"Absolutely Bursting with writing, publishing and marketing content for the online writer..."
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"Absolutely Bursting with writing, publishing and marketing content for the online writer..." |
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| Editor: Darren Andrews. | Over 1600 subscribers | 2nd May, 2003. |
CONTENTS
EDITORIALSucceed With Your Own Small (or Large) Ezine England has turned a little cooler and wetter since last I wrote - decidedly more vernal! Now there's a word, and something I've touched on before long ago in the misty WAPA past: If spring is vernal, and autumn/fall is autumnal then what is winter and summer? Wintry? Summery? Jennifer? Anyone? ;) I'd like to thank those who have completed the survey I set up in the last issue. It's great to read your answers, and none of them negative! Well, there's still time to answer the survey (and make negative comments - :) ) at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=31313199528 Remember, it's only 5 questions. Your responses will have a very *real* influence on the future of the WAPA! For a couple of reasons I have extended the Parody Contest deadline to May 31st. I remember how much pleasure I got out of writing my first parody piece - I didn't think it would be so much fun! Go on, give it a try even if you just write the bare minimum! In this issue I draw your attention to our featured article by Michael Knowles who gives some excellent advice on flexing your writing muscles. And, highly recommended, check out the first item in this issue's Market Watch section: Dr. Mani, the man who knows just about everything about 'ezine performance', has a new course out on May 15th and it looks like it's going to be stunning - he will teach you how to succeed with your very own ezine, whether large or small! Here's the link if you're impatient to find out more. Otherwise go to the Market Watch section now and read my "extended editorial". And, finally, if *you* want to contribute a review, article, etc. to the WAPA then email me. I'll be more than pleased to publish appropriate and interesting content! Enjoy the rest of this issue, To Your Online Writing Success! Darren Andrews, Editor.
FEATURED ARTICLEFit To Write by Michael Knowles How's your writing muscle? Is it the lean kind, the sort that brings stamina for the long, detailed work? Is the the bulging, powerful kind, well-suited for splitting the pile of issues that the essayist loves to confront? Or is your writing muscle the 98-pound weakling of the scribbler's set? When you find yourself having trouble sticking with a piece, sometimes the reason is that the writing muscle isn't strong enough for the task. That's not necessarily the only reason, of course -- it might simply be that you aren't interested in the subject -- but often the challenge of a new article, manual, or book feels as though it's too much to handle. That's when we take a little exercise to benefit our writing muscle. Writing muscle exercise prepares us for the deep, challenging work, and helps us write through the anxieties and fears that we as writers face from time to time. Here's a four-point writing exercise plan that will keep your writing muscle ready for whatever comes its way.
1. The Long-Distance Reader You've heard this advice, what, a thousand times? Read to write. But how many of us really make the time to read? I mean read widely, every day, not only in your primary field but sampling from the writing food groups: novels, short fiction, essays, nonfiction books, poetry, and newspapers. There are, no doubt, days that demand our full attention to writing, but we usually have ample time in which to read a little. Reading is probably the best way to improve your writing muscle tone. It exposes us to other styles, techniques, and presentations that infuse our own work with freshness and vigor. Reading expands our points-of-view and broadens perspective. Oh, yes, it's entertaining, too.
2. Daily Writing Practice For those of us who write daily, It's easy to question the need for writing practice. "I write every day," you might say. "I'm practicing all the time." But I distinguish work-writing from writing practice. Work-writing has a certain focus and mindset to it -- a certain blinding sameness that we do not often recognize. Writing practice, on the other hand, is more about the act of writing itself. The subject matter is secondary. You are its only audience. My daily writing practice takes the form of journaling. I generally being with my emotions and wind my way down whatever road congeals out of the morning fog. I like the feeling of freedom that writing practice gives, and I like being able to explore without a particular goal. Daily writing practice is a great source of ideas, too. This article arose during writing practice, and I've worked through many a thorny problem simply by setting my pen onto paper and watching what happens. The best byproduct of writing practice: You build the stamina needed for the longer pieces.
3. Writing Stretch There's nothing that stretches your writing muscle like writing on unfamiliar subjects or in an unfamiliar style. That feeling of tension you get when you approach the foreign idea is the signal that says, "Ah, you need this." As one of my yoga teachers once told me, "Achy, no breaky." She meant that the ache I feel in new positions isn't a bad thing. It is a signal that the area needs more attention. The writing stretch produces elasticity of the mind and often opens new territory for the frustrated writer. Try writing a little poetry -- a sonnet gives you a great stretch, as do limericks. Or put your hand to an op-ed piece, an essay, or short story. Stretch your writing muscle frequently. And don't be surprised if you discover a whole new field that's been waiting for someone just like you.
4. Weight Training The heavy lifting. White papers, sociopolitical studies, memoirs, book reviews. Even humor can be heavy lifting for some of us. Your writing muscle needs the exertion required by a heavy piece from time to time. Heaviness in writing terms is subjective: What heavy lifting is for one writing might be trivial for another. Find the material that challenges your writing muscle, that makes you sweat just to think of it, and work out with it. Too few writers tackle the heavy stuff, but those that do come away with a new confidence in themselves. There's nothing quite like finishing a particularly difficult bit of work and enjoying the feeling of triumph. Triumph in this sense has nothing to do with how the audience perceives your work. It's like finishing the first draft of a novel, something that few have done. Even if no one ever reads it, you come in contact with an inner strength that you didn't know you had. It is that strength that helps us write and succeed where others fail. So, the next time you feel a little stale in the writing muscle, try a four-point writing exercise plan. And watch your writing get fit. Copyright (c) 2003 by Michael Knowles. All Rights Reserved.
-------------------------------------- Michael Knowles is an author, business communications coach, and marketing specialist who helps small businesses and professionals increase profits and better serve their customers and clients.
Michael publishes WriteThinking, http://www.WriteThinking.net, and is author of the
soon-to-be-released 101 Creativity Exercises for Writers.
Contact him at mailto:mike@mwknowles.com EDITOR'S COMMENT Hey, now you could write a parody to flex those writing muscles... ;) WORDCRAFTInspiration, Tips and Exercises to Help You Write Well (+) Writers' Wisdom"I know that I'm a real writer because sometimes I write a story just because I want to; not because someone's told me to ... Nothing stops me writing except flu." ~ Fay Weldon. Source: http://writersservices.com (+) Writing Tip Some words are often misused simply because people aren't sure about their correct meaning. One of the most commonly misused pairs is loose and lose. Do these look familiar? There's no time to loose. Do not loose this docket. It seems that loose is everyone's favourite and no-one like to use lose. Loose is an adjective - it describes a noun (or pronoun) and means 'not attached, released from bonds or restraint' e.g. a loose connection. Lose is a verb - it means to misplace something e.g. There's no time to lose. Do not lose this docket. Contributor: Jennifer Stewart. Subscribe to her free weekly Writing Tips: or start your six-part Writing Course now. (+) Writing Exercise I'm not adding a new one until you write that parody! Go on, give it a try - you might surprise yourself! (+) Wordhoard prosy - dull and tedious. Please send all Wordcraft contributions here. (do not send attachments or large html emails - they will not be downloaded!) YOUR ARTICLES!
Read the latest articles at: If you want to submit an article, a word of warning: I reject most and give no explanation. Of course, most of them are non-writing-related marketing articles which I clearly state as being inappropriate on the submission page. For the rules and the form to submit your article, go here: http://www.writers-and-publishers.com/submit.html If - and I highly recommend it - you want to earn revenue from the writing course advertised at the bottom of your article page then sign up (free) to do so here: ---------TIP
CONTEST CORNER(+) Parody Contest
MARKET WATCHTools, Resources, Services, Products and Opportunities to Help You in Writing, Publishing, Promoting, and in Generating Revenue and Traffic... (+) Succeed With Your Own Small (or Large) Ezine! Whether you have a large, middling or small ezine, or even if you have none at all then listen up! (I think that includes everybody- ;) ) Dr. Mani Sivasubramanian - who's also a WAPA subscriber by the way! - is the author of 8 books on ezines (email and web-based newsletters) and several sites on the subject. He's launching a new course on May 15th with the rather unexpected name of "Ezine ANTI-Marketing". "You DO NOT Need A Large List To Succeed" Dr. Mani assures us, the key is to "focus on building SMALL lists"! By trimming your list he teaches you how to skyrocket your profits by 1700% ... or more! So, your ebook not selling too well lately? Your writing services being ignored? It's time for some EZINE ANTI-MARKETING! Read the remarkable *free* report by clicking here now. Darren Andrews, owner of the WAPA Ezine. (+) Send an Ecard To A Fellow Writer http://www.uniquecritique.net/eCards.html (+) Are Your Emails Getting Through? If you run an ezine or mail out to any email list, or just use email to send private messages, you may have noticed (or maybe not) that some of your recipients are not receiving them. I've had a number of personal emails go 'missing' and it's mostly filters that are the problem. These filters will scan your email and award points for each term found that indicates a probable unsolicited commercial message. Of course, being software and not human, it makes an awful lot of assumptions. Find an email you sent out recently and send it to: mailto:spamcheck-dubhdara@sitesell.net E.g. TESTyour headline here [don't leave a space!] ... with the word TEST (in caps, without quotations), preceeding the subject in the Subject line. You'll get a report back telling you how you email would fare (i.e. if it we be blocked or not). The results may shock you! p.s. This is an improved service over the one mentioned a few issues ago, so try it out! (+) Writers' "Value" Link Exchange hot! "The World's only True-Blue, Real Link Exchanger that works!" A powerful PREseller, now your friends, colleagues, visitors, readers, and just about anyone else can find high-value, similarly themed sites, then exchange links to truly increase your link popularity, in a way that then engines love. Visit: http://value-exchange.sitesell.com P.S. If you want to use the value exchange as a way of earning commission on Sitesell products then sign up as an affiliate for free at: http://affiliates.sitesell.com (+) Copywriting Success report published The report is aimed at those writers who want a lightning introduction to the profitable world of copywriting and includes revealing interviews with successful copywriters. You can read all about what's in this report at the link below but please do not buy it until you've read the offer below! Okay, here's a bit more about the report: http://www.copywriting-success.com And here's my offer to WAPA subscribers - this offer is not available to anyone else! STOP! If you're serious about copywriting then how would you like a copy of this report for free? All you have to do is purchase the copywriting ebook course through the link below and then drop me an email and the report is yours! So what is this ebook? ... Well, it's by professional writer and author, Angela Booth, and it's called: 7 Days To Easy-Money--- Copywriting Success
What will you write as a copywriter? You'll write the words that sell --- everyday words. The words on ads, leaflets, brochures, press releases, product instructions and labels, newsletters, direct mail, and on Web sites. How much can you earn? Copywriters can make excellent money, with the most experienced, enterprising, and productive copywriters scooping in a comfortable six figures annually. How hard is it to write for business? If you can write an e-mail message or a letter, you can write for business.
Go straight to the link below now for more information: (+) Two Free E-courses for Writers
Digital-e: Two Free writing courses. (+) Get Your Own Name as a Domain Name Fast! As a writer you will know that you're name is very much a part of your business - either that or your pen name that is! I decided to reserve darrenandrews.com but it was already gone! So I got darrenandrews@co.uk instead. Using the reputable and successful NameStick service you can get your own name domain name and they will - at no extra cost - forward that domain to your main web site (if you have one) and allow full alias email forwarding to your email account. Find out all about it here: http://www.writers-viral-syndicator.com/a/yourname.html See the domain name forwarding in action: http://www.darrenandrews.co.uk should take you straight to Writers-and-Publishers.com! You might want to check out this one too!
(+) PDF Brander - at last! hot!
For the entrepreneurs among you, you'll know that the
ability to brand pdf documents in the same way as .exe
ebooks has not been around long and is usually expensive
and/or complex!
Well, now Viral PDF exists and works in much the same way as
an ebrand-it tool. Find out more about this inexpensive and
easy-to-use technology by clicking here now.
(+) Get Yourself a Second ISP and Have Them Pay You!
Some of you will know Allen Says, one of the top marketers
online and owner of the much-respected Marketing Warriors
site.
Well, he's just launched a new system called The Simple
System. It is simple, and quick and can generate a lot
of income...but that's not all.
The service is one both you and your site visitors/
subscribers will need. It's an ISP (which includes an
email account of course). So why would you want that?
Well...
(a) If you were to lose your ISP you would need a way of
connecting to the Internet (not to mention the email)
(b) Why pay for an ISP when this one can pay you?
Check out the free report here:
http://www.writers-and-publishers.com/ispvip
(+) Want $1500 per month? Sure You Do!
Did you know that some WAPA subscribers are making hundreds
of dollars per month with this affiliate program? One
subscriber is now making $1500 per month!
Sign up as an affiliate (a reseller) by filling out this
this simple form:
http://www.writers-and-publishers.com/writeabooksignup.html
You'll then receive an email telling you what to do!
(+) Would You Like To Be In the Top 50 Writing Sites?
If you want to be in the "Top 50" then click here now.
Or how about being listed on the "Best Writing Sites and Top
Writer-Related Sites"? Get listed by clicking here.
(+) Joint Ventures For Writers
Whatever it is you need to promote your business, reciprocal
links, ad swaps, etc. Post your request here and let writers
come to you. Promoting has never been easier and won't cost
you a cent. For more info:
(+) Children's Writers Wanted
Publisher seeking childrens book writers for current action
adventure series (ages 6-9). Also seeking young adult series
writers (Horror and science fiction) and writer for career/
entrepreneur series for ages 6-12.
(+) E-book about writing needs articles
(+) Free Exposure For Creative and Non Fiction Writers
We are looking for writers to contribute their interview
to help readers decide how they will publish their work.
You will get lots of exposure for free in exchange for your
advice. If this interests you, send a blank email to interviewbook@beyond-short-story-writing.com for
more details.
(+) Writing Workshop - $88 Discount for WAPA subscribers!
Author Linda Oatman High announces her Writing by the
Seaside workshop, to be held this summer in Venice Beach.
A discounted registration fee of $88.00 is offered to
subscribers of the WAPA Ezine.
See http://www.lindaoatmanhigh.com for details.
(+) Do You Own A Writing-Related Site That Makes $1000 or
More Per Month?
If so, a new site launching in a few weeks wants to hear
from you now! It won't cost you a penny, and will bring
you some great exposure! For more information email me and write that
you are responding to this announcement.
Ad Policy
The WAPA will not carry 'interrupt' advertising. However,
joint ventures (including simple affiliation) will be
considered where a good and targeted product/service is
offered.
Those offering content may also include a link. Please
contact me if you have an offer.
Subscription Information
Send a blank email here to stop receiving the WAPA Ezine.
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WAPA Ezine Archive: (earlier issues are not archived online)
Click here to email the Editor, Darren Andrews.
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