Writing Prompt: Crossing words to find a story

This is a vocabulary building exercise and writing prompt. Find a crossword puzzle. You can usually locate one in the local paper, a magazines, or you may be a crossword buff and have a book of puzzles. Complete the puzzle. Then use the answers to the puzzle and the puzzles theme as a starting point for an essay, poem or short story.

Blog Whispering: Seven Secrets to Writing Great Posts

Secret # 2

Utilize crosslinking and give references

Posts like standard articles are only as good as their sources. When you provide opinions, news or instruction in your posts, naming the sources which helped you draw your conclusions or provide new information to your readers gives your writing greater credibility. For example, one of my favorite blogging resources is Darren Rowse's Problogger.net. He discusses how to utilize crosslinking to promote blogs and build readership in his Blogging for Beginners series.

Tips and Take Aways: Travel Writing

Are you interested in turning your vacations or other travel experiences into writing opportunities? Check out Written Road. Click on the link in the post title and learn more about the resources this travel writing website has to offer.

Quote for the Week: Good Medicine

"Take a good day."
--counselor ending a phone conversation

Word for the Week: sustain

sus·tain

tr.v. sus·tained, sus·tain·ing, sus·tains

• To keep in existence; maintain.
  
• To supply with necessities or nourishment; provide for.
  
• To support from below; keep from falling or sinking; prop.
  
• To support the spirits, vitality, or resolution of; encourage.
  
• To bear up under; withstand: can't sustain the blistering heat.
  
• To experience or suffer: sustained a fatal injury.
  
• To affirm the validity of: The judge has sustained the prosecutor's objection.
  
• To prove or corroborate; confirm.
  
• To keep up (a joke or assumed role, for example) competently.

Writing Prompt: Take a Walk (or Drive) About

Take a walk or a drive. The length of time you spend on this journey is entirely up to you; keep in mind that you'll be mining this experience for writing material, so don't make the trip too long. When you return to your writing space, record your observations and thoughts in your journal. Record as many sensory details as possible. Did you discover the seeds of a story, an essay or an article during your trip?

Blog Whispering: Seven Secrets to Writing Great Posts

Many bloggers find themselves in two kinds of dilemmas when it comes to crafting posts for their blogs. Those new to blogging ask,"What should I make the topic of my posts and how long should they be?" Others, who have been blogging for a period of time may find their flow of posting ideas trickling down or ceasing altogether, so they ask, "What next?" Essentially, they are the same question, "How do I develop content?"

Successful bloggers are blog whisperers. They possess the ability to coax new and improved content from their blog based on the following:

• their ongoing analysis of the current developments and trends in the area(s) of their blog's focus
• their interactions with their readers via comments, surveys, links, group projects, etc.
• surveying the current state of their blog and planning for its continued growth

In the coming weeks, Thursdays at A Conservatory of One will supply one of the seven secrets, bloggers, who write posts that bring repeat visits, know. Knowing and applying these principles will help new bloggers build a solid body of content for their site and assist veteran bloggers in maintaining and growing the quality of their blog's content.

Secret #1

Plan Your Posts

Plan your posts as you would a series of newsletter articles or the content of a minimag. Following this principle provides several benefits. This approach will offset blogger's block, because you'll have either an informational curve or theme to follow. It teaches you discipline. Planning posts helps focus and develop your thoughts, ideas and potential add-ons that will increase the appeal/value of your blog as you work keep it going and growing.It will also facilitate growing a steady audience, because your readers will quickly learn the type of content you offer and depending on whether or not you choose to schedule certain types of posts, they'll know when to find it.

Tips and Take Aways: Writer's Reference Materials Online

The keys to writing well and getting published are :

• offering great ideas/desirable information
• high quality writing

High quality writing is the result of good research, following the rules of spelling, grammar and punctuation as well as writing in a readable easy to follow style.

When working to accomplish this balance, the best writers know they must utilize their friends on the reference shelf, English usage and style reference books, composition guides and reliable writers' manuals. If you cannot yet afford an extensive writing library, do not despair.

Dictionary.com provides a listing of writer's reference books and links to their texts online. A cornucopia of help is a click away.

Quote for the Week: Paulo Coelho

For the warrior, there is no "better" or "worse"; everyone has the necessary gifts for his particular path.

-Paulo Coelho



*Source artquotes.net

Word for the Week: mischief

mis·chief n.

• Behavior that causes discomfiture or annoyance in another.
  
• An inclination or tendency to play pranks or cause embarrassment.
  
• One that causes minor trouble or disturbance: The child was a mischief in school.
  
• Damage, destruction, or injury caused by a specific person or thing: The broken window was the mischief of vandals.
  
• The state or quality of being mischievous.

Writing Prompt: How to Write Articles in ....and Challenges

1. At this point, you should have a finished article in hand. Now, its time for you to get it published . In some of my previous posts, I discussed how to research markets and where you can submit your work for publication. Good luck!

2. Write about the most challenging thing you've experienced so far. How did you feel? Did you overcome it or do you stil find yourself dealing with it? Did you just let it go or do you find yourself dwelling on it?

How to Write Articles in Six Easy Steps: Publish

Publish

Hooray! You made it. You are ready to share your work with the public, your editor, your boss, your newsletter readership—whoever your audience may be. Remember presentation is everything. Make sure that your copy is clean and that the document is delivered appropriately. When submitting your article for publication, follow the Writer’s Guidelines, the instructions provided in response to your query letter, or your editor’s instructions—no exceptions!

As you continue to write and submit articles, remember that as with any craft, success comes with practice and application. Frequently writing and submitting articles improves your chances of being published. The activity of writing frequently and any feed back you receive from editors will improve your skill level. Also, your work must be seen to be considered. The more articles you have in the loop, so to speak, the more likely it is that one of them will be chosen to run in a publication.

Congratulations! You completed the work; now, reap the benefits. You are an effective writer with an article ready for publication.

Tips and Take Aways: Writers Digest Top 100

If you're looking for accessible markets, try these. Writers Digest uses a point system to rank publications based on their acceptance of manuscripts, pay rate, time of payment and a number of other pertinent points. One of these markets could be your big break into print. Check it out; the link is in the post title.
D.M.H.

Quote for Week: Proverb on Love

Tell me whom you love and I'll tell you who you are.
Source: (Creole)

Word for the Week: drive

Main Entry: drive

1 a : to frighten or prod (as game or cattle) into moving in a desired direction b : to go through (a district) driving game animals
2 : to carry on or through energetically
3 a : to impart a forward motion to by physical force b : to repulse, remove, or cause to go by force, authority, or influence c : to set or keep in motion or operation
4 a : to direct the motions and course of (a draft animal) b : to operate the mechanism and controls and direct the course of (as a vehicle) c : to convey in a vehicle d : to float (logs) down a stream........

Click on the link in the post title to learn more about the versatility of this simple word.
D.M.H.

Vocabulary Building Means More Opportunities for Success

It is very important for writers to make the effort to constantly build their vocabulary. As writers, we're in the communications business. In the communications business, a writer's paycheck grows in relationship to their vocabulary. A broad and varied vocabulary allows a writer to cover a broad and varied range of topics and ideas. This in turn provides a writer access to more potential projects.

There are many approaches to growing one's vocabulary. Some people use their reading as a way to learn new words and concepts. They challenge themselves to read magazines and books that cover information outside their normal realm of experience. As they come across words they do not know, they make a note of them and learn their definition and usage. Others pickup a vocabulary building reference book and learn a word or group of words on a weekly or daily basis. Learning another language is also a great way to learn new words, concepts and gain a new perspective when reading or writing in one's native language.

Select the approach that suits your time and your learning style. Then pursue vocabulary building with zeal. It will payoff.

Researching Writers' Markets

Finding markets for your work seems a simple straightforward process. It is. Writers use market listings, which give publications' details, submission address, the contact or editor and the type of content they accept and publish, to find a place for articles and pieces already written or to create a piece for submission based on the chosen listings and their guidelines.

There are numerous references both on and offline which can provide writers with such listings. Online, there's WritersWeekly.com, WritersMarket.com, and the webpages of various ezines and publications that have a print format. Offline, Writer's Digest publishes Writer's Markets yearly and the publishers of Writer's Magazine also publishes a compendium of market places.

Many beginning writers get bogged down in the bounty of information. Here are a few suggestions to help with the search for markets. Use one market listing reference at a time. Familiarize yourself with it. Select markets that complement your area of expertise or for which articles you have written, but not yet published would be suitable. Some publications accept previously published work, but many do not. Read and follow the writers' guideline of each publication carefully. After reviewing the listing, selecting your markets and getting the writers' guidelines as instructed, submit your pitches/query letters and articles. Try to keep three submissions in the outbox at all times. Publication success is also a numbers game. You've got to have work circulating to be considered and ultimately to get paid if you're pursuing writing as a career. Then choose another market reference and follow the same process. Continue this process and you'll find the market listing reference which best suits your style, you'll be able to compare and contrast their strengths and weaknesses, and cross-reference as necessary.

Writing Prompt: How to Write Articles... and Summer Memories

1. If you've been following my How to Write Articles series, we're in the home stretch. It's time to proofread your final draft for any last minute mistakes and changes.

2. Write about your favorite summer memory or memories. Pay particular attention to the sensory details--sights, smells, tastes, etc.

The Top Ten Reasons Writers Should Blog

Check out my latest article at Associated Content. It explains in greater detail the professional reasons writers should blog, where my previous post focused more on the social and personal benefits of blogging for writers.

The Top Ten Reasons Writers Should Blog
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/35789/the_top_ten_reasons_writers_should.html

How to Write Article in Six Easy Steps: Proofreaders' Marks

Proofread
At this point, you should have your final draft in hand. This is the time to make certain that you have followed each step of the writing process and applied the following:
· Cater to your audience.
· Make clarity your guide post as you write.
· Be concise in your writing: provide detail as necessary and only when that detail serves
your guidepost, clarity.

Apply Proofreaders’ Marks to your final copy as you look for any last minute misspellings or necessary corrections to grammar. It always helps to set the article aside for a period of time and review it later with fresh eyes. If you can find another person who is willing to look over your writing, that is even better. They can act as a test audience and tell you about any lack of consistency in style, tone, or clarity of message.

Tips and Take Aways: Guerilla Marketing with A Heart

Post from Galley Cat @ mediabistro.com

Tuesday, June 06

The Case of the Secret Santa

Would you believe we have an honest-to-goodness BLIND ITEM for you today? Fans keep telling us we need to run more, to which we always respond we'll be happy to run the ones we get, and somebody finally ponied up! ....

Click on the link in the post title to read all about it!

Tips and Take Aways: Memoir

There's been quite a fracas this year over the nature of memoir vs biography and biography vs biographical fiction. If you're writing or reading one of these types of pieces, you may find Danielle Trussoni's post at the MBToolbox blog informative.

Quote for the Week: Theodore Roosevelt

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.
Theodore Roosevelt

Word for the Week: endurance

en·dur·ance

• The act, quality, or power of withstanding hardship or stress: A marathon tests a runner's endurance.
  
• The state or fact of persevering: Through hard work and endurance, we will complete this project.
  
• Continuing existence; duration.

Tips and Take Aways: Writing A Novel

If you're writing a novel, a blog about writing a novel or a blovel (OK, I'll stop there), check out this blog, Writing A Novel.

Read Ebooks for free beginning July 4--August 4 courtesy of Project Gutenberg and World ebook Library

E-book project to give free access to third of a million books next month from PhysOrg.com

(AP) -- Electronic book devotees may want to set aside some extra screen time this summer, as two nonprofits are preparing to provide free access to 300,000 texts online.
[...]

Writer's Market Place: Weblens.org

I found this site while surfing for markets. Many of the writer's market resources that I use are listed here at the WeblensWriting Jobs, Writers' Markets, Guidelines & More page. Bookmark this site as a favorite; it's a versatile resource for web savvy writers who want to leverage the unique opportunities provided by the internet to their advantage. This particular page is a pretty expansive listing of writer's guidelines, freelance, elance and writing jobs listings.

D.M.H.

Writing Prompts: How to Write an Article... continues and Songtelling

1. If you've been following my How to Write an Article... series, it's time to edit the article which you started revising last week.

2. Listen to your favorite song. Here are three writing possibilities:

• Write the song's story. Who's story does it tell? What happens? How does it end? If there is no clear ending, how do you think the story told by the song should or would end?
• Write about why this song is your favorite.
• Write about the first time you heard this song or the strongest memory it invokes.

D. M. H.