The Now Novel blog reports:
"Few tips for writers cause as much confusion as the admonishment to avoid passive voice. Understanding what passive voice is and why it should be avoided can clear up this confusion. One of the biggest problems with this tip is that so few people understand what passive voice is. For example, some people think that passive voice means using forms of the verb 'be' too often. While this is a writer’s tic that should be avoided, it is not the same thing as passive voice. Passive voice is not that complicated. It is simply a sentence in which the thing or person that is acted upon becomes the subject of the sentence rather than taking its usual position as the object...The pace of a narrative can seem to[o] slow for a series of passive voice sentences. In some cases...passive voice also does not provide enough information...[I]n some cases, the passive voice might be desirable or even necessary. The writer may wish to withhold information from the reader. Other times, it is not clear who or what has done an action...These are exceptions to the rule however. The majority of the time, you should avoid the passive voice because it tends to be a clumsy grammatical construction that slows down the pace of a sentence." Faizah Imani reports:
"When seeking an accountant position with a company or firm, it is important to use every selling tool in the book to sell yourself to the employer. A professional resume is one of those selling tools, as it highlights your skills, qualifications and educational background. The cover letter is another tool you should use. The cover letter is a formal way of warming up and introducing yourself to the potential employer...Use standard business letter formatting for your cover letter. Include your name and mailing address in the upper left-hand corner of the letter. Include one line break followed by the date. Include another line break followed by the name and address of the potential employer. Call the employer in advance to get the hiring manager's name. Include a 'C/O' (care of) line after the company name...Include a professional salutation, including the hiring manager's name...Mention in the first paragraph that you are submitting the letter to express an interest in becoming an accountant with the company/firm. Provide one to two sentences on how you are qualified for the position...Mention your knowledge of auditing and compliance or accounting standards. Indicate whether or not you are a certified accountant. State why you believe you are the best candidate for the open position...State some of your accounting accomplishments in the second paragraph. You do not have to list every accomplishment. Refer the employer to your resume to see all of your accomplishments...Include four or five bullet points of how your accounting skills can benefit the potential employer. Format the bullet points in bold font to make them stand out from the rest of your letter. Before listing the bullet points, include a short statement such as 'As an accountant for your organization, I can provide:'...Create a closing paragraph. In the closing paragraph, express your desire to meet with the potential employer to further discuss your skills and qualifications. Include your telephone number and the best time to reach you. End the letter with a professional closing, such as 'Sincerely,' followed by your name and signature." Brian Boys reports:
"When you drop in big words to sound erudite and profound, it’s like adding a tiara and opera gloves to your work outfit. It’s just not going to have the effect you want. Especially if you’re a guy...Here are three basic reasons not to try to sound sophisticated in your marketing writing...You lose your audience. The number one goal of any kind of business communication is to send a clearly understood message. If you throw in technical or academic lingo, you have a good chance that your meaning will be lost on a large percentage of your readers. As soon as they realize they’re not going to understand your message and so get nothing out of it, they’ll stop following your argument and toss your marketing piece aside...It seems suspicious. When you’re reading a software company’s website and they use the fancy custom-tailored-suit term 'bespoke,'...[y]ou immediately assume their product must be inferior because they’ve had to resort to fancy words to talk it up...It doesn’t have the intended effect. The people who don’t understand you will think you’re a little odd. The people who do understand you will think it’s sad you’re trying so hard. (Back to the tiara and opera gloves.) And certain cruel copywriters will save your brochure just so they can show it to other copywriters and give everybody a good snicker...The greatest works in English were marked by their simplicity because it gave them the power to communicate to everybody. That’s a great principle to follow in your marketing writing. Replace your big words with more simple ones. And if you have to use technical argot (jargon), define it right away." Juli Durante reports:
"Writing a script is different than writing printed materials because scripts are meant to be heard and printed materials are intended to be read silently. How can you successfully tailor your writing to be read out loud? Follow these tips to ensure your scripts are successfully written:...Give the right amount of information. Your audience will only hear your message once, in a short period of time. If you try to cram too much information into a short time frame, your audience can become overloaded, and your message will be lost. If you don't present enough information, your listeners might be bored. How much information is right? Decide how long your program will be...Write a great hook. If you don't write a great introduction, listeners will tune out and ignore your message. A good introduction includes verbs and adjectives...'Wrap' your message. Once you've written your introduction and other content, wrap your message up with similar content...Be relatable. Understand your customers and how they think, speak, and listen. With this in mind, you'll be able to write [a] message that will appeal to and reach your audience. When in doubt, write short sentences with simple syntax...Use contractions. Speech is generally less formal than writing. A key element of informal speech is the use of contractions...Read your work out loud. Eventually, your script will be read out loud when it is recorded for your marketing campaign. One you've written, revised, and edited your script, read it aloud. If possible, read it to someone else or have someone read it to you...Writing for the ear can help you to create audio messages that are clear, concise, and appealing to your audience. To get the most out of audio programs, a well[-]written script is the first step. By focusing on how words will be heard, not just read, you can help your targets receive your message." Samantha Stauf reports:
"Identity theft is the most common type of cybercrime. But here’s the mind-boggling part: [V]ery little can be done legally unless the impersonating individual has committed a crime with your name or face. Right now very few states — New York, California, and Texas are among this enlightened group — have laws that protect their citizens from online impersonation. Otherwise, you’re on [y]our own. And that means writers need to take measures to prevent and stop individuals who want to profit from your name, pictures, and credentials...Since many writers are self-employed, your instinct to protect [yourself] can be overpowered by your instinct to promote your work. Despite this very fatal flaw in your online protection, you can still take measures to protect [y]our name. Create complicated passwords for your email and other online accounts. Change the passwords for these accounts every month or so. Then, create a second layer of authentication (typically a security code sent to your mobile phone) to those online accounts to prevent others from changing your password. Having a password that’s easy to remember is nice, but having one that’s secure is powerful. Here’s an uncomfortable truth: [T]here is very little you can do to prevent an unscrupulous [individual] from hijacking your authority...Mitigating authorship identity theft requires constant vigilance...Spot identity theft by...[c]onducting online searches for articles with your name or picture. Set the search tools to only show the last 24 hours or week, depending on how often you search. If [your] name isn’t a common one, setting a Google alert for your name may suffice...[Keep] an eye on articles attributed to you via social media platforms...[Look] out for any unusual email account activity...[T]o stop authority snatchers, you should ensure they will have a very hard time utilizing your name...Contact the editor of the blog the spam article was published on. Explain the situation and demand that the article be removed. If you don’t already have a working relationship with this editor, be prepared to supply proof of your identity. Ask the editor if they’ll forward you the correspondence they had with the thief...Contact every other editor you work with, preferably by email, to inform them that an identity thief might make contact under your name...If the editor gives you the email the thief used to contact them, send an email to the thief...Unfortunately, writers need to protect themselves from unethical thieves who try to profit from your name and authority. Since the law is not typically on your side in these situations, you’ll need to proactively protect yourself." Halina Zakowicz reports:
"What can you do right now to get started on becoming a successful biotech/science freelance writer? Here are 10 ways in which you can gain experience, credibility, confidence [and] some valuable clips...to move ahead with your freelance writing career...Take a few writing and journalism classes at your school. If that’s not possible, look up online learning sites like Udemy and Khan Academy and sign up for their writing courses. If you have a friend or colleague who is a published writer, ask him or her to critique your work. Don’t downplay this part of the process because all the networking and degrees in the world won’t help you out if you send a sloppy and/or grammatically incorrect resume to a newspaper editor or corporate headhunter...There are plenty of online science and biotech blogs that you can query (i.e., inquire about writing for and provide with a few content ideas). These blogs may not pay money for your content, but they will certainly feature you. If you are employed by a university or company, find out if the institution has a blog and ask if you can contribute to it. Such blogs carry significant weight with clients...The best part about maintaining your own science blog is that, as your writing improves, you can edit the content pieces you’re not too proud of. Nothing that you write for a blog site is 'set in stone', as is the case for print media such as magazines and newspapers...A common writing outlet for the aspiring freelance writer is the so-called 'content mill'. Third[-]party sites like Textbroker and Constant Content pay their freelance writers to create content for specific clients...Just keep in mind that most of these content mills will not feature you or your clips, so they are not ideal for long-term work. Other content mills such as HubPages and the Yahoo! Content Network offer writers exposure and reader feedback as well as a miniscule paycheck via generated page views. These sites are ideal for gauging your audience and for creating content that grabs reader attention. They also allow you to practice SEO and traffic-generating techniques. However, don’t count on these sites over the long-term because they will not provide you with any respectable clips (or a decent paycheck)...If you are serious about becoming a journalist with the likes of the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, Discover, etc., then consider doing a science journalism internship...[K]eep in mind that many journalism internships will require that you move away for at least six months, thus forcing you to interrupt your current work or study program...As with any other profession, your freelance writing success is largely dependent on not just what you know but who you know. However, it’s not enough to simply go to a writers’ or biotech happy hour and hand out your business cards to everyone you meet. Rather, it’s imperative that you focus on meeting and actually getting to know those two or three (and no more) individuals at the networking events you attend...What do you do with all the information that you gather from your networking contacts?...[M]ake it your professional (and personal) mission to always think of at least one or two ways in which everyone you network with can be helped by utilizing your skills or resources. Let service become your underlying motto, regardless of whether (you think) that person will be able to help further your career. Then, tell that person how you might be able to help him or her...Many biotech and science freelance writers worry that, if they don’t take a position that is strictly in the biotechnology or science field, they’ll never be offered work in their area of expertise. However, you can never be too sure what your potential client is looking for...If you take a look at where major corporations hide their technical writers, it’s usually in the marketing department...[C]ompanies know that all the copywriting and copyediting you do for them isn’t worth diddly-squat if it doesn’t generate product sales. Thus, if you’re even remotely considering working for a company as a technical writer, take a few marketing courses and learn e-commerce words/acronyms like SEO, SEM, squeeze page, call-to-action, etc. Identify what factors generate site traffic and page clicks...[S]tart selling your own product. If you have no product to sell, engage in affiliate marketing. But don’t walk into any corporate interview without at least having some idea of why that business is online and on social media and what e-commerce strategies it is using to improve its bottom line. You need to push your freelance writing ROI (another acronym you need to know) because no one else will...All freelance writers, unless they spend their entire lives working for a corporate outfit, must eventually query a magazine/newspaper/blog about publishing an article idea they have in mind. This is also true for biotech and science freelance writers...There are literally thousands upon thousands of books on the topic [of writing a query letter to a publication]. Also, various freelance writers discuss the process and even offer courses on the subject for a fairly low fee...If you don’t learn about the query process and become comfortable with pitching (and re-pitching) content ideas to strangers, you’ll miss out on a big chunk of the freelance writing (money) pie...Your mentor, your colleagues and even your friends may try to dissuade you from becoming a biotech/science freelance writer. Your parents or relatives may wonder why you are throwing away decades of education to sit at home and blog...But if you let these doubts rule your life, you’ll never become a freelance writer...Live your passion and let no one...put your ambitions down." Carol Tice reports:
"Are you unhappy with the amount of freelance writing income you’re bringing in? The check account is looking bare, and the bills are piling up. You need more gigs — and you need them now. Fortunately, there are many basic steps you can take quickly to help you land new assignments at better rates...Do all your current clients know you’re looking to add another client or two? If not, be sure to let them know you would appreciate their referrals. They won’t be offended...Do you know where every former editor of yours is now? If not, reconnect, catch up…and let them know you’d be interested to work with them again, or to receive their referrals if they hear of anything. Another great way to reconnect — ask for a testimonial...Once you have a relationship [with clients], you want to suggest additional projects to them. Let them know you find yourself with a week or two open just now — is there a small project they’d like to get started while you’re available? If you’re blogging for them, maybe they need a white paper, case studies, or a refresh on their web pages, for instance...Learn specialized writing types that pay more. For instance, if you can write product manuals, direct-mail copy, or white papers, the pay is better. You can snap out of low pay by acquiring new specialties in better-paying niches. If you’ve got downtime, maybe now’s the time to take a quick class and add to your skills...Bigger businesses usually pay better project rates. Bigger-circulation magazines have better article rates. If you’ve been slogging along in the solopreneur or local-magazine client ghetto for a while, start identifying larger businesses and publications. Then, pitch them instead. There is no secret freelance law that you have to pay dues for years writing for tiny clients. Feel free to move on up...Get a raise from current clients...(Note: Don’t use this strategy unless you’re ready to kiss the client goodbye if they turn you down. If you ask for a raise and they refuse and then you stay, you’re their doormat forever.)...Many writers tend to jump at the first money offer that’s made to them. That’s not how to end up getting paid top rates. Begin by asking prospects, 'What’s your budget?' Often, they’ll name a bigger number than you had in your head. Then, consider a first offer the opening of a negotiation rather than the last word. Ask for more and explain why — the deadline is short, the work or subject matter is complex, for instance — and you’ll often find there’s wiggle room in the budget...Raise your rates for new clients. Remember, they don’t know what you’re getting from your existing clients. Simply set the bar higher as you take on new clients...Sign short contracts...[which provide] an automatic opportunity to renegotiate, which you’ll often want once you see what the job really entails...Many freelance writers think of other writers as their enemy. Instead, think of them as your referral network. The more writers in your market and niche specialty you befriend, the more likely you are to be referred a nice gig when they are overloaded or get a nibble that’s not for them...Go out and make more writer friends." Dominique Jones reports:
"[T]aking the time to reflect on your past 12 months of performance is a critical component of the annual performance review process — so make time for it!...You may be under the impression that it’s your manager who needs to remember all the great accomplishments and successes you had throughout the year (and the times you may have messed up, too). However, you're also accountable for reporting on your successes (and failures). Here’s why: Managers aren’t superheroes who can see and remember every little thing you did in the year...Not only does it allow your manager to view performance from your perspective, [but] it also helps your manager understand what you see as your strengths and weaknesses. All of the above help set the stage for a detailed and thorough appraisal meeting...Look at previous feedback received, projects you’ve completed and initiatives you’ve launched...If you haven’t done so in the past, start keeping a performance journal. It will make your next self-appraisal that much easier to complete...Look to identify the ways in which you’ve been able to enhance your skills; describe the new skills you’ve mastered and how they've helped you in your career development. Describe how you've applied these new skills to your job and how they support the goals of your department and organization...This isn’t an annual opportunity for shameless self- promotion. It’s an opportunity for some humility. Be candid about your challenges in the year. Describe how you overcame them or the steps you will take in the year ahead to address them...Don’t embellish your accomplishments. Think hard about how you choose your ratings for yourself. Your manager will likely want you to support your ratings so be prepared to provide examples of your successes...and examples of your not-so-great performance...Your manager can tell if you rushed your self-appraisal. So take the time needed to do it justice...After all, your self-appraisal is all about you, and you’re worth it! Use all the space/features provided in the form to tell your story...Treat your self-appraisal like a work of art that builds over time. You’ll be much happier with the end result if you give yourself time to reflect and carefully support your self-assessment...use examples to support your assertions, and please, please make sure that you spell- and grammar-check your documents. These are all signs of how seriously you take the process and its importance to you...Your self-appraisal is a crucial component to providing a “complete picture” of your performance. It’s also a key part of self-development. So take the time to reflect on your successes and challenges and your lessons learned. Don’t forget to bring a copy with you to your performance review meeting with your manager to use as a reference!" Malik Sharrieff reports:
"Bylaws are the rules of operation for a nonprofit organization’s board of directors. These operational rules play a pivotal role in how board members make business decisions and set the direction for internal divisions and the entity as a whole. Usually, bylaws are kept brief, with intent to outline the parameters in which organizational decisions will be made. Since these documents are legal and binding, a nonprofit board of directors can find itself significantly restricted by bylaws that are too rigid, as the process for changing bylaws after they are established can be involved and tedious...Research several local examples of bylaws; since the creation of organizational bylaws are strictly regulated by the states in which your nonprofit will be based, be certain that you benchmark, or copy the parts that are applicable, from a successful nonprofit within your state. Select an entity with a purpose and scope similar to your entity...Research several local examples of bylaws; since the creation of organizational bylaws [is] strictly regulated by the states in which your nonprofit will be based, be certain that you benchmark, or copy the parts that are applicable, from a successful nonprofit within your state. Select an entity with a purpose and scope similar to your entity...of board members, the governance of financial accounts and records, and a defined method of amending the bylaws in the future...Secure the services of an attorney with experience in establishing the organizational structure of nonprofits. Have the attorney review your draft for content, language, and length. Expect to make significant edits before your final draft...Present your final draft to the full board of directors for their review...Publish and circulate the bylaws to all relevant stakeholders (that is, any relevant party with an interest in the organization), board members, business leaders, and stockholders. You might also consider publishing the bylaws to the organizational website...Because of the tax-exempt status of most nonprofit entities, the government strictly regulates how they operate. Every state will provide specific direction on the minimum requirements for bylaw writing. Refer to these state-issued guidelines to ensure compliance." Rafal Deren reports:
"Questions need to be concise and specific while only asking respondents about one issue at a time. This will reduce uncertainty on the respondent’s part and [en]sure that you receive the information you’re looking for...Long drawn[-]out questions can increase confusion and the risk that a question is misinterpreted by the respondent. To guard against this, keep questions short and sweet...Make questions easy to understand by keeping them simple in their wording and grammar...Questions should be presented in their rawest form possible, without any unnecessary words and phrases...A leading question is one that suggests an answer. These should be avoided to prevent against biased responses...Avoid using 'loaded' language in questions, or words that might have an emotive implication. Questions should be neutral in language...Questions that could have two possible responses should not be asked. They should be split up into two parts and asked separately...Questions should be worded as neutrally as possible. Descriptive words that could exaggerate the scenario should be avoided...[A]void words that suggest extreme absolutes. These place respondents in a situation where they must fully agree or disagree with the position in the question...The questions in a survey act like the meat in a hamburger. They really are the most important part. Take your time crafting each one to make sure you’re asking exactly what you want to be asking while following the rules above, and you’ll be sure to get some great feedback!" |
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April 2024
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