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Hi! Things have been moving along with my new coaching practice. What's really interesting
is how starting a coaching practice has helped me attract new writing clients. Perhaps it's the energy that comes from doing something you're excited about; it gets other people excited
about working with you.
When you bring your focus and enthusiasm to a project, you'll be more creative and productive. Your work won't feel like an effort because you're in the flow - or as some people say, "in the zone."
Speaking of getting focused, I'm in the process of making some changes to my business and to this newsletter. Stay tuned!
Once again I'd like to welcome everyone who's subscribed in the past month. If you have any ideas for topics you'd like to read about, send me an email with your suggestions.
Enjoy this month's newsletter, Deborah
PLEASE NOTE: If you want to be removed from our subscription list, please go to the bottom of the page to unsubscribe. Reporting this newsletter as SPAM means that readers who want to receive it will be eventually blocked by their ISP.
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1. Be Your Own Best Editor
2. What's a Preposition?
3. Words on the Web
4. Announcements
5. About "The Writing Resource"
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by Guest Contributor, Kelli Wilkins, author
What's one thing that will set you apart as a professional writer and help you outshine the amateurs? Believe it or not, it's not the subject of your story, your witty proposal, or even how qualified you are to write the piece--it's your presentation.
How you present yourself and your writing to editors, agents, and readers speaks volumes about you. People will stop reading if they find misspelled words, missing words, and even repeated words. These avoidable errors will flag your writing as unprofessional and sloppy.
So how do you make sure your work is ready to go? Be your own best editor! Here are a few tips:
- Read your writing out loud and proofread every word on each page. This forces you to slow down and you'll notice missing words. Reading aloud also lets you hear how the piece sounds, and you'll pick up repeated words.
- Proofread after you run spellcheck. Spellcheck won't find words that are spelled correctly but are misused (gong/going, gaps/gasp, career/carrier.) Editors pick these mistakes up quickly, and if you don't find them, they will.
- Use an easy-to-read 12-point font (Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier), print with black ink on white paper, and enclose a SASE when mailing a submission. Create a professional email address. Don't use something "cute" (like Hottie123) or that will give a negative impression (EvilDoer123).
These basic rules also apply to your website and newsletter text, blogs, reviews, or anything else you send into cyberspace. A website with typos or other errors will not boost your writing career.
So, spend a few extra minutes and double-check your work. You'll be happy you did-and so will your readers!
Multi-published author Kelli Wilkins has written several fiction and non-fiction books. Her latest erotic romance, The Pauper Prince is available in electronic and paperback formats from Amber Quill Press. Visit her website at www.KelliWilkins.com to learn more about her writing and sign up for her newsletter, Kelli's Quill.
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Prepositions are often used to tell the position or location of a thing. They also connect pronouns and nouns to other parts of a sentence.
Note the prepositions in italics in the following examples.
Look behind you
She sat in the chair
The ball is under the table.
I'm going with him.
He made dinner for her.
It's not recommended to end a sentence with a preposition, but sometimes not ending in one sounds awkward. Look at this example.
Sentence #1:
"That's something I didn't think of."
Sentence #2:
"That's something of which I didn't think."
Grammar rules may say otherwise, but in conversation people will go with what sounds more natural.
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If you like words (and books) here are some interesting sites.
The extremely popular online word game.
www.Scrabulous.com
Create a virtual bookshelf and share your books.
www.Shelfari.com
Online spellchecker.
www.Spellcheck.net
Extensive selection of new, used and out-of-print books.
www.Powells.com
Home of "A Word a Day" newsletter and the archives.
www.Wordsmith.org
"Only those who risk going too far can possibly find out how far one can go."
- T.S. Elliot, poet, dramatist
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NEW COACHING SERVICES
Deb Bailey Coaching supports people who want to find their passion and create change in their personal and professional lives.
Learn more at www.DBaileyCoach.com.
Professional Editing & Proofreading Services
Want your website copy edited? Need your article or manuscript proofread? When you use our expert editing and proofreading services your work is guaranteed to be polished and professional.
Contact us and mention if you subscribe to "The Writing Resource" to receive 10% off of your first project.
Visit us here to learn more about our editing services.
Resume Reviews
Making a job change? Request a resume review or order your copy of "Secrets of a Great Resume" today.
Blogs
Visit the Women For Hire Network for my posts as the "Career Changer" blogger. Career Changer blog
Find out about transitioning from employee to business owner at the Hidden Gate blog.
My article, about making changes in your business, is posted at WomenandBiz.com magazine.
Writing Q & A
Have questions about writing and editing? Submit your questions for the "Writing Q & A" section of this newsletter. Selected questions will be featured in upcoming issues. Send your questions to dab@writingservicescentral.com.
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| ABOUT THE WRITING RESOURCE |
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"The Writing Resource" is published by Deborah A. Bailey, a professional writer and owner of Writing Services Central, LLC. Her company specializes in writing and content editing services for small businesses owners and entrepreneurs who want to boost their communications. Learn more now at www.WritingServicesCentral.com.
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Publisher:
Writing Services Central, LLC
PO Box 6955
Piscataway, NJ 08855
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Copyright © 2007 - 2008 Writing Services Central All Rights Reserved.
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