Writing From an Eternal Perspective

It's called Christmas With a Capital "C"

2007-12-11T18:48:00.000-05:00

Forget, "Happy Holidays", tell everyone you meet, "Merry Christmas"!

Holiday Perspectives

2007-12-08T23:07:00.001-05:00

Time management becomes a critical issue this time of year. With holiday shopping, school plays, decorating, family parties, Christmas caroling, baking, Christmas cards, delivering presents, special church services, and community projects, we run ourselves ragged! Factor in the increased need for cash this time of year and the stress level sharply increases!

For freelance writers, time management is a daily struggle. Your home is your office. You never completely escape from the sink full of dirty dishes, the laundry climbing the walls in the bathroom, or the cries of an unhappy toddler at your feet. Distractions constantly call you away from your work, and if you allow it, you can waste hours being unproductive.

In your quest for greater efficiency, remember to schedule time for your spouse and kids. Take time to play with trains under the dining room table, spend a few minutes watching a movie with your spouse (without your laptop perched in front of you), and call your grandmother just to say you love her. Life is about relationships. All the work will still be there waiting for you. The business world will not grind to a halt if you take a break.

In fact, take a few hours for you. Read a fiction novel, go for a walk, make a snowman in the front yard (even if you don't have kids!), take a long, hot bath, or go see a movie. Recharge your batteries and you will find returning to your work is easier.

Christmas is about the birth of an extraordinary baby. Don't turn it into a marathon of activities! Christmas is still Christmas without cookies, gifts, decorations, or parties. Keep things in perspective and use the holidays as an excuse to spend extra time with the people who are important to you.

Have a Merry Christmas and may your 2008 be filled with blessings, prosperity and love.

Where to Get Business Forms

2007-11-21T19:57:00.000-05:00

Running a small business requires one to learn a few shortcuts. The business budget can be tight at times and freebies are always welcome. Here are a few websites that offer online business documents and templates- perfect for the small business. Did I mention that most of them are free? :D

3 Excellent Sites to Get Free Document Templates | MakeUseOf.com

Living Beyond the Circumstance

2007-06-15T11:50:00.000-04:00

" Cheerfulness brings sunshine to the soul and drives away the shadows of anxiety. To be cheerful under all circumstances is to radiate faith. It is an expression of hope and an attitude of joyful expectancy...it is to know that God holds all things in His control and that He neither slumbers nor sleeps."- Hannah Whitall Smith As disciples of Christ, we are called to live according to our faith in the soveriegnty of God. We are to continue our praises to the King through the blessings in life as well as the storms, resting in the absolute belief that God can do all things and that He has absolute control over every detail of our circumstances. This emotional consistency is often elusive for most Christians. We find it hard to get off of the emotional roller coaster of our lives. We become distracted by the schemes of Satan and lose our focus on Christ and His kingdom. If we are in complete surrender to Christ, it becomes second nature to live beyond the circumstances of each day. This is evident in the mother who is told that her child has died and reacts by praising God in the midst of her grief. We see it in Jesus' apostles of the New Testament when they "count it all joy" to be berated, beaten and killed for the sake of Christ's kingdom. It is evident in the actions of Mr. George Mueller who set the dinner table in his orphanage without a scrap of food in the pantry, and patiently waited for God to provide. ( He did, by the way, a cart of groceries broke down in front of the orphanage and the food was brought inside before it could spoil.) There are examples all around us to inspire us to live beyond our circumstances, no matter if you live in the lap of America's prosperity or the poverty stricken slums and gutters hiding just out of plain sight. My challenge is for each person who reads this to strive for utter surrender to Christ and in so doing, live beyond the circumstances of life on this Earth. Live each day with an eternal perspective. * The life of Mr Mueller has been recorded and can be viewed free of charge thanks to What Saith the Scripture. It can be viewed here: http://www.whatsaiththescripture.com/Voice/George.Mueller.of.Bristol/George.Mueller.of.Bristol.html

Scheduling Smarter: Editing on a Different Day

2007-11-14T23:01:00.000-05:00

One of the greatest challenges for me as a freelance writer is keeping a schedule. The nature of freelancing tends to be feast or famine to begin with, but I often schedule new projects first thing in the morning, after I've had my second cup of coffee. This is probably not a wise decision, as the caffeine rush gives me delusions of grandeur and I think I am Super Writer early in the morning. By the time the caffeine wears off and the midnight hours tick by as I struggle to complete that day's schedule, I find myself vowing that next week, I not schedule myself so heavily.

One of the best reasons for not over-scheduling is editing a project the same day you write it often results in mistakes slipping through. After spending a few hours performing research and typing up your ideas, you are often too close to the material to be objective about your editing process. Once you walk away from the subject for a few days, you are more likely to catch mistakes that would otherwise go unnoticed.

This is especially true when you push to complete a project. If you are feeling under the weather or have not slept well the previous night the quality of your writing is sure to suffer. By scheduling editing at a later date, the overall condition of your work will greatly improve.

Find Work as a Writer NOW!

2007-11-12T22:30:00.000-05:00

Many journalism majors graduate from college, hang their degree on the wall and go back to the same job that got them through college. They may deliver pizza, work in a factory or care for the sick. Their friends and family know they love to write and may encourage them to take a chance on a writing gig, but for one reason or another they never step outside their comfort zone.

I have been utterly amazed by the poor quality of samples written by those with formal training in the art of writing. I believe this deterioration in writing skills comes simply from a lack of use. After all, some degree of natural talent must have been present at one time to spark an interest in writing. It saddens me deeply to see talented writers lose their passion and hard-earned skills.

Writers must write every day. Only through writing can the author hone his skills. Reading and critiquing the works of other and having your own work reviewed can also help you learn to self-edit your work. Daily writing exercises are often found in the form of journaling or blogging. This is helpful, but does not create a sense of professionalism or a strong motivation to improve your skills

Recreating that sense of urgency present when an essay will be graded, is a great way to help boost motivation and quality. This can be done by writing with purpose and writing for a paycheck, no matter how meager. I began writing for peanuts and happened upon a great partnership with the folks at Northern Lights Press. They offered me professional editing, positive feedback and a significant raise in pay. I was also blessed with the terrific guidance, friendship and support of a Christian editor with a major publishing house (thanks Eric!). My path to professional writing was not typical.

For most aspiring writers, the path to professionalism is long, rough and discouraging. You want to write everyday and getting paid for your efforts would be even better, but quality jobs are hard to come by in the beginning. There are several paying markets on the Internet that allow even beginning writers to earn a few bucks and take pride in their work. Signing up for these services can help get you noticed and provides increasing motivation to evolve as a writer.

Be forewarned, there are lots of scams out there. Always check out any writing service and steer clear of anything that seems suspicious. (You will not make $500 a day as a freelance writer with any system, period.)

Paying markets and non-paying services with high exposure are good to start with. These markets can also be used by freelancers to fill gaps in their schedules and gain some publicity. A few well-known markets are:

About.com (http://www.freelancewrite.about.com/%20-)
Ezine articles (http://www.ezinearticles.com/)
Associated Content (http://www.associatedcontent.com/join.html)
451Press.com (http://www.451press.com/write)
Article City (http://www.articlecity.com/article_submission.shtml)
Life Tips (http://www.lifetips.com/guru/guru-signup.html)
Street Buzz(http://street-buzz.com/authors/register)
Suite 101 (http://www.writingnonfiction.suite101.com/article.cfm/becoming_an_expert_write)
Helium (http://www.helium.com/)
Faith Writers (http://www.faithwriters.com/)
Wikipedia (http://www.wikipedia.com/)

If you have the soul of a writer, write! Write every day and don’t let your excuses hold you back any longer!

(Please keep in mind that I have never personally used any of these services-outside of Faith Writers; I have simply discovered them as I researched topics online. Please feel free to send along any others you have discovered or let me know about your experiences with any of these companies.)

Twice Exceptional, Twice the Joy: Resources for Parents of Twice Exceptional Children

2007-12-05T00:44:00.001-05:00

Imagine Teaching Robin Williams -- Twice-Exceptional Children in Your School
by Carolyn Cosmos

"We're learning more and more about children who don't fit the mold," says Mary Ruth Coleman of the Frank Porter Graham Child Development Institute at the University of North Carolina. However, even so, she observes, the education system is "not designed to address the needs of the child who is gifted and has disabilities." Coleman is a professor of special education at the university and serves on CEC's board of directors. "

"Imagine being Robin Williams' fourth grade teacher!" she exclaims.

Gifted children who are "difficult," who act out, the clowns and troublemakers, and the gifted with disabilities, Little notes, may have their problems diagnosed and may not be considered gifted at all. And students who have a wide spread of skills can have their high test scores canceled out by deficits.

Double Inequity, Redoubled Critique: Twice-Exceptional(Gifted + Learning Disabled)

These narratives invite us to look more closely at the way this dichotomous label "twice-exceptional" is constructed, authorized, and strategically employed, ultimately leading us to pay more careful attention to the significance of the difference, in the educational system, between the ideals of equality and equity.

Tips for Parents: Meeting the Needs of Twice-Exceptional Children by Meredith Warshaw

There are no easy answers for helping our twice-exceptional kids learn to tolerate difficulty, especially after they have been burned. It certainly helps if you can recognize when a task is hard for them and let them know that you understand. Starting easy and gradually easing them into more difficult work can help. Doing a task together (for example, co-writing a story with the adult acting as "scribe") can be a great way to start. One of the most important parts is being aware that there is a basis for the sometimes seemingly irrational over-reactions of twice-exceptional kids.

The Wechsler Intelligence Test (WISC III ) as an assessment tool

The article, Tests and Measurements for the Parent , Teacher, Advocate & Attorney is a useful starting point for understanding more about assessment.

Before starting to advocate for your child, I highly recommend a visit to the web page: Wrightslaw - Special Education. Read the article EMERGENCY! CRISIS! HELP! First Steps for the Parent Attorney or Advocate before doing anything else.

One problem people often run into when advocating for twice-exceptional children is that the children use their giftedness to compensate for their special needs so well that they perform at grade level.
Passing Grades, IQ Scores & Evaluations of Students with Learning Disabilities: Letter to Lillie/Felton.

The chapter on SMART IEPs from the Wrights' book "Wrightslaw: From Emotions to Advocacy - The Special Education Survival Guide (FETA)"

Your Child's IEP: Practical and Legal Guidance for Parents http://www.wrightslaw.com/advoc/articles/iep_guidance.html

Wrightslaw Game Plan: Writing Good IEP Goals and Objectives

Additional Resources
Websites
The website Uniquely Gifted is my collection of online resources relevant to twice-exceptional children. It includes sections on specific special needs, online support groups, advocacy, homeschooling, dealing with bullying, and resources for professionals.

LD Online is always a good starting point for learning more about specific special needs.

Wrightslaw has a wealth of information on advocacy and special needs law. If you do nothing else, follow their advice on keeping a paper trail and on how to write letters that will help rather than hurting your cause.

Email lists
Visit the website GT-World for access to an email list for families with gifted/special needs children.

GT-Spec-Home is an email list for families homeschooling gifted/special needs kids.

The Uniquely Gifted website has a section on online support groups that includes email lists focused on specific special needs.

Books for Kids
Some useful books for our special-needs children include:

Fighting Invisible Tigers : A Stress Management Guide for Teens by Earl Hipp. Free Spirit Publishing.

The School Survival Guide for Kids With LD by Rhoda Woods Cumming, Gary L. Fisher, Pamela Espeland. Free Spirit Press.

Perfectionism: What's Bad About Being Too Good? By Miriam Adderholdt-Elliot and Jan Goldberg. Free Spirit Press.

Putting on the Brakes : Young People's Guide to Understanding Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder by Patricia O. Quinn & Judith M. Stern. Magination.

When Nothing Matters Anymore : A Survival Guide for Depressed Teens by Beverly Cobain. Free Spirit Publishing.

Eli, the Boy Who Hated to Write: Understanding Dysgraphia by Regina Richards and Eli Richards. RET Center Press. This book, written by a mother and son, is aimed at elementary and middle school students and presents a student's experience of dysgraphia.

Views from Our Shoes : Growing Up With a Brother or Sister With Special Needs edited by Donald Meyer. Woodbine House. It can be difficult having a special needs sibling. This book can lesson the isolation, as well as helping parents understand what it's like for their children.

Resources for Gifted Children with Special NeedsCompiled by Meredith G. Warshaw, M.S.S., M.A.
Special Needs Educational Advisor
Contributing Editor, 2e: Twice-Exceptional Newsletter

Resource Room - The Resource Room is a website with tools for learning, especially for people who learn differently or who have "learning difficulties" or specific "learning disabilities."
http://www.resourceroom.net/index.asp

Fernette Eide, M.D. is a wonderful neurologist who specializes in gifted/special needs children. Her website has interesting articles with some great fMRI pictures!
http://www.neurolearning.com

Parenting Special Needs at About.com
http://specialchildren.about.com/parenting/specialchildren/

To do further research on your own, the National Library of Medicine has a free search engine for journal articles that you can use, called Pub Med. Searching Pub Med will get you citations and abstracts (if they are available for the article), and you can then order the full article if you wish.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed/

Tips for Raising a Twice Exceptional Child: How to Support Your Gifted ADHD Kid

2007-12-05T00:29:00.001-05:00

Twice Exceptional is the new buzzword that applies to gifted children with learning disabilities. Our family knows this concept well. My oldest son is gifted and has ADHD. This twice-extraordinary child is quite a blessing and a handful!

He can escalate from calm to bouncing off the walls in a matter of seconds. He hears every sound in the room and feels the need to investigate each noise. He is emotionally and physically sensitive and cries easily. He takes everything to heart and is eager to please. The kid can memorize every line of the school Christmas play after hearing it a few times and creates beautiful drawings and artwork. He asks questions- many, many questions. He has a heart the size of Texas and has never met a stranger. These are all common traits of a twice-exceptional child.

Living with such an extraordinary child makes you appreciate life and love. It is also very exhausting. His little mind never shuts down. He rarely sleeps through the night and tells me of vivid, imaginative dreams nearly every day. His ceaseless questioning tries my patience some days and I long for silence more often than I care to admit.

We have struggled to find ways to raise this brilliant child to be a happy, productive part of society and a follower of Christ in deed and word. Here are some the tips we have found helpful.

Just because your child performs well academically, does not mean he is doing well at school. Exceptional kids often struggle socially and rarely live up to their potential without help.
Sometimes, even school-aged kids need a car ride to help them unwind. I often take my son along for short trips in hopes that he will unwind enough to fall asleep. Short naps work wonders on overly stressful days.
Purchase many, many night-lights. If they are going to be up at night, you want them to be able to navigate without hurting themselves.
Medications often have adverse affects. Even cough syrup can cause intense bouts of hyperactivity. Avoid all medicines except when absolutely necessary.
Fresh fruits, vegetables, plain yogurt, and water should constitute 50% of his diet.
Schedule, schedule, schedule! Schedules are the lifeline for these kids.
Provide frequent hugs, cuddle times, and verbal praise- even if your TE child is a teen.
Challenge their minds. Use adult language, ask their opinion on family issues, and involve them in philosophical discussions.
Make friends with the local librarian, you will be seeing her often!
Identify your child's weaknesses and help him strengthen these areas. ADHD children are often spatial learners and need help with tasks and concepts that may seem simple to other children.
These kids are skilled at coping and adapting, but they often hide hurts, fears, and disappointments. It is not uncommon for them to have a slightly distorted view of things. They need a caring, honest sounding board.
Teach your child that not every task must be done to perfection. Hang half-colored pictures on the fridge, go to the store in your play clothes, and eat the cake before it is frosted.
Avoid the temptation to place your child in a higher grade. They can still learn extra material, but they need to socialize with peers of the same age. Social issues are difficult for the TE child.
Break homework and large tasks up into smaller chunks and provide short sessions of free time or rest in-between work.
These kids worry about natural disasters, violence, and death. The CNN newscast is not appropriate for TE kids. It only fuels these fears.
Provide creative outlets. These kids need creative outlets just as they need air. Stifle the creativity and you crush their spirit. Go to art galleries, learn astronomy together, stock up on art supplies, and enroll them in music lessons- take advantage of this creativity as a bonding opportunity.
Provide a unified parental front. Do not allow the child to play one parent against the other.
Respond to every perceived hurt with love.
Teach your child to think for himself. He wants to fit in and will cave to peer pressure easily.
Tell him he is special and God has a purpose for him. He was given these talents and burdens for a specific reason and you would not change a thing about him.

Getting Life’s Priorities Straight With a Little Help From Snoopy

2007-11-28T19:03:00.001-05:00

Consider this:

Who is in your sphere of influence? How many lives do you affect in a positive way? Will your obituary list all your achievements and affiliations with important groups of people, or will it describe the impact you had on the lives around you?

Charles
Schultz Philosophy

The following is the philosophy of Charles Schultz, the creator of the "Peanuts" comic strip.

1. Name the five wealthiest people in the world.

2. Name the last five Heisman trophy winners.

3. Name the last five winners of the Miss America.

4. Name ten people who have won the Nobel or Pulitzer Prize.

5. Name the last half dozen Academy Award winners for best actor and actress.

6. Name the last decade's worth of World Series winners.

How did you do?

The point is, none of us remembers the headliners of yesterday. These are no second-rate achievers. They are the best in their fields. However, the applause dies. Awards tarnish.
Achievements are forgotten. Accolades and certificates are buried with their owners.

Here is another quiz. See how well you do on this one:

1. List a few teachers who aided your journey through school.

2. Name three friends who have helped you through a difficult time.

3. Name five people who have taught you something worthwhile.

4. Think of a few people who have made you feel appreciated and special.

5. Name five people you would enjoy spending time with if you became a millionaire.

The people who make a difference in your life are not the ones with the most credentials, the most money, or the most awards. They are the ones that care.

"Don't worry about the world coming to an end today. It's already tomorrow in Australia" -Charles Schultz

Life is about relationships; people. Career goals, personal accomplishment, wealth, and popularity are nice, but if they are the focus of your life, you are missing the point. At the end of your life, the only thing that matters is who is standing at your bedside and the cherished memories of a life well lived. If you want to leave a legacy, invest in the lives of others, not in your own happiness and wealth.

Online Resources for Writers

2007-11-24T02:27:00.001-05:00

Writers are continually searching for great sources of information. I found a terrific website filled with links to online resources for writers. Enjoy!

(The information below is a screen shot from the website located at http://webster.commnet.edu/writing/writing.htm)

Online Resources

for Writers

Guide to Grammar and Writing

Contains definitions, suggestions, over 170 computer-graded quizzes, and a way to submit queries regarding grammar and usage. An award-winning Website from Capital Community College in Hartford

Sentence Sense: A Writer's Guide

Written by Evelyn Farbman of Capital Community College and prepared for use on the Internet by Charles Darling. This online textbook in basic writing offers students three approaches to becoming more confident writers. Part One examines how sentences work, giving students a structural understanding of the language they use every day. Part Two focuses on errors that commonly appear in written English. Part Three suggests techniques and topics for developing ideas in writing. Sentence Sense contains nearly 200 interactive applications.

Guide to Writing Research Papers

Prepared by the Humanities Department at Capital Community College. Suggestions on research techniques and patterns of documentation based on the style recommended by the Modern Language Association. There is also an online research guide based on documentation patterns approved by the American Psychological Association.

Recommendations for Writing Papers about Literature

Another handy and authoritative guide from Capital Community College in Hartford.

Online Dictionaries, Thesauri, Encyclopedias

from the Capital Library

Writer's Web

This site is maintained by the Writing Center at the University of Richmond. The material here on getting started with writing projects and on peer editing is especially helpful. Visit, also, the material in "Focusing & Connecting Ideas."

Lists of Grammar Lists

This site provides lists of grammar items for use by ESL/EFL teachers. These lists have been prepared by ESL/EFL teachers to share with colleagues. The title of the Website doesn't begin to do justice to what you can discover here.

Traditional Grammar: An Interactive Book

Don Hardy, Professor of English at Northern Illinois University, provides this excellent, thorough, and easy-to-use guide to traditional grammar.

Advice on Academic Writing

Administered by Dr. Margaret Proctor, Coordinator of Writing Support at the University of Toronto, this page has many useful and well written handouts for academic writers.

Elements of Style

By William Strunk, Jr. This venerable book (some have called it overbearing) has been around for generations. The section on omitting needless words should be read by everyone. This online version does not contain the prefatory piece by E.B. White.

Modern English Grammar

Daniel Kies, Department of English, College of DuPage, maintains this complete and easy-to-navigate textbook.

Nuts and Bolts of College Writing

From Michael Harvey at Washington College, a thorough, readable, and engaging online textbook.

Grammar, Punctuation, and Capitalization:

A Handbook for Technical Writers and Editors

A no-nonsense (and very thorough) guide maintained for NASA by Mary K. McCaskill of the Langley Research Center in Hampton, Virginia.

The American Heritage Book of English Usage: A Practical and Authoritative Guide to Contemporary English (1996)

A detailed look at grammar, style, diction, word formation, gender, social groups and scientific forms, this valuable reference work is ideal for students, writers, academicians and anybody concerned about proper writing style.

The Purdue University On-Line Writing Lab (OWL)

Contains on-line exercises and links to other resources for writing assistance. One of the best academic sites for writing help.

Best English Links on the Web

part of "Languages on the Web," based in Italy, and especially useful for ESL students and teachers.

Proofreading Symbols and Abbreviations

based on the MLA Handbook.

Language Skills for Journalists

From R. Thomas Berner at Penn State University—from grammar questions to issues of getting one's point across in newspaper writing.

The Writers' Workshop

From University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. Several excellent handouts and other useful features make this one of the best of the university-based online writing centers.

The Electronic Journal for Computer Writing, Rhetoric and Literature

from the University of Texas, Austin (with much of the writing done by practitioners of computer-based lit studies at Texas)

JAC: The Journal of Advanced Composition

From the University of South Florida. Past articles are archived and available online (somewhat tardily); current articles are not.

Vocabula Review

Published on the third Tuesday of each month by Robert Hartwell Fiske, editor and author of The Dictionary of Concise Writing and The Dimwit's Dictionary.

Salt Lake Community College

Goes way beyond grammar handouts to MOOs and other interactive uses of the computer. Essays for teachers of writing, also.

Colgate University Writing Center

Some good handouts and advice, taking students from beginning to ending of the writing process.

Paradigm: Online Writing Assistant

A superb, nicely organized, and extremely helpful guide for Composition. By Chuck Guilford, an English Professor at Boise State University

Grammar and Style Guide

Put together by Professor Jack Lynch of Rutgers University. Lots of good advice, easy to use (alphabetical listing, hyperlinked), extremely useful.

The Electric Eclectic

An extensive, alphabetized, searchable index of resources for writers and researchers on the Web. Maintained by Jim Eccleston.

University of Victoria (Canada) Writer's Guide

A fully hyperlinked textbook for Composition! Includes sample essays of several types.

Allan K. Smith Writing Center at Trinity College

Includes some hand-outs, resources for teachers as well as students

Cybercomp

Using the resources of the Internet for English Composition

RhetNet

From the University of Missouri, a cyberjournal on rhetoric and writing.

Online Technical Writing

A completely online textbook prepared by David A. McMurrey, at Austin Community College (ACC) in Austin, Texas

Rensselaer Writing Center

This online document is especially useful for students in technical writing courses.

Writing for Business and Pleasure

Go the "contents" section for a series of fine, cogent articles on good writing. The author, Stephen Wilbers, is a newspaper writer on business communications and an instructor in the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management and the Institute of Technology.

Writing Center at Claremont Graduate University

The "for students" section of this online guide is particularly useful for graduate-level students. There is material here on preparing conference papers, grant proposals, even theses and dissertations.

An Online English Grammar

From Edunet International, by Anthony Hughes.

Frequently Asked Questions about English Usage

From the newsgroup alt.English.usage—searchable and thorough

Handouts from Bowling Green State University

An extensive list of handy prescriptions. (One of the last of the Gopher menus!)

The Dakota State University Online Writing Lab

The Dakota State University Online Writing Lab (OWL) provides writing assistance to students and faculty on the DSU campus and to students in remote locations.

Screenplay Format

For anyone who thinks he or she "could write something that good."

Format for Television Comedy Writers

Before you send something off to Cosby.

ESL Home Page

Resources for students and teachers of English as a Second Language.

Writing the Argumentative Essay

An extremely thorough resource, from Bill Daly at the Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education in Alice Springs, Northern Territory, Australia.

Silva Rhetoricae: The Forest of Rhetoric

Dr. Gideon Burton of Brigham Young University's English Department has created this guide to "the terms of classical and renaissance rhetoric."

The Writing Center at Colorado State

The Colorado State University Online Writing Center maintains this site. It covers matters like documentation, consideration of audience, writing and preparing for a speech, etc.

Online Course in Analytical Writing for Science and Technology

Dr. Tom Georges of the NOAA Environmental Technology Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado, has put together an extensive course in technical writing. Most of the text material is available online. Extensive yet easy to use and filled with great advice for all writers.

Pasted from <http://webster.commnet.edu/writing/writing.htm>

Wiki Sister Sites

2007-11-24T02:23:00.001-05:00

I love Wikipedia. It is a great resource to get general information about nearly any topic. During my last visit to Wikipedia.com, I ran a search that did not yield any results. The displayed page offered links to Wikipedia's sister sites in an effort to supply me with my requested information. Here is what was displayed:

List of Wikipedia's sister projects:

	Wiktionary (free dictionary)
	Wikibooks (free textbooks)
	Wikiquote (quotations)
	Wikisource (free library)
	Commons (images and media)
	Wikinews (free news source)

Pasted from <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Structural_analysishttp://www.google.com/>

I am bookmarking these six great websites for future reference!

Seven Deadly Website Design Sins- by Andrew Mallory

2007-11-24T01:19:00.001-05:00

According to Derrick Gehl, a top Internet Marketing Consultant, every website should avoid these seven deadly designs sins:

Seven deadly design sins (Make sure YOUR site isn't committing any of them!)

#1: No eye-catching headline to grab your visitors' attention

#2: Distracting banners and links!

#3: Too many dizzying colors or fonts

#4: Patterned backgrounds

#5: Too many distracting graphics, animations, or video clips

#6: Slow-loading pages and graphics

#7: Huge blocks of text that are nearly impossible to read

How many of these forbidden traits are present on your website?

To get more information about Derrick's services or sign up for his free, information-packed newsletter, visit the
Internet Entrepreneur Club.

Bountiful Gifts!

2007-11-22T14:43:00.000-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you are all stuffed to the brim with turkey and having a great time with friends and family. My family has many things to be thankful for- God has been very gracious.

Professionally, I have been especially thankful for a new new editor that has been reviewing my work and fine tuning the writing gears. It is a little overwhelming at times to be learning so much, so rapidly, but I am very grateful for the opportunity to improve and grow as a writer.

If you are looking for some writing tips and free lessons, I came across a WONDERFUL resource at grokdotcom.com. The link is below and I hope you find it as entertaining and useful as I have!

Online Copywriting 101: The Ultimate Cheat Sheet

Thanksgiving Day for Christian Kids!

2007-11-20T00:51:00.000-05:00

Thanksgiving Day
Need some ideas for crafts and Bible lessons to keep your little ones busy over Thanksgiving break? Check out this great website created just for Christian kids! I printed out a ton of sheets for my little artists and and made Bible memorization cards out of card stock!

Thanksgiving Prayer

2007-11-20T00:08:00.001-05:00

Are you worried about saying the Thanksgiving blessing for your family in front of your Thanksgiving dinner guests? Public prayer can be worrisome for even seasoned Christians. When in doubt, let the Word speak for you. Below is one of my favorite verses. It is perfect for a sincere Thanksgiving Day prayer.

11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness and the power
       and the glory and the majesty and the splendor,
       for everything in heaven and earth is yours.
       Yours, O LORD, is the kingdom;
       you are exalted as head over all.

12 Wealth and honor come from you;
       you are the ruler of all things.
       In your hands are strength and power
       to exalt and give strength to all.

13 Now, our God, we give you thanks,
and praise your glorious name.

1 Chronicles 29:11-13 New International Version (NIV)

New Writing Royalty Service

2007-11-17T01:10:00.000-05:00

Triond - Sign Up

I came across a new writing royalty service today called Triond. It has an unusual name, but the service seems to be straightforward.

The Welcome page states:
"You have original content and you want to publish it, but you're not sure where. Online publishing services can be complicated and unfriendly. So what do you do?
Triond has the answer!
Triond is a comprehensive publishing platform that lets you publish your original content online, freely and easily.
With Triond, you not only have a great way to share articles you write, photos you take, music and podcasts you record, and videos you film, but we even pay you for it!
You share your content and in turn get royalties for life. Sign up now!"

If anyone signs up for the service, drop me an email (mt12mindset@gmail.com) and let me know how it works out for you. It may be one to keep an eye on!

From the Mouth Of A Student

2007-11-01T16:15:00.000-04:00

This was written by A 15 yr. old student in Arizona:

NEW School prayer : -

Now I sit me down in school
Where praying is against the rule
For this great nation under God
Finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites,
It violates the Bill of Rights.
And anytime my head I bow
Becomes a Federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange or green,
That's no offense; it's a freedom scene.
The law is specific, the law is precise.
Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

For praying in a public hall
Might offend someone with no faith at all.
In silence alone we must meditate,
God's name is prohibited by the state.

We're allowed to cuss and dress like freaks,
And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks.
They've outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible.
To quote the Good Book makes me liable.
We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen,
And the 'unwed daddy,' our Senior King.
It's "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong,
We're taught that such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls,
Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles.
But the Ten Commandments are not allowed,
No word of God must reach this crowd.

It's scary here I must confess,
When chaos reigns the school's a mess.
So, Lord, this silent plea I make:
Should I be shot; My soul please take!
Amen

Halloween Origins and Customs

2007-11-01T01:03:00.000-04:00

Halloween Origins and Customs

My husband and I were up late tonight, penning a letter to my son's teacher. We send him to a Christian school because 1. he is gifted and has ADHD and a smaller class size is best for him and 2. we do our best to infuse every aspect of his life with God's love and teachings.

We were quite surprised when he came home from school and asked if he could go trick-or-treating at his teacher's home with the rest of his class. (We have not taken him trick-or-treating nor have we ever celebrated Halloween; we don't even buy a pumpkin.)

It broke my heart to tell him no, and we spent several hours explaining why we don't celebrate Halloween and why it was wrong for his teacher to invite the class to participate in trick-or-treating. I turned to the Internet to pull up a concrete history of Halloween to help us explain. We found the Jeremiah Project website and it was perfect for explaining the awful roots and symbolism of Halloween and was replete with multiple Bible verses to support our decision to ignore Halloween.

The author did a wonderful job researching the historical facts and the Bible verses were appropriate and well organized. It was so good, in fact, that I printed out the text version and sent it along with our note to my son's teacher.

While some holiday traditions are harmless, this is one holiday that is overflowing with spiritual implications. I encourage all Christians to research the history of Halloween before deciding to take part in any form of Halloween celebration.

Many thanks to the author of the Jeremiah Project website for a job well done. We will be sending an email of thanks for arming us with the information we needed to educate our son about Halloween.

Firstgiving Blog: FOTW or "I'm not changing my shirt until I raise $100 for AIDS."

2007-10-30T19:50:00.000-04:00

Firstgiving Blog: FOTW or "I'm not changing my shirt until I raise $100 for AIDS."
What a great fund raising idea! I have to admit that wearing the same shirt day after day scares me a little, but no one said you can't wash it at night!

This idea could be adapted for any worthy cause, but students at the following schools are participating to raise money for AIDS research:

Indiana Wesleyan
Oklahoma Wesleyan
Greenville
College Of the Desert
Taylor University

If you live near one of these schools and would like to donate, track down a student with an official t-shirt to make your contribution.Official t-shirts say "WORLD VISION" on the front and "I'm not changing my shirt until I raise $100 for AIDS." on the back."

Energy Saving PC Tips - Help Save The Environment With Your Computer | Enviro Pages

2007-10-27T19:15:00.000-04:00

I found this great blog filled with great tips on living greener! I have to admit that I too often leave the computer on 24/7. But after reading this,: Energy Saving PC Tips - Help Save The Environment With Your Computer | Enviro Pages
I won't be doing it anymore!

We already recycle and turn off the water when brushing our teeth, and since we live on a farm, we avoid pesticides and make our own compost, but there is always something more that can be done to help the environment.

I'm not a "Save the Whales, but let the homeless starve and freeze to death" activist, but if it takes a few seconds of my time to conserve energy or make the environment better for my kids, I'm all for it!

Being environmentally friendly isn't trendy in our house, it's just plain smart.

FireFox OneNote Extension

2007-10-27T11:59:00.000-04:00

FireFox OneNote Extension

Unfortunately, this nifty pluggin doesn't work with the latest version of Firefox, but you may find it invaluable if you use an older version.

Daniel Escapa's OneNote Blog

2007-10-27T11:17:00.000-04:00

Daniel Escapa's OneNote Blog

When I updated to MS Word 2007, One Note was a surprise addition to the package. I have to say that I have found this program to be invaluable and worth its weight in gold.

Like most of the population, I have a love/hate relationship with Microsoft products, but this one has yet to give me grief and has saved me countless hours when compiling research and downloading customer websites for reference.

It gives me an accurate replica of what is on the web, so that I can view it offline, transfer it to my Windows Mobile phone or sync with another computer.

While I do not know if any other writers I have contact with are using One Note, I could even email an entire Notebook of my notes to share with them if I so chose to do so.

Admittedly, I'm not one to read the user's guide before starting a new program. I usually just click a few buttons and find my way around, learning as I go. I am sure there are tons of other features for One Note that I have yet to discover.

I did discover Daniel Escapa's One Note blog today though, and gleaned some valuable information and tips from his wealth of knowledge. Check it out if you are using One Note as well to help get the most out of your MS dollar.

10 Questions to Help You Fine tune Your Marketing

2007-10-21T00:45:00.000-04:00

Marketing is an important part of any business. For an online business, it can mean the difference between virtual thriving or being lost in cyberspace. There are a few questions that you should ask yourself when developing a marketing plan for your business.

· Who are your clients? Understanding your target audience and their needs prepares you to tailor your services in a manner that will best serve your customers.
· Can you offer any additional services that would be useful for your target audience?
· What are you doing locally to attract business? Many customers prefer to deal locally. Public speaking engagements, sponsoring a little league team, or paying for an advertising spot in the local radio station can all help you attract local clients.
· Who are your major competitors? What advantages do they have over your company? What do they offer that you don’t? Why should consumers choose your company over your competition? Answering these questions can help you determine the strong points and weaknesses of your company. That knowledge can help you turn your weaknesses into strengths and take full advantage of your strong points.
· Do you offer any discounts, freebies or incentives for your customers? If not, what can you implement in the near future?
· Does your website sponsor a blog? If not, you could be missing out on website traffic.
· Do you read industry related blogs on a regular basis and check out your competitors’ links? If not, you should be.
· Are you taking advantage of social bookmarking sites?
· Can you get endorsements from the best in your industry? You never know unless you ask.
· What are you doing to build intentional relationships with people who are where you want to be in five years?

Answering these ten questions will help you develop an effective marketing plan and keep your business on track for online success.

The Challenges Of Gifted children

2007-09-19T10:07:00.000-04:00

My oldest son is gifted. I didn't need a battery of psychological tests and IQ measurements to tell me it either. Parents know when their children are different. They may not always be able to put an exact label on the differences but they notice them none the less.

We decided to move my gifted son to another school for first grade. Last year's school was tremendous, but it required three hours a day to transport him to and from school. We choose the new school because it is only 12 miles from home.

My son did not take the transition well. On the surface, he seems to be adjusting fine, but his close family members have noticed the drastic change.

He has begun missing basic addition problems and asking for help while reading first grade material at school and at home. For the average child, this would not be unusual, but he ended the school year in May doing third grade math, English and spelling and reading at a fifth grade level. He daydreams during class time and runs amok in the classroom when he is supposed to be working. His teacher not only thinks he is a dodo, but she's recommended that he be medicated for ADHD.

This has prompted me to look into the world of gifted children more closely to understand what is going on in his little world. I will be sharing my discoveries over the next few weeks in hope that as we grow as a family, our journey will someday help other families with gifted children as well.

Why Bother?

2007-09-18T21:08:00.000-04:00

Human nature dictates that each person is compelled to perform well. The endless cycle of try hard, do well, then fail seems like a pointless and depressing fact of life. In fact, it leaves many people wondering what the point of life really is if we all fail so miserably.

You try your best to become financially secure only to have an illness or injury wipe out your savings account and threaten to leave you living on the streets. You pour yourself into your job only to be passed over for that big promotion, again. You study for hours only to flunk out of that necessary chemistry, causing you to miss graduating with your peers.

The examples are nearly endless. Life is chock full of disappointments, hardships and unfairness. God may look on the intent of a man's heart, but that doesn't mean that good intentions will make you successful in life.

So why bother to strive for excellence? Why does God create each of us with a drive to do good, and the inability to accomplish it?

We strive for excellence because God commands to press towards the mark of the high calling of Christ. We are to strive to become more Christlike each and every day of our lives. But this is not accomplished by trying harder. It is most often accomplished when we fall the hardest. Utter failure has a way of making is face our inability for what it is. It removes all other choices except for learning to submit and abide in Christ. For many of us, complete submission is one of the hardest concepts to grasp and put into practice.

Without the life giving vine of Christ we are destined for failure and misery. In Christ, we have abundant hope, joy and life. Which will you choose today?