There are many blogs and forums that discuss the art of writing. The majority of people who call themselves writers want to create the best work possible.  Although each writer has his or her own style usually what separates good writing from not so good writing is the clarity of the work. Clarity involves how easy a reader can understand and follow what you’ve written.

Today I’d like to share some tips that can help develop your skills as a writer. Some of the tips focus on having a variety of words at your disposal and using them correctly. Others deal with clarity and simplicity.

1. Read: It’s virtually impossible to be a good writer if you don’t read.  It’s important to read the work of good authors to learn how effective writing is constructed. Reading also gives you some insights into the skill and talent that it takes to create clear and engaging writing.  You can read any type of material that you’d like—-Fiction, non-fiction, biographies or even newspapers or news magazines. Any type of well crafted writing can provide you with models of language used well.  As you are reading, be sure to take note of the author’s style and pay attention to how ideas and emotions are expressed.

To Listen to the Full Audio Blog:

Writing Resources:

Oxford Dictionary’s Commonly Confused Words Listing

Grammar Girl Guide

Elements of Style by William Strunk, Jr. and E.B. White

Elements of Grammar by Margaret Shertzer

So Here’s Some Next Steps:

• First, feel free to leave comment below about what you learned from the blog post that can help your writing.
• Next, if this post gave you an “Aha! moment”, please share it via the retweet button below (or via your social media goodness of choice).
• Finally, if you’re getting interested some mentoring on how to use a book to raise your public visibility and increase your income  (and/or you’re curious to learn more), SIGN UP FOR MY EMAIL LIST near the top of this page so you can get advance notification when it opens llater this month AND also early bird savings on it.

In this week’s audio blog I’m going to discuss why you need a book proposal, even if your goal is to self-publish.

One of the main differences between fiction and non-fiction is how books are sold to publishers.  In fiction the completed manuscript is the determinant of whether or not the author gets a book deal.  In non-fiction, the book proposal is the critical factor. 

In fiction the publisher is judging the quality of your writing and how engaging is your story.  In non-fiction the publisher is judging your book idea and your ability to present your information in an interesting way that compels people to buy your book..

Even if you are not interested in a traditional book deal and plan to self-publish a proposal can still be a very useful tool to help you to map your strategy for writing and marketing your book.

Listen to the entire audio blog segment

ALSO OF INTEREST

Audio Blog: How to Become a Well-Paid Writer, Artist or Other Type of Creative Worker

===========================

Photo Credit: Ian Mutoo

(Marilyn Monroe by Andy Warhol)

In this week’s audio blog I’m going to discuss the major difference between well paid creative folks and and starving artists…and it’s not about talent.
Well paid creative folks see themselves as entrepreneurs. Whether the person is a writer, artist, designer, chef, coach or some other type of innovator, she creates a business structure to identify and cultivate customers for her work.

Creative entrepreneurs understand that whether they’re selling books, art or piano lessons, the public haa a myriad of buying options and that it’s their job to educate potential customers about their work. Well paid creative entrepreneurs enjoy letting customers know how they will benefit from purchasing their work and they also make the buying process easy.

In comparison, most starving artists believe that the quality of their work should speak for itself. In effect they think that customers should seek them out. Despite there literally being thousands artists offering a similar product, starving artist That believe that all marketing is cheesy, vulgar and beneath them. Starving artists tend to see some sort of nobility or superiority in being obscure and inaccessible….

CLICK HERE to listen to the entire audio blog segment.

Many of the women who I talk to understand that they need to take control of their money.  Many women fail to get their financial houses in order because they are overwhelmed with information and advice. Frequently they don’t know where to begin.   Other women fail to manage their money because they’ve become bogged down in the guilt and shame of their past financial choices.  Our financial health, like our physical health can be renewed, revitalized by focusing on new decisions and new actions.

In coaching women to become self-sufficient I’ve outlined the 7 Steps to Taking Control of Your Finances that I discuss in this week’s audio blog.

(audio time 5:33)

As you may know, I use my Financial Renewal Blueprint   to teach women how to take control of their money so that they can create financial security and stop worrying about how they will pay their bills each month.

It’s important for women to participate in managing their household’s finances. I know that you’re busy working and taking care of your family….but you’ve got to make your PROSPERITY a priority.  Money disagreements are among the leading causes for divorce.  Also women are marrying later and when they do marry they generally outlive their spouses…this means at some point most women are solely responsible for their money decisions.

Here’s a short audio titled 5 Tips to Managing Money With Your Spouse or Partner. It’s quick and easy and will give  you some action steps that you can immediately implement to improve your family’s financial health.

Let me know how these help you.

I’m teaching a FREE teleclass  called “5 Secrets To How Women Can Take Charge of Their Money, Create Wealth & Gain Peace of Mind” on April 28, 2010.  REGISTER TODAY! 

 I’ll be teaching women some simple, easy steps that they can use to take control of their money.  Every woman deserves to live a prosperous life.  So regardless of the current state of your finances, you can begin to build financial security…which will help you to sleep better at night.

Step Into Your Greatness.

Yvonne