn to this book because of its unique..." At this point, define the psychographics of your audience. What is the motivation of this demographic to buy your book? What unmet needs and wants do they harbor that your book is sure to satisfy? In short, make certain your Audience section clearly indicates 1) who will buy your book, and 2) why they will buy it.Element #5: Competition: In the Competition section of your proposal, provide examples of well-known published books similar to yours (or, if your book covers a new niche in a popular subject, list those books that target a similar audience). It’s always best to cite bestsellers. If you can track down the sales figures for these books, provide the number of copies each title sold. The larger the sales figures, the more you strengthen your case that a large market exists for your subject matter. Once you've established that a large market exists, explain why your book will be different. In what way will you position your book in order to differentiate it from its peers? Do any demographic trends aid your case for continued demand in this market? State explicitly why your book is unique and why the market is ripe for its release. However, be wary of a bold statement such as "nothing like my book has ever been written before". You may have uncovered a unique angle for your subject, but in all likelihood, you haven’t invented a new genre or field of study.Element #6: Publicity and Promotional Opportunities: In this section of your proposal, outline the promotional avenues open to your book. If you've already established that a market exists, this section will be the make it or break it section of your proposal. The publisher must know how you intend to reach the audience you've identified. Do specific groups exist with a high likelihood of being receptive to your book? Good examples are the audience members of a specific radio or television show, readers of specific magazines or newsletters, book clubs, non-profit organizations, or trade groups. Identify the groups relevant to your book and point out the vehicles a publisher can use to reach those groups in a cost-effective manner. Do you have media connections or experience? Potential exposure on nationally syndicated radio and television shows is the best way to capture a publisher’s attention. Booking the author on such shows is free, and the resulting sales can be astronomical. So publishers are always looking for authors with a media platform. Do you have one? What angle or hook can you provide a producer or editor that will land you a coveted interview or feature story? If you develop a strong enough hook, you might land a book contract based on this aspect of your proposal alone.Element #7: Outline: For this section of your proposal, provide a list of the proposed chapter titles, along with a brief overview of the contents therein.Element #8: Sample Chapters: In this section of your proposal, simply attach the first two or three chapters of your proposed manuscript. Providing sample chapters is essential for a first-time author. If your chapters are of high quality, they give the publisher confidence you can produce a publishable manuscript in a timely manner.Element #9: Presentation: The presentation of your book proposal is as instrumental to its success as the content. Make sure to proofread zealously. If you think you've finished, proofread it again. Read, correct, and rewrite your proposal at least twenty times so as to be confident that it's the best it can possibly be. When it comes time to print the final draft, the body of the proposal should be double-spaced and printed in black ink on clean white paper using a LaserJet printer. Finally, just as with any business document, send your book proposal via FedEx. This will create the immediate impression you are a professional who will be businesslike in his day-to-day dealings with the publisher.Once you've incorporated these nine elements into your book proposal, you will be left with a finished product worthy of commanding the respect of any editor. But in order to create a true blockbuster book proposal, make sure to… Define the book’s concept. Identify the book’s audience. And outline exactly how to reach that audience. Do these three things well, and you’re certain to obtain a book contract. So don't waste any time. Get to work on your blockbuster book proposal today!

5 Reasons Why Headlines Are The Single Most Important Part Of All

Are you maximizing your marketing results by using headlines at every opportunity?Without a powerful headline, your message stands little chance in an increasingly competitive marketplace. If your headline doesn’t capture attention and pull prospects inside, the rest of your marketing effort is meaningless.Nothing is more important to getting your message noticed than your headlines. If you’re not allocating a sizable percentage of your time and creative effort to your headlines, you could be losing out on a large chunk of business.Top copywriters understand this concept well. They know how essential it is for the headline to capture attention by literally stopping prospects in their tracks. Here are five good reasons why headlines deserve greater emphasis and attention.1) “Headlines Are Natural Attention-Getters"We all have a tendency to read headlines first, before delving into any body copy. They stand out visually, thus compelling people to pay attention to them first. Headlines act as leads that are set above and separate from the rest of the text. This naturally attracts the eye of the reader and pulls him towards the headline.According to advertising legend David Ogilvy, 5 times as many people, on average, read headlines as read the body copy of an ad. With 5 times the readership, headlines have a unique opportunity to make any message many times more successful.2) “Headlines Serve As Valuable Guides"Headlines tip off readers. They provide a clear signal to help readers decide whether they should stick around for the full message, or dash off to something else that’s better suited to their own special interests.As a quick summary of the entire piece, headlines either attract continued interest and readership, or they repel it. Without a headline, the reader is forced to wade through a portion of the text to understand the meaning. When you force readers to do this, you risk losing them altogether. In effect, having no headline will cost you at least 80% of your potential audience!3) “Headlines Prepare The Reader For What’s Coming"Headlines fuel interest. They start the reader’s motor running. A good headline sets up a feeling of expectation as the reader anticipates discovering more and can’t wait to get it!Successful headlines address a specific audience. They open the reader’s mind to new possibilities and expand his level of enthusiasm and interest. The best headlines involve the reader in some way which virtually guarantees sustained attention-- at least until the reader finds the information he seeks, loses interest, or places an order.4) “Headlines Simplify The Learning Curve"Every headline serves to introduce whatever follows. As an opening or a lead-in, the role of the headline is to succinctly communicate the essence of the message it precedes.Effective headlines and sub-headings reveal key bits of information often with the added power of emotion. A review of the various headings alone can often provide one with the gist of a given message. This makes it faster and easier to understand and remember.When you make it easier for your prospects to read and comprehendyour messages, you increase the chances of your own success.5) “Headlines Allow You To Deliver Your Biggest Bang Up-Front"You have the opportunity to capture attention and interest at the outset, by using your most appealing selling point in the headline. If your strongest, most desirable product attribute fails to pull prospects in, surely nothing else you could ever say would do the trick, either.The stronger your headline, the more readers that are exposed to your message will read on. Create every headline to command attention and inspire interest. The more alluring and irresistible you can make it, the more genuine prospects you’ll attract and ultimately, the better results you’ll achieve.Headlines are powerful marketing tools when used correctly.Take a good look at the headlines you’re using in your own ads, brochures, sales letters, and web pages. Keep an eye out for additional headline and sub-heading opportunities. Make your headlines impossible to miss and difficult to ignore and watch your results soar!

No Time To Write? Try a Ghostwriter

Many people feel they have a story to tell or an experience to share. But time is precious and not everyone can make the words sing on the page. But there are people who can make the whole experience hassle-free. A ghostwriter will do all the work while you get all the credit. Some common questions about the ghostwriting process are answered below. What does a ghostwriter do?A ghostwriter edits, writes, collaborates, and researches on behalf of someone else who becomes their client. Many biographies of celebrities and television personalities have been ghostwritten. Why do I need one?Not everyone knows how to or has the time to turn an idea into a book. A ghostwriter is a professional who has the time to turn your thoughts into a polished manuscript.How does ghostwriting work?You give the ghostwriter your ideas; s/he tells your story. Most people provide notes, digital recordings or audio tapes. Some may even have drafts of chapters or the whole book and ideas about characters and dialogue. The more information and material you provide, the closer the final product will be to your original idea. The ghostwriter turns your idea into something that people will enjoy reading.Will the ghostwriter steal my idea?No, that wouldn't be professional. Any ghostwriter who did that would soon be out of a job. A reputable ghostwriter will usually be happy to sign a non-disclosure or confidentiality agreement.Who gets the credit for my finished book?It's your idea, so you take the credit. Many ghostwriters work behind the scenes. Of course, in some instances, you may want to share the credit - that's why many biographies are credited like this: Major Celebrity with Ghostwriter or Major Celebrity as told to Ghostwriter. But you call the shots and can opt to take all the credit.How much does ghostwriting cost?Each job is unique and that makes it hard to give more than general guidelines. The length of time the project is likely to take and the amount of research the ghostwriter will be required to do will affect the final cost. Many ghostwriters will charge a small up front fee, followed by payments at each stage of completed work. Unless you're a major celebrity with an iron-clad publishing contract already signed and sealed, a ghostwriter is unlikely to work for nothing.What does a ghostwriter's fee cover?It covers writing, research and any communication, but not usually travel or accommodation. How long will it take to ghostwrite my material?That depends on the material. Anywhere from 2 to 6 months is average depending on the type of book and how much work you've already put in. A short article may only take hours while a longer research report may take a year. You'll be able to discuss this once you've hired a ghostwriter.What about publication?Some ghostwriters help with publication as well, by sending query letters and so on. This will probably cost you extra. Other ghostwriters see the writing as their job and leave you to find your own publisher. Consider which option you prefer before signing the contract.How do I know the ghostwriter is experienced?Ghostwriters generally have to keep clients' names confidential, but you can look at other examples of their writing. If you enjoy reading these, then chances are that others will enjoy reading your material too.See you in print!

Author Discovers That the Perfect Books to Sell Are Ones That Don't Exist ...Yet

Storage space isn’t a problem at author Joseph Yakel’s New York home. In fact, he doesn’t anticipate it being a problem anytime in the future. Reason? Well, unlike some others, he doesn’t need to store large numbers of his available published works at home."Originally," said Yakel, gesturing toward the modest number of books lining the library in his den, "I was concerned that the volume of my books might start to tax my storage capabilities." While Yakel has opted to keep a few copies in his inner sanctum, many authors resort to maintaining a large inventory at home or may even rent storage space to hold items they are offering for sale."When I decided to publish, I gave some thought to how I wanted to advertise, maintain, promote and sell my works. I quickly decided against working with a vanity press, which require the writer to pay to produce copies of the books, and which also require a large print run that must be paid for up front. I also knew that inventory storage could pose a problem, because sometimes authors have works that don't sell immediately, and that could lead to items being in storage for months, taking up space, as well as being revenue inefficient” said Yakel. "I didn’t want to get frustrated and bogged down with those issues. Instead, I knew that I wanted a way to have my book inventory managed so that they only existed after they were purchased and paid for. This way, I wouldn't have to waste storage space or expend any extra up front dollars, and it would give my readers the newest and best produced copies available."For Yakel, the solution came rather quickly. He reviewed a number of publishing options, and decided to self-publish with Lulu.com. “With self-publishing,” Yakel said, “you have control over your entire work, and I think this allows for a more vested interest in making how your writing career develops.” Lulu.com is a North Carolina technology company that specializes in print-on-demand (POD) technology, printing single copies of books, CDs, DVDs and other items only when the customer pays for them.Yakel found Lulu's print-on-demand tools to be exactly suited to his needs. So much so that he has completed three books, and published all of them with Lulu. He said his works are geared toward a wide audience. He describes two of his books as 'serious' genealogy works. The JACKEL, JECKEL, JAECKEL, IEKEL, YAKEL Family History Book (March 2005, ISBN 1-4116-2715-6) is a family chronology, tracing more than 350 years of Rheinish ancestry. The Autograph Memories of Mary Yakel (December 2004, ISBN 1-4116-2101-8) details the 19th century memoir of his grand aunt. His third effort, The Legend of Juggin Joe (March 2005, ISBN 1-4116-2588-9) is a 'country boy comedy / melodrama’ written in a corresponding country dialogue. He calls this one a ‘real hoot’ that lends itself to the wilder side of his persona, and recommends it to those with a sense of humor, or anyone in need of one. “It’s rated G, for Great”, said Yakel, “and suitable for the young and old. Laughter has no age limit.”With Lulu.com's technology, Yakel is able to forgo the usual boxes of copies of his books. Instead, he simply waits for orders to come in, has Lulu print fresh copies, which are then shipped directly to his customers. "I don't need to have lots of copies on hand other than those I may want for local promotion," said Yakel, "and the best part is that I am not stuck with loads of books that I might otherwise have to pay for up front, but not sell immediately.""This is an excellent union between myself and Lulu”, said Yakel. “Every time my books sell, we both share in the mutual benefits of this business relationship. My published works are available to a worldwide audience, with virtually a few clicks of a mouse, and I don’t need to worry about storage, maintenance, or anything else that distracts me from my writing" he continued, and added, "When I think of how many other writers are wasting their energy and resources with books that sit in storage, I can’t help but think that POD technologies, like Lulu, are going to be the future of what traditional book publishers now claim as their major market share."

How To Place yourself in the secure society

Identity theft has become the fastest growing criminal activity in the 20th Century, replacing illegal drug sales. For the perpetrators, it offers the highest profit margin with the least risk. In fact, according to one expert, it is estimated that fewer than 1-in-700-identity crimes actually result in a conviction.In the United States alone, Identity theft has reached $53 billion dollars a year. Consumers are directly shouldering about $5 billion of that, but the rest, which is paid by businesses and retailers, is passed on indirectly to consumers who are paying more for goods and services.How BIG is this Problem?In recent months, there has been a rash of reports about big thefts, where criminals are stealing identities in mass quantities. Banks, credit card companies and businesses that house servers storing passwords or other sensitive, private information have all reported “break-ins” that happened through the use of Trojan viruses and other online hacking methods – resulting in the loss of millions of pieces of information being stolen. There have also been instances of the information just getting “lost”, of employees selling it and other lax security measures resulting in the same thing – thieves having access to your identity.What do Thieves Want?- Your Name- Date of Birth- Home Address- Phone Numbers- Social Security Number- Driver’s License Number- Credit Card Numbers- CW2 Security Code (the number on the back of your credit card)- Your Credit Report- ATM Cards- Telephone Calling Cards- Mortgage DetailsWhere Are They Getting All Your Information?High-tech methods include online thefts from:- Banks- Credit-Reference Agencies- Retailers- Credit Card Networks- Data-Brokerage Companies- Payment Processing Companies- Phone Companies- Schools- Your Employer- Doctors, Clinics and Health Departments- Government AgenciesBut there are still low-tech methods that are effective as well:- Dumpster Diving- Mail Theft- Retail Theft- “Phishing”/pretexting/pretending- Purse/Wallet TheftWhat are Thieves Using Your Information For?- Making charges to your existing credit cards- Opening new credit cards in your name- Having phone or utilities turned on- Withdrawing money from your existing bank accounts- Employment purposes- Driver’s Licenses- Tax Fraud- Social Service benefits- Student loans- Business or Personal loans- Health care- Mortgage loans/leases- Auto loans- Using your ID when caught committing a crimeHow Can You Protect Yourself?- Keep a photocopy of all your credit cards, bank account numbers and investment account numbers in a safeplace- Keep your credit card receipts – don’t throw them away in a public place- Put a “fraud alert” on all your credit reports- If you apply for credit and the card doesn’t arrive on time, call the card issuer- Choose difficult to guess PIN numbers or passwords. (Don’t use birth dates, your mother’s maiden name, pet’s name, etc.)- Never give personal information to anyone who sends you an email, a letter or calls you asking for it- Shred any personal information – such as bills, credit card or bank statements, even pre-approved credit applications before throwing them away- Don’t use the ATM machine if someone is watching you- Pay attention to what’s going on around you – cell phones often have cameras in them. If someone is standing close by you with a cell phone while you're entering a PIN number at the ATM or in line at the grocery store, block their view- Review your bills each month for unusual or suspicious charges. If there’s something you don’t remember or doesn’t seem right, call the creditor right away- Check your credit report at least once a year- Store your cancelled checks safely, or better yet, have the bank do it. You can always get a copy if you needone.- Don’t leave your purse in plain sight when driving- Keep your valuable locked in the trunk or glove box when driving- Make all personal information on your laptop or computer password protected- Don’t carry information about your PIN numbers, passwords and account numbers in your purse or wallet; or at least don’t make them easily identifiable as to which account they belong toWarning Signs that Your Identity Has Been Stolen:- Although you have good credit, a loan application is denied, or you’re refused extended credit requests- You are suddenly contacted by a debt-collection agency- Your purse or wallet has been stolen, or your house broken into- There is unfamiliar activity on your credit reportWhat to do if it Happens to You:- If your purse or wallet is stolen, call the police immediately, and file a report. Make sure that you’re given a report number- Contact your bank, credit card and other credit extending companies and report the theft- Close the accounts- Contact the credit-reporting companies in your area, and report the theft.- Review your credit report every 90 days for the next year for suspicious activity- If there is fraudulent activity, have it removed immediately and monitor your credit report every 90 days for the next year- Put everything in writing, and follow up with your credit card companies, banks, and credit reporting agencies. Keep copies of all supporting documents- File a report with the Federal Trade Commission- Change the passwords on your existing accounts and create new ones for new accountsIdentity theft is real, and it’s a growing problem, and it could happen to you. Although there are no guarantees that you can keep your information safe, by paying attention to the risks and taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can minimize your chances of someday having an “identity crisis”. Good luck!

Earn $100,000+ For Your Book

Every writer fantasizes about getting that big fat advance so they can take a little dream time, write, relax, or put their kids through college. But what most writers don’t know is it takes a heck of a lot of work to get to the point of being worthy of a publisher handing you the equivalent of the golden egg. Whether you’re a doctor with the latest get thin quick diet or a mom who has a foolproof way to turn brats into angels, you must be willing to do the work-alot of it. What separates the six-figure advance earners from the mid-list authors are two things. 1. They think of their book as a business. 2. They have a huge built in audience. Think of your proposal as the business plan for your book. Your book is an integral part of your overall career which includes speaking, products, and more books. Authors are constantly in search of ways to expand their audience. Agent David Hale Smith of DHS Literary, (he represented New York Times Best-selling author Cheryl Richardson) says he wants his authors to be financially independent people who see their book as part of a larger successful career. These are qualities he and other agents and publishers look for in their budding celebrities. From my own experience media coaching and creating marketing plans for authors who get six figures I’ve found that they do three things right. 1. Six Figure Authors React Instantly. When I asked Rich Fettke, author of *Extreme Success* to prepare the answers to the questions he thought he’d be asked by editors he was flying to New York to meet, he had them ready the next day. And yes, often editors want to meet you-if they think you’re going to be their next golden boy or girl. This instant reaction reflex comes into play later when your publicity begins. When an author’s topic is hot, they’re often asked to jump on a plane at a moment’s notice to appear on TV, radio, take a print interview or speak at an event or charity function. If you hesitate, the opportunity vanishes. Publishers who have invested the big bucks in you won’t stand for it. And rightly so. You have an obligation to them to earn back that hefty advance (which sadly, most authors don’t). 2. Six Figure Authors Speak. Gone are the days when writers can cozy up in their garrets and write. To be a successful author today you must become a public person, and more than that, an entertaining one. A major publishing house hired me to media coach one of their rising star authors. Her book was getting major national press-but she was dull. And they were worried that her lackluster personality would effect her book sales. We worked until she got comfortable on camera while speaking vividly in 15 second soundbites. 3. Six Figure Authors Get Media Coached. With some media coaching you can morph into a mediagenic maven. But it does take practice and sincere commitment. If you can’t afford a media coach, get out that video camera and do mock interviews with friend. A lot can be revealed and ironed out just by seeing how you appear to others on the big screen. That said there are 5 critical elements that determine the size of your advance. 1. Your platform. 2. Your endorsements. 3. Your publicity plan. 4. Your sample chapter. 5. Your audience. 1. Your platform. When I interviewed editors at top New York publishing houses like Simon & Schuster & HarperCollins they told me repeatedly that the most important thing a writer can have today is a strong *platform.* A platform is a plan of how you are going to reach your audience to sell books. Prove you have a following. Publishers want to know who has bought your books or products in the past--and they want to know how many. Can you show that you have a track record of selling your goods to people across the globe, or at least in your community? Maybe you’re not as far along in your career as one of my clients who is a $12,000 an hour speaker who put in his proposal the fact that his audiences range from 100-10,000 people, and he speaks 250 times per year. His speaking bureau typically sells his video and audio tapes to those audiences in advance when they book his talk. What you want to show is how you can secure sales in large quantities to people you know will buy from you-because they have bought already. Or how audiences similar to the ones who have purchased are primed to buy your book. 2. Your endorsements. To instantly establish your stature put these accolades on page number one so they’re the first thing an agent or editor sees. Endorsements need to be from celebrities, best- selling authors and well-known experts in your field. Show that you’re respected in the world. Endorsements show that high-level people believe in you, that you’re a good bet. They also go on your book cover jacket and help sell your book-and in today’s competitive marketplace it’s essential. Don’t say you’re *actively seeking endorsements.* Leading with the endorsements makes sure an agent or editor gets that you’re a big shot-or soon will be. One secret that many authors don’t know is the best blurbs are written by the writers themselves. Don’t expect famous people to read your tome. They don’t have the time or the desire. And please don’t send your book to them unsolicited. Ask permission. Then do the work for them and ask them to sign off on that perfect gem-the one you’ve written-touting the marvels of your work. 3. Your publicity plan. Publishers are looking for people who know how to promote themselves and will take responsibility for doing it themselves. Map out your strategy for selling books. Are you giving keynotes, seminars & workshops to hundreds of people every month? How many people subscribe to your online newsletter, visit your web site, buy your products? Do you have big name clients who will host seminars at their companies for you where you’re guaranteed to sell books? 4. Your sample chapter. *Once you’ve established that the author has some sort of a platform, that they have some voice in the world beyond their circle of friends, I go straight to the sample chapter,* says Kelly Notaras, a Senior Editor at Hyperion. Prove you can write. *I want to know if they are a good writer, because an agent can tinker away with the rest of the proposal and make it sound really good,* Notaras says. What if you’re not a great writer? Hire a ghost writer. Remember platform is non-replaceable. You, the personality, the presence, is what publishers are investing in. Good writing can be bought. Star quality can’t. 5. Your audience. Prove you have a media track record. Who knows you already? What magazines have your written for or appeared in? What TV and radio shows have you been a guest on? Are those producers aching to get you back on their shows as soon as possible? Do you have established relationships with them? You guarantee to a publisher that you’ll reach your audience by showing who you have successfully reached in the past. If you haven't done much media and aren't yet well-known in the public the quickest way to do so is to join PR Leads, (a service that reporters and producers use to send out queries (requests) to interview experts for stories they’re working on.) They are typically on tight deadlines so you need to respond as soon as the queries hit your email inbox. As founder Dan Janal says, *Reporters don’t care if you work for a Fortune 500 company. If they need an expert and you can show them you are one, that is all they care about.* Using this service you can become an instant expert in a matter of weeks and build your platform in short order. Once you can say you've done a lot of media and you plan to do more of the same type of media you've had success with in the past, you'll be on your way to creating an impressive impression-one that says that you've got 6 figure author potential.

Get A 6 Figure Book Advance

It's the dream of 81% of the population to write a book. No matter how many times people tell you how difficult it is to do, nearly everyone wants to do it. There hangs a certain romance around writers. I think it's a kind of nostalgia or grieving for some forgotten part of ourselves. We long to return to a place where magic and imagination are revered. Others may just want the quick glory or fast buck they associate with being an author. But whatever you want, getting a 6-figure book advance is possible if you have the skill, drive and know-how. Here are five tips to get you started on achieving the dream of becoming a well-paid, respected author. 1. Know the Industry Educate yourself on how the publishing industry works. Unlike the old days when publishers were looking to cultivate long-term relationships with authors who would be in their stable, today their top priority is just to sell books. When I was traveling in Mexico this year I met a woman whose husband has been a best-selling author for twenty years in England. He has had the same agent and publisher for those same twenty years. Every time he came out with a new book his publishers expected it to be "number one" on the English equivalent of the New York Times bestseller list. They worked with him to make it so. In America the bottom line is king. You must be able to substantiate your claim that your book will fly off the shelves, without any help from the publisher. 2. Prove There is a Market for Your Book In today's world you need to show that your book will sell to one large audience, or many smaller niche audiences. Quantify each audience with statistics that show that they buy books on that subject. It's not enough to say that this audience would be interested in your topic. You must be able to prove beyond a doubt with your well-researched facts that your readers are a *book buying* audience. 3. Develop a Platform This is the most important aspect of your proposal after you've proven that there is a pressing need for your book and that book buying audiences will scoop it up. A platform is simply YOUR ability to sell books to the audience that you have said will buy-from you. It's all about the numbers. How many people are on your e-zine list? How many people do you speak to every month? How many people buy your products and services now? Do you have big name corporations or organizations that will buy your books in bulk? Do you have a regular column, or write for publications? Are you frequently seen in the media? If you don't have an impressive platform you don't get a 6-figure advance. 4. Map out a Marketing Plan to Promote Your Book. Your plan should include everything from speaking engagements, online marketing, licensing, and media placements. It must be realistic and do-able. In other words you can't say that you'll speak to organizations of 1000 people or more if you've never done it. What do publishers hate most? When you say that you're right for Oprah. Unless you've already been a guest and taped the show please NEVER say this if you don't want your reputation instantly sullied. Instead show how you will build on your past publicity. If hosts or producers say that they want you back for another segment because you did such a good job the first time, say it. But if you haven't done much media to date, don't fret. You can begin today and get a substantial number of profiles, features, and comments in the media in a few months by joining PRLeads,a service which delivers reporters queries (the stories they need experts for) daily to your email box. 5. Get Endorsements Big names sell products in a big way. Getting known names of celebrities, best-selling authors, actors, athletes, well- known experts in your field, media personalities, any famous name that has glitter gives you the kind of credibility that can't be bought. One of my clients, who got a number of New York Times best-selling authors to write about him, accomplished three things with his endorsements. Each person who wrote about him told a different story about why he would be a winning author. The first one lauded him as a highly successful professional. The second stated that my client's book filled a gap that her book failed to address. The third demonstrated that the people my client was trying to reach were an avid book buying market hungry for his type of book- as they had bought hers. These meaningful endorsements effectively helped him get his 6-figure advance. (And he got media coached by me before he met the editors at the big New York Publishing houses who then bid on his book at auction). Don't just get endorsements saying you're terrific. Make your endorsements do double duty by helping you prove there is a market and that you're the one they want to buy from. This is the type of information that makes you stand out from the other 150,000 authors who are published every year, most of whom never earn back their advance. Don't be one of them. Instead, follow this advice and you'll be well on your way to earning a 6 figure book advance. Good luck!

Writing Articles - Advice For The Do-It-Yourself Webmaster

As an SME it is virtually impossible for us to hire the services of a good SEO company that is going to spend time optimising the site, adding new content and gaining good links for the site, simply because of the cost involved. Other SME’s are I am sure in a similar position. They would all love to have a web site that ranked highly in google and the other search engines and brought in a constant flow of new business. However to hire an SEO company to do all those things above is often beyond the reach of many small companies especially those just starting out. However as a company providing services ourselves and 80% of our new business coming via the internet I can thoroughly recommend that you find a company, invest the money because you will soon get the rewards back. If you feel that you still cannot quite afford to go down that path because money in the company is tight then the other course of action I can recommend is to write articles. I kept seeing and reading all this free advice from SEO’s out there on the Web about the benefits of writing articles and submitting to article distribution centres and e-zines. I used to think when reading these words of wisdom how wonderful it would be if only I could do that, but I never did it. Until recently that is. About a month ago I decided I would try writing an article. First what would I write about? Big problem, what could I write about that had any relevance to my website or the services we provided and be of interest to anybody else? So I did a search on one of the article distribution sites looking for articles that had relevance to my own sites content and found nothing of real relevance. So nothing for it I would have to write my own. It still took another week before I came up with any ideas. I focused on what services we provided and how I could turn these into articles. Still nothing actually came of these thoughts. Then one night I was talking to one of our cleaners who was telling me about the problems she was having with the toilet brushes on these particular premises she was working at. They were the wrong shape for doing a good job! The following day I spoke to the company and they agreed we could put our own in. Then I realised that this was a problem in many places especially domestic households. So I wrote my first article about toilet brushes and the why’s and how’s of how people should approach the purchase of these objects. Once started the words flowed. I submitted this to two article distributors and one ezine. To my surprise it was accepted and I have not looked back. I now write on average two articles per week and have reached the grand total of 24 published articles. Each article gives me about five links on average, some provide more, others less, it depends on who picks them up and republishes them. Most importantly it has boosted my visitors and my backlinks and therefore my search engine position. When I did a search on who was linking to my site these articles produced 12 backlinks for google and a staggering 186 on MSN. It was incredibly interesting to see where my articles were ending up, often in very unexpected places, and it is global, so they can be picked up anywhere in the world. Do not be put of by the thoughts· I cannot write · I have nothing to write about · Nobody would want to read the things I know about Because you are wrong on all counts. There is a lot of advice freely available on how to write good articles, go search it out. Everybody who is running a business has expert knowledge on some subject, and lastly the whole world is your audience so there will be many people out there who are interested in what you have to say. Surprise yourself, as I did, give it a go. After the first or second article you will find that they just flow and writing becomes much easier. Very importantly however they do wonders for your website.

Book Proposals 101.: What Publishers Want

Lots of writers like to talk about writing books. You hear very few talking about writing book proposals. Maybe that's why it's easy to forget that a strong book proposal is the first step to getting a great deal for your non-fiction book. It's where you make the big pitch and tell the editor everything that's going to make him or her want to buy.A book proposal is also a great time saver for you because you'll find in the course of researching your book proposal whether or not your idea is viable, or whether your category is already crowded with similar books. Here are the parts that make up a book proposal, and a few tips on how to make it really stand out to a potential publisher.Title PageThis is the first page of the book proposal. Your title should be centered and printed about two-thirds of the way down the page. In the bottom left hand corner you'll type in your name, address, phone number, email address and the name and contact information for your agent.OverviewYou'll want to have two to three pages explaining the overall premise of your book. You'll also want to include a Table of Contents that shows what points will be covered in each chapter.Bio/CredentialsThis isn't just your usual resume stuff, this is a big opportunity to sell yourself as THE person to write the book. Write it in the third person starting with your education and credentials. You'll want to point out any experience that specifically relates to the subject matter of the book. Have you written articles or previous books on the topic? Note those as well. List any public speaking that you have done and will do in the future, including television and radio interviews. Include a really nice photo. It doesn't have to be a glamour shot, but you do want to look interesting and engaging. A 5"x7" is fine.CompetitionThe publisher will want to know if there are books similar to yours already out there. It will help them to see that there is a market for such books. At the same time, you'll want to point out how your book will be different, or better, than what's already out there. Do not trash someone else's work. It's bad form. It's enough to say a competitor's book left something out, or doesn't cover a certain aspect. If you don't know what competing books exist, you can look them up in Books in Print. Most libraries have it in the reference section.OutlineThis will be your chapter-by-chapter outline showing what you will cover, point-by-point, in each chapter. You can plan on allotting about half a page per chapter.Sample ChaptersThis is where you get to show that you really can write! You should submit at least three chapters of content. It doesn't have to be the first three chapters, but if you haven't written anything yet those may be the easiest to do. Then again, some writers like to start in the middle of a book! The main key here is to be good--no typos, no misspellings and no factual errors.MarketingThe marketing section of your book proposal is so important that many publishers will often read it first. So make sure you spend the time to make this the best it can be. Lay out your whole marketing plan here. Explain who your target audience is, how big it is and why they will buy this book. How do you plan on reaching them? Are you buying your own advertising? If so, in what publications and what is their combined circulation? Will you be reaching out to book clubs, corporations or college classes where you book could be taught? How can you make your book stand out against the ones that are already out there? You want to make the case that there is a ready made audience out there and all the publisher has to do is reach out and grab them by signing you.PromotionRemember, a publisher wants to acquire you and your connections, so this is another important section of the proposal. How will you put yourself out there for your book? You'll want to explain if you'll be doing public speaking, or maybe you have a huge list you communicate with via newsletter every month. How many are on your list? If you plan to hire your own publicist, put that fact in as well. Do you have famous connections that will help you get great blurbs? Do you have a budget? If so, how much? Yes, they do want to know if you plan on spending some of your own money!Publishing DetailsHere you'll detail the length you propose for the book (in words) and whether the book will have any illustrations or photos. You'll also want to give an estimate for the time you'll need to turn in the finished manuscript.And that's it. When your proposal is done you might want to hire an editor or a book consultant to go over it and give you some strong feedback. That way you'll know you have it in the best shape possible and you can feel confident when you're sending it out.

The Truth Behind Musician Press Kits

The Truth Behind Press Kits, Bios, and Controlling Your ImageA lot of what you have been told about creating your image is false. This article is meant to be a simple list of things that might surprise you as a musician. Some of you have had “managers” misguide you. You know the drill. Your guitar player's girlfriend has a connection at some local club so now she thinks she is fit to orchestrate your entire career. Maybe you have a know-it-all singer who spent 5 minutes glossing over some music industry website and now he is writing your bio chalk full of transparent lies and over-exaggerated descriptions of your rock fury. No matter what the case may be, I can guarantee you that you have at least a few misconceptions about how to properly present your image. This article will briefly outline some of the major issues on writing better bios, press kits, and press releases.YOU HAVE MORE CONTROL THAN YOU THINKThe most important thing I can tell you is you have more control than you think. If you really get the hang of image presentation and playing this game we call the music biz you can virtually create any image you want of yourself or your band. First and foremost I want to talk about the press.Ever surf the net doing some research of some new band your friend told you about? Ever notice how multiple music sites will have the exact same description of the band? Of course, you aren't an idiot; you realize these sites simply rip what the band wrote in their bio on the band homepage. But do you realize the POWER of this? Basically, you have the power to syndicate your image in a way. These websites simply don't have the time, or intimate knowledge of your band, to create some pseudo-bio for you. They rely on you, and what you have to say about yourself. This is power. Use it wisely.But you already knew that. What I'm about to tell you is something you may not know, but could drastically affect your bands promotional campaign. PRINT MAGAZINES DO THIS TOO. Yep, a lot of those long write-ups you see in your favorite magazines about your favorite band, have content ripped straight from the bands' bio. The trick is that this only applies to well written bios. If you do in fact have such a bio, this can be the most powerful weapon in your promotional arsenal.THE SECRET BIO SAUCE RECIPEOk. So let's recap real quickly. You know that your bio can help control your image on the net. And now you know you can even control how the print media presents you. But how do you write such a bio? First, let's go over what NOT to do.INFLATE: Do not inflate your image beyond the reality of your band. Don't be all flash and no smash. In other words, don't talk about what you can't back up. This is the most common mistake in bio writing. I call it “inflation”. This is pretty much adjective abuse. Avoid phrases like “intense live show” or “super sonic blast from the future”. This is stock. This is not creative. If you aren't the biggest drawing band in your own market, don't say “this band is taking the nation by storm”. The press and online community have been reading bios with such inflations since the beginning, they see past this very well. QUOTE FANS: If you can't get someone credible to say something nice about your band DO NOT resort to using a fan comment. Ever…for any reason.LIST SONG DESCRIPTIONS: If you are already an “inflator” then talking about your own songs will only cause pain and tragedy.SPENDING TOO MUCH TIME ON PREVIOUS BANDS: If your last band didn't have a record deal or tour, don't bother. If you have some leverage with your “former member of…” status use it tastefully and only in brief.Now that we have got those cardinal sins out of the way you are probably thinking “jeeze, what else is there to write about”. This is where we start digging. Time to put on your thinking cap. You have to think like a reporter looking for a refreshing angle. You have to find the one thing that can create an image that will stick. You have to find THE STORY.By this time I have lost some of you. You either don't know what I mean by “the story” or you have a bio that breaks every rule I just outlined and you can't admit it. The best bios read like a good music rag write-up. If your bio is written correctly it should make a staff writer's job easy. It should be easy for him to “rip” or “cop”. It's no co-incidence that many pro bands use these kinds of writers to pen their own bios! Perhaps you have an interesting story about how you came together. Perhaps you have some gimmick, like Siamese twins or 3 bearded lady bassists. But hopefully you have something that connects your band to something going on in the world of music. You need something that will get people's attention. Maybe your band is the only Death Metal band for 100 miles in the Bible belt. You get the picture.I am going to list some things that can make great stories (and double as press releases). - Being produced by someone reputable- Being managed by someone reputable- Breaking some mark in online CD sales or downloads- Getting a supporting slot on a festival or tour- Having a reputable person as a quoted fanA PHOTO SPEAKS 1,000 FLAWSI want to get one thing out of the way: I'm not going to tell you how to dress. But I am going to tell you that it may be your biggest problem. I am not a stylist. I can not solve this problem. I can tell you this though: The camera will expose every flaw you have in your style. With that said, let's get on with at least getting a quality photo.I am not a professional photographer. I am not going to tell you how to take a photo of yourself. I am going to tell you where to get one. Your best bet is to find a local photographer that you see at local shows. More often than not, they are either legitimate press, legitimate artist, or a legitimate student. Browse their catalog of band photography and if you think it stands up, there ya go. This may all seem like common sense, but I want to stress that this is abandoned and somehow your guitar player's girlfriend is your “photographer” because her mom has a camera. Do not let this happen to you. Find people with pro gear. Get a professional or at least a digital arts student. These are always your best bets.If you are going for sheer impact with your 8 x 10 one good tip is to at least look like you are in the same band. I'm not saying get a gimmick or wear make-up. I'm saying that even if you think your personal look is “plain”, your band as a whole can benefit from at least being on the same page. LOGOThe miracle of Adobe Photoshop has given birth to some of the most breathtaking digital art we have seen. It has also, to the misfortune of bands mostly, created total rubbish. If your logo sucks it says many things about you.It shows you have high tolerance for bad art.It shows you yourself might be a bad artist and were not smart enough to hire a professional.It shows you have a very distorted view about the genre of your band.It shows some of you are totally unprofessional and don't care about your image.You might be surprised how many ways there are to find good digital artists to create your logo. In my personal opinion, even paying up to $100 is worth it for a good logo. Bottom line, the sites below are the best place to find killer artists.DeviantArt.comMylkhead.comAngryBlue.comPlayWithKnives.comEyeSuckInk.comPRESS KIT SECRETSOne very strong tip I can offer is to try to think of your image as “dynamic”. It has to be all things to all people. You might have to add something extra to that envelope before you send it off. If you are sending your kit out to an artist rep at a prospective endorsee you ALWAYS want it to contain tour dates. This is the most important thing in your attempt to get gear for cheap and say those lovely words to all your loser musician friends playing crappy guitars… “I got an endorsement deal”. A great add-in is a DVD. There are a lot of affordable ways to make a DVD these days. Again, this is one of those things that will expose your flaws. You don't want to put your life story on there. Live footage is great if it's done right. Fake smoke and that cheesy “page turn effect” are not. Don't make a wedding video. This will be valuable in your arsenal when try to book gigs.Ask First. Send. Follow Up. This is your best way to make some impact and get a solid contact in the biz. Your press kit will always have more impact if the person is expecting it (send it promptly). Make sure you are to the point when calling someone you'd like to send a press kit to. You are Jon Doe from The Doetones. You are going to be in town around this time. You want to send a press kit for a possible gig. If you are sending an email and have an EPK (Electronic Press Kit) NEVER send the press kit in first. Always try to get a response before sending the press kit. If you are sending to a possible endorsee put your upcoming dates in the initial email.Following up is crucial. Many of the people you will be dealing with in this business are either busy or forgetful…mostly both. You must initiate contact. Be tactful and patient. Do not hound people, but make sure you give yourself a chance to make some opportunities and pick up the phone yourself. Remember, you are in essence, trying to self yourself to a company or consumer. You have to be a salesman. Try to connect to people and have them want to talk to you. If you can do this they will always want to help you or get you involved in something that will. Or best of all, spend money on you and your product.

How To Write Poetry

If you want to know how to write poetry, the first thing you have to do is write some. It doesn't matter how it turns out. Your own mistakes will become your teachers. Your own writing will motivate you to greater creativity. Now, once you start the process, how do you improve it? Here are three tips.1. Use nouns and verbs more than adjectives. Which is stronger: "She was as beautiful as a flower..." or "Roses wilted in shame as she passed by..."? "He looked at the depressing clouds..." or "He watched as dark clouds moved in, covering his sky..."?2. Don't tell the reader how to feel. Let the words elicit the emotions directly, without explaining. "The tragedy touched them all," is more touching to the reader as "Men and women, doctor and workman... thirteen people looked upon the scene... with tears in their eyes."3. Use dramatic and emotional words. Not all words are equal in their ability to "grab" a reader or elicit emotion. "Fell," "take," and "love," will probably be weaker than "plunged," "siezed," and "worship."Look at the following lines, written two ways. The second way applies the three rules above. (From the poem "Gratitude.")1.The mountains and lakes were beautifulI looked at them, heard them and smelled themAnd I felt in awe2.Mountains stand against the skyMy little lake at their feetAnd in the middle of this creationWhich I see with my eyesHear with my earsSmell and taste...Words fail, as they shouldI hope you agree that the second version is better. Again, if you want to know how to write poetry, you have to start writing. Use these and other rules to help you, but remember that all rules in poetry need to be broken at times. Read your poems aloud to yourself and others as a final "test."

Stimulate your Senses!

When you get stuck for ideas, and the words won’t flow, invariably it’s because one, more or all of your senses aren’t being stimulated. Staring at a blank screen or sheet of paper really doesn’t help. The best way to stimulate all your senses in one hit is to provide an inspirational space you can work with. Lots of Feng Shui arrangements appear in western homes these days, and they’re great, but outside those four walls of your writing space, there is another world bursting with enlightenment and inspiration. Of course you may have to work at it a little, but hey, we all need some exercise sometimes! Whether you have a balcony or a backyard, you can very simply build a natural living world to plunge into whenever you choose. If you have neither, consider renting a small patch of land or sharing a garden with someone. Gardening conjures up all sorts of hard work images; tools, backache, blisters etc;. but it’s only as hard as you make it. Start small and design your garden on paper first. Decide where you want herbs, flowers - and even vegetables, if you have the space and inclination! A tiny balcony or back yard can be bordered with herbs and flowers. If you’re staring at several square metres of concrete, don’t despair. Plant your sensory stimulators in pots. Paint the pots different colours if you like. Choose strong smelling, long lasting flowers, such as wallflowers ( Cheiranthus ). They will grow in some shade and do well against walls, fences and hedgerows. Climbing roses will only need a few hooks screwed into the fence, and they will happily cover your fence in blooms. Both these flowers are colourful, smell beautiful and are velvet to the touch. Many herbs will grow in pots. Grow chives for something to nibble as you wander round the garden. Mint varieties are many , from spearmint through to the newer varieties such as pineapple or melon mint . Try them! They really do smell of pineapple and melon. Some herbs are perennial and, once established, will need very little care. But remember to pick them to encourage growth. The acoustics in your outside space will change dramatically when you have flowers growing. Those bees and bugs won’t be able to resist. Rub the leaves of your mint plants or other herbs and fill the air with the scent. Now relax in a chair, listen to the humming of the insects and nibble on your chives. Within ten minutes you’ll either be dozing and gaining some well needed rest, or you’ll be running back to your keyboard with more words in your head than ever before!

Who Is Your Inner Critic?

Spend time listening to your Inner Critic. He or she is not comfortable with the risks demanded by a creative endeavor. By becoming aware of the foul jabber of your Inner Critic, you can see how your mind puts up roadblocks to creativity.Tip 3 from Ten Tips on CreativityImagine your conscious mind is tuned in to a radio station run by a single disc jockey, your Inner Critic, and you have no way to turn down the volume much less turn it off. In fact, you’ve grown so used to the constant talk from the Inner Critic, you hardly notice he’s ordering you about, commenting, passing judgment and evaluating just about everything you do or say; this is all so subtle and insidious that you don’t separate out the Inner Critic from other parts of you. The Inner Critic has become you—it seems as if the only time you can escape his badgering is when you sleep. There is a reason for this. When you sleep, your conscious mind shuts down. The dream state or intuitive right side of the brain, takes over. The Inner Critic avoids the dream state like the plague. He can’t get a foothold in a place where there is no apparent logic, where things appear as images, feelings, sounds and colors. It should not be surprising, then, that your best stories, characters and plots, come from this place of dreams, where little is known and anything is possible. The problem is how to wrest control of the radio station from the Inner Critic so that you can give your Inner Writer some air time.Answer the following questions quickly, without thinking.What is the color of your Inner Critic?How big is your Inner Critic? What is the texture?Is your Inner Critic masculine, feminine or both? What does the voice of the Inner Critic sound like?Make a list of the things your Inner Critic says to you. Don’t worry if you repeat. Come back and add to this list as you become more aware of the Inner Critic.What is a creative risk you fear taking?Make a list of the reasons your Inner Critic has for you not taking that risk.Make a list of the negative things your Inner Critic says about being a writer. Find a symbol of your Inner Critic. Students have come up with anything from a picture of a boss to a vial of sulfuric acid. The image of my Inner Critic is a fierce looking puppet. I like to turn it inside out, which makes it look like a harmless alien! Now, write to your Inner Writer. As her or him what you should do when your the voice of your Inner Critic is very loud and destructive. Put your pen to paper and start writing. Learn to listen to the voice of you Inner Writer. Give your Inner Writer some powerful stations on the radio in your mind. Turn to her when you feel your all dried up and will never write again.Begin now:Dear Inner Writer....This exercise was taken from Emily Hanlon's The Art of Fiction Writing or How to Fall Down the Rabbit Hole Without Really Trying. The Art of Fiction Writing has enough writing prompts to drown out the voice of the Inner Critic!

Reading in a Tree

Today is like many of the summer days I spent at my grandparents' house in Indiana—except I am writing, instead of reading and I am sitting in a chair on my deck, instead of on a branch in a tree growing in front of my grandparents' house. But the wind is blowing gently under the umbrella, just like it blew through the leaves so many years ago.I don't remember how many hours I spent in that tree.It has been a long time since I felt the wind blow through its leaves. My grandparents sold the house and moved off of the farm the year that I started college. I probably did not climb the tree for the last few years that my grandparents lived there.I was not a tomboy. In fact, that tree is the only one that I have ever climbed (unless you count the one I tried to climb and got stuck in). It was the perfect tree for a girlie girl to climb. There was one branch that grew straight out from the tree. If I reached up high above my head, I could grasp the branch with both hands and hoist myself up to a much thicker extension of the trunk that grew at about shoulder height. Holding the branch, I "walked" up the trunk until I could swing around and sit in the saddle created by the trunk and the branch. I reached for another branch above my head to pull myself to my feet. An even higher branch allowed me to pull myself to a sitting position on the branch that I had first used to pull myself into the tree. The tree had so many perfectly positioned branches that I could climb a little bit higher in the same fashion, but I usually didn’t.I was not actually interested in climbing the tree. I did not climb for the sake of climbing, but because I wanted to sit on the one branch that was thick enough to be comfortable, lean against the smooth bark of the trunk, and feel the gentle breeze blow through the leaves and through my hair. I usually had a book in hand, too, so climbing higher than my branch was impractical.I am not sure why, but I never seemed to go to my grandparents' house prepared. I always seemed to be searching for something to read. My grandmother loved decorating. She filled scrapbooks with magazine clippings archiving the year’s worth of current home fashions. Had she belonged to my generation, she would probably be a marketing expert. The tools of her passion, women's magazines, fueled my passion. She saved years of back issues of magazines and many of them published one or two fictional pieces per issue.I remember one about a girl who climbed trees and another about a girl names Lissa (spelled with 2 Ss). Actually, that may have been the same short story. They were all cheesy romances, but the summer breeze blowing through my tree seemed to set the mood and allowed me to slip into fiction-induced trances that the words alone could not have done.It was a time when things seemed to stand still. By the time I reached high school, I had other things to do than spend weeks at a time with my grandparents reading in a tree. By the time I started college, my grandparents sold the house, but when I was an all-too-shy-pre-adolescent, that tree filled a real need. Ironically, my memory of that tree and the time I spent sitting amongst its leaves is clearer than any single memory from high school or college.I felt like I belonged. I felt free to be myself—even though I didn’t know who that was. At home, I was reminded — especially during the long days of summer—that I did not have many friends. I was painfully shy and somehow, I always felt inferior to other kids my age.That time before high school was also the only time in my life that I was free to read voraciously. The summer before I started 8th grade, I read titles including Wuthering Heights, The Black Rose, and Gone with the Wind, among others. Everything changed after I started high school. First, higher education took over and dictated my reading (probably for the better), then marriage and family decimated the time I could spend reading.I've never lost the ability to slide into a trance-like state. This is perhaps the biggest reason that I cannot be the sort who leaves a book on the bedside table and reads for an hour before bed. If a book captivates my attention, I read cover to cover, stopping only to eat (sometimes) and sleep (if I can no longer keep my eyes open). For a long time, it meant that I only read when we went on vacation.We left on one family vacation the day after the fifth Harry Potter book was released. I’ve read each and every book in the series to my sons more than once. Since we were on vacation, we could only read in short bursts. We finally reached the point in the book where I couldn’t disengage myself. I kept reading after I tucked my boys into bed. At 1:00 a.m., my husband finally insisted that I turn the light off. The only place I could turn on a light without disturbing anyone was in the bathroom, so I sat on the cold bathroom floor until 3:00 in the morning so that I could finish the book.* * *I drove past my grandparents’ old house recently. The tree is still there, but my branch has been cut off. At first I was sad. That branch was there for me when I needed it. But nothing stays the same. The branch was only an extension of the trunk.I have been able to recapture the essence of those moments spent in my tree in very different places and times. Most recently, our trips to Florida beaches have rekindled memories. I sit under a beach umbrella — often with a book — with the Gulf breeze blowing a bit of nostalgia in off of the water. I watch my sons play with an abandon that only belongs to childhood, and I think about the girl who used to read in a tree.

All You Need To Know About Agents--For Now

The agent issue is such an emotional one for writers. Having one is a huge validation. I was fortunate to sign with an agent while still writing my first novel and it was wonderful being able to work and know that someone was waiting for what I was writing. But the eagerness to have that feeling often pushes writers to make poor decisions when it comes to the hunt for an agent. With some thinking, solid preparation and research it is possible to hook up with an agent and have a satisfying relationship with him or her. Here are five crucial points to help you with the process. 1. Do You Need An Agent? You've probably heard the oft-cited fact that most publishers these days don't read unsolicited manuscripts. But that only means that the editor hasn't been contacted beforehand. If you send a query letter and the editor asks to see your book or book proposal, you can send it without going through an agent. However, if the editor does want to make an offer, they will suggest that you get an agent. An agent will help you get the best deal possible and, in the best of worlds, an agent will also be interested in helping you develop your career as a writer. If you can get an agent before the submission process, I think that's even better because the agent can help you put your manuscript in the best shape possible before it gets submitted. As they say, you only get one chance to make a first impression. With that in mind... 2. Be Ready. You have to be writing at a top level to grab an agent's attention. Unfortunately, a number of writers tend to skip that part. You may be eager to get an agent, but if you're continually sending out subpar material, you'll be seen as a writer with poor skills and poor judgment and someone not to be taken seriously. Granted, I know you want to know that you're not writing for nothing and an agent would provide that validation, but at some point you have to make the decision that you're writing for the long haul and working on your craft. If you can do that, getting an agent will not be a problem. 3. Find the Right Agent. When you're ready to make the search, DO NOT get a bunch of names and do a mass mailing to anyone with the title "agent". You'll only get a bunch of rejections from agents who don't handle your material or aren't looking for new clients. If you do a little work, you can find out what kind of writers an agent represents and the type of material they favor. Writer's Digest publishes the Guide to Literary Agents (see below) where you'll find complete listings. Here's another great tip: if you join Publishers Marketplace, you can get a daily e-mail listing of what deals have taken place in the book industry. You'll see what kind of book sold, what editor bought it and the agent who represented the author. This is good information because you'll see immediately who is representing your type of writing and--more importantly--who is buying it! 4. No, You Don't Have to Pay an Agent! I get asked about this a lot, usually by writers who have already been taken advantage of by agents who charge expensive "reading fees". A good agent makes money when you make money (usually a 15 percent commission). You'll want to ask some questions. If an agent makes most of his money from writer fees and not from actual sales, you'll want to move on. A good way to weed out this group is by checking out members of the Association of Author's Representatives (AAR). Members of AAR are forbidden from charging fees. 5. Network! An agent is much more likely to pay attention to a manuscript from someone they have met personally. I know networking and meeting agents can be hard if you live in the mountains of Arizona or on an island in Puget Sound. But consider it part of your work as a writer to get out to a conference at lease once or twice a year to meet agents, editors and, of course, other writers! I'll let you know when good ones are coming up. One last note An agent is NOT a magic pill. Even the best agent can't work miracles with mediocre material. It will ALWAYS be your job to do your best writing.

How To Make Your Writing Meaningful

Writing a book is a huge endeavor. It means someone has decided to dedicate a certain amount of time to putting words on paper. But so many people don't finish what they start. Maybe they've run out of ideas. Maybe they lost interest. Maybe they got hopelessly stuck. However I believe the core of all these issues lies in one thing: the writer doesn't know why he or she is writing in the first place. All you have to do before you venture into the ever-tangled writing forest is leave a few breadcrumbs behind so you'll know how you got there and you'll know the way out! Lay them out by asking yourself the following questions about your work. Use them to challenge yourself, to get inspired, to put your writing front and center in your life. It's hard to get lost when you know exactly where you are. What Do You Have to Say? Here's another way to put it: what story are you telling? What is your point in writing this story or work of non-fiction? If you can't answer in a concise way, take some time to think about your message. It can be a huge one, such as a belief about how we all should live. It can be simple such as, "family is important". The big message in my novel was about the power of love in a family. I think I will always write about families because I believe the story of our families is the story of who we are in our hearts. I find the subject touching, challenging, inspiring. As you think about your message, realize that ideally you shouldn't have to write it down. It should come from the core of your being and you understand it because it is a part of your natural thought process: it is who you are. Take another look at what you have written in the past because your message may be showing up already in your work and you haven't noticed it yet. This is the way August Wilson described the story that was at the core of his whole body of work: "I once wrote a short story called 'The Best Blues Singer in the World' and it went like this: 'The streets that Balboa walked were his own private ocean, and Balboa was drowning.' End of story. That says it all. Nothing else to say. I've been rewriting that same story over and over again. All my plays are rewriting that same story. I'm not sure what it means, other than life is hard." Who Will Benefit from Your Words? You will find the motivation to return to your desk each day when you think about what may happen when someone reads your work. Will there be women who can be healthier mothers because you are writing about battling post-partum depression? Will there be men who might feel closer to their fathers because you're writing the next Field of Dreams? When you think of your reader, it takes some of the pressure off of you because you realize the importance of getting the message to him or her. You think less of how you're coming across. Are You Writing in a Medium That Best Suits Your Message? I used to write poetry. I loved it too, but somewhere along the line I felt the things I had to say became harder and harder to fit into the confines of verse. I moved over to prose and never went back. I wrote for magazines and experimented with essays before settling into novel writing. August Wilson had written poetry and was working on a novel, but his talents glowed when he wrote for the stage. If you're having trouble completing a project, consider whether you are writing in a medium that is right for you and your message. Don't be afraid of experimenting with other forms. You can always go back to what you were doing before if it doesn't work out. Step Down from the Soap Box Writing is already powerful. The fact that people are reading what you write means they are already interested, maybe even absorbed, by what you have to say. You don't have to get up on a soap box and belabor your points to get them across. A simple story can speak volumes about the big picture if you let it. Mr. Wilson once told The Paris Review, "I think my plays offer (white Americans) a different way to look at black Americans. For instance, in 'Fences' they see a garbageman, a person they don't really look at, although they see a garbageman every day. By looking at Troy's life, white people find out that the content of this black garbageman's life is affected by the same things - love, honor, beauty, betrayal, duty. Recognizing that these things are as much part of his life as theirs can affect how they think about and deal with black people in their lives." Get it? Small story, big picture. One Last Note I know I'm waving the "big theme" flag here, but what I really want for you is for you to feel the passion of what you're writing. You may be passionate about a big message or you may be passionate about the simple question of "what happens next?" in your story (and you really want to know the answer!) Just connect with that passion and go with it because to me, this is how books get finished--when someone really cares enough to want to get to the end.

How To Write A Great Article

Are you intimidated by the thought of writing articles? When you think about writing an article, do you have flashbacks to high school writing classes, and feel paralyzed by the thought of putting words onto paper? Don't fret. There are some easy general guidelines that apply to writing articles for your web site or to distribute in article directories, to other web masters, or to post to your blogs. Follow these guidelines and you'll be writing great articles before you know it! Simply make your articles brief, informative, and user-friendly. Articles do not need to contain technical information, but rather be written to give the reader useful information in an easy to understand manner. You can write articles quickly and effectively using these guidelines: Make your articles brief and direct. The most sought after web content gives factual information on specific topics. Usually a one-page article is just about the right length. If your articles are too long, the user may lose interest and move on to another web site. If your article is too short, you will not be able to include enough information to tell the reader what he or she needs to know. A simple, one page article containing three to five paragraphs is perfect for your web site or to submit to an article directory, include in your newsletter, or post to blogs. When writing your articles, include the most relevant information on your topic with links to further information included in your resource box or on your web site. Cover the general information you wish to pass on to the reader and make it easy for readers to locate additional information on the topic. A web site containing many pages with brief, precise content is much better than a web site containing 3 pages with extremely long, complex articles. Keeping the interest of the reader is your top priority. The average web site visitor does not want to spend a lot of time finding the information they desire, but rather locate general information quickly with the option to explore more in-depth coverage easily. Creating user-friendly content is imperative to keeping the interest of the reader and enticing them to explore the subject further. Begin your article with a description of what information your article will contain, continue with the information written in a short, direct style, and end with a summary of what the reader has learned from your article. If you have a well-designed web site, you will be able to lead the reader to further information through links placed to the side or at the end of your article. If your article is for advertising purposes such as in a newsletter or to submit to an article directory, a short resource box at the end of your article containing your name, a short bio, and a link to your web site will be the best approach. Do not distribute links throughout your article, as it can be confusing and distracting to the reader. Remember to include all relevant and necessary information, but do not overwhelm the reader with intricate details. Focus on your specific subject and keep your articles brief. Choose your keywords carefully so that readers and search engines will easily identify the article as containing pertinent information. A one-page article containing precise information and links allowing the reader to easily find additional information is the key to writing a great article.

Journaling Your Book To Completion

On any given day, how many people, events, problems, projects, family issues, things to remember and appointments are running through your mind? A LOT, right? If you're writing a book, you have to add on top of that a whole other world of characters, events, settings, plots, (if you're writing fiction) or stories, bullet points, theories and rhetoric (if you're writing non-fiction). How do you keep track of it all? Keeping a journal for your book can be a great tool. In it you can keep your outline, character details, plotting charts and anything else that serves as a guide for helping you stay on track. The following is a simple outline of headings for setting up your daily journal pages to help you with the day-to-day writing of your book. Word Goal At the top of your page start out with the date of the writing session and set a goal for how many words you will write for the day. Make the number big enough to challenge you, but not too big that you feel overwhelmed if you consistently miss it. You can also keep the word goal in line with what you're working on that day. If you are re-writing a chapter instead of creating a new one, then your word count for the day will be significantly smaller. (And that's okay!) Today's Work Will Focus On... Under this heading you will plan out what you want to handle in the session. Are you writing a dialogue where your main character learns someone's innermost secrets? Are you doing a scene setter that places the reader in the heart of your book? Are you writing a how-to chapter to explain how the reader can put to use the new strategies you've given them on how to be a better networker? Doing this also makes the word goal less intimidating because you immediately see what you're going to do with all those words! What Problems Might I Encounter? There WILL be problems--no big deal. Note what they may be so you won't get tangled up in the problem as you're sitting in front of the computer screen. Write down each one. Some examples: "How do I get my character to go from living at home to a place nearer to where all the action is happening?" "How do I introduce the character to the guy who will ruin her life?" "How do I shrink my program down to 5 simple steps that people can remember?" Acknowledging problems really helps to lessen their power over your writing. You aren't scared away from a problem so easily when you know you can come up with a solution. Possible Solutions Include... This is where you'll do a quick brainstorming of how you can solve the problem. You can try out one of the solutions in your writing session. If that doesn't work, you'll have a list of things you can try the next day. What's great about this is that you're starting to train your mind to look for answers. You'll find that when you're writing consistently, you'll be thinking about ideas and solutions all the time--in your car, in the shower, while you're taking a walk. This is really where the magic happens. I truly believe that the bulk of books can be worked out in your head--then you have to sit down and get it onto some paper! Today's Result and Where It Will Take Me Tomorrow... At the end of your writing for the day you'll want to take note of what you accomplished. Maybe the dialogue you wrote today has opened up another avenue you'd like to explore with your character. Or perhaps you've noticed a big hole in the research you've done for the biography you're writing and you realize you need to make a few more calls. I like to print out the pages I've written so I can really see and feel what I've done for the day. It makes me excited to do more. The idea here is to reward yourself for your work and also see that you have more to do. You're less likely to get writer's block if you see that you still have plenty more to say for your next session. But if you do happen to get stuck anyway, go to... Your Fun Page This is the page where you just dawdle and dream when the writing isn't quite happening. I had a page with "Acknowledgments" written at the top. Whenever I didn't feel like writing, I would go to this page and think about who I wanted to thank when the book was finished! It was fun to add names or cross them out depending on my mood! Having such a page helped me stay connected to my vision of being a published author. Your page could have the list of cities for your book tour, or notes on the introduction you would give before your readings. Keep it light, keep it fun. This way, getting to the end of your book will be a pleasure, not a struggle. Isn't that the way you want it to be?