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Karen Cioffi
Writing Nonfiction - Using Quotes
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: May 1, 2012
Writing fiction has a number of elements that a writer needs to incorporate to create an engaging and believable story, such as characterization, plot, structure, clarity, and so on. Writing nonfiction also has a set of elements that must be incorporated into the piece to create similar results, such as clarity, structure, and an engaging story. But, when writing nonfiction the writer also needs to provide authentic information.
Being a Writer - Learn the Craft of Writing
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: May 1, 2012
Interestingly, there are various avenues that can be taken to become an accomplished or professional writer, but each one has the need for learning, practice, time, and commitment. Some writers may go to school and get degrees, others may learn from a coach or mentor, others from trial and error, failures and successes. But, whichever path is taken, there is a lot of work that goes into becoming experienced and knowledgeable, in being a writer. As the saying goes, practice makes perfect.
Writing Fiction for Children - Character Believability and Conflict
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: April 5, 2012
While there is an abundance of information about writing fiction for children, it can easily become overwhelming, and even confusing. But, getting down to the nitty-gritty, there are two basic elements or rules you need to be aware of for any fiction writing: creating believable characters and having conflict.
Successful Writing Strategy - Know Your Intent
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: April 4, 2012
Intent is a necessary factor on any path to success, including your path to writing success. You need to know what you want, what you're striving for. And, that knowledge has to be clearly defined.
Writing Fiction and Writing Nonfiction Differences and Similarities
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: February 16, 2012
If you're a newbie writer, you may not be sure what type of writing you'll be most comfortable in. Learning the basics may help you choose an area. To choose between writing fiction and writing nonfiction you'll need to know the differences and similarities.
5 Rules to Writing a Memoir
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: January 31, 2012
Writing a memoir is different things to different people. Some people are looking for closure, or a cathartic release from a traumatic event in their lives, others simply want to share their experiences with readers. But, whatever the reason behind writing a memoir, there are a few rules that should be adhered to.
Now Is the Time to Write for Money
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: January 30, 2012
You might be wondering what it means to 'write for money.' The answer to that is simple: any form of writing that provides payment is writing for money. You may ghostwrite articles or books, maybe you write white papers, e-books, newsletters, landing pages, greeting cards, or other content, if you get paid for writing it, it's writing for money.
Plan a Virtual Book Tour: Be a Gracious Guest and Effective Promoter
Writing and Speaking: Book Marketing • Published: December 27, 2011
Whether you created and are managing your own book tour or you've hired a publicist or book touring service, there are a few touring tips you should consider. Two of those tips are being a gracious guest and effective promoter.
Five SEO Blog Tips to Increase Traffic to Your Site
Internet and Businesses Online: SEO • Published: December 14, 2011
Whether you're article marketing or blog marketing, in essence you're information marketing. With this type of marketing you need to be award of at least five SEO tips, in order to generate targeted visibility and traffic.
Freelance Writing Work: The Possibilities
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: December 14, 2011
There are so many different freelance writing and ghostwriting jobs you can do. But, to keep your target market focused and to strengthen your area of expertise, you should choose one or two specific types of writing. Offering too many varying services weakens your platform and your authoritative status.
What Is SEO And SEO Marketing?
Internet and Businesses Online: SEO • Published: November 28, 2011
SEO marketing is the strategies or techniques used to create visibility and website ranking within the search engines, such as Google and Bing. Every online marketing strategy includes a multitude of promotional tools and SEO marketing is one of those tools under the marketing umbrella.
A Ghostwriter: 5 Features That Can Help Build Your Business
Business: Marketing • Published: November 23, 2011
With e-commerce rapidly growing, a ghostwriter is a must-have business tool for marketers or business owners who need to provide regularly updated content on their site/s and in their newsletters or informational emails. This marketing strategy is known as inbound marketing. It helps build your platform, creates and increases traffic to your site, and will help increase your mailing list.
Imagery and Your Story
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: November 7, 2011
Probably one of the most difficult aspects of writing is providing content that your reader can turn into pictures or imagery. You may know exactly what you're trying to convey, the image you want your reader to see, but does your content translate into effective imagery for your reader?
Plan a Virtual Book Tour - Attract Followers
Writing and Speaking: Book Marketing • Published: October 24, 2011
While there are some readers who are interested in learning about new books, for the majority of readers you will want to offer an 'ethical bribe' to follow along on your book tour. An 'ethical bribe' is a freebie, gift, or prize that you will offer to entice readers to follow along, and just as important, to comment, and most important, to buy your book.
Writing Business Plan: Create, Promote, and Sell
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: October 17, 2011
Dealing specifically with the writing world, there are a number of steps, and strategies you can use to design and implement an effective writing business plan. When you create a product or service, it should be a quality product or service. It needs to address the potential customer's problem, need, or want, and be of value.
Book Marketing - Choose a Website Domain Name
Writing and Speaking: Book Marketing • Published: October 3, 2011
Choose a website domain name carefully and think ahead. Marketing experts always advise using 'your name' for your domain name. While you can have multiple sites, your name should be your main or central site. On the other hand, if you write in a specific genre, you should include that in your website domain name.
Writing Books for Children - Submissions to Contract to Book Promotion to Writing Career
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: September 27, 2011
The foundation of writing for children, or any genre for that matter, is to learn the craft of writing. In regard to being a children's author you will need to learn the specific rules and tricks to create appropriate stories with age-appropriate words and story lines. Once you have taken the time to hone your craft and have critiqued, revised, and edited your manuscript to a polished state, it's on to the next phases of the traditional writing books for children writing path: submissions, promotion, and a writing career.
Editing a Book - 10 Tips Checklist for Children's Writers
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: September 20, 2011
You've been working on your story for a while now and you think it's just about done. It's been critiqued numerous times and you revised it numerous times. Now, it's time for 'editing a book;' this entails proofreading and self-editing. You don't want to short-change yourself on the last stretch, so get ready to put the final layers of polish on your manuscript. While this 'editing a book' article is geared toward children's writers, it has information for just about all writers.
3 Steps to Creating a Website for Your Book Promotion
Writing and Speaking: Book Marketing • Published: September 5, 2011
The time and effort you put into writing your book paid off - you got a publishing contract. And, now you're book will be out in a few months. It's time to get your visibility and platform in place and you will take your first step by creating a website.
Plan a Virtual Book Tour - The First Steps
Writing and Speaking: Book Marketing • Published: September 5, 2011
Virtual book tours can be an effective promotional strategy, and you can initiate one on your own or pay a publicist or book promotion marketer (tour service) to do it for you. Obviously, depending on your financial situation, you will need to decide which will work for you.
Book Marketing Strategy - Joint Ventures
Writing and Speaking: Book Marketing • Published: August 23, 2011
There is a song, The Power of One, which conveys what one individual can accomplish and/or change. But, how much more effective is the power of two, or five, or ten, or a hundred, or more?
Finding Children's Story Ideas
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: August 18, 2011
Sitting at the computer with a blank word document in front of you may be intimidating for a writer. You just finished one manuscript and need to start on another, or you've hired out to ghostwrite a story, whatever the reason is, you need to begin writing a children's story. What should it be about? You gaze out the window. You draw a blank.
Know Your Writing Weaknesses
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: August 16, 2011
As writers, we must pay attention to our writing weak spots and work on them. Not all editors or publishers will bother to look beyond a story's weak points and give the author the opportunity to improve her story and resubmit. Most often, the story will be rejected.
Be a Better Writer by Writing More
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: July 11, 2011
Do you write everyday? Do you spend a great deal of time each week writing? If you answered yes to these questions, you should have noticed an improvement in your writing, and possibly an improvement in the speed at which you are able to write. But, that's not all; you will also find it easier to think of topics to write about.
Writing: 8 Very Common Word Usage Errors
Writing and Speaking: Writing • Published: July 11, 2011
In writing, we all come across words that are a bit confusing, that we're not sure if we're using properly. These words may have similar meanings to other words, but may not be appropriate in every situation or sentence.
