How to Write Sparkling Travel Articles

So, you want to write travel articles and hopefully build up to a career criss-crossing the world writing witty reportage about unique places? Great, but just remember it's a crowded marketplace - this kind of writing forms a genre with well known styles and well-worn paths. There are many masters of the genre who you should study ceaselessly, but there are also some common traps that you want to make sure you steer clear of when you are learning your trade.

Think Carefully About Your Structure and Form

A lot of writing about exotic places comes about through a self-indulgent need to record our own experiences, but this shouldn't be the fuel for your travel articles. As much as you might want to share the personal details of your last summer holiday, the chances are that no one else will want to read it. Think about the order of the information that you are presenting, the chances are that a linear structure isn't totally appropriate, as you'll need to decide what information to present and what to omit. This is usually just a matter of practice, so as you build up a portfolio you'll be able to see what works and what doesn't.

Try to Enliven Your English

There are so many well trodden turns of phrase in the English language that merely by bringing them to the party you'll make your travel articles look tired and dull. Think carefully about the adjectives that you use as this is a crucial area in which you can bring some life to your prose. Never, ever, describe something as 'nice' unless your life depends on it. Think of descriptive words that really do their job and aim for precision.

Keep Some Moderation

It can be very easy to aim for the superlative whenever you feel enthusiasm for a place. The problem with taking a less-measured approach is that it quickly loses its impact. Try to include information in your travel articles rather than express emotion. By taking this kind of approach you'll find that your writing can have much more impact, especially for when it comes to points when you need or want to produce an emotional response in your readers.

Don't Use Artificial Comparisons

So often we see somewhere described as the size of Luxembourg, or the size of Dallas. This really should be avoided as it makes the writing seem very parochial. If you mention the area of a place, or the population of a city, then the reader will be able to do their own comparison, you don't need to do the work for them.

Laura Jeeves is a London based travel writer with several years' experience in the industry. She is a freelance writer of travel articles and has visited many countries across the globe.

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My Basic Rules for Writing a Good Book

Writing is a lonely business. No-one can write your book other than you since no-one else knows how the plot will turn out and whether this or that character will survive but writing is a mixture of skills and each of them is employed at every stage of the process so a good writer is someone capable of dealing with several differently sized plates and keeping them all spinning at once.

In order to produce a readable work of fiction, the writer needs first to know what he or she is writing about. That is, unless you are inventing a whole new world (and post-apocalyptic books are very fashionable at the moment) the book must be factually correct. In order to achieve this, you need to know what you don't know and where to find the answers. Obviously, the internet and Wikipedia are invaluable here and, in some cases, can replace years of study at the British Library but, unless you know something of the subject matter in the first place, you run the risk of making a mistake since you will not know the extent of your lack of knowledge.

Then the writer needs a plot or plots and this is probably the moment when you need to decide whether your book is to be 'literary' or not. The hallmark of a literary work is that the prose is lapidary but not very much happens and plot, if present at all, takes a back seat. In 'popular' (i.e. books that people actually read and enjoy) fiction, plot tends to be foremost and, in some genres (Action & Adventure and Crime, for example) plot is nearly everything and characterisation is only superficial.

In popular fiction you need several plots points and twists. Truly talented story tellers like Jeffrey Archer (yes, Jeffrey Archer) work into their plots a mixture of short and long plot points. The long plot points are laid at the beginning of the story to hook the reader into wanting to know what happens at the end and the short plot points keep him/her entertained while turning the pages. The very successful TV series, Mad Men, is a superb example of a beautifully plotted story with twists and turns and events which seem to come from nowhere but the strands have discreetly been laid sometimes in a much earlier episode.

Then you need to know your characters. In a good book, they should be well-rounded with a hinterland that is unconnected with the plot. It is important if a character is to feel real, that we know something of his or her life outside the main story. For example, in a crime novel, if our hard-bitten Italian detective has a secret love of English country dancing this makes us feel that we know him better than if we had observed him only in the execution of his duties. In order to be interesting though, the hinterland must be quite different from the plot so that a detective whose hinterland was reading Agatha Christie novels would not tell us anything about the character which we did not already know.

Characterisation matters less if your book is very plot driven and the reader is expecting only thrills and spills but it is instant death to any credibility you may have gained with your readers if either your characters or your plot show inconsistencies. You know the sort of thing I mean - a man who has previously been upright and law-abiding suddenly takes a bribe or a woman leaves the house in a green coat and comes back home in a blue dress - this is lazy and unacceptable and it just makes the reader question everything else in the book.

The need for consistency is there in all works and is something the writer needs constantly to keep in his or her head but is a much greater burden when one is writing a series of books and must keep up with the characters' ages and stages of life, world events, relationships and interaction with the plot; if, for example, there are references to a full moon and/or a new moon in a plot, then you need to be careful that you do not have a full moon only days after the new one.

In my view, a plot, irrespective of the genre, needs light and shade. Every day reality is a mixture of happiness, grief, humour and tragedy and I see no reason why art should not imitate life. Shakespeare knew a thing or two about story telling and he was always careful to lighten the clouds of his tragedies with a little strategically placed humour.

Above all, I think that a book needs to be readable and, in addition to the non-negotiable rules of grammar, syntax, spelling and punctuation, the writer needs to ensure that his/her book is accessible to his/her target readership.

Well, there you have it, J. A. Gordon's rules for a good book. Anyone fancy trying their hand at it?

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Headline Can Change the Tone of an Article, Story or Letter to the Editor

I try to stay current on community issues. Some issues prompt me to send a letter to the editor of the newspaper. In order for a letter to be published, the writer must include his or her address and phone number. I keep my letters short and, hopefully, to the point.

Recently I sent a letter to the editor asking for civil discourse in political campaigns. I cited the actions of one candidate, who printed and distributed wanted posters about his opponent. "What happened to ethics?" I asked. From my viewpoint, the focus of my letter -- civil discourse -- was clear. But when my letter was published the heading was about the posters.

I understand that headline-writing is a special talent. James Glen Stovall, author of Journalism: Who, What, When, Where, Why and How, thinks this type of writing is an intellectual challenge, as intellectual "as solving a complicated math problem." In the journalism field, he goes on to say, headline writing carries great prestige.

Ross Collins, associate professor of communication at North Dakota State University, lectures about headline writing. "If you can get the reader through the lead," he explains, "chances are fairly good he or she will read the rest of the story." Collins says headlines fall into two general categories, standard and label.

The standard type is written in the present tense and includes action verbs. The label type, similar to labeling a file folder, do not have verbs. Collins uses "A Season of Christmas Carols" as an example of the label type.

When I complained to a friend about the headline above my letter, he responded with, "Don't worry about it. Nobody reads the headlines." That may or may not be true. All I know is that within a few hours, the misleading headline appeared on the Internet. I wondered if the headline writer understood the point of my letter.

James Russell, of the University of Oregon, has developed tips for creating effective headlnes, and describes them in his article, "Guide to Writing Headlines." Tip one is to do no harm. "Imagine the subject of your story is your neighbor or family member," he advises.

Tip two is to make sure the big type doesn't contradict the little type. Apparently the person who wrote the headline for my letter hadn't heard of this tip, because it didn't represent my letter accurately.

Tip three is to use humor or cleverness to get readers' attention. This tip can be tricky because sappy humor may do the opposite. Tip four is to stay away from cliches, a tip that is often violated.

Bottom line: I am disappointed in my local newspaper. How would the headline writer feel if his or her photo appeared on a wanted poster? If you have written a letter to the editor, or are thinking about writing one, I have some suggestions for you.

1. State the purpose of your letter first. For example, "Below is my letter about civil discourse in political campaigns."

2. Include your own headline above the letter. Some journalism experts think the writer should have the headline before generating copy and I think this is a good idea.

3. Make sure your letter matches this headline. Write the draft, put it away for a few days, and then check it for errors and matchability. Thank you for caring enough to write the letter!

Copyright 2012 by Harriet Hodgson

http://www.harriethodgson.com/

Harriet Hodgson has been an independent journalist for 35+ years, is the author of 31 published books, and hundreds of articles. Her recent work focuses on grief recovery, including "Happy Again! Your New and Meaningful Life after Loss" and "Help! I'm Raising My Grandkids: Grandparents Adapting to Life's Surprises." Please visit her website and learn more about this busy grandmother.

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Play Free, Win Cash - A Myth Or Truth?

It is a common phenomenon to see more and more advertisements and propaganda on the net about opportunities that announce such offers where they invite you to join and play for free and win cash rewards. Looks tempting but somehow too good to be true. Bitter experience in the past has taught us that if something looks too good to be true, then it probably is.

However this particular claim needs to be researched properly as this claim is also made by many noted sites that host games of skill like Indian rummy. A deeper look at the myths and truths is required at this point to really make an informed decision.

The myths:
All such offers are fraudulent or all such offers are correct. Both these assumptions are false. There are some genuine sites that do offer authentic offers like this.All these sort of links will send virus or malware to your site. This again is a myth; learn to discern the good from the badIt is easy to make loads of money from such schemes. Again a rather delusional assumption based on ill-advised optimism.All these sites have gambling offers and can be illegal. While this may be true for many sites, rummy is one such game where you can play for money as it is a skill based game and this is legally acceptable.

The truths:

While it is true that some of these offers are genuine, it is also true that you can make only limited money from these offers. Take 13 cards rummy for example, many sites provide you free cash to play and you can win cash from such offers but it will in no way match what you would win from playing rummy cash games.
Another truth is that winning cash at such offers also requires a certain amount of aptitude. You cannot rely on blind luck totally to win.
Such offers also have some amount of lock-in period. After all the site that is making this offer would also like to benefit from this. You have to consider and recognize the commercial aspect while you accept such offers
Yet another truth you have to accept about free to cash offers is that playing the game for cash will definitely fetch you better results. For example playing rummy free games can help you learn the game and win some cash, playing 13 cards rummy for cash will always give you better rewards.

These are just a few myths and truths that you have to sift through to make the correct decision. Always take a pause and consider your options before proceeding. A wise approach would be to put forth these questions:

What is in it for me? & What is in it for them?

When you attempt to answer these two questions, you will gain a great deal of clarity. This again is only the first step in this endeavor. You need to look at other parameters before proceeding.

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Top Tips for Writers in Need of Inspiration

Some people assume that writers are born with inspiration flowing through their veins - sadly this is rarely, if ever the case. In reality, all writers will from time to time have to actively seek inspiration to practice and perfect their art, which has the potential to come from some truly unlikely and unusual sources.

Of course, a writers retreat makes the perfect location to actually put said inspiration to good use and pen a masterpiece, but if looking for a good way of getting the creative juices flowing in the first place, consider the following tips:

• Writers Blogs - There is no better way in the digital age of finding out in real-time what makes other writers tick, what they're currently working on and where they find their own inspiration. Blogs are free, in massive abundance and can be accessed round the clock without having to move an inch.

• Books - Obvious but so often overlooked, the secret to writing a good book can often to be to get lost in a few good books beforehand. It is also a good idea to consider giving a couple of books ago that are a million miles from your usual chosen niche.

• Eavesdropping - Controversial as it may be, there is sometimes nothing better than listening in on strangers telling stories and building a wonderfully creative mental picture of the tale they are telling - any and all of which can lead to incredible inspiration.

• Online Forums - Forums have credited the masses with a permanent soapbox upon which to voice their opinions, and boy do they like to use them! If looking for ideas as to what makes people tick and the topics inspiring debate today, look no further than online forums.

• Music - Like the book idea, try branching out into a different music genre to see if anything strikes a chord or sets a creative bell ringing - it can happen at any time.

• Chat - Think not of chatting with friends and family as wasting writing time, but instead tapping into a rich fountain or inspiration money cannot buy. Even just asking people at random to brainstorm an idea or two can lead to incredible things.

• Nature - A welcome breath of fresh air at any time day or night can be just what is needed to blow the cobwebs away and breed new inspiration. There are infinite examples of inspiring sights, sounds and smells with every single step taken outdoors.

• Journal - Some of the most incredible literary works in history have come as a result of a person's journal either being published or looked back on by the writer and subsequently used as inspiration for a book. True, this won't lead to overnight inspiration in most cases, but the earlier a journal is started, the better!

• Escape - Last but not least, it is impossible not to be inspired by leaving the real world thousands of miles behind and literally checking-out for a few days or weeks. Whether it be any example of a writing retreat Portugal has to offer or a simple tent in the wilderness, escapism rarely fails to inspire.

If this final tip in particular appeals most, check out the ideas at writers retreat for all the details on how and why so many flock to these havens of inspiration every year.

If this final tip in particular appeals most, check out the ideas online at http://karianepaige.wordpress.com/2012/09/17/are-writers-retreats-a-waste-of-time-effort-and-money-one-writer-finds-her-milieu-in-portugal/ for all the details on how and why so many flock to these havens of inspiration every year.

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A Beautiful Woman In Christ

Life, Joy, and Security are the three advantages of A Beautiful Woman in Christ. The light he shines which brings life to our situation is so powerful. The overflowing joy he brings is everlasting, which makes our hearts secure in him. Beauty starts within, Would you like to be a Beautiful Woman In Christ?

I have been through many obstacles, and God seen me through all of them. I was in a car accident and flipped over 5 times. God spared my life through that tragic time period. I learned to grow more in faith in God and developed a better relationship as well. I know there's a reason I'm still here today, and there's a reason you're here too.

So find your purpose. Sometimes you have to encourage yourself. That's what I had to learn to do. Sometimes it takes being lonely. Learning how to be alone. Find things that makes you happy. Explore and go get it. Having faith in all things you do will keep you from worrying. You're a true women of God, which definitely makes you a virtuous women. Be blessed, beautiful woman in Christ.

Open up your eyes to a new vision, a new you. Start by getting rid of all those bad habits and replace them with new ones. Positivity is key. Put yourself in a position to learn the importance of enhancing your life through Christ. Remember to smile. You may very well rub off the goodness of the Lord on others.

Beauty is a joy forever. I define beauty as more than just an outer appearance but knowledge as well. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. {Proverbs 31:30} Strength and honour should define her clothing. In order to make ourselves beautiful, we have to first cleanse ourselves of all unwanted impurities. Our cleansing agent works through our confessions and God's forgiveness.

We have to constantly work towards improving our beauty in Christ. We have to set ourselves some goals, change our attitudes, be humble and stay positive. We have to challenge ourselves to be the best in all that we do. Remaining confident in our walk with God will keep us on point. As long as we're following God's footsteps, we can only go in the right direction. There is a certain type of glow God gives that everyone will notice. It's a type of attention you'll get on the spotlight. God is love. God bless.

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Tips for Getting Travel Article Commissions

The growth of the internet has provided numerous opportunities for writers to spread their wings and express themselves more fully to a potential global audience. The worldwide scope of the internet is also one of the reasons that people feel more connected and inquisitive about the world they live in - leading to an increased desire to book a plane ticket in order to visit the fantastic destinations that feel only a click away. If you're looking to save up some money in order to satisfy your internet-inspired wanderlust, then you might be interested in writing travel articles for the increasing number of outlets that exist online. If you're looking into establishing the foundations of a career in this type of writing, there are a few factors that can give you the edge:

Find a Niche

So, ever since you were in your early teens you've wanted to live in Paris and write about it? Well, it's a cliché, and there are many, many, fluent English speakers who've been living in the French capital for decades. You'd have to be incredibly specialised to find an editor willing to take on an unknown to cover the Parisian beat. If you're a native English speaker, it will usually help if you're writing travel articles from a location that doesn't have English as its majority language.

Know the Place you're Writing About

It really helps if you happen to be based in the location you're covering but, of course, this isn't always possible. That said, if you aren't on the ground, then are you really the best person to be covering that location? If you're covering somewhere from afar, and you're using the internet to do all of your research, you'll quickly get found out, and for some reason, the anonymity of the internet allows people to spit bile with reckless abandon; so if they think you don't really know what you're talking about, or they spot numerous inaccuracies, they may well turn up to shred you and your travel articles.

Offer Something Different

It doesn't matter where you're writing from, but you'll find that there is almost nowhere on earth that isn't the subject of at least one travel article. This is the nature of those who write about the world in which we live. Their voracious attitude leaves few stones unturned, so you can help yourself by adding a fresh spin to a location. Don't cover the most obvious tourist stuff, get under the skin, offer a new look.

Laura Jeeves is a London based travel writer with several years' experience in the industry. She is a freelance travel article writer and has visited many countries across the globe.

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The Greatest War of All Time

In 1990, I was in my last year in primary school. We heard from the media very shocking news that there was a war beckoning between two countries Iraq and Kuwait. I also heard that they were quarrelling about the oil rich boundaries which Iraq claimed to be within its jurisdiction and Kuwait's also.

Then the UN send diplomats to try to negotiate peace but it failed since both the Iraq and the Kuwait refused to cooperate. Latter America as the superpower also decide to try there part in this conflict but eventually, as there predecessor the UN nothing tangible came out of it. Then Iraq threatened to invade Kuwait and that happened a few days later when one morning we woke up with the news that already Iraq besieged Kuwait and they fought for hour duration and Kuwait defeated.

In my life I had heard about war just as past history because we were taught in school about the first world, the Second World War, the Vietnam War, the Russian cold war, but little did I ever imagine that a war of this kind will be fought in my life time. We heard many speculating about this war, some said that it could be a third world war, some prophesied that this could lead to the end of the world, but it only took 28 days for the Allied forces to rescue Kuwait and reclaim it back as a sovereign republic making this war one of the shortest war ever fought in this world.

Wars have been fought in this world, but one time they ended, all the worst things we heard about them, but one time they ended, no matter how big they were but they ended one time. But there is another war that is greatest, it is a lifetime war, it is everywhere, it is in every home, it is in everybody's life in a lifetime, it is there daily, weekly, monthly, all the time, it is the war between the flesh and the spirit, they live together, they disagree in everything, they pull each other in different directions, the flesh's principle is of self, but the spirits principle is of self-denial. You wake up early in the morning very tired the flesh tells you 'you are tired rest' but the spirit tells you 'what will happen if you don't go to work today how will you survive or live'.

The destruction's of this war is great, we can see its effects on humanity everywhere. The consequences, we can see them everywhere hospitals, courts of laws, prisons, law enforcers, watchmen, single families, divorce, street children, orphans mortuaries, cemeteries and the list is so big. To me this is the greatest war of all time. Wars are always authored by people so this war has its author the devil. But we have this hope that our Lord Jesus Christ defeated him, and as the other wars ended so shall this one come to an end some day, and as survivors of war are rewarded with medals and so shall all the survivors of this Great War be rewarded with our Lord Jesus by giving them his promised rest. Our Lords promise is sure. "Behold I come quickly, and my reward is with me to pay everybody as his work shall be" (Revelation: 22:12). With this promise we can be sure that our labor in this war is not for nothing.

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