Editing for Online Writers

Smashwords: A Smashing Free Way to Publish Online

2012-01-21T22:27:00.000-08:00

For writers with unpublished writings, Smashwords offers a free publishing and distribution tool to immediately place your work online and ready for buyers.

As with most sites, you will develop a user name and password. Then, plan to sit down with a nice cup of tea or coffee and read through the free online publication guide, titled Smashwords Style Guide by Mark Coker. The guide reads quickly despite its 80 plus pages. Taken in chunks, the guide makes the publication process clear and as painless as possible.

Smashwords also provides a Marketing Guide to help writers plan a course of marketing their books.

While all online publishing has quirks, many writers have begun publishing on Smashwords so their writing is available and easy to find.

Articles on Computers, Technology from Yuen Kit Mun

2012-01-13T11:44:00.000-08:00

One of the writers from Suite 101 is Yuen Kit Mun. His articles and expertise have been important resources for online writers. Here is a link to his many articles. Spending some time reading from his work can quickly get new online writers, and in print writers, up-to-speed on these issues.

Search Engine Marketing Info

2012-01-13T10:58:00.000-08:00

Search engine marketing is a strategy to improve web and blog rankings on search engines. This is a new field for many writers, especially those new to internet writing.

For a 101 Search Engine Marketing info, check out many of the articles by writers such as David Wigle's page on Suite 101. He also includes other information on technology, yet balances the computer information with gardening and other topics.

It's a nice chance to learn about search engine marketing, other computer-tech topics, and how to grow cabbage!

Manuals Online

2012-01-08T21:31:00.000-08:00

When something isn't quite right with appliances, cameras, and other household items, it's often difficult to remember where the accompanying manual was stored. Even if the manual is available, it may not contain the specific information necessary for a specific issue.

Manuals Online offers access to thousands of manuals. There were even directions to our old television set. When the VCR/DVD/old TV wouldn't display properly, the kids were sure that their latest, favorite movie would remain unseen. But a quick trip to Manuals Online, and I was able to follow the steps to get the audio and video back for the movie. A side benefit was the short-lived, but sincere awe of the kids, "How did you do that!?" I showed them the fairly easy steps. A side benefit is the feeling of empowerment from knowing how use research to solve problems.

Blogging Advice from Angela England's Blog

2011-12-11T19:29:00.000-08:00

Angela England, Renaissance Woman

If you are interested in blogging, many websites will help you.
The latest one from Angela England discusses ways to move from making a little money every month to making a full-time income through blogging and writing.
Angela's approach is clear, and she outlines steps for bloggers to consider.

http://www.angengland.com/from-freelance-to-full-time-transitioning-from-blogging/#more-2734

Website Digital Inspiration "Quickly Remove Formatting"

2011-12-11T16:30:00.000-08:00

Digital Inspiration is a website devoted to answering specific questions regarding formatting, etc.
In this case, the website provides directions on ways to save webpage info onto email or Word without going through the intermediary step of saving the info onto a notepad to lose the web formatting.
This web formatting can take a long time to save onto email or Word, and may use up valuable space.
The directions are best read from the original.
Quickly Remove Formatting when you Copy-Paste Text In Office. By Amit Agarwal Digital Inspiration.
The basic directions follow.
Select text.
Select Copy function.
Select text again.
Press the Ctrl key.
Press the Space bar.
The selection should now be converted to plain text.

Resources for Online Writers by Teresa Knudsen Dashwood

2011-11-25T21:23:00.000-08:00

Editing for Online Writers includes links to writers' resources. Writers can use these resources for various writing and editing tasks. Writers and researchers always practice critical thinking and questioning from any sources, including on or off line newspapers, broadcast news, magazines, etc.

These are just a few of the many resource links online.

For help with writing mechanics, the Purdue OWL offers plenty of choices for writers who have questions.

Founded by Jimmy Wales, Wikipedia and Wikimedia are some of the ways to quickly check for information and images. Wales' goal is to keep these ad-free. As such, frequent users are encouraged, but not required, to donate. Wikipedia is a user-generated site. The ease of contributing to the site has led to information being suspect at times. Rumor has it that at least one well-meaning but misguided, teacher encouraged students to deliberately add incorrect information as a lesson in being careful on the Internet. Whether teaching students to falsify information is a good way to teaching critical thinking skills is a topic for another day. However, for quick background information that can be translated into many different languages, Wikipedia offers a nice resource. Most users understand that not only Wikipedia, but any source needs to be read with critical thinking skills.

Wikimedia offers a selection of images without copyright restrictions. Users are cautioned that all responsibility rests with them if they reproduce the images. Nevertheless, these images are tapped by writers who want to add images without paying fees.

Project Gutenberg places tons of books at everyone's fingertips for free. Founder Michael Hart just passed away. (1947-2011). Donations are always accepted, but not required. The range of books available is staggering, and many out-of-print and rare books are available on this site.

Legal Office Guru

2011-11-14T13:22:00.000-08:00

Legal Office Guru offers a lot of help and tips for Microsoft Office.
On more than one occasion, this site has really helped me fix a problem or find a way to do something.
Here is the link if you want to check out this helpful site:
http://legalofficeguru.com/

English Verbs and Twelve Verb Tenses: Tense #1 Simple Present Verb Tense

2011-09-13T12:19:00.000-07:00

English Verbs and Twelve Verb Tenses:
Simple Present Verb Tense (#1) is easy.

Simple Present tense is basic for many language learners.

Simple Present shows regular actions or non-actions.

Here are some examples. You can practice writing on the lines next to the examples if you wish.

You can use frequency adverbs to describe verbs in the simple present:

Frequency Adverbs:

Always __________________________
Usually __________________________
Often __________________________
Seldom __________________________
Rarely __________________________
Never __________________________

Here are some examples:

I always drink coffee. ________________________________
You usually drink coffee. ________________________________
Chris often drinks coffee. ________________________________
We seldom drink tea. ________________________________
You rarely drink tea. ________________________________
Cats never drink tea. ________________________________

In these cases, the frequency adverb describes the verb
The frequency advers shows how often the subject drinks coffee.

Simple Present works with times, dates, and plans.

I get up at 7:00 am. _______________________________
You get up at 8:00 am. _______________________________
Chris gets up at 9:00 am. _______________________________
We get up in the morning.____________________________
You get up after I get up. _______________________________
Some students get up at 2:00 pm. ____________________________

Simple Present and the "Be" Verb

I am ____________________________________
You are ____________________________________
She is ____________________________________
He is ____________________________________
It is ____________________________________
We are ____________________________________
You are ____________________________________
They are ___________________________________

Simple Present and the "Have" Verb

I have ______________________________
You have __________________________________
He has __________________________________
She has __________________________________
It has __________________________________
We have ___________________________
You have ___________________________
They have __________________________________

Simple Present and the "Do" Verb

I do ___________________________________
You do ___________________________________
She does __________________________________
He does ___________________________________
It does ___________________________________
We do ___________________________________
You do ___________________________________
They do ___________________________________

Simple Present and the "Talk" Verb

I talk __________________________________
You talk __________________________________
He talks __________________________________
She talks __________________________________
It talks __________________________________
We talk __________________________________
You talk __________________________________
They talk __________________________________

Simple Present and the "Go" Verb

I go ___________________________________
You go ___________________________________
She goes ___________________________________
He goes ___________________________________
It goes ___________________________________
We go ___________________________________
You go ___________________________________
They go ___________________________________

For more exercises, check out Betty Azar's Grammar.

Grammar is Magic

2011-05-28T21:58:00.000-07:00

Many people are afraid of the word "Grammar."
Yet, an old meaning of the word grammar is "Magic."
When you write, you use grammar to create magic.
You can use grammar for many reasons:
Write a letter to apply for a job.
Write a letter to tell someone you love them.
Write a journal, a log, or a diary to record your ideas and feelings.
Write a paragraph, essay or research report.
Remember that Grammar is Magic!
Grammar can work like magic to help you reach your goals and dreams.
Written on Saturday, May 28, 2011
By Teresa Knudsen Dashwood