The Supplemental Kick

March 30, 2009

How I Became a Financial Planner

Filed under: Education Resources — admin @ 9:23 pm

As I look back and remember on how I became a financial planner, I realize that it’s not at all that bad. What I encountered, how I handled each succeeding problem, was all part of becoming who I am now – an expert financial planner.
It all started when I decided to undergo the course of financial services just so I could have another diploma to add up to my portfolio. But it turned out that this secondary option became the primary source of my income these days.
A lot of people need financial planners for many sorts of things especially those concerning how to attain a financial goal. To become a financial planner yourself, all you need to do is obtain a RG146 Diploma of Financial Services or Diploma of Financial Planning. With this diploma, you are being recognized by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or more commonly known as ASIC, as a well-informed and educated financial planner.
The diploma of financial services or diploma of financial planning will basically give your clients the assurance that you have undergone serious and intensive training to become a competent planner in the field of financial services. AS a result, you get more satisfied and trusting clients.

Public Speaking: Proverb Fortune Cookie Humor

Filed under: Great Publishing Tips — admin @ 1:15 am

(Note: Determine if this is politically correct for your audience.)

You can throw in a cute diversion to a boring public speaking engagement by attributing a saying to an ancient Chinese philosopher. Since these sayings are not attributed to anyone in particular, feel free to change or update them to fit your situation and to enhance their humor.

(The term ‘original’ here means as original as something can be after being recited and translated for several hundred years.)

Original: You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from nesting in your hair.

Update: You cannot prevent the birds of sadness from flying over your head, but you can prevent them from pooping on your Gucci blazer.

Original: He who walk on eggs should tread lightly.

Update: He who walk on eggs should find out the price per dozen.

Original: People who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

Update: People who live in glass houses should pull down the blinds.

Copyright © 1998 – 2005 Advanced Public Speaking Institute

Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation skills book “Wake ‘em Up Business Presentations” and “Click: The Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing.” It is important to Tom that his knowledge be not only absorbed, but enjoyed. This is why he delivers his speeches laced with great humor and hysterical jokes. Tom has addressed more than 87 different industries and is thoroughly committed to his clients’ needs. http://www.antion.com

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http://www.GreatPublicSpeaking.com

Visit our Blog at http://www.GreatPublicSpeaking.BlogSpot.com

March 29, 2009

They Are Just Afraid of Writing

Filed under: Great Publishing Tips — admin @ 9:13 pm

The article represents, practical and useful guide on how to write the dissertation. Even if you have already completed dissertation, you might find some of the advices of this article useful.

Sometimes, students as well as scholars are afraid of designing and completing new project, one of the most difficult in their turbulent student life, one of the longest during their short period of study, and one of the most important as well. Why are so many people afraid of the writing assignment? Why so many students afraid of dissertations? Apparently, they have too many questions and too few answers.

Let us, answer some of them.

First, remember that it is not always necessary to make your own research. Certainly, when you are assigned to undertake some research in your instructions than you should perform it. In the majority of cases, however, you can use available statistical data.

Second, the data mentioned can be found relatively easily. There are plethoras of publishing sources that contain the data you are interested in. Even, if you do not have data on some specific problem (for example media coverage of the war in Iraq), you have the possibility to conduct the research and analyze available publishing sources.

Third, there are other sources that can be researched. For example, if you are assigned to complete the assignment on geography, then you should visit library to conduct your research, or visit geographical society, if your research pertains to some regional topic.

Fourth, both quantitative and qualitative data can be used in your research. Certainly, what type of the research should be used depends on the type of your assignment. Needless to say, it is imperative to use quantitative methods in the writing assignments of technical subjects, but even in this case you should indicate why the particular method has been chosen. When you need to back your research up with statistical data, the use of quantitative research is indispensable. Qualitative date is frequently used when you would like to find out the psychological or social reasons of a particular event or trend. You can either use your own date, or use data from other sources.

Fifth, in your dissertation project you are expected to analyze your data, both the one collected by yourself from your own research or from other sources. You should answer such questions as why does this trend continue, what makes it grow or fall, why is it changing? You could explain how particular methods are applicable to the process that you research. One should reveal one’s own understanding of the vital elements of the concept mentioned and their influence on the process that you research.

Fifth, you dissertation can be written on some literature. In this case it would be a literature-based paper. If you are assigned to conduct the research on particular book, you should emphasize some important topics of the book, which in your opinion make this book distinctive. This type of dissertation requires some research on literature criticism; however make sure that you use literature criticism, after you have read a book.

Francis Dower is a senior writer of http://www.BestEssays.com For more than five years, Francis Dower has written the number of projects on History, History of Migration, Ancient and Asian History. He has 17 years of experience as the professor of several universities.

March 28, 2009

Don’t Let the Global Village Prevent You from Sharing Your Family History with Future Generations

Filed under: Great Publishing Tips — admin @ 10:38 pm

There was once a time when grandparents sat amidst a group of wide-eyed grandchildren telling stories of days gone by. As the global village shrinks and families spread out across the nation and the world, the tradition of sharing family stories orally is in decline.

Oral tradition – passing stories by word of mouth – has been the primary means of sharing family histories until the very recent past. As families spread out across the globe, it is far less likely that multigenerational families will spend extended time together; however, just because the method of communication is changing, does not mean that the global village will be the death of family history.

Despite the fact that extended families are more separated than ever, modern technology narrows the communication gap caused by distance. As such, families do not have to be distant even though they live far apart.

The same holds true for sharing family histories. While family histories may not be shared at the dinner table as they once were, it does not mean that they can’t be shared. The same modern technology that allows families to stay close also allows them to communicate family histories from one generation to the next. The only difference is the absence of the dinner table and the means of communication.

Since the written word is a much more permanent – and accurate – method of preserving family history than dinner table conversation, it is actually recommended that all families make an effort to preserve their family histories in written form.

In some cases, the stories will only hold significance for the family itself; however, in many cases, one family’s history may be representative of an entire town or era. Just as historians and students today study Revolutionary or Civil War era letters to learn about what life was like for regular people, one day, people will turn to our electronic transmissions to learn what life was like in the early 21st Century.

Those people who do not feel confident enough to write their family histories themselves should seek out professional writers to ghost write for them. The most important thing is to get the stories in written form to preserve them for later generations, but some families may even choose to go a step further and self-publish their family histories in a nicely bound book. There are many self-publishing services that copy and bind books. Because of new print on demand technology, people can order 10 copies or 1,000 copies. Some of these services even sell the books online, making it easy for family members and members of the community to obtain copies.

No matter how you choose to proceed, preserve your family’s history in written form before the stories are lost to coming generations.

Michele R. Acosta is a writer, a former English teacher, and the mother of three boys. She spends her time writing and teaching others to write. Visit http://www.TheWritingTutor.biz/articles for more articles, http://www.TheWritingTutor.biz/writing_editing_service for professional writing and editing services, or http://www.TheWritingTutor.biz for writing and educational resources for young authors, teachers, and parents. Copyright (c) 2004-2005 The Writing Tutor & Michele R. Acosta. All rights reserved.

Getting Great Deals on the Wedding Clothes

Filed under: University Of Relationships — admin @ 9:43 am

If you are planning to have a full wedding that includes bridesmaids, and groomsmen etc. it could run you a great deal of money to cover your gown as well as the other women and men’s clothing as well. Bridesmaid’s dresses get more and more costly with every extra woman in the wedding party. When you are deciding how much money you can afford to spend on the wedding clothes, you have to consider the fittings and the flowers or accessories as well.

If you can, you might do better to allow for casual wear for the bridesmaids so that they can wear less expensive dresses or skirts. This is particularly good if you are planning an outdoor or beach wedding. The less formal the ceremony, the less money that you are required to spend. Perhaps that is why outdoor ceremonies are getting more and more popular these days.

You can also save money on the ladies dresses by purchasing them off season from a bridal store. You can always shop for out of season or discontinued dresses as a means of getting great discounts on gorgeous dresses. If you really want to, you can ask that your bridesmaids forget about the wedding shower gifts in favor of buying their dresses. That is a common compromise that is made these days. If the cost of the dresses is really going to be a matter of stress for you, just reduce the bridesmaids to just having a maid/matron of honor and a best man only for the groom.

Many couples opt to forego the extras all together and simply do not have anyone standing up with them at all. After all, there is no law that states that you have to have a maid of honor or best man present during the ceremony. When it comes to the tuxedos for the male participants and the groom, you can often find good deals when renting if you just shop around. It helps is you limit the number of participants if you must in order to reduce costs or if the men involved have their own tuxedos already. Either way, research and comparison shopping really is the best chance.

You can also choose to rent the ladies gowns as well as the tuxedos. Not everyone wants to spend hundreds of dollars on a dress that they will wear once. Or spend that much money on many dresses that you will never be worn more than once. Many bridal shops will let you rent a dress rather than buy one. The only difference with rented dresses is that you have to take it as is. They are not custom fitted to you. Other than that, you can save hundreds of dollars doing this.

Wearing your mother or grandmother’s wedding dress is also an option; especially if your are choosing a period theme where the dress was used. For example, if you are wearing your grandmother’s dress and the dress was worn in the 40’s, you can make the 40’s your wedding theme.
If the dress is your mother’s from the 60’s or 70’s, you can do the same thing. It will save you money and provides you with a fun theme. You can also opt to make your own dress from scratch. Many women are choosing to go with home made pieces because they can get truly original in the make of the dress and the style.

It can be made in any fashion that you like and of any material also. Making your own dress is a good way to save money and it is also guaranteed to make sure that no one else has the same style as you. When you make it yourself, you are guaranteed a custom fit without paying a custom price.

Finally, you can save bundles on your whole wedding party clothing, including the wedding dress by dressing according to your theme. For example, if you choose a Hawaiian theme, you can wear island clothes. As part of your theme, you can dress in costumes to make the festivities more fun and as an added bonus; you can make the guests and wedding party dress in costume too.

You can also get a good deal by buying your wedding items at vintage or used stores. Many people bring back their wedding clothing after they have used so that they can recoup some of their money later. This is a great way to save money for you and the rest of your wedding party. Used clothing items can also be found in bridal shops or tuxedo warehouses because the average person doesn’t wear these items more than once and because of this they will return it to the store that they got it from later.

When you are not afraid of vintage clothing, you can find some truly beautiful designer clothing for great prices. Some of the stores that offer used items will not force you to buy them, but they may request that you pay a bit of an extra fee for dry cleaning etc. Either way, you will still be saving yourself a great deal of money that you would spend if you bought your items outright.

Mia LaCron is the founder of Cut-Wedding-Costs.info – http://www.cut-wedding-costs.info – devoted to helping individuals live out the wedding of their dreams on a realistic budget they can afford.

March 26, 2009

Your Traffic Building Checklist: 15 Ways to Get More Visitors Who Are Ready to Buy (Part 1)

Filed under: Traffic Hall — admin @ 6:04 pm

<< Part 1 of 2 >>

When many of my clients first come to me for coaching, they share that one of their biggest challenges is getting enough visitors to their site. Attracting traffic isn’t a cut and dry process there isn’t one perfect way to do it. But there are many ways that, when used collaboratively, will build you a nice stream of visitors.

To get your marketing wheels turning, check out these 15 simple ways to attract new visitors to your site. This is not an exhaustive list by any means, but it will give you several fresh ideas to try.

Now, remember you don’t want to expel effort in getting just anyone to visit your site. You only want people who would likely be interested in what you have to offer. So before you read on, answer this question:

“WHO are your target clients or customers?”

Are they men, women, or both? Do they own a certain type of business or work in a certain profession? Are they young, old, or middle aged? Are they left handed? Do they own pets? Can they juggle?

I hope you see where I’m going here. The more you know about your ideal clients/customers, the better you’ll know where and how to find them .

So … keep that information in mind as you consider these traffic-building tactics:

___ 1. Search Engines and Directories

Why not be in front of people who are actually searching for your product or service? Get your site listed in the top search engines by either learning about this topic on your own or investing in assistance. Because there is A LOT to learn and the rules keep changing all the time, this is an area I advise you get some help in. (I recommend my friend Marc Harty at http://www.SearchEnginePatrol.com.)

___ 2. Pay-per-Click Directories

In pay-per-click deals, you only pay for how many people actually CLICK on your ad to get to your Web site. Services such as Overture (http://www.overture.com/) and Google AdWords (https://adwords.google.com/) let you bid on how much you’d like to pay per click, and many times your listings appear above the regular listings in the major search engines. (To learn more, see my article, “Pay Per Click: What’s It All About ?” at http://www.ezinequeen.com/payclick.htm.)

___ 3. Your Own E-zine

If you publish your own e-zine, you already have a warm pool of prospects who are likely interested in what you have to offer. Give them a reason to visit (or re-visit) your site by adding new content, giving away a free report or e-book, or offering a special subscriber-only promotion on your products and services. (To learn more about publishing your own e-zine, sign up for one of my FREE monthly teleclasses at http://www.ezine-queen.com/teleclass.htm)

___ 4. Your Articles in Other E-zines and at Other Web Sites

This has been one of my most successful traffic-building tactics. There are thousands of online publishers who would like to use YOUR articles in their e-zines and on their Web sites! Find them via the Directory of E-zines (http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/aftrack.asp?AFID=44985) (my favorite) or search for Web sites that accept “free content” submissions. Be sure to add an attention-getting blurb at the end of your article that gives the reader a reason to visit your site ASAP. (To learn how to do this, see my article “Recycle Your Articles and Gain Tons of New Subscribers” at http://www.ezinequeen.com/recycle.htm.)

___ 5. Ads in Other E-zines

Identify other e-zines whose readership matches your target market. Search the Directory of E-zines (http://www.1automationwiz.com/app/aftrack.asp?AFID=44985) and the Web. Find out if the e-zines accept advertising and learn what their rates are. Run at least three ads in a row, preferably five to seven, to get an accurate representation of how the ad pulls. Use an ad-tracking program to determine how many clicks each ad is getting. My shopping cart program has this built in, but if you’re looking for a separate ad tracking service at a low cost, AdMinder is a good one. (http://www.adminder.com/go.cgi?id=akb1)

___ 6. Ads on Other Web Sites

Research other Web sites where your target market visits and inquire about advertising. Have ready both text ads and banner ads of different sizes. (For examples of banner sizes, see some of the banner ads I provide to my E-zine Queen Affiliates at http://www.ezinequeen.com/graphics.htm)

___ 7. Online Forums and Discussion Groups

Where do your prospective clients and customers hang out online? What organizations do they belong to? Identify popular forums and discussion groups that are related to your subject area and where prospects in your target market may be lurking. You’ll find more than you ever knew existed just by doing a few online searches. Don’t be self-promotional in your postings be helpful and answer questions as related to your area of expertise. Let your value shine through and include your Web site address underneath your name.

TO BE CONTINUED …

(c) 2003 Alexandria K. Brown

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Alexandria K. Brown, “The E-zine Queen,” is author of the award-winning manual, “Boost Business With Your Own E-zine.” To learn more about her book and sign up for more FREE tips like these, visit her site at http://EzineQueenTutorial.com/

March 22, 2009

Using Algebra in Everyday Life

What is Algebra?

It is an domain of mathematics that use letter of the alphabets in replacement of numbers to derive results for a given situation. It is this generalization that often frightens many and shudders some. Algebra topics extend from working with fractions to factoring binomials all the way to finding the inverse of a matrix. Most people begin to try Algebra by adding, subtracting, reducing and simplifying fractions. later on, they would move on to more advanced stages of solving algebraic equations using the least common multiples and converting fractions in to decimals.

Exponents and Radicals and Graphing Oh My!

There are many advanced themes. Firstly there are exponents. A power is the small number placed to the right and slightly above a number or algebraic expression. An example is (x + y)3 where the 3 is the exponent and refers the power to which that number is raised. The above algebraic expression is read as, x plus y to the third power. In working with powers you can add, subtract, multiple or divide them. You can work with fractional and negative exponents. If that isnt enough to make your head spin, then you can move on to radicals. A radical, simply put, is the undoing of an power. The V beside 4 denote a radical expression which means, the square root of 4, which equals 2. The inverse of “V” symbol is “^” which denotes that the number it refers to is a multiple of the principle number. Therefore, 2^2 which is read as 2 to the 2nd power, equals 4. Equally with exponents, radical expressions can be added, subtracted, multiplied and divided. Radicals can be converted into exponents and exponents back into radicals. If you find that powers and radicals don’t really shake your interest, you could move on to graphing. Start with graphing straight lines and defining if the line is horizontal or vertical or something else. Does the line have an x-intercept or a y-intercept? Can you find the slope of the line? you master the mathematical art of graphing, you will identify a whole new world full of parabolas and hyperbolas.

Help is Out There

If you are learning algebra and this all seems a little too much, dont sweat. There are many resources out there that can help you master fractional equations, quadratic formulas and polynomials . The tradition is to settle for a math tutor, but the latest algebraic software are no different. In fact, they are better than math tutors. Know that frustration is not your only friend because Any of these instruments can assist you become an algebra guru in no time.

Debt Negotiation as an Alternative

Filed under: Counseling, Credit Issues, Economy + Finance — admin @ 6:55 am

You would be shocked what number of people that encounter monetary problems in their life. For that reason, bad-debt will likely creep up. A Family can sometimes deal with these challenges due to job loss, divorce, abrupt death of a family or just plain poor individual financial management. Companies generally confront misfortune in the first two years of business. At fault for a venture shutting down can stretch from more competition, mistakes, loss of significant clients to name a few. Whatever the basis, unpaid commitments might lead to bankruptcy. Conversely, there are alternatives to bankruptcy that can alleviate damage to your personal credit or your company credit.

Bankruptcy can be definable as a lack of ability of an individual or a corporation to bear money owed to creditors. When an organization files, the debtor (you or the establishment) is required to surrender all exemption free property and assets for elimination. While personal possessions are held, you have to likewise pledge a particular part of your attained wages to the creditors based upon an agreed upon repayment agreement. Your FICO grading will become zero for a while, meaning that you will not be capable of acquiring funding for several private or business organization for a long time.

The head aches and stress stimulated because of these outstanding financial debt instruments can be worrying, to say the least, especially when the thought of registering bankruptcy crawls in to your head. In these positions, it is key to realize that you possess alternatives. It is all important to seek out the choices, such as a financial advisory who can produce a debt settlement plan for you.

If you are curious why a financier would want to work with yourself to resolve the debt consider that resolution is an alternative for them too. In particular insolvency judicial decisions a bank carrying non-secured debt might receive nothing. Still, when their account holder works out a negotiation the lending institution can at least recoup percentage, if perhaps not every bit, of the debt the lenders possess. Remember too that when you add the interest that has been paid already along with the over due charges and beyond limit fees they might have possibly billed, the creditor could be in the black even before the debt negotiation.

Debt resolution can be an exceedingly advantageous alternative compared with insolvancy for you, as a private individual or a commercial enterprise proprietor. Especially when you take the future into consideration. Insolvancy should be fended off at all costs considering the fact that financing will be near unachievable for any individual or business concerns you might experience in the future. In that respect, there is no clean canvas; bankruptcy hangs around wherever you go. Regardless of what form of debt you have incurred, initially seek a debt negotiation program as the initial option for contemplating bankruptcy.

March 18, 2009

Enriching Your Life with Audio-Books

Filed under: Language Management, Multimedia Tips, To Read A Book — admin @ 10:31 pm

A hectic life often makes it hard to fit in all the titles you want to read. Lengthy journey times to work and day-to-day chores could be eating large amounts of free time without you recognizing it. Working, taking care of children or looking after your home can all cut down the time you have to persue your hobbies. It’s simple to simply use the time spent doing chores to catch up on books you can’t get around to reading. Using modern media files, you can savor Ronnie And Nancy by Bob Colacello for sale from Download Audio Book Online, or audio books recounted by J Krishnamurti without turning a single page.

Multitasking has become a way-of-life these days. Audio books like Street Dreams by Faye Kellerman for sale from Download Audio Book Online fill the dead moments in our schedule, whether it is waiting time at the doctor’s surgery or maybe driving the children to soccer practise. Many audio books can be downloaded immediately as audio files including Desert Cut: A Lena Jones Mystery by Betty Webb, so utilize your mp3 player and take the opportunity to hear the current thriller, for example audible books written by Stephen King without hauling cumbersome books around. Audio-books extend numerous benefits such as the chance to rent or purchase many titles and peruse them at your leisure. Need to learn a foreign language? Why not give audio books a try? You can catch up on the latest business practises, or you can enjoy contemplating modern thoughts about religion or modern spirituality. Audiobooks are available in a vast assortment of titles and literary genres. It doesn’t matter if you love travel writing, mad about love stories or even if your interested in self help, most can be downloaded at once. Many options are available; you can take a subscription to a plan and hire titles or purchase them online. Reading will always have its place, even so the thousands of audio titles available offer convenience. Some stories, for instance audiobooks narrated by James Patterson, can be more gratifying when recounted by the author or an illustrious actor. Reading a book is not the same as savoring audio titles performed by Louisa May Alcott, with subtleties of an real rendition. Hearing audio books performed by Jerry Robbins can bring something extra to your enjoyment of reading and in many cases will mean much more to you than the words on a page.

So the next time in future should you are thinking of buying the hard copy of a book that might gather dust on the shelves, be sure to think about audiobooks as a better option.

The Heart of the Delay: Harnessing The Wisdom of Procrastination (AKA Writer’s Block)

Filed under: Great Publishing Tips — admin @ 10:08 pm

I am sure that at in some era, at some desk, with some kind of paper (and perhaps some very special ink), some writer has breezed through a lengthy and challenging project from beginning to end with no delays. No one in her household has suffered, she’s felt pleased at each step of the process, and her shoulders have never cried out for massage. I’m sure of this.

I am equally certain that for most people, writing projects have at least some period of delay. Sometimes, it takes the form of distraction, and a bit of discipline works just fine to bring us back. Other times, our life’s work or inspiration of the moment sits there, waiting for us to get back to it, and every incomplete we’ve ever taken in school, every shaming message we’ve ever heard, or self-doubt we’ve ever felt encrusts the project like so many barnacles.

Worse still, “procrastination” and “writer’s block” pop up in writer’s tracts like names of diseases that need “cures,” the right sledgehammer, or perhaps simply to be ignored. While some writers may find it helpful to have a name for what gets in the way of what they’re trying to achieve, “writer’s block” or “procrastination” can falsely universalize very different phenomena. My obstacles, yours, and hers may be different animals, different species or even perhaps silicon-based non-organic entities. Framing them as negative blocks the opportunity to learn something about ourselves or our writing.

For example, my reluctance to finish my novel may reflect a correct hunch about a major flaw in the story structure I’m loathe to face, while yours may stem from guilt about being the first in your family to succeed at an intellectual task. Each of us has an opportunity to notice and deal directly with the heart of the delay, rather than its limbs which trip us. Dealing with the heart of the delay could lead us down a more effective and sustainable path than the one we’d forge by simply steamrolling over the delay, or walking around it. I might need to bring in a book doctor to raise the quality of my work, while you might need to have a heart-to-heart with a family member, neutral third party, or both about what it means for you to succeed as a writer.

I humbly suggest the following: When next you find your mind meandering anywhere but to your work, don’t beat yourself up. Instead, give a listen to what’s guiding you astray. The answer may surprise youand give you some clues about how to proceed with your project on the clearest path possible. Here are some questions to help you determine what’s tripping you up, as well as some responses to each.

1) Do you have in mind an ideal way of doing things, and then get paralyzed when you start to do things in your own natural quirky way?
Here’s permission, then. Write out of order.
If ideas for the middle or end of your book come before the beginning, go with it. You can always move things later.
Multitaskuse one project to procrastinate from doing another.

If you’ve done your emotional homework and find that you still procrastinate (and many great writers do), have other projects in the pipeline so that when you find yourself drifting from the one big project, you’ve got others to work on to fill your time until you can get back to that one. If you’re stopped in your tracks because you think you have to work in a certain way, get back to the drawing board! Work on the pieces that compel you when you feel like working on them.

2) Is it possible that you lose the big picture of what you’re doing in the daily details?
Connect your deepest desires and visions to each moment of your work.

Distill your longings into a sentence or paragraph such as “I am a published writer who gets great reviews and makes my entire living through my writing,” and post this in a visible place. Say it out loud to your mirror each time you begin your work. It might seem hokey, but many writers find that it actually helps to keep the big picture in mind.

3) Do you have a realistic image of the quality of your work?
Find out what if any kind of help you need, then get it.

A society of journalists was asked how many writers were in the room. Nearly all the hands went up. Then the speaker asked how many of the writers considered themselves “good writers.” Nearly half the hands went down.

While even the best writers doubt their skill, others suffer from overconfidence. Well, maybe overconfident writers don’t experience suffering themselves, but their careers (and perhaps their peers) can suffer for their lack of help getting their writing to a publishable place. If you find yourself putting off work because you don’t know if it’s any good, find out. Get a professional in the field with obvious credentials to help you make that determination, or do it yourself.

If you find out your work stands up content-wise, you may still need an outside eye to tell you whether your writing is okay on its own, or you need professional assistance to make it publishable. An editor experienced in your type of manuscript will be able to help you polish your prose to a high sheen.

Another option is ghostwriting, or hiring a professional writer to pen some or all of your manuscript. Many of the most famous authors hire ghostwriters to help them get their message across. Sometimes they’re credited on the cover with an “and” or “with,” but often they’re silent partners, hence the term “ghost.”

Having marketable ideas is one thingfinding the language to best articulate them is another entirely. Don’t kill yourself trying to develop a skill that takes years to hone when you’ve got other more compelling plans, and when there are plenty of people already prepped for that task. We live in a specialized society expressly for not having to kill ourselves trying to deliver garbage, make contact lenses, paint all the artwork on our walls, and yes, craft and polish all our own prose.

4) Who is in your immediate environment?
Take a look, give a listen. Is what you observe conducive to writing?

On one end of the solitude-contact continuum is the person who works best alone. On the other end is someone who needs a partner to check in and collaborate with at each stage of the process. What are your needs around other people’s involvement in your work? For the solitary type, the solution could be finding a “room of one’s own,” or at least a borrowed space with peace and quiet enough to think and write.

At the other end it could be finding a buddy, coach or collaborator to check in with regularly. In the middle, where lots of people find themselves, are authors who attend local writers groups or participate in online communities. Take the time to notice and get to know your own needs, and to create the space and/or support you need to move forward.

5) Is some healing in order?
At the deepest level of your awareness, what do you feel and believe about yourself and your writing?
On another plane entirely from practical concerns are wounds of the soul that need healing. It’s difficult to allow our excellence to shine when we truly believe we’re not worthy, or that to succeed would betray some unspoken agreement about staying small.

If everything within you wants to move forward into the world with your writing, and something inside you is holding you back, realize that only you can make the decision to find the therapist, spiritual counselor, coach or practice to move you through that place. Procrastination could be a signal to finally heal an old wound.

6) Is this project the best expression of what you love and want to put out into the world right now?
Ascertain or revisit what made you put your energy behind this project.

Whether it’s money, prestige, self-expression, career advancement or something else, ask yourself if your original reasons are congruent with your current needs. If not, give yourself permission to do something else.

7) Are you afraid of the impact you’ll make on the world, whether positive or negative?
You should beif you’ve never been published before, you’re about to lose your anonymity.

Consider using a pen name, at least for the time you’re writing. You can always change it back later. I did this for the very first essay I ever published, because at the time, I felt shy about writing about sex, and also wanted to protect those whom I discussed in the essay.

guerilla tip: Most writers will not become all that famous, and the feedback most of us receive is damned scant. Soconsider using your real name before going to press. If you go on to build your career around related material, you’ll be grateful you did.

8) Do You Need to Reassess your Pace?
Maybe the goals you’ve set aren’t realistic for you.

Procrastination can be an utterly human attempt to create a sustainable work pace. If you expect eight hours of writing a day from yourself six days a week, no wonder your body’s rebelling. If your goals more clearly meet your known capabilities, and you’re still having difficulty meeting them, ask yourself honestly whether your timetable makes sense for you today.

Your life may have changed since you last set the pace of your writing treadmill. If so, change your expectations to ones you’re more likely to achievethen reward yourself when you do. If you still have trouble, consider structural supports, like a writing buddy, group, or some form of coaching.

9) Do you think your first drafts have to be perfect?
Come on. You’re slinging mud on a wall. Or, if you prefer, as one of my clients put it, “I just put one word in front of the other.”

You’re going to go through so many revisions from the time you put those first few words down to the time you’re polished, that you might as well bulk up the page now. There will be plenty of time for trimming later.

10) Do you hate the idea of rewriting yet one more time?
Of course you do. People in other fields get to be finished with their tasks when they stop working, and enjoy the fruits of their labors. But nooooo, not writers! There’s always another draft in the wings.

Face itendless rewriting sucks. You know and I know it needs doing, but isn’t there a better way? The bad news is, the only way around is through. The good news is, you can reward yourself for each phase, and I encourage you to do so.

11) When was the last time you saw the sky?
Get outside, for crying out loud. Humans were never meant to spend all day immersed in words.

Some days, your procrastination may be telling you to Get A Life. If so, listen. Enjoy yourself. However talented you are and however important your work, you aren’t your writing. At least not entirely. Breaking up your day with physical activities, or anything very different from writing will give you a fresh perspective on your text. Plus, when this project is all over, you’ll want to have had a bit of sunshine from time to time, maybe a friendship or two.

Remember, not all bouts of delay are alike. Yours might carry a message. Take the time to listen, heed and respond to that message. Your writingand your lifewill be better for it.

You are welcome to reprint this article any time, anywhere with no further permission, and no payment, provided the following is included at the end or beginning:

Author Jill Nagle is founder and principal of GetPublished,
http://www.GetPublished.com, which provides coaching, consulting, ghostwriting, classes and do-it-yourself products to emerging and published authors. Her most recent book is How to Find An Agent Who Can Sell Your Book for Top Dollar http://www.FindTheRightAgent.com.

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