Marketing Your Web Writing - Self-Promotion Is Not Bragging

To become a highly paid Web writer, you need to spend some energy on promotion. Unfortunately, this is difficult for some writers.

Many Web writers are self-conscious and shy. There are a million and one reasons for this, but to write successfully - that is, to get paid what you're worth - you need to become comfortable at promoting your Web writing. If no one knows what you do, you'll always be scrabbling for the next paycheck, when you could be turning away Web writing clients because you're booked solid.

Here's a snippet (quoted with permission) from an email message I received this week:

"I've tried the out-sourcing sites, but it's ridiculous - 100 articles for $250. Come on! I'm getting discouraged. I don't think I'm cut out to be a writer at all... I know you said I need a Web site, but aside from the effort of learning how to do that, and the time it takes, I don't like bragging. It's just not me."

I'm not against $2 articles - some writers are happy to write for $2, and why not? Web writing is a global occupation, and $2 goes a lot further in India than it does in Europe, the US or Australia. I also know a lot of writers writing for these amounts are college students, earning some extra money.

This is fine - but these people are not professional writers. There's a lot more to professional writing than writing, so to speak.

No one, least of all me, is suggesting that you churn out $2 articles. However, to get paid reasonably well, you do need to put effort into self-promotion.

Self-Promotion Is Not Bragging, It's Marketing, And It Works

All businesses market themselves. Whether it's a local store hiring a sign-writer to plaster the week's specials across a window, or a giant fast-food operation buying blocks of TV advertising time and spending millions in the process, it's promotion, which is a form of marketing. It's not bragging. It's business.

I know that many writers suffer under the impression that they shouldn't need to market their writing. You're an excellent writer - so why should you hustle? It's demeaning.

Well, it's not demeaning. When you know how to do it, it's a lot of fun. I used to be a writer with a "self-promotion is bragging" attitude. So I took a marketing course at my local college. It was the best time and money I ever spent. Of course you don't have to go back to school to learn marketing, you can visit your local library and take out books on marketing.

It's really up to you. There's a lot of money to be made in writing for the Web, and many writers have already made the switch because Web writing has huge benefits. But yes, you do need a Web site, and you do need to do some self-promotion.

Try it - you have nothing to lose, and much to gain. Once you do, I promise you that you'll have a lot of fun. I went from a person who hates all forms of self-promotion to someone who loves it, and you can too. Put some time into self-promotion, and your Web writing income will rise - it really is that simple, and that easy.

188+ Stages Of The Hero's Journey (Monomyth) You Need To Know About- Return Threshold

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES:

(simply go to www.clickok.co.uk for full details)

*****Trial 3 Reward*****

Post Trial 3, the Hero is often given a reward. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack meets and marries Lureen.

****Crossing of the Return Threshold*****

Engagement in the Final Conflict has certain characteristics, including:

Indirect Engagement. The Hero will engage with some alternative to the Antagonism. For example, the Antagonist's Armies. In Star Wars (1977), Luke engages with the Empire's fighter pilots.

Increased Intensity. The battle will be intense with many soldiers on both sides dying.

Seeming Weak. The Antagonism will seem stronger, many of the Hero's minor allies, innocents or similar will perish.

Threat Acknowledged. The Hero's threat will be acknowledged, but it will seem minor.

Antagonist Confident. The intensity of the antagonist's attack and the seeming weakness of the Hero give the Antagonist hope.

Creating A Compelling Plot Using The Hero's Journey - Part 2

As I previously mentioned, our Hero may be reluctant about leaving the Ordinary World and answering the Call of Adventure. A mentor may be provide moral support to the Hero and give her the necessary impetus to finally answer the call which leads us to the next step in the Hero's Journey:

Crossing the First Threshold:

Hero agrees to face the challenge of problem posed in the Call to Adventure
Crossing into the Special World is an act of will
Often illustrated by showing the hero crossing a physical barriers, i.e. door, bridge.

Crossing the Threshold is generally the turning point in which the adventure actually begins. It's when the hero has overcome her basic fears and reluctance and decided to proceed on the journey. For example, think of the very funny fight scene in Miss Congeniality. We've seen Sandra Bullock's character in her Ordinary World — that of a rather unkempt and unappreciated female FBI Agent. When presented with the opportunity to go undercover, she balks at the prospect. She is goaded by Benjamin Bratt's character who serves in part as a Mentor (Bratt plays a shapeshifter, actually, but more on that later). During the fight scene, Bullock finally accepts the Call to Adventure and agrees to go undercover. She crosses the threshold and begins the journey.

So what happens along this journey? Miss Congeniality follows the Hero's Journey with the next few scenes which develop. How? Bullock's character finds:

Tests, Allies and Enemies:

Hero is presented with challenges and tests
Makes allies and enemies
These tests show us the hero's character as she and her companions respond to the tests
Tests prepare the Hero for greater ordeals ahead
This is our first view of the Special World which should be very different from the Ordinary World the hero has just left
"Getting to know you" scenes common at this point

Think about all the people Miss Congeniality now meets. People who prepare her for the Adventure (a true mentor in the Michael Caine character), put up barriers, become her allies and/or show their colors as enemies.

The section of the journey during "Tests, Allies and Enemies" will show us how the hero responds to others around them and by doing so, will help us develop the hero's character. Each encounter with an ally or enemy and each test will demonstrate either something good or bad about her. Is she loyal? Is she compassionate? Is she bitchy or nice? Think of Miss Congeniality and each encounter with one of the beauty queens or as she prepares for each of the events during the pageant. Each test and encounter demonstrates something about her character.

Now that we know more about our character (and in reality, the character knows more about herself), we need to take that knowledge and have the hero:

Approach the Inmost Cave:

Hero confronts and prepares for achieving her goal
May suffer setbacks or reversals of fortune

The hero now understands what is the purpose of the journey and prepares to reach that ultimate goal (for example, finding out who has threatened the pageant). Even though the hero understands the goal, the challenges and tests are not yet over. In fact, the hero may find that while she has taken 3 steps forward, she is now forced to take two back. Think of the information that Miss Congeniality has gleaned from the beauty queens and how none of the FBI agents believe her because they think the Bomber has been caught. She has achieved the goal of finding all the information she needed, but her investigation is set back by the arrival of her director and his news.

What does a hero do in this situation? The hero must now face the Supreme Ordeal.

News Writing And Feature Articles - 5 Ways They Differ

News writing and features are different styles of writing that you find in any publication around the world, whether they are newspapers, magazines or websites.

There are many distinctions between the two sets of writing genres because they perform different functions.

The factors that determined whether an article is fit for news or features include: time, writing style, the writer, location and length. There are other differences but these are the main ones.

When you learn how to write like a journalist, you would come across both types of writing styles. All journalists are expected to be competent at news writing and crafting features, though some do specialize, as we shall see later.

1. Time: news articles are time-dependent and must therefore be released as soon as possible after an event, speech, occurrence, interview or incident that has news value. Features, however, are more refined articles and are written to be

timeless. For instance, if a runner breaks the 100 meters world record, the news should be sent out within minutes, if not seconds, after his achievement. One or two days later, it would no longer be news. However, a profile of the runner

with his background, interests and life story would still provide interesting reading weeks or months after his record performance.

2. Writing style: a news story is written fast and therefore uses simple, effective words, focusing on nouns and verbs to tell the story. There is no flowery content. All you find is straightforward sentences with words at a premium.

Features offer you a bit more license to expand your writing with color, adjectives and vignettes.

3. The writer: Some writers are more comfortable bashing out news stories in a matter of minutes and struggle to sit down for more than half an hour writing long prose. Conversely, feature writers are more at ease processing their words

before spending up to three or four hours writing their article. Sometimes, it is possible to tell when a news story has been written by a feature specialist, or vice-versa, just by looking at the first paragraph. Of course, you do have writers

who are experts at both forms of writing.

4. Location: by location, we mean where in the publication do you find the article. In a newspaper, you would have a section dedicated to feature stories while news articles can be found sprinkled throughout the publication. Magazines

are made up mostly of feature-type articles while websites also have a section for features.

5. Length: A news story can be anywhere from one sentence to 600 words, though that is stretching it. News writing involves punchy articles that tell the story as soon as

possible. Features are generally long articles that can exceed 2,000 words in a magazine. Features require more words because they go into more depth and personal detail than news stories.

Remember, for news writing, you must have a suitably strong angle for the article to qualify as a news story. Features, however, are not necessarily

instruments of news, although they could be. In fact, they are there to supplement the news and take the reader deeper into the story.

Article Writing - How To Use Article Writing For High Response Rates III

You should write a number of articles, not just the one, and the combined effect of these is what you are looking for. Any individual one article might not provide you with the required response, but the cumulative effect of article upon article should result in a high overall response to the campaign in general. While any individual reader can miss any of a number of individual articles, it is the campaign in general that results in a steady flow of traffic to your website which is the ultimate response you want.

One individual ant makes little difference to the colony, but the combined effect of thousands makes it work. I am not suggesting that you write thousands of articles, but you should get my drift. One article submitted to a hundred different directories will have more of an effect on the response to your article than were it submitted to only one, and twenty articles submitted to these hundred directories even more so. Each article, however, must be given as much care and attention in the title, content and biography as if it were the only one.

Take that much care and attention in your article writing, and you will eventually succeed in achieving the high response that you want.

You have learned alot in these articles about article writing, but one of the biggest things that you can get out of this is that you have to have a massive mindset. You have to write a massive number of articles if you are going to get massive results.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Screenwriting Tips And Tricks 3

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES (188+ stages of the Hero's Journey (Monomyth) you need to know about...):

(simply go to www.clickok.co.uk for full details)

*****Demonstrating the Magical Gift*****

One often missed stage of the Hero's Journey is the demonstration of the Magical Gift. In the Bond franchise, Q also demonstrates the gadgets. In Star Wars (1977), Ben fires up Luke's light sabre. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie dares Clyde to use the gun.

***Book of Law***

An Authority Figure will guard the entrance to the Great Cave of the First Threshold and dictate the rules of this New Domain. In Spartacus (1960), this is where Lentulus tells the slaves that they are to become gladiators and that, if they do well, may become free men.

*****First Trial Inner Cave - Inner Challenge*****

A number of things happen in the Inner Cave of the First Trial. One element is the expression of the Inner Challenge. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Bonnie complains about Clyde's lovemaking.

*****Inner Challenge / Inner Cave*****

It is in the Inner Cave of the First Threshold that the Inner Challenges is most often made explicit. In Bonnie and Clyde (1967), Clyde pretends to snore in bed; Bonnie wants sex.

*****Push to the Inner Cave*****

Pushes and Pulls are underestimated, even symbolically. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack doesn't mind switching, "...We both ought to be in this camp...."

Our Struggles

The other day I was walking down the street here in Chicago and I noticed a woman holding up a sign to drivers as they were stopped for a red light. I've been seeing this happening more and more lately on different street corners and I wondered what exactly she was doing.

Her sign seemed to be another plea for help from an ever expanding lower class of individuals. It said the following: "I have 5 children. I don't have a job. Please I ask for help with anything you can help to pay for rent and get food for my kids. GOD BLESS YOU. Have naici day."

Reading her sign I began to question whether she really has five children and needs money to pay for food and shelter. The sad thing is that the neighborhood is full of people who truly need help, while others want to avoid working and make a living solely by begging on street corners. By talking to the woman, I found it hard to tell in which category she belongs. I gave her some money and thanked her for the picture.

Whether she is really needy or just a con artist doesn't really matter, because in either case the culture of big corporations and a ever increasing bureaucratic government is clearly the blame. The "corporate aliens" as I call them are making it hard for everyone.

What does it take to be successful these days?

White-collar crooks are successful. Just look at the politicians: Some have already been to jail or are currently serving time. Most of the rest just haven't been caught yet. They all have nice homes and drive late model cars.

Those who are greedy and highly unethical are successful. Most CEOs and top corporate managers care little about their employees. They move their factories to third world countries to exploit cheap labor. They ruthlessly downsize to increase profits. They overwork their employees and raid employee pension funds. They get outlandish salaries and live their lives in luxury.

People who are lucky are successful. People who win the lottery or get discovered as singers, actors, models, sports figures, and so on. There's millions of good, or even great, actors or singers out there, but only a few get fame and fortune if they're lucky enough to get noticed.

Children of rich and connected individuals become successful. How successful would Paris Hilton be if she wasn't an heiress? In many cases success runs in the family. The success of "rehab" hospitals largely depends on the empty-headed habits of the spoiled offspring of the wealthy.

What about the rest of us, the middle and lower classes. We have to work very hard just to survive. Aristotle believed in moderation, and this is what I feel should be the plight of the majority of human beings. Reasonable work for reasonable pay. But this is far from being today's norm. These days middle class individuals must not only be over stressed at work, but must suffer traffic jams and crowded trains while getting there and coming home. Then they all are forced to pay part of their salary as protection to the syndicate, or in other words, taxes to the government. With food, housing, and utility bills steadily rising, almost every middle class individual faces some form of dept.

But it's really not so bad here, if you consider countries where people spend their waking hours working for a few pennies a day and starvation is rampant. These are the nations whose citizens are exploited by corporate aliens from the U.S. and other richer countries.

Can you really blame people if they become white collar criminals to survive? As long as wealth is so unevenly distributed, the struggle for survival amid the middle and lower classes will continue.

There are people all over Chicago holding up signs like the woman mentioned in this article. The people who drive on these streets are mainly middle class. The rich live in gated communities that aren't very tolerant of beggars and pan-handlers. What happens when the middle class hasn't anything more to give? What happens when the middle class is a civilization that is "gone with the wind?"

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Abbreviated Info 14

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES (188+ stages of the Hero's Journey (Monomyth) you need to know about...):

(simply go to www.clickok.co.uk for full details)

*****Near Death Experience*****

The Hero's Old Self must die before his (or her) New Self can completely be born. In An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), Zack Maya is beaten to near death by Sgt. Foley - this happens in the martial arts gym, which is representative of Zacks old world - and it happens after his argument with Paula. In Unforgiven (1992), the Sheriff beats Clint Eastwood to a pulp - in the bar that is, in effect "his territory." In A Fistful of Dynamite (1971), John sees Dr. Villega give away his compatriots.

Serpent Battle. It is not unusual for the battle to occur with a serpent like creature and for it to occur underwater. The serpent is representative of the evil and the submergence underwater is symbolic of a baptism. In War of the Worlds (2005), Ray Ferrier is submerged as an Alien sinks the ferry and everything in it. He battles the "serpent like" tentacles of the Alien underwater. In Star Wars (1977), Luke follows the Princess down into the garbage compartment on the detention level where he is submerged by an underwater, tentacles, serpent like creature.

*****Evolution*****

The First Threshold has distinct phases of evolution. When the Hero first arrives in the First Threshold, he (or she) is a Fish out of Water, by the time he (or she) leaves, he is less so. In Brokeback Mountain (2005), Jack learns to control the horse.

Breaking Writer's Block

There comes a time when a writer sits down at the computer and the creativity grinds to a halt. You may find yourself dissatisfied with your text. You may be unable to find the right words. Worse, you could end up staring at a blank page. Writer's block happens and it brings freelance writing to a stop. What do you do? How do you break through writer's block?

Here are some ideas for overcoming the struggle to write when nothing comes to mind:
Take a break. When you can't find a great idea or words just aren't coming easily to mind, take a break from the computer. Step away from the word processor for at least 10 minutes. A 20-minute break is even better. You'll come back to the keyboard refreshed and with new thoughts.
Take a vacation. Everyone needs some time to himself or herself to enjoy activities, so take a day off from your job. Get out of the house, and go have fun doing something else unrelated to writing. Your brain will appreciate the holiday.

Do something else. If you're writing a business article and having a hard time writing short sentences, switch tasks. Answer some emails, browse websites, or read someone else's material for a while. Indulge yourself in some creative, descriptive writing. Changing tasks for a while can be effective to breaking writer's block.

Go look for new ideas. If you're fresh out of ideas, go look for new ones. Take a walk down the street, sit on a park bench for a while, or have a drive in your car. Look around you and observe what's happening in the world. Try and find new ideas for your material based on what you see.
Read a book. Instead of writing, try reading for a while. Set down your work and pick up a fiction novel for a change of pace or a book on your subject matter for new ideas. While you're still dealing with written words, you're absorbing them instead of putting them to paper.

Stop worrying about writing. The more you worry about writer's block and not being able to pen your ideas, the worse the situation gets. You'll become frustrated and nothing will seem right. Relax. Let it go and stop worrying. Your writer's block may last a few minutes, an hour, or even a week, but it will pass. Give yourself a break. Tell yourself the situation is temporary.

No one can write extensively for hours without taking a break, even professionals. Your brain needs a rest and without taking breaks, you'll feel tired and drained. You may even start to dislike your job or writing in general. Find ways to give your creativity a rest. Do something you enjoy so that you can relax and come back to your computer with fresh eyes and renewed imagination.

Article Submission - Your Resource Box as a Call-to-Action in Article Marketing

Article submission, how you submit your articles, is a huge part of article writing and marketing. Your resource box is probably the most important part of your article submission.

In fact, this is so important, you can do this one part wrong, and all your other efforts are wasted. Do this one part correctly, and you can get ready for a flood of traffic, prospects, publicity, and profits.

A Call to Action

Do you know how to use your resource box as a call to action? Read on to discover how to use this powerful technique in your resource box.

I've so many web sites, newsletters, brochures, articles, and yes, even resource boxes that do not ask the reader to do anything. That is such a waste!

A call to action is simply how you ask the reader to do something. It is a call to take some action.

Though they will not tell you this out loud, most readers want you to "tell me what to do next."

So much internet marketing slams you over the head with copy that comes across like "buy this now or your children will starve!" That kind of call to action is not what I am talking about here.

A Call to Action as an Invitation

A good call to action is simply a well delivered invitation for the reader to so something that benefits them and benefits you. "Visit my web site" - "Subscribe to my free report" - "Check out my new ebook about........." are all good calls to action as invitations.

How Many Americans Will Become Disabled Over The Course Of Their Lifetime?

If you become disabled and unable to work in America, you can apply for federal assistance in the form of social security disability and, if you are lucky, your own case will be among the thirty or so percent of claims that are actually approved at the application level. However, if your initial claim is not approved (and seven out of ten are not), you'll have to go through an arduous appeal system that can literally take years. And years, these days, can easily up to three years.

Title II benefits, otherwise known as RSDI, DIB, or more plainly, Social security disability, is an underfunded (manpower-wise), lumbering, and creaking contraption that does not serve the citizens of this country well at all. In fact, it doesn't even come close in this regard. During the unreasonably long wait times enforced upon claimants for the processing of disability applications and appeals, a percentage of these claimants, sadly, will end up loosing everything thing they have. And many of them, those that can afford to, will end up looking through the yellow pages to find someone who can assist them in filing for bankruptcy.

It is amazing that this situation goes on in a country like this. And it is unconscionable that so many American citizens are "thrown into such a pit" simply because the U.S. Congress refuses to fund SSA at the proper levels. Funding is available, of course, for the issuance of benefits as are cost of living increases. However, the necessary funding to replace workers who retire or who quit from social security field offices is practically nonexistent (and a great many SSA employees already have the required "time in" to to take retirement).

How does inadequate personnel staffing at the social security administration affect the public? Obviously in this way: as more workers quit or retire and are not replaced, the processing of disability claims becomes, over time, slower and slower and slower. Work loads that were formerly addressed by X number of workers become increasingly handled by an ever-smaller pool of social security employees who, increasingly, become more embittered over the state of their agency. The effect on morale shouldn't be hard to figure out, of course, nor should the eventual outcome. As the social security administration continues to ignore its staffing issues, the likelihood is strong that existing workers, particularly those who are eligible to take retirement, will at some point begin to quit or retire in numbers that may take the agency to a precipice.

Unfortunately, the situation that exists at the social security administration is not well known, nor understood by the public at large, or the media in general. But it should be.

A 3/1/07 UPI article states some pretty sobering statistics. More than half of all U.S. workers would be in the position of not being able to pay their bills (mortgage, utilities, food) if they developed a disabling condition that prevented them from being able to work. And it is estimated that approximately twenty percent of the U.S. workforce will actually become disabled for a period lasting a year or longer at some point before they reach the age of sixty-five.

Inevitably, if things are not fixed at the social security administration with regard to proper staffing for its social security disability and SSI programs, the situation could go on to negatively affect the lives of millions of American workers over the course of the next few years. And it is for this reason that the politicians we send to Congress should be more concerned, and should be made more responsive to the needs of the public, particularly those who need assistance at one of the worst times they may experience in their lives.

Journaling - A Strategy for Writer's Block

Responding to Preparation Challenges.One of the major areas of attack when preparing to write is addressing and adjusting to the variety of environmental, physical, and emotional distractions you may encounter. It may seem easier to thread a needle with a camel than achieving the goal of completing that perfect draft. Frustration is often magnified if, instead of stepping back from the situation, you push creating additional pressure to perform and complete the task. Sometimes it is best to enter the arena of "free flow writing" by journaling your thoughts.

Journaling provides an opportunity for you to release feelings and emotions about a particular topic or situation without the burden of perfecting a task. Journaling does not require lengthy preparation or formal training. It does require you to make a commitment and spend quiet time for "self"—away from others. The process of journaling includes reflection and clearing the mental clutter that inhibits creativity when writing in a more formal setting. Journaling about what you are feeling and experiencing during those writer's block moments can do one of several things:

-Relieve emotional stress


-Encourages better sleep patterns


-Enables you to see areas that need improving or problems to be addressed


-Gives you an outlet to freely express concerns, challenges, and fears


-Provides a method of developing future writing topics and goals

There are several important considerations to address when you begin the journaling process. Remember, you are investing in yourself. It is important to dedicate time (at least one hour) each day that belongs to you to write about experiences, feelings, issues and challenges that may affect your writing career. Make sure everyone in your household understands and respects the time you have selected.

You may want to begin your journaling time by listening to music, nature sounds, or by reading scriptural or meditation verses that encourage mental calm and relaxation. The key is to allow your mind to wander and release thoughts. Since writing is a mental activity, sound machines that provide sounds like water, rain, sounds of the ocean, or birds can be great encouragement to your mental state and general well being.

Be deliberate in your selection of where to begin the journaling process. Make sure you are away from noise and chatter, television, radio and the PHONE! Most importantly, do not apologize for using time for yourself. Just as you schedule time to eat, socialize, attend school or go to work, schedule time to journal.

Date your journal. When you put a date on your thoughts, you are able to note changes and track positive outcomes from your decision to adjust a pattern or attitude. Finally, maintain a positive attitude. Suffering the challenge of writer's block is momentary. Joy does come in the morning, and morning is not a time of day, but rather a state of mind. Write until your joy comes.

188 Stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) - Godfather (1972) Seizing the Sword

FORWARD

The 188 stage Hero's Journey (Monomyth) is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the hundreds of Hollywood movies we have deconstructed (see URL below) are based on this 188+ stage template.

Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters. This is the template you must master if you are to succeed in the craft.

[The terminology is most often metaphoric and applies to all successful stories and screenplays, from The Godfather (1972) to Brokeback Mountain (2006) to Annie Hall (1977) to Lord of the Rings (2003) to Drugstore Cowboy (1989) to Thelma and Louise (1991) to Apocaplyse Now (1979)].

THERE IS ONLY ONE STORY

THE 188 STAGE HERO'S JOURNEY:

a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.

b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.

c) Gives you a tangible process for building and releasing dissonance (establishing and achieving catharses, of which there are usually four).

d) Tells you what to write. For example, at a certain stage of the story, the focus should be on the Call to Adventure and the micro elements within.

ABRIDGED TIPS, EXCERPTS AND EXAMPLES (188+ stages of the Hero's Journey (Monomyth) you need to know about...):

(simply go to www.clickok.co.uk for full details)

*****Seizing the Sword*****

In The Godfather (1972), Michael marries Appollonia (Mystical Marriage, Bride Theft). The Expansion of Consciousness is demonstrated by New Knowledge (Appollonia learns to speak English and drive). Also, the Joy of Infancy Regained - they are like little kids.

*****Rebirth through Death*****

In The Godfather (1972), Sonny's death leads to a Rebirth. Vito calls peace after waking up and hearing Tom tell of Sonny's death. Michael returns after Appollonia's and Sonny;s death.

Writing Prompts - Who Needs This Writing Help?

Writing prompts can offer tremendous writing help for writers at every level of experience and expertise. Who can use writing prompts?

Beginners can use writing prompts to help them learn and grow as writers as well as gain valuable experience in the craft. The only sure way to improve your writing is to write regularly and prompts can help you sharpen your skills on a regular basis. Perfection will never be in your writing future, but it is very true that regular practice is the only way to improve your work. While you may have a long list of ideas and projects to work on you may also want to employ prompts from time to time to fill in the gaps in your schedule.

Experienced writers can use writing prompts to stretch their writing muscles to prepare for their writing assignments or each day's work. They can also use exercises and prompts to create a swipe file of ideas for future reference.

Professional writers can use writing prompts to give them a creative jump start when necessary and to experiment with other forms of writing. If you feel your work is going stale or that you need some inspiration, then using prompts can make a huge difference in your creativity and overall work.

All writers can use writing prompts with writer's block and improving their work. No matter what level your word craft may be, every writer experiences some form of writer's block from time to time. Forcing yourself to write through it with a series of prompts can be a very effective way to tear down your writer's block. Many times we fall into a rut with our work and writing prompts can challenge us out of that rut. This stretching can greatly improve your writing. Every day, week, month and year that you work on your craft you improve as a writer.

Whether you are a beginning, experienced, or professional writer you can use writing prompts to help you improve your word craft.

Writing Articles That Sell

Article writing for web content is one of the hottest things in the virtual world these days. That's great news for freelance writers. Writing articles is a great place for new writers to start turning their talent into dollars. Writing articles that sell, though, isn't always easy. Here are some tips that may help.

Write what you know. That project about indoor plumbing may sound lucrative, but if you're someone who prefers crafts or pets, stay away from topics you know nothing about. Your lack of expertise will show up in your writing. Take writing jobs you feel confident writing about for better material. Your clients will be impressed as well.

Research and increase your knowledge. There are thousands of freelance writing opportunities out there on a vast range of topics. I've already said to write about what you know, but learn how to research what you don't and accumulate more expertise. To be a great freelance writer, you need to be an expert researcher. Get educated and learn new things about hot topics in demand. Don't just skim the surface to get an idea. Delve deep and become an expert.

Never paraphrase or rewrite material. This is the worst type of behavior a freelance writer can have. Paraphrasing or rewriting is barely a cut above copying someone else's work and pasting into your article. Have some pride and integrity. If you're going to be a professional writer, you shouldn't be earning money off of someone else's hard work and efforts. Learn about a subject until you know everything about it. Then write.

Don't be picky. Don't turn up your nose at writing about patio heaters or horse manure. These topics may be boring to you, but they could be very important to a client. Get excited with the client. Never give the client the impression you're doing him or her a favor by writing on a topic you don't enjoy. The client is doing you a favor by choosing your services over the thousands of other freelance writers out there.

Avoid fluff and filler. Clients hate this. Filling up a page with useless wording to have a longer page of text hurts your business. Eliminate anything that doesn't give value to the article. Phrasing such as, 'You will know that,' or, 'You should,' or, 'You might like to,' are useless and just boost word count for nothing.

Use action phrasing and assertive language. Be positive and proactive and let that show in what you write. Don't write, 'You will know that effective writing may be a good way to try to make some money.' That's weak. Instead, write, 'Effective writing is a good way to make money.'

Stay informative and be concise. Self-indulgent language and flowery prose is best saved for fiction works. Remember who the target audience is for articles. Most of the time, these are individuals seeking advice, help, or information. Articles should provide that to readers. How imaginative and creative you can be when you write has no place in the web content article market.

Edit, edit, edit. Check your work over until you're sure there aren't any typos, punctuation errors, or grammar problems. Word-processing software such as Microsoft word has great features to cut out weak writing and mistakes. Don't rely on a software program to correct a skill you should know by heart. Editing software isn't perfect, but your article needs to be.

Set it aside and read it another day. Many beginning writers slam down 500 words and send out the article without setting it aside. Always wait at least 12 hours before submitting anything. Read your work over again. Does the text still make sense? Did you write in the emotional mood that you were feeling when you first wrote the article?

Read your article out loud. Something may look fantastic in black and white, but verbalize it and you may find that nothing makes sense. Reading aloud catches plenty of strange or awkward phrasing, short sentences, or their counterparts, run-on sentences.

Be proud. You're a professional writer. That's a cool job and not one everyone can do! Have confidence in your skills and talent. Self-confidence and pride shows through in your writing and in communication with clients. You're doing something you love and earning money. Show that you enjoy your job and want to do the best you can.
Copyright James Chartrand 2007

Secrets To Getting Published

Getting published in today's competitive fiction market is as easy, or difficult, as learning the 3Rs—Reading, wRiting, and Research. But it also involves three words that are key to the process—persistence, persistence, persistence. Just as a budding musician doesn't get to play at Carnegie Hall without tremendous dedication and practice, a writer doesn't get into print without similar commitments.

Master the Craft

Creating a marketable novel requires learning and mastering the craft of writing. Many budding authors have studied English and writing in high school, or even college, and assume that's a sufficient platform for writing a blockbuster novel. To reach the level of quality required to be published in today's competitive market, writers must re-visit the basics of grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, prose, and dialogue.

Interviews with three top fiction editors provided a sneak peak at why mastering the craft of writing is much more important than it may have been ten or twenty years ago. Back then, editors were responsible for publishing 12 to 15 novels a year. That gave them almost a month per novel to review submissions, select manuscripts for publication, line edit, copy edit, work with graphic designers to create cover designs, work with interior text designers, and work with marketing teams and publicists. If editors detected potential in the creative work of manuscripts that didn't meet their craft standards, they could work with new writers to hone their craft over a few novels. In today's high pressure publishing empires, editors are often responsible for 30 to 60 novels a year. That can leave less than a week for editors to perform all of the functions necessary to bring a novel to bookstores. Increased focus by publishers on higher earnings for novels has also put a crimp on editors being able to guide new authors into developing a large enough readership to get out of the mid-list. Editors no longer have the luxury of sufficient time to develop the blockbuster novelists their publishers crave. They need high quality, well-written, nearly craft-perfect manuscripts from the first submission. This requires manuscripts to be highly edited and close to publishable when editors receive them.

A key factor in mastering the craft is READING. Read successful novels in your genre to determine what makes them "must reads." Analyze their structure, writing style, plotting, and basic concepts to get a feel for what makes a successful novel in today's ever changing marketplace. Reading should be an important element in the work habits of writers. In order to analyze the structure of a novel, an analysis form that identifies: chapter and scene including the number of pages per scene, time frame, basic story line in the scene, point of view character, characters on stage, tension/conflict, setting, and general comments can be very helpful. Such an analysis form allows a writer to get a feel for the structure and content of a novel. As a thriller writer it is important that I include powerful tension/conflict in each scene and that each scene ends with a hook to keep the reader engaged.

Joining writing groups or critique groups that include writers in your genre is an excellent means of getting valuable input for improving your craft as well as evaluating your creative skills. It is important to remember that writing is a subjective art form. There can be dramatic variations in reviews of a writer's work. That's why it's important for writers to be open to all forms of constructive criticism. Criticism can be painful, but it is vital in fine tuning a writer's efforts to become a successful author. The bottom line is in the hands of the writer, the author of a work of fiction. The end result which will make or break a work of fiction was well expressed by a highly successful agent, "it boils down to the words on the page." Every word is a creative expression by the author. A writer must evaluate any critical comments and should compare comments by as broad a segment of readers as possible. This allows placing appropriate weight on any constructive criticism allowing the writer to make an informed decision on what he/she determines to be in the best interest of making the novel a great read.

Develop a Writing Technique

Different authors have different techniques in the way they approach creating their masterpieces. Some authors develop detailed scene-by-scene outlines while others work from a basic concept and let their muse guide them. Writers must find the writing format that works best for them. There is no "best technique." But it is important to develop a technique that has a structure that results in the best possible novel. The only way to do that is by WRITING. Very few authors I have met have had their first work of fiction published. Just like a surgeon works on many cadavers before making the transition to a live human patient, writers must practice, practice, practice before turning out the gem that transforms them into a published author. Once they have learned the craft, they must merge it with a successful creative concept. This may require a few efforts to fine tune the entire process.

Before starting down the road to writing the blockbuster novel, a writer should create a short, one page, concept sheet for the proposed work of fiction. This could turn out to be the hardest aspect of writing a novel, but it is the most critical in today's market. Most readers have been conditioned by our current sound-byte mentality. Just like TV or radio ads, authors must get their point across in a fifteen or thirty second sound-byte. This involves a tightly structured one-half to one page easy to understand synopsis. This short synopsis will be the key to capturing the attention of an agent, and later, an editor. For a thriller, the concept should be simple, yet dynamic. It must capture the fascination of anyone who reads it, drawing them into wanting to read the entire novel.
Once the concept has been fine tuned, it's time to put into practice the writing technique that works best for the author. If it's the scene-by-scene outline, it may take a lot of work to develop and fine-tune the material before the actual writing process begins. But the end result may minimize the countless hours spent in editing and re-writing. For the writer who works from a basic concept, the writing may begin immediately after the concept sheet is finished or from an expanded five to ten page synopsis.

No matter which method is used, when the initial manuscript is finished it is critical for the writer to put on the editing cap and carefully analyze the manuscript for content, consistency, grammar, sentence structure, punctuation, prose, and dialogue. Since today's market is so competitive and the focus on perfection by agents and editors so great, it is well worth the investment to hire a freelance editor with good credentials to edit your work before going to the next phase in the publishing process, finding an agent.

Find an Agent

In today's fiction market, you need a good agent. Almost all editors with the best publishing houses DO NOT accept unagented submissions. To quote a top editor, "Writers absolutely need to find an agent, and they need their agent to help them address the basic protocols. It's because a writer's manuscript is going to get a very limited number of opportunities. Within each house there are many editors, and if you submit a manuscript to the wrong editor, you've just blown your chance. It's the agent's job to get to know the editors well enough to know exactly who to send each manuscript to."

To find the right agent requires the third R, RESEARCH. You should know some of the clients the agent represents, and particularly those who write in a vein similar to your own. From your reading, you should check the acknowledgments pages of the books in your genre that you enjoy reading. Authors often acknowledge their agents. Another good resource is the Internet and sites like Publishers Marketplace (www.publishersmarketplace.com) that identify the agents and contract information for books that have been sold to publishers.

When you have identified agents who have a respectable reputation for selling novels in your genre, research their submission requirements and follow them to the letter. Be sure your manuscript is as good as it can possibly be. Don't use any gimmicks when sending out chapters or entire manuscripts. The bottom line is; gimmicks don't sell novels. An agent must like your work if he or she is going to represent you with a passion that will get you published. When you start soliciting agents don't forget the other three words—persistence, persistence, persistence.

Great Technical Writing - Improve Document Searches

OVERVIEW

Searches in User Documents (manuals, etc.) often fail because the Reader uses different words for a concept than the author uses. Since the Reader's words do not appear in the document, the document search mechanism cannot find them, resulting in frustration. This article describes a User-friendly technique for improving searches, without having to change the Users' behavior or the search software.

YOUR READERS' WORDS

People use the words that they know when they speak, write, or search. It's folly to try to force the Reader to use the writer's terminology; the Reader simply might not know the "proper" term. Forced to use unknown words, the Reader will find the User Document to be arrogant, or at least difficult to use.

For example, a User Manual for a word processing program will probably use the word "formatting" when dealing with character fonts and size, as well as page layout. But suppose that your Reader uses the word "appearance" to refer to these topics. How can we get the search mechanism to provide the correct result if the Reader searches for "appearance"?

THE TECHNICAL ANSWER: A THESAURUS SEARCH

The technical solution would be to convert the document search software from being an "exact term" search to a "Thesaurus Search." In a Thesaurus Search, the User enters a word that he/she knows, and the search returns synonyms or references to the synonyms in the document. Thus a properly set up Thesaurus Search should return references to "formatting" if the Reader searches for "appearance."

Unfortunately, the Thesaurus Search is rarely available, and creating one would require changes to the existing search program. A low tech solution may be the best answer.

THE ANSWER: SYNONYMS

For this technique, you need to put synonyms of the author's word ("formatting") on the pages that you want the search to find. Such synonyms may include "appearance," "design," and "layout." This is a simple, effective solution.

You can find appropriate synonyms by using the thesaurus that is a component of most word processors and of many libraries. Select the synonyms that your Readers are likely to use. "Likely to use" is based on your analysis of your Reader.

This leads us to the next question: How do you put the synonyms on the page?

DON'T USE HIDDEN TEXT

Technically savvy writers may ask "why not use hidden text for the synonyms?" The benefit is that hidden text will not "clutter up" the page.

So, if in the sections of the User Document where "formatting" is presented, the writer put the word "appearance" as hidden text (assuming the search utility would find this hidden information), then the following will happen:

1. The Reader searches for "appearance."

2. The search takes the Reader to the "formatting" section of the document.

3. The Reader wonders "How did I get here?" The word that he/she searched for ("appearance") does not appear on the page, since it is hidden.

Given that a goal of a User Document is to answer the Reader's questions, then doing anything that causes him/her to ask another question ("How did I get here?") is counter-productive. Hidden synonyms are not the best answer.

THE ELEGANT SOLUTION: "YOU MAY KNOW THIS AS..."

Hiding the synonyms is not a good idea. It's better to let the Reader know what's going on. The easiest way is to add a line of text on the page where the topic appears. This line of text begins with the phrase, "You may know this as..."

To continue our "formatting" example, our explanatory synonym phrase becomes, "You may know this as appearance, layout, or design." A search for "appearance" brings the Reader to the "Formatting" section.

Upon seeing the phrase "You may know this as appearance, layout, or design," the Reader knows why the search found this location. The search satisfied the Reader, and did not add uncertainty to the situation.

THE BOTTOM LINE

The goal of all good User Documents is to improve the Reader's experience with the product. By using synonyms for "technical" terms, the writer makes the Reader's document searches more effective, since the needed topics will be found using the Reader's words.

By not hiding the synonyms, the Reader is not confused as to why he/she arrived at that place in the document. The result is a better experience with the document and the product.

Article Writing Tips Readability II

One way to achieve this is to write in short paragraphs. Paragraphs should be snappy and each should make its point. A paragraph should make a statement, or present a question or suggest a solution. An article with no paragraphs can contain exactly the same words but be virtually impossible to understand since there is no delineation between concepts or arguments presented in the article.

Your sentences should not be too short. However, they should be so long that the reader runs out of breath while trying to read and make sense of what you are writing. Check out this paragraph coming up. Can you easily make sense of it?

You want your article to read well. You should write short sentences. Then they are understood. That is because there are fewer words to read. You can understand them better. You have time to read them. Write short. Don't write long words. Your words should be understood.

Compare it with this, saying exactly the opposite: If your articles are to be easy to read, your sentences should flow together and not be too short; otherwise they may not be easily understood.

Everybody is conditioned to regard periods as a stopping point. They pause in their reading, and then look on the next sentence as referring to something different. Short sentences are excellent if you want emphasis, such is in: "He walked tentatively into the graveyard. He heard a sound. He stopped. He heard it again – a scratching noise. He saw something move! He screamed!"

That is much better than "He walked into the graveyard, heard a noise, and then stopped, but on seeing a movement, he screamed."

You can structure sentences and whole paragraphs to intensify the point you are trying to make. If you are writing an article to provide information, which is the objective of most articles, it should be written in a flowing manner, and each sentence should be constructed so the reader can continue reading without having to stop.

If you feel that individual short sentences are appropriate, but know that they won't read well presented that way, use bullets. In article directories that do not allow html, you can use the * sign in place of a bullet, or simple numbers or letters such as

1. This number is first.

2. This number is higher.

Finally, conclude the article with a summing up paragraph or sentence containing your keyword, such as: if you follow these article writing tips, you will make your article more readable, even to people whose first language is not that in which you are writing.

Now Is Not The Time To be Caught Without Grammar

More and more, we are bombarded with ads everywhere we go from buses to magazines. Those with a big budget can spell and even mix it up a little by purposely misspelling a word such as right as rite or kids as kidz. But what about you as the small business owner?

The truth is you're not going to be able to afford the highly educated and literary masterminds behind all of our daily messages and yet, you need to get out there. So what now?

Don't make the mistake of letting your poor grammar hang out, letting the world see what you didn't learn at school.

If you really can't write, consider taking a course. The best kind of course is a Business English class. With the focus off the academic, a course like this teaches all the nuts and bolts.

If that isn't in your budget, buy a grammar book and go through the exercises.

Not a day goes by that I don't find these mistakes in advertising and assuming you'll have to go out and get the grammar book, I'll give you a few tips here and now.

Common Mistakes in words:

upon spelled as apon or some other variation. Just upon will be fine.

into spelled as in to

using good to describe something being done well. Anything that goes with an action word will require well. Eg. You did that well, Sam.

in side...just inside will do

out side...try outside

can not is now fashionable but it is cannot every day of the week

ain't...not a word, replace with aren't where possible

alright...no, it is all right

towards...no, that's toward without the s

Deer Phil...try Dear, it'll get you farther

There father...no, for ownership, you really must use their

Their off in the distant place...when referring to a place, it is always there.

They're hair...That would be they are hair so no, replace with their and use they're properly too

a lot, allot...other variations, it is alot in most dictionaries

There are multiple other spelling errors commonly found in ads such as we're instead of were.

As for simple grammar rules not to bend,

What about the uncapitalized i? No, not cool. Change that to I.

What about not capitalizing words? Don't do it. If it requires a capital, give it a capital. If it does not, don't capitalize it. Learn this rule.

When referring to a person in writing, "Well, Sam, it didn't work." The name of the person should be separated by a comma.

When writing a run-on sentence, look out for red flags such as the subject starting again.

Eg. I like bread I need more. Clearly, the subject here is the giveaway.

Don't use exclamation marks like they are going out of style.

As a general rule, get rid of words that promote unfamiliarity. Get rid of anyone, people, someone and anything else and simply replace with 'you' in your sales copy.

Hopefully though, you will take this message to heart that bad grammar and poor spelling don't ultimately do anything for you or your business.

Public Speaking, Critics, and Fear

Everyone will NOT like you as a speaker (or as a person for that matter).

That may be the #1 thing you need to know to get over the fear of public speaking, or to not let unwarranted negative feedback bother you.

Most public speakers allow the minority to cripple them with fear. They worry about the one who won't like the speech, or laugh at the joke, or won't like. You get the idea.

First, remember the 2/2/96 rule.

2% will think you are the best ever. 2% will hate you. Shoot for the 96%.

You do not NEED to be liked by everyone. Everyone does not like country music, or rap, or classical. But do artist shut down because some don't like them? Nope. Only when the majority doesn't like them is there a problem.

Second, remember the jealousy factor.

The people who make snide remarks or try to "help" you are usually jealous.

They want the spotlight and the only way they can feed their pride is by being negative to you.

Third, remember the positive comments.

Forget about the one or two negative comments and focus on the words that build. We all have a natural inclination to remember the worst. Focus on the best!

On average 2% will approach you after a speech with some "constructive" criticism. From experience I can tell you that the typical speaker takes the criticism to heart. They replay it over and over. They allow it to defeat them.

You cannot worry about the 2%

Let me give you an example from the last email letter I sent to you. This may not be a live speech example, but the principle is the same.

I mentioned that my son was giving a speech and wanted to say something funny. Then I recommended a resource for others who want to become funnier.

Many bought Brad's humor package and have been extremely thankful. Out of thousands of emails sent I got one negative. I reprinted it here UNEDITED….

"Using your son to try to suck me into buying some other guys supposed humour, I don't thik that;s funny at all, maybe idiotic is a better word, you fool, now I', laughing"

I understand WHY it might have bothered this person, but I can't let that bother me. Why? Two reasons.

First, it's one person. I knew before sending the email that some would not like it. If you are going to let a handful of people control you, then get out of public speaking right now.

Second, look at the words used: "idiotic," "fool." "I' laughing." Here's a lesson for you. Assuming you didn't say or do anything wrong, remember this: The stronger the language the person uses the more you should ignore it.

Lesson 1: You cannot let what someone MIGHT think bother you.

Everyone will not like your speech. No big deal. Don't root your words in worry or fear. Instead, anchor them in the value you are going to deliver to the audience. Plan your presentation with the knowledge that you will be helping listeners.

Spending your time imagining the worse only drains you of the energy that should go into your presentation. Forget about dreaming up the worst, dream about the best. Think about the wonderful comments or congratulations you will receive.

Lesson 2: You cannot let unsolicited negative feedback bother you.

This is my favorite advice from Alan Weiss on unsolicited feedback.

"Here's another "boundary" issue. When speaking for the Washington DC National Speakers Association Chapter last Saturday, a woman approached me at break to tell me that, while I was a terrific speaker, "all professional women in the audience found my remarks about my wife and daughter demeaning" (I had been kidding that they were awaiting me in New York spending money on my daughter's bridal shower). She hadn't taken a poll, of course, so she must have been channeling all those people otherwise on their feet and applauding.

She told me not to respond, but to reflect. I told her I wouldn't reflect but would respond, and that I had had it with the presumptuousness of people who kept their own box scores of whether I was positive or negative about women in their own, parochial and biased view. I told her to go join the pronoun police because I wasn't interested in anything she had to say.

I believe, maliciously, she was trying to throw me off balance in the middle of my presentation. Instead, she energized me because I was able to tell her immediately that I'd have none of it.

Unsolicited feedback is ALWAYS for the sender, and ranges from innocently vacuous to malignantly evil. Don't let the energy suckers prevail."

Most of us would not be so firm or direct. Most would take the verbal beating with grace. Alan proves you can be articulate while refusing to be a punching bag for another's agenda.

Lesson 3: Remember the Goal. The goal is to communicate in a way to help others. We do not (or should not) speak for applause or accolades. The speaker who craves acceptance is the same one who is injured by the minority with the negative comments. Let your public speaking be about others.

When your goal is to give the listeners the best you have for THEIR benefit, then feedback isn't important. How the audience takes and applies the message is what matters.

So do not be afraid of what other people might criticize you for. Concentrate on helping the audience reach their goals.