Reading For Children

Goethe’s the Sorrows of Young Werther
Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther is about the tragic life of Werther who has committed suicide as a result of his loneliness and critical approach to society, also his displaced unfulfilled feelings for a woman called Lotte who he could never have. The story takes the form of a correspondence between Werther and his friend Wilhelm. Since the correspondence is only one sided, the readers find themselves taking the role of Wilhelm as the story progresses. The story, to shortly summarize, begins with Werther who has bourgeois origin, who is leaving home to regulate some issues about family estate for his mother. He soon neglects his tasks and spends his time enjoying his life and in the afternoons feeling nature and the complexity of a human life. He quickly acquaints with the nice people who populate his "paradise". When he was invited to a dance by his new acquaintances, it’s where he gets to know Lotte and sets his eyes on her; he falls in love with her, although knowing that she is already engaged. As the story continued, they both realized that their affection was mutual and they became close friends. Later on, Werther visited her almost every day and spent blissful hours close to her. But when Albert, Lotte's fiancé, returned from his journey Werther's feelings for Lotte has changed from "bliss" to the "unhappiness" because Albert's presence rendered it clear to him that his love would remain unfulfilled because Lotte will never be able to return his feelings because of the fact that she actually loved Albert. It was at this point that Werther began experiencing bouts of desperation and mood swings alternating between extreme optimism and extreme skepticism about life and society and how he fits into both. All these emotions were coupled with his unrequited love for Lotte. Seen from Lotte’s viewpoint, Werther epitomizes a man of intelligence and artistic minded. These traits coupled by his sensitivity to beauty and nature were what endeared him to her to consider him as a close friend and confidant of her thoughts and views on life. However, these traits were also the real reason why Werther found no respect and contentment with the society. His disrespect to the Prince’s superficial knowledge of art demonstrated that he couldn’t tolerate anyone who did not share his artistic views. In the story, Werther did not find an equal or a superior to himself that even Lotte, who he fell in love with, did not have enough power to help him with his obsessions and desires. With the exception of Lotte and her family, Werther was effectively isolated from the society. Lotte must have sensed Werther’s need of a companion that she is in a way welcomed his friendship despite knowing that Werther’s affections towards her extended way beyond friendship. She said that she appreciates Werther as a kind of confidante for her emotions. Emotionally, they were too similar that Werther must have done a mistake as a positive sign of love urging him to pursue Lotte despite her circumstance. Werther at this time was happy thinking that love was the answer for his loneliness and passion. “ My days are as happy as those reserved by God for his elect; and whatever be my fate hereafter, I can never say that I have not tasted joy, -- the purest joy of life.� (June 21) Yet, when he found out about Lotte’s marriage to Albert, he decided he couldn’t accept living without her. We should not blame Lotte for Werther’s grief and emotional suffering because she had been cautious in handling the evident feelings of Werther for her. She clearly loved Albert, who later became her husband and she made this clear to Werther despite his disappointment. Werther later on had already put Lotte in a high pedestal that it became difficult for him to detach his feelings for her even during her married life. Before Albert appeared in the book, Werther's love was not still so clear, his surroundings seemed vitalizing. As he got more mindful of the feelings he has for Lotte, nature began to add to his desperation. Gloomy night strolls, which once seemed full of life and love in the book/ His pessimism began to settle and took the best of him. He then started to fantasize about marrying Lotte in the future. Traditional values and stability is Albert’s wife for life. Werther precipitated himself with intense emotion. Werther is well aware of this, when he declares, “I cannot help esteeming Albert. The coolness of his temper contrasts strongly with the impetuosity of mine, which I cannot conceal. He has a great deal of feeling, and is fully sensible of the treasure he possesses in Lotte. He is free from ill-humour, which you know is the fault I detest most� (July 30). This obvious and marked difference between the two was what further antagonized Werther fully realizing that these characteristics of Albert were what engendered him to Lotte. Albert, on his part is well aware of Werther’s special feelings for his wife but his reason and values prevented him from showing hatred to Werther. However, their secret rivalry intensified in a heated discussion concerning the topic of suicide wherein Werther rejected all of Albert's arguments and passionately defended the right to suicide, which he deemed to be an expansion of natural death. Judging from the intensity of the argument, which transcended beyond the topic of death to a deeper issue of Werther’s close friendship with Lotte, one could conclude that it was at this point that Albert decided to forbid Lotte to see Werther anymore. Lotte was stunned by this thought and having reservations had no choice but to obey her husband’s wishes and from then on informed Werther to distance himself from her. “We cannot go on in this manner any longer� (December 20) was her decision. This must have disoriented Werther to finally think about suicide and thereafter proceeded to commit it. It was in his unconditional love, his hardheaded want for no woman but her that Werther's destiny originated. Since there can be no fulfillment of his unconditional love for Lotte, the desire for death constantly grew within Werther whereby he expressed, “Adieu! I see no end to my misery but the grave" (August 30). In conclusion, Werther's search for a place in society led him to examine himself relative to his own existence in the world. His desperate attempts to win Lotte’s heart have been the source of his sorrows and his ultimate doom. Anyone can say that the paths he has chosen toward maturity were irrational or impossible. In the story, he chose to fall in love with a woman already engaged. He chose to direct all his sorrows and anger on her. He undeniably lacked courage to face defeat and rejection. He chose to end his existence. Werther’s story shouldn’t be taken as an account of a young man who has seen life as it really is but instead, it should taken as the choice between duty and inclination. I believe there is a young Werther characteristic in all of us and we must always seek to achieve a balance between reason and passion. This will make it possible for us to live productive lives as compared to Werther’s story.

C. Ozcan - is the author for Site Insaat Inc. Please visit <A HREF="http://www.siteinsaat.com">Istanbul Construction Guide at Site Insaat</a> for more information about Turkey architects contractors and construction companies in Istanbul, Turkey.

Career Moves: Take Charge of Your Life
Every day millions of people let their inner fears stop them from creating the life of their dreams. No one will deny that it is scary to step out of your comfort zone, but once you challenge your fear and take action, you can attain great things. 1. Dream Great Dreams Imagine you could be, do, and have anything you want. How is what you want for your future different from your life today? Once you've identified your dream, you can take the steps to make it come true. 2. Make A Decision In every decision we make, we exert a power to shape and control our own life. Unfortunately, instead of pursuing our own empowerment, we sometimes blame our choices on things that have nothing to do with us. Understand you have power over your personal choices. Notice how your life changes with every decision you make, no matter how small. Take responsibility for your decisions so you can shape your ultimate path. 3. Exercise Your Power To Choose Simply dreaming great dreams will not change your life; rather, it is what you do with these dreams that is important. Sift your dreams, created in your right brain, through the logical sieve of your mind-your left brain. In order to achieve the dream, the left hemisphere has to believe that the dream is within the realm of possibility. Only then can the subconscious mind help us make the dream happen. 4. Form A Support Team Enroll people in your dream who can help you attain it. Many people find it difficult the accept help. They think they should be able to do everything themselves or that they will feel obligated to someone for their assistance. Remember, no person is an island. No one has all the answers and there are many unique ways to pay someone back. Find support early in the process and your journey will be much more fun and rewarding! 5. Keep Score Keep track of your progress and decide if where you are now is where you projected you would be. Learn from your successes and failures and determine what you need to work on to achieve your goals. 6. Establish A Baseline The baseline is where you are now; it is your line of scrimmage. With all you have built, now it is time to move forward. If something interrupts your progress, you will need to evaluate what went wrong, make some adjustments, and start moving again. 7. Know Where The Goal Line Is The goal line is your desired outcome. As you focus on the long-term goal, don't forget the short-term goals. Setting and attaining small goals helps give your self-confidence a boost and keeps you motivated to continue plugging toward your long-term goals. 8. Reward Yourself Kudos from others are great, but it is also important to reward yourself. Commit to paper how you will reward yourself when you reach a certain goal and follow through. Take that exotic vacation you have dreamed about or buy something special to remind you of your success. The thrill of the game of life is charting a course, facing challenges head on, and holding someone else's hand along the way. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. Either way, when you focus on the big picture and refuse to let past mistakes keep you down, you create a future that is filled with possibility. So live to the fullest in the present moment and make the most of it to achieve your vision.

Jo Condrill's career took her from a part-time job in Texas to a supervisory position in the Pentagon in less than ten years, and she never wore a uniform. Sign up for her monthly newsletter at no charge: http://www.goalminds.com Go here for her stories and guidance Take Charge of Your Life Sign Http://www.goalminds.com/primer.html

Your book is your baby, treat it like one...
Your Book is Your Baby. Treat it Like One! by EJ Thornton Most authors refer to their book as their "baby" without really knowing how accurate that comparison is. I found out as I wrote Angel On Board that writing a book is like a pregnancy, long, drawn out and private — only you can do it. It has to grow from the seed of an idea to the actual entity we hold in our hand the first time we see it in print. That first meeting is an incredibly memorable experience! Some people cry, some jump up and down — most just stand in awe that the book is finally real and they can hold it in their hands. Most, women at least, clutch it to their chest and are so proud, they can't hold back the tears.
It's a Book! It's a Baby!
Now, this book, like a baby, needs to be taken to professionals to "check it out." It needs an editor, a baby book doctor, to clean it up, check it out, cure its woes and medicate its weak spots. The editor, like a pediatrician, is on your side and wants what you do - a healthy baby book! Editors can cost you money, but you'd pay a doctor — right? You wouldn't trust your baby's health to an amateur (like your neighbor or your sister — even though they got an "A" in Health), so why would you trust your baby book's well-being to one? If you're smart, you won't.

Next, you want to share your baby with others. You want the world to know how great your baby is. This is where most new book parents go wrong. They think the book can speak for itself. It can't! You're going to be working long hours and sacrificing a lot of sleep. Much like a newborn baby is a full time job, so is a newborn book. New parents don't get a lot of rest because the demands of a baby are so intense - it is that way here too. You've taken on another full time job introducing your baby to the world. A press kit needs to be developed, press releases need to be written and sent, reviews need to requested, interviews need to be scheduled, book clubs and book stores need to be approached, book signings scheduled and networking needs to be done! Don't you send out birth announcements? Don't you schedule christenings and take your baby places to introduce them to the world? It's the same concept. No one knows about your baby has arrived, unless you tell them.

You'll have to invest money to support your new book project, just like you'd support your new baby. They can't support themselves yet — let alone you — it's crazy to expect them to!

Many book parents don't sell out of their first print run because they expect their baby to come out walking and talking. That baby needs carried and dressed and driven everywhere to introduce it to its readers. Then its readers will start to talk about it (a voice of its own). Its readers will recommend it to others (it starts to walk on its own). Now, thanks to your efforts and encouragement, you start to see your baby start to walk and talk on its own. And it's a thrill to start seeing sales come through from efforts beyond your own!

Your first print run will be as much expense as profit and so much work, you'll wonder why you're bothering. Many young parents ask themselves questions like, "Why did we want this again?" But then they pick up their baby, feel the love again, regain their strength and get going again. When the first print run is sold out - it is a milestone. Your baby is growing up and it's taken its first few steps.

When you make it into your second printing, you can see the impact of the first round's efforts and you, as a book parent, mature and enjoy how your book has grown. Now the book can support itself a little. This stage is much akin to when a child starts working odd jobs, like babysitting or lawn mowing. They create their own spending money — and they want to spend it on themselves! Hoorah! So, do — spend that money on the book, invest in advertising or flyers and postage or promotional material, memberships to authors groups or conferences or your own booth at trade show, and entry into catalogs with a good circulation. All these things the book can now do for itself and you can watch these new ventures pay off and ultimately, your second print run is sold out! You baby is growing up (but you're still probably driving them everywhere). You can see the potential of this new family member, you can see their personality develop and how they interact with the world. And you are so proud! During the third and fourth printings, you're dealing with a young adult book. They're out on their own, they're earning their own way, but they still want and need your involvement and encouragement in their lives and you love them so much, you can't imagine not being there for them.

If they make it to this point and you haven't quit on them (because it's only you who can quit), then it can support itself and in return take care of you. It has arrived! Your baby is all grown up, but just like adult children, you're still very involved in their life.

Now, what if you're a prolific writer? Just like that prolific parent, there's a second book on the way, while the first one is barely learning to walk. It happens, and with most authors, it happens A LOT! Like with a second baby, you're not so scared, you're smarter now, and you know without being told or questioning all the things that you need to do for a baby. The older sibling book many times can be helpful in raising the new book (especially if it is a series), but each will always be an individual (even if they look alike). Don't forget that, when you have a little family of books growing up right before your very eyes!

The other main point that new authors forget is that a book is a lifetime commitment — they'll have this beautiful baby all the rest of their lives and frankly, it will live on beyond them, just like our children do. Each one is a new addition to the family and must be nurtured and taken care of. You have the rest of your life to have a relationship with this baby and to watch it grow and become.

Don't rush the process, it is all a wonderful ride!

Angel On Board is now 8 years old and has two non-fiction 'brothers' and a little children's book sister. Its sibling sequel is due out in 2006 as well as more non-fiction reader's stories. To see EJ's finished works, go to Books To Believe in - EJ Thornton's page

EJ Thornton published her first book (Angel On Board) in 1998 and has sold several thousand copies. She currently runs a publishing house in Colorado where she helps other people's publishing careers get started. EJ is a author, speaker, instructor, business owner, publisher. EJ's latest book, Revenue Beyond Royalties teaches authors how to round out their talents to take advantage of all the revenue streams available to them.

Audio Books ? 10 Frequently Asked Questions ? Part 2
The audio books era is already here. I keep hearing phrases like: Audio book rental, free audio books, audio book club, audio books on CD, online audio book rental services etc.

Here are the next five frequently asked questions about audio books (and the answers of course):

6. What kinds of audio books do you recommend to listen to?
Listen to audio books that you would read. Meaning, if you like thrillers, listen to thriller audio books, if you are looking for children books, get children audio books etc.

Yet, I suggest you get to know more other successful audio books kinds such as language tutorials and motivation audio books.

7. Are the old fashioned books going to disappear?
I don?t think so. In fact, I still prefer reading books before I?m going to sleep. The experience is a different one, and some people still prefer the old books. Yet, I believe that the reading habits of most of the world?s population will change in the next century thanks to audio books.

8. Can I find any book in an audio book format?
Unfortunately not any book could be found as an audio book. Yet, almost any new book and any bestseller from the last century are getting published as an audio book. Most of the old books could be found in the format of books on tape and the new ones as downloadable audio books and audio books on CD.

9. How can I listen to downloadable audio books?
You could listen to downloadable audio books using a media player on your desk top or your note book computer. However, most people use audio players like iPod to listen to downloadable audio books.

10. Where should I get my audio books?
The best place to get audio books from would be one of the online audio book services.

Paton Jackson is the audio books? expert of 911 corp. Find the best audio books sources on <a target="_new" href=" http://www.911makemoretime.com/audio%20books%20bible.htm "> Audio books rental and more - The audio book bible</a> .

Make Money With Writing Books on Spirituality and Self Help: 10 Great Reasons To Become An Author Today
It was the first time I overheard someone whisper "she’s the author", as I walked into a book signing, that I suddenly realized that I had achieved something very special. Not only had I managed to get my book published, I now received respect and admiration from total strangers. Being an author even it today’s digitized world, is still an awe-inspiring accomplishment.

In 2005 USA TODAY reported eighty-two percent of Americans say they plan to write a book someday. I think the critical word here is 'plan'. If you want to be someone who really does write a book, you can begin right now by understanding how being an author will improve your life.

Here is my top ten list why you should become an author today, especially if you are a spirituality, self help or personal growth expert:

1. Authors are recognized as experts by virtue of having a book with their name on the cover


2. The media loves authors (i.e. experts) and uses them often, on all levels


3. Being an author improves your chances of getting paid speaking engagements


4. While you may not become a millionaire from writing a book, you can certainly improve your chances of increasing your income


5. When you go to your high school reunion, you can finally shove your book under the noses of all who snubbed you in your teenage years


6. If you ever felt that you weren’t 'smart enough', writing a book will certainly go a long way in curing that.


7. Being an author gives you a stronger sense of self-esteem


8. Your book will open doors and create business opportunities you wouldn't have received without it


9. Having a book gives you a platform for teaching workshops and seminars


10. Being an author is a great icebreaker at cocktail parties. (Hint: authors are often considered VIPs or celebrities! It’s true!)

When I started writing my first book, it wasn’t because I was sure I wanted Bill O’Reilly’s producer to have my name in his Rolodex to call whenever he needed a 'mystical' New Age expert. (In fact I’m not sure I’ve ever wanted that at all!) I didn’t devote hundreds of hours to stories of couples finding one another through magical, mystical ways just to impress strangers at a cocktail party. And I can definitely tell you I didn’t write six books just to tell my old high school classmates about it.

I wrote because I had to. I had a story inside of me that wouldn’t rest until I put it onto the page. The benefits of actually finishing the book and becoming a bona fide author and the other "reasons" were simply an afterthought.

I can do everything short of putting a cattle prod under you to get you started on writing your self help book, but, at the end of the day, writing has to be something you want to do. Sure, it’s hard to sit down day after day and stare at a blank computer screen. I know how hard it is to tell your mom or your husband that you only typed two pages in an entire day. I can tell you hundreds of great things about being an author, but not a single one will really get you to the finish line.

What will get you down the home stretch is the satisfaction of knowing that you’re being true to yourself. You dreamt of becoming an author because you had to. You envisioned title ideas and chapter outlines because they came to you and wouldn’t go away. You told your friends you wanted to write a book because you could and you will.

You are an author, and you always have been. All you need to do now is make it happen. It might not be scintillating cocktail banter that puts a finished manuscript in your hands, but keeping your eyes on the prize can’t hurt.

Arielle Ford is a world renowned publicist credited with launching the careers of Deepak Chopra and more than a dozen other New York Times best selling authors in the field of self help, spirituality and personal growth. To learn more, go to http://www.EverythingYouShouldKnow.com to sign up for Arielle's "Best Seller Strategies" newsletter and get a free copy of Arielle's guide, "Everything You Should Know About Marketing Yourself Positively & Powerfully On a Budget" free of charge.

The Latest Developments In The Audio Book World
In the recorded history of humanity, probably no invention has had a greater influence than the introduction of printing in the fifteenth century by Johannes Gutenberg. Nowadays, with the latest development in audio books, some believe that the printing era is coming to its' end.

If you are an audio book publisher, an audio book fan or just wondering whether you should try one of theses audio books everybody is talking about, you are in the right place. Find out the latest developments in this overwhelming market:

1. A higher percentage of books are being published as audio books — All the bestsellers, all the important magazines and journals and a high percentage of the new books are published also as audio books. More than that, thousands of classic books are published as audio books each year.
Audio books could be found in more and more shops — from book shops and music shops to many online sources like online audio book rental services.

2. Massive increases of potential customers — Audio books answer a certain need — the need to maximize time and productivity. Audio books are considered as excellent method to improve time management. In the competitive world we are living today time is money. Therefore, more and more people understand that to make the most of their time they should start using audio books.

3. Audio books are free — The mass production and the development of new technologies reduced the costs of audio books. One can get free downloadable audio books, low cost audio book rentals or pay a couple of bucks for a brand new audio book on cd or a book on tape.

4. A disposal audio book — downloadable audio books are the most popular audio book' method today — they are cheap and require only a MP3 player or other media player to play them. However, in the past year disposal audio books are published — there is no need for an external device, just the audio book a couple of AAA batteries.

Audio books will surprise publishers, book sellers and libraries that are not joining the celebration. I don't know what about you — but I don't have any more a book shelf in my house.

Paton Jackson is the head of 911 corp. We have made a comprehensive research about audio books. Let us share with you our finding – the best audio books sources, titles and much more audio book information only on <a href="http://www.911makemoretime.com/audio%20books%20bible.htm" target="_blank">http://www.911makemoretime.com/audio%20books%20bible.htm</a>

About Writing
Here's everything I know about improving your writing, publishing it electronically and in print, and promoting it after the sale.

Two questions you should ask:

(1) What will it cost me?
(2) What does this Michael LaRocca guy know about it?

Answer #1 -- It won't cost you a thing. The single most important bit of advice I can give you, and I say it often, is don't pay for publication.

My successes have come from investing time. Some of it was well spent, but most of it was wasted. It costs me nothing to share what I've learned. It costs you nothing to read it except some of your time.

Answer #2 -- "Michael LaRocca has been researching the publishing field for over ten years."

This quote, from an ezine (electronic newsletter) called Authors Wordsmith, was a kind way of saying I've received a lot of rejections. Also, my "research" required 20 years.

But in my "breakout" year (2000), I finished writing four books and scheduled them all for publication in 2001. I also began editing for one of my publishers, a job I've been enjoying ever since.

After my first book was published, both my publishers closed. Two weeks and three publishers later, I was back on track. All four books were published, and a fifth was released in 2004. Written in 2003, no rejections. Another scheduled for 2005 publication, no rejections.

See how much faster it was the second time around? That's because I learned a lot.

Also, I found more editing jobs. That's what I do when I'm not writing, doing legal transcription, or doing English consulting work in Thailand (my new home). But the thing is, if I'd become an editor before learning how to write, I'd have stunk.

2005 EPPIE Award finalist. 2004 EPPIE Award finalist. 2002 EPPIE Award finalist. Listed by Writers Digest as one of The Best 101 Websites For Writers in 2001 and 2002. Sime-Gen Readers Choice Awards for Favorite Author (Nonfiction & Writing) and Favorite Book (Nonfiction & Writing). 1982 Who's Who In American Writing.

Excuse me for bragging, but it beats having you think I'm unqualified.

I'll tell you what's missing from this monologue. What to write about, where I get my ideas from, stuff like that. Maybe I don't answer this question because I think you should do it your way, not mine. Or maybe because I don't know how I do it. Or maybe both.

Once you've done your writing, this essay should help you with the other stuff involved in being a writer. Writing involves wearing at least four different hats. Writer, editor, publication seeker, post-sale self-promoter.

Here's what I can tell you about my writing.

Sometimes an idea just comes to me out of nowhere and refuses to leave me alone until I write about it. So, I do.

And, whenever I read a book that really fires me up, I think, "I wish I could write like that." So, I just keep trying. I'll never write THE best, but I'll always write MY best. And get better every time. That's the "secret" of the writing "business," same as any other business. Always deliver the goods.

I read voraciously, a habit I recommend to any author who doesn't already have it. You'll subconsciously pick up on what does and doesn't work. Characterization, dialogue, pacing, plot, story, setting, description, etc. But more importantly, someone who doesn't enjoy reading will never write something that someone else will enjoy reading.

I don't write "for the market." I know I can't, so I just write for me and then try to find readers who like what I like. I'm not trying to whip up the next bestseller and get rich. Not that I'd complain. But I have to write what's in my heart, then find a market later. It makes marketing a challenge at times, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

When you write, be a dreamer. Go nuts. Know that you're writing pure gold. That fire is why we write.

An author I greatly admire, Kurt Vonnegut, sweats out each individual sentence. He writes it, rewrites it, and doesn't leave it alone until it's perfect. Then when he's done, he's done.

I doubt most of write like that. I don't. I let it fly as fast as my fingers can move across the paper or keyboard, rushing to capture my ideas before they get away. Later, I change and shuffle and slice.

James Michener writes the last sentence first, then has his goal before him as he writes his way to it.

Then there's me. No outline whatsoever. I create characters and conflict, spending days and weeks on that task, until the first chapter leaves me wondering "How will this end?" Then my characters take over, and I'm as surprised as the reader when I finish my story.

Some authors set aside a certain number of hours every day for writing, or a certain number of words. In short, a writing schedule.

Then there's me. No writing for three or six months, then a flurry of activity where I forget to eat, sleep, bathe, change the cat's litter... I'm a walking stereotype. To assuage the guilt, I tell myself that my unconscious is hard at work. As Hemingway would say, long periods of thinking and short periods of writing.

I've shown you the extremes in writing styles. I think most authors fall in the middle somewhere. But my point is, find out what works for you. You can read about how other writers do it, and if that works for you, great. But in the end, find your own way. That's what writers do.

Just don't do it halfway.

If you're doing what I do, writing a story that entertains and moves you, you'll find readers who share your tastes. For some of us that means a niche market and for others it means regular appearances on the bestseller list.

Writing is a calling, but publishing is a business. Remember that AFTER you've written your manuscript. Not during.

I've told you how I write. For me.

=====

** EDITING **

The next step is self-editing. Fixing the mistakes I made in my rush to write it before my Muse took a holiday. Several rewrites. Running through it repeatedly with a fine-toothed comb and eliminating cliches like "fine-toothed comb."

Then what?

There are stories that get rejected because the potential publisher hates them, or feels they won't SELL (as if he knows), but more are shot down for other reasons. Stilted dialogue. Boring descriptions. Weak characters. Underdeveloped story. Unbelievable or inconsistent plot. Sloppy writing.

That's what you have to fix.

I started by using free online creative writing workshops. What I needed most was input from strangers. After all, once you're published, your readers will be strangers. Every publisher or agent you submit to will be a stranger. What will they think? I always get too close to my writing to answer that.

Whenever I got some advice, I considered it. Some I just threw out as wrong, or because I couldn't make the changes without abandoning part of what made the story special to me. Some I embraced. But the point is, I decided. It's my writing.

After a time, I didn't feel the need for the workshops anymore. I'm fortunate enough to have a wife whose advice I will always treasure, and after a while that was all I needed. But early on, it would've been unfair to ask her to read my drivel. (Not that I didn't anyway, but she married me in spite of it.)

Your goal when you self-edit is to get your book as close to "ready to read" as you possibly can. Do not be lazy and do not rush. You want your editor to find what you overlooked, not what you didn't know about, and you want it to be easy for him/her. EASY! Easy to edit, easy to read. It's a novel, not a blog.

Your story is your story. You write it from your heart, and when it looks like something you'd enjoy reading, you set out to find a publisher who shares your tastes. What you don't want is for that first reader to lose sight of what makes your story special because you've bogged it down with silly mistakes.

Authors don't pay to be published. They are paid for publication. Always. It's just that simple. Later, I'll tell you where to get some free editing. But there's a limit to how much editing you can get without paying for it. Do you need more than that? I don't know because I've never read your writing. But if you evaluate it honestly, I think you'll know the answer.

As an editor, I've worked with some authors who simply couldn't self-edit. Non-native English speakers, diagnosed dyslexics, blind authors, guys who slept through English class, whatever. To them, paying for editing was an option. This isn't paying for publication. This is paying for a service, training. Just like paying to take a Creative Writing class at the local community college.

By the way, I don't believe creativity can be taught. Writing, certainly. I took a Creative Writing class in high school, free, and treasure the experience. But I already had the creativity, or else it would've been a waste of the teacher's time and mine.

(Later I taught Creative Writing in China. We call this irony. One of my former English teachers also had Rod Serling as a student.)

If you hire an editor worthy of the name, you should learn from that editor how to self-edit in the future. In my case it took two tries, because my first "editor" was a rip-off artist charging over ten times market value for incomplete advice.

That editor, incidentally, is named Edit Ink, and they're listed on many "scam warning" sites. They take kickbacks from every fake agent who sends them a client. (I'll talk about fake agents later.) Avoid such places at all costs, and I will stress the word "costs." Ouch!

If you choose to hire an editor, check price and reputation. For a ballpark figure, I charge less than a penny a word. Consider that you might never make enough selling your books to get back what you pay that editor. Do you care? That's your decision.

Your first, most important step on the road to publication is to make your writing the best it can be.

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** PUBLICATION **

My goal is to be published in both mediums, ebook and print. There are some readers who prefer ebooks, and some who prefer print books. The latter group is larger, but those publishers are harder to sell your writing to. I want to be published in both mediums, because I want all the readers I can get.

Before you epublish, check the contract to be sure you can publish the EDITED work in print later.

If you know your book just plain won't ever make it into traditional print, print-on-demand (POD) is an option. Some of my books fall into this category. The best epublishers will simultaneously publish your work electronically and in POD format, at no cost to you.

A lot of authors swear by self-publication, but the prospect just plain scares me. All that promo, all that self-editing, maybe driving around the countryside with a back seat full of books. I'm a writer, not a salesman. Maybe you're different.

I self-published once, in the pre-POD days. Mom handled the sales. I had fun and broke even. With POD, at least it's easier (and probably cheaper) to self-publish than it was in 1989, because you'll never get stuck with a large unsold inventory.

POD setup fees can range anywhere from US$100 to well over $1000. Don't pay the higher price! Price shop. Also, remember that POD places publish any author who pays, giving them a real credibility problem with some reviewers and readers, and that they do no marketing.

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** PROMOTING YOUR PUBLISHED WRITING **

It doesn't matter how you publish your book. Self-published, epublished, POD, or traditional print publishing from a small press or an absolute powerhouse. Marketing falls largely on you, and the same things always work. Book signings, book reviews and interviews in the local newspapers and on radio. (Or Oprah, but what are our chances?)

Start with http://www.kidon.com/media-link/index.shtml. It will allow you to look up all the local media outlets in your area that have websites.

If you write to them all, you're a spammer. Plus, it'll take ages. Look for the ones with a legitimate interest and fire away.

If you find a stale URL, and I think you will, look for the name of that media outlet at some place like Google. Spend some time looking for the right press contacts, spend some time writing your press release, and do what you can.

Most of these sites list email, snail mail, and phone numbers. Since I live in Asia, I've only used email.

Book reviews, author interviews, book listing sites, and book contests are something we can all do, regardless of where we live.

Aside from two radio interviews and a seminar in Hong Kong, and some emailed press releases to the LOCAL media back in the US which may or may not have succeeded in anything, my marketing has come from the Internet.

I have a website. I have a newsletter. I write free articles such as this one. You found me somehow, right?

Here's the type of message I receive often in email. To be more precise, in spam.

"If a million people see your ad, and you get 1% of them, that's 10,000 readers and therefore $15,000 profit and you only paid 1000 for those million addresses."

NO!! It doesn't work that way. Need I use the words dot-com bust?

My website is free. My newsletter is free. I don't buy mailing lists, I don't harvest email addresses, and I don't spam. I want interested traffic, not just sheer numbers.

Do you think the Phoenicians tried to sell sails to people a thousand miles from water?

Internet marketing isn't a replacement for the methods mentioned above, but a complement to them. And by using it, I got you here. Hi!

Your goal in marketing is this. There are people in the world who like what you like. And since you like your book, they probably will too. You have to find those readers and make them interested, without spamming them and without "playing the numbers game."

If you're an e-author, let me state the obvious. Nobody buys ebooks who doesn't have Internet access. Do they? So you definitely need a website.

Traditional print authors need websites too. Even blockbuster authors like J.R. Rowling and Stephen King, who I doubt could garner any more name recognition, have websites. So does every long-established inescapable monstro-business from hell like McDonalds and Coke.

Okay, those folks pay web designers. I'm not doing that. I can't generate sales like that. And yes, I've been employed as an HTML programmer. But you can write your own website without learning HTML if you want. It's no harder than writing a manuscript with a word processor.

It won't be super-flashy like the big boys, but it'll communicate the information. Remember, you can communicate. You're an author! That's what keeps people coming back to a website after the thrill of the flash wears off. Information. Content. Your specialty. Not a ticket to massive overnight traffic, but slow steady growth.

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** CLOSING THOUGHTS **

Here's something you've heard before. When your manuscript is rejected -- and it will be -- remember that you aren't being rejected. Your manuscript is.

Did you ever hang up the phone on a telemarketer, delete spam, or close the door in the face of a salesman? Of course, and yet that salesman just moves on to the next potential customer. He knows you're rejecting his product, not him.

Okay, in my case I'm rejecting both, but I'd never do that to an author. Neither will a publisher or an agent. All authors tell other authors not to take rejection personally, and yet we all do. Consider it a target to shoot for, then. Just keep submitting, and just keep writing.

The best way to cope with waiting times is to "submit and forget," writing or editing other stuff while the time passes.

And finally, feel free to send an e-mail to me anytime. michaellarocca@chinarice.org. I'll gladly share what I know with you, and it won't cost you a cent.

I would wish you luck in your publishing endeavors, but I know there's no luck involved. It's all skill and diligence.

Congratulations on completing the course! No ceremonies, no degrees, and no diplomas. But on the bright side, no student loan to repay.

Who Moved My Rice? http://www.chinarice.org You can't eat grits with chopsticks

With Audiobooks You Can Now Multitask.
New advances in technology have bought with it the evolution of the MP3 player as well as audiobooks. Never before has there been a time when it has been so easy to learn and absorb information and news while performing other various tasks. Small portable MP3 players like iPods have made it easy to carry around a huge database of information to listen to and absorb while performing other daily tasks. Audiobooks can now be enjoyed while exercising. It doesn’t matter whether it’s jogging in the park, riding your bike to work, pounding up and down on equipment in a gym or walking along a beach. Audiobooks allow you the ability to take time out for exercising while at the same being able to listen to and absorb your favourite author or book. All you need to do is place your MP3 player in your pocket, place the earphones in your ears and away you go. Audiobooks are great for learning and studying at the same time. Audiobooks give you the ability to listen to study material and the freedom to take notes at the same time. Audiobooks are great for slow readers as it gives them the extra time to concentrate on studying rather than on the time it takes them to read. Slow reader’s have a huge advantage as well as they are able to take more in while listening. Audiobooks are great for learning while doing mundane house chores or other forms of chores like guttering, painting, cleaning out the shed, moving furniture or the dreaded mowing. Listening to audiobooks while performing mundane chores can improve your overall work performance as it takes the focus off the mundane chore you are performing. It is also a great stress reliever as listening to audiobooks allows you to focus on the positive audiobook not the negative mundane chore you are doing. Relaxing and keeping hygienic at the same time. This is one of my favourite ways to multi task. No more soggy books with this one. You just lay back in a nice bubble filled bath, press play on the iPod and study away. This is a great way to study, you can take more in as you are fully relaxed and the pressure is off the study and onto relaxing and cleaning. It’s also great for reducing stress especially around exam time. You can also learn while sleeping with audiobooks. It has been said that 10 minutes after you go to sleep you brain moves into alpha state which is the state where you take most information in. So plug in the headphones and have a nice peaceful sleep while listening to your favourite audiobook. Audiobooks are great when surfing the internet. You can surf; play games, chat, Skype, or do a whole range of other activities while on your computer. You can download an audiobook and be learning within minutes while doing whatever other task you may need to do on your computer. You can even listen to the audiobook if you happen to take a break away from the computer for a short or long time. Just plug your MP3 player into your computer and download the Audiobook straight to your MP3 player and then listen to it when you want. There are lots of other ways you can multitask with Audiobooks. These are just a few examples of some of the ways you can multitask with audiobooks as well as with such devices as MP3 players and computers.

Jia Hunter is an avid audiobook follower and listener. He runs an information website that provides downloadable audiobooks from the world leading publishers’ titles. He offers regular special bonuses and offers as well as free downloadable audiobooks. So take advantage of this and go to the online audiobook store at www.heartmagik.com

How Nearly Finished Got Lucky
Lying next to Richard Branson is terrific. There’s a buzz. Everyone wants to touch you. “â€�Wowâ€�, people gasp, “you and Richard Branson. Amazing. Who would have thought of the two of you together â€" you from Cape Town and Mr B, the global entrepreneurâ€�. Indeed. Before you get too excited, let me explain. I am talking about my little book, Nearly Finished â€" a guide to home renovation (Double Storey, $16) which for a few weeks, lay on the shelf (see, I told you not to get excited) next to Mr. Branson’s bestselling little book, called, Screw It, Let's Do It (Virgin Books, $5.80). Our books nestled side-by-side at my local book shop in a section where they place the ten top selling titles of the week. The list is for that store only. Sure, it is not the national hit parade or The New York Times Best Selling list, but it was a huge rush for yours truly. To bask in the afterglow of Mr Branson’s fame was lovely. Nearly Finished is based on articles I was commissioned to write for the Cape Times on the renovation of our house. South African publishers, Double Storey approached me and invited me to develop the newspaper series into a book. When Nearly Finished was released, we were on holiday. On our return, we found that the little bookie was at no 9 at the bookshop. Thrilling. It soon moved to number four. Mr B was at no 3. Major thrills. Armed with a skinny cappuccino, I sat in the coffee shop adjoining the book shop, monitoring the action and smoozing potential buyers: “Hey, why are you not buying my book?! I’ll even sign it for youâ€�. A fascinating pattern emerged. People began picking up Mr Branson’s Screw it, Let’s Do It and then reached for Nearly Finished. Or the other way round. I was chuffed. I am still a virgin with this literary gig, so when I see someone buying my book, I can’t control myself: “Omigod â€" you’re buying my bookâ€�, I squealed to a nice man. “Well, since I am with the subject of screwing, I thought I’d buy Nearly Finished as well. Aren’t they about the same thing?â€�, he answered. Hmm. Consider a review on Amazon for Screw it: “ …Screw It, Let's Do It reveals the lessons that have helped him through his business and personal life, like believing it can be done and that, if others disagree with you, try and try again until you achieve your goal or that you must love what you do.â€� Exactly. In Nearly Finished, we reveal the lessons that helped us through the renovating process and our utter belief that it could be accomplished, even when others disagreed with us; when they said that it couldn’t be done; we persevered. When they said that we would fail if we sub-contracted and worked without a project manager or fancy designer, we said, ‘screw it - let’s do it’. Our philosophy is that anyone can build or renovate. Our mission: to demystify building. Get a handful of three inch screws and pay someone else to get on with your job. Love your home. Enjoy it. With property values rocketing globally and living spaces shrinking â€" we are after the same thing. As homeowners who live in Cape Town, New York, London or Shanghai, we want to make the most of our homes, maybe buff them up a little bit or a lot. Ultimately, we all want to finish. Although Nearly Finished is a story about one family’s experience of building in Cape Town (that’s us) and is not meant to be an A-Z of building, it does contain universal reference points and tips about the building process; what can go wrong and what to look out for. It is full of lessons we can draw from wherever we are in the global village â€" to help us take our homes from “need some workâ€� to “simply stunningâ€�

Nearly Finished is based on a series of articles, the Story of My House, which Robyn Cohen was commissioned to write for the Cape Times, documenting the renovation of the family’s home, which is nearly, but not quite, finished. Cohen is a Cape Town based writer, artist and photographer. She is a columnist and regular contributor to the Cape Times and other publications and treats herself to an excellent cappuccino every day with lots of chocolate sprinkles. Her beat includes writing on books, culture, humour, food, décor/design and travel. She has derived considerable décor inspiration from staying in magnificent hotels in exotic locations with her family. It is a tough gig, but someone has to do it. She is a member of SAFREA (South African Freelancers Association). Buy her book at <a href="http://www.abillionbooks.com">aBillionbooks.com</a>

Your Guide To Online Audio Book Rental
Online audio book rental is so easy that we simply can not understand why some people are still buying audio books. Online audio book rental service offer the best deals on the audio books world today — Unlimited rental, No due dates, an enormous variety of downloadable audio books, cheap prices and much more.

Follow the following steps to start renting audio books online immediately:

1. Write down your expectations from the online audio book rental service:
The type of the audio books you are looking for — Fiction audio books, children audio book, business journals etc.

The amount of audio books you wish to listen to each month (or the audio book rental frequency)
The amount of money you wish to spend on audio book rental each month.

2. Go over the audio book rental plans at the main online audio book rental services and find out the proper plan that meets your expectations. If you are unsure with the plan you have chosen, don't worry because most rental plans have a free trial during which you can cancel it and get your money back

3. Sign up and enter your personal and payment details. In most of the rental services this procedure is easy and takes less than 5 minutes. In this phase you will choose the plan and select whether you wish to rent audio books on Cd, books on tape or downloadable audio books.

4. Prepare a list of the audio books you wish to rent. In most online audio book rental services you will have to check which of the audio books is currently available. However, in some audio book rental services you could enter the list and the next available audio book will be send to you.

5. Get the audio books. Download them or get them delivered to your house in two business days. Enjoy listening to the audio books while exercising, driving, cleaning house, hiking, running marathons, dropping the kids off at school - Wherever and whenever you want.

Paton Jackson, a member of 911 corp. is the author of this article. Let us share with you the findings of our audio books research – the best online audio books rental services and much more audio book information only on <a href="http://www.911makemoretime.com/audio%20books%20bible.htm" title="http://www.911makemoretime.com/audio%20books%20bible.htm" target="_blank">http://www.911makemoretime.com/audio%20books%20bible.htm</a>