Beating Writers' Block

If you own a website then you will find yourself quickly becoming a jack of all trades. Suddenly you are a writer, a promoter, a web designer, a programmer and more and all these jobs are things that you will not necessarily have any experience in to begin with.

This can show more than anywhere when it comes to writing. A website lives and dies by its content, and if you want people to come to your site the you need to have something to offer them which normally comes in the form of content - relevant and/or interesting articles and editorial that they can read and enjoy and that will bring them back to the page time after time.

At the same time it is also important that you provide lots of content from an online marketing perspective. This way you will be able to get links on other sites (in exchange for your writing) and you will be able to help Google search and index your pages so that people find them when they use the engines. You can of course use your web marketing services to handle this aspect for you, but in many cases you will find yourself having to write yourself at least some of the time. It is a part of web marketing, but also many other aspects of owning a website then.

So what happens when you find yourself looking at that empty page with the sound of the clock ticking loudly in your ear and your mind blanker than it probably ever has been? This is what's known as 'writers' block' and it's somewhat akin to 'the wall' for runners, or 'the yips' in golf - a psychological barrier that prevents you from doing what you want to do and that can become almost career-ending when chronic.

What you need to do in these cases is to find a way to beat the block and to get out of this cycle. Here are a couple of ideas.

Go Away and Come Back: Like anything, sometimes you need a break from writing. If you find yourself reaching burnout, then this won't be productive for anyone, and you're better going away to recharge and then coming back. Even if it's just a ten minute walk around it might help - but don't do it more than once or it will just become an excuse for procrastination (you will in all likelihood know when it has reached this point).

Change What You're Writing: If you article title is the 'the history of iron pipes' then there is probably a good reason for your writers' block - what you're writing is really boring. If you can't be bothered to write it though, imagine how other people are going to feel when they come to read it. You need then to make sure that you come up with a way to make your article more interesting. How about 'the history of the iron bar, told in rhyme'? Even if it's just for web marketing purposes, put some effort into making your articles interesting.

Look for Inspiration: If you really can't think of what to write or how to make it engaging, then you might want to take inspiration from other sites or magazines. Look for their titles, then just put your own spin on them.

Quite Exclusive The Writer's Life Is

Next to the defeated politician, the writer is the most vocal and inventive attention holder in the world. He sees hardships and unfairness, wherever he looks. There are many common complaints of a working writer but I believe the most lifelong horrifying expense involved in the writer's life is in getting out the words.

Creativity can have its own reward, but it doesn't pay the rent. A blank paper is the writer's greatest enemy.

It may come as a surprise to many of you who assume that a writer's tools are limited to paper, pencils and a cup of tea and may be a tweed sport coat for interviews, but it is much beyond that.

The problem from which all other problems arise is that writing takes up the time that could otherwise be spent earning a living, A beggar on the street seeing a writer shuffling towards him would dig deep into his rags to see if he can spare him a dime. The bank officer in the bank would hide under his desk to avoid getting the eye contact to the desperate figure, looking for something to tide him over until he completes a great novel. He knows that the man of letters is not worth the credit risk.

God knows! There is enough interference as it is. To the outsider, research, probably suggests a few hours in the library, a dozen phone calls and maybe that's all it is used to be. Today, however, writers are expected more than that, required to produce work that is totally authentic in all its details.

The writer in the throes of research can often be seen in some of the world's most uncomfortable and dangerous corners, in Beirut, in Mogadishu, in Iraq, in the furnace of Gulf, in the hot sand of Afghanistan. You would find him soaking up the atmosphere, couched intently over his notebook for long ages and a brief but costly check up in the hospital from those distant places. Choosing the best words to reflect his ideas, constructing sentences to yield profound meaning, juggling up words in the best place, are not easy tasks!

Every morning he gears up to start his work. The ream of blank paper awaits him. The pencils are sharpen once again, a further plunge into the flash pots, a trip, a new hobby, an old flame, a second honeymoon or whatever, for him there is nothing but to try again and again, to make things work. He is unwilling to compromise on quality of his work. Nothing less than the best works for him!

After accomplishing his objective of finesse in his writing, there is a big sigh of satisfaction and achievement. All those relentless efforts have paid off. His love for writing has earned him, appreciation, gratitude and happiness. Moreover, the journey taken to craft that remarkable piece of work helps to achieve new altitudes of self-transcendence.

So do you still believe that writer's life is effortless and painless? Think again!

Interpreter or Translator?

So you're thinking of becoming an interpreter. There are several things a person should consider about interpretation before deciding to make a career change; maybe most importantly, before starting down the interpreter path, be sure you understand the differences between an interpreter and a translator. This article provides some options for a person to consider before deciding to pursue a career as an interpreter or a translator.
 
An interpreter provides verbal language interpretation. They may provide in person interpretation - for a person who speaks one language into a second language for another person or audience. An interpreter may also provide interpretation services over the phone - relaying the message one person speaks in one language to another person in a second language. A translator, on the other hand, provides translation of written language. In other words, a translator may translate a book, newspaper, or computer manual into a second language.
 
Acting as interpreter or as translator both have their challenges. An interpreter must be able to think quickly in both languages - the language being spoken by the first person and the language understood and/or spoken by the audience (be that audience one person or several people). The interpretation must be almost immediate, so the interpreter must be comfortable with person-to-person interaction and not feel uncomfortable around groups of people. Interpreters must also be comfortable translating language spoken with a variety of accents. The person commissioning an interpretation in the morning may have a vastly different accent from the person commissioning an interpretation in the afternoon, so the interpreter must be able to change gears more quickly than a translator will need to. Interpreters need to be comfortable speaking both languages they are working with.
 
A translator has a few advantages over an interpreter in these situations. A translator, working with written languages, doesn't have the added distraction of vocal language accents. Writing style varies person to person and culture to culture in every language, but there is no pronunciation difference on a written page (or computer screen). A translator also has the luxury of time.
 
They don't have to interpret the language in real time - being a translator provides the opportunity to read through the writing and get an understanding for the overall context before beginning the interpretation. A translator can also pause to look up any words that may be unfamiliar to them in either language they are working with, where an interpreter must choose a word quickly and move on. A translator doesn't run the risk of falling behind, whereas an interpreter has to be careful to keep up with the pace. A translator can pause for a break; interpreters can't pause until the person they are interpreting for does. Interpreters may translate between two languages, or they may only translate into one.
 
An interpreter does have a few advantages over a translator. Because interpreters work in spoken language, grammar and punctuation are not concerns. An interpreter's work is also completed more quickly - usually once the presentation or discussion is over, the translation is over, too. A translator's work, on the other hand, has just begun once they have been through the material once. The translator must review and revise their translation for accuracy and adherence to grammar and punctuation rules.

Write A Story Using Your Crazy Thoughts

Write a story: How often do we read a novel or play and wonder how on earth the author came up with the storyline and where did the original idea come from? When writing many authors include snippets of their lives and experiences. How would we know if they did? What is fact and what is fiction? If only we knew the truth it would probably make a more interesting story than the one the author has written.

Even lesser known authors often take their own experiences and build on them. Giving them an extra twist or adding the macabre to make the tale more interesting. We all have tales to tell, but sadly many are lost. Take the many heroes of the last world war where it was not considered anything out of the ordinary to save a persons life or commit an act of bravery. What stories have been lost and will never be told.

The budding author always wants to know what he or she should write about. The answer is always to write about what you know. Take a simple experience, like walking the dog. How could you turn that into a story?

Take a scenario of you walking the dog along a country lane. You have done the same walk for five years and nothing out of the ordinary has ever occurred, but this time everything is about to change.

In the distance walking somewhat stiffly towards you is a man in his latter years with a heavily whiskered face while holding a crooked walking stick in his left hand. What makes this man different is his companion.

Towering above his head and walking ungainly beside him is a finely feathered Ostrich. The huge bird is un-tethered and, as if attached by an invisible cord, keeps close to its master. Your four-legged friend stiffens his body and stares at the strange pair emitting a slow growl. You call your dog back and put him on a short lead. You are uncertain what to do as the pair approach.

Now within talking distance the man smiles warmly and doffs his battered straw hat and noids his head. You falter, and stutter a brief reply, as you stand almost mesmerized. The man chuckles and replaces his hat as if he understands your thoughts. He then continues along the lane beside his strange companion until they disappear into the distance. Meanwhile your dog appears uneasy; looks around him and begins to shake.

It may seem a little unusual, but it could happen and you can make the storyline continue with all sorts of twists and turns. Some famous novels have begun with a brief encounter between two complete strangers.

Many people who need to write struggle to find a subject, but that is because they are thinking too much and not putting pen to paper. The mere act of beginning a story or tale about any subject will lead you on a road of discovery.

So begin at the beginning throw your pen at the paper and continue from there.

Common American English Idioms/Expressions Using the Word "Get"

Native American English speakers use expressions and idioms in their daily conversations without even thinking about them. As a matter of fact, they are so automatic, that many times, they do not even realize they are using them. If English is your native language, you know how difficult it would be to try and not use them in a conversation. Try it and see what happens!

For anyone who speaks English as a second language, common American expressions and idioms can be very confusing and difficult to understand. This article will review some common expressions/idioms using the word "get" and offer some advice on how to improve your spoken English. Memorize these idioms, and soon you will "get the hang of" (understand) what Americans are really saying!

Don't let not understanding every word someone says "get you down" (make you sad or depressed). The main thing you want to do is "get the idea" (understand the concept) of what they mean. That is not to say that you won't "get stuck" (have difficulty) on some words people say from time to time, but you can always "get out" (take out) a notebook and write down specific words to look up in a dictionary later. Also, try to "get up the courage" (be brave enough) to ask people what they mean if you don't understand.

You will encounter many different types of people in your life: some people talk so much, you won't be able to "get a word in edgewise", while other people are so quiet, they only say enough to "get by" (the minimum). Try not to let people "get on your nerves" (annoy you), but instead try to make each new experience a learning opportunity! This is the best way to "get ahead" (advance in life)! I know this might "take some getting used to" (may be unpleasant at first, but after a while it will not be so bothersome). Mastering any language is difficult, especially when it comes to idioms, but "getting there" (the process of starting your goal and achieving it) is half the battle.

Remember, "when the going gets tough, the tough get going" (when things get difficult, keep trying until you succeed). If you continue to practice your speaking skills, make learning new words a focus of communication, and ask questions when you don't understand something, you will see a quick improvement in your English! What are you waiting for; get going! (start right away)

Why Writing in Proper English Is Important?

Have you ever stopped at one of those along-the-interstate gas stations when you "have to go" so badly you are about to burst? If you luck out, the restrooms will be clean, well-stocked and odorless, or at least deodorized. If not, you may just hold your breath - and your temper - attempting to "get your business done" and make a quick escape. This unpleasant experience will be scarred upon your memory The only positive taken from visiting this supposed traveler's oasis is you can easily store this spot on the no-return list.

Website Traveler Experience Dictates Success

The world-wide-web is the global interstate where your website should be a traveler's oasis. When a visitor arrives at your site, their experience will ultimately have a great impact upon your success in a number of ways:

• A successful "call to action" is enacted (email capture, purchase, etc.)
• A visiting experience leads to returns (site gets bookmarked)
• Happy site visitors share their experience with others
• ...but, and it is a big BUT, if your message, content, marketing article, email sent or other types of communication and interactivity are not in naturally produced, easy-to-read English then your "rest stop" along the Internet highway will produce a less-than-pleasant experience. Yes, you do not get a second chance to make a first impression.

Buying Words Cheaply Cheapens Content

Although it should not be tolerated, poor English grammar and word usage will create a less-than-pleasant experience if this low-quality level of content is employed. The impact arrives if the low-quality is absolutely apparent throughout the entire presentation, not just a typo or a misused word here and there. Yes, you should expect error-free grammar, but you also should expect content that is interesting and compellingly attractive since the optimum word is "attractive." The goal for using website content, article and email marketing is to "attract" visitors. Sure, there are many tricky SEO (search engine optimization) tricks that may get net surfers to your shores, but boring, poorly written content will compel these visitors to find another beach. If your content appears to be poorly written by someone without even an average grasp of the English language, it will cheapen your site, repel visitors with ease and send potential buyers of your goods and services elsewhere.

It's a Story

All content whether written in a book, magazine, newspaper or even an advertisement pasted on a bus stop bench must tell a story. The communication should be casual, for the most part, since 99.9 percent of the people 99.9 percent of the known websites are trying to attract do not read academic or technical phrasing. The typical Internet user is looking to solve something and turns to the Internet for that all-important solution that you are offering. The challenge is that you more than likely have at least a few competitors attempting to offer a similar solution. Do not create a greater challenge toward attracting - and keeping - website travelers at your "stop" by using cheaply and poorly written content that only tells your visitor you really do not know how to communicate with them.

What You Can Do to Identify the "Sweet and Sour" of Outsourced Articles

Sweet and sour chicken is one of my favorite things to eat when I go out to eat at a Chinese style restaurant. I just love that sauce but we are not talking about chicken in this article, we will be discussing the "Sweet and Sour" of outsourced articles.

If you're an article writer and you're in a pinch of some sort, don't worry, you have the option of outsourcing content from another writer. Being in a pinch could mean that, you can't meet a deadline, you have a family emergency, you don't have time to write, etc. Outsourcing your content could help you out, but you have to be aware of the sweet and the sour of doing this.

The sweet is obvious, outsourcing your content means that you don't have to work as hard on writing your articles. In some cases you won't even have to work or write at all. Now that all sounds good except for the fact that you can't always have the sweet without the sour.

What does this mean? Here is an example.

For instance, let's say that you have to write a couple of articles on a specific subject for your work place that you know nothing about and its due in a week. Sound easy enough right? However, this just happens to be the week that your best friend (who you have not seen in 10 years) has decided to come over and visit you. Your friend says that he/she has the whole week planned for the two of you to go to some resort or something.

Despite your better judgment, you decide to outsource your articles and hire or pay somebody else to do your work for you because you really want to go on this trip with your friend and have a sweet reunion with them. Heck, you even want to get a tan because one of your office mates says one would look good on you.

When you return from your "Sweet Reunion" with your "best friend" and your "awesome tan", you receive your articles from your outsourced client and you turn them in to your boss and meet your deadline.

The very next day you get called into the office. Your boss has you sit in that very uncomfortable chair in front of his desk and says "We need to talk about these articles that you submitted yesterday". You notice that he doesn't look happy and also that he has your outsourced articles lying on the desk in front of you. Your boss then asks you the question "Would you please explain this to me"?

Enough of this story telling already, we should talk about the sour of outsourcing articles. Before you decide on not doing the work yourself, there are a few sour things that you need to be aware of when outsourcing.

First, check and make sure that there are no rules against outsourcing content at your place of employment, website you are submitting too, etc. It is not worth the risk of getting fired or being embarrassed by turning in or submitting something that is not a quality product.

The next thing you should do is figure out whether or not the outsourced client (ghost writer) is a good writer or not. Before you go and hire someone, ask for samples of their work to help you determine quality. You probably wouldn't pay somebody if they could only write "sour content".

Make sure that the product is also an original piece of work. If you don't perform a copyright check yourself, your paying client will. If it is not original it could embarrass you and perhaps even affect your career if you're being paid for the article/content in question. Lastly, make sure to check for grammar and spelling errors to avoid turning in "Sour Content".

I do hope that this article was both informative and entertaining for you. The one thing that I want you to learn from reading this is that outsourced content can be sweet in some cases and sour in others. Thanks for taking the time to read this article. I'm going to go get some chicken, writing this has made me a little hungry for Chinese food.

How To Have A Good Conversation - The Art Of Speaking

Being a good conversationalist is something that every person can achieve. It does take effort and practice but as long as one is motivation, everything will be worth the cause. Here are some of the helpful ways on how you can carry out a good conversation with anyone.

Confidence is your weapon. A lot of people are struggling with having conversations because they are too shy to face other people. The first thing that you need to do is to build your self-esteem. You should be confident enough to face people and maintain eye contact with them. When you are confident, people around you will feel that you are easy and fun to talk with. Some experts also say that confidence is contagious.
People will likely become glad being with you if you are comfortable with yourself.

Research is your backup. It is better to get information about the person you are going to talk with. This will help you converse better as you already have topics to talk about. If you can, find topics that both of you are interested in. You can try asking about the other person's hobbies but do not try too much to understand everything as this may inconvenience both of you. It is always better to talk about things that both of you can relate with than trying to push yourself in trying to be interested in something that you really are not.

Curiosity will keep the conversation going. Never be afraid to ask questions. As long as they are not personal and below the belt, the questions will help you make the conversation lively. Try to get the other party to tell stories of his or her experiences. Showing other people who you are interested in what they want to share will make them feel more comfortable talking with you.

Good listening skills will maintain a good mutual relationship. A good conversation is always two-way. You cannot always be the one talking always. You need to let other people talk. Sometimes, it takes good listening skills to really say that you are a good conversationalist. Listen to what the other people have to say and comment on their words. This way, you can really show them that your ears are for them at that very time. You can also show that you are eagerly listening by nodding or by saying "yes" while the other person is making his point.

Sensitivity will help you become better. It is very important to become sensitive at all times. You should be able to read the air in order to determine which comments are okay to say and which are not. This also holds true when you are trying to crack jokes. More importantly, you need to be able to sense when the conversation has to end. Some people may just be too shy to tell you that they want to end the talk because they have more important things to do. Be courteous enough in order for both of you to have a pleasant goodbye note for each other.

The Importance of Professionally Written Content

There are many business owners and e-commerce sites that have spent a great deal of time creating their own content for their online presence. Many people do so because they will be saving a lot of money by not hiring a professional writer. This would be the case if the website owner has been educated in the art of the written word. Business owners usually have a keen sense for business but simply cannot create professionally written content for their websites. The key to a successful website or e-commerce business is hiring a profession writer.

SEO and CRO Mumbo Jumbo

Many website owners and e-commerce business owners believe that SEO (search engine optimization) and CRO (conversion rate optimization) are nothing more than mumbo jumbo terms to force them to spend money. The truth of the matter is that SEO and CRO are incredibly important to a business' online presence and success.

High quality, SEO professionally written content will help potential customers find your website. A professional writer will have a strong knowledge of the SEO techniques needed to improve your ranking in the search engines. Websites that are ranked highest on the search engine results pages get more traffic than those that are ranked on page two or lower in the results pages. Your businesses will prove to be much more successful and profitable if you hire a professional writer to improve your ranking and get more traffic to your website.

Once you begin to improve your ranking and get more traffic to your business' website, you will need to get your visitors to act. This is where CRO (conversion rate optimization) comes into play. A highly skilled professional writer knows how to make people have to have the product that you are selling or employ your services. Professionally written content will have your customers rushing to get to your website and hence, your business will begin to boom.

Employing a Professional Writer

You should now understand the need for professionally written content on your website but there are also other reasons to hire a professional writer. Many businesses find that using email campaigns helps to get more traffic to their sites. More and more businesses are using high quality articles for back linking so readers will visit their websites. Back linking only works if the articles for submission have professionally written content. There are a host of reasons why business owners and e-commerce entrepreneurs should use the services of a professional writer.

Co-Authorship: Weighing the Pros and Cons

Common wisdom dictates 'two heads are better than one'. Working with someone has many pros: you can do less of the work, having someone else invest in your work takes away a lot of loneliness, and with a co-author, there's a chance you won't both get writer's block at the same time.

On the other hand, you can't control timing of the manuscript perfectly, and you're going to have to worry about someone else's conflicting ideas competing with your own. Many co-authorships happen based on existing friendships and mutually-formed ideas, but maybe you're finding yourself publicly searching for a someone as a co-author for a book you have in mind. If so, here are some things to think about.

1.Common thematic goals

Most of the time, our worldviews come out at least a tiny bit in how we write our characterizations and themes. If you and your co-author have wildly different worldviews, you have to plan for that at the outset. Is this book going to reflect the struggles between two main characters with opposite worldviews, trying to make peace with each other in a polarized world? If so, your opposing co-author makes perfect point of view material, if you can pull it off without booking a flight to Paraguay in a rage (Paraguay is the only country in the world where you can legally duel someone).

2.Unified writing Style

Are you going to break your book into chunks representing different POV? If not, how will you make sure you both write the same characters with the same voice the whole time? This is perhaps the trickiest aspect of working with a co-author. If you don't break into different POV chunks by author, or somehow find some other way to apportion the work for a consistent voice, you will have to spend a long time talking about the book and characters before you both get on the same page. On the other hand, you might enjoy that; getting all worked up about planning might be almost as fun as the actual writing.

3.Putting in the work

Will your co-author put in the same amount of work as you do? Would you rather he didn't? If you don't break the book into POV chunks, who will do style checks? Don't choose a co-author just because you feel he or she should get in on the project, especially if you already have your ideas all laid out. Choose a co-author who can put in an amount of time you're comfortable with--not too much, so that she dominates the project, and not too little, so that you're left to do everything.

If you're meant for co-authorship, you and your copilot will throw ideas together all the time, really enjoy them, and just make it happen. Sometimes these things are natural; sometimes you can structure them. Don't stress the process more than you need to.

Some AuthorHouse authors like John P. Lopez teamed up with former NFL star Dan Pastorini to write Taking Flak, a memoir about the legendary sportsman's life. The latter's life story couldn't have been as richly told, otherwise.

Five Great Reasons to Keep a Personal Journal

Many people own personal journals, but don't often write in them. It seems they have somewhat of a desire to keep a journal or they wouldn't own one. Yet they just can't seem to find the time to write. Giving a person a "why" can often help them figure out the how. Here are 5 great reasons to set aside some time on a consistent basis to write in a journal.

#1 Journaling connects pathways in the brain. Did you know that the act of cursive writing actually strengthens the brain? In the book The Brain That Changes Itself, we learn of the studies that have been conducted, showing that something powerful is going on upstairs when we engage in the physical act of cursive writing. The brain actually creates new pathways. Cursive writing is an excellent therapy for anyone, especially those who need neurological healing. For some reason cursive writing is more beneficial than manuscript, and both are better for brain health than using an electronic device such as a computer, ipad, phone, or ipod.

#2 Journaling is found to be extremely therapeutic. Therapists all over the world have incorporated journaling into the healing programs they place their patients on. A journal is an excellent place to work out difficult memories, come to terms with grief, release stress, tension, anger, and a string of other emotions that tend to stay bottled up inside causing stress to the body which translates into illness and a reduction in the quality of life. Just tell it to your journal. It may help you feel a lot better.

#3 Writing down your goals, aspirations, dreams, and visions, is a must if you expect to accomplish them. We've learned from many different self-help or success, gurus that it is a vitally important step. Stephen Covey teaches in 7 Habits of Highly Successful People that "Writing Crystalizes Thought". What better place is there to write down your dreams than in your personal journal? You have a much better chance of realizing them.

#4 Keeping track is another great use for a journal. Athletes keep track of their performance through journaling. Gardeners keep track of what they grow in which beds and how different varieties of plants performed. Hunters keep track of areas, ammunition, directions in and out of their favorite spots and where certain types of game gather. Vacationers take notes about the hotels, car rentals, cruises, restaurants, and great places they visit - also including what not to do the next time. You may not think this kind of journaling is of value until you start doing it. You'll be glad you did.

#5 Gratitude journaling has the power to lift any mood, bring sunshine to your day, put things in a different perspective, and fill you with positive, creative energy. Gratitude journaling is especially useful when we are going through those really rough times that come to every life. You can start or end your day by jotting down all the things you're grateful for that day. Write for 10 minutes being very thoughtful about your entries. Another way you can approach gratitude journaling is by writing down 100 things you're grateful for without stopping - even if you repeat some things. It is a very revealing activity - sort of a look into your soul.

Any one of these reasons is an excellent reason to set some time aside on a regular basis to write in your journal. You'll be pleasantly surprised at how journal writing enriches your life.

Easy Way to Learn How to Write An Article

First off, you need to choose a topic that is relevant to your own website. Then you need a keyword or longtail keyword (phrases) for you article. Keywords are words or phrases that people type into the search field of a search engine such as Google. You should research your keywords, and choose low competition keywords if you can. Keywords are important to your website but even more important to an article and how to write an article properly is to use keywords.

Take you keyword, and do research on it, by putting it into the search field of an article directory such as EzineArticles. Once you do that it will show you all the articles that relate to you keyword that you entered. Read a few of these articles to form an opinion, and this will give you some ideas of how to write an article. Perhaps you want to write a list article such as "Five Easy Steps to..." or "Top 25..." or "7 Ways to Achieve...". List articles can be very successful tools to get traffic to your article, and then to you website.

Start with the title to your article. Your keyword must be in the title, so that when people search for your keyword, the search engines will find you article. How to write an article is start with the title that include your keywords to get exposure.

The first paragraph should start with one or two sentences that will tell the reader exactly what this article will tell them. This is basic in how to write an article. Make sure you put your keyword in this paragraph at least once.

Your list should be next in how to write an article. Create a numbered list and explain what each entry does in a couple of sentences that should also include your keywords. Try to use your keywords in each entry, but keep in mind that you don't want to be keyword stuffing.

Your closing paragraph should reiterate what you just explained in your article, and you should also have your keywords in this paragraph also. It should be short and concise.

Another thing to always have is a resource box. It's also known as and authors box, or an author's resource box and you should tell them a little bit about yourself, but more about your website with a tease or enticement to get them to follow your website link of which you should have at least one in this area or box. These are the basics in how to write an article.

BS 101: An Introductory Course in BSing

As the title may suggest, this is an introduction to the magical world of BS-ing. Some may be familiar with using this to complete assignments for some classes that they may have put off to the last moment. But BS-ing isn't just a last resort for the modern student. No, it has truly become a way of life.

But before the lessons on how to BS effectively will be communicated, the BS-er themselves must be examined. Many think of the common BS-er as that kid who sits in the back of the class, sleeping with a sweatshirt as a pillow and the soothing music of an iPod blaring into their ears. And while that used to be the case; the art of BS-ing has spread from that exclusive group into more of a widespread infamy. Now, BS-ers can be anyone from the sleeping slacker to the well-dressed, well-spoken students. It has invaded all aspects of the classroom.

And because everyone is capable of the art of BS-ing, most frown upon it. But it is more than simply writing down whatever comes to the mind onto a piece of paper and turning it in. No, it is much more complex than that, especially if the BS-er wants to succeed in their endeavor.

So let us take a look at the steps that a BS-er goes through in the process of BS-ing. First the BS-er must realize that they have absolutely no idea what they are doing, to now be referred to as acceptance. After acceptance comes the process of racking the brain for any small bit of information that may prove useful, or scanning.

After the scanning comes the process of trying to tie the thin strands of knowledge together into a cohesive knot of an assignment. This is known as unification. Information compiled, it must be committed to paper in perhaps the most important step of the BS-ing process. This is called commitment, for once the BS-er has committed to commitment, they are locked in to their response.

Now to look at each in a bit more detail, to give better insight on how to BS like a champ. As in many programs, acceptance is the first and most crucial step, for without acceptance, how can one go about fixing the problem that they have. And every student has had this moment of twisted enlightenment. They look at the question, start to think, and then realize that they have absolutely no idea what that just meant. Usually this is followed by a moment or two spent rereading the question, trying to see if the reader made an error. But alas, that is not so, and the soon to be BS-er realizes that they are well and truly screwed.

A cold chill runs down the spine with this realization, followed by several moments of absolute panic in which a person quickly tries to think of every possible solution and outcome, some of which end strangely in death. But in the end, their mind will alight upon the possibility of BS-ing the assignment. And so, acceptance has happened.

Now comes the scanning. The BS-er furiously thinks about the question, trying to dredge up any tiny bit of knowledge that may help them. Movies, books, magazines, newspapers, and websites that they may have read or seen are quickly recalled and discarded as they hurriedly scribble down any bit of pertinent information that they have come up with.

That list, when completed, will be entirely nonsensical, covering ridiculous movie quotes, book titles, obscure historical facts and more that they were able to come up with. And while this may sound useless, this is exactly what the BS-er wants to do. They must realize that no matter how inconsequential the information may seem at first, a movie quote or book title thrown into an essay will make them seem even more prepared than some of those students that were dumb enough to study for the essay, test, or assignment.

The most difficult step is the third, in which all of that useless information must be tied together to make a cohesive statement. And the best way to do that is to try and find the topic that you have the most information about. Say that they essay assignment is about British history, and the BS-er has a lot of information about a fifty-year period of time.

What they are going to want to do is to take those fifty years and do everything they can to make it sound like the most important fifty years ever. Lying, exaggeration, and slight distortion of the truth will come in handy in this step. If you can find something obscure enough that the teacher does not know, then all of these methods will go unnoticed. So use them. What is the worst that could happen?

So the BS-er has the information, it is tied together, and they are ready to BS that assignment. Now comes the commitment phase. While not the most important, it is the easiest to fail at. Crucial things to remember are that adjectives and big words are your friends. As the more intelligent that the BS-er's assignment sounds, the more likely that the assigner will be to take it at face value. And even if they decide to dig into the facts of the assignment a little bit, they can just write it off as misunderstanding rather than stupidity. Also, length is a plus. A five hundred-word assignment only looks half as good as a one thousand word assignment, because in the case of the BS-er, quantity will trump quality.

Now that the assignment is done, it must be submitted, and confidence is key. Show weakness here and all of the work that has just been done will be for nothing. Teachers fall for confidence, and if the BS-er turns in the essay looking confident, they will automatically assume that they did well on the assignment. Also, do not mention that "you bullcrapped the crap out of that one" or anything of the sort, for that may put the grader onto your trail.

That is all that it takes to BS an assignment. But while it may seem simple, it really is. Still, don't rely completely on this method for every assignment, for after ten straight submissions about obscure English kings, the teacher may be onto you.

If you feel that you have exhibited a mastery of the basics of bullshitting, feel free to take the follow up BS 202: Advanced BS, where a simple BS-ing newbie can be turned into a master, or BS 303: BS Theory, where we will wonder exactly why we are prompted to BS, and what it truly means to a person.

The British Accent: The Classic Solution

"I've had enough of this bloody school!" as opposed to "School is so boring!". "I got sacked the other day, but I had a party with my mates." as opposed to "I just got fired, but I partied with my homies". "That was a load of rubbish. He must be off his trolley!" as opposed to "That was b.s. He's crazy!". Which option most appeals you? Is it the first one, clearly more sophisticated and desirable? I think so. The I.Q. levels of the average student, and the average person, plummet after days and weeks of commonplace existence. The perfect way to break up this habitual boredom is a healthy dose of the British accent each day. This is a brilliant way to boost one's intelligence, laugh more frequently, and be more impressed, if not more impressive.

The British accent is just the ticket when one fancies a superior sound. There is a variety of devices that people who wish to sound brilliant can use, including the British accent, widely known as an accent that makes for its properties of intelligence. Research shows that it makes a person sound anywhere from 10% to 50% smarter, depending on how successful they are, and how many exclusively British words they include in their vocabulary. Imagine for a moment that two students were under interrogation, and they both had to answer the question, "Dearest pupils, Why ever do we have daylight savings time?" and one of the students responds with, "'Cause it gets darker faster, so, they like, I dunno, change it or something." The other student opens their mouth to emit the glorious sounds of the British accent with an answer that goes something like this: "We happen to have the fantastic invention of Daylight Savings Time for the purpose of ensuring that maximum daylight can be utilised when the majority of the population has arisen from their nightly slumber". Which student sounded smarter? Clearly the second one who was exhibiting his or her marvellous British accent. However, which one was actually smarter? It remains the latter, since they showcased their ability to think quickly, improvising on the spot, and were clever enough to use a British accent to boot. The British accent is, in fact, so wonderfully excellent that even the Queen herself has adopted it. Whenever she speaks, whatever she speaks, she sounds doubly impressive due to her royalty and her manner of speaking. Wouldn't you agree that it just seems fitting that the queen talk in such an impressive dialect? It is not an abnormal occurrence to see someone pretending they are the queen whilst exhibiting a such a wonderfully beautiful accent. She has become a figurehead and a well respected woman, but her accent is the attribute that most people remember and adore the most. It is classy, elegant, intelligent, humorous, endearing, and emulates awe. It was the best political move she ever made was to adopt this accent! There is another perk regarding intelligence when it comes to the British accent, which is that one is given the opportunity to expand their vocabulary. This is a fantastic and highly enjoyable aspect of speaking in a British accent. Many of their words are hilarious and refreshing after being bombarded with nothing but the plain words that are heard and said so many times they become typical. Some of these exclusively British words are 'rubbish' or 'nonsense' rather than 'baloney'. `Biscuit' to replace 'cookie', and 'crisps' instead of 'potato chips'. The more words one incorporates into one's British vocabulary, one is sure to sound more intelligent than their Canadian counterparts.

In addition to making one sound more intelligent, this accent makes a person sound funnier. In a dull situation, a sure-fire way to make some people laugh is starting to speak in a British accent. While the things one may say may not be very funny, the way in which one speaks makes it hilarious. According to the most recent survey on the issue, the British accent improves any joke as much as 70% if utilised to its full potential. With a success rate of well over 49%, who would refuse the opportunity to utilize the great resource of the English when their accent is such a terrific tool for procuring laughs? Picture this situation. There is an awkward silence in a group of acquaintances and someone begins to tell an uninteresting joke that receives a few half-hearted laughs from those attempting to exhibit some sort of decorum (which, assuredly, is a much simpler task when one is exhibiting the proper accent, but that is a story for another time). Anyway, there is a lad who is suddenly inspired to tell his equally uninteresting joke in the English lilt, which is received with much laughter. Let us analyse this situation for a moment. Why was the joke of the second lad received better than that of the first, even though the content was equally uninspiring? Because of the component we have not weighed into our analysis as of yet - the British accent! It made the ordinary joke of our second jester up to 30% funnier, whereas if that person applied the accent wittily to a British joke, then he may have won up to 70% more admiration for the words he uttered! The British accent is funny, which is something everyone who has experience with it can attest to. Comedians, mainly in the U.K., have picked up the hint and have begun a long-standing tradition of doing their routines in a British accent. In fact, as extra practice, they even live out their ordinary (or perhaps not ordinary) lives in this dialect. It has served them well, as they get laughs out of people at nearly every venue they go to. Common schoolboys in our own country of Canada have now, either consciously or unconsciously, caught wind of this, and, from time to time joke around in the accent of the British. Although their comedic words and their applause were not recorded for the purpose of this essay, it is obvious that they would have obtained good results. Similarly to the way that British vocabulary, in addition to the accent, can increase the potential for one to sound smart, one can boost their British comedy with some British references. For example, quoting a British film or novel would be a novel idea. The widely known Narnia or Harry Potter series would be a good place to start, and inspiration will surely sprout as a result of successful attempts.

How can something be so amazingly versatile as to be able to make one sound both smarter and funnier? The only answer to that question is to implore the reader of this essay to understand that it is because the British accent is so inherently impressive. People have no choice but to be impressed by this phenomenon of intellectual and comedic brilliance. This just proves the point that the British accent has the ability to make many things so much better. The next time you are stuck having to answer a question that simply eludes you, or lighten the mood at a gathering of grim faces and long pauses, you should consider the British accent to aid your endeavours. If you ever have a difficult time of remembering this advice, these illustrious metaphors will help you out. A British accent is like an old friend, who is there whenever you need help. A British accent is a clear mountain stream, and an American accent is a stream that has been greatly narrowed and polluted due to garbage. And, finally, a regular American accent is like a cup of water, and a British accent is like tea, more sophisticated, and with far more flavour.

Start Your Poker Career With Some Smarts

The "first time" always brings up fears and questions no matter what the occasion happens to be. Fear of the unknown and questions about going about the new endeavor, as well as questioning your own reasons for doing it are shared by all neophytes. There is a thrill along with the mystery in new undertakings, whether it be your first dance, first stage performance or your first day at a new school. Somehow we survive the "first time jitters' and grow to become adept and comfortable in whatever the activity.

Playing cards with friends and family was new once. Experience aided our performance and alleviated our fears. Many have played poker along with other home games. Now it's time for that online poker experience. Online poker is simply a different format from the brick and mortar game with friends and is enjoyed by millions. If you want to give it a go, there are a few things you must learn before you dive in. Online poker is competitive and challenging, a strong mental attitude and certain physical considerations must be acknowledged and practiced before you lay down that first bet.

You need to build a strong mental attitude as well as be physically fit to successfully compete and enjoy the games. Online poker will be scary at first. It's not the same as a friendly gathering for a few games with buddies. Online poker rooms offer a much different ambience than the home den. But have no fear. Take a few deep breaths, relax and allow yourself time to understand the basics of cyber poker.

When you first visit the online poker rooms, and you should definitely try out more than one site before playing for real, take advantage of the site's simulators, practice programs and "play money." Once your comfort level has risen, you can move on to a real game with real money. Do understand though that the right attitude to have is to accept whatever comes your way and think of it as a training ground for which you are paying your tuition.

During this initiation period, think about the games you like and why. Do you prefer tournament or cash games? You will have many questions as do all beginning poker players. You can find answers by reading poker articles, visiting forums and training sites. If you know anyone who plays online poker, they can be a wealth of information for you. In any case, proceed slowly and build your knowledge as you go. This is the best path to success. The more cautious approach will also allow you to build up your mental and physical stamina essential to remaining alert.

Don't forget your computer and internet connections must be sound, stable and reliable. Technical failures during critical decisions are major deal killers. Take advantage of the complimentary software packages offered by many sites that can augment your gaming skills.. They won't all work for you, but some of them may make a real difference. Be sure the sites you play on have a rakeback feature. Rakeback can give you that needed edge.

You want a comfortable space to play your games. Get out your favorite chair, some snacks and drinks. Turn on some soft music, get the temperature and lighting right and rid the space of any distractions. All this will add a positive note to your mental and physical state, especially if you are in for a prolonged session.

Lastly, take your time. Research which poker sites you want to enter into and open an account. Obviously you want a reputable one, but you also must play regularly on a site that offers rakeback. Do your homework and you should enjoy many hours of online poker comfortably, enjoyably and maybe even profitably.

Time Tested Suggestions for Healthy Living At This Time

As a result of a wide range of what exactly is regarded wholesome by medical professions and cultural differences, people typically have widely varying opinions on what is deemed a well-balanced nutritional eating plan. This short article discusses assistance, guidelines and tips which you is going to be in a position to make use of within a new or existing nutritional system.

You may be familiar together with the term "net carbs." Do you know what the term signifies? Specifically, net carbs are the total carbs within a serving of food together with the grams of fiber subtracted. As an example, if a granola bar has 23 grams of carbohydrates and six grams of fiber, then the net carbs are 17 grams.

Peanut butter tends to make for a healthy and nutritious snack. You may consume peanut butter with numerous fruits, breads and even celery. Proteins and heart-healthy oils make this food a tasty ally within your quest for robust skin, joints, and hair; reap the positive aspects by mixing it in with cereals, baked goods, and smoothies.

Educate oneself to understand food labels greater. Just because a food is labeled as fat-free does not mean that the calorie count is low in it. Also, low-sugar does not mean low-carb. The nutrition label should really offer you with the facts you will need.

It's important that your daily fiber intake meet the suggested quantity. Plenty of fiber is found in fruits, and specifically in vegetables. Other sources are whole grains like breads and pastas. If you aren't going to become in a position to consume 20-25 grams of fiber every day, take into account a supplement. Available choices for fiber supplements include capsules and tablets, and you are able to also get powdered formulations to mix into drinks.

Don't allow the hype regarding low-carb diets to enter into your mind; instead, concentrate on suitable nutrition as well as a balanced diet. Some carbs are in fact fantastic for the physique, and help to regulate it. Do not let this fool you and assume that all carbs are negative. It truly is about how lots of carbs you consume. Carbs will make your physique really feel full, and they are going to stop you from eating too much.

You could go grocery buying with your youngsters to assist them find out far more about nutrition and superior choices. As you go by means of the aisles, you could clarify to them about how you can make informed, wholesome decisions by reading the labels, and you'll be able to also show them how the food is organized inside the retailer.

When you are unable to send peanuts or peanut butter inside your child's lunch, substitute a spread made from almonds, soybeans, cashews or an additional type of nut. You'll be able to also use these option butters in cookies and candies.

Do you desire to live a wholesome life? If so, you have to take care to consume healthful foods! Understanding what is superior and poor nutrition is really a great place to start. Reduce your usage of fat and oil, particularly unhealthy varieties. Olive and peanut oils are healthier than other oils, so be sure to choose them every time you use oil. Fish is usually a fantastic addition for your diet plan, but normally don't forget not to eat an excessive amount of of any a single issue.

Even though toddlers can from time to time be picky eaters, they are able to nevertheless have their everyday requirement met if nutritional food is hidden into food they do like. It's possible to make healthy cookies for toddlers by incorporating fruits and vegetables in to the recipe. Attempt blending vegetables into fruit juice to enhance day-to-day intake of this food group.

Mod Man: What Vidal Sassoon Taught Me About Storytelling

Once upon a time, there was a young salon apprentice who showed up to the beauty salon every morning in an immaculate white shirt.

Not a very remarkable start to a story or a career - unless the white shirt is laundered, pressed and starched amid the rubble of war-torn London- and the man is Vidal Sassoon.

Surely, Sassoon pioneered a new vision of beauty and amassed an impressive business empire. He also told a great story about a white shirt, and that's what I remember about him today.

Eight years ago, Sassoon delivered the keynote speech at a beauty show. I was a reporter. Our paths crossed for 90 minutes.

I was impressed with him at the time. And today, as someone who writes about effective communication strategies, I am astounded by the staying power of his presence.

A white shirt was something of a daily miracle during World War II. At night, sirens raged, the city was shelled and Londoners took refuge in bomb shelters. Yet every day, they'd be crisply dressed and back to the salon, business as usual.

The white shirt, Sassoon explained, was a purposeful act of liberation in the midst of chaos. Before long, liberation would define Sassoon's character.

I explained all this to my husband over the dinner table yesterday, as I read about Sassoon's passing. I set down the paper and started talking - fairly convincingly - about the creative vibe of the West End, the bob, the five-point and the revolutionary idea of wash-and-wear style. I felt like I was raising a toast to an old friend.

So what did Sassoon do that day to build such a lasting impression? Here are some of the techniques used during his presentation, and the lessons I learned from them:

1. Setting context: His creativity didn't happen in a vacuum. Sassoon talked about the tremendous energy of postwar London, and the convergence of pop art, carefree fashion for women and the personalities that drove the trends. It was like a trip back in time with the "man who styled the sixties." While Sassoon had a long, varied and successful career, he purposely chose to capture a visual snapshot of this moment, not a documentary of his career.

2. Offering perspective: Sassoon detailed his fascination with modern architecture. Just as architects were stripping down unnecessary details from their designs, Sassoon focused on the bone structure of a woman's face and created styles that were equally minimalist. Particularly striking were the photographs of building designs, and the hairstyles they inspired. He helped me draw new connections between beauty and architecture by explaining his viewpoint.

3. Providing some inside scoop: Everyone loves a look behind the curtains. And it'not name-dropping when your client list included Ava Gardener, Rita Hayworth, Mia Farrow, miniskirt designer Mary Quant and mod model Peggy Moffitt.

4. Building a cohesive story line: The trajectory started as a Jewish foundling, salon apprentice, fashion visionary, businessman and mentor. There was a beginning, middle and end - with well-chosen supporting stories in between.

5. Injecting some personality: Remember the ad campaign "If you don't look good, we don't look good?" Well, Vidal Sassoon was a man first and a brand later - a gracious and congenial one at that.

6. Employing effective visuals: Photos are best when meshed beautifully with the message. Of course it doesn't hurt if your portfolio consists of movie stars and models wearing the definitive styles of their generation. There are many tributes to Sassoon on the Internet these days, looking back at the man who shaped the fashion of his day.

At the same time, I fondly remember the man whose words and stories will never go out of style.

Recommendation Letter Writing Tips

While writing a letter of recommendation your aim should be to provide an unbiased but positive judgment of the applicant's skills, character and qualities. Before you start writing a recommendation letter, take some time and plan what you want to say. Here are a few tips for making your task easier.

State your relationship with the applicant

Start the letter by explaining how you know the applicant. It is important. If you do not know the applicant well, you are not supposed to write a letter recommending her. What sort of relationship you have with the applicant - personal or professional? Why do you think that this applicant stands out from the rest of her caliber? You must also state your qualifications for writing the recommendation letter.

List the applicant's skills

Once you have explained your relationship with the applicant, you should list the applicant's skills and qualifications that would make her a suitable candidate for the position she has applied for. Write about her prior experience in the field, organizational skills, academic or other achievements. Put a special emphasis on those points that you want the reader to note on the applicant's resume.

Give your judgment of the applicant. Why do you think that she is better than the rest? Include specific examples to back up what you have said about the applicant's skills and strengths. Avoid generalized praise because it is a waste of time and space.

Don't be too brief

Don't be too brief but be precise. Make sure that every word counts. Write more than two or three paragraphs. A letter of recommendation for employment should be one page; a college recommendation letter should be 1 or 2 pages.

Write a strong closing statement, but resist the temptation to overdo it. Praise the applicant and her skills, but don't give undue praise because it would be viewed as insincere.

Give your contact information if you are willing to entertain follow-up correspondence.

Proofread

A recommendation letter represents two people - the person who writes it and the person for whom it is written. Do not create a bad impression by writing a letter full of grammar and spelling mistakes. So proofread the letter before sending it.

What not to write in a letter of recommendation?

Do not state any weaknesses of the applicant. Don't forget that you are writing a letter of recommendation. It must not include anything negative that would affect the applicant's chances of getting the job or promotion. If you cannot give a positive opinion, you must not consider writing the recommendation letter in the first place.

Unless it is absolutely necessary do not write anything about the applicant's race, religion, age, gender, national origin or marital status.

What Content Editors Do

No single best approach exists to edit a document. You can possibly edit a sentence in several ways, and editing documents can be a bit difficult for novice editors. Without a doubt, content editing entails vast working experience and extensive training to perfect.

In the world of freelancing, however, many fine content editors don't really have a degree in journalism or similar qualification. Through sheer determination and plain self-study, they become self-made editors.

This is made possible due to the vast number of resources available on the Internet. This is really true because I am one of these self-made editors.

Anyone looking to become a content editor need only understand a few ideas to get started. This article will give you a clear explanation.

The Work of a Content Editor

The job of a content editor can be difficult. He or she may need to take several things into consideration when editing a piece of content.

A coworker in an outsourcing platform I work in made a tremendous change in my editing career. She said:

As content editors, our primary role is to ensure each sentence:

1. Is grammatically correct
2. Has a clear meaning
3. Retains the meaning of the author

There you go. That's what content editing is. Let's discuss each shortly.

Correct Grammar

Sentences that are grammatically correct don't have any errors in:

• Sentence structure: omitted words, run-on sentences, and fragments
• Parallelism
• Subject-verb agreement in number
• Pronoun-antecedent agreement
• Tense of the verb

Definite Meaning

To ensure each sentence has a clear meaning, try and enhance your choice of words and correct weird phrases. To achieve this goal, there are times when you need to recast the whole sentence or paragraph. Find out the answers to the following questions to figure out if rewording is really necessary:

• Does any sentence sound like an ESL one?
• Does each word have purpose?
• Is the sentence comprehensible?

Retaining the Author's Meaning

You should do your best to maintain the original meaning of the text. Keep this in mind every time you are given an editing assignment. Make your edits to a minimum to be safe. When you need to do a substantial edit, inform the author about your changes by leaving a comment. Make sure your comment is seen in a positive light by writing it in a professional manner.

Copy Editing Techniques for New Content Editors

New copy editors often find it hard to decide about the editing style to use in some situations. While some clients communicate their preferred editing style at the start, some don't even bother about it, probably because they are not familiar with any style. In this situation, make your choice based on the style used by most editors.

Below are some tips that might help content editors like you in your editing tasks. I learned these ideas from my own editing experience.

• Do not use serial comma if the writer obviously does not use this anywhere in the content. If he or she jumps from serial comma or otherwise, choose one style and follow through.

Example: I would like to devote this song to Precious, Gina, and Love.

• The author here uses serial comma, and you are required to follow this style to the end.
• When Chicago editing style is preferred, use Merriam Webster as the default dictionary. This is to ensure you do not commit any error concerning the spelling of words. Default to any spelling provided in there. Most clients prefer this dictionary more than dictionary.com and others, regardless of the editing style.

For instance, Merriam Webster uses "long-standing" alone, while dictionary.com shows both "longstanding" and "long-standing." Choose only one dictionary before commencing an editing work.

• Make sure you know what documentation style is preferred by the author. If he or she likes APA style, follow it all throughout, from citations to works cited.
• Do not use quotation marks for new terms. Use italics instead.

Example: Nonmedical usage refers to the application of painkillers only to obtain their euphoric effects and without first receiving a prescription.

• Most situations call for double quotes. This is the standard in American formatting content editors should observe. Single quotes are restricted to cases where a quote is within another bigger quotation.

Example: An article about insomnia treatments indicates, "Over 50 percent of patients said they were 'really satisfied' with the result."

• In virtually all styles, commas and periods go inside quotations marks, and semicolons and colons are put outside.

Example: This is how it appeared in the original manuscript."

Example: When she said, "Aspiration is a progenitor of inspiration," she was not joking around.

Perhaps you already have a good sense of what is copy editing after reading this article. In its simplest sense, copy editing entails making sentences grammatically sound, with a definite meaning, and in harmony with the author's original intent.

Become a Property Investor When You Buy BMV Property Leads

Property has become one of the best places to invest your money, unless you're looking for a quick return. Many houses are losing their value due to the double dip recession however if you can afford to invest in property and hang on to it then you should be on to a winner. Any house that you invest in doesn't need to sit empty, if you're going to carry out work doing a house up and discover selling it won't bring you a profit then you can quite easily rent it out bringing in an income for you. More and more people are choosing to rent property because although house prices are dropping the banks are much more careful about who they lend their money too which can make it almost impossible for first time buyers to get on the property ladder.

If you want to invest in property it is very easy to do so, you don't need to keep an eye on the property market and be looking out for good deals to be quickly snatched up. You can purchase a house from the comfort of your home with a specialist below market value (BMV) property website. These websites allow you to look through property from a wide range of different places within the UK, you can easily limit your search to the area close to you, so that you can find property which suits your needs and which you can easily reach.

BMV property websites are a great way to purchase a property because they are so simple and easy to use. You can browse through the available properties at your own comfort and once you have found the property you want to purchase you just quite simply add it to your basket and go through to the checkout. Most websites have a checkout which is run by an external operator such as PayPal or Google Checkout if you have an account with the operator you can pay using that but you can also use your credit/debit card. Once you have paid for your purchase you will receive a receipt by email and it is essential that all the contact details you provide are correct especially your email address because it will be used for all correspondence regarding the sale and property.

All properties displayed on the website have to be approved and it is essential the seller is able to sell their home, this is why there is an online form for the seller to fill in, this form also allows the website owner to find out the reasons behind the sale, if the seller and property has been approved they then have to agree to have their home sold at 25% below market value, if they do not agree to this then the website owner will not sell their property.

By choosing your property wisely you will find that becoming a property investor is a much easier task than you originally anticipated, depending on the condition of the property you purchase you could soon have it rented out generating an income for you. When you purchase a BMV property lead you really are getting yourself a bargain, so even if you choose to resell on the property market the chances are you will make a profit but why have it sat empty for many months when you can rent it out while the market picks up speed and house prices start rising again.

Make the first of many steps in property investment with a BMV property lead from BMV Property Investments.

How Do You Avoid Underwriting Or Overwriting?

We have all done it, you have checked your manuscript for the hundredth time and you suddenly realize that you have been skating through the story lines. An easy mistake, trying to get as much done as possible, without giving any thought to the quality. You have made a common error and this is called underwriting the scenes of your novel.

You have to put this right so you begin filling in the missing pieces without considering what is needed to keep the right balance. You write furiously and end up unintentionally overwriting the whole novel.

So how do you avoid these common mistakes? How do you get the right balance between underwriting and overwriting? What is overwriting and how do you prevent it from happening time and time again?

You should aim for a happy medium between the two by giving your intended readers just enough information about the file scene and the characters. You have to keep reminding yourself about the thread of the story and what you are trying to convey to your intended audience.

Overwriting is one of the most common mistakes new writers make. Many submit their work only to be told it reads like bare bones. So in desperation they rewrite it and submit it again only to be told that it is now too long and slow-moving.

Now frustration sets in as you ponder how to rectify it and get the right balance. It is like trying to get the right balance of baking ingredients in order to bake the perfect cake. If the cake has not been baked before, then there is bound to be a lot of trial and error involved before you get the right mix.

Another cause of overwriting is when new writers become emotionally involved in the story line. This is because you are living the part and it can be difficult to view it objectively.

Being told you have overwritten, what you were convinced was a brilliant novel, and need to cut out redundant words and sentences is a task you are not about to enjoy. With your emotions on high alert you read through your story and you begin to wonder what you can delete to make it more interesting. You feel that everything you have written is important to the story. Sadly this is not so.

Ask yourself, is every part of the story important to your reader and would it make it less interesting if you removed say twenty five percent of it? How much can you remove before it loses its appeal? Being ruthless is not only for businessmen and at this stage it is very important for you to become a tyrant to your story and get rid of any waste. Removing redundant words and sentences can make your story more active and interesting.

Being ruthless is not the only way you can improve your writing. Writing at your own pace and thinking about every word you write is, in the end, about making your story sellable. Your goal is to try and make people clammer to read what you have written and that there are no wasted phrases words or sentences.

If you are not prepared to do this then you are not prepared to be a writer. Assembling a group of words into an exciting sentence that people want to read is a skill and one that can be finely honed with constant practice and dedication.

Sometimes professional writers delete whole sentences and whole paragraphs, if they consider they are not relevant or vital to the storyline. This can be quite a painful process for new writers and is called 'killing your darlings'. With enough practice you can become quite good at being callous.

The best method is to plan your story beforehand and then, as you progress through your novel, you must try and keep the thread of the storyline firmly in your mind. Like all professions in the arts, practice can help to make perfect. But this does not guarantee that it will sell.

What Are Your Graphic Rights?

During a webinar call this week I was totally shocked at how little seasoned professionals knew about using the graphics found on the Internet.

Many years ago I had the unfortunate experience of having a personal photograph, that only appeared in a mock-up business brochure (not originally on the Internet) scanned and used on another person's website to promote their brand of hair replacement. At that point I was not prepared to appear "on the Internet" without my hair - not even on my own website.

During a trade show I was sharing the brochure with an associate and did not realize the woman in the booth behind us was looking on. I returned it to my brief case, stashed the brief case under the table, like everyone does at trade shows and continued to work my booth. Someone from her booth had to have crawled under the dividing curtain and under the tables to retrieve the brief case, remove the brochure and then return the briefcase (lesson learned there). I felt totally violated by them.

It took several attempts to have my photo removed from their website. They finally removed the photo when my attorney pointed out that they would have had to go to great lengths to get their hands on the brochure, the fact that they had taken the brochure from a trade show, scanned the photo and then put it on their site was nothing but a blatant and calculated intent on their part.

Silly me, I should have played my cards better - it was and still is a huge company. I could be retired and living a life of luxury on a beach somewhere.

If you are not clear on the subject of your graphic rights, it is time to educate yourself about what you can and cannot do. It could save you a lot of embarrassment, not to mention an expensive lawsuit in the long run.

One person on the call actually thought that all the Google Images that come up under the Google Image Search were free to use any time and place they wanted.

Another person commented on how some websites had great graphics, that were obviously royalty free images (does not mean anyone can use them any time or place). They went on to comment on how they would click on the image to see which photo service the image was from and then go to that website and, purchase the same graphic. Now there is a person who knows how to follow the rules when it comes to their graphic rights.

There are lots of royalty-free image and graphic sites to choose from. Simply type "royalty-free image and graphics" into a search box and you will see several to choose from.

I use iStock Photo for most the graphics I use on my websites. I am also lucky in that several of my vendors have wonderful graphics of their products, which I can use free of charge. For cute cartoons and graphics I use http://Microsoft.com a lot. It is amazing what you can find there.

When it comes to graphics, Pinterest.com seems to be the major point of conversation at the moment. Type Pinterest graphics and legal issues into Google Search and you will be rewarded with a months' worth of reading material. A lot of the mechanics of Pinterest Pinning are still up in the air. Re-pinning is NOT an issue, but never takes a pinned or re-pinned graphic (that you do not own the rights to) and post it to your website without the written permission of the original owner of the graphic.

Be aware that ALL movie companies, celebrities and big brand companies have huge legal departments cruising the Internet all day long looking for copyright violations of their brands. They will be contacting you if they find one on your website. They do not care how small or large your company may be, a violation is a violation.

This brings us to one more thing you should know? Make sure that any people you have working for you on your website project or the people you outsource such work to, understand copyright and brand infringement. It is you that will be held responsible for their ignorance or lapse in judgment.

5 Tips To Writing Your First Song

It can be very daunting to write your first song so here are some tips to help you do just that.

This is not intended to be an article about how professional songwriters do it. It is here to inspire you to have a go.

1. Choose a subject you are passionate about.

As an example I deliver Socks and Chocolates (and sleeping bags for that matter) to the homeless in The West Midlands, UK. I am passionate about the plight of the homeless as I read somewhere that 70% of the homeless in GB are ex-servicement. This is appalling! So I decide to write a song about it.

Your song is unlikely to become the next "Angels" by Robbie so you must be content at enjoying the writing process.

2. Play around with your instrument of choice - Mine is a guitar.

You need to play around with some chords. To do this, have a listen to lots of different songs and see which ones resonate well with you. You can then consider the style of the song you wish to create. It is fine to imitate your heroes but please do not copy them. You are your own artist.

3. Choose your chord progression.

Do not worry about if it is "in key" perfectly. Plenty of famous songs fall outside the true key chords. Use what works for you.

Hum your melody over the chord progression to decide what sounds good. Here you want to make a note of the chords you are using and what rhythm you will want to use.

4. Write down your first attempt at the words.

Do not try to make them scan straight away. Play with the words over the chords using your melody and see how it fits. Then put away your efforts for at least 24 hours to get the creative juices flowing again and your unconscious mind working.

Repeat this process until you are happy with both the words and the scanning.

5. Go for it. Record yourself and expose your song to the world. You can publish on You Tube or sing at an open mic night. Either way, give it a go. Please remember though that you are really writing for you.

In addition you will need to be persistent. It is almost a given that you will write some very poor songs. All of us do. It is too easy to give up on your first effort. Keep at it and one day, who knows, you might nail that number 1 hit!

How to Get Started As a Creative Writer

Has creative writing sparked an interest in you that you can no longer ignore? Are you attracted to the art of transforming an idea into a vibrant, coherent, imaginative stream of well-chosen words? Do you have the motivation to grow and to learn, the drive to push yourself to improve each and every day, and a tolerance for risking rejection or failure in pursuit of your dreams? Then the challenge and rewards of creative writing await you.

The below suggestions may be worthwhile as you begin charting your course:

• Capture your ideas. Keep a notepad handy to write down your observations. Worthwhile ideas can present themselves at any given moment. You may find that fresh material comes to you in the dead of night, or early morning, or perhaps as you're driving or riding as a passenger. Inspiration can't always be predicted or manipulated, so stay ready.

• Paint pictures with words. Instead of writing about a character involved in a motorcycle accident, describe the smell of the slick, wet pavement, the length and violence of the skid, the panic of the character as he/she realizes that control has been lost and some degree of unpleasantness now awaits. Don't just tell, show. There's a potential reader on the other end of your creation, so provide enough sustenance to keep that reader involved and turning the pages.

• Unleash your imagination. Your characters can become whoever you want them to become. The scenes are yours to devise, the plot yours to construct. The story develops from an idea into a short story or novel based upon the power of your own imagination. You can make your main character larger than life, strong and determined, heroic yet flawed. It's your choice. And don't be afraid to take risks. It's your story; tell it like you want it.

• Write every day. Writing is an acquired skill, and thus must be diligently practiced. The skill development, discipline, and dedication needed to become an effective writer require continuous practice. It's not always easy, but your writing should improve over time if you write, write, and keep writing.

• Have fun. Make your characters come alive. Discover the unanticipated twists and turns that the writing process often takes once you have begun. Enjoy yourself. It will reflect in your writing.

Find your voice. Learn and practice your craft. Write, write, and write some more. You'll be pleased when you find the high satisfaction that creative writing offers.

Good luck and good writing!

The Use of Humor in Public Speaking

Laughter creates a positive atmosphere, and goes a long way toward relieving the tension of both a speaker and an audience. It also serves to grab and, in many cases, hold the attention of the audience.

"Humor is the great thing, the saving thing, " said Mark Twain. "The minute it crops up, all our irritation and resentments slip away, and a sunny spirit takes their place."

Introducing humor into a speech is an art, and as such can be successfully employed with forethought, imagination, and good taste. You are a speaker, however, and not a comedian, but you are certainly not restricted from tapping into that great wellspring of humor, in your own way, and as your own artist. As in other areas of public speaking, the use of humor can be an acquired skill, and made better with practice.

As a speaker, knowing your audience is important, as in any other form of communication. Knowing what humor is appropriate is equally if not more important than how that humor is delivered. Your objective in your use of humor is to make your audience laugh, not cringe or throw objects within easy reach or otherwise head for the exits. It's about the laughter, not the ducking.

Consider the following ways of making skillful use of humor in your speech:

• A light, casual joke at the beginning. This can become an effective tension breaker, especially when the humor is relevant. Traffic, weather, sports, delays at the airport-these can be topical and easy for the audience to empathize with and relate to.

• Use self-deprecating humor when introducing yourself. This humor can be especially disarming when making oneself the butt of a joke or exposing an entertaining anecdote or foible. Use care in not overdoing this, but there can be a certain endearing quality about a speaker (or anyone else) who has the confidence and lack of pretension to share in a good laugh about oneself.

• Use humorous quotations. Find and use quotes that tie to the topic of the speech. Winston Churchill, Ronald Reagan, John F. Kennedy, George Bernard Shaw, William F. Buckley Jr, and the above-quoted Mark Twain are but a few of the many rich sources of humorous quotations easily found on internet searches.

• Well-timed jokes or stories. These can be used in the body or ending of the speech, and again, should be appropriate and in good taste. Too, make sure the humor is funny to you. If a joke is to be told from memory, make certain your memorization is complete and well-rehearsed. Forgetting the punch line can make the speaker's podium an unusually lonely place.

Look at humor as a tool to sharpen your speech and improve the connection with your audience. As a speaker, a sense of humor is a valuable asset that, when used wisely, can set you apart.

Good luck and good speaking.