The personal essay is a great way to explore your thoughts. Even if the essay or essays never make it to publication, you may find the seeds of great writing ideas. Check out these tips at Claire's MB toolbox.
D.M.H.
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Thursday, August 31, 2006
Wednesday, August 30, 2006
Make Room for More Gold
Old papers, notes and notebooks are the pirate's booty of writers. We hoard them and go in search of more. Often, we do not make time to survey or catalog our take. If we did so with a keen eye, our records could provide a wealth of ideas and potential resources.
I'm in the process of sifting through my books and filing cabinet. As I've moved to a new residence, I've discovered that I don't have quites as much storage space. During my picking and purging, I discovered a note from a friend advising me on how to proceed in writing my then newly conceived novel. After re-reading the note, I drafted a tighter, revised summary of said novel. The new version is more historically apt, more poignant and the product of three years of maturity. I know that it will be a great novel, but it may have taken me alot longer to discern the right way for me to tell the story I'd conceived and set aside if I hadn't come across that note now tucked into my notebook.
I'm in the process of sifting through my books and filing cabinet. As I've moved to a new residence, I've discovered that I don't have quites as much storage space. During my picking and purging, I discovered a note from a friend advising me on how to proceed in writing my then newly conceived novel. After re-reading the note, I drafted a tighter, revised summary of said novel. The new version is more historically apt, more poignant and the product of three years of maturity. I know that it will be a great novel, but it may have taken me alot longer to discern the right way for me to tell the story I'd conceived and set aside if I hadn't come across that note now tucked into my notebook.
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Hurricane Katrina Anniversary Arrives With A Procession of Retrospectives
"The silence in the wake...of the destruction...of Hurricane Katrina....is deafening."
--survivor who had to battle to retrieve her mother's body on last night's airing of
NBC's Katrina: the long road back
Gulf Coast mourns 1 year after Katrina @ Yahoo!
Katrina: the long road back @ MSNBC
WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS Spike Lee's Documentary on Hurricane Katrina
--survivor who had to battle to retrieve her mother's body on last night's airing of
NBC's Katrina: the long road back
Gulf Coast mourns 1 year after Katrina @ Yahoo!
Katrina: the long road back @ MSNBC
WHEN THE LEVEES BROKE: A REQUIEM IN FOUR ACTS Spike Lee's Documentary on Hurricane Katrina
Monday, August 28, 2006
Word for the Week: tarantism
tarantism (TAR-uhn-tiz-uhm) noun
An uncontrollable urge to dance.
[After Taranto, a town in southern Italy where this phenomenon was experiencedduring the 15-17th centuries. It's not clear whether tarantism was the symptomof a spider's bite or its cure, or it may have been just a pretext to dodge aprohibition against dancing. The names of the dance tarantella and the spidertarantula are both derived from the same place.]
-Anu Garg (http://wordsmith.org/words/tarantism.html)
An uncontrollable urge to dance.
[After Taranto, a town in southern Italy where this phenomenon was experiencedduring the 15-17th centuries. It's not clear whether tarantism was the symptomof a spider's bite or its cure, or it may have been just a pretext to dodge aprohibition against dancing. The names of the dance tarantella and the spidertarantula are both derived from the same place.]
-Anu Garg (http://wordsmith.org/words/tarantism.html)
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Writing Prompt: If I could have met....
Write about the conversation you would have with a historical figure, Virginia Wolf, Ghandi, Gordon Parks, etc., if you could sit down and chat with them.
Book Review: Your Bookkeeping Stinks by Scott Gregory, CPA
Title: Your Bookkeeping Stinks! Why It's Killing Your Business & Wrecking Your Plans for Retirement
Author: Scott Gregory
Formats: PDF (ebook) Paperback
Pages: 60
Your Bookkeeping Stinks! provides 60 pages of commonsense advice for small business owners and the otherwise self-employed. Scott Gregory, CPA addresses 21 common accounting and bookkeeping mistakes or "stinkers" made by well intentioned small business owners and self-employed service providers. He discusses the need to seek professional bookkeeping, accounting and payroll assistance unless such expertise is already part of your repetoire of experience or that of an employee. He dispells the misconception that its necessary to go to the expense of employing such assistance on a full time basis; depending on the size of your enterprise, a quaterly or semi-annual basis check-up could be sufficient.
Each "stinker" is clearly stated and explained using real world examples. Gregory also provides solutions to each stinker, such as shoebox recordkeeping--develop a filing system, allowing your computer guy to setup your bookkeeping database--don't do it; get help from a professional accountant or bookkeeper and not backing-up/updating such records on a regular basis--make it part of your schedule. He also provides some helpful checklists in the form of appendices at the end of the book.
This book is a quick read and a good overview for those new to the accounting side of working for themselves, as well as the old pros, who need to do some maintenance work on the financial transaction applications and records part of their business. Gregory lets his readers know that they don't have to endure the burden of past financial trangressions; they can clean up their filing and records systems and look forward to a more manageable financial future.
I would have liked more detailed answers in the solutions offered at the end of each section. I also would have liked a listing of resources. For example, a listing of additional reading materials and online resources would have been very helpful as readers seek ways to apply the solutions provided by Gregory.
Overall, I would recommend this book to those trying to gain a better understanding of accounting and bookkeeping. It's a quick non-intimidating read which addresses a topic that many find a bit overwhelming and thus, don't approach efficiently or effectively. In short, Your Bookkeeping Stinks! is a good way to start airing out your office.
Get Your Copy of Your Bookkeeping Stinks!
D.M.H.
Author: Scott Gregory
Formats: PDF (ebook) Paperback
Pages: 60
Your Bookkeeping Stinks! provides 60 pages of commonsense advice for small business owners and the otherwise self-employed. Scott Gregory, CPA addresses 21 common accounting and bookkeeping mistakes or "stinkers" made by well intentioned small business owners and self-employed service providers. He discusses the need to seek professional bookkeeping, accounting and payroll assistance unless such expertise is already part of your repetoire of experience or that of an employee. He dispells the misconception that its necessary to go to the expense of employing such assistance on a full time basis; depending on the size of your enterprise, a quaterly or semi-annual basis check-up could be sufficient.
Each "stinker" is clearly stated and explained using real world examples. Gregory also provides solutions to each stinker, such as shoebox recordkeeping--develop a filing system, allowing your computer guy to setup your bookkeeping database--don't do it; get help from a professional accountant or bookkeeper and not backing-up/updating such records on a regular basis--make it part of your schedule. He also provides some helpful checklists in the form of appendices at the end of the book.
This book is a quick read and a good overview for those new to the accounting side of working for themselves, as well as the old pros, who need to do some maintenance work on the financial transaction applications and records part of their business. Gregory lets his readers know that they don't have to endure the burden of past financial trangressions; they can clean up their filing and records systems and look forward to a more manageable financial future.
I would have liked more detailed answers in the solutions offered at the end of each section. I also would have liked a listing of resources. For example, a listing of additional reading materials and online resources would have been very helpful as readers seek ways to apply the solutions provided by Gregory.
Overall, I would recommend this book to those trying to gain a better understanding of accounting and bookkeeping. It's a quick non-intimidating read which addresses a topic that many find a bit overwhelming and thus, don't approach efficiently or effectively. In short, Your Bookkeeping Stinks! is a good way to start airing out your office.
Get Your Copy of Your Bookkeeping Stinks!
D.M.H.
Wednesday, August 23, 2006
Andrew Young Chokes On His Honest Foot, While America Continues to Flounder In Its Hypocrisy
If Americans are so tough--then why when it comes to questions of racial and social inequities are our skins so thin? D.M.H.
The VDARE article at http://www.vdare.com/sailer/060820_young.htm is worth reading!
The VDARE article at http://www.vdare.com/sailer/060820_young.htm is worth reading!
Tips and Take-aways: Contracts and other advice from an agent's perspective
Initially, many writers bring all of their attention to bear on getting the writing done. When writers next turn their attention toward pursuing publication, they discover that every published or publishing writer is in business for themselves. We master our craft only to learn that pursuing publication involves a business and social knowledge base which we may not naturally possess.
The prospect of pursuing publication can be a bit daunting. Don't despair; hope shines brightly from the toes of Miss Snark's smart, red stilletos. Miss Snark, an anonymous literary agent, doles out advice to aspiring and working writers on her blog. Be warned. Her advising approach is not for those still tender from their latest rejection, but it's well worth the visit.
The prospect of pursuing publication can be a bit daunting. Don't despair; hope shines brightly from the toes of Miss Snark's smart, red stilletos. Miss Snark, an anonymous literary agent, doles out advice to aspiring and working writers on her blog. Be warned. Her advising approach is not for those still tender from their latest rejection, but it's well worth the visit.
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Quote for the Week: Juan Williams
Juan Williams~ A twisted pop culture that offers a virtual blueprint for failure is a far more sinister obstacle than racism to African American young people today.
Juan Williams is a senior correspondent for National Public Radio, a political analyst for Fox News and author of "Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965."
Read this essay at Washington Post.com:
Banish The Bling:
A Culture of Failure Taints Black America
By Juan Williams
Monday, August 21, 2006
Juan Williams is a senior correspondent for National Public Radio, a political analyst for Fox News and author of "Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Years, 1954-1965."
Read this essay at Washington Post.com:
Banish The Bling:
A Culture of Failure Taints Black America
By Juan Williams
Monday, August 21, 2006
Monday, August 21, 2006
Word for the Week: tumultuous
tumultuous
Main Entry: tu·mul·tu·ous
Function: adjective 1 : marked by tumult2 : tending or disposed to cause or incite a tumult
3 : marked by violent or overwhelming turbulence or upheaval- tu·mul·tu·ous·ly adverb
tu·mul·tu·ous·ness noun
tumult
Main Entry: tu·mult
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English tumulte, from Anglo-French, from Latin tumultus; perhaps akin to Sanskrit tumula noisy 1 a : disorderly agitation or milling about of a crowd usually with uproar and confusion of voices : COMMOTION b : a turbulent uprising : RIOT 2 : HUBBUB, DIN
3 a : violent agitation of mind or feelings b : a violent outburst
Main Entry: tu·mul·tu·ous
Function: adjective 1 : marked by tumult
3 : marked by violent or overwhelming turbulence or upheaval
tu·mul·tu·ous·ness noun
tumult
Main Entry: tu·mult
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English tumulte, from Anglo-French, from Latin tumultus; perhaps akin to Sanskrit tumula noisy 1 a : disorderly agitation or milling about of a crowd usually with uproar and confusion of voices : COMMOTION b : a turbulent uprising : RIOT 2 : HUBBUB, DIN
3 a : violent agitation of mind or feelings b : a violent outburst
Friday, August 18, 2006
Writing Prompt: 20/20 Hindsight
I've been reflecting a great deal on my past and past relationships. I've dicovered that with distance, one's powers of discernment and understanding multiply exponentially. This is particularly true when strong emotions are involved.
For this week's writing prompt, try writing about a past relationship. It can be familial, romantic, professional, etc. Write about the way you felt/viewed the relationship as it began and when you were in the midst of its early growth. Next, write about the relationship from your current perspective. Did it evolve? Did it end? Does it continue?
For this week's writing prompt, try writing about a past relationship. It can be familial, romantic, professional, etc. Write about the way you felt/viewed the relationship as it began and when you were in the midst of its early growth. Next, write about the relationship from your current perspective. Did it evolve? Did it end? Does it continue?
Thursday, August 17, 2006
Something to talk about
Last week, I completed my series on the seven secrets of writing great blog posts. In the past, I've discussed article writing and why writers should blog. What would you like to see covered next? Several heads are better than one when it comes to brainstorming. You can let me know by commenting to this post or email me at aconservatoryofone@yahoo.com.
Wednesday, August 16, 2006
Tips and Take Aways: Good to Know
Basics for Beginning Writers
http://www.sfwa.org/writing/basics.htm
http://www.sfwa.org/writing/basics.htm
Query Letters
http://www.writers.net/articles/writers/query_letters.php
Selecting a conference
http://www.yudkin.com/confs.htm
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
Quote for the Week: Greta Garbo & Milton Friedman
*Is there anything better than to be longing forsomething, when you know it is within reach?
Greta Garbo Swedish actress and Hollywood star, 1905-1990
Source: thinkexist.com
*One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by theirintentions rather than their results. -Milton Friedman, economist, Novellaureate (1912- )
Source: Wordsmith.com
Greta Garbo Swedish actress and Hollywood star, 1905-1990
Source: thinkexist.com
*One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by theirintentions rather than their results. -Milton Friedman, economist, Novellaureate (1912- )
Source: Wordsmith.com
Monday, August 14, 2006
Word for the Week: clinquant
clinquant (KLING-kuhnt)
adjective
Glittering, especially with gold or tinsel.
noun
Tinsel; glitter.
[From French, present participle of obsolete clinquer (to clink), from Dutch klinken (to clink).]
Source: Wordsmith.org
adjective
Glittering, especially with gold or tinsel.
noun
Tinsel; glitter.
[From French, present participle of obsolete clinquer (to clink), from Dutch klinken (to clink).]
Source: Wordsmith.org
Friday, August 11, 2006
Writing Prompt: When was your passion born?
We all have knowledge of certain things. We know that we're loved. We know when we were born. Then, there are the things that we remember. Some memories are fuzzy and others have an unexplainable clarity. I know that my mother read to me and that I enjoyed it, but I remember when I fell in love with books.
My passion for the written word was ignited by a visit from the local chapter of the Reading is Fundamental program when I was in kindergarten. When my class went to the auditorium that day, there was a book covered table at center stage and books on the floor all around it.
We were given an opportunity to look over the books and select one to take with us. I couldn't believe it.
After a great deal of consideration--I was the last to select my book--I chose Curious George. A volunteer wrote my name on a RIF sticker and affixed it to the front interior cover of the book. It was a first time that I chose my own book. It was the first time that I took ownership of the written word; my love for it would later allow me to wield it.
Write about your first book memory or your favorite book.
My passion for the written word was ignited by a visit from the local chapter of the Reading is Fundamental program when I was in kindergarten. When my class went to the auditorium that day, there was a book covered table at center stage and books on the floor all around it.
We were given an opportunity to look over the books and select one to take with us. I couldn't believe it.
After a great deal of consideration--I was the last to select my book--I chose Curious George. A volunteer wrote my name on a RIF sticker and affixed it to the front interior cover of the book. It was a first time that I chose my own book. It was the first time that I took ownership of the written word; my love for it would later allow me to wield it.
Write about your first book memory or your favorite book.
Thursday, August 10, 2006
Blog Whispering: Seven Secrets to Writing Great Posts
Secret #7
Allow comments and respond to them.
Blogging is based on click by click conversations in which blog readers and bloggers engage with one another via their posts and comments. Comments give added value to your posts. The unique perspective and potential resource value of each comment boosts the overall credibility and value of your blog. When people comment or link to your posts, its clear you've posted something that they want to talk about.
Make sure you enable comment moderation. You don't want random advertising or questionable material posted on your site via comments. Also, take a balanced approach as you decide which comments to post. If someone disagrees with your position, as long as they say so civilly, it's worth posting. Besides nothing draws readers like a good debate.
That concludes this series. I hope you find it helpful. Happy posting.
Allow comments and respond to them.
Blogging is based on click by click conversations in which blog readers and bloggers engage with one another via their posts and comments. Comments give added value to your posts. The unique perspective and potential resource value of each comment boosts the overall credibility and value of your blog. When people comment or link to your posts, its clear you've posted something that they want to talk about.
Make sure you enable comment moderation. You don't want random advertising or questionable material posted on your site via comments. Also, take a balanced approach as you decide which comments to post. If someone disagrees with your position, as long as they say so civilly, it's worth posting. Besides nothing draws readers like a good debate.
That concludes this series. I hope you find it helpful. Happy posting.
Wednesday, August 09, 2006
Tips and Take Aways: Freelancing is a Business
If you plan to pursue writing and specifically, freelance writing as your sole source of income, you need to write a business plan. Joining the ranks of the self-employed can be empowering, but you don't want to undermine that inspiring energy by simultaneously becoming a starving and harried artist. The way to prevent this is to plan for a successful transition from your traditional job to being a writing entrepreneur. Learn more at Bplans.com.
Note: This is not an endorsement of the software offered at this site, however the articles provide a good starting place for people new to business planning.
Note: This is not an endorsement of the software offered at this site, however the articles provide a good starting place for people new to business planning.
Tuesday, August 08, 2006
Quote for the Week: Denis Healy
from QuoteGeek.com:
It is a good thing to follow the First Law of Holes: if you are in one, stop digging.
Denis Healy (1917- )
It is a good thing to follow the First Law of Holes: if you are in one, stop digging.
Denis Healy (1917- )
Monday, August 07, 2006
Word for the Week: macushla
from Erin's Weird and Wonderful Word of the Day at OxfordUniversity Press online:
macushla
an affectionate form of address, used in Irish English. It comes from the Irish words mo, meaning 'my,' and cuisle, 'pulse'; a similar Irish word is acushla, from the phrase a chuisle (moi chroi), 'O pulse (of my heart)!'
macushla
an affectionate form of address, used in Irish English. It comes from the Irish words mo, meaning 'my,' and cuisle, 'pulse'; a similar Irish word is acushla, from the phrase a chuisle (moi chroi), 'O pulse (of my heart)!'
Friday, August 04, 2006
Writing Prompt: Expectations
Write about an occasion when you've exceeded your own expectations. Did you receive an unexpected promotion? Break your personal best record--running, lifting weights, actually completing a full aerobics class, etc. ? Learn to forgive?
Thursday, August 03, 2006
Blog Whispering: Seven Secrets to Writing Great Posts
Secret # 6
Connect your posts to the offline world.
Although many of us spend quite a bit of time online, eventually, most of us do logoff. By providing information which connects with the offline world, you're placing your blog in the position of being a resource and/or service provider. If your posts provide information that readers can use in their offline lives it becomes much more likely that they'll revisit your blog once they're back online.
Connect your posts to the offline world.
Although many of us spend quite a bit of time online, eventually, most of us do logoff. By providing information which connects with the offline world, you're placing your blog in the position of being a resource and/or service provider. If your posts provide information that readers can use in their offline lives it becomes much more likely that they'll revisit your blog once they're back online.
Wednesday, August 02, 2006
Tips and Takeaways: What's your brand?
Yesterday's post on MBToolbox, a blog maintained by Claire Zulkey at mediabistro.com, shared an email from Dan Cooper. The email discussed the importance of branding oneself for writers and how it can be accomplished. Check it out.
D.M.H.
D.M.H.
Tuesday, August 01, 2006
Quote for the Week: Simone de Beauvoir
I tore myself away from the safe comfort of certainties through my love for the truth; and truth rewarded me.
It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strength to live and our reasons for living.
That's what I consider true generosity. You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing.
Simone de Beauvoir
It is in the knowledge of the genuine conditions of our lives that we must draw our strength to live and our reasons for living.
That's what I consider true generosity. You give your all, and yet you always feel as if it costs you nothing.
Simone de Beauvoir
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