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A Few Keys to Writing Effective Dialogue
Every writer expends a great deal of creative energy developing a story line and limning well-balanced prose with evocative sentences. That's what writing is all about, after all. But fiction writers have an additional aspect to...
Back to the copywriting basics
You've probably read lots on effective copywriting strategies, how to utilise keywords, and various tricks of the trade for making sure your copywriting is as effective as possible. This is good stuff ... anything that results in a better website is...
New to Article Writing - Start Here
The internet articles writer can find thousands of tips and endless advice, much of it is good and some is worth its weight in gold. Sometimes writers get too complicated and try to produce articles that reflect all the great advice they have...
SEO Copywriting Makeover: Good Rankings but No Sales Part 1 of 2
by Karon Thackston © 2004-2005 http://www.copywritingcourse.com It's been a myth for as long as the Internet has been in existence. Get good rankings and your site will be successful. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but that has never been...
Your Writing Anxiety - 10 Ways to Bring Relief
Anxiety, apprehension, cold feet, consternation, dismay, distress, dread, fear, fright, horror, nervousness, panic, scare, strain, stress, tension, terror, trepidation, unease or uneasiness: whatever it's called, you've got it.
And the reason...
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PUT IT IN WRITING!
Ever been asked to 'Put it in Writing.'? Sure, you have. Did
you immediately go to your desk and effortlessly record your
thoughts and suggestions? Or, perhaps, you struggled and
anguished? For most folks, producing useful, credible and
appropriate written communication requires careful thought.
Those folks are wise. Written communication is an excellent
opportunity to showcase your communication skills. Writing
something down not only clarifies an issue, it tends to gives
the idea longevity, and, sometimes, a life of its own. Write
carefully!
Written communication can be a double-edged sword, can't it?
Well done, it can positively influence your career. Poorly,
quickly or thoughtlessly done, it can work against you
repeatedly. In a way, it IS written in stone. There it sits
for everyone to see...and revisit.
Caution: Avoid putting negative information in writing!
Absolutely do not put negative information in writing unless
it is accurately supported by verifiable fact.
If you want or need to convey your opinion or perception, do
so orally. Say it, rather than write it. Things have a
tendency to be scrutinized much more closely when they are in
writing. Folks look for inaccuracies and 'fodder for blame' in
written communication. Written words scribed in the heat of
the moment can sit in someone's files and become inadvertent
weapons for years to come. A negative written communication
can become a time bomb just waiting for the wrong person to
detonate it. In 'Getting Promoted', Harry E. Chambers says:
"Enemies created in writing tend to have long life spans." Be
careful.
There are a few basic guidelines to keep in mind before you
put pen to paper or allow your fingers to touch those keys.
Sure, the important thing is the message itself, however, how
that message is conveyed is a message in itself! Grammar
counts. Poor grammar detracts from the message. You do not
want anything to get in the way of your important message, do
you? Your computer may be a help as it suggests grammatical
changes, but, it is not infallible. You need the skills to
catch errors. You know
that your spell checker is limited
otherwise it would not have left this poem intact:
Eye halve a spelling chequer
It came with my pea sea.
It plainly marcs four my revue
Miss steaks eye kin Knot Sea.
Eye strikes a key
And type a word
And weight four it two say
Weather eye am wrong oar write
It shows me strait a weigh.
As soon as a mist ache is maid
It nose bee fore two long
And eye can put the error rite
Its rare lea ever wrong.
Eye has run this poem threw it
I am shore your pleased two no
Its letter perfect awl the weigh
My checker tolled me sew.
(borrowed from
www.virginiawater.co.uk/webnews/webnewsapr00.html Thanks.)
Make your writing concise. No one has the time or desire to
read a novel about your topic. "Just the facts, Ma'am." That's
what's needed. Quality, not quantity, is best. Winston
Churchill is reported to have said to an aide placing a
three-inch-high report on his desk, "That report, by its very
size, demands that it will never be read." Be sure to read
what you write before you send it. No one needs an exercise in
endurance to capture your point.
Take every opportunity to put positive information in writing.
Thank and congratulate folks. Report on all successes, major
and minor. Recommend solutions. Provide updates. When you've
got something good to say, Harry Chambers says: "Insure
accuracy, provide proof when available or necessary, and
distribute the communication as widely as possible." Being the
author of good news can put your name in a positive light when
promotion time arrives, too! This has got to be good!
Write as you speak and speak thoughtfully. This is the best
guideline for written communication at work.
About the Author
Dr. Shaler speaks to thousands of people each year giving them
and their organizations ‘The OK’s to SUCCEED!" --the
Optimization Keys to lift their sights and elevate results
from acceptable to EXCEPTIONAL. She is the author of
'Optimize Your Day! Practical Wisdom for Optimal Living’. Her
book as well as her free ezines are available from her
website, www.OptimizeLifeNow.com
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| Writing.Com: Writers, Writing, Poetry, Creative Writing, Fiction ... |
| An online community dedicated to fostering writing skills. With a free membership anyone may read, write, rate, and review works. |
| www.writing.com |
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| Welcome to Writing-World.com! |
| Writing articles and resources. Tips about how to become a better writer, get published and find writing markets. From Moira Allen. |
| www.writing-world.com |
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| Guide to Grammar and Writing |
| The Guide to Grammar and Writing contains scores of digital handouts on grammar and English usage, over 170 computer-graded quizzes, recommendations on ... |
| grammar.ccc.commnet.edu |
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| Purdue University's Online Writing Lab - The OWL Family of Sites |
| Writing lab and resources. Email newsletter available. |
| owl.english.purdue.edu |
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| OWL at Purdue University: General Writing Concerns Handouts |
| This page contains important links to the writing: planning/writing/revising aspects of the OWL website. |
| owl.english.purdue.edu |
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| Writing - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| The original Mesopotamian writing system was initially derived from a system of ... If it is deemed to be a written language, writing in China will predate ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Writing.org - Advice for Freelance Writers |
| Articles to help you launch a freelance writing career, from a former literary agent and PLAYBOY editor. |
| www.writing.org |
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| Writing HTML |
| More than just an HTML reference, this is a structured approach for learning how to create web pages, designed by specialists in learning at the Maricopa ... |
| www.mcli.dist.maricopa.edu |
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| National Novel Writing Month - National Novel Writing Month |
| NaNoWriMo is an annual (November) novel writing project that brings together professional and amateur writers from all over the world. |
| www.nanowrimo.org |
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| Poynter Online |
| Apply by Dec. 11 Reporting and Writing the Untold Stories Apply by Dec. 11 ... Reporting & Writing for Multi-Platform Newsrooms. Apply by Jan. 10 ... |
| www.poynter.org |
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| Pages tagged with "writing" on del.icio.us |
| This short online course provides a practical introduction to writing fiction. During the course you will be expected to write two short pieces for ... |
| del.icio.us |
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| BBC Get Writing |
| The BBC's online resource for writing drama and comedy for television, radio and film. |
| www.bbc.co.uk |
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| TOC About Writing |
| Menu of articles on writing written by professional SF/F writers. |
| www.sfwa.org |
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| 11 Rules of Writing -- a concise guide to important grammar ... |
| A concise guide to some of the most frequently violated rules of writing, punctuation, and grammar. |
| www.junketstudies.com |
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| NAEP Writing Subject Area |
| NAEP assesses student performance in writing periodically in grades 4, 8, and 12 for the nation, and in grades 4 and 8 for the states. |
| nces.ed.gov |
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| Writing: See what people are saying right now on Technorati |
| See all blog posts tagged with writing on Technorati. |
| www.technorati.com |
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| IPL Teenspace: A+ Research & Writing |
| Includes step-by-step instructions on researching and writing, how to find information online and offline, as well as links to useful resources. |
| www.ipl.org |
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| Dictionary.com: Writing Resources |
| Free online English dictionary and reference guide. List of sites writers can use. |
| dictionary.reference.com |
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| WritingFix: Home of Interactive Writing Prompts and 6 Trait ... |
| Daily and interactive writing prompts. |
| www.writingfix.com |
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| Advice on Academic Writing |
| Includes articles on critical reading, planning, researching, style and editing, grammar and punctuation. |
| www.utoronto.ca |
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