HONORING A GREAT WRITER

2007-02-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

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How To Sing Without Straining Your Voice

2007-02-05T07:30:00.000-08:00

Some are blessed with a voice that needs no work, but others are born with a natural voice that needs a little work. Many of us need to learn how to sing without straining your voice, because otherwise some long term damage can be done to the vocal chords. It's actually not a difficult process to complete and allows you to sing more clearly and with less effort once perfected. If you are wondering how to sing clear and not strain your voices, let's first examine the mechanism under which this occurs. Straining occurs when you are working through your range and usually at the extremes of your range are where you experience straining, when switching from one level to another. Sometimes, straining is a consequence of not having warmed up the voice properly. There are various exercises that you can try to learn how to sing without straining your voice. For example, drink a lot of water before and during singing - don't let your throat dry out. Also, Stay away from cigarettes, breathe in and out deeply before your routing and calmly run through your range. Some people say that even tea or honey can do wonders for the voice and prevent breaks. Learning how to sing clear without straining means that you should also sing from the diaphragm and not the throat. Whilst there are some singers who sing from the throat, they risk developing nodules and do not have the endurance that other singers have. Secondly, they are more prone to breaks and strains as we have discussed. One way to learn how to sing and breathe from the diagram is to find someone who knows how to (not your friend who can but doesn't realise it), for instance a qualified singing teacher. You need only have a couple of lessons but you may find the cost prohibitive. Distance learning courses, especially those online can also be helpful in learning how to sing without straining your voice. Aside from pre-audition exercises and regimes, you should also look after your long term singing health if you wish to know how to sing without straining your voice. Here is some useful advice on how to sing clear: avoid caffeine and alcohol (including mouthwashes), avoid persistent, regular shouting e.g. at sports events, and maintain a good general health - exercise regularly, eat well and get plenty of sleep. The best singers are those in peak condition - in this situation you are less likely to experience problems such as straining and breaking. About the Author Don't risk sounding like an American Idol reject! Click here to discover the secrets to professional singing in less than three months.

Divining Your Soul Number

2005-07-05T15:02:00.000-07:00

Your Soul Number, which defines your very essence or heart's desire, is calculated using the vowels in the name that appeared on your birth certificate. This reading describes what you or another person value or want most in life. First of all, eliminate all the consonants from your birth name by adding together the numerical equivalents displayed on the chart below.A1E5I906U3For instance, let's take Pamela Anderson, born Pamela Denise Anderson.First we would eliminate all the consonants from her name. The result isaea eie aeoWe would then add the number equivalents of all these letters together and reduce them to a single digit as in:1+5+1+5+9+5+2+5+6 = 393+9 = 111+1 = 2Pamela Anderson's is a master number 11 as well as a 2 so she would read the interpretations for booth as described below.INTERPRETATIONS OF THE SOUL NUMBERSoul Number 1More than anything else people with this number desire to be number one in all areas of their life. These often-flamboyant individuals crave being in the spotlight. They delight in experimentation and are the first to exploit a trend or new philosophy that will allow them to stand out from the crowd. More than anything the almost childish Soul Number 1 secretly desires unconditional approval from others.Soul Number 2Individuals with this number have a deep desire to always be right. They are black and white thinkers who often tell others "it's my way or the high way." As they often lead difficult lives that are fraught with criticism from others, especially in child hood, it is their desire for respect that leads them to be so difficult sometimes. Soul number 2's greatly benefit from developing an accepting rather than autocratic approach when dealing with other people. Soul Number 3Soul number 3's have a great desire to be beautiful. In childhood they are usually the ugly ducklings and even though many of them do grow into swans, they still often feel that there is something wrong with their appearance. Soul Number 3's do not believe in aging gracefully and many of them resort to plastic surgery in later years to defy the ravages of time. Some Number 3's also become artists or photographers so that they can convey the importance of beauty to others. Soul Number 4More than anything, Soul Number 4's crave emotional and financial security. As a result they can be clingy, possessive and controlling of their loved ones. Their fear of taking risks can also cause them to be "stuck", especially when it comes to academics and career. Number 4's tend to stick to what they know works and react with hostility to any suggestion about change. Developing the confidence to handle anything that comes their way is the best way for number 4's to overcome their insecurity.Soul Number 5Soul Number 5's desire freedom more than anything else in their lives. They are somewhat claustrophobic and feel very confined by office jobs and routines. To avoid apathy and depression, number 5's should seek out careers that involve a great deal of travel or a flexible time schedule. They function best as the owners of their own business or as entrepreneurs. Developing a regimen of spiritual study also greatly assists 5's as that helps them quell their restlessness and develop a sense of inner peace.Soul Number 6Soul Number 6's desire justice at all costs. These proactive individuals consider themselves to be agents of karma and often work behind the scenes to punish the undeserving and reward those who they consider to be underdogs. They are also perfectionists on many levels and often make unrealistic demands on themselves and others in their never-ending quest to balance the score. To mitigate a tendency to resent all authority or judge a book by its cover, 6's need to learn a tolerance and acceptance of others who do not share their opinions or moral standards.Soul Number 7Soul Number 7's desire unconditional love. Many of them come from abusive or addicted families, so often they succumb to addiction or codependences with toxic partners. 7's are often motivated by the urge to love others without conditions, as they have always desired the same for themselves. Unfortunately their kindness is not always rewarded, as they tend to choose emotionally unavailable, mentally ill or otherwise difficult partners. Individuals following this difficult soul path often learn several hard lessons about "letting go" of bad relationships before the end of their life.Soul Number 8Soul Number 8's are practical creatures that value success above all else. Even as children many of them demonstrate an incredible ability to relate to other people as well as make the right decisions regarding academics and career. Although they can appear selfish and materialistic to others, their actual desire (at least in the beginning) is to create a more prosperous future for their family, friends and community. 8's are usually generous and philanthropic individuals who don't feel that they deserve love unless they offer others a gift. Often they need to learn that aside from acquiring great wealth, there are simpler routes to happiness.Soul Number 9 Those born with a Soul Number 9 have a great desire to transcend all karma by using humor. Many are witty writers, public speakers and filmmakers. They are also great teachers as they have a way of transforming spiritual messages and philosophies into entertainment for the masses. Most of them are gentle souls who have made it their life mission to make the world into a kinder place. Many of them are also liberal thinkers who support the right of each individual to make their own mistakes. Their motto is "Remember to take time out to smell the flowers."Soul Number 11Number 11 is a master soul number. The prime directive of these individuals is to transform the world through the use of spiritual knowledge, talents or tools. More than anything these individuals often desire to be as close to God or enlightenment as is possible in this world. They often accomplish this by deliberately choosing to be born into bad situations that punish them for incorrect actions in other lives. This eventually leads them to an incarnation as a "wounded healer" later in life that enables them to enlighten others.Soul Number 22Number 22's are the master manifesters of the numerology divination system. These individuals rarely make a move in life without first making sure that their decisions are aligned with the guidance of Divine Will. These souls are sent to us to transform the world for the better. They accomplish this by combining practicality and genius with inspiration, intuition and a heart-felt desire to do what is best for all. Most 22’s believe that it is possible to build a Kingdom of Heaven on earth.Soul Number 33Soul number 33's value a state of grace above all else. Many of them appear as enigmas as it is next to impossible to determine the logic behind their motivations or actions. A master soul number of 33 is very, very rare. They often spend the majority of their lifetime being misunderstood or persecuted for their beliefs. However as many are enlightened and completely detached from emotions or events, the actions of ordinary mortals have little effect on their directive to spiritually transform the world. About the Author Sam Steven's metaphysical articles have been published in many high-standing newspapers and she has published several books. You can meet Sam Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at http://www.newagenotebook.com where she is the staff writer. Currently she is studying technology's impact on the metaphysics. _______________________________________ http://www.newnovel.bravehost.com http://www.newbookreview.blogspot.com http://www.newbookrelease.blogspot.com http://www.lookingforbooks.blogspot.com http://www.advicewriter.blogspot.com

Get Blissed!

2005-06-29T10:28:00.000-07:00

Elton John, Billy Joel, Phil Collins and Freddie Mercury all have something in common, aside of a smidge of talent and the fact they all became pop-stars. Watch Elton John perform I’m Still Standing or Billy Joel play My Life at their pianos, or witness Freddie Mercury winding up for We are the Champions or Phil Collins on drums during In The Air Tonight, and you’ll witness something magical happening, something that sends shivers down your spine. But what is it that they do?We’ll it’s the same ‘something’ that caused Bob Geldoff to pull all his music industry pals together and raise millions for charity back in the eighties with the hit Do they Know its Christmas and the subsequent Band Aid appeal. It got Churchill to move the nation with powerful speeches and it is all that stands between you and our true greatness.But what is that ‘something’? And is it simple enough to bring into our everyday lives?The answer is yes.It’s to do with the first principle of Life Purpose, that we all have a unique gift and a distinctive way to express it. The best way for me to explain this to you is to tell you a short story. A year ago I suggested that my son took up music lessons with his grandfather. His Pappy is a professional musician, and if you’re child is going to become the prodigy that all parents’ hope they will be, you want them to learn from a pro, don’t you, especially if that pro is a family member. He took the suggestion up and here is what unfolded. Nine months later he’d had enough. It seemed like hard work. Sure he mastered the scales – nothing wrong with his fingers – could read the notes – nothing wrong with his memory – but he couldn’t sit still during the lessons and in the week in between each session we only ever heard him doing minimal practicing. (Does this sound like you when you are at work? Going through the motions, doing what needs to be done and not managing more?) After school he never took himself off to his room, plugged in the keyboard and shocked himself with something new he’d learned to do. He never hit heaven, blissed out, totally astounded himself or got excited over a new discovery. He never came to me, shook me from my book and said, “Listen to this, Dad. It’ll blow your mind!”We concluded it wasn’t his thing – each to his own – and he admitted he only took it up because he thought I’d be happy! Stephen King once said, “Talent renders rehearsal meaningless; when you find something you love you do it until your fingers bleed and your eyes fall out your head… every outing is a bravura performance because you as the creator are happy.”My son and I chatted. We concluded if there’s no joy in it, there’s no point in it, and therefore he’s best off spending keyboard practice time searching for that ‘something’ else where he can hit that high, reap the rewards of joy and ensure his life becomes an energetic adventure. Some of us pretend in life. We pretend to do what we think makes our parents happy. We pretend to enjoy work. We pretend to be happy while we sell our soul. We pretend to be artistic or creative but never put oomph into it and maybe… just maybe we drift through life with that thought that there must be something else out there.But life is an experience – one big talent show for us to show off our skills. It’s a stage for us to use our skills for our fun and pleasure and for the pleasure of those around us. Life is not a practice for some future event that we hope will just drop out of the sky. We have to make it happen.Great writers write everyday until their eyes fall out their head and their brain won’t function, great coaches coach everyday, great musicians play until their fingers bleed. All of them love every single moment of what they do. It’s about passion. It’s about blissing out. It’s about happiness. It’s about being at one with your self - being truly honest with who you really are. Remember you’re heroes – great comedians, interviewers, musicians, singers, teachers etc. They all have that bliss in their eyes, hearts and minds at the moment they affected you most.Let’s not pretend another day. You and I came to this earth with a unique and special talent, yet why in God’s name don’t you use it to the full. Why are we doing spreadsheets and sweeping roads when we would sooner be an artist or a therapist?Put up with snotty customers at the call centre or organise the bazaar for the WI committee if that means something to you, but please do not ever kid yourself about your level of passion and commitment when you choose what you do with your life.My son made his stance to be blissed by life as a ten year old. How old are you? Have you made the same commitment to your life yet? About the Author Get tips, stories and ideas on achieving what you want in life in a monthly email and join Jo Ball and Neil Millar. It’s FREE and you’ll receive their e-book free, Greater Steps to Happiness as a way of saying thank you and a free life purpose report for joining the subscription list. www.unstoppablelife.com _____________________________________________- http://www.newnovel.bravehost.com http://www.newbookreview.blogspot.com http://www.lookingforbooks.blogspot.com http://www.newbookrelease.blogspot.com http://www.advicewriter.blogspot.com

Freelance Business Writers - How to Get the Best From Your Writer

2005-06-27T14:22:00.000-07:00

At times, it can be frustrating to find freelance business writers that are of good quality, dependable, and within your budget. The good news is that there are many people who can perform at the level you need. The question is, though, how do you find the best freelance business writers? To answer this, we need to learn what good expectations are for them first.Jobs and employment availability is limited in this field. That is due to the fact that business owners have a high demand for perfection and normally take advantage of the same company or individual time and time again. But, because there are so many people willing to do the work for you, you can expect to find a good qualified individual who is simply just starting out. By using these individuals, you can mold them to what you need them to be instead of having to deal with individuals already stuck in a pattern. Regardless, you need to analyze your demands to insure they can be met by anyone. Is your budget too low? Are you providing enough information about your needs and desires to the writer? Are you giving enough time for research and rewrites? And, are you willing to communicate? Only then will you be able to attract the best business writers.To find freelance business writers, you simply need to look throughout the internet as vacancies are quickly snatched up by anyone interested in your project. For example, posting on a relevant message board can be beneficial. To ensure they are the quality individuals you are looking for, set up a contract, contact them regarding your specific needs. Communicate with the individuals to find an understanding of the demands before you agree on one. Who can provide you with what you want, in the best manner? Quality, on target work can come from employment that is contracted with a good understanding of the needs of both parties as well as being able to communicate effectively. About the Author Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Views about Freelance Writing. _________________________________________________ http://www.newnovel.bravehost.com http://www.newbookreview.blogspot.com http://www.newbookrelease.blogspot.com http://www.lookingforbooks.blogspot.com http://www.advicewriter.blogspot.com

Guaranteed Ways To Build Up Your Ezine List

2005-06-26T16:37:00.000-07:00

Want your ezine list to catch fire and really start to fill up? Jenna Glatzer took her own list from the hundreds all the way to 75,000 in 7 years by simple, steady marketing, and using many of these techniques. (Jenna bought only 4000 opt-in names along the way.) Here are some tips we provided, and some I've pulled from my own experience, building my list for The Joy Letter to 17,000 over five years.1.Free Stuff. Pick genuinely useful free stuff that you know your audience wants and needs. For instance, my brand new ezine, Expert Status, attracted 600 readers in just a few weeks by offering a report, "25 Top Self Help Literary Agents". The practical freebie works. Jenna Glatzer offers two free ebooks/reports to subscribers on agents who are receptive to new writers, and on writer's markets. She notes: "Before I did that, my subscriber numbers were in the hundreds, not thousands.2.Put a subscribe box on every page of the site. This has worked for both Jenna and me. Mine is parked in the left hand column of the site. Experts advise putting a simple sign up box (with freebie mentioned) in the top left hand corner, as that's where the eye naturally travels first. A simple sign up box that requests only email address works best.3.Ad swaps. Exchange plugs for your ezine with another website, to run in each other's ezines. Be sure to mention those freebies! Doing this on a regular basis with a rotating selection of web partners will keep your subscription page busy.4.Cross-registration. I've found subscribers by having a plug for my ezine on the thank you page of a comparable (but not directly competitive) website. This offer is made to folks who just signed up for an ezine, and are therefore deemed 'in the mood for more.' Offer a swap with your site, and try not to list more than about two other ezines. Also, make a point of including only really good, reliable publications that reach your target market.5.Give away a bonus for other sites to use, based on your ezine. A popular web marketing technique is the special one or two-day promo that offers big bonus lists when you buy a certain product on those particular days. (I cover this promo technique in more detail in my e-book/binder, Get Known Now; How to Build Your Platform as a Self Help Expert.) So collect some of your best ezine essays, pack 'em up in a downloadable PDF-based e-book, and offer it as a bonus these sites can use in their special promos. Don't forget juicy descriptive copy about your ezine, and a subscribe link at the end of your e-book. I've gotten hundreds of new readers this way, and much traffic to my site.6.Announce ezine 'events' on PRweb.com and other PR sites. There's an entire world of web-based press release distribution services out there, some of which are low cost or even free. So use them. But be sure to only plant press releases that are truly newsworthy, and thus likely to get press attention. Even if the media don't use your words this time, they'll hopefully file you as an expert for future use.7.Use discussion boards or groups. These are sites frequented by gangs of people interested in the same thing. Avoid the unmoderated sites, because they're likely to be spam targets that generate little bonafide traffic. Boards found on member sites are the best. Don't spam the board with your subscribe message. Instead, offer some genuinely helpful info. Then sign off with a signature line that includes ezine and subscribe info. You can find some of these groups at groups.yahoo.com, topica.com, mail-list.com, and listfool.com for starters.8.Sponsor other people's contests. Jenna Glatzer gives away products like her paid newsletter, Absolute Markets Premium Newsletter, to writers' groups, contests, and conferences that request it, regardless of size. I've tried this too, to good effect. Simply run an announcement in your ezine that you'd be happy to sponsor comparable events. Ask them to provide a URL for an event description so you know it's legit. Then offer up your gifts, and ask for a plug for your ezine and for them to talk up your dazzling freebie, as well. Jenna notes that groups she sponsors "often send out ads for us to their lists … just as a thank you."9.Run quality content. There's no substitute for heartfelt writing plus solid information about a subject that matters. Jenna writes: 'The main reason our list stays so big is our 'letter from the editor' … Each week, I chronicle my writing life and my triumphs and failures … when an article is killed, when I'm having trouble finishing a book … And I share personal things, too, like when my grandfather died…. People write: ' I feel like I know you so well.' And I think that's why they stay on the list, even when their mailbox fills up with dozens of other writer's newsletters.10.Allow reprints. Allow any newsletter that wants to reprint your articles do so. I like to have an email requesting permission, so I can enter their info into a big database I use to track where I can send more articles in the future. I end each article with the line: You may reprint this article in your own ezine or website. Simply send an email requesting permission to EMAIL ADDRESS. Please be sure to include our full bio box at the end. 11.Create a survey or contest. This would be one of those newsworthy 'ezine events' I mentioned above in point # 6. Make it a fun, relevant question that you could really develop a good, newsy story from. I did a survey asking people what they fought with their spouse/partner/boy or girlfriend about. The results made for the kind of reading offline media enjoy running short, 100-word pieces about (fillers.) I made sure to attribute the survey to my ezine, The Joy Letter, with a mention of the site's basic URL. You can get the technology to run your own survey and collect responses at surveymonkey.com (for a fee) or bravenet.com (for free.)I think I could actually go on and on here. The possibilities seem to be endless. If you try even half of these techniques on a regular basis, you'll find your subscriber rates double and even triple. Here's to building your list … the foundation that much of your traffic and success rely on. About the Author Suzanne Falter-Barns' website at getknownnow.com offers tips and tools that help you build your platform and get known as an expert in your field. Sign up for her free ezine, Expert Status, and receive her free report, "25 Top Self Help Literary Agents." ©2005 Suzanne Falter-Barns LLC. ___________________________________________________________________ http://www.newnovel.bravehost.com http://www.newbookreview.blogspot.com http://www.newbookrelease.blogspot.com http://www.lookingforbooks.blogspot.com http://www.advicewriter.blogspot.com great, writer, honoring, a

Writing Articles For The Search Engine

2005-06-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

This is precisely what I am doing here today (and every other day in my life)! I am writing to share my experience and hopefully, my knowledge and information can help some others who are in need of such information and advice. Writing is a very powerful way to connect with people and we can use it to not only share information but promote ourselves. When you’re writing an article or some form of web content, you have to bear the following things in mind:-a.The purpose of writingWhat I do is this….before I start an article, I leave the title of the article empty and start typing out the purpose of the article. What kind of feeling do I want to leave with the reader? Then I move on to the keywords that I want to use consistently throughout the article (for search engine optimization purposes). Right after that, I write down (in point form) the content of the article. Then and only then, I start beefing up the article. The reason why the purpose, keywords and the skeleton of the article is written before anything else is to keep you focused and reminded of the reason why you’re writing the article. As any professional and experienced writer can tell you, it’s way too easy to get derailed half way. I have a bunch of articles that are completely wwwaaayyyyy off mark because I lost direction halfway through the article!!b.Title and keywords of your articleThe title should contain one of the keywords that you’re trying to use in your article. For instance, you want to optimize the article for business card, so, you should include the word ‘business card’ in your article title and also in the first paragraph of your article!If you can’t think of anything mind-blowing….force it in! I am being really honest with you here if you want to make sure your article is ranked highly in search engines for the keyword ‘business card’. c.Don’t make them hit the back buttonIf you’re writing content for the Internet, yes, keywords are important because the search engines use keywords to rank their web pages. But you don’t have to compromise readers with search engines when you’re writing! No, not at all! You can write in an engaging way and yet use your preferred keywords in the article itself, you just have to practice a lot!d.Don’t sellSales letters sell, not articles! You’ll be surprised at the number of people who actually think that selling through articles work….well, here’s news for you….THEY DON’T! Your articles are not supposed to do the selling for you, they are supposed to your ‘customer relations manager’ of sorts. Maybe they’re like ‘GROs’ too, if you want to put it that way. The moment the reader think that you’re trying to sell them something, they’ll hit the back button or click that ‘godforsaken’ x on the top right corner of the browser. e.Too long, too shortSome people think that the longer your article is, the more fact it contains. Well, yes and no. If you want to write long articles, make sure the article is ACTUALLY packed with facts. If not, cut to the chase and just get to the point. Short articles have its benefits too. Write articles that are about 400 – 500 words. But even industry experts cannot agree what the best length of articles on the web but generally speaking, if you are into search engine optimization, don’t write more than 800 and no less than 400. About the Author Marsha Maung is a freelance graphic designer and copy writer who works from home. She designs apparel and premium items at http://www.creativejooz.com and is the author of "Raising little magicians", and the popular "The Lance in freelancing". More information can be found at http://www.marshamaung.com ___________________________________________ http://www.newnovel.bravehost.com http://www.newbookrelease.blogspot.com http://www.newbookreview.blogspot.com http://www.lookingfobooks.blogspot.com http://www.advicewriter.blogspot.com great,writer,honoring,a

Silent Lies - Book Review

2005-06-24T14:22:00.000-07:00

"Silent Lies is an action romance saga, that takes the reader through decades of a tumultuous time between the end of World War I and the beginnings of World War II. Excellent and intelligent use of actual historical events makes this piece both educational and entertaining. Leo, a young Hungarian boy who sees too many horrors and deceit, barely survives while family and friends are slaughtered. He finds himself alone, again and again. Subsisting on his uncanny ability to mimic behavior and languages, a gift that keeps him alive – and in serious trouble, he travels from Hungary to Paris. Leo is innocently trapped by very ruthless and influential people and he is forced to run for the sanctuary of Shanghai. There, both his greatest hopes and greatest fears come true. This is an endearing story of a love that many can only experience in dreams. It is about self-sacrifice – of enduring when all hope is gone and strength is fading. Readers witness the consequences of the political and personal choices that Leo is forced to make. Personally, I had to brush away a little water from my eyes a few times in the story. Without hesitation, I give Silent Lies high ratings because the author has provided an exceptional piece of work. I look forward to the second book to find out what else will happen in Maggy and Leo’s adventurous lives." ISBN#: 1563527502Author: M.L. MalcolmPublisher: Long Street Press ~ Lillian Brummet - Book Reviewer - Co-author of the book Trash Talk, a guide for anyone concerned about his or her impact on the environment – Author of Towards Understanding, a collection of poetry. (http://www.sunshinecable.com/~drumit) Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/ http://www.newnovel.bravehost.com http://www.newbookrelease.blogspot.com http://www.newbookreview.blogspot.com http://www.lookingforbooks.blogspot.com http://www.advicewriter.blogspot.com

Writing With Power: 5 Snappy Rules For Success

2005-06-23T15:02:00.000-07:00

Almost everyone could profit from enhancing their writing skills. From writing more crisp meta-tags – which search engine bots find quite sexy – to turbo-charging your blog readership by writing with punch, a skilled pen can propel any online effort in the right direction. But who has the time, money or know-how to tackle this daunting task, right? On the contrary, I have just the free and powerful writing clinic for you. We have named it “Writing With Power.” And did I mention it’s free? Here, we – my friends and I – aim to lend a boost to your writing skills fast. We do this for people all the time by showing them how to use George Orwell’s oh-so-practical principles of good writing. Today, I will offer five of them, and show you how to use them with ease. But first I must introduce you to an odd sort of person, whom I call, “Homo Graphicus,” and he stars in a very popular fib dubbed the “Myth of the Great Writer.” What does he do? He sits far back in the recesses of your mind, whittling away at another masterpiece. For, you see, he flawlessly crafts only the finest specimens of the literary art, and he does so day-in and day-out. No piles of crumpled paper wads litter his desk or the floor, and he doesn’t DO erasers. He simply presses the “insight” button, absorbs the inspired notion, and, with a flick of the wrist, returns to churning out his next scripted champion. Now, the good news for those of us with all the creative flare of peet moss is this: this man does not exist. There are no great writers. The world knows only great rewriters. The way to produce a fine piece of writing comes by outlining briefly what you wish to say, filling out the floor plan with a few data from your research, and then by sifting carefully through the first draft many times – systematically. Just follow the rules, step-by-step. So where’s the love? It comes by filtering the unruly items from your draft (with our rules), and replacing them with the beloved features of good writing. Here, you take your very rough draft – and some will prove rougher than others – and purge from it all the dross in a step-by-step fashion, with rules simple enough for clever pets to follow. Even Cocoa could do this. Our first rule, we shall say this way: prefer concrete nouns to the abstract. By “concrete” I mean to suggest that you should employ the kinds of nouns we can all see, taste, smell, hear and see. This would include peanut butter, cars, frying pans, and DVD’s. Abstract nouns, on the other hand, insist on playing hide-and-seek from our five senses. Most of the badly overused ones end in “-tion.” These include words like marginalization, utilization, and transportation. Good rewriters will make every effort to paint pictures, so to speak, in the minds of their readers. Do not simply tell them, SHOW them. Now be assured that no one has the foggiest idea what “marginalization” looks like, but we all know a marshmallow when we see one. Paint vivid, lustrous – even golden – pictures in your readers’ minds. Use images that drip honey. So replace the do-nothing abstract nouns in your draft with smoldering wicks, chandeliers of fiery brass, and shimmering scarlet wine (preferably California Cabernets). Moving on to rule number two, we encourage good rewriters to supplant verb forms of “to be” (e.g. was, were, are, am, will be) with active verbs. Adorn your draft with highly-caffeinated words that careen, thunder, swoop, roar, derail and dance. Comatose words like “is” barely manage to register a heartbeat as verbs. They portray nothing at all. Some politicians, it is rumored, do not even know what the meaning of “is” really is. Yet, who can blame them for wanting to defrock such a flimsy and haggard word? As a good rewriter, you must convict and impeach these lackluster, worthless, and dull-witted imposters – meaning, of course, lazy verbs – not the politicians. Under the rubric of rule three, good rewriting will insist that you vary your word choices. Do not employ the same words too often. This means you must scan the draft to spy out the repeat offenders, so you can give their space to an underemployed synonym. You can plunder any good thesaurus to get these. Variety remains THE spice central to good writing, so spice it up. Rule number four for good rewriting warns us to keep it short and snappy. Take a step back form your paper for a moment to clean it up now. Go ahead and give your draft a clean shave, and take a little off the top. Trimming from your draft excess words, phrases, and perhaps even sentences, will ensure clear writing that gets right to the point. If your sentence says it in twenty words, find a way to say it in, maybe, fifteen. But watch out for nicks and cuts. Never toss out any important ideas or words essential to your writing task. Yet, when it doubt, throw it out – or at the least – give it a fair snipping to keep it lean. Finally, rule number five bids good rewriters juggle their sentence lengths. Mix it up. If your first sentence spans only a few words, follow this with a lengthier one. Then chase that one with a mid-length sentence. This creates an almost enchanting, writing “flow”– where your readers wonder what will come next. This subtle variety in your writing style draws the reader in, and keeps her coming back. And we know that keeping readers interested remains the best way to keep them. Now these rules work very well and can improve your writing immensely almost at once, but only if you put them to use. On such topics as these, of course, I have much more to say. And I hasten to do so at: http//:scriberight.blogspot.com, giving examples, tips and great resources along the way. Remember, you will need to rely heavily on a fairly comprehensive thesaurus. Don’t be afraid to invest a little in this venture. All the best efforts of the academic world have not managed to prevent the current shortage of good rewriters. Most folks still cling to the “Myth of the Great Writer,” and this hinders them from jumping straightway into the river of personal advancement. Don’t let a literary fiction keep you from securing your own set of extremely marketable and valuable skills with a little effort and practice. Start today, and come on in – the water is fine. And did I mention that it’s free? Christopher Brown enjoys playing with his five very cute children – 3 girls and 2 boys – when he is not involved in writing articles and books, building websites, trading stocks, researching stocks, blogging, meta-blogging (a new verb that means blogging on the topic of bloggers), or studying a wide variety of subjects, some of which should probably be banned. Formerly, he taught both English and Philosophy on an adjunct basis for two different colleges, and has tutored numerous students in various subjects. He has also hosted a radio talk-show in Santa Rosa, CA, and wrote a book on the philosophy of science with far too many long words in it – which was for sale at Amazon.com and B & N. Christopher received his bachelor’s degree in history from the California State University at Hayward, and did hard time in seminary, but was released early on account of good behavior and a well-placed bribe. In March, 2004, he founded Ophir Gold Corporation of CA, a for-profit corporation which aims to earn money in advertising by offering free services, and by trading equity securities. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/ http://www.newnovel.bravehost.com http://www.newbookreview.blogspot.com http://www.lookingforbooks.blogspot.com

The Laid Daughter --- Book Review

2005-06-22T15:01:00.000-07:00

Another form of child abuse, that leaves its victims powerless and confused, is incest. Incest is a topic that most families refuse to discuss and sometimes deny that it ever existed. The Laid Daughter, by Helen Bonner is such an example. In this riveting novel, the author discusses her own issues with incest. What is so unique about the novel itself is that the author has been journaling her strange feelings and dreams for over 20 years before she realizes that her journal entries depict her true life experiences. The author takes us on her journey through self discovery and healing by allowing us to see her daily struggles in life. She is plagued with failed marriages and her inability to have honest and open relationships with others. She cuts herself off from her family and friends. There is however, something very striking about Ms. Bonner's character. She is able to hold down a job and build herself a lucrative career while dealing with the incest issue. Going through the healing process was not an easy road for Ms. Bonner. Early on, she was given erroneous advice from some early therapist. She found herself dropping out of therapy with the belief that somehow she could conquer her demons on her own. She then seeks therapy through a wonderful therapist by the name of Glenda Parkinson who discovers that Helen was not just a survivor of incest, but she also suffered from a Multiple Personality Disorder. Glenda Parkinson also expresses how quickly Helen was able to work through her demons as shown by the following excerpt: "Helen spent only a year in intense psychotherapy with me. The average length of treatment time is somewhere between five and ten years. She was highly motivated and followed her gut instincts in making therapeutic decisions for herself. She read. She wrote. She practiced suggestive directives. She attended a national conference for adult survivors. Her art work was another vehicle for self-understanding. She used relaxation techniques when feeling panicky. She begin to fill her new "house" by acknowledging and fulfilling the needs of her integrating selves. Decisions Helen made for herself rather than against herself were the catalyst toward wholeness." As you can see by the above excerpt, healing from incest or any other form of childhood abuse can be done with hard work and determination. I would recommend this fine piece of work to anyone who has suffered the pain and anguish of child abuse or to anyone who wants to discover how they can make changes in their own life that can help them move forward to living life to its fullest. ISBN: 1884178235Author: Helen BonnerPublisher: Kairos Center Faye Brown, Author of the upcoming novel, Strange Fruit In A Small Town. (http://www.lookingforbooks.blogspot.com) Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Business Writing: 10 Great Writers

2005-06-21T16:43:00.000-07:00

Great business writers combine narrative skills with sound judgment to create classics that help both the beginner and the mid-career professional. Writing’s completely subjective. What interests you may not interest me. But if somebody told me I could read the wisdom of only ten business writers, these are the ones I’d choose: 1. Socrates – He was likely history’s first “self-help” writer. He taught people to seek ultimate truths by questioning conventional wisdom and examining their own beliefs. He said folks shouldn’t accept opinion as fact. 2. Sophocles – Another guy with no last name. He created plays that usually centered on a single heroic character who chose an unpopular course of action. This dramatist may have been the first “niche” marketer. 3. Benjamin Franklin – This multi-talented American championed succinct writing, and his epigrams became part of our national heritage. Ben warned, “He that speaks much is much mistaken.” Franklin succeeded in multiple business ventures. 4. Mark Twain – He’s been called America’s finest author because he wrote in American dialect, using phrases and speech unique to the United States. He punctured pompous prose, and laced his stories with regional references. (Many say Twain was also America’s greatest lecturer.) 5. Claude Hopkins – This researcher wrote “Scientific Advertising” in 1923. He’s among the first to discuss the use of product samples and demonstrations. 6. Edward Bernays – This nephew of Sigmund Freud is called the “father of public relations.” He authored the classic book “Crystallizing Public Opinion” in 1923. 7. Dale Carnegie – His book “how to Win Friends and Influence People” is one history’s greatest guides. He discussed the value of developing one’s personality, and wrote beautifully. 8. David Ogilvy – This brilliant copywriter and ad agency executive believed in the value of brand image, and valued advertising research and testing. 9. John Caples – His wonderful books like “Tested Advertising Methods” serve as a great source of information on powerful words, phrases, sentences, headlines, and much more. 10. Al Ries and Jack Trout – They wrote the classic “Positioning: The Battle for Your Mind,” which discusses ways to get your product or service remembered. (It’s my favorite business book.) Rix Quinn wrote “Words That Stick: A Guide to Short Writing with Big Impact.” It’s a writing book to help people who hate to write. It’s available from your local bookstore, or from http://www.tenspeed.com/catalog/all/item.php3?id=1661 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/ http://www.newbookreview.blogspot.com http://www.lookingforbooks.blogspot.com http://www.fayebrown.blogspot.com

Benjamin Franklin: His Ageless Writing Tips

2005-06-20T16:55:00.000-07:00

If Ben Franklin were alive today, he would be...uh, very old. But his writing style would be as current as e-mail, yet as timeless as the man himself. This great American championed succinct writing, and his epigrams became part of our national heritage. Before discussing his classic quotes, let’s first examine how he grew into an acclaimed wordsmith. Apprenticed as a printer’s helper, Franklin studied the handbills and circulars his shop printed. When newsletters and newspapers began in the colonies, Franklin submitted letters or witty sayings under a pseudonym. More and more of his short sayings began to appear. People enjoyed them, so Franklin decided to publish even more with the creation of “Poor Richard’s Almanac.” What attracted readers to him? a. He wrote simply. He knew his audience, and focused on basic words and ideas. b. He wrote briefly. The Almanac itself emphasizes frugality and brevity. “Silence is not always a sign of wisdom, but babbling is ever a mark of folly,” Franklin said. c. He used humor. Franklin’s sayings are among the most quoted in history. d. He spoke of moral truths, and offered valuable advice. Next time you sit down to write, remember that the reader’s very busy. So deliver your message simply and memorably. Rix Quinn wrote the book “Words That Stick,” which offers lots of writing advice for both students and professionals. It’s available through your local bookstore, or Ten Speed Press. http://www.tenspeed.com/catalog/all/item.php3?id=1661 Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/ http://www.aliciaaguillard.blogspot.com

Hard Candy, Nobody Ever Flies over the Cuckoo's Nest: Book Review

2005-06-19T11:13:00.000-07:00

HARD CANDY: Nobody Ever Flies over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Written by Charles A. Carroll is a must read. This book should be sitting on the desk of every governor, senator, representative, every director, educator and all students in departments of human and social services, psychology and public health available as a ready reference to the bureaucratic nightmare and lost humanity of a system set up to protect and care for our abandoned children and our mental and physically deficient citizens of all ages. Hard Candy is a must read for anyone who even pretends to care about the welfare of our children. This is an unforgettable saga of the will of a young human spirit to survive incarceration in one of our nation’s institutions with living conditions so sadistic, brutal and degrading that “child abuse’ doesn’t come near describing this disgrace. I had the privilege of meeting the author and reading an advanced copy of this soon to be released book. The ever gracious host, Charles has devoted his life to the pursuit of knowledge and generating awareness about the abuse that still occurs to this day inside such institutions. Do not for one moment think that his is a tale of yesteryear and we have fixed the problems, improved the system. Told with the innocent clarity of a young child interspersed with the accumulated knowledge and hindsight analysis of the adult, this true story travels through a decade during which the author as a young boy was repeatedly abandoned by the system and lost in the tombs of a bureaucratic hell. Left on the doorsteps of an orphanage as a toddler with his less than one year older sibling who was probably borderline retarded, this is a tale of an enduring love between two brothers who had no one else in life but each other. Never loosing the impish grim and charming good looks, Charles along with his brother traveled from orphanage to foster home to state institution to foster home and back to state institution. As a court order required the brothers not to be separated, a terrified young Charles found himself joining his brother in a state facility for boys with mental disabilities, “a nuthouse” as one would call it. No one bothered to notice that this was not an appropriate placement for a perfectly normal little boy. The story relates in chilling detail the daily living horror that was Charles’ life. A normal youngster dumped in with society’s outcasts in a nightmarish hell of abuse, hunger, filth, punishment, neglect and unending loneliness. A world where almost all adults he encountered continued the pattern of outright brutality and physical abuse or in true institutional form looked with strong blinders the other way and just did their time at the job. A world where children were left just to sit for years, suffering unending misery and boredom, never given the chance to develop their natural capabilities in any manner. The will to endure, protect his brother and survive kept Charles placing one small foot in front of the other each despairing day. The will to maintain his sanity in an insane place, to endure suffering no child should ever be expected to face and to survive to bear witness against an unjust and little known system gives Charles the strength to speak for the all but forgotten. Michelle Portney Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Amazing Holy Grail Discovery

2005-06-18T05:48:00.000-07:00

In a profound and provocative work of scholarly detection, best-selling UK author Philip Gardiner shakes the foundations of modern belief by at last revealing the true origins of The Holy Grail, Elixir of Life and Philosopher’s Stone. Shrouded in mystery, these highly enigmatic symbols have long been revered and The Serpent Grail proves, without doubt, that all three are inextricably linked, originating from the same ancient source. For many of us, these three mysterious objects derive from Arthurian legend, or the curious work of the medieval alchemists, but this book reveals that they date back from a much earlier period – from the dawn of human history itself. Basing his findings on a wealth of detailed research and his own unique marketing and propaganda based background, Gardiner’s own quest has been something of an adventure and his book presents plausible and fascinating new evidence about the foundations of religious belief and how over the centuries information has been deliberately and systematically distorted. In an argument with enormous implications, Gardiner identifies key facts which link all three symbols to the same ancient cult – a cult which believed that the mythical serpent was, a ‘beneficent life force’ and its physical counterpart, the snake, an irreverent provider of the ‘elixir of life’. In The Serpent Grail Gardiner proves that modern science and ancient wisdom can and have come together to finally prove that snake venom and blood was used thousands of years ago as the Elixir of Life and was brought together in the arcane “mixing bowl” which became known as the Holy Grail. The Serpent Grail is a gripping read, a work based on a lifetime of research that provides the indisputable fact that, The Holy Grail, Elixir of Life and Philosopher’s Stone are one and the same, in that they are all metaphors for spiritual enlightenment. This book takes the reader on a fascinating exploration of ancient myth, archaeology, etymology, religion, science, and much, much more. The Serpent Grail is published by Watkins on 15th September 2005, Hardback priced UK £16.99 ISBN 1 84293 129 6 Release: Worldwide (inc Australia and New Zealand) except USA which is February 2006. Philip and Gary are currently in discussion with Atlantic TV regarding their television documentary for Discovery America. The Serpent Grail by Philip Gardiner With Gary Osborn: ‘THE TRUTH BEHIND IT ALL’ - An extraordinary account of the quest for the truth behind The Holy Grail, Elixir of Life and Philosopher’s Stone; Astonishing new findings that lead us right back to the very origins of civilization and the roots of our modern belief systems; Ground breaking proof that The Holy Grail, Elixir of Life and Philosopher’s Stone are one and the same; Radical demystification of the stories and mythology that have mesmerized entire generations; Conclusive identification of a link between modern religious beliefs and ‘Serpent Cults’ of the ancient world; Author to do world unique Tours through www.powerplaces.com taking people on the journey to the Grail and anybody also wishing to book the author for talks, lectures etc should email info@philipgardiner.net For further information please contact: Jenny CarradiceTelephone: 01753 623 504 UK. (Int 44 1753 623504)Email: Jennifer.Carradice@btopenworld.comLectures/Conferences etc contact info@philipgardiner.net For more information go to www.gardinerosborn.com Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

A Writer's Tools

2005-06-17T09:28:00.000-07:00

William Faulkner, the great Mississippi writer, said, “The tools I need for work are paper, tobacco, food, and a little whisky.” Every writer needs certain tools to accomplish the task of being a writer. For some, it is a simple assortment of equipment, basically paper and a writing instrument--a pencil or pen--and nothing more while most need a typewriter or a computer and nothing more while still others need a special place with a special ambiance--quiet, background music, lighting, a comfortable desk and chair, and a special beverage--coffee, tea, etc., or like Faulkner, a little whisky. Today's writer will most likely opt for a computer of some sort--desktop, laptop, or even a PDA of some sort. Paper is no longer an essential because most work can be saved to a hard drive or diskette, and sent to it destination via the Internet. Tobacco is becoming obsolete as more people are kicking the habit due to the health concerns. Food is still an essential, but others will forgo the whisky. The computer has taken much of the drudgery from writing. A good word processing program is an essential and there are many on the market but the two most common and acceptable are Microsoft Word and Corel Wordperfect although other can be used. For the financially struggling author there is OpenOffice, which is a free program from: openoffice.org. It has all the power and flexibility of the first two mentioned as well as being able to convert any file to PDF format which makes it possible for any platform to read it whether PC or Mac. Many experts advise that a writer should have a dedicated place in which to write. I suppose this is true of the freelancer more than the salaried scribbler. Perhaps such an area is more conducive to the discipline needed to put thoughts to paper or monitor screen, but certainly not every author can find such a location. If the writer is a harried housewife on a limited budget in a limited household, such an area might be hard to come by, but it might be profitable to find a spot and use it consistently to make writing a habit. Since human are habit oriented creatures, creating a writing habit seem like a good approach. Most writers also need other tools: a desk, a comfortable chair, a dictionary, a thesaurus, pens and pencils, and paper of some sort for quick notes--notepad or secretary notebook--a calendar. Others need a radio, a CD player, or connection to the media on the Internet and maybe that little whisky that Faulkner found so helpful. Like Faulkner, though, the essential tools are pencil or pen and paper. More than one writer, and some very famous ones, was able to create masterpieces with these simple bare necessities. The main tools are the writer’s thoughts and ideas. Charles O. Goulet has a BA in history and a BEd in English literature. Several of his novels have been published and are available at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes and Noble, and many other bookstores. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/

Bill Is A Great Writer

2005-06-13T05:54:00.000-07:00

What page are you on in As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner? That Great Faulkner; Will wonders ever cease!!!! "Read, read,read. Read everything---trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it. Just like a carpenter who works as an apprentice and studies the master. Read! You'll absorb it." _____William Faulkner And that is exactly what I am doing.

A Summer of Faulkner

2005-06-07T12:25:00.000-07:00

William Faulkner was a great writer. This summer, we will be honoring this great writer by reading some of his classics this entire summer. We will be reading three of his earlier works. Those classics consist of, As I Lay Dying, The Sound and the Fury, and Light in August. Everyone is invited to join us in honoring this great writer. You can purchase Faulkner's three-book collection at Amazon.com. Come on in and join us on this exciting reading adventure.

Writer Buzz

2005-06-02T10:24:00.000-07:00

Today I will be spreading a little writer buzz across the internet. There are a lot of new writers whose books and novels will be rbeleased this summer. Some of these writers are well known authors. The majority, however, are writers of books and novels who still remain invisible to mainstream media. Why don't you do yourself a favor this summer. Start buying books and novels from some of these wonderful writers. Open up your world to new experiences. Do not place limits on your choice of reading materials. These writers will offer you an opportunity to experience some wonderful adventures that is completely ignored by mainstream media.

My Blog

2005-06-01T08:55:00.000-07:00

I am so upset about my blog right now. I have America Online. America Online cut me off while I was posting. Somehow the color of my blog changed. I will not be discussing any writers today. I need to take the time to figure out what is going on. If any of you have America Online as your internet provider, please drop their service. They are not worth the hassle.

Writing

2005-05-29T23:43:00.000-07:00

I have been discussing writer's for awhile. Today I thought I would discuss writing in general. Some writers become frustrated with the whole writing process. Some writers fear that their work will be rejected by the general public. Other writers fear outright criticism. Their work may be criticized or sometimes their general persona may be criticized as well. What I say to this is this: Take a deep breath and keep on writing. You only have that one life to live. As long as you are doing what you love and what you love is not harming others, than that is all that matters.

Great Blog Writers

2005-05-29T15:11:00.000-07:00

There are a lot of great blog writers on line. You can find these great blog writers at blogexplosion, blogclicker, blogxchange, blogsoldiers, and blogazoo. These great blog writers can also be found listed in various blog directories. There are not too many places you can go without meeting up with these great blog writers. The next time you surf the internet and run into one of these great blog writers, stop on in and post comments on their blogs.

African American Women Writers, Past and Present

2005-05-28T10:23:00.000-07:00

1. Angela Davis 2. Marita Bonner 3. Alice Dunbar-Nelson 4. Marian Wright Edelman 5. Zora Neale Hurston 6. Toni Morrison 7. Alice Walker 8. Phillis Wheatley 9. Harriet Jacobs 10. Maya Angelou 11. Rita Dove 12. Jamaica Kincaid 13. Susan Baker King Taylor

In Honor Of Our Veterans

2005-05-27T13:55:00.000-07:00

Let's honor all of our veterans this memorial day weekend.

Not

2005-05-26T09:41:00.000-07:00

Today I said that I would discuss some great writers who are no longer with us. Plans have changed due to a scheduling conflict. My readers of course can spend their time reading some novels, by these great writers, before I start my discussion. Send me your list of any great writers you would like profiled.

The Today's Show

2005-05-25T21:09:00.000-07:00

On The Today's Show today, there was a discussion about summer reading. One of their guest speakers listed a couple of novels that he felt people should read this summer. It is not what you read, it is important that you read. There are a lot of great writers out there and you need to read their novels this summer.

Deceased

2005-05-24T18:58:00.000-07:00

Today I thought I would approach my discussion of great writers to the deceased. There have been a variety of great writers that are no longer with us. Some of us owe our talents to these great writers. Some of these deceased great writers open doors for some of us. I believe that I will spend more time discussing these writers. Please follow this blog to learn more about those wonderful writers who are no longer with us.

Hidden

2005-05-23T18:52:00.000-07:00

Some of the great writers are hidden. This is not by choice. They have a beautiful voice of words. For various reasons, however, their words have not arrived at the attention of the public. Let's change that. Let's give them a voice. We do not want these great writers voices to remain hidden. We can change to world if we allow them to speak loud and clear. For all of you great writers out there, with hidden voices, it is your time to shine.

Hooked On Hype

2005-05-21T18:48:00.000-07:00

Most novel readers become hooked on hype. This is the hype that comes from mainstream media regarding the publication of a novel by a well known author. Society has become hooked on this hype. They figure if the media print it and broadcast it, it has to be great. Hooked on hype is like a brand new commercial for a product that has a large advertising budget. Those who budget is minimal suffer. We have become so caught up in being hooked on hype that we tend to ignore substance. When you are ready to release yourself from this hype mania, why not enjoy some novels by a variety of wonderful writers that have not become a part of this hype.

Free Expression

2005-05-20T21:19:00.000-07:00

Free expression is the ability of the writer to write from his/her heart. The writer can reach deep down within the depths of his/her soul and put words on paper that expresses every feeling and emotion. The writer do not hold back. There is something beautiful and wonderful in writing from the depths of one soul with a no holds barred attitude. That is when the writer has experienced the true origins of writing. That is called great writing and my hat goes off to those that have reached this point.

Hidden Gems

2005-05-19T18:51:00.000-07:00

The unknown writers are the hidden gems of the world. There work is polished and shiny. Some of these unknown writers have been writing for years. These hidden gems are out there waiting for their turn in the spotlight. Since the summer months are approaching, why not let these hidden gems come into your life.

George Lucas

2005-05-18T16:20:00.000-07:00

George Lucas is apparently hanging up his hat after the release of his new star wars trilogy. It has been a long and successful run for George Lucas. He deserves a break. He is definitely a great writer. George Lucas, my hat goes off to you and I know your new star wars trilogy will be a great success.

Whats On The Web

2005-05-17T03:57:00.000-07:00

Whats on the web is surprising to me. Reading other people's blogs, I ran across some interesting subjects and some weird subjects. It appears that some are very upset with politics. A lot of bloggers appear to have set up blogs just to inflame people. Some of the blogs are directed at particular individuals in the news media, the arts, the movies or various politicians. Some express their views regarding the state of the economy while others appear to express their views towards relatives and friends. Some blogs are just rants and ravings while others are purely business related. Different people set up blogs for different reasons. Some blogs are for self promotion. Well all I can say about the various blogs in general is that some blogs are set up by great writers.

Cruising For Writers

2005-05-16T08:30:00.000-07:00

Today I spent some time on the internet cruising for writers. My main purpose was to find those writers who have not quite gained large media exposure. What I mean by large media exposure is exposure in the major newspapers and major publications. I found that there are several novel writing groups on yahoo and google. Some of these novel writing groups have a few members and some have a large number of members. Although they are located on the web, they still have not gained widespread media attention from the publications in print.

This Author Is A Great Writer

2005-05-14T22:29:00.000-07:00

The author of Strange Fruit In A Small Town is a great writer. Her writing style is not only unique, it is superb. Her words on paper seduces the reader and takes them to an unknown place. Every word, every page entices to reader to crave for more. Readers are invited on this adventurous journey with Faye Brown to suck up every word on every page.

I Know Where They Are

2005-05-14T06:32:00.000-07:00

I have a secret. I am willing to share that secret with you. I know where some of the great writers are. These great writers are new authors of new novels and new books who you do not see promoted in the mainstream media outlets. That is why they are so great. Their work speak for itself. These great writers do not rely on name popularity. Whats in a name? Does the name of the writer tell you anything about the content of the novel or book? Yes, I know where the great writers are and you would too if you would stop relying totally on The New York Times Book Review. Judge for yourself. You are intelligent human beings. Stop being a follower and be a leader in choosing what novels and books to read.

Honoring those left behind

2005-05-13T05:46:00.000-07:00

Today I must honor those left behind. Those left behind are those fine novel writers who do not receive any publicity for their work. They are the ones who are self-published, traditionally published or what some would call, published through vanity presses. These writers are the ones you meet at the grocery store with the grim looks on their faces wondering when their words will be heard. These are the ones who are your next door neighbor who you wander why they are unemployed. These are the ones who do not have any political connections or friends in high places. These are the ones who do not have marketable last names, those names that everyone knows about. Their words are elegantly spoken. Their voices can take you to places where you have never been before yet they remain silent. Silent by the publishing industry who do not wish to stand up and take that chance. Their voices remain silent to the various media outlets when they cry out who is that, they cannot improve my ratings. Does anyone important know that person? Remember when you see those sad grim faces that these are great writers who should be honored for their courage in stepping up to the plate even though their plate may remain monetarily empty.

Faye Brown Is A Great Writer

2005-05-12T13:04:00.000-07:00

Faye Brown is a great writer. She writes about any and everything. She is bold and brazen. Faye Brown is a no holes barred type of writer. She takes the reader where no man has ever gone before. Faye Brown's work is headed to the best seller's list. The New York Times review is looking for Faye Brown. They are hunting her down like a dog trying to get her story. Has anyone seen Faye Brown? She is very busy with her best selling novel. Faye Brown's novel, Strange Fruit In A Small Town, will beat out the Harry Potter's series. Look out J.K. Rowling, here comes Faye Brown That is why Faye Brown is considered the best writer in 2005.

Top Sellers-Books and Wish List

2005-05-11T05:31:00.000-07:00

1. The Owner's Manual: An Insider's Guide to the Body that Will Make You Healthier and Younger by Michael F. Roizen,Mehmet OZ 2. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Book6) by J.K. Rowling, Mary Grand Pre(Illustrator) Publication Date: July 16, 2005. 3. Strange Fruit In A Small Town by Faye Brown 4. The World Is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-first Century by Thomas L. Friedman 5. Call to Action: Secret Formulas to Improve Online Results by Bryan Eisenberg,et al 6. Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell 7. The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini 8. The Mermaid Chair: A Novel by Sue Monk Kidal 9. Rachael Ray's 30-Minute Get Real Meals: Eat Healthy Without Going to Extremes by Rachael Ray 10. The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown 11. Winning by Jack Welch, Suzy Welch 12. The RealAge Makeover: Take Years off Your Looks and Add Them to Your Life by Michael F. Roizen 13. 4th. of July by James Patterson, Maxine Paetro 14. The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell 15. The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? by Rick Warren 16. Broken Prey (Lucas Davenport Mysteries) by John Sandford 17. Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork:A 12-Stop Program to End Bad Habits and Begin a Healthy Lifestyle by Mike Huckabee 18. Five Factor Fitness by Harley Pasternak, Ethan Boldt

Writers

2005-05-10T19:25:00.000-07:00

1. Great Meetings: Great Results by Dee Kelsey 2. The Next Great Bubble Boom: How to Profit from the Greatest Boom in History 2005-2009 by Harry S. Dent 3. All Creatures Great And Small by James Herriot

A Great Writer

2005-05-09T13:15:00.000-07:00

1. Honoring the Body: Meditation on a Christian Practice by Stephanie Paulsell 2. Honoring the Self: Self-Esteem and Personal Transportation by Nathaniel Branden 3. Honoring The Civil War Dead: Commemoration And The Problem Of Reconciliation (Modern War Studies) by John R. Neff 4. Honoring the Ancestors: An African Cultural Interpretation of Black Religion and Literature by Donald Henry Matthews 5. Honoring Diverse Teaching Styles: A Guide for Supervisors by Edward Pajak 6. Honoring Our Ancestors: Stories and Pictures by Fourteen Artists by Harriet Rohmer

Mother's Day Writers

2005-05-08T08:19:00.000-07:00

Mother's day writers are those who choose to write, for their mother, for Mother's Day. A mother's day writer can write a poem, letter, ebook, short story or greetings card for their mother. It does not matter what they write. It does matter if they write. Those writers are great writers. Anyone who choose to write for their mother are great writers. Have you written for your mother today?

New Books

2005-05-07T18:30:00.000-07:00

A swarm of great writers have written a lot of new books. These great writers are creating a buzz at coffee shops and book stores. They have spent a lot of time promoting their websites. These great writers have also spent a lot of time on book promotions. Why not read some of these new books by these great writers. The experience you will gain is priceless.

Paula Abdul

2005-05-06T14:59:00.000-07:00

Paula Abdul, of the american idol television show, has been accused by a former contestant of engaging in a sexual relationship with him. Ms Abdul has been forced to defend herself against such charges. The former contestant is writing a novel depicting their alleged relationship. The young man is definitely trying to capitalize on this alleged relationship. I would never consider him a great writer. He may be considered a great writer by some because Paula Abdul is a public figure. Watch out for The New York Times Review. They will definitely have him on the best seller's list.

Pat O'Brien

2005-05-05T13:06:00.000-07:00

Is Pat O'Brien, of The Insider, a great writer? We really do not know the inside story of whether or not he is a great writer. You see, Pat O'Brien did not write his story. Pat O'Brien lived his story. Pat O'Brien could be a great writer if he wrote his story while his story is hot. Pat O'Brien is in the media. The media will help Pat O'Brien become a great writer. After all, isn't is the ones who are in the media spotlight that are called great writers. Ask the New York Times. They are the ones who review novels by the individuals who are in the media spotlight. Go on Pat O'Brien. Write your story. The New York Times will pick it up and you will be dubbed a great writer.

The Runaway Bride

2005-05-04T05:28:00.000-07:00

The runaway bride's story has been front page news. The runaway bride's story has received a lot of attention. The runaway bride's story will probably be very expensive. If the runaway bride had written this story, she would be considered a great writer. It is too bad that the runaway bride did not choose to write this story instead of living it. Her potential civil damages could have instead been turned into book royalties. That my dear would have made you a great writer.

The Desperate Housewife

2005-05-03T04:30:00.000-07:00

The writers who wrote The Desperate Housewife are great writers. They are great writers because they wrote The Desperate Housewife. Anybody who writes The Desperate Housewife are great writers. If you want to be a great writer, you have to write about The Desperate Housewife. Laura Bush is a desperate housewife. Laura Bush must be a great writer since Laura Bush is a desperate housewife. Everybody who is like Laura Bush is a desperate housewife. So everybody who is like Laura Bush is a desperate housewife and a great writer. If you want to become a great writer, you have to have a husband like President George Bush. If your husband is like President George Bush, then you are already a great writer. All great writers should join in the desperate housewife hall of fame.

For The Curious At Heart

2005-05-02T13:57:00.000-07:00

If you really want to find out where the great writers are, they can be found here.

From An Author's Perspective

2005-05-01T12:46:00.000-07:00

Recently, I had to question myself again on what makes a great writer? I know there are several answers to that question. I decided I would bring it up again from fresh eyes. With the help of someone else, I wanted to see if I was off track. I pose the question to Faye Brown, author of Strange Fruit In A Small Town. Ms. Brown informed me that a great writer is someone who is totally committed to their work. "You write about what you love and have faith in your abilities." I believe I hit the head on the hammer. Writers are great if they believe in themselves.

Phil

2005-04-29T17:59:00.000-07:00

Phil wanted to be placed on the great writer's list. Since you did not ask me to plug your new novel, I won't. Here it is Phil. Phil is a great writer. Great writers write like Phil. Phil lives in New Orleans, Louisiana. Great writers, like Phil, live in New Orleans, Louisiana. Phil has written a novel. I will not mention the novel since Phil did not explain he wanted it mentioned. Phil did not explain he wanted it mentioned. Phil, if you are reading this blog, please let me know if you want me to profile your novel.

Looking To Be Discovered

2005-04-28T04:43:00.000-07:00

Looking to be discovered occurs when the writer has put his best foot forward and he is faced with constant rejection. This rejection comes from literary agents who does not see any possibilities in his work. This work is judged by those literary agents who somehow feel that they have some hidden crystal ball to determine the future. This rejection also comes from publishers who does not see any possibilities in the writer's work. This work is judged by those publishers who somehow feel that they have some hidden crystal ball to determine the future. It is well known, however, that literary agents and publishers have been wrong. They should not be so quick to judge. Life is all about taking risk. Nobody can predict the future. My prayer is that I hope a lot of would be authors would not fall for the hype and keep on plugging at it to get their wonderful works publlished.

Great Writers Online

2005-04-27T09:05:00.000-07:00

Great writers can be found online. A lot of bloggers are great writers. A lot of bloggers could probably be great authors. A lot of bloggers should possibly consider writing their own novels. A lot of bloggers could expose their writing through ebooks. A lot of bloggers could expose their writing through screenplays. A lot of bloggers could expose their writings through poetry. There are too many different outlets to name for these great writers online. You be the judge. The world is waiting for you in a lot of different ways. My hat goes off to these great writers online. BRAVO AND TAKE A BOW!!

Google Search For Great Writers

2005-04-26T01:32:00.000-07:00

I have been voicing my opinion on what is a great writer. I decided to do something a little different today. I did a google search for great writers to view others opinions on what is the criteria for a great writer. Since search engines place the highest ranking search first, I decided to view that web page. It contains an extensive list of great writers. If you would like to view it, go to google and type in great writers. The site says you can add a name if you wish. So do not be upset if your name is not listed. In my opinion, however, your name does not have to be listed in order to be considered a great writer. So keep doing what you are doing.

That Leap Of Faith

2005-04-25T11:05:00.000-07:00

Great writers take that leap of faith into the unknown. They never know where their writing will lead them or will it lead them anywhere. Their drive is to put their words on paper. Any writer, who aspires to be great, knows that the leap of faith will take them there. What is great to them is their own. They are not concerned with what others think. They have to be true to their own feelings. This does not mean they do not care about others. Of course they do. They know, however, that they first must be true to themselves. So take that leap of faith if you feel that there is a novel in you.

Are You A Lazy Writer?

2005-04-24T17:01:00.000-07:00

Are you a lazy writer? Lazy writers are those who put off today what they can do tomorrow. Lazy writers are those who should be writing instead of surfing the internet. Lazy writers are those who have their unpublished work sitting on a desk, in a draw, in the attic or just plain sitting anywhere without adding any new words to it. Lazy writers are those who fail to set aside some time each day to devote to their writing. How can a lazy writer get published? Answer: Get busy, stop wasting time and get up off of your lazy butt.

GREAT WRITERS

2005-04-23T10:03:00.000-07:00

Have great writers been around for a long time or are they new to the field? It may depend on who you ask. I have met many a great writers in my lifetime. Some of them are published authors and some of them have not been discovered. Those that have not been discovered may have become discouraged by the lack of attention that is being paid to their work. These great writers are out there and it is up to all of us to find them. Just think about it. All of the great adventures and discoveries that our minds have not been able to experience. These great writers have a lot to offer. Perhaps the solution would be some sort of online forum showcasing these great writers where individuals can go and take that deep launch into new experiences and ideas. I encourage all of us to reach with in the deep realm of our consciousness to take that leap and find those great writers out there because they are all around us.

Writer's Blues

2005-04-22T12:19:00.000-07:00

Yes, writer's do get discouraged sometimes. Deadlines, literary agents, editors, publishers and family all add to this feeling. Confusion and forgetful. Sometimes you have to step back in order to relax.

HONORING A GREAT WRITER

2005-04-21T05:57:00.000-07:00

HONORING A GREAT WRITER

WHAT MAKES A GREAT WRITER

2005-04-21T05:44:00.000-07:00

What makes a great writer? What type of writer do we honor? Honoring a great writer is a very subtle title. A great writer is anyone who puts words on paper or in print. A great writer is someone who takes pride in his/her writing. A great writer is someone who is not concerned about how to please others. A great writer is someone who just love to write. A great writer may not become a best selling author. A great writer may become a best selling writer. We all are great writers because a great writer writes.

The False Code

2005-04-20T03:46:00.000-07:00

She gave me a false code. What was she trying to prove? They take up your time and they still do not want to give you what you paid for. I finally figured out the scam. Keep his competitors out. Keep people busy dong foolish things that really will not benefit them. I will stay on course and stay focus and leave all of the other hype alone.

What Jake's Mother Do

2005-04-18T09:03:00.000-07:00

Jake's mother is eighty years old. She sits all day in the same chair reading the newspaper. She hardly ever leaves that chair. If you pass by her, she says, look at Molly's hair. I know she must dye it because I can see her gray roots. She then starts talking about her mother. At least I can say, out of all of the children my mama has, none of them ever had any sores on their legs. You wonder where that is coming from. Why is she talking like that? What is on her mind? She just keep talking and talking and telling the same stories oveer and over again. She loves to tell the story about the type of man her motheer likes and the type of man she doesn't like. Her mother has been dead for eleven years. She constantly talks about what her father doesn't like in a woman and what he does like. He has been dead for fifty six years. She never opens up too much about her childhood. I wonder what is really hidden deep inside herself. What secrets are she really hiding?

RESPONSE TO BLOGGER'S ARTICLE

2005-04-17T07:52:00.000-07:00

RESPONSE TO BLOGGER'S ARTICLE

DO EVERYBODY WANT TO REFRESH THEIR MIND

2005-04-14T02:53:00.000-07:00

THEN READ...

STRANGE FRUIT IN A SMALL TOWN

Faye I. Brown

RESPONSE TO BLOGGER'S ARTICLE

2005-04-11T22:41:00.000-07:00

RESPONSE TO BLOGGER'S ARTICLE

MY FAVORITE NOVEL

2005-04-11T22:39:00.000-07:00

STRANGE FRUIT IN A SMALL TOWN by Faye I. Brown

RESPONSE TO BLOGGER'S ARTICLE

2005-04-11T12:54:00.000-07:00

RESPONSE TO BLOGGER'S ARTICLE

a STRANGE kind of FRUIT IN A very SMALL TOWN

2005-04-11T06:33:00.000-07:00

i was in tears today... YOU SHOULD know how i feel...... when i feel that way i usually BUY STRANGE things like FRUIT ......IN my mind i am A SMALL TOWN girl.....BY... my friend FAYE and i will be visiting BROWN park...

RESPONSE TO BLOGGER'S ARTICLE

2005-04-07T19:45:00.000-07:00

RESPONSE TO BLOGGER'S ARTICLE

SHOUT OUT TO A GREAT WRITER

2005-04-07T13:27:00.000-07:00

I AM COMPELLED TO MAKE A BLOG ABOUT ANOTHER BLOGGER'S BLOG I am from New Orleans and I am writing this blog because I finally saw a blog from a fellow New Orleanian. This was very exciting to me because my city is such a great place to live. I am proud to know that we have such a great novelist.

STRANGE FRUIT IN A SMALL TOWN

FAYE I. BROWN

This new novel has been much discussed in my area that I wanted to just give a shout out to a hometown girl.

Joycelyn Peters