Writing

The Way You Should Increase Your Sites Pagerank
 by: Eric Odom

We all know full well that developing links that point to your website can be more vital than just about any other technique known to the world of search engine optimization. Think about it for a moment. We need something that can:

a) Make sure our visitors are finding what they needed

b) Help us obtain our traffic goals

What would that be? Quality Content of course!

Some statistics on surfing the internet show that in nine times out of ten, when you find something that catches your eye and you end up reading it, you will probably find it through a quality text link. Because of this, it may also be true that linking to such quality content will help your pages rank better as well. So far it seems as though it works both ways.

What about reciprocal links though?

We still have no solid evidence in either direction as to whether or not the major SE’s are beginning to discredit or subtract “rank” if you will, when it comes to reciprocal links. So far, all tests are showing that there is no penalty involved. The site in question simply is not doing as well as it used to back before reciprocal links were not so exploited in the pagerank realm.

How To Get A Reporter’s Attention For Your Book
 by: Sophfronia Scott

Reporters are busy people. On any given day they are fielding dozens of phone calls, making calls of their own, reading stacks of newspapers and magazines and rushing to meet deadlines. So how do you break through all the noise to get a reporter or an editor on the phone to listen to your pitch?

In my 15 years as a magazine journalist I’ve fielded hundreds, if not thousands, of such calls. The following tips are what I’ve told many authors and publicists. The ones I eventually wrote about are the ones who listened and learned from the conversation.

1.) Ask If the Reporter Has Time to Speak to You

3 Low Cost Ways To Meet Agents & Editors
 by: Sophfronia Scott

These days it’s common knowledge that it’s hard to meet an agent or an editor through an unsolicited mailing. They are more likely to pay attention to a submission coming from someone they have met in person. To that end, writers flock to conferences so they can get some face time with real live agents and editors. And that’s great. I believe writers should get out and network. But those conferences can be pricey. It’s best to combine attending conferences with a few other strategies that are easier on your wallet. Here are 3 you may find useful.

1.) Attend Author Readings

Make a point of keeping track of writers who do work similar to yours. When they’re in the vicinity go hear them read. Sometimes–not all the time–but sometimes the author’s agent and editor will be in the audience. If they aren’t, see if you can steal a few moments with the writer and ask with whom he or she works and whether they have been pleased with the experience. You can either ask for an introduction or contact the people on your own. If you’re going to do the former, first develop a rapport with the writer and stay in touch. They may not feel comfortable referring you to their agent or editor right off the bat, but in time as they get to know you and your work, an introduction may be a possibility.

How To Read When You’re Writing
 by: Sophfronia Scott

Many writers say it: “I don’t read when I’m writing”. They think it will contaminate their voice, that whatever style they’re reading will somehow seep into their work and it really won’t be theirs. That’s only a problem if you’re writing a 21st-century urban romance and last night’s reading of Pride and Prejudice has you making your characters sound like they’re in an English drawing room and not a Miami nightclub!

In fact, if you’re not reading while you’re working on your book, you’re missing out on the many ways you can learn from authors past and present who have dealt with the very same issues you’re struggling with. I once heard that if a writer is stuck or has writer’s block, it’s because he or she hasn’t done their homework, and for a writer homework is reading. But how do you know what to read and how to make use of it? Here are 4 easy tips to getting the most out of your reading.

Identify the Strategies/Techniques You’re Using in Your Book

What Bruce Springsteen Taught Me About Writing
 by: Sophfronia Scott

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the release of Bruce Springsteen’s groundbreaking album Born to Run. Columbia Records is celebrating by re-releasing the disc with lots of audio and video goodies including interview material of Bruce discussing the writing of this seminal work. I’m a fan, so you can imagine I’ve been gobbling up this stuff like Thanksgiving came early! What’s hitting home for me is hearing about how Springsteen’s back was really up against the wall while he was creating this album. His record label was considering dropping him so he knew he had to make something happen. When people ask me “how do I know if my work is good enough?”, I think of Springsteen because surely he wasn’t asking that when he was trying to figure out what to write. The answer could have been “it’s not” if he had asked someone at his record company. He had to work and learn for himself how to tell if his work was good enough. This is what I learned from how he did it.

1.) Learn From the Great Ones

Book Review: The Sound of Paper
 by: Catherine Franz

She splits her year between New York City and Arizona. I

have been a fan since her first book and especially enjoyed

“The Artist Way.” I like to believe that I was one of the

first to devour it page by page, exercise by exercise. Not

just once but six times. Having studied with Julia through

the years, not just in my pajamas but in workshops and one-

on-one, I ponder how “The Sound of Paper” escaped my notice

until last month.

One of Julia’s gifts for showing readers instead of telling

them, I believe, begins with her perception. As a writer

myself, I saw myself as a writer for some years. But Julia

sees herself as an artist. And as I read the rhythmic

cadence, I see Julia swaying in front of a large white

canvas swirling colors on a brush getting ready to paint

with words. A creator of language, of prose, singular words

that say in just an instant what a picture says in a

thousand brush strokes. Mona Lisa step aside.

Write A Picture!
 by: Nick Smith

It can take quite a leap to get from the written word to a movie screen.

A screenplay, for all its clear descriptions of where characters are and what they say, has to work hard to meet the dramatic immediacy that we expect from films.

1. Stick To The Present Tense

Writing in the present tense helps, keeping the text direct and different from the prose you’ll find in most novels or short stories.

2. Add Sound Effects

Sound effects can be effectively replicated on the page, using onomatopoeia such as BANGS for gunshots and SCREAMS of characters in danger.

3. Keep It Tight

Keeping the whole script tight is one of the best ways to capture the in-your-face nature of a modern movie. Concise dialogue and snappy scene descriptions will help you to avoid a novel’s tone.

4. Write Pictures

Thinking visually is the most important part of the process. Writers are not always inclined to ‘talk in pictures’, creating images on the page.

By cultivating a visual eye, you can create a script that’s written to be SEEN, not just read.

Effective Networking For Writers
 by: Sophfronia Scott

‘Tis the season for conferences and seminars! Many of my friends have all been conference-hopping in recent weeks and we’ve been discussing how fruitful these gatherings can be when you can make great and lasting contacts. But how do you come away with something more substantial than a stack of business cards? Here are a few tips to keep in mind.

1.) Speak Up! The Magic of Telling

“Isolation is a dream killer,” says life coach Barbara Sher. One of the women in my mastermind group reminded me of that today. She recently attended an event where, for the first time, she came out of her shell and started telling people what she did. She was met with great enthusiasm and people asking her for samples and wanting to refer her to others. All because she spoke up. Now that doesn’t mean you go up to someone and talk non-stop! It does mean that you go into a conversation with a clear description of who you are and what you do or write.

2.) Be a Productive Networker

Writing The Perfect Sales Letter
 by: David Hennebery

Before you actually write the e-book we are going to write the sales letter first. Now I suggest you write it in Microsoft Word and save it. Then we can transfer it to the main “Sales site Page” when we are designing our basic site in step 5

The main reason we are writing our sales copy before we ever write a word in our e-Book is because it hasn’t actually being created yet, which means there is absolutely no limit what you can write in your sales letter. The sales letter doesn’t fit the e-Book; it’s the other way around.

Now you can describe exactly what your e-Book will show to the potential customer. There are no restrictions on what you can write in the sales letter. When the sales letter is completed you can then incorporate all the ideas you have come up with into your e-Book

Your sales copy must do the following three things

• Get the attention of the prospects

• Communicate the benefits of the product

• Persuade the prospects into the desired action

Journaling Experiences and Events
 by: Cory L. Kemp

How did you spend your day yesterday? When was the last time you went to see a movie? Can you remember the plot line? What did you do on your last vacation? Did you enjoy a particular meal, or visit a special tourist site that meant something special to you? While none of the answers to these questions matter in the overall scheme of life, they are a part of your life, and may very well matter to you at some point in time.