Mistakes Writers Make when Editing Their Own Work

·        Skipping the Break: After completing a draft, writers often jump straight into editing without taking a break. A little distance from the work can help you see it more objectively.

·        Overlooking Typos and Grammar Errors: Sometimes, writers get so focused on larger issues that they overlook simple typos, grammar mistakes, and punctuation errors.

·        Neglecting Structure and Organization: Editing isn't just about fixing grammar; it's about ensuring your content flows logically. Neglecting to review the overall structure and organization can lead to confusing or disjointed writing.

·        Being Too Attached to Words: Writers might become attached to certain phrases or sentences they've written, even if they don't contribute to the clarity or effectiveness of the piece. It's important to be willing to delete or rewrite sections that aren't serving the purpose.

·        Overcomplicating Language: Some writers try to impress with overly complex vocabulary or sentence structures. This can lead to confusion for readers. Clear and concise writing is usually more effective.

·        Lack of Proofreading: Editing should involve both substantive changes and proofreading. Skipping the proofreading step can result in minor yet noticeable errors slipping through.

·        Ignoring Feedback: If you're seeking feedback from others, ignoring, or dismissing their input defeats the purpose. Constructive criticism can greatly improve your work.

·        Not Reading Aloud: Reading your work aloud can help you catch awkward phrasing, repetitive words, and other issues that might not be as evident when reading silently.

·        Inconsistent Tone or Voice: Maintain a consistent tone and voice throughout your piece. Sudden shifts can confuse readers and disrupt the flow.

·        Rushing the Process: Editing takes time. Rushing through it might mean missing important improvements that could elevate your writing.

My thanks to Eng|ishGrammar.org for this advice. 

Skills we should keep or lose 3

 As computerization continues formerly essential skills like writing or being a human calculator have perished. It’s hard to get a bead on whether cursive writing is actually going extinct, or if op-ed writers just think it is.

When I was learning to write, I spent many long hours in detention because my cursive writing was so bad and to improve it I spent hours practising under the watchful eye of my grade four teacher.

Reuters reports that in 2010, U.S. schools were no longer required to teach it as part of the education system’s Common Core Standards.

Generally, though, it is up to the individual state to decide if it wants to keep cursive writing as a part of its curriculum, and many have chosen to do so.

In an article published by the National Library of Medicine, cursive writing (as opposed to block printing) helps diagnose spatial and graphical learning problems and helps free up cognitive abilities so that the student can focus on other things, which is what psychology experts call automaticity.

It helps students develop motor skills, learn languages, and can stimulate what Johns Hopkins University calls “true learning” by reinforcing the lessons delivered in other mediums.

That said, the rise of email, digital notetaking and even e-signatures have limited the opportunities to ever show off your fancy penmanship.

A friend of mine who is a writer when we were talking about how we wrote said, “I love the white noise that the keys make when I am working on my computer, it soothes me and helps me focus my attention on my writing.” At the time I was debating between using a typewriter for writing or using a computer. I moved to the computer and never looked back. I take notes from time to time as guideposts to help me along my path, but I sometimes print and sometimes cursive write the notes. I can read cursive writing, but I have been told that some students because they are not teaching cursive writing, cannot read it. That is a shame. Many of my generation and older generations communicate via cursive writing. I want the skill kept so the younger generation does not lose contact with us because many of our stories are not passed orally, they are passed in journals and other writings.

Why writers write

I have written, since I retired, over 5, 000 separate posts. Some of my friends ask me why I write. The following from Brain Pickings may help to answer the question.

The question of why writers write is a piece of psychological voyeurism and as a beacon of self-conscious hope.

Though many famous writers have notoriously deliberate routines and rituals, Allende's is among the most unusual and rigorous. Ultimately, however, she echoes Chuck Close ("Inspiration is for amateurs — the rest of us just show up and get to work."), Thomas Edison ("Success is the product of the severest kind of mental and physical application."), E. B. White ("A writer who waits for ideal conditions under which to work will die without putting a word on paper.") and Tchaikovsky ("A self-respecting artist must not fold his hands on the pretext that he is not in the mood."), stressing the importance of work ethic over the proverbial muse:

A necessary antidote to the tortured-genius cultural mythology of the writer, Orlean, like Ray Bradbury, conceives of writing as a source of joy, even when challenging: 

Writing gives me great feelings of pleasure. There’s a marvelous sense of mastery that comes with writing a sentence that sounds exactly as you want it to. It’s like trying to write a song, making tiny tweaks, reading it out loud, shifting things to make it sound a certain way. It’s very physical. I get antsy. I jiggle my feet a lot, get up a lot, tap my fingers on the keyboard, check my e-mail. Sometimes it feels like digging out of a hole, but sometimes it feels like flying. When it’s working and the rhythm’s there, it does feel like magic to me.

She ends with four pieces of wisdom for writers

You have to simply love writing, and you have to remind yourself often that you love it.

You should read as much as possible. That’s the best way to learn how to write.

You have to appreciate the spiritual component of having an opportunity to do something as wondrous as writing. You should be practical and smart and you should have a good agent and you should work really, really hard. But you should also be filled with awe and gratitude about this amazing way to be in the world.

Don’t be ashamed to use the thesaurus. I could spend all day reading Roget’s! There’s nothing better when you’re in a hurry and you need the right word right now.

 

Carrot Ranch

 A friend of mine is a writer and one of his writings was selected for an anthology of writing published by Carrot Ranch at The Congress of Rough Writers.

It’s easy to lose time when we walk away from our screens or misplace a watch. Other forces might be at work, too.

Writers responded to the prompt of lost time, and what follows is a collection of perspectives in 99-word stories arranged like literary anthropology.

For those not familiar with Carrot Ranch, here is what it says on its Web page, for writers, it is worth a look

Welcome to Carrot Ranch!

We are a dynamic online literary community practicing craft, reading stories, and discussing the process of writing. Charli Mills is the lead buckaroo who hosts challenges, guest blogs, and an annual multi-contest called the Flash Fiction Rodeo. Those who interact and write here are the Rough Writers. All are welcome to write!

What do we write? 99 words, no more, no less. It’s a simple constraint, an easy-to-master literary art form, and a powerful writing tool for creatives and entrepreneurs. Writers calibrate the usefulness and beauty of 99-words through weekly flash fiction challenges.

You might think of the Ranch as a writer’s getaway: read, write, repeat. It’s also support for the motivated writer. The community is friendly and engaged. Every Monday we open up a virtual Saloon for friendly banter, guest characters (yes, characters from books are welcome here, too), and spontaneous writing challenges. On Tuesdays, we feature Rough Writer columnists.

The core of this literary community is the Congress of Rough Writers, who challenge themselves to explore creativity, craft, and voice. Equally important are the Friends who read, comment, and offer encouragement.

Flash fiction becomes the common ground for a diverse group of writers who include different genres, backgrounds, goals, and countries of origin. Carrot Ranch makes literary art accessible to writers, readers, and even lurkers. Together we are Carrot Ranchers.

Take a look around. This website is full of resources and inspiration. You can:

• learn about flash fiction and why we embrace the form;
• take the current weekly challenge;
• discover advanced flash fiction challenges;
• see what’s coming up or sponsored by the Ranch;
• find new and exciting books to read;
• purchase items, services or patronage;
• subscribe to The Roundup, a monthly literary newsletter for readers and writers.

Procrastination

 Procrastination is an incredibly common problem, and I am using it as an excuse, for not doing an important task that I really don’t want to do. The task will take only about 8 hours and is relatively easy. The excuse I have come up with are pretty good for me, but at the same time I know I have to do what I said and I know that I am putting it off for no good reason. When I started to think about why I did not want to do the task I realized that I was not ready to reach out to others to hear negative news. Let me explain, the task is phoning about 50 people who are older than me to find out how they are doing in this pandemic. The first person I phoned was not there and when I asked the person who answered the phone when she would be back, she said, “I am her daughter, my mom passed away two days ago. I expressed my sympathy and talked to the daughter for a bit. The second person I phoned, his wife answered and said that her husband was in Palliative Care at home and was not expected to last the week. I talked to the wife for a while. I have not made any other phone calls for a while, as I sort out in my head what or how I will deal, if anymore of these types of phone calls happen. The odds are that not many more will be like the first two call.s

 I know I made a commitment and I know that I have been putting it off, but I also know that what I need to do is just (as the Nike commercial said), DO IT!

Now, that I have put down in writing all of the reasons I can’t just do it, I have realised that they are minor, so on Monday morning I will  start it and keep on it until I finish it. I made a commitment and will complete it within the week. Writing things down makes them clear.  

 

Little Johnny's Back

The teacher asked the class to use the word "fascinate" in a sentence.

Molly put up her hand and said, "My family went to my granddad's farm, and we all saw his pet sheep. It was fascinating."

The teacher said, "That was good, but I wanted you to use the word ‘fascinate,’ not 'fascinating'."

Sally raised her hand. She said, "My family went to see Rock City and I was fascinated."

The teacher said, "Well, that was good Sally, but l wanted you to use the word ‘fascinate'."

Little Johnny raised his hand, but the teacher hesitated because she had been burned by Little Johnny before. She finally decided there was no way he could damage the word "fascinate," so she called on him.

Johnny said, “My aunt Carolyn has a sweater with ten buttons, but her breasts are so big she can only fasten eight!"

The teacher sat down and cried.

For those of us who write here are some tips that I have found useful

1. Avoid Alliteration. Always.

2. Prepositions are not words to end sentences with.

3. Avoid clichés like the plague. They're old hat.

4. Comparisons are as bad as clichés.

5. Be more or less specific.

6. Writers should never generalize.

7. Be consistent!

8. Don't be redundant; don't use more words than necessary. It's highly superfluous.

9. Who needs rhetorical questions?

10. Exaggeration is a billion times worse than understatement.

3000 and counting

This is my 3000 post. I started with a post about the news I was going to be a grandfather.almost 8 years ago. This was about a month after my grandson was born and my wife was in Australia and I was going to be heading down in about two weeks to see my new grandchild. 

Two things I said in that post still apply.
The first is 'I am not sure if being a grandfather makes me a senior or do I still qualify for being a boomer. I am not yet ready to call myself a senior although I suspect that younger people would think I qualify." I definitely qualify for senior status, but still, refuse to be called a senior and think of my self as a Boomer, or as my friend Ernie called me a "Sonic Boomer".

The second, in my first post, I also talked about my going across the border and being stopped because of a computer glitch and I wrote, "I also enjoyed the idea that I was suspected of setting the world on fire again even if the reason was a computer glitch." 
Boomers are still setting the world on fire, although my peers such as Donald Trump continue to give my generation a bad name. Overall we have done a lot of good over the last 70 plus years, but we could have done better. I am happy that many of my peers are still involved in supporting others through volunteering, demonstrations and being involved in our community. 

I hope to continue writing for another at least 10 years and I thank all of you who read my words and give me feedback. It makes life exciting and interesting

Writing

 I love this, you know, writing every day.

Do you know how I got it?

I just started doing it.

And that's all anything takes.

Magic follows,

Top online courses to improve writing

In retirement, many people take on new adventures and new hobbies. Some take up writing so the following would be of great interest to those bloggers and writers who are interested in improving their writing skill sets. A blogger named Arthur Gutch has chosen his 10 ten online writing classes. The full story is here, but I have listed the top three from Arthurs list below:

Some of the courses are free, some cost as much as a normal college class, but all of them give you the opportunity for real growth in your writing career

1.           Writing Science Fiction   Offered by MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology), this class is free and includes all assignments and materials. It's a non-credit class focusing on the world of science fiction writing.

2.           English Composition  Offered by Arizona State University, this class includes a number of writing projects, and helps you to develop research and critical thinking skills. The class is free to take, and students who earn a C or above can pay $600 to receive a college credit for the class.

3.           How to Write About Murder  The Australian Writer's Centre offers this course for true crime writers, as well as crime fiction authors. It teaches how to research murder cases, using both sides of the story as POV. The price is $195.

Why do writers write?

My friends and others sometimes ask me why I write this blog, a good question and one that has no easy answer. The easy answer is that I am writing for my grandson, and my children, so they can learn more about my outlook on life. There are more complex answers and so I turned to the experts for some reasons as to why writers write.

The question of why writers write holds especial mesmerism, both as a piece of psychological voyeurism and as a beacon of self-conscious hope that if we got a glimpse of the innermost drivers of greats, maybe, just maybe, we might be able to replicate the workings of genius in our own work. So why do writers write? 

George Orwell itemized four universal motives which are  Sheer egoism,  (Desire to seem clever, to be talked about, to be remembered after death, to get your own back on the grown-ups who snubbed you in childhood, etc., etc. It is humbug to pretend this is not a motive, and a strong one.)  Aesthetic enthusiasm, (Pleasure in the impact of one sound on another, in the firmness of good prose or the rhythm of a good story.),  Historical impulse. (Desire to see things as they are, to find out true facts and store them up for the use of posterity),  Political purpose (Desire to push the world in a certain direction, to alter other peoples’ idea of the kind of society that they should strive after)

Joan Didion saw it as access to her own mind and said in part: "In many ways writing is the act of saying I, of imposing oneself upon other people, of saying listen to me, see it my way, change your mind. It’s an aggressive, even a hostile act. You can disguise its qualifiers and tentative subjunctives, with ellipses and evasions — with the whole manner of intimating rather than claiming, of alluding rather than stating — but there’s no getting around the fact that setting words on paper is the tactic of a secret bully, an invasion, an imposition of the writer’s sensibility on the reader’s most private space"

For David Foster Wallace, it was about fun. He said, "In the beginning, when you first start out trying to write fiction, the whole endeavor’s about fun. You don’t expect anybody else to read it. You’re writing almost wholly to get yourself off. To enable your own fantasies and deviant logic and to escape or transform parts of yourself you don’t like. And it works – and it’s terrific fun. "

Joy Williams found in it a gateway from the darkness to the light. She said, "It’s become fashionable these days to say that the writer writes because he is not whole, he has a wound, he writes to heal it, but who cares if the writer is not whole, of course the writer is not whole, or even particularly well."

For Charles Bukowski, it sprang from the soul like a rocket. He said, "if it doesn’t come bursting out of you in spite of everything, don’t do it. unless it comes unasked out of your heart and your mind and your mouth and your gut,  don’t do it. if you have to sit for hours staring at your computer screen or hunched over your typewriter searching for words, don’t do it.

Italo Calvino found in writing the comfort of belonging to a collective enterprise, "To write well about the elegant world you have to know it and experience it to the depths of your being just as Proust, Radiguet and Fitzgerald did: what matters is not whether you love it or hate it, but only to be quite clear about your position regarding it."

So for those who read this, the answer for me is  I write for fun.  I write and never expect anyone to read my writing except for members of my family and that  I thought would be under duress. I hope what I write works for you, but all I know is that I am having a ball writing and will continue until it is no longer fun.

The history of the English Language in 10 minutes

Brain Pickings is a wonderful site that has some quirky and interesting ideas and thoughts. I found this on their page and thought I would share it. For all of you learning to speak English and for all of us who have English as our first language this is a treat.

The history of language, that peculiar human faculty that Darwin believed was half art and half instinct, is intricately intertwined with the evolution of our species, our capacity for invention, our understanding of human biology, and even the progress of our gender politics. 

From the fine folks at Open University — who previously gave us these delightful 60-second animated syntheses of the world’s major religions, philosophy’s greatest thought experiments, and the major creative movements in design — comes this infinitely entertaining and illuminating animated history of the English language in 10 minutes:

Do you keep a journal?

Keeping a journal will absolutely change your life in ways you've never imagined." - Oprah Winfrey

This article was written by Dan Robey and I agree that a journal is important for keeping track of goals and self esteem, etc. More importantly I believe that keeping a journal is also a very important part of a legacy that you will leave your children and grandchildren. When my mother died, I was given all of her papers including her journals. It took me a while to find the time to read them, but when I did, her journals opened up her life to me more than I thought. I am thankful that she did keep a journal and hope you take the time to think about stating one as well.

Why is it so important to keep a journal?

Here are just a few of the benefits a personal journal will provide you:

* A journal will remind you of your goals and the actions you are taking towards them every day. Your are writing down your goals right?

* It allows you to factually track your progress as you head closer towards your goals. Here is an example. Suppose you had set a new goal to lose 20 lbs in the next 3 months. Record your weight in your journal each day, you will now be able to seetrends in your weight loss that you would not have seen without the journal.

* It provides detailed information such as dietary changes, calorie reductions, fat reduction, and so on.

* It helps build your self-esteem because you are reaffirming the positive benefits you are achieving as you get closer to your goals.

* It helps to paint the picture every day of who you are becoming.

* When you see positive results as they happen, you will become energized with optimism.

Here are a couple of simple journal tips:

Keep a simple, short log , it's easy, and it usually only takes 1 minute of your time. Each day, make short entries into your journal, list such things as your attitude, emotions, diet, weight,
responses to situations and conditions in your life.

For example, if having a healthy heart is one of your goals, you will want to keep track of your cholesterol levels, your blood pressure, your weight. (Obviously, all of this data would not be 
recorded daily, but some entry would be recorded each day)

Try this simple little exercise.

Get out a note pad or a sheet of paper and a pencil. Look at your watch. When the second hand hits 12, start timing yourself as you write down the following information:

5/27/12 Sun.-Felt great all day. Weight 135 pounds. Walked briskly for 20 minutes. Had healthy almonds and nuts for snacks.

More then likely, you completed writing down the information in approximately 1 minute. Yet, in that 1 minute, you created an important snapshot of important data in your life. You now have 
historical data you can refer to as time goes by, to help you track your progress as you move towards your life goals.

I know how well this works. For many, I have kept a simple, yet informative log of every day of my life. I can tell you exactly how I felt on Wed., July 25,1999, or any day since.

I can look back and see how I reacted to issues in my life and what helped me overcome an illness, injury or stressful period in my life.

It generally takes me less then two minutes to record the log for any day. It is a habit that has become a part of my life; it is now second nature for me. If you have a computer, I recommend typing just three to four lines of descriptive text into a word processing  program or notepad each day.

Writing is good for the soul

A post written by Leo Babauta is the owner of ZenHabits.net, a website devoted to providing clear and concise wisdom on how to simplify your life. He's also the author of, The Power of Less: The Fine Art of Limiting Yourself to the Essential, in Business and in Life. This resonated with me because since I have started blogging I have found I have a need to write almost every day.  Here is what Leo has to say about writing:

One of the most instrumental changes in my life has been writing every single day.

For many years I was a writer who didn't write that regularly. It was always on the back of my mind to write, but I didn't find the time.

Then I started (Zenhabits.net) in January 2007, and have written pretty much every day since then.

It was life changing.

I recommend daily writing for anyone, not just writers. Here's what I've found from my daily habit:
Writing helps you reflect on your life and changes you're making. This is incredibly valuable, as often we do things without realizing why, or what effects these things are having on us.

Writing clarifies your thinking. Thoughts and feelings are nebulous happenings in our mind holes, but writing forces us to crystalize those thoughts and put them in a logical order.

Writing regularly makes you better at writing. And writing is a powerful skill to be good at in our digital age.

Writing for an audience (even if the audience is just one person) helps you to think from the perspective of the audience. That's when the magic starts, because once you get into the reader's mindset, you begin to understand readers and customers and colleagues and friends better. You have empathy and a wider understanding of the world.

Writing persuasively -- to convince others of your point of view -- helps you to get better at persuading people to change their minds. Many people don't want to change their minds when they feel someone is attacking their position, so they get defensive and dig into their position.

Writing daily forces you to come up with new ideas regularly, and so that forces you to solve the very important problem of where to get ideas. What's the answer to that problem? Ideas are everywhere! In the people you talk to, in your life experiments, in things you read online, in new ventures and magazines and films and music and novels. But when you write regularly, your eyes are open to these ideas.

Writing regularly online helps you to build an audience who is interested in what you have to share, and how you can help them. This is good for any business, anyone who is building a career, anyone who loves to socialize with others who are interested in similar things as them.

And that's just the start. The full benefits of this regular habit are, ironically, not something you can put into words, but something that must be experienced to be known.

How to Write Daily

There are various ways to get into the daily writing habit, but here's what I'd recommend based on my experience:

Commit to writing daily. Many people try to write a few times a week, or once a week. That's too infrequent and it won't become a habit that way. Instead, tell yourself, "I'm going to write every single day, no exceptions". And then actually stick to this commitment.

Set aside the time. Really important. You have to block off a small chunk of time for this, or it won't happen. I suggest morning, as soon as you can, so that other things don't get in the way. However, if you're a night owl, late nights are fine too, as long as you're not too tired.

Start small. OK, you knew I was going to say this, but it's really important. All you have to do is start writing each day -- you don't have to write 1,000 words or anything. Just start, and how much you do doesn't matter. Once the habit is in place, you can lengthen it, but for now just start.

Blog. You can write in a journal or text document just for yourself, but I highly recommend blogging. Get a free account at WordPress.com or Tumblr, and just start. Why blog? Because it really helps you to write regularly, and forces you to think in different ways, when you have an audience. Even if the audience is small. It's scary, I know, but just do it. You'll grow comfortable with it over time, and you should never let fear stop you from doing something amazing.

Shut down distractions. The writer is best friends with distraction. He knows its powerful call, and must master the urge to follow it. So shut down everything that isn't your writing tool, all tabs, all email programs and social media, and just write.

That's all you need to get started. Over time, you'll learn the power of interaction with your audience, and draw inspiration and lessons from the audience. But for now, just get started.

Chasing Words

I hear them in my head; words that whisper but I cannot catch the details of the whisper over the background sounds. The words are out of reach. Very frustrating when trying to write. 

Songwriters may hear the melody but not clear enough to write the chords. I listen late at night to the words buzzing through my head but just as the mosquito evades the swat, the words evade the light of thought. 

Chasing words so that the thoughts come out complete makes sleep difficult. Words are needed but when we cannot catch them to make our thoughts known to those around us, life is difficult. 

Words drift down the river of my mind, swirling in the eddies of memory, the current keeps them just out of reach. Fishers have the patience to cast the line to make the catch; enough catches and a sentence appears, then a few more and a paragraph, and maybe even a theme and a thought worth sharing.

Writers are solitary people for the most part, but when they cannot catch the words they need, they seek out others and listen to the words so they can begin to again shape their own.

Writing for the Internet

While many writers are eager to write for the Internet, it is important to consider the key differences between writing for a traditional print audience and an Internet audience. Keeping these three points in mind will help you achieve success with your Internet writing ventures.

Writing for the Internet is different from traditional publishing formats in three essential ways:

• Audience
• Format
• Lifespan

It is important to consider each difference while writing.

While audience is always a key consideration for any writer audience consideration is a primary factor for Internet writers. While the basic considerations of audience (who do you expect to be your primary reading audience?) remain the same there are some important differences.

First, it is important to remember that in traditional publications your audience is somewhat captive. Once they have actually picked up or purchased a print media they are likely to at least give it a few pages before ditching it. However, on the Internet the audience can move away from your words with a click of the button so you need to be focused and on target. You can't take time for a slow buildup or meandering discussion. If you (the writer) do not seem to be delivering the goods then the reader will simply move on. This does not mean you need to cater to the lowest denominator but it does mean that you need to know your audience as well as how to respond to that audience's needs and desires.

Another important point is that many Internet readers scan documents quickly before committing themselves to reading. It is important to write clearly and concisely as well as use punchy headlines and subheadings as well as catchy introductions and conclusions as these are key points for scanning.

While at first glance Internet documents appear to mimic traditional print documents there are many major differences. One of the most important is the entry point. A search engine may deliver readers to some point in the middle or end of your document. If you have written a coherent and cohesive piece then those readers may well move back to the beginning to read properly. In response to this, and the scanning readers mentioned above, it is best to break longer documents into several stand-alone pieces that can work together as a whole or as separate documents if approached in that manner.

Finally, an important difference between traditional publications and Internet publications is lifespan. While the apparent lifespan of many electronic documents appears to be fleeting that is not in fact true. Newspaper and magazine articles in print publications may only be current for a day, week or month but be archived on the Internet. Internet publications are frequently archived on the Internet for years. So while it is important as a writer to be fresh and current also keep in mind that your reader may access your words at some undetermined point in the future.

Keeping these three key points -- audience, format, and lifespan -- in mind when writing for the Internet will help you achieve greater writing success.

Is one of your resolutions to get noiticed by the Press?

Back in the early 90's  when I ran my seminars on setting up/marketing small business I would talk about the importance of the Press release and how to get it noticed, so as we move into the 12th day of January 2011, I thought I would review this important tool for small business owners and others who want to get noticed. Writing a press release doesn't need to be difficult. Here are 10 tips for writing a successful press release.

1 - You are writing for journalists
Press releases aren't for customers or consumers they are for reporters, journalists who will use them as a starting point for a larger story or feature. Write your story as you would like to have it told. Press releases written as sales pieces will be completely ignored. The points you make in your press release and the order in which you make them may direct the journalist in how to develop the story.
2 - Start with a strong "lead"
The first paragraph of the press release is known as the "lead". The lead needs to be strong, communicating your message quickly and concisely. You need to use your headline and first paragraph effectively so that they standalone and that if only those portions were to be read, there would be enough information to understand what the release is about. The rest of your press release should provide the detail. Journalists see maybe thousands of press releases a day, you have a few seconds to grab your their attention.
3 - What is your angle?
The media are always on the look out for a good story. Your press release needs to be more than just. fact, it needs to be newsworthy. Understanding why journalists would find your story interesting is the key to success. Think about the release from the journalist's point of view, put yourself in their shoes. It is best to make your press release timely and to tie it to current events or social issues if possible. Find a good angle, a good news hook and you have the start of a good press release.
4 - Who, what, where, when and why
A good press release needs to answer all of the "W" questions (who, what, where, when and why), providing the journalist with useful information about your organization, product, service or event. If your press release reads like an advertisement or sales pitch, dump it.
5 - Why should anyone care?
Company launches, new websites and changes of management happen all the time and so aren't interesting. You need to concentrate on what makes your new company, web site, CEO or product unique. Ask yourself the question, "Why should anyone care?" Concentrate on the aspects of your press release that makes it different.
6 - Add the human touch
Always use real life stories about how your organization identified a problem and solved it. How did your service or product fulfil a need or help the community. Real life examples communicate the benefits of using your product or service in a powerful way.
7 - Keep to the point
Use enough words to tell your story, no more and no less. Don't pad your release with unnecessary adjectives or flowery language. But at the same time make each word count.
8 - Limit the jargon
The best way to communicate your news is to speak plainly. You may need to use some jargon or industry specific lingo, but limit it to the minimum. Industry specific terms are only understood by people in the same industry where as your press release is aimed at a general readership.
9 - Add an "About" section
Make sure you add an "About" section where you describe your company and services. This will be useful for setting the press release in a context. Don't forget to add the URL of your website.
10 - Add good contact information
If a journalist picks up on your press release they will want to talk with you. Just adding your website URL isn't enough. As a minimum you need to add a contact name and an email address. Even better add a phone number where you can be contacted.

Writing

One common element whenever human beings gather is the need to talk and share experiences. Often that need turns into something a little more fun, a little more dangerous -- gossip. Gossip is often fun but it can also be dangerous because it spreads quickly (because it is fun) and often distorts or even completely avoids the truth. Gossip creates myths in many fields and professions, and the field of writing is especially prone.

The top five myths about writing are:

Myth 1: Writing is easy for some people. Let me tell you that is just about the biggest myth going.  I don't know a writer that will tell you that writing is easy. Writing is brutal, hard work and there are times when I think it would be easier to simply open a vein as Red Smith said. However experience and practice can make many writing tasks easier.

Myth 2: Writing requires talent. I won't lie. Talent can certainly help and talent is what separates the great writers from the good writers. But the truth is that talent is not enough to make a writer great or even good and talent is not a necessary requirement to be a good writer. Writing is a skill that can be learned, developed and honed. If you practice your craft, if you read the writing of others to learn more about your craft, and if you seek and accept guidance and suggestions about your writing then you will improve and grow as a writer. Dedication harnessed with talent can create amazing results but if I had to pick just one then I would go with dedication. You can always increase your skill level through dedication.

Myth 3: Writing isn't a useful skill. There simply isn't a profession that does not involve writing. Perhaps the form will vary, but written communication is the cornerstone in every professional field. Your writing ability will often impact landing a job as well as advancing in your career. Today written communication is even more crucial in professional and personal relationships.

Myth 4: You can't make a living as a writer. Not only can you make a living as a writer but writing is an essential tool for many other careers and professions.

Myth 5: Writers block is alive and torturing writers as you read this. I'm not dismissing the difficulties inherent in dealing with writers block but whenever I talk with writers purportedly suffering from it they fall within two general groups. The first group actually creates their own block by insisting on the perfect place, mood, or alignment of planets in order to write. This is beyond ridiculous. Deadlines will teach anyone how to give writers block short shrift.

The second group I have more sympathy for as their problem really is internal in nature. Usually the problem is that the particular story (whether fiction or nonfiction) they want to tell is not yet finished cooking in their brain. In this case, while the writing may be stalled I don't agree that it is blocked. The writer must listen to that inner voice and respond appropriately. Sometimes the idea needs more time to percolate and sometimes more research and/or planning is necessary. Once the proper adjustments are made the writing will begin to flow again.

Don't let your writing fall victim to these five myths about writing.

Lessons from childrens books for writers

Looking for inspiration ? Try the children’s bookshelf. Dr. Seuss has entertained young (and old) audiences for nearly 50 years with titles such as  The Cat in the Hat,Hop on Pop and Green Eggs and Ham.

The reason why his books remain so popular says something about what makes for good writing (and reading), no matter who or where the audience is.

Nouns and Verbs
Nothing keeps readers moving like strong noun-verb combinations. If the sentence were a train, nouns and verbs would be the engine. Adjectives, adverbs and the other parts of speech make the train longer and slower. Dr. Seuss' sentences have strong engines pulling light loads to keep readers moving down the tracks.

Lots of Periods
A byproduct of eliminating the extraneous words is shorter sentence length. Lots of periods. Paradoxically, more sentences of shorter length increase reading speed and comprehension. Dr. Seuss, as are many children's authors, is a champion of the short sentence.

Imagination
Albert Einstein said, "The gift of fantasy has meant more to me than my talent for absorbing positive knowledge." Were it not for imagination, there would be no Cat in the Hat and no Dr. Seuss. Imagination is the beginning of copywriting because first there must be an idea or concept.

Fun
Dr. Seuss' books are fun to read. They're funny, too, but that's not the same thing. Fun to read is material that's entertaining and effortless for readers, an excellent standard for all writing.

Lyrical
Dr. Seuss' books are written in verse. Of course they're lyrical. However, this goes beyond silly rhymes. There are a sound and rhythm to the words that, like a favorite tune, you don't mind hearing over and over. Good writing of all varieties is pleasing to the eye and ear.

Economical
Children have short attention spans. Dr. Seuss knows how to tell a story without unnecessary detours. Every word counts. That's good advice for all who write because children aren't the only ones with short attention spans.

Memorable
This is the litmus test for all writing. Did readers take something away? Was their time well invested? The Cat in the Hat is a story about having fun, even on a rainy day. Now that's worthwhile reading.

Writers Block

As a writer, I struggle with writers block and part of that struggle is the internal battle over inspiration and self criticism (*My Muse). Sometimes inspiration wins only to be overtaken by the critical analysis of the writing. This internal battle is one that I suspect many writers have and if you have ever had writers block, and struggled with the two demons of inspiration and self criticism the tale below could be familiar as you struggle with which will win (inspiration or the self critical muse)  the ongoing battle.

Last night, in the dark following midnight I killed off my muse (suffocating her quietly with a pillow) and buried her in my back garden. Today I will plant a roses to hide the grave. No one will ever know and I will be free at last of her insidious hold and I will be able to write what I want.

Why did I resort to this deed? After all my muse was lovely and gave me many gifts over the years. She saw me through dark times and helped mark the joyous ones. Many times she inspired me to reach for more and push myself beyond what I thought I could achieve. Knowing all this why would I kill the very source of my inspiration?

Oh, I had my reasons...

It started out quietly. As I would sit at my keyboard, she would perch on my shoulder as was her wont to do. "I don't think you meant to write that sentence," she would whisper in my ear. "That doesn't sound like the best description," she would snipe. "Is that the best you can do?" she would sneer.

I took to sneaking my writing in when I knew she was occupied elsewhere. She never could resist critiquing the writing in the morning paper if it was left spread on the kitchen table. That way I could sometimes write several pages before she began her commentary. "Surely you can find a better way to approach this topic," her mocking voice would interrupt. "That has been so done."

Soon I was spending more time arguing with her, defending my words, than I was writing. Then my production slowed to a crawl as I would over analyze each word choice and sentence formation before committing it to screen or paper. All that did was give her more time to find fault with the few words I did write.

I started avoiding the computer and all writing materials. I read for hours on end. I made plans for a new garden. The need the write built within me but always my muse was watching me with those eyes -- so judgmental, so critical. I would turn away from my deb with a sigh and find some other project.

When I could no longer suppress the urge to write I locked her in a closet and had a wonderfully productive morning. I was so happy with my work that I let her out as I went out the door to run some errands. That just made her mean.

She was waiting for me at the door when I came home. Her glasses had slid nearly to the tip of her nose and somehow she'd found a red pencil (I certainly never brought any such thing into the house). I shuddered at the sight of my happy morning's labor marred by vicious slashes of red. The red blurred before my eyes into a crimson haze and then...

Perhaps it is better that you don't know the details. Suffice it to say that I have selected several old-fashioned roses with luscious aroma and delicate coloring. I am sure they will provide both inspiration and comfort.

Despite my late hours and the physical toil involved, this morning I awoke early and have already logged in several hours at the keyboard. My fingers flew across the keys and after completing several long-stagnant projects I outlined notes for some new. Writing is joyful and rewarding again.

I have dedicated this post to the memory of my muse. Perhaps it will serve as a warning to those other muses out there who are on the verge of going over the edge. Perhaps it will inspire those other writers out there who have let their muse stifle their creativity and shove them right into writer's block. Maybe my warning will mean those other muses and their writers will find a way to work things out.