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Don’t write an ebook if…

Friday, July 30, 2010

If you have ever considered writing an ebook, please don’t. Don’t write an ebook if…

You are afraid that no one will read it. There’s no guarantee either way. However, there is a guarantee that if you don’t write the ebook, no one can possibly read it.

You don’t have your own Web host. Having a Web host gives you the opportunity to upload your ebook and allow you to monitor how many times others download it. This you really do need to write an ebook.

You don’t have a graphic artist to create a nifty cover. While it’s true that covers help attract attention, I’d rather have a so-so cover on something that might be read than nothing at all.

You don’t have an editor. Editors can be expensive. A few friends who can write (a little) can compensate for that. Ask them to proof read your work.

You have lots of money. If you have lots of money you might want to throw away a chunk of it by printing up thousands of copies of your work in hopes that folks will be buy.

You have a lousy idea. Interesting thing about lousy ideas is that you never know whether you have one until you test it. Ebooks are great testers because they cost almost nothing to produce.

Remember, don’t write that ebook…or maybe you should!

Filed in Creativity, Ebooks, Writing | | Comments (0)

25 Down to Earth Writing Tips

Sunday, July 18, 2010

1. Do not blame anybody for your mistakes and failures. ~~Bernard Baruch

2. Switch your point of view. Would that make your story better?

3. You can re-start your life right now! If you weren’t a writer yesterday, you can be a writer starting right now!

4. Life begins every second. Don’t waste time thinking about it, start writing.

5. To be creative, you might want to do things the un-techie way (for example, postcards instead of emails).

6. Start your next short story by writing the last line…first.

7. Go for perfect! Book writing has never been easier. Years ago, when I had to change a word I had to re-type (with a typewriter) the whole chapter.

8. Can you tell your “story” using a series of pictures (with and/or without captions)?

9. Try writing a short story that incorporates a line from http://thestorystarter.com.

10. Follow less, lead more.

11. Watch less TV and write more.

12. All of the writers on the best sellers lists had (and probably still have) the same doubts as you.

13. Read a magazine you never read before. It’s full of ideas…for writers.

14. Starting a sentence with an “ing” word is a great way to start.

15. Whenever you want to say “someday” substitute “today” and you’ll do better.

16. Many procrastinators masquerade as writers. If you want to be a writer…write. Period.

17. Gardeners will tell you that you have to be patient to see the fruits of your hard work…sometimes years!

18. Get a 2010 almanac! Read through it when you have time. You might (probably will) come up with article ideas.

19. Fine writing, like fine wine, doesn’t happen over night.

20. If you can write a 5 paragraph composition, you can write a magazine article. Same thing…just a bit longer

21. Does your character transform for the better or worse? What would happen if you switched it?

22. You can learn more going to a place you’ve never been than spending hours online. It must be the air!

23. Going to the movies is nice…reading a movie script gives you a sense of how the story comes together.

24. To learn how to write, study gardeners, photographers, poker players, pizza makers, etc. Learn from everyone.

25. Just like the tango, it takes TWO to write…one writer and at least one other person to read. I’m not big on writing for myself.

Filed in Writing | | Comments (1)

10 Basic Tips for Public Speaking

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

1. Although many fear public speaking, it doesn’t kill you. Have fun.

2. Do your homework. Know you’re stuff before you open your mouth.

3. Practice. Really, you should practice before you get up in public. And practice doesn’t mean just once.

4. Record yourself on video. The best way to improve is to see what you are doing.

5. Check out the room before you get up to speak. Rooms are different.

6. If you use PowerPoint, use as few words on each slide as possible. Don’t read the words. Let the audience read them.

7. Take pictures. Your iPhone or similar smartphone is great for picture taking. You never know when you’ll take a picture that’s perfect for your next presentation.

8. Tell stories to get your point across. People love to hear stories.

9. Speak for less time than you are given. No one ever objected to a speaker who speaks for less time. They DO object if you go over your time limit.

10. Know your audience. If you are speaking to dog lovers, don’t use cat examples.

BONUS #11: Handouts make you remember-able. More on the importance of handouts here.

Relax. Seek speaking opportunities. Enjoy the experiences.

Filed in Public Speaking | | Comments (1)

Does technology belong in the classroom…ever?

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

SLATES
“Students today can’t prepare bark to calculate their problems. They depend on their slates, which are more expensive. What will they do when the slate is dropped and it breaks? They will not be able to write.”
~Teachers Conference, 1703

PAPER
“Students today depend upon paper too much. They don’t know how to write on slate without getting chalk dust all over themselves. They can’t clean a slate properly. What will they do when they run out of paper? “
~ Principal’s Association, 1815

FOUNTAIN PENS
“Students today depend on these expensive fountain pens. They can no longer write with a straight pen and nib. We parents must not allow them to wallow in such luxury to the detriment of learning how to cope in the real business world which is not so extravagant.”
~ PTA Gazette, 1914

INK
“Students today depend upon store bought ink. They don’t know how to make their own. When they run out of ink they will be unable to write words or ciphers until their next trip to the settlement. This is a sad commentary on modern education.”
~ The Rural American Teacher, 1929

BALLPOINT PENS
“Ballpoint pens will be the ruin of education in our country. Students use these devices and then throw them away. The American virtues of thrift and frugality are being discarded. Business and banks will never allow such expensive luxuries.”
~ Federal Teacher, 1950

The issue has been around for a long time. Yes, technology does belong in the classroom!

Filed in Common Sense, Education, Technology | | Comments (0)

BP: Before PowerPoint

Monday, July 12, 2010

Yes, there was a time that we didn’t have PowerPoint when we presented. We didn’t have computers either. We used a slide projector. The most commonly used slide projector was from Kodak.

In the olden days all we had were pictures. We took them with our 35mm cameras and Kodachrome film, Ektachrome if you had to. We’d pick the best photos and put them into the slide trays and hoped that the projector would work for the entire slide show. Words? Yes, we had words. We spoke them. They didn’t appear on the screen. After a while, folks realized that you could synchronize more than one projector to create effects. Some adventurous people, unfortunately, actually were able to add captions…words. That’s when things went south. Once computers were used Microsoft got the idea to encourage us to use PowerPoint. As more and more features became available the pictures were less important and the words took on a more prominent role. That’s how we got into the mess we’re in now. The more words that they used, the more they thought they needed bullets. As the number of bullets increased, the number of people in the audience who started falling asleep also increased.

Oh…BP: the good old days with slide projectors before PowerPoint.

Filed in Common Sense, Public Speaking, Technology | | Comments (0)

The most important photograph in American history!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

The United States is rich in historic photographs. Some photos, like the scene when Lee Harvey Oswald was killed, are vivid in many of our minds, even though it happened decades ago. Although many photos are famous, only one, I think, actually changed American history.

It was taken on February 27, 1860 in New York City. It was on the day that a little known politician came to New York to speak at Cooper Union (a college). Before he went to make the speech, a photo was taken by Mathew Brady. Accounts of the speech were sent to many newspapers. They were accompanied by the photo, because at that time, few had ever seen what Abraham Lincoln looked like.

Lincoln said that he thought that Cooper Union and Brady’s portrait helped make him President of the United States.

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Almost everyone said yes…

Sunday, July 11, 2010

When I was a teacher, I was called in for a meeting about a new program that had been suggested for my school. We were given a brochure highlighting what the program was about. The principal then asked for everyone’s opinion. I was sitting next to her on the right side. She asked the person to her left to begin. He started by saying how great the proposal was and that it should be pursued. Each person after that extolled the virtues of the new program that they eagerly awaited for the school. And then it was finally my turn.

Much to the dismay of the others I said that the program was the worst I ever heard of and that we should not go ahead with it. I gave my reasons. Everyone else at the table lowered their heads as if in prayer. No one wanted to make eye contact with me or the principal.

All the principal said was, “Thank you for coming everyone.” The meeting was over.

Incidentally, the program was not undertaken and nothing was ever said about it again.

It’s OK to be honest. As a matter of fact, it’s essential that you be honest even if it doesn’t seem “correct” at the time. You never know…you might be right!

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In the good old days…

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

In the good old days…

Facebook was when I went outside and met my friends in the street.

Texting meant sending a postcard.

YouTube was looking at a huge TV with a tiny screen.

Email was sitting down with a fountain pen to write a letter.

Google was a library card.

Computers were a paper and pencil.

An SUV was the Church Avenue bus.

Yep, those were the good old days…or are these the good old days? I keep forgetting.

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There’s more to reading than reading…

Monday, July 5, 2010

By the time you’ve finished a few years in school, you probably know how to read. At least that’s what the government hopes. Unfortunately, there’s more to reading than reading.

If you want to apply what you’ve read, you probably have to take notes. Either marginal notes on the book’s page itself or on a separate piece of paper or electronically. It’s hard to remember all the nifty stuff you read, especially if it’s really good and/or really long.

It’s also good if you make a list of things you want to remember.

After reading a book, from an author like Daniel Pink, Seth Godin, or Tom Peters, make a list of ten things you learned…on a postcard. Send the postcard to yourself. The act of writing the info with your own hand combined with the actual postcard itself will help you remember the nifty stuff you’ve learned. Try it and collect the cards you’ve gathered!

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The one-question interview article…

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

If you’re like me, you are uncomfortable interviewing people. One method I find very effective is the one-question interview. One question? What can you possible do with that you may be asking. Plenty. Here’s how it works.

First, you think of a really good question. (Easy, right?)

Second, you find a whole bunch of folks to ask. You can post the question on Twitter or your Blog if you’d like.

Third, you compile an article based upon the responses to that one question.

Try it. You might like it.

[Incidentally, what do you think of the idea of asking only one question for an interview? Please email your answer to onequestion [at] joelheffner.com. Thanks.]

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