The Info Treasure Trove

So often in the US we see foreign comments about us which are clearly so jaded they do not warrant any sort of response. Often these comments come from anti-Globalists or Anti-American groups and they use our negative news against us. In fact they recite the worst of it and embellish it and then trash the USA in online Blogs. Well here is one right back at them;

President Bush and his administration along with the US Military has prevented WW III by going into Iraq. Now unfortunately we see we have another issue in Iran, which must be dealt with for the future of mankind. So we must rise to that occasion.

You anti-everything bloggers are stating poll numbers which sway like the wind based on mass media content information overload of the human mind in the living rooms of America. TV is not reality, well I know that is an obvious statement, but really in the over all scheme of things, it is not even close.

You bloggers are so anti-American, anti-globilist, anti-World Bank, Anti-Western World. You are pro-Terrorist nation state sponsor, pro-nuclear detonation in Israel, pro-insurgency in Iraq killing US Troops, pro-Iranian fanatic fundamentalism. And you are trying to convince a “Blue Blood American” that the United States of America is to blame for the World’s ills?

Give me a break, have you taken a look lately at the corruption of the vocal political opponents of the United States, Western Democracy and liberty and freedom for all peoples? Bringing the World together in a common cause, why are you supporting those who oppose this and continue to carrying on in their acts of terror and violence? Take that you anti-USA blogging scoundrels from hell!

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

A poem or verse is a literary composition used to express
emotions or ideas using literary techniques like rhyme and
metaphor. Although there are no set rules for creating poetry,
these tips will help you create your own baby shower verses:

1) Often, a one-line verse may be all you need. Short verses are
good for personalized gifts where there is limited space, like
engraved candles or personalized gift tags. An easy way to
create an effective verse is to have a word in the middle rhyme
with a word at the end of the verse.

2) If the baby already has a name, then their name can
potentially be used in the verse. The new parents’ names can
also be used if desired. Try to write down as many words that
rhyme with the selected name, then construct a verse.

3) Four line verses are quite popular for baby shower poems. The
easiest form of such poetry is to have the second and fourth
line rhyme. To brainstorm, try to write down as many baby
related words that you can think of, and then try to write down
rhyming words. Two or three verses will make a nice sized poem
for invitations and birth announcements.

4) Poems don’t have to rhyme at all. You can also use imagery
and metaphors to create beautiful verbal pictures. Try to think
of all the emotions and images that may come from having a baby.

5) Also, if you are using poetry for announcements or gifts, it
is also nice to include pictures or clip art graphics. If you
are artistic, then you can create these yourself. Otherwise,
search online for baby graphics or clip art.

A final tip is to read other people’s poetry and verses to see
how they are structured. Greeting cards sometimes contain good
verses as well. A baby shower verse or poem is a great touch for
your baby shower invitations and gifts.

About the Author - Criss White is a professional web writer
on baby and new mother topics for baby and pregnancy websites.
To see other related items, go to Baby
Shower Verses
(http://www.101babyshowerideas.com/bsverses.htm) and Baby Shower
Poems (http://www.101babyshowerideas.com/bspoems.htm). Note:
If you find this article useful, you may reprint it on your
website, e-zine, or in your newsletter as long as the credits
above remain in tact and the hyperlinks stay active.

It’s tempting when starting out as a freelancer to want to take any assignment that comes along. But is that a good idea? Should you seek out work in all types of niches? Or should you specialize?

We asked AWAI board member Bob Bly, for his thoughts. Here’s what he had to say…

“There are very important reasons to become a specialist as a copywriter, graphic designer, or travel writer . . . AFTER you’ve become established in your career.

“As a specialist, you’re an expert. You don’t have to spend as much time researching your product area as you do if the niche is brand-new to you. You have a more robust “swipe file.” Your writing or designing is easier — and you’re able to complete assignments much faster.

“As a specialist, you develop a reputation among potential clients as an expert who develops the perfect package every time . . . a freelancer who is on time and knowledgeable.

“And, as a specialist, you command more money than a generalist. While it may seem like you narrow your opportunities by specializing, the reality is that you have less difficulty getting good paying assignments. It’s the same principle that allows brain surgeons to charge more than internists.

“But, as I said, this is AFTER you’ve become established.

“Cast a wide net when you’re starting out. However, you should not take just ‘anything that comes along.’ If you do, your work will show it. Instead, adopt a ‘broad-specialization’ approach.

“Begin by writing down 10 things you are passionate about. And I’m serious. Write them down. Does the stock market get your heart pounding? Are you constantly advising friends about alternative health? Are you an information junkie? If so, add these potential specialties to your list.

“Do not limit yourself to business subjects. What are your hobbies and leisure interests? Are you a rabid fisherman? Do you love to read? Are you a fanatical quilter? Look closely at your life and what you choose to do in your free time. There are no better areas to specialize in than those that excite you. You write or design passionately about the things you love.

“Have you been working at your job or in the same industry for 10, 20, or 30 years? That qualifies you as an expert! One of my students was a schoolteacher for 28 years. I told her to look into marketing educational supplies — which she did quite successfully.

“However, don’t make a mistake that many new freelancers make and limit yourself solely to those areas. Be open to new things that sound interesting. I know a copywriter who successfully specialized in health, computers, and investing. He was approached to do some real estate writing, which he’d never done. He tried it and loved it. And can make an outstanding amount of money doing it!

“If you’re a travel writer, adopt the same broad-specialization approach. Develop a list of 10 to 15 destinations or travel activities you enjoy. This will be the basis of your job-seek list. At first, however, I do not advise you to specialize in specific types of travel articles (destination, special-interest, side-trip, and the like).

“By adopting this broad-specialization approach, you’re not quite a generalist. But, by the same token, you haven’t established yourself as a specialist yet — the approach that will eventually move you up into a higher income range.

“You’ll discover that finer-focused specialization will happen almost automatically over the course of a year or two. You may have started out working in 10 areas, but let’s say your last six out of eight assignments were all for investment newsletters. Guess what? You’re an investment-newsletter specialist. If you’ve had 13 eco-tourism articles accepted over the past year, you’re a specialist in eco-tourism!

“Broad specialization is an effective way to build the skills you are learning as a graphic designer, copywriter, or travel writer. But remember to specialize in areas that excite and intrigue you. Your passion will shine through . . . your work will sparkle with your enthusiasm . . . you’ll be able to develop strong packages that sell every time. And you’ll gain a reputation as a top freelancer in your field.”

Reprinted from the American Writers & Artists Institute’s weekly e-zine, “The Golden Thread” http://www.awaionline.com/thegoldenthread

If you’re going to make a living by writing books, you need to understand how a book royalty gets calculated. That’s how the author gets paid, ultimately, if the book becomes a successful bestseller. What’s more, the royalties the publisher expects the book to earn determine the advance the publisher will pay the writer up front.

Royalty Accounting Only Starts Off Simple

Royalty calculations start out pretty simple. Royalties get calculated by multiplying the price of a book by the royalty percentage. Sometimes, the price used in the calculation is the retail price that the customer pays for the book in some bookstore. Sometimes, the price used in the calculation is the wholesale price that the publisher receives from the bookstores and wholesalers who buy the book.

Assume that you’ve written a book that retails for $20. Further assume that the royalty percentage is five percent. To calculate the royalty you earn per book sold you multiply five percent, or .05, times $20. The result equals $1. So that’s the royalty you earn for every book the publisher sells.

Many authors and agents prefer royalties based on retail prices. The calculation is simple to understand. It’s simple to compute. And there are limited opportunities for argument about whether the calculations are correct.

Big Authors Often Do It Differently

Some very powerful authors receive a set royalty amount per book–such as $1–which is essentially a variation of the royalty based on a retail price. The agent, through his agent, says something to the publisher such as, “I don’t care what you sell it for, just give me $1.”

Wholesale-price Royalties are Common–and Complicated

Royalties based on wholesale prices–which are technically called net royalties–get a little more complicated. Again assume that you’ve written a book that retails for $20. Assume that the royalty percentage is ten percent. Ten percent, in other words, is the royalty percentage that the publisher applies to the wholesale price that its customers pay for your book.

Okay, so far so good. Unfortunately, calculating the wholesale price of a book is tricky. Publishers calculate the wholesale by discounting the retail price by some percentage. And the discount percentage depends on the number of books that the bookseller or wholesale orders from publisher. If a bookseller or wholesaler buys from one to four copies, the discount might be 46% which means your $20 book wholesales for $10.80. If the bookseller or wholesaler buys between 51 and 500 copies, the discount might be 52% which means your $20 book wholesales for $9.60.

These differences affect the royalty you earn on a book, of course. Assume that the publisher pays you 10 percent. If the publisher sells a book for $10.80, you earn $1.08. If the publisher sells a book for $9.60, you earn $.96.

And here’s something else to consider: Using the earlier price discount schedule, you might assume that the only time the publisher discounts your books by the biggest possible discount is when the publisher receives a large order for your books. But the bookseller or wholesaler applies the discount to the total order they place. If Barnes and Noble orders five hundred copies of some other bestseller that your publisher sells and three copies of your book, the price for your books is also calculated by discounting the retail price by the biggest discount, which might be 54%.

You now need to understand something else that’s really important. Publishing contracts usually don’t specify just one royalty rate. They specify a schedule of royalty rates. Normal sales to bookstores use the regular rate. And authors always focus on that rate.

However, other rates come into play in special situations. If your book sells an enormous number of copies, such as more than 25,000, the contract may say you get a higher royalty rate (perhaps 15% instead of 10%, for example). If your book sells through a book-of-the-month club, outside the country, or at the biggest price discount, the contract may say you get a lower royalty rate (perhaps 5% instead of 10%, for example).

Now at this point, you may be thinking that I’m making an awfully big deal about a situation where we’re talking about pennies. But the combination of these price discount schedules and royalty rate schedules hugely impact your royalties.

Suppose you and a publisher agree that you earn a 10% wholesale-price-based royalty on a book that wholesales for $10. Further suppose that there are two exceptions to this accounting treat. You get only a 5% royalty on deeply discounted sales, but you get a 15% royalty on any copies sold after the first 25,000 units. Here the various royalties per unit amounts you might earn:

1. If your publisher sells a copy of your book for $10.80 and it’s not deeply discount and the book hasn’t yet sold 25,000 copies, you earn $1.08.

2. If your publisher sells a “deeply discounted” copy of your book for $9.20, you earn $.46.

3. If your publisher sells a copy of your book for $10.80 and it’s not deeply discounted and the book has sold 25,000, you earn $1.62.

Those are very large differences. Take the situation where a book becomes a big success and sells 50,000 copies. In the worst possible case, you might earn $23,000 in royalties (calculated as 50,000 times $.46). In the best possible case, you might earn $68,000 in royalties (calculated as 25,000 times $1.08 plus 25,000 times $1.64).

I’ve actually had this experience. The terms of the publishing contract prohibit me from identifying either the book or the publisher, but in the first year of sales, my bestselling book sold 90,000 copies. I knew the numbers would be big. The publisher kept reprinting the book, 10,000 or 20,000 copies at a time. When I finally received the royalty statement and check, however, 70% of the books were sold at a big discount. Per the terms of the contract, this meant that I earned about $.40 a copy.

Two Practical Observations

That’s pretty much everything you need to know about royalties. But let me leave you with two practical observations about these royalty calculations. First, be careful about comparing your royalty rate or rates to the rate that you hear some other author received. The comparison is notoriously tricky. You don’t know which royalty rate the other author is referencing. In my experience, usually the author is talking about the best rate in the contract. But that rate may not even ever be used. And even if it is used, most of the books may be sold at lower royalty rates.

Second, while as mentioned earlier some authors prefer the retail royalty rate calculation, I’m not sure that in the end that arrangement works to the author’s economic advantage. Certainly some publishers abuse the wholesale royalty rate calculation. You or your agent need to watch for this. However, also know that a wholesale royalty rate gives the publisher flexibility to sell your book in crazy ways that put extra money in both your pocket and the publisher’s pocket.

Children grow up fast which means it is essential to consider saving when they’re young. By saving from just £10 to £25 a month with Scottish Friendly’s Child Bond now you could give them a head start for when they are older. Situations where this might prove useful might include helping to pay for university fees or making a payment to secure a place to live.

You can invest in a tax-free savings plan for any child with a Scottish Friendly Child Bond. It’s tax-free as it’s a friendly society savings plan, which means that under current legislation it grows free of income or capital gains tax. It can be a very welcome way for parents, grandparents, family members and friends to make a substantial financial difference when the childen are older.

To sum up the Child Bond is a with-profits investment plan: It invests for long-term growth as well as a certain element of security, in stocks and shares, fixed interest funds and cash.

The invested amount grows by means of the addition of potential annual bonuses and at the specified time the bond becomes payable there’s a tax-free payout. The value of bonuses will depend on how much profit we make and how we distribute it.
It must be realised that bonuses are not guaranteed.

The Child Bond may last for a minimum of ten years, but it is possible to invest for longer should you want - perhaps to coincide with an 18th or 21st birthday. You can save either monthly, annually or with a lump sum payment.We leave this completely up to you. Please note if the plan is cashed in before the end of the term, the amount the child will be paid may be less than the amount paid in.

If you go for the monthly option, you can make a start by saving from as little as £10 a month - up to a maximum of £25 a month. Or you can make yearly payments of up to £270 a year.

You can also pay all of the premiums in one go through our lump sum funding plan. If you invest the maximum permitted figure of £2,340 for a 10 year period, this actually invests £270 a year into the Child Bond - making twenty seven hundred pounds in total. The minimum lump sum of £1,040 will provide £120 a year for 10 years - a total of £1,200. This provides a way for you to pay all your premiums at a stroke and is extremely popular with grandparents who like the reassurance of knowing all premiums for the full length of the term of the plan are taken care of.

This plan includes life cover, so you should consider if this is suitable for your financial needs.

Fortunately for computer users things have moved forward over the last couple of years. Those wanting to use a computer are no longer tied to making use of a landline for Internet connection or trying to deal with dial-up speeds for laptops connecting while on the move.

Until relatively recently connecting a laptop outside of the home was a matter of finding a telephone connection to plug into or suffering with a mobile phone hook up which offered speeds that were often slower than dial-up of a decade ago.

Luckily now with the use of dongles laptops can connect almost anywhere at fast broadband speeds. A good place to compare the different faster broadband speeds available with different company’s packages is BroadbandGenie.com.

Now added into the mobile Internet mix is the advent of companies giving away a free laptop with broadband subscriptions. Now for the cost of a monthly fast Internet connection you can also avail yourself of a brand-new laptop for free.

All you as a consumer have to do is to take a little time to compare broadband deals that include a free laptop and decide which one best suits your specific personal needs.

All of the deals available are very similar but there are differences in the types of computers available and their capabilities. As well as the connection, speed and amount of download availability each month. So take a little time to compare these offers and then select one of the many great free laptop with broadband deals.

There are contrary interview techniques you can use during the actual interview. Here are two to get started with

Attention Aware Interview skill:

Limit the amount of talking you do. Interviewers have only a narrow attention time, to be specific there is only around 80 seconds where you have the interviewers attention after you begin responding to an interview query

The setting to the interview technique is :

As you originate your response to the interview question, you have your interviewers full attention. As time passes their attention is reducing rapidly. After 60 seconds, you have basically lost him/her. So train to deliver your answer in less than 60 seconds. Producing your highlight after 60 seconds will not necessarily reach the interviewer’s head! If you are not convinced by the level of detail you have contributed. Ask: “Do you wish me to expound more on this?”

Ask Questions Interview Technique:

Absorb the interviewer by asking questions. Asking questions improves your relations with the interviewer, and you will be more easily remembered after the interview. Interviewers are impressed by the interest you show in the occupation, sometimes even more than the selling points you talk about. If you can manage to get your interviewer talking about himself, you are doing commendably!

If you have an upcoming medical interview, click here for doctors going for their ST interview

What do people expect when they join a writing group?

The list of anticipated benefits includes friendship, constructive criticism, support, encouragement, help with editing, inspiration, and advice on everything from plotting to possible markets. These expectations may or may not be met.

The members of any group will come from diverse backgrounds, and will have diverse skills, knowledge and personalities. They may not be able to give you the kind of help you’re hoping for. You need to leave a meeting feeling that you have benefited from the experience. If you often go home feeling discouraged and seriously thinking about giving up writing, then this is not the group for you.

Certainly not everyone comes away from a group meeting feeling happy with the way things have turned out. It is not necessarily anyone’s fault that this is so. Quite simply, different people have different needs.

• Some writers are very earnest about their writing career, and they want meetings that get down to business. They usually have specific problems or questions they want to work on. They often have a self-imposed deadline to finish a novel - and they feel time spent chatting about anything but writing is time wasted.

• Others are quite content to work on a series of short exercises to hone their craft, and enjoy getting to know the other people in their group. To these people, the social aspects of the meetings are just as important as the writing.

There’s a place for both types of groups, as well as others in between. Conflict arises when you have those that want to get on with the job and those who are happy to potter along and chat, attending the same meetings. What can you do to make sure everyone is satisfied?

You could try splitting the group into two. This can be done in two ways:

1. Begin a meeting with the entire group present for any general business, market news and so on. After the first 15-30 minutes, divide into two or more work groups, depending on the size and needs of the group.

2. Split into two different groups that meet at different venues. Both groups could get together occasionally to swap notes.

Some leaders of ’splinter’ groups, formed because of different needs within groups, recommend that you make the membership requirements very clear before new members join. If, for example, you decide that you want only members who are (1) actively engaged in writing a novel for a certain age group or category; (2) are prepared to bring along at least 1000 words for critiquing to each meeting and (3) are prepared to bring along enough printed copies for each member, then make this clear from the start. A number of groups have a ‘try before you buy’ policy: would-be members may attend one or two meetings to observe before they make up their minds.

In General:

Beginning writers need a supportive, friendly atmosphere to hone their skills and learn to give and receive constructive criticism. They often need help with the basics: dialogue, plotting, motivation, and show-don’t-tell. They blossom in an atmosphere of caring and sharing.

More experienced writers may have just one or two weak areas on which they need to work. Often, they are well into a novel, or may be editing it ready to send to a publisher. Some may have been published before, perhaps in other genres. they don’t want (or can’t afford) to spend time constantly going back over the basics. They want to work on their own novels, not short exercises and drills.

Some DOs and DON’Ts for Critique Groups:

DO….

• Critique the work in terms of its intended market. The writer wants an evaluation of the work as it is presented, not criticism about his or her choice of genre or category.

• Praise what works as well as what doesn’t. Be specific. Rather than: ‘I thought their encounter at the shopping mall worked well’, say “You really heightened the suspense when John spotted Kieran at the mall and realised he’d been followed’. And be diplomatic - not: ‘I didn’t like the scene in the old castle’ but ‘I was really enjoying the story until the scene in the old castle - at that point John started to seem a bit of a bully. Is there some way you could lighten it a little?’

• Bring copies, if possible, of the pages you intend to read to the group. It’s a lot easier to pinpoint why something ‘doesn’t sound quite right’ if you see it on the page.

• Share the time fairly. You may have to nominate a time-keeper - especially if one member of the group consistently takes more time than he or she should.

• Use the ’sandwich’ technique - open with a positive comment, give suggestions for improvement, then finish with encouraging words. Helpful advice wrapped in encouragement and praise! Be honest, but be kind.

DON’T….

• Don’t argue with those offering advice. Advice is there for you to listen to and act on only if you want to. It’s a waste of time to defend your work. Remember, what you hear is an opinion, not a demand to rewrite. As a rule of thumb: if everyone picks on different things, change only what makes sense to you. If everyone criticises the same thing, you probably do need to work on that aspect.

• Don’t present your opinion in terms of ‘that’s wrong, this is right’. Offer alternatives; evaluate strengths and weaknesses; raise questions.

• Don’t lose patience with those who don’t seem to be ‘getting the message’, when the group has pointed out the same weaknesses several times. Instead, look for different ways to rephrase the same advice. People often take a while to ‘click’ with some aspect of the craft.

A Very Important ‘DON’T’

DON’T leave all the work up to one person. Not only is it unfair, it can result in the eventual disintegration of the group.

Take a close look: is your group coordinator becoming burnt out from doing all the encouraging, all the encouraging, all the preparation and bringing along all the ideas?

Consider these options:

• Elect a coordinator to be the contact person for mail and new members, but nominate a different chairperson for each meeting.

• Allot tasks to members (or ask for volunteers, if some members lack confidence) for future meetings. Spend a meeting brainstorming future workshop topics. Use people’s strengths - if someone writes great dialogue, ask that person to run a workshop or to devise group exercises on that topic.

• Discuss ways in which your meetings can be more fun; more inspiring; more helpful.

• Schedule a short session every three or four meetings to discuss existing meeting procedure, and to air any concerns about the direction of the group.
• Arrange occasional joint meetings with other writing groups in the area or in a nearby town.

(c) Copyright Marg McAlister

Marg McAlister has published magazine articles, short stories, books for children, ezines, promotional material, sales letters and web content. She has written 5 distance education courses on writing, and her online help for writers is popular all over the world. Sign up for her regular writers’ tipsheet at http://www.writing4success.com/

How do you define selling? A lot of people think of selling as persuading/convincing people to buy things they may or may not want or need. To some, selling is all about closing a deal. Thinking of selling like this is not very empowering to you. Frankly, if you have this perspective on selling, it’s no wonder if you hate it. I would too!

So what perspective can you take about selling that will make it enjoyable, exciting and something you look forward to? Sounds like a bit of a tall order doesn’t it? Read on.

Hopefully by now, you have made the list of all the problems that you can solve for your target market. You’re going to be surprised how long that list grows over time. So really, if you look at your list and you think about it, you are a master problem solver. What you’re really doing is helping people. Correct?

So try on this perspective about what selling is: Selling is helping people. Selling is serving. Selling is a process of identifying and solving people’s problems.

See, feel and know that selling is serving. This will cause a big shift for you. With this perspective, you will really become passionate about wanting to help people. Find this passion and let it shine through.

It is your purpose, your moral obligation, to have as many sales conversations with people as you can so you can help as many people as possible. If you’re not having these types of sales conversations, you are holding back the gift you have to offer the world. You owe it to people to be there for them with your expertise and wisdom.

Next time you’re talking to a potential client, think about how you can help them, how you can serve them. Forget about trying to sell them something. If what you have to offer does solve their problems, and you facilitate the conversation using the strategies we are covering, people will sell themselves and will subsequently buy from you.

If you have a perspective on selling which is one of service and helping people, how do you think the people you’re talking to will feel? Think about this: people hate to be sold. The minute they feel they’re being sold, they often want to get away - fast. Don’t you? On the other hand, if they feel you are sincerely trying to help them solve their problems, they will relax and open up to you.

If you have a perspective on selling which is one of service and helping people, how do you think you will feel? Does energized, excited, relaxed, and natural come to mind?

This perspective is simple but powerful and very attract-tive to clients.

(c) 2005, Tessa Stowe, Sales Conversation. You are welcome to “reprint” this article online as long as it remains complete and unaltered (including the “about the author” info at the end) and all links are made live.

Frankly, anyone who owns a business or represents the business to others must have professional business cards. Business cards are an expectation when networking. They show that the person handing out their business card is professional, well-prepared and wants to talk with you in the near future.

Whether you’re in sales and need clients and potential clients to get in touch with you, or you’re in a service industry where enabling people to contact you is essential, then quality business cards are a must.

But what’s more, quality business cards are a reflection of your company. They’ll set the stage when the recipient eventually contacts you. They can make or break the image of your company, so your unique business cards should be designed carefully, with your company’s branding image in mind.

Although the standard information on a business card must include your name, title, company name, address, phone numbers, e-mail and Web sites, you have the freedom to make your unique business cards entirely your own creation. Use graphics that help to describe your business. Maybe include your company’s tag line.

Create a professional-looking business card thatwith one lookyour contact remembers who you are and why they need your products or services.

Also important in your planning is the business card printing. A proper business card printer will provide you with options to make your business cards unique and professional. Look for high quality paper, images that print at 300 dots per inch (dpi).

Jonathan Bowalsky handles news and information for Jontal Printing. For more information on business cards or custom postcards, visit: http://www.jontalprinting.com.