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Writing Etc. – April 15, 2005

ISSN: 1545-5580

Make Your Writing Sparkle. Write Killer Queries, Get Published.

Join the brightest, most ambitious, and talented group of writers on the ‘net.

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For easier reading and red hot links, surf to http://filbertpublishing.com/current.htm

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In This Issue:

Notes from Minnesota – Includes a new link where you can peek into the life of a working writer

How to Effectively Communicate With Your Readers by Beth Ann Erickson

2005 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

We Recommend

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This issue is sponsored by:

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Notes from Minnesota:

It began as a typical Sunday afternoon stroll. Sun shining. Wind blowing strong. Lucy (the Rat Terrier Wonder Dog) in a great mood.

The 2.5 mile hike around the “big block” takes us around some of the most beautiful countryside Minnesota has to offer.

The first leg along the railroad tracks proceeded without event. No trains to upset poor Lu. No trucks honking at us as they barrel down Highway 12.

We turned right onto the gravel road and proceeded our trek past the Baklund farms. Half way down that stretch we passed a downed road sign. Using every inch of her 16 foot retractable leash, Lu investigated the situation. Judging from her demeanor, Maury (my dear husband) and I figured “someone” sat underneath it…

Here’s your top-secret link where you can read the rest of today’s Notes from Minnesota along with my newest journal entries. Please do not share this link with anyone outside the Writing Etc. family. http://filbertpublishing.com/j.htm

Enjoy your week everybody!

Beth

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So, if you’re in the mood to peek into the private life of a working writer, check this space each month for a link to the latest entries. Also, click that same link for regular updates.

P.P.S. Here’s our updated best seller list… be sure to pick up a copy of each of these titles. They’re awesome.

1.      Jumpstart Your Writing Career and Snag Paying Assignments by Beth Erickson http://filbertpublishing.com/jumpstart.htm

2.      Bob Bly’s Guide to Freelance Writing Success: How to Make $100,000 a Year as a Freelance Writer and Have The Time of Your Life Doing It. http://filbertpublishing.com/bob.htm

3.      Weekly Writes: Exercises in Creative Writing by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta http://filbertpublishing.com/Weekly.htm (You’ll get a ton of fr** writing/freelancing tools direct from Shery at http://WeeklyWrites.com when you order this title!)

4.      Timecross’d: A Love Story Out Of Time by Sean Thompson http://filbertpublishing.com/timecrossd.htm

Released today, “Roll Away the Stone” by Dain Schult http://filbertpublishing.com/stone.htm

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~~~~~~~~~~~~ Feature Article ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

How You Can Communicate Effectively With Your Readers… Every Time

By Beth Ann Erickson

Queen Bee of Filbert Publishing :)

As a freelance writer, you need to speak directly to your reader. If you don’t do this, you’ll lose them. Period.

So, here’s what you need to do:

First, understand that the average American reads at around the seventh grade level. This means you should forget using “million dollar” words. Understand that you certainly do not need to dumb-down your message, just use terms that are readily understandable.

The general rule is this: write like you speak.

Don’t try to write in any kind of “literary style.” Just communicate in the same way you would if you were sitting at a table across from your reader and speaking to them.

This means you’ll probably break more than a few grammar rules. This means you’ll probably start more than one sentence with the word “and.” This means your high school English teacher’ll probably accuse you of being a bad writer.

But it also means you’ll become an effective communicator.

But now we need to ratchet this advice up a notch.

Next, you need to study how your potential reader speaks, and write using that style.

This means you get to become a chameleon of sorts, assuming the persona of your reader.

For example, if you’re writing a piece for an upscale magazine targeting professional businesswomen, you’ll use a different “voice” (using different terminology and jargon) than you would if you were writing a piece for the National Enquirer.

If you’re trying to sell fishing lures to avid sportsmen, you’d probably use a different voice than you would if you were writing a piece for PC magazine.

You’re a wise writer when you research your market thoroughly before submitting a piece to a publication. Read their back issues. Study their direct mail campaigns. Chances are, they’ve perfected the voice they use and you can reduce your learning curve by a lot when you study their materials.

Ah… writing isn’t for the faint of heart, is it? It’s a lot of hard (but fun) work. And the writers who recognize this increase their chances for success.

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If you enjoyed this article, you’ll love Beth Ann Erickson’s “Jumpstart Your Writing Career and Snag Paying Assignments. You can nab your copy here: http://filbertpublishing.com/jumpstart.htm

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2005 Action Plan to Jumpstart Your Writing Career

Today you’re receiving my personal permission to eaves drop.

Listen to how people around you speak. Close your eyes and carefully analyze each word choice, each inflection, every colloquialism.

Now try to capture their vocal stylings on paper.

It’s a far more difficult assignment than you may originally think, but a very valuable one.

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Writing Etc.

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