Archive for November, 2008

A Freelancer’s Guide To Meeting Project Deadlines

November 16, 2008 - 8:30 pm

When it comes to meeting deadlines, one way to manage your timetable effectively is to divide the large jobs and farm them out to several freelancers.

Let’s say you’ve been awarded a writing job to write an e-book on childcare with 10 chapters for $2,000 over a 45 day period of time. Bid out each chapter separately among 10 freelancers and allocate, say, $100 for each chapter over a 25 day period. This way you don’t have to worry about the deadline because you’ve given yourself a 20-day buffer and you stand to earn $1,000 for your efforts.

If you are going to handle a project in this manner, then you must be able to rewrite the articles to make sure the entire book “flows” seamlessly and that the same style and tone of voice is consistent throughout.

1. Cultivate a strong talent pool

In many cases, this is the most important asset you need to subcontract work to others. Here are a few additional tips to help you out in this regard:

a) Know how to hire a good coder

There are four things you should look at when hiring a coder &ndash their resume, their samples, their rating, and their client testimonials.

The last two are critical because it is easy to prepare a bogus resume and samples, especially on the Internet.

If you look at those four things and feel you have found the person you are looking for, hire them.

b) Know how to keep them happy

A happy coder always delivers better work than an unhappy one, given the same skill level. You keep your freelancers happy by dealing in a polite and professional manner, paying them on time and understanding them when they fall or falter (and believe me, they will miss a deadline now and then). Give them respect and they will give you their best.

2. Nurture your current roster of clients

Here is the main reason why quality counts &ndash it is quality, more than anything else, that will make your customers come running back to you again and again. Always put a premium on quality. First-class work is sometimes hard to find, especially given a limited budget. If you consistently deliver first-class work, you assure yourself and your freelancers of a prosperous business well into the future.

There is a popular saying in sales which says that “It is eight times easier to get new business from your current clients than it is from cold calls.” In other words, make sure you ask your clients for referrals from people they know or work with who may need the service you provide.

Some freelancers hesitate to ask for referrals because they feel it is unprofessional. They feel asking for referrals is like asking for a favor. That is not the case. If you have faith in your ability to deliver good work you are actually helping your client because of your willingness to provide quality work to their friends or business associates. That will reflect well on them too. It is a two-way street.

How Poor In-house User Documents Cost You Twice & What To Do About It

November 14, 2008 - 9:32 pm

OVERVIEW

Many organizations produce in-house tools or modify commercially-available tools for their own use. These tools should get documented so they are of use to others in the organization.

If this documentation is not created or is poorly written, it costs you twice:

* The first cost (attributed to any poor user document) is the cost of answering the Users’ questions (technical support).

* The second cost, arises from the lost time of your employees trying to understand the poor User Document.

Psychological costs also affect both the external and the in-house User.

THE FIRST COST: TECHNICAL SUPPORT

This is the cost you incur whenever you produce poor (or no) User Documents. It arises for any User when he/she needs technical support. For external Users, the cost is your technical support staff, toll-free telephone lines, etc.

For internal Users the cost is the time spent by the developer or modifier of the tool to answer the questions of his/her fellow employee. This is an expensive technical support cost…these people are usually paid more than your technical support staff. Thus this first cost is even greater for poor in-house documentation than for shoddy documentation released to the public.

THE SECOND COST: USERS’ TIME AND RESOURCES

For Users outside your company, the second cost is assumed by the Users themselves or their employers. These confused Users are expending their company’s time: the time lost trying to get the product to work, and the time spent dealing with your technical support.

For your in-house Users, this cost is borne by your company. It is your employee–on your time– that is wasting your company resources trying to use an arcane product or document. Here is where your deficient in-house documentation costs you twice.

PSYCHOLOGICAL COSTS AFFECT ALL READERS

In addition to these time and monetary costs, there are the psychological costs wreaked by poor User Documentation.

For frustrated Users outside your company, your poor documentation results in a negative perception of your company and its products. This may result in loss of business.

For users inside your company, the psychological cost is decreased employee morale, as evidenced from these possible statements:

* Our company produced this junk?

* These people are not a sharp as I thought they were.

* If other employees can produce this confusing stuff, then I can work at that same level.

Thus the ill will outside your company can cost you future sales; the ill will inside your company can cost in decreased employee morale.

SOLUTION: INFORMAL REVIEWS

Once someone writes a User Document for an in-house tool, that document should be informally reviewed.

SELF-REVIEW

The author can perform the first review on his/her own.

Use your word processor’s spelling checker to correct common errors. You can use the word processor’s grammar checker, however most of these are inaccurate.

Before doing this review, let the document sit for a day or two. This will help you forget what you meant in your unclear writing. When you do the review and you find yourself asking “what did I mean here?” you will have found a place in the document that needs revision.

When doing the review, imagine you are user of the tool and reader of the document. Imagine the tasks that the tool user wants to do. Does the document enable the Reader to find what he/she needs? Is the writing accurate (correctly describes the tool), clear, and complete? Make the changes that would improve the document.

EXTERNAL REVIEW

Then, if possible, use an external reviewer (inside your company). To do this, the writer should:

1. Find a potential User of the tool. This should be someone who is not already familiar with the tool, and as similar to the target audience of the tool as reasonable.

2. Have that reviewer use the document to guide him/her in use of the tool. Solicit comments on the document. Note the suggested changes, additions, deletions, clarifications requested by the reviewer. Some questions to ask might include:

* Does the document tell you what you need to know?

* Is it easy to find what you need in the document?

* Does the document answer your questions? If not, what questions are unanswered?

* Is the document easy to follow? If not, where are the problem areas?

3. The writer should make changes as necessary.

If you cannot perform this “semiformal” review, then get anyone other than yourself to simply read the document, and make suggestions for improvement.

CAUTION

Make sure that the review process does not become an inhibition to those writing User Documentation for in-house Users. Stress a cooperative — not adversarial — mechanism whose result is quality work. Do not try to create the perfect User Document.

Articles SEO

November 12, 2008 - 6:23 pm

Need content for your website well then look no further, Articles are here and the way to go. Articles provide many different things, daily content for your site, a way to voice your opinion or the opinion of others, the biggest thing is traffic to your site, and then however comes returning visitors and visits provided by other links. All of these things are a part of Articles and how you can use them to provide a great and informative way to bring people to your site.

The Pros

The biggest pro of Articles has already been mention, traffic, returning traffic to be more specific. No website can survive without people making there way to it, and returning for more. Also lets not forget the Search Engines, AOL, Google, and Yahoo, in alphabetical or and only providing the names of just a few. These Search Engines use keywords to direct viewers to different websites. Just like Articles is the keyword for this particular article, Keywords are how the search engines recognize what you are looking for. Say you wanted games you would then type in the word games and wow look at all the hits you get.

The Cons

There are a few problems with Articles. One thing they are a person’s point of view, if the person writing the article is not happy with the Keyword then the article could be damaging to the original site, product, or person. Another con to Articles is the fact they change constantly moving from one subject to another and can make finding the right one difficult.

Summary

When writing your Article be sure you do not copy someone else’s work, not only is this illegal but also wrong. Make sure you give the original provider of the article their credit and the source link is working properly, not to mention telling them you are using their work. Following these simple guidelines can keep you out of trouble and possibly create a working relationship with the person you got your information from for a long time to come.

To bring all of this to a close you have to consider what you have read today, heard from someone else, or found on your own before, Articles if used properly can bring visitors to your website and keep them returning for more.

How to be a Good Spokesman

November 10, 2008 - 11:20 am

A battle is won when a leader is successful. We can find a large number of examples in World history. Today we can also see that the statement is quite true. There will never be a result if the lead is taken by a weak personality who doesn’t know the meaning of the word “leadership”. Nowadays people elect their leaders considering their qualities and thinking about the result of their choice. People usually prefer a strong-willed, intelligent, active, ambitious person to be their leader and perform different duties. There is no other way to show these traits but to express them orally or on the paper to be forwarded to voters. Once being elected you must know how to express the point of view of others and to represent their interests properly. To do the above-mentioned you have to be a nice orator and easily hold the attention of a crowd. To be a good leader you are to be politically literate. There is nothing in this life that could do without politics and this is a well-known fact. Becoming a part of the governmental system you are to represent the ideas of those who had voted for you. To be successful in this field you are to be rather persuasive and very industrious in proving your idea.

If to break a word “spokesman” apart, we get “spokes” which is, without doubt related to the verb “to speak” and “man” that identifies a person who speaks. The definition is &ndash a man who expresses an opinion. One has to be really talented, even gifted to achieve a proper result by expressing his point of view and trying to persuade others that your statements are true. The task of a spokesman is not only to speak out in public, but to prepare the basic information on what you consider to be right and to distribute it among the voters for them to get a general idea. This is where you’ll need the skills to write a persuasive essay. The main tasks of the essay you write is to persuade voters that your idea, opinion or any other statement that you venture to express is worth voting for and sticking to. For doing this you need to structure it right and know some of the ways to highlight the main idea. You make up a couple of statements that show the main idea and build an essay around, using as many facts to support as it is only possible. The more persuasive essays you write, the more experienced you become in convincing others. There have to be no contradictions to your own words and certainly no lies. It is pretty easy to check if the fact that you use is true. And if it’s not, it is not going to give you a bonus in your voters’ eyes.

It is also necessary to avoid strong verbs, though it is possible if you use the so called “shock therapy”, so popular among some leaders to catch a person unawares and make him think your way. Though it is considered to be wrong to make somebody change one’s lifestyle, playing with his/her thoughts and ways of thinking, spokesmen usually use this technique to be sure of the effect of their creation. It is so easy to play around with basic needs of people and the way they can be satisfied. It also can be used in your persuasive essay. After considering some of the facts, we can see that to be a leader and a spokesman one has to possess a lot of skills. And one more important thing, except unique talent in writing and being an orator; a good spokesman will never betray the hope of those who ventured to vote for you.

Small Wonders: The Power Of Independent Publishers And Invertebrate Creatures

November 8, 2008 - 4:48 pm

Over the course of the past decade, authors and readers alike have been heard to utter a collective groan of dismay as the once elite publishing industry continues to resemble the multiplex tripe factory of Hollywood, churning out one cookie cutter product after another.

This situation would be funny (considering the supreme cultural snobbery most New York-based editors feel for their moviemaking brethren on the opposite coast) were it not for the fact that each new conglomeration in publishing has a chilling effect on both the quantity and quality of new books released.

This law of diminishing returns is frightful in its implications. With every major publisher looking to balance out its annual loss leaders with one big Potter-esque mega-hit, it’s inevitable that midlist authors are all but ignored. What chance do aspiring voices have in this environment, particularly those who seek to produce works of bold innovation?

Though the situation looks bleak, there is one very bright silver lining. The recent emergence of independent publishers has brought to light many excellent books that would have otherwise languished in obscurity. A prime example of this happy trend is Borderlands Press. Since 19989, publisher (and prolific award-winning author in his own right) Thomas F. Monteleone has been putting out deluxe limited edition releases of works by some of the biggest names in genre and horror fiction. Starting in 2007, Monteleone decided it was time to broaden his horizons with a new line of trade paperback originals.

Having already released Virgin by esteemed horror scribe F. Paul Wilson earlier in the year, Borderlands is now offering a wildly original collection of three new stories in one volume. Fables From the Mud by Erik Quisling is already being hailed as an instant cult classic that will rank along with “Jonathan Livingston Seagull” and the collected works of Shel Silverstein.

Applying robust humor and a decidedly philosophical approach to some of life’s greatest mysteries, Quisling introduces us to three extraordinary invertebrate heroes: the Angry Clam, Glen the Ant, and Julius Gunther Weems the Warrior Worm. Page by page, Fables From the Mud dazzles readers with the gripping stories of these three small wonders. Though at first glance it may appear to have the simplicity of a children’s book, be forewarned this is one tome that packs a king-sized wallop.

Hilarious and thought-provoking by turns, Fables is sure to challenge even the heartiest of readers. It is a book to cherish long after you’ve finished it for the first (of many) times.

Meanwhile, Thomas Monteleone continues to push ahead with his ambitious trade paperback line. In late October, Borderlands Press releases his own novel, Serpentine, and January of 2008 will see the release of Crimson Orgy, the much-anticipated debut novel by Austin Williams. As long as Monteleone and other trailblazing publishers of his ilk keep promoting quality fiction from talented new voices, book lovers across America can feel confident there will always be something interesting to read outside the narrow parameters of what the elite publishing industry deems “commercial.”

Have You Considered Writing For Pay?

November 6, 2008 - 9:09 pm

Writing for pay as a way to make money from home may seem like a good idea however there are some considerations to make before jumping headlong into such a venture. Here are some pointers that may help you decide if writing for pay is for you.

For starters, you need to enjoy writing. Do you have difficulty composing a letter? Do you relive that anguish some felt from high school when it comes to writing an essay? If so, you may wish to seek an alternative way to make money from home. However, if you do enjoy writing and have basic grammar skills, writing from home could be a viable income source for you. Keep in mind, writers spend a lot of time at home working alone. Do you prefer to work solo or does working in groups appeal to you more?

Being a writer means completing tasks under a deadline which also means writing under pressure. Should you get a 1000 word article assignment, can you complete it within a day if needed? It is also important to have excellent research skills. If you get an assignment to write an article on a topic that is completely foreign to you, do you know how to find accurate good quality information about the subject and render it into an interesting article?

Many professions require a thick skin, and writing is no exception. How well do you handle criticism and rejection? As a writer for hire, you are being paid to write something for someone else. You may think it is the best piece of writing since Shakespeare, but your opinion doesn’t count. The customer is always right and if your customer doesn’t like what you have written, you will need to start over or take the article in a new direction. Is that something you could handle?

Have you considered that being a ghostwriter means you won’t receive credit for your work? It is a common practice that the ghostwriter is unknown, hence the term ghostwriter. You may be asked to write several articles or make several blog entries while someone else takes credit for your work. Is this acceptable to you?

Should you choose to give it a go, you may discover that working from home as a freelance writer proves to be both lucrative and enjoyable.

Write a Winner Book Fast - 8 Ways, p1

November 6, 2008 - 8:51 pm

Have you given up on getting your book out of your heart into the hands of your readers? Don’t give up. There’s an easy way to do anything and a more difficult way. The easy way usually includes getting helpful advice from someone that’s been there and done that. The author has written five of those ten books that were stuck in her heart a few years ago. Here’s eight steps that will speed you on your way to getting your book out now:

1. Setup a regular writing schedule.

Think about your priorities right now. Can you fit 7-10 hours a week in? If you have to let something go that is not high on your priority list, do it. Now is your time. Later is not better. Set yourself up

for a successfully written book this year by committing to a regular schedule. After it’s done, remember to reward yourself.

2. Plan a short book first.

Many aspiring writers overwhelm themselves with goals of a 365 page book first. Shorten your book to 25-90 pages the first time or divide your large book into a smaller book one and two. Though you shorten it, still fill it with useful information by using the question and answer format for each chapter. Using the same format and length for each chapter and answering all your readers’ questions will not only speed your writing process but it will result in a successful book.

3. Let your passion lead you to a topic.

Passion will not only stir your readers when your book is done but it will keep you motivated to do the work involved. Yes, I did say work. Passion will make your work easy. Passion will lead you to develop all the profit centers (seminars, articles, or consulting services) your message deserves.

4. Choose what’s interesting to you.

If you are interested in what you are writing about you will happily write all you know and research to know more about your subject. You will easily spice your writing with interesting tid-bits that will delight your readers and keep them reading until the end of your book.

Get your book out of your heart to paper fast. If you wait you could be this time next year with the same desire to get your book out. Use the eight easy steps of committing to a regular writing schedule, planning a short book first, choosing a

passion-led topic, picking an interesting to-you subject, getting to know your reader first, developing a plan for each chapter, designing your book’s top market spots, and choosing your non-fiction topic first to become a successful author sooner. The world is waiting for your important message to answer their questions and help them become successful.

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What are your Abilities?

November 6, 2008 - 1:35 pm

For every individual some moment comes when it seems logical to ask if that is what they want to do till the rest of their days. Indeed, according to the statistics, 25% of those involved in various industries have no interest in what they manufacture or produce or sell. The truth is that no one will be successful in the field where he or she has no interest. This can also bring a person into a state of depression and keep her down till he or she resigns. When you start regressing and loosing interest towards your job, it’s high time to start thinking about changing qualifications and searching for other job.

What are the ways to determine your possibilities and abilities? First of all, listen to your calling. What was your sacred desire when you were a high-school student? Even if the realization of the idea is not possible, still there are relevant ways to become closer to the sphere of your dreams. You can also turn to an agency and specialists will help you to determine the field you should work at. There is a great number of tests that can determine your abilities that lye whether in analytical sphere or in creative direction. Even if you do not wish to visit the agency, you may find the answers yourself. First of all, you have to feel well and see things clearly. Maybe the time to make the final step has come and you indeed quit your job. You may feel light, but usually people feel lost and discoursed. Therefore you may want to dedicate a week to regaining strength and fresh mind. Having some privacy, you might see clearer what you may do next. Put the material issue aside, though it may seem hard. Exactly the material issue makes people change their plans in favor of good salary but not happiness. Think about what brings you pleasure, delight, gives feeling of happiness. The first steps may be difficult but success will follow if you try hard enough.

The main motivator should be your desire, the calling of your heart, but not the opinion of your parents, friends, teachers and other people that may influence on your decision. You are aware that not all dreams are realized but maybe there is a chance for you to develop business that will bring you pleasure instead of going to work that you hate and do not want to grow skills anymore. You may be good in writing speeches or repairing TV sets, every profession is extremely useful. Whatever you choose, your choice will be right if you follow your desire.

How to Write Your Op-Ed Piece

November 6, 2008 - 10:34 am

Op-ed articles, also known as opinion/editorial articles, are a great way for aspiring writers to publicize their work and, in exchange, receive an amazing amount of publicity for free. You can write an op-ed piece and get it publicized provided you follow these simple rules.

Before you begin to write, you need to target which newspaper you would like your article to appear in. You stand a greater chance of getting into your local paper than in a national publication like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, or USA Today. Still, if one of the national publications appeals to you, then give it a try.

1. Follow the rules. Every newspaper has guidelines on what their specific requirements are. Familiarize yourself with these guidelines and stringently hold yourself to their requirements. Failure to do so will mean you will be rejected.

2. Write with precision. Newspapers do not like verbose writers, unless it is for a feature piece and it is for a high end publication, such as The Washington Post. Short, crisp, and to-the-point sentences are the order of the day.

3. Write with persuasion. Whatever your point of view, write persuasively. Do not muddy the waters by giving vague answers. If you are discussing a problem, count on offering the solution. Expect that your article may occupy one half of the op-ed page; the other half may feature a rebuttal or an opposite point of view.

4. Double space. As with any submitted writing, you must double space your text. Expect the editors to work their magic on your piece, including removing entire paragraphs to make everything fit.

5. Submit a cover letter. Yes, you more than likely will have to snail mail your letter, so send it off with a cover letter to the appropriate contact person.

6. Your contact information. Your name, address, city, state, country, zip, contact numbers, and email address are all needed. More than likely none of this will be included in the piece, but they do need a way to get back to you.

7. Resource box. Unlike ezine sites where you can write a lengthy discourse on who you are and have links to your site, it is likely that only a one or two word sentence about “who you are” will be included. So, consider writing your own resource box and hope that they like it. [You can count on it being changed if they do not.] It could be written something like this:

John Doe is a Detroit based freelance writer affiliated with Writer’s Write.

Yes, that may be about all the information they want to share about you with their readers.

More than likely you will know within two weeks time if your piece will get published. Some papers will contact you to let you know if you have been approved/rejected, while others will simply publish your article. Do not hound them as you may want to become a regular contributor.

What is the next step?

1. If you are approved, you can expect letters to the editor — from readers — in response to your piece to begin appearing in subsequent editions of the newspaper. Do not be surprised if letters begin arriving in your home or place of business too. Expect phone calls from people who may want to discuss your point of view further, or invite you to speak in front of their group, etc.

2. If you are rejected, consider modifying and resubmitting your piece or forwarding it to another publication. Accept criticism about your writing style, if offered.

3. Op ed pieces are sometimes picked up by syndicators such as Reuters or Google News; your piece can have a life well beyond the local newspaper. If you hit the national press, you can count on your article having widespread coverage. Do a search on Google a few days after publication and you may discover how wide a net your piece has cast. If that is the case, good for you!

Above all, op-ed article can help shape local or national opinion, so think of the greater good you can do as well as the publicity you just may receive when crafting your article. Although newspaper circulation continues to drop, online versions of these same newspapers continue to grow, thereby giving you exposure far beyond the intended market.

An Author’s Glimpse Into The Operation Of A Book Publishing Company

November 6, 2008 - 8:19 am

The publishing company is the backbone of the writing world. The publishing company provides a great service to society by publishing and displaying the work of authors. The global existence of publishers is obvious, but the inner workings of a publishing company is unknown by many authors. Many book publishers consider the publishing industry as an apprenticeship industry — most book publishing professionals gain knowledge and skills in this field with hands-on job experience. Generally, what an apprentice learns in one department is useful throughout the publishing house, which gives professionals the opportunity to move between departments. A typical publishing company has many levels to it, each with different functions.

THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEPARTMENT

The Administrative Department is the first level of any book publishing company. It has many responsibilities to help the publishing company function properly. The Administrative Department manages daily operations for publishing executives and management. This responsibility involves interaction with all employees from all departments, as well as interaction with authors and agents. The administrative employees manage the calendar, maintain organized files, screen/prioritize mail, draft correspondence, make travel arrangements and prepare itineraries, process expense reports, take minutes at meetings, and prepare reports. A position as an administrative employee allows a person to have a high-level of understanding of a publishing company, while being visible to executives.

THE ADVERTISING DEPARTMENT

All large and small publishing companies have an Advertising Department. Most publishing companies have in-house advertising agencies that purchase media space and create and design advertisements. In a publishing company, the Advertising Department works closely with the marketing directors, editors, and publishers of titles to create an advertising plan that promotes sales of an author’s book. An advertising plan requires research and negotiation to provide the best venues and the most cost-effective methods of advertisement. These employees also work closely with graphic designers, commercial sales representatives, printing presses, and internal staff to facilitate the run of advertisements.

THE EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT

The Editorial Department of a publishing company is one of the most important departments. The Editorial Department acquires, negotiates, develops, and edits book projects for publication. The daily activities of editorial employees include preparing acquisitions for transmittal to the production department; developing and maintaining relationships with authors, booksellers, and agents; performing general administrative duties; participating in editorial, design and marketing meetings; and reading and evaluating submissions by writing reader’s reports. The editorial department must work closely with all departments.

THE MARKETING DEPARTMENT

Another division of a publishing company is the Marketing Department. The Marketing Department creates, prepares, and establishes marketing strategies and policies for each book title by coordinating the efforts of publicity, promotion, advertising, and sales departments. The Marketing Department prepares all sales presentation materials, audio recordings, fact sheet collation, and promotions; creates and produces additional account-specific presentation materials; researches and establishes relations with new markets; and plans and maintains sales and marketing schedules.

THE PUBLISHER’S OFFICE

The Publisher’s Office is also an important department for many publishing companies. The publishers oversee the life cycle of a book title from acquisition to production, and onto the sales force. Publishers make executive decisions for all book titles within assigned imprints while staying within any cost restraints. This department is also responsible for sponsoring book projects, strategies, and initiatives for the publishing company.

BOOK RIGHTS DEPARTMENT

The Subsidiary Rights and Permissions Department is one of the most important divisions of a book publishing company. This department finds additional sources of profit for a given title, including serials, book clubs, and paperback, audio and e-book rights.

The daily activities for the subsidiary department include writing submission letters; sending manuscripts, proposals, and books to foreign publishers and agents; coordinating co-productions with other publishers; working with book clubs and sales for special editions; and maintaining relationships with other publishing companies.

ENJOY THE JOURNEY

The road to getting a book published is a long one, but well worth the effort. Trust yourself, and trust the publisher to create a beautiful masterpiece. Don’t be discouraged if several publishers are not interested in your book. You may have to self-publish your first book, and then again, a large or small publishing company may accept your book based on marketability. Good luck and enjoy the process.