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Bonus Chapter: New Path to Retirement Riches
When I hear from people who have read New Path to Riches, more often or not they are retired. At first, this surprised me. But it really shouldn’t have. This is a model for making money that is ideally suited to anyone who is retired, or getting close. New Path...
Why we are so susceptible to buying into the promise of get rich quick.
In Jason Zweig’s book, Your Money and Your Brain , he writes: “Your investing brain comes equipped with a biological mechanism that is more aroused when you anticipate a profit than when you actually get one”. I think he is right. And I think this applies to all aspects of...
Recent reviews of my book, New Path to Riches
“While freelancing can be a constant “where’s-my-next-gig-coming-from?” grind, and ’secure’ 9-5 employment is anything but, smart folk lay the groundwork for that magical phenomenon known as ‘passive income.’ In this comprehensive, readable work, Usborne proves he’s one of the smart ones, laying out a detailed and proven blueprint for capitalizing...
A total upgrade for my primary business website, nickusborne.com.
nickusborne.com has been up for almost ten years now, and this is the third major re-design. But this is the first time I have departed entirely from the original purpose of the site – which was to promote my services as an online copywriter, consultant and speaker. A great deal...
Further confirmation that you should seriously upgrade your online copywriting skills.
Numerous studies and surveys this year have shown that marketing budgets are moving away from print, radio and broadcast – and into online media. In an article published by MediaPost this morning, the figures reported are confirming the same trend. Here is a portion of that article: “A regional survey...
I'll help you start your own money-making website.
For a few years now I have been writing hobby websites as a way to create some separate and passive streams of income. Actually, I plan to retire once the income from these money-making sites reaches a strong and consistent level. I’m about half way to achieving that goal. For...
Amy Sue Nathan
In the spring of 1990 when I had been married about six weeks, my husband graduated from medical school. The group of about 100 students recited the Hippocratic Oath and thus became physicians. The dean, on the stage in the hospital’s auditorium, then called the graduates by name...
I think one of the biggest hurdles to get over as a writer is when you realize and accept that your work is not unique simply because you wrote it. I’ll let that one settle a bit in case it’s news to you....
Although I live in a Midwestern tundra, my affection for cold weather is limited to the fact that I can build fires in the fireplace and put marshmallows in hot chocolate. So when I walked down the hall at just after six this morning to let out the dogs, and...
With the myriad of manuscripts on my hard drive, books in my TBR pile and TV shows DVR’ed I’ve noticed a trend. Writers like to talk to viewers and readers. You know the shows where the character turns to the camera and talks to you? Writers do that to. It’s...
When I think of a caricature I think of a guy or a gal, sitting behind an easel in a park or at a Bar Mitzvah drawing pictures that exacerbate willing models’ strengths and weaknesses. If you have a big nose, you can bet, in a caricature, your schnoz is...
So, yea, um, it’s me. Here. On the blog. This one. Uh huh.
Know what’s harder than going back to the gym after Thanksgiving? Going back to the blog after a month. Truly. What is up with that? So I’m going to give it another whirl, just as everyone is gearing up to slow down online for the holidays, I’ll be here trying to keep...
The Heart and Craft of Life Writing
Journaling Your Way Through Fear
The last few days, and presumably the next few, I am exploring journaling as a way to face down fear. I'm scheduled for cataract surgery on my left eye on Monday, and the right one ten days later. In general, cataract surgery is no big deal. In fact, my father...
How often have you heard the mantra “Your problems are your best friends,” or some variation thereof? I could fill several pages without stopping as I listed all the reasons we should rejoice in our tribulations because they are such valuable learning opportunities and that sort of thing. Indeed, I...
“How long should a story be?” I’ve never taught a beginning lifestory class without having this question arise. I’ve never found an improvement on the classic answer: “As long as it takes to tell the whole story.” For an powerful example of how large a slice of life can be packed into...
While I was in Mexico awhile back, I struggled to express ideas in my rudimentary Spanish. I had to build sentences word by word. One day I realized that building stories is much like what I was going through to build sentences. Let’s take a look at how one sentence...
Sharon Lippincott takes pleasure in announcing the birth of her new blog, A Los Alamos Girlhood. This latest addition to the Heart and Craft family of fine blogs arrived yesterday morning, January 18 and has been warmly greeted with instant acclaim. The blog, located on WordPress joins The Heart and...
It’s probably time to start a new blog, specifically about the memoir I’m writing. I’ve been spending serious journal time doodling content and concept ideas, but had not found an entry point to begin writing. Yesterday magic happened. A random sentence I heard earlier in the day took root and...
Writing-and-Speaking Articles from EzineArticles.com
What is it about a cross dressing story that the transgendered find so interesting? We talk about the importance of story, to both the storyteller and the reader....
The Right Attitude Required to Learn From Compelling Stories - Becoming the Story-Learner Part 1
Many of us want a change for the better in our lives. We wonder why despite all our best efforts things stay the same year after year. We buy self-help and how-to books and get a one week buzz from reading them and half heartedly attempting to apply the principles...
There are several reasons one should know how to write a sonnet in preference to other poetic forms. The sonnet has enough rules about structure and rhyme to make it nicely disciplined and self-contained....
5 Surefire Ways to Write Compelling Headlines
Your headline is one of the most important parts of any article or sales letter. After all, if you can't get someone to read past the headline, what chance do you have of selling them anything? It doesn't matter how good your content is if the headline doesn't move the...
Making the Dictionary a Friend - Proper Use of the English Language
Everyone knows that grammar and spelling matters in school. But what about the real life? Does grammar really matter when you're trying to score a job? What about when you're just sending a formal letter to friends? Since you're reading this article, you probably have already guessed 'Yes'. And you...
Erasmus of Rotterdam on Sentence Variation, Sentence Openers, and Ambiguity
Discussing the methods of sentence variation by using allegory and proverbs -which at times result in enigmas- in his book On Copia, Erasmus says: "For things should not be written in such a way that everyone understands everything, but so that they are forced to investigate things, and learn." We...
About.com Fiction Writing
Contribute Self-Publishing Stories
As self-publishing becomes easier and more acceptable -- and traditional publishing contracts become ever more elusive -- many people are choosing to circumvent the traditional publishing industry. However, with so many companies to choose from, it's actually harder these days to tell the difference between legit presses and opportunistic ones. It...
February 2010 Writing Challenge: The Wedding Cake in the Middle of the Road
The writing prompt for this month comes from an exercise created by NPR host Susan Stamberg and novelist George Garrett for a radio series in the early 1990s. For the series, they charged six authors with the task of writing a short story using the image "the wedding cake in...
Like most people, I first discovered J. D. Salinger through The Catcher in the Rye. And while I related to the character and enjoyed the writing style, it was Franny and Zooey, admittedly a lesser work, that I fell prey to. I read it repeatedly throughout college, and further into...
Last Call: Dec.-Jan. Writing Challenge
We're down to the last few days for the Dec.-Jan. writing challenge, though excellent responses continue to come in, including some particularly inspiring ones from a high school creative writing class. You can view the these responses or take the challenge yourself (after reading About.com's User Agreement). And if this...
Looking forward to March -- to give you plenty of time to ready submissions -- there are some worthwhile short story contests coming up. The Del Sol Press Fiction Prize (March 1), the Gulf Coast Writing Contests (March 1), and the New South Review Writing Contest (March 4), are just...
Resolution: Submit Work to Journals
Do you know the difference between simultaneous submissions and multiple submissions? Are you confused about what exactly is meant by a "brief bio"? If one of your New Year's resolutions is to submit work to literary journals for the first time, the collection of articles in the link above will...
There Are No Rules
Today's guest post is by the lovely Darrelyn Saloom. Follow her on Twitter, or read one of her most popular posts on the memoir she's writing with Deirdre Gogarty. Pictured above: Rick Bragg On the third weekend of October 2009, writers and book lovers gathered at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge to...
My Exciting News at Writer's Digest
You've probably noticed I've been making liberal use of guest bloggers during the new year. That's because I'm busy cooking up new content at Writer's Digest, but I'll soon return to more tough-love posts for writers! For now, I do want to share some exciting news & cool stuff that I think you'll enjoy. How to...
Today's guest post is by Jim Adam. It is part of a series on storytelling and The Strengths of the Potter Series. Check out Jim's book, Motherless. Each of the Potter books includes a major disturbance in Harry’s world. These disturbances typically involve a threat to Harry’s life, which is the sort of...
Point of View: Stories Are About PEOPLE
Today's guest post is by Jim Adam. It is part of a series on storytelling and The Strengths of the Potter Series. Check out Jim's book, Motherless. The number of point of view characters in a story affects the reader’s view of how focused that story is. POV also influences the reader’s emotional...
Tight Focus: Resist Telling Nonessential Details
Today's guest post is by Jim Adam. It is part of a series on storytelling and The Strengths of the Potter Series. Check out Jim's book, Motherless. Each book in the Potter series stays focused on the issues relevant to that book. A few forward references appear now and then, but such ancillary...
There Are More Bad Titles Than Good Ones
The February Glimmer Train bulletin is now available, and I found this delightful gem on titling by Eric Puchner: Still, the fact remains that there are many more bad titles than good ones. I've seen some jaw-droppingly awful titles, often from very gifted writers. And I'm not just talking about my students: The Great...
BenCrowder.net
It's been just over a week now since Apple announced the iPad and I've had some time to collect my thoughts....
Just released Issue 8 of Mormon Artist. I redesigned the magazine using a new six-column grid....
Today is Monday, which means only two more days till Apple announces the tablet....
Up until today, I had only used the search feature (Spotlight) on my iPhone maybe two or three times....
Continuing on with the minimalism trend in my last post, I've stripped my Mac's desktop bare....
Once again the proverbial light bulb has gone on, this time pointing out to me that I'm still trying to do too much....
Bad Language
Silence is golden: how to sound-proof your writing room
Interruptions kill productivity. But background noise can slow you down in less obvious ways: Fatigue. Noise makes you tired. Just as shouting over loud music in a bar strains your voice, your brain has to work harder to filter out unwanted information. Poor concentration. It’s more likely that your brain will latch...
Writing tools: your personal data dashboard from Daytum
I’ve just discovered Daytum. It’s mission is to let you “collect, categorize and communicate your everyday data.” What this means in practice is a configurable dashboard that lets you add numerical information and display it using a range of graphs. Here are some possible uses...
Fast, good or cheap. Choose two.
I used to make computer games and back then we had a saying about project management: ‘you can have any two of fast, cheap or good.’ It’s a choice that most people don’t want to make. Fast Most clients have a schedule: a campaign deadline, a business plan commitment, a product launch....
How to write faster – learn Teeline shorthand
Ambitious journalism student, Alex Cooper, introduces us to Teeline Shorthand with his debut guest post for Bad Language. In this article I will go through the basic structure of Teeline Shorthand, a brief history and some tips for learning it along the way. Teeline was invented by James Hill in 1970. It...
I met René van der Meer last year when I was in Amsterdam. He writes Aanhetwoord.com, a website about journalists, the working methods and ambitions. It’s a great resource for Dutch writers and I was very pleased when he published the interview he did with me. Of course, we mostly...
Great example of writing as advertising from VW
I saw this at Hammersmith Station today and I thought it was really cool. As a writer, I like the way they have used plain text and typographic conventions to convey a really subtle message about efficiency. It also works on different levels of detail: the gag, the key message...
Work-in-Progress
Work in Progress: Joanna Smith Rakoff on "The Book Tour"
Fantasies of “the book tour” fill many an afternoon when the writing isn’t going well, usually involving images of stacks of books and crowds hanging adoringly on every word. The reality? Let Joanna Smith Rakoff tell you a little bit about her book tour.But first, let me tell...
Too Many Books, Too Many Books!
I have very little time for reading books that aren’t on my class list, and yet I’m terribly tempted by a number of new releases:This New York Times Book Review review of Robert Stone’s new book of short stories made me want to run out and get a copy immediately:...
The Box of Journals Goes To....
Congratulations to Lisa in New York who was randomly selected to receive the big box of journals offered in last week’s giveaway. And thank you to all who entered....
Writing the Future Conference on March 20
The Writer's Center is pleased to announce a special new event to take place on March 20:WRITING THE FUTURE, a one-day, information-packed conference for writers in all genres and media, reporters, editors, and publishers will explore and explain the transitions and innovations taking place in the literary and publishing worlds....
A new event has been added to the PEN/Faulkner reading series. This is sure to sell out, so plan accordingly.Wednesday April 7, 2010Special Event: An Evening with Ian McEwanPEN/Faulkner will host an exclusive reading with Ian McEwan on Wednesday, April 7, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. Mr. McEwan will read...
My Autographed Copy of Catcher in the Rye
I doubt that anything I could write could add much to the many words spilled out since J.D. Salinger died last week (this Wall Street Journal article was good, as was this Washington Post piece about a failed book deal with Salinger; and Slate has a number of excellent pieces)....
Dissertation and thesis writing guide. Literature Review and Research Proposal Hints.
What can be done to write a quality thesis paper? For your dissertation, it is always a good idea that you know how to write it. There are several steps that you need to know. You must have the topic, the thesis statement, write the parts and chapters, research the...
Do you know what to do in a data mining thesis? This kind of research paper is something that can be tedious to write. Actually, the main course of writing is just half of the process. Data mining will gobble up half of your time and effort. What is data...
Dissertation Proofreading Techniques
Have you ever tried doing a proofreading task? In all aspects of writing an article, proofreading is the last thing to do. Even though, it has one of the most important implications. By proofreading, you get the chance to rid your articles of errors in many aspects. Dissertation proofreading is...
Do you love computers? If you are under the computer science curriculum, then you will be required to write computer science thesis. Essentially, the thesis paper provides you more avenues of learning. This way, you can acquire new and better knowledge through the process of research paper writing. A computer...
Are you looking for an example of dissertation? Stop the search today for we have the files that you need. Here in our website, we provide only the best and the most relevant samples to you. Each example of dissertation is worthy of your time and we assure you the...
Composing a dissertation paper requires you to cite the resource materials that you have used. In relation to using other documents, you must also know how to cite them according to the styles available. Let us give you some info on how to write an APA thesis. The APA thesis paper...
Lisa Romeo Writes
Friday Fridge Clean-Out: February 5 Edition
Having a busy week, and one deadline still ahead. Here are a few quick links for your weekend. Me, I'll be snowed in, which I will love. What reader wouldn't?► Oh, boy has this condemnation of the memoir got people talking. Mostly nonfiction people. Mostly about how wrong...
Me? I'm Bookless. How about you?
Bookless"I don’t have a book. There, I said it.Oh, I own books. Thousands. They line my living room, accumulate in my bathroom, peek out from my purse. But none of them have my name along the spine. That’s right, I am a writer but I don’t have a published book....
Writers and Writers Conferences: Perfect Together
No matter what, I usually manage to budget for at least one writers conference a year. I love a good writers conference. I even love a not-so-great one. Even if the seminars and panels and readings don't do it for me, the other writers in attendance make it worthwhile. Usually...
Less Time, More Words. A Writing Conundrum.
Recently I realized something I think I've known for a long time, but wanted to avoid admitting. Here it is: I get more writing done when I have less time to do it. I suspected as much, but the other day while cleaning out a desk drawer, I came...
It Only Takes One: One writer's I-got-an-agent story
How do you get an agent? How many should you query at once? What to do when two different agents ask for an exclusive? What happens when an agent makes an offer? These and other questions are answered, at least in one case, by my friend Linda K....
Friday Friday Clean Out: January 29 Edition
► Jordan Rosenfield interviews Hope Edelman about her editing process.►Lorraine Duffy Merkl on being published, 50, and grateful. And always, busy promoting the book.►Los Angeles's KCRW radio's Bookworm programs are archived here. Recent podcast additions are interviews with Barbara Kingsolver, A.S. Byatt, and Nicholson Baker.► I got my first subscription...
ecstasy is my favourite word
The human brain is a wonderful creation, like no other. It can perform a million tasks at one time, enabling us to multitask. Weighing about a kilo, it's the grey cells that differentiate between humans and apes..But in some human beings, at times, the brain get short-circuited, jumbles up or...
The next 6 movie reviews continue..The Baker's Girl of MonceauLa boulangère de MonceauDir: Eric RohmerFrance/1963Its a hurried but sweet presentation of emotions, love, comedy and the roving male eye, all bundled into this black&white matinee experience.. The entire routine of the guy following the seemingly sexy lady across the streets...
I would never miss an opportunity to watch a good movie, no matter how stressed my weekend is, that is why, the film festivals are a perfect getaway to unwind, relax and enjoy cinema, which is unknown to you but inspire similar thoughts about us, human beings..PIFF, organized in mid-January,...
The morning newspaper gave me an insightful news today.. Pune is now going have its own fashion week, this very month!!Pune has everything going for it — a thriving education centre, a rapidly growing IT industry, a pulsing cultural hub and great climate. Of course, we have fashion sense...
2000-2010 : Culture2000-2010 : Design2000-2010 : Environment2000-2010 : Food2000-2010 : Literature2000-2010 : Web Videos2000-2010 : WordsAll images from GOOD...
Not a good time to adopt a girl child, I have decided.. Okay, keep out time, worst country to adopt a girl child.. What will I provide for her? Education, food, clothes, discipline, manners, values, culture, religion, society.. Hmmm... What a society, do I introduce to her, where a female...
Word Grrls
Fairy Tales for Short Attention Spans
One day a great wizard cast an enchantment upon a princess hoping to lure her to his realm. Finally, she arrived. The wizard came down from his tower to greet her with his very best pick up line. Sadly, it was something obnoxious he had picked up from the guy...
House Home Garden has made three posts showing photos of a bedroom, kitchen and a lounge decorated almost completely in red. I picked the bedroom as my favourite. It just looks so… decadent. How would you decorate your favourite room in your favourite colour? Write at least a paragraph to...
For Creative Every Day and Doodle Week
The theme at Creative Every Day for the month of February is Home. This week the theme for Doodle Week was flowers. I’m a bit late for that one. Related Posts:Going Rural for Doodle WeekConquering Fear is an ArtFix It Upper...
Behind Every Door… A New World
“A sense of the mysterious. The feeling that behind every door another world is waiting can make a child’s world a paradise.” - John Mighton A sense of the mystery and promise of the universe should not just be for children. Keep hope, though it sounds over simple at times, it...
Look for Signs to Lead you to New Things
“Ignore your old life and look for signs that lead you to your new life”. - Quote from an episode of Charmed which I happened to leave on after The Gilmore Girls on Cosmo TV. Isn’t it a great quote. I hope I caught it and wrote it down right. I was...
Hell If I Know = H2IK From the sci fi show, Defying Gravity. I’ve watched the show a few times, it’s confusing with popping around to the present and past frequently. So I haven’t really gotten into it. But, tonight, I like H2IK. Kind of fun to come up with...
About Freelance Writing
The Discipline Of Writing Is More Important Than Motivation
WritetoDone, a wonderful blog about writing, has a guest article called What Lance Armstrong Can Teach Us About Motivation. The writer talks about how having a near death experience as Armstrong did with his cancer can be motivating. He then suggests imagining you have only a year to live. I’m sorry, but that...
Amazon Settles With BookLocker
You may already know this, but on January 20 Angela Hoy published Amazon Backs Down; Settles Antitrust Lawsuit Filed By BookLocker. Essentially, in addition to paying some cash and attorney fees, Amazon agreed not to discriminate against any Booklocker books. That’s great news for Angela, and I want to congratulate her. But the...
Try Become A Blogger For A Buck – A Pitch
Back when I took Become A Blogger I had to pay the monthly fee right from the start. This time the guys from Oz who know so much about blogging and making money blogging are offering a trial for a buck! Yep, that’s just one U.S. dollar. That introductory test will...
14 Ways I Support My Writing Habit
Yes, my writing supports me financially and quite well now that I’ve learned how to ask for what I’m worth. This morning, however, I got to thinking about what I do to make sure I can keep writing and enjoy it as well as profit from it. The ways I support my...
Freelance Writing Jobs For Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Today we have 58 freelance writing jobs , blogging jobs, editing jobs, translation jobs and creative gigs today. Job Postings Here Are The Tip Of A Great Big Iceberg! A must-read if you’re new to freelance writing, editing, blogging or translating or new to looking for gigs online. How To Find and...
Stanford Okay’s Google Book Search Agreement
When Google first started its digitizing books project the Author’s Guild sued them on behalf of authors. In November of 2009 there was an amended settlement. The amended settlement is now before Federal Court and my hunch is the court will approve it. Stanford University announced today that they were signing onto...