This kind of style is the way you present yourself in words as well as the mechanics of words. Style addresses physical and editorial conventions.

If you don’t have the luxury of creating one, there are a few excellent resources for your use. The AP Style Guide and Chicago Manual of Style are the bibles for many editors. When you need to cite another source, use the MLA Handbook or Columbia Guide to Online Style for the rules. Just want a simple, small book you can carry with you? Strunk & White’s Elements of Style is a winner.

Be warned that none of the cookbooks has a reference to words like “e-mail” and don’t resolve all the issues you may encounter. In this case, you could refer to Microsoft Manual of Style for Technical Publications. Here’s what it says about E- words:

“In general, avoid forming new words with ‘e-’ (for electronic) unless you know your audience will understand. Some words that may be appropriate in certain circumstances are ‘e-commerce’ and ‘e-money.’ ‘E-mail’ and ‘e-form’ are acceptable. Use lowercase and always hyphenate for clarity.”

Here’s where creating your own recipe comes in. You can use a few other recipes and throw in your own modifications to come up with what best fits your tastes. Of course, we want to keep our readers in mind when creating the guide.

Start by thinking about the topics you write about. If it is high tech, then it helps to explore all the terms along with the spelling, punctuation, and capitalization. Check out the Jargon File, the online version of The New Hacker’s Dictionary or Writing for Multimedia’s Terminology. If you’re in another field, then you’ll want to explorer for a similar resource. BBC News has a radio style guide and the GuardianUnlimited Style Guide is for writers and editors. Example of style guides for building Web sites include Lynch and Horton’s Web Style Guide and New York Public Library’s NYPL:Style Guide. For those in medicine, University of Washington presents the most frequently used entries from the AMA Style Guide.

The next ingredient to tackle is physical conventions. For instance, when starting a new paragraph, do you indent or use a double hard return? What font size, face, and style will you use for titles? Will the titles be capitalized or in sentence case? This is similar to a cookbook. All the recipes are formatted the same way. Even CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is a recipe since it ensures formatting consistency.

Once you make the tough decisions, the easy part comes next. You throw all the selected ingredients into one pan, or in this case, one document. The style guide should be organized to make it easy for your writers can find what they need.

Finally, put it where everyone can access it. It doesn’t have to be a book. It can be a one or two page document. It’s a living document that you can continuously revise. Heck, use a blogging tool to easily manage it.

Now back to the hard part, getting everyone to follow the new guide.

Meryl K. Evans, Content Maven, is the writer and editor of many articles and publications including eNewsletter Journal, Shavlik’s The Remediator, and Web Design @ InformIT. To get your feed on things geeky, webby, and wordy or to subscribe to free newsletters, visit her site at http://www.meryl.net/blog/.

What Can You Write?
Use a brainstorming list to begin your search for a specialty. To write for a trade publication, you will need in depth knowledge of a topic. Don’t force yourself to learn the inner workings of gravel mines when you love the elegant designs of classic furniture. Trade publications require professional knowledge of a topic, so make sure it’s a subject you’ll want to spend a lot of time with. Start your list by including things you enjoy and love. Whether you volunteer for a non-profit organization or have a degree in agricultural science, include all of the categories in which you have experience. Some trade publications accept articles of personal experience or interviews with recognized authorities in their field. Include your connections with professionals to make your list more complete. Keep this list handy and add to it regularly.

Where Can You Find Those Trade Journals?
Now that you have a list of specialty areas that you want to be immersed in, you need to find the journals that pay for your information. Almost every profession has a trade journal. The first place for you to look is with a professional organization related to your area of specialty. If you love elegant furniture, than perhaps you should consider “Interior Decorators of America”, “American Furniture Manufacturers”, or “American Pine”.Join at least one of these major professional organizations. Membership rates are often cheaper for affiliate members (those not practicing professionals in the field). Marketing companies buy the organization’s list and send free publications and resources to members. These items may include “throw-away journals”, free journals paid for by advertising. Even if you join the organization only one time, the professional materials will appear in your mailbox for years. This information will keep you on the cutting edge of your chosen industry.

Online resources are helpful in finding associations, but they include only a few of the possibilities. The most complete resource available is the Encyclopedia of Associations found in your local library. It contains the most complete list of organizations, many of which produce magazines specific to their members. It may take days for you to wade through this tome, but when you find ten journals that correspond to your qualifications, it will be worth the effort.

How Do I Start?
Begin by researching past issues of the magazine. Editors always recommend that potential writers analyze at least six months of back issues and a copy of their writer’s guidelines. This is essential with trade journals. Articles seen in the trades are far different in style than those seen in consumer magazines. Pay attention to the complexity of sentences, commonly used terms, and the assumed knowledge of the readers. Style is often less conversational and more technical than what most people read. Many trade magazines use technical terms that are a foreign language to industry outsiders. Make sure you use their language, or you will sound amateurish.

Make a list of published topics. You want to know what not to do as well as the topics they prefer. Painting and Wallcovering Contractor focuses on the professional painting industry, while Walls and Ceilings focuses on plaster restorers and finishers. There is some crossover, but you increase your chances of selling the interview with the restorer of the Sistine Chapel to Walls and Ceilings because of the focus. In addition, Painting and Wallcovering Contractor likes articles on how-to meet regulatory standards. If you know of a regulation that has not been covered recently, send a query offering to update their readers on the topic.Trade journals often recycle subjects with fresh information on three to four year cycles. If you can approach old ideas in a new way, you can give them an article that they will buy.

Which Comes First, the Query or the Manuscript?
Query first, but if the editor does not know you then he or she will want to see a complete manuscript before making a commitment. Many writers despise writing on speculation, but in this case they should consider it. Most journals are in desperate need of good writers. They don’t have huge slush piles stacked around the office that your article will have to compete with. As long as you have a topic they can use and can match their style, your article will sell.

Where Can You Find That Professional Knowledge?
Begin with the internet. Online searches enable you to find the title, author, and journal of the article you want, and request a copy of it from your local public or college library. Medical and health topics can be found on Pubmed at www.nih.gov. For other journal searches, contact your local community or college librarian. Without charging you, most libraries will order the article from another library if they don’t have it in their collection. They’ll even call you when it’s ready.

Other useful sources of information include government regulators, local businesses, the business section of the phone directory, and professionals in the industry.

Can You See Your Byline in Trade Journals?
Most full-time professional magazine writers include trade journals in their portfolio. Trade journals need knowledgeable writers who can produce interesting and well-written copy specific to their magazine. Finding these writers is difficult, because most people don’t think writing for trade journals is interesting. You’ll know differently when you see the check in your mailbox. Many trade journals pay $200-$300 for a 1,000-word article, making it well worth the effort to learn to write for this large and diverse market.

Trade journals are not the flashiest places to publish. Your friends may not be amazed by your publication in Pit and Quarry, but as a writer trying to sell work, do not ignore the journals that want to find you.

Terri Pilcher publishes a FREE weekly e-zine, Writers Guidelines Magazine. Sign up at http://www.terripilcher.com. She also wrote “MONEY Markets 2005: 101 Publishers that Pay Writers in 6 Weeks or Less” and edits PowerPen Market Search (2-day FREE trial). Find both the book and the searchable database of writer’s guidelines at http://www.powerpenmarketsearch.com.

As it was in the beginning

Publishers have for many years relied on letters to get feedback from their readers and although email has opened up this method of communication it is still time consuming and difficult to process with only a fraction of the received correspondence ever being used.

Let’s face it, as well as being an overhead for the publisher, to most people it is an unrewarding medium in terms of effort required and response received, just think of the number of letters that go unpublished and unread.

As it is now

The Internet has brought new channels of communication and has opened up opportunities that allow us to challenge traditional methods. The Internet is now a mature technology, no longer the preserve of the new fad brigade but a technology that has been embraced by a global population, young and old alike and it allows us now to re-evaluate the way things are done. Newspapers, trade journals, magazines and ezines now have the opportunity to change the mental process.

When people read an article they often would like to comment, and historically this has required them to feel strongly enough to put pen to paper; or with the creation of the Internet send an email. Sure emails are easier but it still takes time to craft an email and time for the majority, is what they haven’t got. The letters page although interesting are at best a snapshot of comments; a well crafted and well written letter on any given subject may hold the view of the majority, or the minority, as it is a free text medium and difficult to measure.

As it should be

Now consider the advantages of linking articles to online surveys where as a publisher you will have the ability to obtain valuable feedback from your readers and in a form that can be easily measured. Just as important as you communicating with your readers is giving your readers a way to communicate with you where they know it will count.

Want a snapshot of opinion? Did they like that article? Did your readers agree with what was said or do they take the opposite view?

Now it’s easy

In the past surveys would have taken considerable effort to design and publish and altogether was a process too long winded and therefore reserved for the niche and bigger topics.

However, using sites like SurveyGalaxy.com surveys and questionnaires can be created and published via the internet by anyone who has a pulse. Professional looking surveys and questionnaires created in minutes that make the perfect compliment to articles that prompt opinion and debate.

The advantage over letters and e-mails are that all the feedback is managed and measured and sites like Survey Galaxy will provide you with a real time poll that you can either keep to yourself or share with your readers.

It’s not even one or the other now

Link each article to an online survey and not only extend the life of the article as people have a channel to express their views, but involve your readers in the discussion where they now know their opinion will be counted.

You think they would rather send an email? No problem -include the facility within the survey and get the best of both worlds.

It’s fast, low cost, and easy to do; it will engage and empower the reader, provide excellent feedback and having established a dialogue you then have the opportunity to link to other related articles.

Try it now and register your opinion of this article here:-

http://www.surveygalaxy.com/surPublishes.asp?survey_id=1065

About the Author: Martin Day is a Director of Survey Galaxy Ltd. For more
information please visit http://www.SurveyGalaxy.com

Ninety-five percent of all new businesses go out of business within the first five years or less.

Why Do They Fail?

There are many starters in life - but very few finish what they start. When the going gets tough, most people fold. They don’t persist hard enough or persevere long enough. They don’t have a red-hot flaming burning desire to succeed. They don’t make it their definite major purpose. They don’t take enough personal initiative to make it happen ? they don’t go the extra mile. They don’t want it bad enough. They don’t have enough self-control and discipline. Shall I go on? I could write a book on why so many people fail, but I’d rather talk about those who succeed.

There Are Three Kinds Of People

People who make things happen ? people who watch someone else make it happen ? and people who don’t know what’s happening.

The Make-It-Happen People

Thomas Edison persisted through 4,999 different attempts to invent and perfect the incandescent lamp. He finally succeeded on his 5,000th attempt. This is a recorded fact.

What do you suppose he had that others didn’t have? Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit. Success seems to be largely a matter of hanging on after others have let go.

“Never, never, never, never give up”?. Winston Churchill

“The majority of people meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail” ? Napoleon Hill

What Is Persistence?

It is the power to hold on in spite of everything, to endure-this is the winner’s quality. Persistence is the ability to face defeat again and again without giving up-to push on in the face of great difficulty. Persistence means taking pains to overcome every obstacle, to do all that’s necessary to reach you goals.

To go on resolutely — in spite of difficulties ? endurance. Having a fixed purpose — free from doubt or wavering. Firm in adherence to whatever one is bound to by duty or promise. Stubborn ? Unyielding ? never giving up ? never surrendering ? willing to die for - never to yielding to physical force ? even when tortured ? would rather die than betray or give up information. Refusing to relent. To be steadfast in purpose - To prevail, endure, remain, last.

The Greatest Tragedy In Life

Millions of people come into this world and leave this world and never ever realize or develop their full powers and potential. They bargained in life for a penny, and life would pay no more, not realizing that any wage they would have asked of life ? life would have gladly paid. Some of those people never even tried, they just settled for mediocrity. Others, got a dream, an idea, a desire or goal, and decided to go for it, but then dropped out when the going got tough. There are many starters in life, but very few finish. Too many people give up on their dreams too soon in life.

No matter what the level of our ability, we have more potential than we can ever develop in a lifetime. Deep within every man and woman dwells those slumbering powers; powers that would astonish them, which they never dreamed of possessing; forces that would revolutionize their life if aroused and put into action.

Potential means: undeveloped — and unrealized — powers, possibilities, and capabilities — that can — but have not yet come into being. In other words, the best is yet to come! You have powers and talent you have not developed or used yet. You also have dreams and fantasies you have not realized yet. Your unlimited possibilities are still alive, just waiting for you to give them power.

Tough Times Never Last - But Tough People Do.

How would you like to see a permanent end to all of your problems? We all have problems,  and our problems only end when we do. The only people without problems are in the cemetery. I’d like to stick around, problems and all. How about you?

No matter what problems you have to face today, there is a solution, because you have nothing to deal with but your own thoughts. As long as you think that your destiny is in the hands of other people, the situation is hopeless. You will need to confront your problems with courage, boldness and action.

There’s an old Chinese saying that goes, “If you live with a problem long enough, it could eventually become a blessing.” Within every adversity in life, there is always a seed of an equivalent or greater benefit. We have to look for it - find it - and act on it.

We learn courage - when we face danger. We learn patience - when we endure suffering. We learn tenderness - when we taste pain. We learn to prize true friends ? when false ones forsake us. We treasure health - when illness strikes. We learn to prize freedom -when we are in danger of losing it. Without trouble we would be like plants that have sprouted, grown, and been nurtured in the overprotected shelter of a hothouse — too tender ever to live in the open. How can you possibly become a strong person, if you have an easy life? The tougher it is, the tougher you have a chance to become ? if you choose to fight back.

When you see a highly decorated military person all dressed up with rows of battle ribbons and awards on their chest, you are looking at someone who courageously faced and conquered danger, hardships, adversities, problems, life-threatening situations, torture, injury, and heartbreak, watching their buddies die terrible deaths. These people had fortitude - the ability to endure and last. They wouldn’t quit, give up or run away. Yes there were times, I’m sure they knew, when they bit off more than they could chew, but through it all when there was doubt, they ate it up and spit it out. The records show they took the blows and did it their way.

We don’t just get the sweet out of life without the bitter - we’d like to, but we don’t. The sun doesn’t always shine; sometimes there are storms, tornadoes, earthquakes, car accidents, fires and death. No one escapes the problems of life. If it doesn’t happen sooner in life, it will happen later.

We can overcome just about any problem, obstacle, or adversity that life deals us ? if we have a strong enough will. Where there is a will, there is a way. Create a “bull-dog” determination and a “burning desire,” that will eventually mow down all opposition. Success is not measured by what a person accomplishes, but by the opposition they have encountered, and by the courage with which they have maintained the struggle against overwhelming odds. Don’t pray for an easy life, without problems ? pray to become a strong person. The higher you go in life, the more problems you will have to deal with.

Determination

” You will be what you will to be; Let failure find its false content In that poor word, ‘environment,’ But spirit scorns it, and is free.”It masters time, it conquers space; It cows that boastful trickster, chance, And bids the tyrant circumstance Uncrown, and fill a servant’s place.”The human will, that force unseen, The offspring of a deathless soul, Can hew a way to any goal, Though walls of granite intervene.”Be not impatient in delay, But wait as one who understands; When spirit rises and commands, The gods are ready to obey.”

Rick GettleThe Master Mind AlliancePresident/Founder

Online Success Club Meetings:

E-mail: MasterMindAllianceSuccessClub@msn.com

Website: www.master-mind-alliance.com

For Information About This Book Contact Rick Gettle At: Successercising@msn.com

Writing needs concentration and quiet.

Writing requires absolute commitment.

Are all there scary statements true?

What is more, is it possible to balance your writing career and family without turning yourself into a zombie?

Everything is feasible; I am the living example of it.

There is only one secret:  TIME PLAN.

This is step one for the aspiring writer’s success.  Without it, nothing can be achieved.  How can you do it?

Simply make a rough plan of the time allowed to your writing project every day.  It is highly important for the writer to know exactly WHEN he /she is going to settle down and write, feeling free of all the other responsibilities that he has.

I have made a simple schedule.  You can work out yours according to your family needs.

Every morning just after breakfast, and as soon as the family have gone, I allow myself to work on my PC for one to two hours, depending on the workload of the day.  Then I go on with the house chores and all the rest of the family tasks till noon.  At 2 o’ clock everybody is back so I serve lunch, but after that I have 2-3 hours free to work on my morning assignment.  Thus, there is plenty of time to care for the family , while in the afternoons I still have time to go to my part time job in time , feeling satisfied I have worked at home on my project.

In the evening I sometimes find an hour or so , when the family watch TV .  This time I sit with them in the living room , having pre arranged to do the easiest tasks for my writing job, such as note taking or layout planning of new stories or articles.  I use pen to paper and I don’t bother if I make mistakes.  Next morning, there is plenty of time to revise them and complete them.

If this plan has been working perfectly for me, why not for you as well?

You only have to calculate when and how long you need to write every day.  Of course , you must stick to your plan and never give it up , apart from very urgent cases.  Remember that your work is also urgent, so never skip it.

If you respect your writing job, the others will do so too.  What is more, they won’t feel neglected as you will give them your care and attention at the time they are around. Furthermore, your house chores will be done in time and you won’t feel overworked.  ” A little every day” is my motto, and, in the long run, everything is done and everybody is happy.  Keeping your writing and family under control will make you feel satisfied and everyone, including you, will be happy.

Also, keep in mind that there is nothing odd if you work in unconventional places.

I sometimes find it stimulating to work in the living room with all the family around.  Noise does not bother me. On the contrary, it brings me more ideas.  This article was outlined last evening while we were all watching a football match.  Well, the truth is I did not watch much of it!  I was absorbed in my new article, but that’s how this idea sprang out.  I can perfectly work in a chatty setting.  Have you tried it?  You may come up with fresh ideas and great articles.

Finally, who says that writing can turn you into a zombie?  Shatter the myth!  It’s up to you to enjoy both your family and your writing career.  Simply make a time plan!

Liana Metal is a writer living in Europe.  She has written fiction and non fiction and she is recently creating ebooks on a variety of subjects.  Visit her at http://lianametal.tripod.com and become a contributor.

Every character should be unique. There are no two people in this world exactly the same. Each of us has an individual personality; everything we do derives from the governing aspects of that personality. The following factors contribute to our uniqueness:

Names
Appearance
Possessions / props
Speech
Body language
Habits
Behavior
Background
Major traits

These factors are best used in combination. For example, Charlie’s broken spectacles combine with his habit of tripping over things. Natasha’s boasting photographs of her new house combine with her loud voice that demands to be heard. A character who displays only one of these factors is nothing short of mundane.

Let’s look at these issues more closely.

Names

Everyone needs a name. Names identify who we are; they can be associated with status, be notorious, unusual, or nondescript. Some beginning writers struggle over naming their characters. Names often hold symbolic association. Pip in Great Expectations is like a seed growing through childhood to adulthood. Lemuel Gulliver is ‘gullible’ in his travels through Lillput, Laputa and beyond. A character should not be given the first name that pops into your head. It requires more thought than that.

Appearance

We do not remember every detail of someone’s appearance, but hone in to something that differentiates them from others. In Harry Potter, Ron Weesley’s distinguishable feature is his red hair. In Edmond Rostand’s play Cyrano de Bergerac, the title character has a large nose. Appearance can be used to reveal personality moreover. For example, someone with dirty fingernails, besides being unclean, is far from a perfectionist; they are neither fussy nor obsessive. The relationship between appearance and reality has always fascinated authors. Appearances can be used to deceive after all. Frankenstein’s monster is inhumanly ugly and yet his natural impulses are benevolent. Oscar Wilde’s Dorian Gray is stunningly beautiful in everything but his soul, his reality, which is as foul as the rotting canvas hidden out of sight.

Possessions and props

Appearance ties in closely with personal possessions (or props). Everyone has possessions, including their homes, clothes, books, and cars. Even a homeless beggar views the street corner on which he sleeps as his own. Let’s look at more examples. Margaret never leaves the house without her bulging handbag. Charlie wears a pair of broken spectacles fastened together with sticky tape. Natasha goes nowhere without a photograph album containing pictures of her new five-bedroom house. Such concrete objects reveal aspects of character. Margaret carries her handbag, stuffed with everything she could ever need, because she feels insecure without it. Charlie is so clumsy that he doesn’t bother to buy a new pair of spectacles for he will only sit on them again. Natasha’s photographs scream out, “I am a shameless show-off!”

Speech

Speech evokes personality, both what is said, the content, and the way in which it is said, the manner. Nick is arrogant; his speech is long, loud, and self-interested. Emma’s occasional social shyness, on the other hand, is mirrored in her short speeches. Sometimes she only utters a monosyllable in reply to a prying question. Content and manner, moreover, reflect social class. A university lecturer will use different language than a pub barmaid (even if talking about the same subject.) Also note that people have their own set of speech idioms: Nick waffles, “etc, etc” at the end of each sentence; Emma utters, “don’t you think” to engage her listener’s approval.

Body language

Body language falls into two categories: voluntary and involuntary. We shake our head when we mean to say “no,” for example; we smile when we mean to be friendly. Voluntary body language, conversely, may be used to deceive. Sophie laughs loudly at her boss’s jokes even though they bore her to tears. Involuntary gestures are difficult to feign, however, as we tend not to realize we are making them. Sally rubs her left earlobe when she is nervous. Daniel folds his arms across his chest when he feels defensive.

Habits

No one is perfect; we all have habits (sometimes very irritating habits!) Mike blinks his eyes excessively. Anne clears her throat every five minutes. Adam picks invisible bits of fluff off his jacket sleeves obsessively. Aunt Hettie pushes her 50 year old false teeth in place, each time they slip from her gums, with a tongue as red as a slab of raw liver. Yuk! Habits can be revolting, irritating, amusing or endearing. Whatever they are, they make characters memorable.

Behaviour

Most of us have behavioral patterns such as working long hours, over-eating, spending too much money, heavy drinking, or taking an evening walk at 8:30 precisely. Behaviour under stress reveals a great deal about a character’s personality. Alan’s wife dies unexpectedly, and yet he continues his usual daily routines - he is pretending that nothing has changed, that she will be home for dinner as usual. Even under extreme stress, however, behaviour should remain consistent. For example, Sue never drinks alcohol. It would be out of character for her to turn to alcohol when she loses her job. Instead she turns to something that is consistent with her previous behaviour ? her voluntary work at the local hospital perhaps. Even the most spontaneous of individuals is consistent in his/her spontaneity.

Background

No one just ‘exists’ as they are. We become what we are because of our background and past experiences. Our history shapes our thoughts, actions and motivations. Sam’s mother died when she was eleven years old. As an adult she is far more independent than her friend Jane who was mollycoddled by a protective mother. Luke is scared of animals because, as a small child, a stray dog viciously attacked him. Daniel is overly ambitious because his older brother ridiculed him. Background is especially important when creating believable ‘villains’. Very few people are innately evil. Serial killers crave power over another person’s life; it makes them feel important to dictate who can and cannot live. Why do they seek this perverse power? Maybe they were abused and beaten as helpless children. That does not justify their crimes in our minds, but it justifies them in their minds. But how do we explain why not all abused children grow up to be abusers? Some grow up to be excellent parents. Clearly, background alone doesn’t make a person what they are. It is their major psychological trait, because it dictates how they interpret their background, which makes them what they are.

Major trait

All characters have a major trait that dictates their personality and motivates their actions. Greed. Fear. Kindness. Guilt. Envy. Ambition. Worry. Creativity. Obsession. Kate is ruled by kindness and always puts others first. Steve is ruled by arrogance and always puts himself first. A ruling trait reveals itself in action and speech. How would arrogant Steve act in a crowded street? He would forge ahead single-mindedly, pushing everyone out of his way. How would Kate act in the same situation? She would allow herself to be pushed aside by the likes of Steve. Major trait affects every aspect of a person’s life. Kate never moved away to university with her friends, although she was bright enough to, because she felt it her duty to stay at home with her widowed mother. No one is all-perfect however. Kate worries excessively, despite her kind-heartedness, about anything and everything. No one is all-imperfect either. Steve has a wonderful sense of humour when he is not being arrogant. Even your most beloved heroes and heroines have faults and weaknesses.

Copyright © 2004 Aspire2write.com

WWW.ASPIRE2WRITE.COM is a popular online magazine and community for aspiring writers. PUBLISH YOUR BOOK TODAY! Aspire2write offers the cheapest ebook conversion service on the world wide web! For only £10 / $18 we will convert your manuscript to ebook … within 48 hours! Order your ebook conversion today and we will list and sell your book on Writershowcase.com for one month FREE of charge! To claim this special offer quote ‘EC01′ when you place your order.

Now I write two or three articles each day. I don’t have to struggle for topic ideas. I have thousands of good ideas to choose from. Instead, now I struggle to limit the scope of areas that I will write about. What happened to cause this change? I caught the writing bug.

The writing bug is contagious, and by reading this article, you too will catch the writing bug!

How to Choose a Topic

The most difficult part of the writing process is choosing a good topic. A good topic is one that other people want to read about and one that is interesting enough for you to write about. Here’s how to create a notebook full of great topic ideas.

- Use a three-ring notebook as an idea file.

Your idea notebook should have two parts. The first part is sheets where you jot down ideas whenever they pop into your head. The second part is tabbed dividers where you keep reference material and partially written articles.

Where do ideas come from? Everywhere! Ideas can come from TV news or any TV show. They can come from a book, newspaper, or magazine. They can come from the web. Ideas can come from a conversation with a friend. All of these sources are sending information and ideas to you.

After you learn how to catch ideas, your idea notebook will be bulging with great ideas and research information for article and book topics. You don’t need to plagerize or copy other peoples’ work. Your article should be nothing like the material that you get an idea from because you have the “writer’s attitude”. Below are some thoughts from a person with the writer’s attitude.

- I can explain the topic better. - I know more about the topic. - I disagree with this source. - I can approach that topic from another angle. - I can elaborate more on that topic. - I can write a more concise article. - I can break the information up into more readable short articles. - I can write a more comprehensive article. - I can write a more up-to-date article. - I can rewrite that topic and include examples.

When an idea hits you, write it down in the first part of your idea notebook. If the idea comes from an article, tear the article out, punch holes in it, and save it behind a tab in the second part of your idea notebook.

Now when you need an idea, just flip through your idea notebook. Eventually your idea notebook will contain thousands of great ideas to choose from.

- One surprising source of topic ideas is material that you wrote previously. You can apply the writer’s attitude to your own articles.

How to Write the Article

The second most difficult part of the writing process is actually writing the article.

First, make an outline. If you’re going to write the entire article in one sitting, the outline doesn’t have to be in writing, you can keep it in your head. If you’re writing a large article or a book, create a written outline.

- Sometimes when an idea pops into my head, I can visualize the final article. I want to get it on paper before the vision goes away, so I drop what I’m doing and write the article immediately. This is when writing comes extremely easy. I call this “flow”.

Divide large projects into parts and write one part at a time. Don’t publish the first part of the article until you have completed all the parts, or at least several of the parts. When working on later parts of a multi-part article, you may find it necessary to make some changes to earlier parts.

Your first draft doesn’t have to be comprehensive. Just get the main ideas down. You can go back and flesh it out later.

Your first draft doesn’t have to have have correct spelling and grammar. Just get words on paper (or on disk). You can go back and correct the spelling and grammar later. The first draft may not be perfect, but having an imperfect first draft is a whole lot better than having a perfect nothing.

Go back later and revise your first draft. Make sure it contains all the information and ideas you wanted to put in the article. But keep in mind that almost any topic is infinite. You have to limit the scope of your article based upon the purpose of the article and the practicality of doing the research required for a more comprehensive article.

I feel it’s very important to let someone else read your article. You may have written something in a confusing way or a way that requires the reader to have some knowledge or experience they can’t be expected to have.

- If your article is for an audience that is expected to already have some understanding of the subject, limit explanations of the basics. You have to limit explanations at some point or the article will be too long and too boring to your target audience.

Go back and correct the spelling and grammar but don’t try for perfection. I see spelling and grammar errors in magazines, newspapers, and on TV all the time. If all writers waited until the spelling and grammar was perfect before releasing their work, we wouldn’t have anything to read.

I feel it’s important to set your article aside until the next day and then read it again. But don’t take editing to an extreme. No matter how many times you re-read your article, you can always find something to change. Don’t try for perfection. Your goal is to create an article that communicates the information and ideas that you intended. Recognize when the article is good enough and meets the requirements.

If you are not an expert writer, keep learning by studying a page or two each day of a grammar book such as Painless Grammar by Rebecca Elliot

With your idea notebook, the writer’s attitude and the ability to recognize when an article is good enough, you have the tools to be a productive writer. Have You caught the writing bug?

By Stephen Bucaro

To learn how to maintain your computer and use it more effectively to design a web site and make money on the web visit bucarotechelp.com. To subscribe to Bucaro TecHelp Newsletter Send a blank email to subscribe@bucarotechelp.com

Before you complete your manuscript and send it on its way to prospective literary agents or publishers, take the time to make sure you have a professional query letter and (short) synopsis, and that you have edited your manuscript. If you can not do these chores, then find someone who can.

Also, make sure you’re able to distinguish your manuscript from other books on the same subject, that you can identify the audience for which you are writing, and determine the marketability of your finished book. These are the most important questions agents and publishers will ask, and it will impress them that you’ve done your homework.

You should already have researched the market to determine how many books on the same subject are currently available. A handy tool is to use the Internet and search the large booksellers online. These services not only provide a list of books on the same topic, but often a synopsis and the book’s audience as well. Your book needs to stand out, not duplicate what’s already available.

Agents and publishers also want to know your ideas for publicity and promotion of your book, including how you intend to reach your target market, and any helpful contacts you may have.

Another common mistake is to assume agents and publishers will respond at their own expense. You need to include a self-addressed, stamped envelope so companies can acknowledge receipt of your proposal. If you would like to have your material returned, be sure to send an envelope that is large enough and has enough postage for them to mail your proposal back to you. Proposals that do not include an envelope and postage generally will not be acknowledged or returned.

Some companies will accept e-mail submissions. Because of the threat of viruses, they usually won’t open e-mails with documents attached. Many will read e-mail queries that include a short resume, a synopsis and sample chapters that have been copied and pasted into the body of the e-mail.

As mentioned, for security reasons companies do not like to open attachments without prior contact with the writer, and prefer you follow regular submission procedure. If prior contact has been made by e-mail, response and acknowledgments often will be made by e-mail.

If you are submitting book proposals by e-mail, it is wise to advise the companies in your cover letter the type of word processing program and version of that program that you used. Text is best transmitted through e-mail by converting it to Plain Text Format, ASCII (with no hard returns).

Take the opportunity to edit the work, correct misspellings, improper word usage, etc., before submitting it. It’s not a good idea to send complete manuscripts by e-mail unless they are requested.

Let’s break it down:

How Your Book Differs from Others
* What is your book is about?
* What is the reason that prompted you to write your book?
* Why is your book needed by others?
* What are its unique features?

Identify Your Audience
* Describe the audience you are targeting with your book.
* What is your level of expertise (no experience, beginner, intermediate, advanced)?
* What are some specific applications or uses for your book (e.g., sports, education)?
* Who would be the most likely candidates for purchasing your book?
* Why should they buy it and share it with their friends?

Beat Your Competition to Market
* List three to four books that compete with the project you are proposing.
* How do they compare to your book in length, spectrum, format, and visual appeal?
* Are there any that seem remotely comparable?
* What are the differences among your approaches?

Publicity
* Gather a local, regional, state and national media contact list.
* Consider contracting a company to make a website for your book.
* Do you have access to any authors who may provide a “blurb” for your book?

Don’t Forget the Postage
* Include a SASE with all queries.
* If you want your manuscript back, include enough postage for its safe return.

Electronic Submissions
* Check if the company accepts electronic (e-mail) queries and proposals.
* Make sure you’re not spamming hundreds of agents/publishers at a time.
* Only include a short query, a bio, a synopsis, and the first three chapters in your e-mail.
* Don’t send attachments.
* If you are asked to submit an attachment, let them know the software program.
* Consider sending the file as Text only.

Robin Van Auken is the owner of www.TheOmnibus.org and is an author with four published books, two eBooks, and several books in the planning stages. She acts as her own literary agent and works directly with all of her publishers.