8 Tell-Tale Signs That Forecast Writing Success!
8 Tell-Tale Signs That Forecast Writing Success!
'Talent is cheaper than table salt. What separates the talented individual from the successful one is a lot of hard work." -Stephen KingEver wonder what the hands of fate will deal you in the way of success as a writer? Or why some individuals reap the rewards of literary recognition, while others fail and fade into anonymity?Just as highway signs alert travelers of their impending destination, there are give-away indicators that point to "the road to success" for writers.Here are checkpoints that reveal you're in the literary fast lane!You're Playing the Field- The more genres of writing you apply your talents to, the greater the odds of continued publication and pay. I began my journalistic journey over a decade ago, writing poetry and greeting card verse.What I discovered was that poetry (although my first love), was not very marketable. As a result, these efforts alone met with very little success until I decided to try feature writing for magazines. This change in strategy not only allowed me to establish publishing credits and an impressive portfolio, but also financed the self-publication of 3 volumes of poetry chapbooks and opened avenues for paid performances and open mike competitions as well.Jennifer Brown Banks- Page 2 8 Tell-Tale Signs?You're an Avid Reader- It is virtually impossible to become a marketable writer without reading and studying prominent writers and various styles of expression. Whether you're a member of a local book club, subscribe to a few on-line publications, or regularly escape through a good Harlequin Romance, you're moving in the right direction! Being an avid reader helps you expand your vocabulary, become familiar with different writing styles, and understand the needs of your audience.You're Self-Disciplined- Unlike other professions and industries, writing is by and large a do it yourself success story; there is no delegating or getting by on other team members' strength. It's either sink or swim! You establish your own goals, develop your own game plan, and assume sole responsibility for your career. Successful writers go the distance by making writing a priority, honing their craft and persevering through rejection.You Understand that Writing is a Business- Far too many writers fail to recognize that writing is a business. One that requires much more than creativity and a command of the King's English. To achieve professional status, one must have marketing savvy, time management skills, analytical ability, research knowledge and familiarity with the industry. It also requires putting money back into the "business" by investing in trade related materials such as the Writers' Market, computer equipment and business cards (to name a few things).Jennifer Brown Banks- Page 3 8 Tell-Tale Signs?You Recognize the Importance of Critiquing- Whether it's through a writers' group, a mentor, a college professor, or people whom you admire and trust. Getting an outside, objective analysis of your work can mean the difference between rejection and perfection. Just as "love is blind," many of us are far too close to what we've created to see flaws or gaps in what we're trying to convey.You Know the Meaning of Working Smart- At least 50% of my writing income is generated from resales. The well fed writer realizes the potential to resell and represent the same pieces many times over just by changing the slant and minor details, and by negotiating rights.You're Navigating "the Information Super Highway." Do you Google? Are you able to successfully research, review writers' web sites, and submit work via the Internet? Doing so decreases down time, increases productivity, and puts you in the fast lane to creativity. Check out the following writers' E-zines to enhance your bottom line:Absolute Write Newsletter- http://www.absolutewrite.com- This weekly contains articles, interviews and calls for writers.Inscriptions-http://www.inscriptions.com- Features weekly calls for writers, interviews, book reviews and announcements.Jennifer Brown Banks- Page 4- 8 Tell-Tale Signs3. National Association of Women Writers- http://www.naww.org- Produces a newsletter that provides useful insiders' tips, motivational quotes, contests, conferences and more. It also serves to support and promote the works of female authors.A great book to also help you improve your surfing savvy is 300 Incredible Things to Do on the Internet by Ken Leebow.You Write for the Love of It!- Do you practically eat, sleep and drink writing? Love to communicate and connect? In this field, perhaps more so than any other, passion precedes success. Having the desire to educate, entertain and empathize through the written word is indeed a noble ambition. And it is this philosophy that will allow you to persevere and avoid "road rage" in your daily travels!COPYRIGHT 2004 JENNIFER BROWN BANKSAbout The AuthorJennifer Brown Banks is a writer, poet, speaker and literary consultant. Her work is featured monthly as a contributing writer to Being Single magazine. Additionally, she is a high school substitute teacher.Publishing credits include: Chicago Sun-Times, Being Single Magazine, Funds 4 Writers, Writing for Dollars, Honey Magazine, Today's Chicago Woman, National Association of Women Writers' Weekly, Empowermag.com, Gospel Synergy and a host of on-line and print publications.Her upcoming book of poetry "A Paradox in Pink" is due to be released in fall 2004. Banks is listed in Marquis' Who's Who in America.She may be contacted at
Jennifer Brown Banks
P.O. Box 208821
Chicago, IL 60620-8821
E-mail Jenniferwriter@yahoo.com
Essay Types and Modes Youll Need to Write for College
Essay Types and Modes Youll Need to Write for College
~TYPES~You Want Us to Write What? Understanding the Task AssignedWhich academic essay writing types we use depends upon which
disciplines (or classes) we write for. Each instructor or
professor will assign papers that invite us to reveal in
writing what we have learned/what we think about the
material for that particular class:* ANALYTIC-A classic style used in art, science, history,
psychology, education, and most other disciplines across the
curriculum to explore and investigate an idea, process,
person, action, or attitude.* ARGUMENTATIVE-Used in more advanced English classes, in
philosophy, and in courses which include theory.*COMPARATIVE/CONTRASTIVE-Used in most courses where specific
analysis of like and unlike elements, characters, and ideas
lend themselves to comparison.*DEFINITIONAL-Written when we apply a more thorough study to
a topic, especially an abstract one.*DESCRIPTIVE-Used to more intensively, more concretely cover
an idea, item, or subject.*EVALUATIVE-Often confused with analytical, the evaluative
essay moves beyond the what and how to the how much...we put
a value on the topic here.*EXPLANATORY-Also called the expository essay (though I tend
to see all essays as expository, as exposing a truth about
something). With this type we further our own and our
readers' understanding of the subject.*PERSONAL-Also called the response essay, the personal style
essay is still well written (readable for an audience other
than the writer), but is more informal--containing narrative
details that entertain.*RESEARCH-While most essay types will include references or
will quote authorities, the research essay is mostly
informational, using the findings--the stats and facts--we
made investigating the findings of others.~MODES~Modes and Types and Modes...Oh Crimeny! Avoiding ConfusionWe need not panic when called upon to do a specific type of
college paper writing. Why? Because we already use the
types...on a smaller scale.That is, we use miniature versions of the essay types when
we write paragraphs for the complete essay. A type and a
mode are the same thing, then. One is just smaller, while
the other is an extension of the smaller.For example, we write about the forms and functions of
gossip for a sociology paper. We open with a definition
paragraph that shows how the word "gossip" originated from
the word "gospel." Then we continue to discuss how gossip
brings people closer--emotionally, spiritually, and even
physically.Go Easy on Yourself: Your Confusion is UnderstandableJust as we might call all writing expository, we call one
type and one mode an expository type of essay and an
expository mode of writing. So is the piece I'm writing
explanatory, definitional, comparative? I include
explanatory elements. I use definition and example. I slip
a comparison in, too.Here's one way to look at types/modes:--We write a paragraph or passage in a certain mode. --We
can then turn that smaller piece into a whole essay, into
one long, extended mode.Here's another way to look at types/modes:We buy a box of gourmet chocolates. We lift one from the
box: we understand that the thing we hold in our hands is a
chocolate. It also has chocolate in it.Here's one more way to look at types/modes:You own a Camaro with a Corvette engine. They're both
Chevys.You're Going to What, Now? Confuse Us All Over Again?No. Now that we have the types/modes separated enough to
understand the difference, I'll just remind you of one more
thing: we can and usually do overlap the modes. No one
piece of academic essay writing exists in one isolated mode
alone. It includes many varied sub-styles to make it more
engaging, entertaining, and expository.And it requires a number of major parts--an opener, a main
body of text, and a closer. And you know what? These parts
are written in the modes.I'll add more pages on academic essay writing. Much more.
So if you haven't had enough, come back again for monthly
freebies. But for now, if you want to check out samples you
can use as models for modes/types, click here for mode
samples written by college students.One more thing about college paper writing:Enjoy the process. Find one thing in it you like and are
good at.N.H.-born prize-winning poet, creative nonfiction writer, memoirist, and award-winning Assoc. Prof. of English, Roxanne is also web content and freelance writer/founder of http://www.roxannewrites.com, a support site for academic, memoir, mental disability, and creative writers who need a nudge, a nod, or just ideas?of which Roxanne has 1,000s, so do stop in for a visit, as this sentence can't possibly get any longer?.
Baby Boomers and Booklets ? Share and Share Alike
Baby Boomers and Booklets ? Share and Share Alike
As one of those fabulous Baby Boomers, you now own a lifetime of valuable experiences, experiences that are useful to other people. You've given so much to your family all these years. It's dawning on you there may be a larger audience who would benefit from your knowledge. You're just beginning to hit your stride. Writing a book is too daunting. The speaking circuit isn't quite right, either. What else can you do?One easy answer is a tips booklet. Create a tips booklet from those discoveries you've made -- with your family, your work, your personal interests, your trials, and your victories. You can make a huge contribution to someone else's life by passing along your first-hand wisdom, in bite-sized pieces. It will definitely take you less time, money, and stress to write a booklet than an entire book. Plus you'll become an instant author.Your everyday solutions may have seemed like common sense at the time. And for you, it was. With some distance and further evaluation, you now see what was common sense to you isn't necessarily common sense to someone else.? Look at the answers you found for creating balance between home and work.? Re-examine the paths your business took from start to today.? Think about the journey you had with health care providers for your parents.? Remember the experiences and ideas you generated traveling with your children.? Ponder the processes you implemented for volunteer community groups.These are a few ideas to get you thinking. This will jog your memory into a wealth of material to write about, a gold mine to share with others. Your challenge may then become selecting only one topic for a booklet. The process of sharing ideas can be lucrative for you, both in personal reward and in dollars. There are thousands of companies and organizations that will find your booklet useful as a vehicle for promoting their own product, service, or cause. When your booklet relates to a business of your own, that booklet will also be a marketing tool for you every time you sell your booklet to someone else who distributes it for their own purposes. It is a win in every direction.Once you've completed your booklet manuscript and identified potential buyers to contact, consider what other formats the manuscript content can become. Before you know it, you'll have an entire line of information products related to your original idea, products that will serve you and the people receiving your information in ways limited only by your imagination and willingness.Paulette Ensign (herself a thriving Baby Boomer) has personally sold over a million copies of her own tips booklet "110 Ideas for Organizing Your Business Life," in 4 languages and various formats all without spending a penny on advertising. She has clients, worldwide, who have met and surpassed her results. Contact her at http://www.tipsbooklets.com or phone +1-858-481-0890 (Pacific Time Zone).