April Lee reports:

"To find a co-author, you must be aware of what you want an additional author to bring to the project, what skills they must require, and how to effectively advertise to attract the right person to your project. Determine the reason you are seeking out a co-author. You will save time searching for a co-author if you can advertise specifically what you want them to contribute to the project. A good co-author is one who complements your writing style and brings additional knowledge to the writing topics, and by creating guidelines of what you want in a co-author, you'll quickly eliminate the writers that are insufficient to work on the material. Inquire with close friends and relatives. The best co-author is someone familiar and trustworthy. If someone in your inner social circle is a writer or an expert with inside information on a topic you wish to explore in your writing project, proposition them about working with you. Though creating a business relationship with a personal relation can strain a friendship, outlining work detail and responsibilities beforehand reduces the possibility of conflict. Search through writing groups, writing courses, and social networks. Join local writing groups and attend on a regular basis to establish a rapport with local writers. Attend writing courses at local universities or contact professors for writing contacts. Use social networks...to advertise that you are seeking a co-author. Websites like StoryMash allow writers to collaborate on fiction projects, self-publish on the StoryMash site, and earn a portion of advertisement revenue. Advertise in libraries and universities and post ads in online forums. Print out a few flyers, with [a] brief synopsis of the writing project and the kind of co-author you are seeking. Include your first name, as well as [your] phone number or email address, then post the flyer in local libraries or universities. You can also create ads to post online in various writing communities...If you're writing in a specific niche, like horror fiction or journalistic non-fiction, finding the appropriate online forums for those areas can narrow your search and yield more appropriate writers for your project."

Nicholas Robbins reports:

"Wise planning lays the framework for successful small retail businesses...Plans often expand to include operations and development guidelines to govern day-to-day operations and growth. These plans offer a solution to current problems as well as a forward-looking approach. Clear and concise operations and development plans provide a resource for retail managers that limits risk and provides support for their actions...Determine the correct actions for employees on all levels. Clearly state in the plan which job titles bear responsibility for which actions and how these relate...Describe in separate sections how each role should fulfill their duties. Explain the intervals at which cash audits, inventory counts, shift changes and other regular duties should occur. Lay out guidelines for store banking, staffing and customer service interactions...Write emergency procedures every role should perform. Retail stores must regularly deal with shoplifting, slip-and-fall incidents, employee or customer injury reports[,] and even the potential of robbery or disasters such as fires. Each store needs a policy on how to deal with these emergency situations as they occur. Placing these in the operations manual gives both employees and managers a way to determine the correct actions during and after these events. Forms, such as robber identification sheets or loss paperwork for shoplifting, should also appear in this section...Determine the overarching goal for the company. This long-term goal should correspond with the company's vision and flow naturally from the original business plan. Many retail stores seek expansion on a local, national or even international level. Others wish to provide the best quality of service and gain recognition within their field as an industry leader. Some will incorporate these and other qualities into the main goal of the company...Describe how each employee at every level contributes to this goal. Retail owners, managers and sales staff bear responsibility for many different aspects of the business, and this section serves to inform them as to how that responsibility affects the business as a whole...Write down specific goals that directly relate to the overarching goal. These serve as milestones and offer a chance for celebration and re-evaluation of goals upon attainment. Each of these entries should represent measurable results and include clear instructions for the attainment of the goal itself...Re-evaluate business, organizational and development plans on a regular basis. Retail business needs and market situations constantly change, and companies may gain a competitive edge through flexibility."

Robert Bruce reports:

"The essence of a great bullet is brevity [plus] promise. Brevity has been a hallmark of good writing since writing began, but every one of us living in the Twitter era possesses an acute awareness of just how important brevity is right now. Long, complex bullet points would defeat the purpose of writing bullets at all — to keep your reader moving through your copy. Promise is the element that hooks your reader like a fish. You’re making a plain and legitimate claim that your product/idea/service will give them what they’ve been looking for. [Y]ou absolutely must deliver on the promise you make. There are probably faster ways of ruining your credibility and career, but not giving your reader what you promised is definitely in the top three...Brian Clark wrote the definitive 'Bullet Points 101' post...And, since I’d rather straight up steal from Clark than try to outwrite him in this area, here’s his summary of what an effective bullet point is and does:

1. A bullet expresses a clear benefit and promise to the reader. That’s right… they’re mini-headlines. Bullets encourage the scanning reader to go back into the real meat of your content, or go forward with your call to action.
2. Keep your bullet points symmetrical if possible; meaning, one line each, two lines each, etc. It’s easier on the eyes and therefore easier on the reader.
3. Avoid bullet clutter at all costs. Do not get into a detailed outline jumble of subtitles, bullets and sub-bullets. Bullets are designed for clarity, not confusion.
4. Practice parallelism. Keep your bullet groups thematically related, begin each bullet with the same part of speech...and maintain the same grammatical form.
5. Remember that bullets (like headlines) are not necessarily sentences. If you want to write complete sentences, stick with a paragraph or a numbered list.

Now that we’re standing on a firm foundation, let’s move into how to actually write these bullets...[O]ne of the best ways to make sense of an idea — especially online — is not to dumb it down, [but] it’s to break it up into digestible chunks. Bullet points can be a great way to do that — but don’t just rely on the stale, simplistic bullet point types you’re using now. Expand your range and add these to your copy [toolbox]:

1. External Fascinations: These types of fascinating bullet points are usually found in sales copy. They create curiosity and work like headlines to prompt a purchase or other action.
2. Internal Fascinations: Internal fascinations are pretty much identical to external, except they’re designed to persuade people to continue reading the post they’re already reading.
3. Bullet Chunking: Extracting bullets out of compound sentences helps you drive home a point while also increasing the usability of your content.
4. Authority Bullets: Authority bullets are used to recite the data and proof that support your argument. As with all persuasive writing, turn dry factual information into interesting reading any time you can.
5. Cliffhanger Bullets: Cliffhanger bullets tease and foreshadow what’s coming up next or in the near future. You can also use cliffhanger bullets to lay the groundwork for an upcoming promotion, launch...or special content event.

If you want to know more specifics about how to write those (including examples), check out this classic Copyblogger post on useful bullet point types. And — as a little bonus — Ben Settle expanded on Brian’s post with a few more bullet types of his own. [Here are] a few of Ben’s favorite bullet point secrets:

1. Give-Away Bullets: These are sort of like the lady who hands out cheese cubes at the grocery store. She gives people a little 'taste' of food that keeps them alert and shopping — and many times they end up with the thing they tasted in the shopping cart.
2. Expansion Bullets: These bullets break up the 'sameness' of the page (when you have several pages of bullets), and they add more tease, demonstration and curiosity. Plus, they give a nice little 'loop' effect to your ad that keeps sucking the reader back in.
3. 'Can’t Be Done' Bullets: Basically, this is where you say something that is almost unbelievable. Something 100% true, but that is so wacky and 'out there' it makes you say, 'How in the heck can you do that?'

Congratulations, you now know more about bullet points than most working copywriters...Craft each bullet as if it were to serve as...your headline. The goal here is to achieve, uh … headlineability with each bullet. You won’t achieve perfection with each and every bullet you write, but if you stick to this principle generally, writing them gets much easier over time. And, more important[ly], those beautiful little bulleted lines will keep your readers running down your page like water on a slide...These quick copy tips are meant to get you started on (and thinking about) very specific copywriting principles and tactics."

Sharon Penn reports:

"When writing a speculative essay, the student is presented with a writing prompt that presents a brief scenario. Students use this scenario to write an original story based on personal experiences and stories they have heard or read. Sometimes the speculative writing prompt is a picture. The student can use creativity and imagination, but the resulting story should remain connected with the writing prompt by referring to elements in the prompt...The paper should have a focus and a clear organizational pattern. The story should have a beginning, a middle and an end, and it should follow a logical progression. Transitions from one thought to another should be appropriate, and details should be plentiful and varied...Use words that are grammatically correct, including proper tenses, pronoun agreement and subject-verb agreement. Word choices should be meaningful and vivid. Use varied sentence types that are clear. Sentences should not be fragmented, repetitive or rambling. Pay attention to the mechanics of the speculative essay. Correct any errors in spelling, capitalization or punctuation...Introduce only [one] or two characters in a short, speculative essay such as those found on standardized tests. Characters should have distinctive personalities, points of view and appearances. A key element in telling a story is the plot. To have a plot, there must be some kind of conflict or problem to be solved. An interesting or distinctive setting enhances a speculative essay. Include enough detail to make the setting believable and real. The point of view should be consistent throughout the story. Make sure the characters, plot, setting and point of view relate to the speculative writing prompt...If the speculative essay is a homework assignment, write a first draft, edit and produce another draft until you are satisfied with the result. Ask someone else to read your essay and comment. If the essay is part of a test, try to save a few minutes to look over your work and make corrections...Don't plan a long essay. Keep the story short and to the point. If you want to add to it, add more detail after it is written."

Literary Terms reports:

"In order to write a good aphorism, you have to have two things:

• Considerable wisdom
• A good sense for metaphors

In order to be a true aphorism rather than a truism or cliché, an aphorism has to contain a new, thought-provoking idea, and those are difficult to come up with on your own! In addition, aphorisms have to make a complicated point in a very short space of time, so a good metaphor is invaluable in writing aphorisms...But the best way to practice writing aphorisms is to start by re-writing aphorisms that already exist. Take the underlying concept of a common aphorism and try to come up with a new metaphor for it. Try to capture the basic wisdom behind the aphorism and clothe it in new imagery. Aphorisms are extremely challenging to write so don’t worry if your aphorisms seem uninteresting at first!...It’s best to avoid aphorisms in all forms of formal writing. The only people who really get away with writing in aphorisms are great philosophers such as Marcus Aurelius, Confucius, or Nietzsche. Aphorisms afford almost no room to explain your meaning, so a formal essay containing too many aphorisms could be unclear or vague. Worse still, it might come across as arrogant – as if you’re imitating Marcus [Aurelius’] writing style because you believe that you’re on his level as a thinker. (Which no writer can claim unless people are still reading their work 1,800 years from now!) A good aphorism can work well in creative writing if you want to show how wise and concise a certain character is. Yoda and Gandalf often speak in aphorisms, and it’s part of what makes them so compelling as characters. However, it’s a risky technique – if you have your character speak in aphorisms, there’s always the chance that the reader will view these lines as truisms, in which case the character will merely come across as pretentious and shallow!"

Monica Patrick reports:

"Advertising jingles are musical techniques businesses use to establish a brand in a memorable, entertaining way. A jingle relays information about a company or product through music and lyrics. Small businesses hire jingle writers to create tunes, or they ask creative team members to produce a jingle. If you've got a product to sell or want to establish your business with consumers, learn how to write a good, catchy jingle for all of your company advertisements. This process could take weeks or months, so plan ahead if you want to write a jingle for a specific deadline. 1. Establish how long the jingle needs to be. Consider the venues of advertising your small business will use...2. Select a musical genre that your target audience would most identify with...3. Write a core message or catchy sentence for the jingle. For example, 'Betty's cupcakes make me smile,' or 'No shoes are hotter than Clyde's shoes!' Make the core message as short as possible, but using a few lines in a rhyming verse is acceptable and easy to remember. 4. Set the message to music, using the core message and the genre you selected. Allow a brief musical intro and finish, placing the actual message in the center. Time yourself to verify that the jingle is the right length. 5. Practice and edit the jingle until you and your creative team have a good jingle to present. Record the jingle, and seek advertising air time to play the jingle...Test your jingles in a focus group or through a research survey. Ask about effectiveness and overall impressions...If you decide to use an old song that someone else owns, you'll need to get copyright permission."

Kimberly M. reports:

"Controversial issues are those topics that provoke strong emotional biases in individuals who hold definite opinions about these topics. Issues such as religion, politics, experimental branches of medical science and questions concerning morality will inevitably generate heated and sometimes painful discussions that often deteriorate into a free-for-all devoid of rationality or objectivity. Even the best ghostwriter may experience difficulty writing objectively about controversial issues, especially when the writer carries an unwavering opinion about the subject. Objective writing means consciously omitting subjective words or phrases such as 'I think,' 'it is wrong' or 'ignorance' and including as many substantiated facts as possible in the article. In addition, the neutrality of the writer’s position should be unequivocal to readers so that it does not seem to readers that...their belief system is being deliberately targeted and attacked...Unless a writer has been asked to write an article slanted towards a specific viewpoint about a touchy subject, the best ghostwriter will follow these tips when creating contentious content. Spend several hours researching all perspectives surrounding the topic so that you gain a thorough understanding of the topic’s historical evolution in regards to where it stands today...Staying neutral by just reporting facts, statistics and citing material from respected sources will not only facilitate writing objectively but will also broaden your reader base...Writing factually about a controversial issue also means devoting equal time to perspectives that are primary to the core concept of the issue. If you are writing about theories regarding the birth of the universe, include philosophical, religious and scientific theories to satisfy the belief system of everyone who reads the article. If you don’t think you can write neutrally about a controversial topic or have at least tried and realize halfway through that you can’t do it, don’t spend time completing the article when you know it is not what your client wants...In all realms of scientific study, the law of probability simply states that given the infinite passing of time, the possibility of something happening—no matter how improbable or fantastic it seems—actually does exist. It is a law related to quantum physics and the randomness of molecular activity, but I apply it when writing articles that I consider 'far out.' Accepting that the...idea of 'nothing is impossible' leans more towards fact than opinion due to time being apparently limitless, writers who must craft objective content about a highly subjective topic may find it easier [to] write for everyone interested in the topic and not just a select few."

Krista Bunskoek reports:

"We’ve all been there. You’re grooving along, writing well-crafted business blog posts every day. Then suddenly the proverbial ink runs dry. You’ve got to meet that deadline, but nothing’s coming out. What do you do? If you were at an old-school publishing house, you’d ask your editor or co-workers. Why not do the same - with your readers? Collaborating with your customers and readers is an increasingly popular method of solving problems, and engaging with your market. Hey, even the Guardian crowdsources part of their content these days...A really simple way to get ideas for a blog is, well, to ask. Post a question on Facebook, Twitter, or Google+...Target questions to your industry. On Facebook: Keep your text short. Posts with 100 words or less get the most interaction. If you’re posting on a brand Page, make sure your question has your customer in mind. Ask for common interests, topical concerns, or product uses. On Twitter: Use relevant hashtags to extend the reach of your updates, and make it conversational. Tweet from your own Twitter handle (not your company’s) to engage on a more personal level. On [Google+: Post] your topic question to your niche customer Communities to engage your market, and get authentic ideas about what your readers want to know. Use your own Google+ account to post on Blogging Communities, like Blogging or Content Marketing...If your questions alone aren’t getting the response you need, try a 'Topic Contest'. Set up a contest on Facebook to engage your Fans by asking for ideas. A major benefit of hosting a contest is that you can incentivise [sic] people to take part with prizes.

Get creative when you’re asking for ideas:

• Ask for customer quotes, and compile them in your post
  
• Create a theme around common interests
  
• Ask for problem-solving tips
  

You could even add a vote element to your contest to crowdsource the best responses. This gives you even more insights into the interests of your Facebook Fans...Take a readership survey to generate tons of topics for future posts. Use a theme that’s related to your blog. Post the survey or poll on your blog, then email it and share on all of your social sites...I’d also recommend making a question box to get more specific ideas, based on problems customers want solved. You can use your results to compile the wants of your customers, and create blog topics based on the most popular responses. Make it into a series of articles. And remember to thank your respondents for taking part, and even mention specific suggestions...Take a look at your social media sites, and read the comments your customers make. You’ll get great insight into the topics your customers have the most interest in, and their dialogues could give you a whole slew of content ideas. Write content that addresses common product problems, appeals to lifestyles, or incorporates specific details in the comments. Use your analysis of comments to write content with fresh angles to better connect with your audience."

Barbara Glenn reports:

"There are many jobs that a writer can have and some are going to be remunerated in different ways than others. The important thing to consider is that you might want more prestige at first than income and writing in a [n]ewspaper as a columnist is always going to be a very powerful way to introduce yourself to the world as a professional writer. There is no denying that newspapers are no longer as useful as they used to be. The modern world is no longer in need of printed news as it once was. The good news is that newspapers are still read by millions of people. The bad news is that you are probably not going to earn much of a salary if you become a columnist for a local newspaper...The first thing to do is to find out how many papers there are in your area and then do a research in order to find out as much as you can about them. Get their contact info and remember to include weekly papers too...Purchase each of those papers to get a good idea of the kind of writing that you could be doing if you get hired. This is important because you might not be interested in a sensationalist paper...Let them know who you are, what you know and what you can do. It should be obvious, but make sure that you write a letter with proper grammar and punctuation. This is going to be a deal[-]breaker if they find mistakes and you are trying to apply for a job as a columnist...If you find a paper you particularly [like and it] call[s] you and offer[s] you a job, you should also go to the other interviews you managed to land because you might find the staff in another paper to be a better fit for you...If a prestigious paper offers you a job without pay just to test your skills for a few weeks or months, you might want to consider taking that job if you know this will boost your professional career...Remember that writing requires a great deal of responsibility on your part. You need to learn to analyze every single word you will say because your audience could easily make you lose your job if they are infuriated or displeased with something you say...Stay professional and try to avoid making things personal unless your column is meant to take things personally...Having a job as a writer will always require that you become a great researcher and learning to make the most out of your [I]nternet searches is going to give you excellent results. Some search engines will provide different results from what you would find in others, so always make sure that you know your way around the top engines instead of only using one for your results...Becoming a columnist for a newspaper can be a great experience and even if you don’t make any substantial money, you will be able to gain a reputation for being a professional writer and that is extremely valuable."

Jake Shore reports:

"Plot and symbolism are two aspects of literature that combine to elevate the piece as a whole. It is customary for college professors to ask students to write a plot symbolism essay on a specific literary work. By analyzing the fundamental elements of both plot and symbolism, how one interacts with the other surfaces...it becomes clear how to construct a college essay...In order to write a plot symbolism essay, it’s essential to understand exactly what plot is. Plot is the form into which the writer constructs experiences, since experiences by themselves are without form. The author constructs a plot by putting experiences into a [storyline]...Once you’ve identified the form of the piece and all the plot points, sufficient analysis of the plot can take place...A powerful plot will be believable and surprising. You should analyze these aspects in your plot symbolism essay. If you don’t believe a plot point is feasible, the author hasn’t done a fine enough job constructing it. Similarly, if there isn’t any point that surprises you over the course of the text, the writer has failed to achieve something fundamental...Include your analysis of the plot in your plot symbolism essay...Even though there is a level of ambiguity to all elements of literature, and symbols aren’t exempt, it is your job in a plot symbolism essay to expertly analyze the most dominant symbols. Explain which symbols are clear. Even though the protagonist’s expensive car could be...a symbol of [both] wealth and evil, describe how the writer clarifies this. If it’s the way the protagonist starts firing his workers after buying the car that injects the vehicle with a sense of evil, highlight this in your essay. Analysis of major symbols is key in a plot symbolism essay...The plot is constantly interacting with the major symbols in a literary piece. This should also be a central topic in your plot symbolism essay. Be aware of how the major symbols interact with the major plot points. If in the climax of the novel both the protagonist and antagonist fight over the green chair that represents money, it is a prime example of a symbol interacting with the plot, and your analysis should explain and expand on it."