Angela Booth's Life Stream http://angelabooth.org Writing and more... posterous.com Thu, 29 Jul 2010 18:34:25 -0700 Freelance Writing Beginner: Make Your First Ten Dollars Online http://angelabooth.org/freelance-writing-beginner-make-your-first-te http://angelabooth.org/freelance-writing-beginner-make-your-first-te This short article is for complete beginners at freelance writing online. I consider you a complete beginner, even if you've made hundreds of thousands of dollars as an offline writer. Writing to sell online is DIFFERENT.

OK. Now, come closer, I want to whisper in your ear... (Whispering) Start small. Make $10 online. Then $100, then $1000 and so on.

Why you should start small

Did I say that writing to sell online is different? I did. If you're a beginning writer, you're dazed. You don't know where to start. If you're an established writer, you have methods of working. Some work well online, and others do not.

Either way, the online world is a new country, and I've no doubt that you have a brain-full of "musts." You must do this, you must learn that... Those musts will cripple you, and in Sell Your Writing Online NOW (SYWON) we aim to get rid of your preconceived ideas in the first four lessons, laying the groundwork so that you'll have a profitable writing career very quickly.

You need to focus, and SELL quickly, because nothing will happen in your career until you sell something. This can be scary, and the sooner you get over this hurdle the better.

So please start small.

Write an article for pay. Edit something for someone. Write anything (but keep it short), and sell it, preferably today.

The more time you spend thinking about what you could and would do, if this or that happened, or you did this or that, the more you'll procrastinate.

Start small. Make ten dollars. That will show you that it's possible for YOU to make money writing online. That will make a big impression on you, and you'll gradually become aware of all the possibilities.

Start small. Start today. Start NOW.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Sun, 25 Jul 2010 17:17:13 -0700 Time Management for Writers: One Simple Strategy Which Helps You to Find Time http://angelabooth.org/time-management-for-writers-one-simple-strate http://angelabooth.org/time-management-for-writers-one-simple-strate
Are you convinced that you have no time to write? Strangely enough, this is a problem for all writers, whether they're new, or are full-time professional writers. In this article you'll discover the one simple secret which ensures that you'll find the time to write each day.

I've been a professional writer for some 30 years. In my early years, I struggled to find time too. Then I discovered one simple tactic which solved the time problem for good.

I'll tell you what it is in a moment. It sounds simple, but don't be fooled: it has immense power. I know this, because over the years I've often failed to use this tactic, and when I did, I struggled. Life events overtook me, and I ended up complaining that I had "no time" -- and often blaming others -- until I came to my senses and realized what I was doing.

Here's the simple strategy: make writing the first thing you do every day. 

Yes, it really is that simple, whether writing is all you (supposedly, anyway)  do in your work day, or whether writing is a sideline for you.

Write first.

Here's how it works for me. Before I clear the decks after my work day ends, I decide which major project I'll work on for an hour in the morning. I prepare my notes.

The next morning, I grab a cup of coffee, and write for an hour. I don't read email, nor do I do anything else work-related, until I've written for one hour  on the project I chose the evening before. 

Then I go on with my day. Of course, I write much more in the course of my day, because writing is what I do. I always find that my early-morning session has warmed me up, and I get more done in all areas, because that early session has kick-started my productivity.

Many years ago, when my children were small, and I was running a business and writing, I got up at 4 a.m. every morning to write. I got a lot done. I was happy. My family was happy.

These days I don't get up quite as early. But I still make writing the first thing I do every day. I urge you to do it too, so that you have time to write.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:44:42 -0700 Busy, Busy... Writing, Writing... http://angelabooth.org/busy-busy-writing-writing http://angelabooth.org/busy-busy-writing-writing I'm sorry about the lack of blogging over the past few weeks. I've been busy in the best way possible: creating new products for you which solve the writing challenges you have.

My most recent product is the Write A Book Collection, which is getting a wonderful response. I've been coaching writers through it, and their inspiration and motivation inspires me, too.

If you've purchased the Collection, here's something which may interest you.

I've just completed another product, which will go into pre-launch in the next few days. Tip: all my pre-launch products are offered to the ezine subscribers first, as a very special offer, so if you're not a subscriber, you're missing out on these.

After that, I'll be releasing another writing guide you shouldn't miss, if your writing income is below five figures a month. I'm very excited about this guide, because for many writers this information will be the key which unlocks the door to an outstanding career. Shush! I never speak about new products before their release, so I can't say more, but believe me when I tell you that this one will get you excited. :-)

New: watch for affiliate programs for my products

Over the years, writers have complained about the lack of affiliate programs for my writing guides.

Unfortunately, some products just don't lend themselves to affiliate promotions, simply because I offer coaching with most of them, and there's only one of me. If affiliates promoted my products, I'd just have too many coaching sessions to handle.

Julia (my wonderful assistant) is taking on some of the coaching duties now, so in the next few months some of my products will have affiliate programs. You'll be able to promote these products to your own readers on your sites and blogs, to help them, and to make nice little commissions yourself too.

So that's what I've been doing over the past weeks. I'm very excited about the rest of 2010, and I hope you will be too.

I almost forgot to mention: Penny Swift has joined us as a contributor to the Fab Freelance Writing Blog, so please make her feel at home by commenting on her posts. Penny's building her own wonderful writing career, and she'll help you to do the same.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Sat, 10 Jul 2010 15:44:09 -0700 Why Write a Book? http://angelabooth.org/why-write-a-book-2 http://angelabooth.org/why-write-a-book-2
Why would anyone write a book? It's a considerable commitment. You won't finish your book this afternoon if you start it this morning. You may not finish your book for months... or even years.

There are many reasons you'd consider writing a book.

For example:

* You want to see whether you can do it;

* You want the fame and fortune which may come with it;

* You have something to say which can only be said at book length;

* Someone has hired you to do it (you'd be amazed at how many people want to "write" a book, if they can get someone else to do the actual writing :-));

* You want to create a stream of in*come;

* You want the bragging rights which come to authors -- "My book's available in your local bookstore";

* You want to develop a real presence as a writer.

There are 1001 reasons you might want to write a book. Writing confidently at book length is a wonderful skill to have, and you build that skill by doing it.

I created the Just Write a Book Collection so that you could write an excellent book, and do it quickly.

However, before you consider becoming an author, I'd like you to think about WHY you might want to do this. Write down your reasons and examine your own motivation.

If you're an established writer, writing a book may well be the next, most logical step for you in your writing career. It will help you to establish your credibility as a ghostwriter, for example. There are unlimited opportunities for you to act as a ghostwriter for celebrities, as well as for people who just want someone to help them write their autobiography, or family history.

If you're a beginning writer, you may want to build a career as a genre writer -- someone who writes mystery, romance, or historical novels. This is an excellent career path, and there are many opportunities open to you.

So, why do YOU want to write a book?

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:43:33 -0700 Email Sense and Sensibility for Writers http://angelabooth.org/email-sense-and-sensibility-for-writers http://angelabooth.org/email-sense-and-sensibility-for-writers
For writers, email messages are not merely a communications mechanism, they're also the way to get more writing clients, keep all our clients happy, and make much more money.

Unfortunately, very few people use email effectively -- and I'm not merely targeting writers here, this applies to everyone online. It even applies to individuals and companies which make the greater portion of their income online... Go figure. :-)

Let's look at ways in which you can not only get your email messages read, but which will also create an impression of confidence and professionalism, as well as inspire trust in your recipients.

1. Think from the point of view of your recipients

I receive over 400 email messages most days. This is average for anyone who operates online. Some people receive many more messages than this. A mass-market magazine editor I know receives over 1000 messages a day.

To avoid being overwhelmed when you're dealing with volume, you resort to triage. For example, I scan the senders and subject lines and batch-delete anything I don't want, don't have time for, or which is obviously spam.

I also have filters in place, so that messages from SYWON students are sent directly to a SYWON folder, and messages which are obviously from writers are sent to folders which Julia manages.

Therefore, since your recipients will judge the value or otherwise of your messages strictly on the sender and subject line, it's vital that you give some thought to this. 

Tell the recipient exactly what your message is about in the subject line. For example, if you're sending a magazine query, the subject line should consist of: "Query: ___________ (the title of your article)".

2. Never ever assume that the recipient knows who you are

In the first few lines of your message, introduce yourself. Yes, do this even if you've corresponded with the recipient in the past. Remember that everyone struggles with the volume of email messages they receive. Unless you're a close personal friend, or are otherwise important to the recipient, it's unlikely that they'll remember you instantly when they're focused on clearing their Inbox as quickly as possible.

You could write:

I'm _______(your name.) I spoke to you at...

I'm _______(your name), and I'm sending you a query for __________ (magazine, website)

I'm a __________ (a writer, a freelance writer) and I'm writing because _______ (your reason for sending the message)

Telling the recipients who you are even applies when you're sending out bulk emails to a list -- say your client list. Take the time to introduce yourself in the first paragraph, or use email stationery which clearly states who you are in the first few lines.

3. Keep messsages short, BUT do include everything the recipient needs to know

When it comes to email, shorter is always better. However, while keeping your messages brief, take a few moments to frame each message you write, so that the recipient knows why you're writing, and exactly what you want him/ her to do.

4. Make it easy for the recipient to respond

The easier you make it for your recipients to respond, the more likely it is that they will.

When you're dealing with your writing clients it's especially vital that you give them a choice of ways to get in touch. Include your landline number, and cell number too. People who aren't writers are usually happier talking than writing. :-)

Email is a powerful tool, but it's also a royal pain. Use these simple tips to ensure that your messages are read with pleasure, and that you get the responses you want.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Sun, 27 Jun 2010 16:47:42 -0700 Writing Tip (and Warning): Your Words Can Live Forever on the Web http://angelabooth.org/writing-tip-and-warning-your-words-can-live-f http://angelabooth.org/writing-tip-and-warning-your-words-can-live-f
I'm a huge Anthony Trollope fan. I reread his Palliser and Chronicles of Barsetshire novels every few years -- they reward rereading.

This week, the Anthony Trollope weekly quote was particularly apt for Web writers:

"The word that is written is a thing capable of permanent life, and lives frequently to the confusion of its parent. A man should make his confessions always by word of mouth if it be possible." (The Claverings)

Take this to heart. Anything you publish online is available globally, yes, even the stuff you post on Twitter and Facebook. If you don't want it repeated, don't write it online. :-)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Thu, 24 Jun 2010 14:23:10 -0700 Writing and Your Creativity: Managing Traitorous Doubt http://angelabooth.org/writing-and-your-creativity-managing-traitoro http://angelabooth.org/writing-and-your-creativity-managing-traitoro
Do you doubt yourself as a writer? 

Most writers do. Writing is a career in which you're constantly starting afresh -- you're always looking at a blank page (or computer screen.)

Doubt strikes all writers, whether experienced or new, and never goes away. However, as you become more experienced, you start to recognize doubt as simply "doubt", and you pay less attention to it. You know doubt for what it is, and give it far less weight.

How do you handle doubt?

One of my favorite Shakespearean quotes gives a clue:

"Our doubts are traitors, and make us lose the good we oft might win, by fearing to attempt". (Measure For Measure, Act I, Scene IV).

If you acknowledge that fear's the problem, you can work with it.

Here's an exercise I find useful. I often give it to my writing students.

Start by admitting to yourself that you're scared.

Next, complete this sentence: "What really scares me is________"

Write as much, or as little, as you please. You'll be surprised at what you write, and you'll come to understand yourself a little more. Usually, what you're scared of is the last thing you'd expect. This is because your creative self tends to be child-like (rather than childish.)

Now you can be gentle with yourself. :-) 

Although the exercise is very simple, it's powerful, and will unlock your creativity. You'll find that if you do the exercise regularly, writing becomes much more fun for you, and you'll write more. 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:33:25 -0700 Confusion Is Good, but Don't Let It Paralyze You http://angelabooth.org/confusion-is-good-but-dont-let-it-paralyze-yo http://angelabooth.org/confusion-is-good-but-dont-let-it-paralyze-yo I'm fond of saying that confusion is GOOD. If you're confused, it means that  you're out of your comfort zone.

Stepping out of your comfort zone and learning new stuff is meant to be uncomfortable.

If you're a writer you'll spend lots of time in a state of confusion (also known as creative anxiety). You're always starting a new project, and no matter how experienced you are, you'll never stop facing a blank computer screen.

If you're not aware that confusion is a highly creative state, you'll tend to let confusion paralyze you. Instead of accepting that this state is both natural, and good, you try to get out of it.

Read "Confusion is good" for an excellent exercise which prevents your confusion from paralyzing you.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Wed, 23 Jun 2010 20:26:00 -0700 Article Writing Profits http://angelabooth.org/article-writing-profits http://angelabooth.org/article-writing-profits

A couple of weeks ago I launched a new article writing guide, and I'm very pleased with the results that writers are getting.

One writer, Gary, said:

"...wanted to let you know how well it's working for me. I put methods 3 and 7 into use immediately, turning a couple of existing articles from "overview => subset". Now, only an hour and a quarter after downloading it I've listed 69 article titles and written 4 new article drafts."

The ability to quickly write articles is an essential Web writing skill. You need to turn out articles not only for others, but also to be able to promote yourself, and your writing services.

I love the strategies in Increase Your Article Writing Profits. They're strategies I used every day, because they make it easy to write quality articles, without stress.

 

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Mon, 05 Apr 2010 20:38:17 -0700 Rewriting (for pay): beware http://angelabooth.org/rewriting-for-pay-beware http://angelabooth.org/rewriting-for-pay-beware
There's a fascinating story at Ars Technica, "Is permission needed to retweet hot news?" about the copyright law protecting hot news:

think about our third question above, the one involving rewrites. These don't implicate copyright law, since nothing is being copied excepts the facts from the original article—and copyright law famously does not extend to facts and ideas.

Read the entire story. You should be aware of what's involved when you rewrite anything.

For example, you'll often find projects on the outsourcing sites which ask for bids on "rewriting" articles, or books. This is theft, pure and simple. The project consists of  rewording someone else's work. In essence, translating it. There's no originality involved. 

I suggest to my writing students that they steer well clear of all these dubious projects. Sooner or later someone whose work has been "rewritten" in this way is going to take it badly, and it will result in a lawsuit. Since the writer who took the job is the person doing the "rewriting", the writer will be involved in the legal wrangle, like it or not.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:07:40 -0700 Write fast, write well, and have fun http://angelabooth.org/write-fast-write-well-and-have-fun http://angelabooth.org/write-fast-write-well-and-have-fun In tomorrow's issue of Fab Freelance Writing Ezine we discuss writing quickly and well. If you want to make a great income from your writing, these skills are essential. You need to be confident that you'll meet deadlines, and can fit in "I want it NOW" projects your clients give you.

Here's an excerpt from the Editorial:

If you're completely new writer, please know this: the ability to write fast is simply a matter of practice. The more you write, the better you get at it. This applies to any skill.

Think about learning to drive a car. 

I'm sure that for the first few months you thought about the process. You thought about where your hands were on the wheel, how to parallel park, what speed you were traveling at... Now when you get into the car, you never think about the mechanics. You think about where you're going, and what you'll do when you get there.

Writing is just like that. Initially, everything takes thought. Eventually, when you sit down to write, the words come out, because you're thinking of the message you want to convey.

Enjoy the issue. :-)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Thu, 04 Mar 2010 13:34:32 -0800 Ebooks: Interested in writing hot-selling ebooks? http://angelabooth.org/ebooks-interested-in-writing-hot-selling-eboo http://angelabooth.org/ebooks-interested-in-writing-hot-selling-eboo
Next week in Fab Freelance Writing Ezine our theme is "How to Write Bestselling Ebooks". I get many questions on this topic each week, and this issue answers them.

You'll discover how to write (and sell) ebooks easily, and successfully. I've been doing it for many years, and love it. If you love to write, you'll love it too.

Here's a short excerpt from the Editorial:

What's a "bestselling" ebook?

Let's start by talking about what a bestselling ebook is, in our terms. I define a bestseller as an ebook which sells consistently, over months and years. Your ebook may not be the market leader: you may or may not have an affiliate program, but your ebook puts cash in your bank account each and every week.

When you're looking for ebook topics, choose an evergreen one: a topic which has longevity. For example, any ebook on weight loss has longevity. People will always want to lose weight. An ebook on how to get a mortgage however, isn't evergreen: economic factors change. 

Read more, next Tuesday...

Enjoy the issue. :-)

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Sun, 28 Feb 2010 14:28:08 -0800 Have you tried Yahoo's Search Pad? Great for writing notes as you search http://angelabooth.org/have-you-tried-yahoos-search-pad-great-for-wr http://angelabooth.org/have-you-tried-yahoos-search-pad-great-for-wr Writers spend hours researching, online and offline.

Recently I discovered Yahoo's Search Pad, and I'm finding it increasingly useful.

‘Search Pad’ is ... a note-taking application which automatically assists a user in saving the addresses of the websites they are visiting on a virtual pad. It helps users collect, edit, organise, save, print and email their notes for immediate or future use. However, unless a user is logged into a Yahoo! account, it will not save or send a user the URLs after the browser window is shut down.

Try Search Pad yourself.

Got any other research tips? Please share them in the comments.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Sat, 27 Feb 2010 12:38:32 -0800 How to succeed in anything at all http://angelabooth.org/how-to-succeed-in-anything-at-all http://angelabooth.org/how-to-succeed-in-anything-at-all Want success? You can achieve anything you want when you set goals and stay motivated.

Here's what I said in a recent blog post about how to get motivated to make money online:

If you’re new to making money online, you can get depressed if you don’t have instant success. After all, everyone else is making money, why aren’t you?

Here’s a secret. What people who are making great incomes won’t tell you is that there’s no such thing as instant success. Everyone starts where you are. Everyone mistakes mistakes. Everyone fumbles as they learn.

If you understand that it’s a learning process, and that you will succeed if you set goals and don’t quit, you’ll retain your motivation, most of the time.

Learn the art of setting goals and achieving them. Once you know how to do that, you've learned a master skill.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Fri, 26 Feb 2010 13:20:01 -0800 Next week's ezine: best-ever money-making writing tips http://angelabooth.org/next-weeks-ezine-best-ever-money-making-writi http://angelabooth.org/next-weeks-ezine-best-ever-money-making-writi In next week's ezine, our theme is the best money-making writing tips.

Here's an excerpt from the Editorial:

Birds, humidity and walking: is writing the life you want?
It's the end of February in Sydney, Australia, so the humidity which always drifts down from tropical Queensland during the monsoon season is abating. Goodbye to air so moist you feel as if you're swimming, rather than walking.
The air was crisp this morning, with a welcome chill, as Honey, my Jack Russell terrier, and I enjoyed our walk. Even the birds seemed to appreciate the end of the humidity. Clouds of screeching white cockatoos soared from one eucalyptus grove to another, keeping us company, while bright red/ turquoise parakeets startled us as they whizzed past us out of Banksia shrubs. 
(I'm sure these cute little parrots do this deliberately. Honey chases them out of our backyard – this is payback. :-))
I develop ideas for my writing while I walk, and then spend the day writing. Writing all day, every day, (often seven days a week), is the life writers lead. All writers.

Enjoy this issue, which will be out next Tuesday.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Wed, 24 Feb 2010 16:25:31 -0800 Giggle of the Day: Not getting results from your Craigslist ad? Do this http://angelabooth.org/giggle-of-the-day-not-getting-results-from-yo http://angelabooth.org/giggle-of-the-day-not-getting-results-from-yo Read The Most Amazing Craigslist Ad Up In Here! (PICTURE) -- funniest thing I've read all week.

Now you know what to do if you're posting on Craigslist and getting zero results... I saw this on the Huffington Post, so it's getting lots of exposure.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Tue, 23 Feb 2010 20:16:59 -0800 Tumblr vs Posterous: and the winner is... http://angelabooth.org/tumblr-vs-posterous-and-the-winner-is http://angelabooth.org/tumblr-vs-posterous-and-the-winner-is Ars Technica has an excellent article comparing the "instant blogging" tools, Tumblr and Posterous:

Posterous is the second such quick blogging service to pop up in the last year or so. Like Tumblr, it has a clean—if plain by comparison—design, is easy to set up, and easy to use. In fact, all that's needed to get started on Posterous is an e-mail—just send one to post@posterous.com, and the service will automatically generate a Posterous blog for you. However, Posterous' reliance on e-mail as a posting tool is both an asset and a liability.

I've got a Tumblr blog, but I haven't posted to it in a couple of years. Of the two services, I have to say I prefer Posterous. It just seems easier to use.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Sun, 16 Aug 2009 15:32:39 -0700 Why write and sell ebooks? (Tomorrow's ezine) http://angelabooth.org/why-write-and-sell-ebooks-tomorrows-ezine http://angelabooth.org/why-write-and-sell-ebooks-tomorrows-ezine

In tomorrow's issue of Fab Freelance Writing Ezine, our theme is starting your own ebook business.

Why would you want to do that?

Well...

Here's an excerpt from the Editorial:

In a word, MONEY.

Think about it; you don't need to sell many copies of an ebook to make money. Let's say you're selling an ebook for $27. This is at the lower end of ebook prices. Say you sell 1,000 copies. That's $27,000. Selling 1,000 copies is easy, but you need to advertise. So let's say that advertising costs you $1000, you've still made $26,000 in profit… and your ebook can go on selling for years.

Of course, you shouldn't stop at ONE ebook. Once you finished the first, and are promoting it, start on the second. In one year, if you put your mind to it, you could write and sell ten ebooks, and you'd have made $270,000.

Please don't think I'm whistling in the wind here. Selling 1,000 copies of an ebook is easy. If you promote an ebook diligently, you'll be able to sell many thousands.

It's not just the money…


Read the rest in tomorrow's issue.

By the way, if you're ready to start your information product empire, Info Product Maestro gives you everything you need.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Fri, 14 Aug 2009 17:27:00 -0700 (Mac) Nifty Twitter search client http://angelabooth.org/mac-nifty-twitter-search-client-tagtwitter http://angelabooth.org/mac-nifty-twitter-search-client-tagtwitter

I've been whining about the woeful state of Twitter search for months, and while Twitter's own Search may be fine for most users, it's horrible for people who want to research, namely writers.

Thank heavens there's now an application (Mac) which is focused solely on Twitter search.

Incoming! New Twitter App for Mac That Only Lets You Search reports:

At no point during any of this do you log into your Twitter account or post any tweets of your own. Some users will no doubt find this bothersome, and question the app’s usefulness, but if you use Twitter for research as much as I do, the arm’s length passivity of Incoming! is just what the doctor ordered. It might also appeal to people who don’t yet want to take the Twitter plunge themselves by signing up for an account, but want access to all the content that’s available via the service, in a much more manageable package than Twitter.com’s own search page.


Of course, the first search I did was for "freelance writing", and I'm ultra-pleased with the no-frills, workable results.

So if you're a tweeting writer, and you own a Mac, check out Incoming! It's sure to save you time and frustration.

New to Twitter? Follow me for daily writing tips.

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth Wed, 12 Aug 2009 18:32:02 -0700 Today's writing tip: Make Money Writing Success -- Challenge Yourself http://angelabooth.org/todays-writing-tip-make-money-writing-success http://angelabooth.org/todays-writing-tip-make-money-writing-success

Although it's very easy to make money writing online, for best results you need to challenge yourself. This is because you're working alone, you don't have anyone to push you. The more you write the more you earn, so get into the habit of challenging yourself.

Let's look at this simple method for doing this.

1. Set One Writing Goal

I like to challenge myself by creating goals, and achieving them. Tip: every goal you achieve gives you an instant boost of confidence.

Start by setting a simple goal. Perhaps you want to get more clients to buy your articles. So create that as a goal.

Write it down: "I will get five more clients this week".

2. Create a Plan to Achieve That Goal

The more simple you make your plan, the more likely it is that you will achieve it. Your plan can include various items, and you need to chunk that plan down into a list of daily tasks.

For example, your plan could include items like: bidding on writing jobs on the outsourcing sites, advertising, and staying in touch with clients by sending out regular mailings.

3. Create a List of Daily Tasks You Know You Can Achieve

From the list of items which will help you to achieve your goal, create a list of daily tasks. I like to keep all my tasks short, so that each takes no longer than half an hour. I find I'm more productive this way. There's no time to dither on a task when you know you have just 30 minutes to complete it.

How it works: if one of your items included advertising for example, then one of your tasks could be to create a couple of ads which you will post on one of the free classifieds sites. (The posting of the ads deserves its own task.)

4. Put on Blinkers: Be Single-Minded and Complete Your Tasks

Make a commitment to yourself to a complete every task on your daily task list, every day.

Making a commitment is freeing -- you know what you'll do, and you do it.

Tip: your commitments must mean something. Make a list of benefits to you in completing your daily task list. The benefits could include: being your own boss, tripling your income this year, and going on that European vacation you've planned.

You can make money writing, and your success is in your hands. Just reach out and grab it.

Image: Blackadder -- his best quote "I have a cunning plan..."

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]]> http://files.posterous.com/user_profile_pics/23779/angela.jpg http://posterous.com/people/KINaxFXH5n Angela Booth angelabooth Angela Booth