wtorek, 2 marca 2010

How to Proofread a Biography

By: Jane Sumerset

We all know what a biography means. Have you ever done writing a biography? Or maybe, you are assigned to write at least one of it. If you find it difficult, then here are some tips. Writing a biography should always stick with the real information about a person’s life. It may sound like a diary to you but writing the series of events and personal details about a person can be a little bit tricky. But still you ought to right one.



Your main action about it is to dig for more information. You can search over the internet, read any reference materials that are related to the subject and you might even ask someone who can give you specific or significant information and who know everything about your subject’s life.



Gather all relevant information. Then arrange them according to the sequence of time a certain event took place in the subject’s life. It should always start from its birth information, family backgrounds, grown up years and accomplishments in life, other significant details like the person’s contribution to its community, love life or marriage and how it plays a very important role when the subject is still alive and mark the history with its interesting actions or activities.



The subject’s information about his past life can be a basic thing that you’re readers might already know, you can write it in an interesting and intriguing manner in order to bring life with the biography that you had written. It will also serve as to please your audience about the facts that they might haven’t heard yet about your subject. After the long process of writing this biography, what you need is to proofread it before submitting your final draft



Proofreading a biography? It’s not all that different from proofing and editing regular pieces, with a few choice details thrown in. Whether it’s your own work or someone else’s here’s a quick rundown of the things you’ll need to do to make sure it gets into tip top shape.



Verify Facts. If you’ve read many biographies, you would know how prone they are to twisted facts. That’s why we recommend proofreaders to look at more than one source to verify if the facts listed in a particular piece are accurate. This is a crucial step and often separates well written biographies from haphazardly produced ones.



Add Details. If the biography feels a little lacking, add details to places, periods and supporting characters. Use materials like atlases, almanacs and newspapers to find information you can include to help add color to the piece.



Check For Objectivity. A biography needs to be objective, leaving out the writer’s personal feelings and telling the subject’s story based on facts. Make sure this is followed throughout the piece and mark those areas where it spills over into a less than accurate portrayal. Anything in the material that refers to the first person is usually suspect.



Do Your Usual Proofreading Steps. Like regular pieces, you’ll need to check the biography for adherence to standard writing and grammar rules. As always, we recommend using a goodEnglish writing software for this to both speed up the process and sift through it ruthlessly.




Author Resource:-> See how innovative English Writing Software instantly can boost your writing skills and watch how NLP technology can help you to write perfect emails, letters, essays or reports. Visit: http://www.englishsoftware.org

Article From ActiveAuthors.com

Edit As You Read, Not As You Write

By: Jane Sumerset

Editing your text while you write is perfectly possible. However, being able to do one thing doesn’t mean it’s what you should be doing.



When you write, it’s always best to let the words just flow. Judging what you put down on paper as it happens leaves you second guessing your work. Not only does it break your flow, it wastes a lot of time doing something best accomplished much later on during the process.



It is really an advantage in your part as a writer if words just suddenly came out on your mind and certain ides are forming while you keep on writing. That’s because you don’t have to waste your time thinking about the possible words and ideas that you needed in elaborating your topic.



When there’s a major idea that keeps on flowing right in your head about your topic, then you are on the right way to manage your own writings in a creative way where the concept is totally unique unlike copying someone’s work.



If that happens, what you need is to write it all down. Don’t bother if you had committed a lot of grammatical or spelling errors. You need to catch up with how your mind thinks ‘cause if won’t do it, you’ll find it hard to start your writing your contents later on.



But when you are done writing with your first draft, then you can get rid of those grammatical errors and spellings. Furnish your writings even more and start editing your piece. Yes, this is the time where you need to edit your work. Every writer must have to undergo the editing process.



This is where they make their writings looked well. Proofreading and rewriting is also part of this process.



Then you can organize your ideas well and format you writings in order for your readers to understand what your topic is all about. Here are guides for you to do to get a clearer vision about the writing task:



The Writing Phase



During the writing phase, your job is to write. Whether you do it from an outline or from a clear idea in your head, the goal is to take those concepts and put it into words that other people can read and understand.



What about clarity? What about good grammar? What about active sentences? While those are important, they are best taken care of after you have the first draft done. The faster you write that first draft, the sooner you can work on “decorating” the piece.



Editing Phase



In the editing phase, you read through the text and decide which errors to fix, which parts to dress up and which sections to leave out altogether. The goal is to fashion your writing into a form that will be palatable to your readers, with the intent of helping them to understand your message.



Would you ever use a writing software while you’re in the middle of creating your second paragraph? Of course, not. The common sense logic behind that is the same reason why you’d want to reserve editing after the initial pieces is written.




Author Resource:-> See how innovative Writing Software instantly can boost your writing skills and watch how NLP technology can help you to write perfect emails, letters, essays or reports. Visit: http://www.englishsoftware.org

Article From ActiveAuthors.com

How To Add Emphasis To Your Statements

By: Jane Sumerset

Some portions of your writing will need to be given more emphasis than others. Does writing with emphasis that important? But why? It’s pretty much obvious that writing with emphasis in your statements gives you readers a clearer point of what you are trying to convey a message towards your audiences.
If you don’t want to confuse your readers about what you are going to say for them, then write clearly, legibly and most of all, write with emphasis.



It’s up to you to decide which ideas, in particular, those things need to be. Using specific words and phrases, along with proper placement, can do a lot to help you put an accent on the main ideas that you want to pursue. As long as it is a complete thought with a clearer vision of the action. Do you know how to write that way? You don’t need to burn out your midnight candles, it’s just so easy. All you have to do is to have an open communication towards your readers. Write as if you are talking to them openly and for them to understand your piece



Tell them. The simplest way to make sure your readers pay closer attention is to tell them. Using words and phrases like “especially,” “actually,” “in particular,” and “above all” immediately makes the point that the succeeding statement needs to be given more weight. There are still a lot of words that will help you to approach your reader’s interest about the topic. Just use it in the right way.



Repeat key words. If you want the reader to pay particular attention to something, then include it in your sentences repeatedly but not always as it will only bore your readers while reading your text. Just repeat those important words in a unique and different sentences or thought. Where it is enough for them to familiarize and understand the subject more.



Reading about it several times over sends a clear message: you need to remember this word. Do note that employing this technique poorly can lead to text that’s a pain to read, using the same word over and over. You’ll need to strike a balance somewhere. Use your writing software – it can help clue you in if you cross the line.



Breaking a pattern. If you establish a pattern during a sequence of texts (e.g. positive characteristics of a product) and suddenly break it (e.g. bust out a negative trait out of nowhere), the varying part will be given more emphasis, as the initial dissonance forces the reader to pay attention.



Put it in the end. Good writers usually put the main clause after the subordinate clause for a reason. Putting it in the end ensures that it receives the most emphasis. Same holds true for conclusions, the end of paragraphs and other similar points in the material.



Lastly, review your work over and over so that you will be able to determine whether there are thoughts that you need to add or omit. Chances are, you can even spot any grammatical and spelling errors.




Author Resource:-> See how innovative Writing Software instantly can boost your writing skills and watch how NLP technology can help you to write perfect emails, letters, essays or reports. Visit: http://www.englishsoftware.org

Article From ActiveAuthors.com

Choosing Newsworthy Subjects To Write About

By: Jane Sumerset

Do you still read the newspaper nowadays? Although modern technologies take the spot in our generation today, reading a newspaper is still the best way to keep updated always with the current local or international news.



What’s the secret? It’s just that writers in every publication do have the potential in writing fresh topics effectively and efficiently. Ever wondered how newspapers choose which current events to write about? It can get confusing sometimes, especially for those who are not involved with such publications directly.



Ever dreamed to be a write in any publications? As long as you’ve got the determination, you can be. The only thing that you need to focus your attention to is how to make your story or publication a click to your reader’s eyes.



It’s true that it can be risky for some reason, however, you’ll have to follow some rules that are very important in publication writing.



If you write in any professional (even semi professional) capacity, you will likely end up in a project, at least once or twice, where you’ll have to write about news stories. Whether it be something as informal as an upstart blog, as simple as company newsletter or as high profile as a glossy national magazine, recognizing news items worthy of seeing print could play a part in your on the job duties.



Being flexible in any of these tasks is what a writer like you must have. There’s no need to rush things since you can still learn something new base on your writing experience and your knowledge of how to write contents effectively.



Different publications use their own criteria for deciding which items should be published. It is better to be aware of these stuffs for you to keep on going. Generally, though, the following items are ones you want to consider:



Relevance. Generally, relevance plays a great role even in any forms of writing. Is the story relevant to your audience? A story regarding a business that’s marginally related to your own is probably of no interest to your office newsletter’s readers, but ones about a client could prove intriguing.



Timeliness. Is it recent? Timing is crucial to news. If it’s old, there’s a good chance your readers have already heard of it. Just like your audience, look for more recent events that you wanted to share with them.



Complexity. This one’s tough, but it’s true. The more complex a news story, the less likely people will read it. You know why you use a writing software to clarify your work, right? Because the less muddled it reads, the less troublesome it is to digest. Folks like simple explanations, so give priority to stories that can easily be understood.



Unexpectedness. If it’s unexpected, it’s likely news. An unlikely sporting event winner, a sudden typhoon and an 8 year old art protégé are all newsworthy because no one sees them coming. So you’ve got to scoop for unexpected events to make your story a fresher one.



Schedules. Events and activities that are scheduled typically become newsworthy the closer they draw near.




Author Resource:-> See how innovative Writing Software instantly can boost your writing skills and watch how NLP technology can help you to write perfect emails, letters, essays or reports. Visit: http://www.englishsoftware.org

Article From ActiveAuthors.com

How To Write Technical Materials For Your Audience

By: Jane Sumerset

Writing for an audience sucks. Why does it have to be that way? That’s because you’ll always have to put their reaction to your material as a first consideration. Besides, who is going to read your piece? Don’t tell me you are writing just for yourself only? There are so many styles in writing and the main reason why it has to be that way is for their audience.



It can be of any form like a letter whether it is an informal or business letter, publications like books, magazines or news story, reviews, research papers, projects, proposals, classified ads, speech and a lot more.



All of these are addressed towards your audiences. It can be your teacher, your boss, you classmate and the whole crowd who happens to read your work. Writing involves influencing the public’s minds, sharing valued information, critics or argumentations, human interest and so on.



Of course, if you never consider your readers, there’s likely very few people willing to stick around to read what you write. Even worse, those that do will likely finish your piece largely unaffected. Your readers serve to be an inspiration in your part in order to write nicely and worth reading articles for them to love it.



What you need to do as a writer is to enhance yourself in writing well organized contents whatever writing task was assigned to you. Just don’t tend to get worried because there are a lot of ways and techniques to write effectively for your audience. These writing guides might help you to develop your writing skills more:



A Short Leash



Have you ever seen technical manuals dripping with style and flavor? While panache does have its place, I usually read through those pieces and groan. I never read a technical material to be wowed by the author’s talents. Usually, I go through these types of documents in order to learn something about a product or a process. While amusing, I find all the extra words a huge waste of my time.



In truth, you need to keep yourself on a short leash when you write technical materials. Keep your focus on what matters and avoid venturing into decorative territory. Make sure to use your English writing software to check for possible transgressions.



Clarity



If you truly want to write for your audience, your technical materials must be written clearly. A regular reader like me should be able to look at it and not end up intimidated by the words. I should be able to go to the section I need and not be distracted by items that do not serve to give me what I’m searching for.



Technical Terms



Don’t be afraid to use technical terms. This is particularly true if your anticipated audience don’t consist of absolute dolts who are ignorant about the subject. As a writer, you should be able to ascertain which “jargon” can be used and which ones are best simplified. This helps make the piece more succinct and, ultimately, more useful.




Author Resource:-> See how innovative English Writing Software instantly can boost your writing skills and watch how NLP technology can help you to write perfect emails, letters, essays or reports. Visit: http://www.englishsoftware.org

Article From ActiveAuthors.com

Writing Free Travel Articles – Who Are You?

By: Julietta Henderson

When you’re in the business of writing, presuming you’re good, there are many places you can showcase your work. Many directories (like ezine.com) which offer free travel articles accept submissions from writers who can demonstrate a competency in writing and a good, readable style. But what exactly is style and is any one writing style better than another? In terms of free travel articles spreading across the internet (and this is after all why we write them), research shows that there’s a place for virtually every style; funny, controversial, informative, celebrity based and even ghostly angles all seem to spread equally well.



So just who are these writers, toiling in their attics over hot computers to produce free travel articles?



The Painstaking Researcher



This writer is the one who produces beautifully researched, factual and informative articles leaving no stone unturned. Their writing will go into the minutiae of the weather, the attractions and every possible aspect of a particular travel destination. No matter that they are writing free travel articles, this scribe will pay attention to even the finest details. These articles spread well because of their comprehensive content, and will often be picked up by other travel related sites or tour operators.



The Frustrated Stand Up Comedian



A writer who produces articles with a humorous slant has the advantage of being able to entertain the reader as well as inform them. You may think writing free travel articles would not leave much scope for knock knock jokes, but the clever writer knows how to weave humour into even the most staid holiday destination. Wouldn’t you be tempted to read ‘Packing for a Nudist Holiday’, ‘Going Abroad with a Broad’, or ‘How to Have Fun at the Beach with a Broken Leg’? You get the picture – it may not be side splittingly funny, but you’ll get a bit of light relief from this writer’s articles.



The Star Struck Celebrity Hound



Do you know where Paris Hilton spent her summer or where Barrack Obama took his family skiing last year? This writer does. And whether the talk of celebrities makes you want to sit up and take notice, or it takes you on a one way trip to yawn city, the fact is that these free travel articles spread. It seems the cult of celebrity is alive and well and this writer will pounce on any snippet of a destination’s brush with fame and capitalise on it in an article. Celebrity endorsements can make or break a holiday location, and writing about the ‘wheres’ and ‘whys’ of the ‘who’s who’ can pay dividends for our celebrity spy.



The Imaginative Traveller



If you look deep enough there’s a skeleton in every closet and a ghost around every corner; and this writer knows it! They love finding the unusual in the every day and will conjure up stories of hauntings, legends and mysteries for every free travel article they write. Who knew there was an underground ghost in Ganzhou, or a wicked witch of West Wyoming? The writer obsessed with tales from the ‘other side’ can find an eerie angle for any destination in the world and, for those who dare, it just makes the prospect of their haunted holiday all the more fun!




Author Resource:-> Julietta Henderson is a regular contributor to article directories, and specialises in writing free travel articles (http://www.freetravelarticledirectory.co.uk) relating to travel and holiday destinations.

Article From ActiveAuthors.com

FTAD – Finding Ideas For Free Travel Articles

By: Julietta Henderson

As you sit down at your computer to write free travel articles, does your heart ever sink at the thought of having to find yet another 600 words worth of things to write about for the same place? Sometimes it might seem as though there’s only so many things that you can say about one holiday destination. So where do you get enough ideas from to keep writing?



Personal Experience



What better resource to draw from when writing free travel articles, than your own personal experience. There’s no better way to write enthusiastically, than to write about somewhere you’ve visited before, or perhaps even somewhere you’ve had the trip of a lifetime. Not only can you be sure of your suggestions and your advice, but you can handpick those suggestions from a medley of memories. But be sure not to get too nostalgic, or you’ll be on the next plane back there yourself! There’s no denying that the easiest destinations to write about are the ones that you’ve been to yourself.



Other People’s Experience



In the same way that your most informed writing will come from your own travels, so will other peoples. That is why there are so many thousands of blogs out there, written either on or after a holiday, that are simply bursting with information. It’s true, sometimes these blogs just tell stories such as ‘we got up and went to the beach.’ However, many of them will go into much greater detail, telling you exactly which Italian restaurant served the best pasta they’ve ever eaten, which area of the beach was the most deserted, or which cove to snorkel in order to see the most exciting sea life. These are exactly the kinds of ideas you need when writing free travel articles, so be sure to include some blogs in your research.



The Expert’s Experience



Who better to tell you about a holiday destination, than the people who want to take you there? The websites of travel companies can be a fantastic place to find ideas for free travel articles. Though they can only inform you of the accommodation or holidays that they themselves offer, they may include itineraries or activities that provide perfect subject matter for your writing. So long as you keep in mind that these people are trying to sell you a destination rather than provide you with information you can use to write about it, there are plenty of ideas to be found on their websites.



The Slightly More Objective Expert’s Experience



Personal experience and word of mouth are great tools to use when coming up with ideas for free travel articles, but nobody could ever tell you as much about a holiday destination as the tourist board themselves. Experts on their own locations, these are the people with the real knowledge. Providing information on everything from accommodation, transport, and activities, to maps, inoculation advice and weather forecasts, this really is the best place to find out the facts and get some ideas.



So, next time you sit down to write, remember that ideas for free travel articles can come from a variety of sources. The more you use, the more ideas you have and the more detailed the information in your article can be.




Author Resource:-> Julietta Henderson is a regular contributor to article directories, and specialises in writing free travel articles (http://www.freetravelarticledirectory.co.uk/) relating to travel and holiday destinations.

Article From ActiveAuthors.com