Word Praize

Clutters Last Stand

Clutters Last Stand! by Pamela Perry

"Let all things be done decently and in order." 1 Corinthians 14:40

I have declared it more than once – the war is on. But this time the clutter is not going to win! I will conqueror it before it conquerors me.

As a lover of books, magazines and newspapers, I find it extremely difficult to throw them away. Even with the age of the Internet, I still like to read my newspaper or magazine clips from its original form.

So, I have a home that is clutter prone. As a writer, anything that has words on it I think is important. (But I have learned to let go of Post-it notes).

Though every spring I make promises to do "spring cleaning" and every summer I try to have a garage sale to get rid of stuff – it keeps multiplying. I’ve been through this cycle for years. Dejunking is hard work. I have tons of books on the subject to prove it.

There are the rare moments when cleaning that I do find "treasures." I renew my commitment to save and re-file. Yes, I’ll keep that old issue of the newspaper from September 12, 2001 and I won’t part with the Time magazine with the tsunami cover story in it. That’s history and defining moments in my life.

But nothing gets you to tackle and defeat clutter than moving. All the "things" you thought you needed suddenly are unnecessary. I ask myself, "Do I really want to pack and move all those old trinkets to the new home? Do I really need all those things I’ve hidden in drawers and cabinets for years?" If I didn’t even know that the stuff was in there – toss it. No regrets either!

It’s so liberating. Tossing and letting go. Why did I even hang on to so much stuff to begin with? Travel light. I have a newfound freedom. It’s like getting a brand new lease on life. Clearing up clutter gives new clarity!

Cleaning out a cabinet, a drawer and a closet makes me feel like a new woman. I’m more excited about obliterating clutter than moving to the new house. I am destroying piles of junk like Rambo. I am tossing out stuff with reckless abandon like the Terminator.

I’m on a rampage. Through the kitchen – I toss out stuff I’ve never used. Through the garage – I have a big Hefty bag just looking to fill it with everything that in there. In my office, I am taming the paper Tiger.

Clarity. Focus. Freedom. Order. It’s so exhilarating – when you make room for the new by getting rid of the old, increase is the next season. I’m planting seeds too by giving away tons of stuff. This is the year of overflow and I now have room to receive it.

Clutters last stand – and I win – finally. Cleanliness is next to godliness. Hallelujah!

Pam Perry can be reached via her website at www.MinistryMarketingSolutions.com. No junk emails please.

Make Time, Not Excuses

Make Time, Not Excuses Copyright

© 2005

Mark Dembo and Thomas J. Baskind DEI/Lexien of Greater New York http://www.lexien.com/

There are four primary activities that successful salespeople engage in on an ongoing basis.  These are Prospecting (45% of time), Presenting (20%), Product Knowledge/Malleability (20%), and Professional and Personal Development (15%). 

Recently we were presenting this information in a workshop on Prospect Management, when one of the participants raised his hand and said:  “That’s great.  But you just don’t understand.   We spend so much of our time having to service our existing clients and putting out fires, there’s no way to have that much time for prospecting and all this other stuff.” 

Sound like something you face?

We understand, because we’re out there selling too.   Just like you, we go out and find new prospects, show them how we can help them, deal with client service, make sure training materials show up where they’re supposed to be, etc…  And, we spend a good deal of time consulting, conducting workshops, and working with clients.

Like most sales professionals, we, too,  have to juggle my time to focus on actually selling and prospecting.

The key is effective time planning.

Time planning is really more than time management.  You really can’t manage time at all when you think about it – no matter what we do time marches on.  No matter what we do there are 52 weeks in a year, 24 hours in day, and 60 minutes in an hour.  Try as we might, we just ain’t gonna change that.  So, let’s not bemoan that we don’t have enough time – the time you spend complaining about not having enough time is time you could spend on something more productive and rewarding.   (Ever notice that the people who complain the most about not having enough time are usually the ones getting the least amount done?  Think about it and observe.)

So, we can’t control time itself, but what we can control is how we use our time. In fact, when you come right down to it, our use of own time is the ONLY thing in life that we really have complete control over.   Every minute of every day you are making a choice, whether consciously or not, over how you use your time. The key to effective time planning is to make conscious decisions over how you spend this most valuable resource.

Here are some tips to help you plan and utilize your time more effectively:

Be Obsessive About Planning:   

Everybody these days uses some sort of planner whether electronic or paper; that’s a personal choice and either one is fine.  But, real effective planning is more than making a daily to-do list. 

Plan Weekly:  Look at everything you have going on for the next two weeks.  First appointments, follow-up meetings, presentations, internal meetings etc…  In addition to actual meetings, you need to schedule in time for:

- meeting preparation - travel time to and from meetings - administrative and paperwork

Schedule these things into your calendar so you know exactly when you are going to do them!

Next, schedule in time – make a firm appointment with yourself – for prospecting activities.  When will you make calls?  I can guarantee that if you don’t make a firm appointment with yourself, those calls won’t happen.

Taking this weekly view is vital to effective time planning; many things that we do can’t get done in one day, but if know what we want and need to accomplish in the broader space of a week, we’re more likely to be productive with our time.

Plan Daily:  Look ahead to the next day.  What urgent things will you need to attend to?  When will you do them?  What things did you not get done today that you need to do tomorrow?   Do this each day at the end of the day so you can start your next day fresh with the knowledge of exactly what you’re setting out to do.

TIP:  Don’t overpack your time too much.  You do need to allow for the unexpected.  You also need to constantly reevaluate your time in the face of changing priorities.  Give yourself the cushion for this.

Analyze Regularly:  Keep track of how you spend your time, and analyze its level of productivity; look at whether each activity is moving you closer to your goals or is not.  Try doing this for a period of two weeks; you’ll be amazed to realize how much time we spend on non-productive things.  Just the sheer act of tracking this will make you more productive, guaranteed.

Apply “Zero-Based Thinking”:  Author and speaker Brian Tracy, in his book “Focal Point” talks about applying “Zero-Based Thinking” as a way to form your goals and mission.  It applies at this level as well.  As you get a sense of where you’re time is currently spent, ask yourself these questions:

- What things do I need to start doing? - What am I currently doing that I need to do more of? - What am I currently doing that I need to stop doing?

What things can you delegate?  What things could you stop doing that aren’t really necessary?  (Think hard on this one; there are certainly things we all do that don’t really need to be done at all.)

Take time for reflection and planning:   “But wait”, you say!  “I don’t have time to do stuff now, how can I take all this time for planning.  Sounds nice in an ideal world, but I have to live in reality!”   Taking the time for planning and thinking will actually make you more productive.  You will be in more control of your time, and you will be focused on the activities that will yield you the best results.  15 minutes a day is all you’ll really need.  And those 15 minute could well be the most important time you spend!

To help you, here some great tools you can download:

Daily Time Tracking Worksheet http://www.lexien.com/secondary/documents/Timetrackingsheet.xls

Weekly Planning Worksheet http://www.lexien.com/secondary/documents/WeeklyPlanningReport.xls

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Mark Dembo and Thomas J. Baskind are Managing Partners in DEI/Lexien of Greater New York, a sales performance improvement and management consulting company. They invite you to visit their website, http://www.lexien.com/, and welcome your comments and inquiries.

I Write Because...

I Write Because.. by Julie Jordan Scott
C 2005

I write for a simple reason. Life is better when
I come to the page every day and put strings
of letters and words and trace the etchings of
my heart with language so that people
will know that I was there.

I don't write seeking perfection in grammar
or brilliance in syntax.

I write because I know it is not a luxury,
it is a necessity.

I write because my soul longs to be heard
and it gives the message to my fingers tapping
on this keyboard who in turn "get" how important
it is to have a life that is witnessed by others.

I write because the process brings me to
a greater understanding of me.

I don't write to make anyone else happy or
entertain or to inspire. That sometimes comes
as a result, but that is more akin to sharing
the light and warmth of the sun or
enjoying a star lit sky.

The sunlight and the starry sky and my words
all come from the same source. They come
from divine orchestration - and just like the
sun and the stars agree simply by being exactly
what they are, I agree to write because I am.

I am a writer.

======
Julie Jordan Scott is a Writer, Speaker, Success
Coach, Actor, Director, Poet Workshop Facilitator
and Mother Extraordinaire. Register now for the upcoming
fr>e>e writing workshop that changed the world:
42 Days of Writing Passionately. Check it out and
sign up now: http://www.PassionWriteNow.com

12 Point Checklist for Writing Feature Articles

12 Point Checklist for Writing Feature Articles by Jill Black

1. Have you selected your intended subject topic and carefully planned out your idea?

2. Have you sent your idea query pitch to magazines or newspapers who may be interested? or will you write "on spec"?

With many magazines and newspapers now accepting material online it is now possible in many instances to email your queries directly to the publication. Have you read the publishers guidelines carefully to make sure if this method is acceptable?

Before sending your query pitch:

- Is it likely to be what the publisher needs: have you studied the publication?

- Is the timing right. Have you checked the magazines editorial calendar? If it is a seasonal article is now the best time to send your query?

If you have answered yes to these questions then package your idea into an attractive proposal and send it off to the editor of your chosen publication.

3. Have you adequately researched your topic?

Read everything you can on the topic from all available sources - bookstores, newspapers, libraries and internet sources. Never discard anything about your subject topic since you don't know until you write it up what you may actually want to use.

Tip: Saving magazines, newspapers and clippings for the subject matter can save time when researching future writing assignments on the same topic or when working to deadlines. Catalogue all your collected material for easy reference.

4. Have you interviewed the key person/people you need for your proposed feature?

Now it is time to organize your material into a feature article.

5. Have you discarded everything in your research except for factual information?

True research and liberal use of factual material gives an original perspective to your feature article and also avoids the possibility of plagiarism.

6. Have you checked and cross-referenced your facts amongst your various sources.

7. Have you decided on the length of the article? Have you checked the length is suitable for the publication you are sending it to?

Tip: Do not waste the editors time by sending a 2000 word article to a publication that requires articles between 500-750 words.

8. Will you use quotes in your article? Quotes and antcedotes bring a story to life. Are the quotes from a reliable source and have you double checked that quotes used are acurately recorded?

9. Do you have a good lead, middle and ending?

10. Have you proofread and edited your article to achieve the best possible version through re-writing your drafts to arrive at your final version?

Have you made all corrections and necessary changes, have you checked spelling (this includes people and place names) grammar, punctuation etc?

11. If the feature is to be visual - have you provided the appropriate photographs, art work, line drawings, or other graphic illustrations to compliment your feature?

This increases the payment amount you can expect to receive if you are a feature photojournalist or travel feature writer who can offer original photographic perspectives of your subject topic.

12. Have you included everything in your envelope before sending your article to the publisher (including photos properly packaged) or, if the magazine or newspaper excepts online submissions have you given everything a final check before hitting the send button?

Copyright 2005 J Black

Jill Black is the owner of http://www.netwrite-publish.com a site offering resources for writers and publishers and ideas for creative living. She is also the editor of writing and publishing success a newsletter for writers and publishers. To subscribe to this newsletter send a blank email to: Writing-Publishing-Success-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Reflections on the Pastor Pedestal and Christian Celebrities

Reflections on the Pastor Pedestal and the Christian Celebrity Cycle by Pam Perry

"Thou shalt have no other gods before me." Exodus 20:3

I will never forget the children's story "The Emperor's New Clothes" by Hans Christian Anderson. I really liked that story because it illustrated that just because you think you're right - doesn't mean you are - even if other people seem to go think so too.

The Emperor surrounded himself with people who feared him.  They put him on a pedestal and felt he was their "god."  They were afraid to disagree with anything he said or thought. They were the consummate "yes-men."  Consequently, they let him fall for some really dumb stuff.  Like walking around in "invisible" clothes. 

That's the problem with having just "yes" people around you. They will let you look stupid instead of challenging you because they're too afraid.  In the story, it wasn't until one truthful child stepped forward and told the Emperor that he had no clothes on, then the Emperor finally got a revelation!

There are two sides of this story and they're both based on things that are ungodly: fear and pride.

If the people had not been in fear - they could've told the Emperor the real deal. And if he hadn't wrapped himself up in pride, he could have recognized that he was really looking ridiculous. 

Fear and pride are elements that can kill a soul and destroy a nation.  When rampant in the church, it can stop the move of God.   

God's Word says that we should submit to those in authority.  We are to respect and revere them - not be afraid of them.  First Peter 5:5 says, "All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, 'God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.'"

We are to respect one another.  When we worship a pastor to the point that we're afraid to tell them the truth - it's dangerous.  The pastor will go around exposed to deceit and not even know it.  We should never worship or esteem man over God - it's detestable in God's eyes.  It's idolatry - and anything you idolize you will not dispute - even when you know it's right to do so. 

"Righteous lips are the delight of kings; and they love him that speaketh right," Proverbs 16:13.  If we really love our pastors, we must speak the truth. 

Ministry leaders must also learn to temper their stubbornness - which comes out of pride.  The Bible says there is safety in a multitude of counselors.  Wise counsel is godly.  If a pastor thinks he knows it all, he is heading for destruction.  The Word warns us that "pride comes before destruction."

If God gives grace and favor to the humble, we all must be willing to say, "I was wrong. I stand corrected."  Stubbornness keeps us from doing what is best - thus in the end we hurt others and ourselves too.

Confrontation requires courage.  Reverence does not mean we can't speak the truth to our pastors in love.  Mutual respect is the key element.  It flows both ways. When we flow in the wisdom of God and receive correction from the people he set around us, we will be safe and secure and properly clothed at all times.

Pam Perry is a publicist at Ministry Marketing Solutions, specializing in the Christian publishing industry. Pam serves as the president of American Christian Writers Detroit.

Working With A Freelance Editor

Working With A Freelance Editor
by Jennifer Tribe

If you are interested in creating information products, you
will very likely deal with editors throughout your career.
You may need someone to edit a book, review a special
report or tighten up a magazine article. Even if you are a
brilliant writer, it always helps to have someone else look
at the work with fresh eyes.

Most of these editors will be people you hire on a freelance
or project basis. To get the most out of such a
relationship, it helps to be clear about what you need and
what you can expect.

To start, you should know what kind of editing you are
looking for. There are many different levels and varieties
of editing. Probably the three you will encounter the most
are substantive editing, copyediting and proofreading.

Substantive editing
Sometimes called developmental editing, substantive editing
looks at both the content and structure of a manuscript as a
cohesive whole. Does the story or argument flow logically?
Are there obvious gaps in a certain area? Too much
information someplace else? Substantive editing can involve
re-ordering large chunks of text, removing text, adding
text, and even rewriting.

Copyediting
Probably the most misused of all the terms, copyediting is
often used as a catchall phrase for any and all kinds of
editing. Strictly speaking, however, copyediting checks for
errors in grammar, usage, spelling, punctuation and other
mechanics of style, internal consistency, cross-referencing,
labeling and so on.

Proofreading
Proofreading is the final review of a fully formatted and
typeset manuscript. It is meant only to catch small errors
such as the odd spelling mistake or hyphenation snafu that
might have been missed at the copyediting stage, or that
appeared during the layout process.

The above definitions are fairly standard but there are
variations. Not every editor defines editing terms in the
same way. It is therefore crucial that you discuss in detail
the exact nature of the services your editor will provide.

You will also want to clearly discuss the fee arrangement.
Some editors charge by the page or word, while others charge
by the hour. Still others charge a flat project fee. One
method of charging is not necessarily better than other.
Just be sure you know what you will get for your money. If
you are being charged by the hour, ask the editor to provide
an estimate up front of how long the project will take so
there are no surprises when the final invoice arrives.

The best way to avoid misunderstandings is to have a written
contract signed before any work begins. A contract will
typically include a
-- detailed description of the services to be provided
-- statement of the fees and payment schedule, and
-- timeline for the work to be completed, including any
project milestones.

Depending on the scope and nature of the project, your
contract may also include a number of other considerations.
An important clause to include, especially on a book
project, is one that deals with copyright. You want to make
sure that, as the author, you retain all rights to the
material no matter how much editing or rewriting the editor
may do on your behalf.

Many editors will supply a contract, but be prepared to
create one yourself if they do not.

Here are a few final tips for working with an editor:

-- Some editors specialize either by format, by topic, or
both. For example, an editor might be a specialist in audio
scripts or might focus solely on medical books. You may want
to look for an editor with particular expertise in your
subject matter, especially if you are writing about a highly
specialized field.

-- Be open-minded towards an editor’s suggestions and
changes. It can be hard on the ego to see your painstakingly
crafted manuscript go under the editor’s knife. But keep in
mind that if an editor is making alterations, it’s because
he or she thinks it will improve your work. And in the end,
a good product makes you look good too.

-- Establish and maintain clear lines of communication. Know
what your expectations are and convey them. Ask the editor
to keep you in the loop as the work progresses.

© 2004  Juiced Consulting

Turn your expertise into money-making information products
such as books, audio tapes and teleclasses! Juiced Consulting
shows you how. For a free e-zine and other resources, visit
www.juicedconsulting.com

7 Reasons We Can't Talk About Fees

Embarrassed To Discuss Your Prices?: Seven Common Reasons We Can't Talk About Fees And How To Overcome Them

by Karyn Greenstreet

Last week, a wonderfully-skilled electrician installed a new light fixture for us. He was competent, courteous and efficient. He answered all our questions simply, with skill and eloquence. I was amazed, as you might imagine, when I asked him, "How much do we owe you?" and his embarrassed reply was, "Gee, is $50 okay?"

With the quality of work he'd done and the amount of time he put into it, I would have expected to pay double that amount. His resistance to naming his price reminded me of my small business clients who have the same problem.

All entrepreneurs feel fear at some point, including attorneys, consultants, coaches, and writers. It's a natural part of starting or growing your business. It can be uncomfortable to take risks, to name your price and tell a prospective customer that you want to work with them.

Roberto Goizueta, the late chairman of Coca-Cola, said, "If you take risks, you may still fail; but if you do not take risks, you will surely fail. The greatest risk of all is to do nothing." Put this mantra into your head: Risk equals reward.

So, what's the problem?

I've discovered seven common reasons why we're afraid to discuss our fees:

1. Do you feel your fees are too high?
2. Do you think you're not qualified or experienced enough to charge that rate?
3. Are you afraid of rejection? (Or, possibly, afraid of acceptance, which will mean you'll have to perform?)
4. Are you afraid the prospect will raise an objection to the fee, and you won't know how to reply?
5. Are you shy and uncomfortable talking with strangers?
6. Are you afraid to take risks?
7. Are you generally uncomfortable talking about money?

Where does this come from? Is it part of your personality or is this a behavior you learned from your past experience or culture? In many families and cultures, it's taboo to talk about money or to ask to be paid. While it might be personally beneficial to look inside yourself for the reasons why you act this way, it's also important to get unstuck by using techniques which help you move forward, such as:

• Have a good pricing strategy. Research the average fees for your type of business so that you know your prices are in line with expectation. If you can't get competitor pricing information, try Brenner Books (http://www.brennerbooks.com). If your experience warrants it, increase your pricing to reflect your higher skills, knowledge and experience. If you're not sure how to create a pricing strategy, research it online or talk with a small business consultant or mentor.
• Establish that the prospective customer needs your services before discussing price. You'll feel more comfortable discussing your fees if you know the prospective customer really want to hire you. Ask a lot of questions to see if their problem and your solution are a good match.
• Put your fees on your website and brochure. In this way, prospects will know your fees before the sales conversation begins.
• Be honest. Tell the prospect what the options are for your services or products, any quantity discounts you offer, and how payment is delivered. Practice saying this over and over again until the words and phrases slip comfortably from your mouth.
• Act confidently when delivering your fees. Don't downplay your fees. State your fees, then shut up. Don't make excuses for your fees, or ramble on about them. Look directly at the prospect while delivering your fees.
• Don't automatically offer discounts. This tells the prospect that your fees are soft and that they're negotiable. Instead, state your fees and options and ask them to tell you which package is right for them.
• Act "as if." How would an experienced person in your industry act, when discussing her fees? Act as if you are that person and you'll find your confidence increasing with each conversation. Practice, practice, practice.
• Get training. If you're uncomfortable with the whole sales process, get sales training. By attending a class, you'll learn different ways of saying the same thing, and you're bound to find a way that's right for you.
• Refer out. If the prospect really can't afford your fees and you can't afford to offer a discount, refer that prospect to someplace where they can find an alternative. Say, "If you can't afford my fees, you can try these online referral services where you might find someone in your price range."

Talking about your prices can be uncomfortable. But with practice and persistence, and a willingness to overcome your fears, you can begin to have comfortable conversations with your prospective customers.

Karyn Greenstreet is a self-employment expert and small business coach. She  shares tips, techniques and strategies with self-employed people to maintain motivation, stay focused, prioritize tasks, and increase revenue and profits. 
Visit her website at www.PassionForBusiness.com

Write Your Own Ebook

Look How Easy It Is To Write Your Own eBook!

What happens when you stumble across a promising
market, idea or topic for an ebook, but don't know
how to quickly find out what content you should
package to sell?

Let's look at a real life example.

One of the top selling ebooks under the competitive
category of Home and Family within Clickbank's marketplace
is this book - http://hop.clickbank.net/?ideaguide/seanlemay
"Tropical Fish Secrets"

A quick check on Overture shows the demand for topics
regarding tropical fish is quite large --

"Tropical Fish"  160,455

with many other related searches well over 10,000 looking
for various information on tropical fish and aquariums.

If you haven't already gone over to take a look, visit the
sales page over at: http://hop.clickbank.net/?ideaguide/seanlemay

Look closely at the bullets half-way down the page, you will see
the very questions any "beginner" fish owner would have - questions
like:

- saltwater versus freshwater aquarium
- how to keep the quality of water good, and your fish
   healthy
- how NOT to kill your fish
- how to know how much to feed your fish
- how to place and light your aquarium

and so on...

Now, even if you were brand new to aquariums and fish, then you could likely have come up with at least half the questions he has answered in his book.

The rest, with a few hours research on discussion forums,
magazines, talking with fish owners - you could find the
rest.

What you want is to target the 80-90% of the market that are
beginners - that you can easily find answers to their pressing
questions.

You will find hundreds of thousands of similar market
opportunities out there - where you can assemble a list of
questions to be answered and simply write a few pages each
day to create your own compelling ebooks.

There is no guarantee - but with a well researched idea and
a half-decent product, you should easily be able to turn each
ebook into at least $20,000/yr in income - much more in certain
cases. 

To learn more about 5 masters who turn their ideas into profits over and over again - visit http://www.creating-infoproducts.com

-----------------------------------------------------------
Discover The Ultimate System For Writing An Ebook and Selling
Ebooks Online - How Non-Writers Turn Their eBook Ideas Into
Profits - http://www.infoproductcreator.com/ebook/

Writing in the Shower

Writing in the Shower (or Wherever You May Be)
©2005 Mary Anne  Hahn

I just glanced at the clock. 7:35 am. That leaves me ten,  maybe fifteen minutes to write before it's time for me to head for my day job. What can I possibly accomplish in so little time?

A lot, as  it turns out. My current schedule only permits me to devote snippets of time  to my passion, my true vocation. On some days, despairingly, I spend those  precious moments staring helplessly at a blinking cursor, or with pen in  frozen hand; on others, my fingers fly across the keyboard and words appear  almost effortlessly across the screen. What makes the difference between  writer's block and productivity?

The difference lies in how I spend my  time away from the keyboard. At work, while driving, or when taking a shower.  Sitting in the waiting room of a doctor's office, standing in a grocery store  check out line, working out. When I spend all of this non-writing  time thinking about non-writing stuff--my bills, my to-do list,  a misunderstanding with a co-worker or whatever--I find that I am  not prepared to write when those brief, precious time slots for  writing become available.

But when I use non-writing time to think  about writing--to brainstorm ideas, actively listen to conversations around  me, consciously notice the details of the room I'm in, the person I'm with or  how I am truly feeling at any given moment--I come to my tiny slivers of  writing time equipped use them well.

Take this morning, for example.  Rather than daydream or worry or fret during my shower, I decided to ask  myself the question, "What can I write about today?" I had just polished and  submitted two short articles to a trade magazine the day before, and was  faced with the ugly prospect of staring at a blank screen. What would I  put there when the moment came? Ah, I thought, I haven't written  an article about writing in a while, and have nearly two weeks before  my next issue--could I start a new one today? About what? What  would motivate, inspire and/or inform my readers? Perhaps many of  them also face full days that leave only short, scattered opportunities  to write. What can I tell them?

Hence, the first several paragraphs of  this very article. And the satisfaction of knowing that, later in the day or early the next, I can pick up where I left off--no blank screen staring back  at me.

Believe me, these 10-to-15 minute time slots for writing add up.  In three to four days, you can have the first draft of a 500-800  word article, one or two query letters, a book outline, a scene for  your novel, or several greeting card sentiments. Over the following  few days, you can polish them. Submit them to appropriate markets  when they're ready to go. Grin with a sense of accomplishment. Then  start the whole process all over again.

I am completing this article during a 30-minute stint on a Saturday morning, a week before my next issue goes out. I'll have plenty of time to edit and improve it over the next few  days, by which time I'll have other projects started as well.

I urge you not to use "being too busy" as an excuse not to write, and not to get  published. Certainly you may have only precious moments to spend at your  keyboard. Come to those moments consistently prepared, watch those moments  add up and those projects take shape, and your writing dream will come  true.

---

Mary Anne Hahn publishes WriteSuccess, the free biweekly ezine that helps writers pursue *successful* writing careers.  Subscribe  today by visiting _http://writesuccess.com_ (http://writesuccess.com/)   

5 Questions to Jump-Start Your Word Processor

No time to write? Five questions to jump-start your word processor

Q. How do I find time to write? I'm busy all day -- and when
I make some time, the phone rings or someone needs to see me
right away.

A. Five questions to get started.

1. What's happening in the rest of your life? Are you
chronically late? Waking up exhausted? Feeling out of
control? Some people have gotten so accustomed to feeling
pressured they need to learn a whole new concept of creating
space in their lives to do what they want.

2. Why do you want to write? Do you have room in your life
for everything but writing? Maybe you don't want to write!

Writing can be the most powerful tool in your marketing
arsenal -- but chances are you can find ways to succeed by
hiring a writer and promoting your service in creative,
non-writing ways.

3. Have you bought into the myth, "Good writing takes time?"

Think of each piece of writing as an email you are writing
to a good friend. You might need to combine two or three
short emails to make up a single article or a few dozen to
make up an ebook. As you get time during the day, dash off
an email to yourself or a very trusted friend. Don't edit or
censor your work.

When you're in a good mood, arm yourself with your favorite
beverage. A piece of chocolate is okay, too, if you're not
allergic. A cat in your lap will discourage frequent breaks.
Turn on your favorite music. Now -- look over what you have
written. Fix typos and spelling errors. Cut out as many
words as possible; short is almost always better.

4. Which half of the Odd Couple do you resemble?  Following
their divorces, the excessively tidy Felix moves in with the
proudly sloppy Oscar. Most of us tend to relate to one or
the other. If you are a Felix, you have to learn to let go.
Send out your work when you are eighty percent satisfied and
move on.

Oscars have to learn to hang on. Sit on your work a few days
-- even weeks. Remember that your potential customers and
clients include some Felixes.

5. Are you forcing yourself to choose a topic you think you
"should" write about?

Take your topic off its pedestal and write from the heart.
What topics get your juices flowing? Are you so happy, angry
or frustrated that you want to jump up and down? Use that
energy to create an idea and transform that idea into an
article.
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Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and
consultant, who  specializes in career/business challenges
faced by midlife, mid-career professionals .
Your Next Move Ezine: Read one each week and watch
your choices grow!
mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com
http://www.cathygoodwin.com
http://www.makewritingpay.com
Contact: mailto:cathy@cathygoodwin.com