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Do You Experience Writers’ Self-Doubt?

May 15th, 2012 by

Have you ever experienced self-doubt as a writer?  Have you ever wondered what your own unique writing voice is, or if you even have one?  Well, you’re not alone.

Since writing is often a very solitary act, at least in its most creative stage, it’s natural to feel unsure of yourself or question the value of your work at times.  What you don’t want to do is “stay” in that place.

How can you change this?  In addition to revisiting some of the tips and tools I’ve shared in earlier blogs, you can also surround yourself with other writers.

♦  Visit your local writing organizations where they may offer local events or monthly luncheons with speakers and networking, such as the Writing Community of York Region.

♦  Check out “Blue Pencil” Writers’ Groups that focus on writing skills and progress, and offer a great camaraderie and support.

♦  Join a “Mastermind” Group for Writers and Authors that put an emphasis on some of the business aspects, ongoing industry changes and updates, as well as brainstorming, sharing resources and providing gentle accountability.

♦  Sign up for Free Newsletters and peruse sites like the WritersDigest.com – oh yes, and follow my blog.  :-)

♦  Watch for Writing Contests (check out Canada Writes).

♦  If you’re in the York Region, ON area, join us for I C Publishing’s Open Seminar for Writers and Authors.

♦ Hire a Creative Consultant to work with you one-to-one, especially if you are looking for guidance, teaching and assistance that is more customized and very specific to your project, needs and goals.

If you’re an entrepreneur or small business owner reading this blog post, try rereading it now and substitute the word “writing” with “entrepreneur”.  You’ll see how some of these same insights and recommendations will apply to your journey as well!

As a Creative Consultant and Independent Publisher myself, I can share with you that most of us have dedicated areas of expertise in a wide variety of genres, so check around.  For example, if a prospective client came to me who was writing a crime novel or certain types of poetry, I would consider referring them to one of my colleagues who specialize more in these areas.

Also, although we offer many services here at I C Publishing, including consulting, editing, proof-reading, publishing or self-publishing support, e-reader conversions, printing sourcing, creative design, book award applications, sales and promotion through our network – depending on our clients projects and goals, we may also recommend that they look for a Literary Agent and/or Publicist to help them further.

Above all, think about your own experience as a reader, and how you value and relate to a variety of authors and their work, and think about the people who already value and relate well to you.

The next time you say to yourself, “Who am I to think that others will want to hear what I have to say?” – Think again and say, “Who am I not …?”

And assuming that you are truly passionate and committed to your work and the content of your writing, you will soon realize “how much” others will be missing if you don’t follow-through and breathe life into your next book!

I always feel like I’m just scratching the surface in my blogs, so please don’t hesitate to email me directly or leave a comment below – and let me know what topics you’d like me to expand on.

Happy Writing and Creating!

Sheri

 

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The Creative Process – Sharing One’s Insights and Passions

Apr 17th, 2012 by

My next book project is called, Working From Home & Making It Work ©, based on almost thirty years of experience and independent study.  It’s a compilation of some of my more recent inspirational keynotes, a hands-on interactive workshop by the same name, and the individual mentoring and consulting I do with clients.  I thought I would invite you on my journey as I complete the creative process and next steps to finally bringing it to fruition … and perhaps along the way offer you encouragement to put pen to paper or fingers to your keyboard, so you too can share your insights and passions with others.

Do you love helping people and sharing what you’ve learned?  Are you an expert in your field?  Do you have great talks or workshop material you have created and delivered over the years to help empower and guide others towards a healthier, more productive and successful life – personally and/or in business?

Perhaps you’re a Naturopathic Doctor, Teacher, Fitness Trainer, Corporate Business Consultant, Youth Counsellor … or you have a favourite hobby that has become a business?  Maybe you’re involved in your community through ministry or volunteerism … or you have a personal story that needs to be shared to give hope and guidance to those who may be experiencing something similar and need to know they’re not alone.

The possibilities are endless.

Let me begin with the part of my story that propelled me in the direction of entrepreneurship.  Besides my obvious influences, like my father who always worked for himself, and a grandmother who had her own business as a seamstress well before the word “entrepreneur” was even acknowledged – when my husband and I were ready to start our family about twenty-eight years ago, I had a sense that things were going to change dramatically.

I was in the early years of a corporate career and doing quite well.  At that time, there were new opportunities brewing that excited me.  However, as old-fashioned or traditional as this may sound, the thought of being a Mom had a bigger hold over me – I couldn’t wait.  And I wanted to have more choice than I saw my colleagues having at the time – getting up at the crack of dawn, dropping their children off at the babysitters, driving an hour to work in rush hour traffic … only to have barely a few hours in the evening to do and be “everything” … and then do it all over again the next day.

I was determined that wasn’t for me, and albeit with some youthful confidence and a bit of naivety, I felt that I had experienced enough in my life to believe that I could always revisit the many other things I still wanted to accomplish … and make them happen just a little later in my journey.

Working From Home & Making It Work © is a reflection of all that I’ve since learned, studied, experienced and more.  It’s been a “work in progress” for much longer than I had planned.  I’ve dabbled a bit with the manuscript, noting ideas I’d like to revisit when I could commit more time to it.  I make a decision every day to focus on what I can do, not what I can’t or didn’t do.  In fact, I had hoped to finish this manuscript last month.  I’m not quite there yet, my life is full, for which I’m grateful.  I juggle and make new decisions every day, every season and every year, as my priorities and needs dictate.

I continue to make weekly appointments in my calendar to “meet with myself” and work on my manuscript and I’m happy to share with you my progress so far:

  • I’ve refined the Table of Contents further, which I find provides me with structure and a good check point as I add or edit certain chapters.
  • I’ve done the first review of chapters one to five, and initiated permission requests by email for certain content or quote use.

Since this book is a compilation of work created and shared over many years, I have noticed my growth and evolving style of writing and communicating.  It’s been interesting.  At a few points I’ve considered rewriting.  However, as I recall initially presenting the material in a talk or workshop and receiving such positive feedback, I’ve come to the conclusion that one of the sections in particular, is meant to be simply a collection of slightly edited transcripts.

And lastly, I love a book that I can pick up and open to almost any page for insight or inspiration, so I’m designing Working From Home & Making It Work © in this way.  There are four parts including 1) transcripts of talks on things like Embracing Change to Leadership, 2) expanded transcripts of the same titled workshop, 3) poems with perspective and 4) actual exercises one can do as they continue to grow (helping with work/life balance, goals, shifting through challenges/blocks).

What are you working on? Please share your thoughts and ideas with me. And don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog as well via the commentluv feature here on the site.

Until next time,

Sheri

 

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Process & Purpose by New Author, Jim Baston

Mar 27th, 2012 by

click image for more information

Welcome to IC Publishing.  This week, I have the pleasure of introducing you to our newest author, Jim Baston – and have invited him to share his process and purpose for writing Beyond GREAT SERVICE, his first book.  Whether you’re an avid reader, published author or novice or seasoned writer, I’m sure you’ll enjoy his message.

With respect to Beyond GREAT SERVICE, Jim’s attention to detail and fascinating gift of story-telling to teach a powerful and much-needed message is ingenious.  It’s rare to find in one person, all the qualities that Jim Baston possesses; and it’s obvious he knows his stuff.  Although written specifically for the service industry, Beyond GREAT SERVICE is an excellent read for all of us who care about both the bottom line and great business relations for life.  Highly professional and committed to excellence!  As publisher and editor, it was an honour to be a part of bringing this work to life, and I’m sure there’s much more to come from Jim Baston of BBA Consulting Inc, so stay tuned!

What inspired you to write this book?

Jim:  I had spent several years working with service companies and watched them struggle to get their technicians more involved in business development activities, with little success.  It became apparent that there were some fundamental issues which were impeding success.  Unless these issues are addressed, management will always be disappointed with the outcomes, regardless of the amount of time and other resources used, or the positive intentions of management.  I felt the book would be a good way to highlight those issues and to provide some specific strategies on how to deal with them.

What do you want others to gain from (your book)?

Jim:  Ultimately, I would like readers to successfully engage their technicians in proactive business development.  I personally think this is a win/win situation.  The customer wins by working with companies and individuals who understand their needs and goals, and are genuinely looking for ways to help achieve them.  The service company wins because this approach can generate significantly higher revenues at good margins, without adding to overhead (additional sales resources).  And because this approach can generate an exceptional customer experience, retention rates improve.  The individual technician wins because they develop new skills that make them more valuable to their customers and to their employers.

What was your creative process for this project?

Jim:  The idea had been on my mind for some time.  The concepts expressed in the book are based on the work I have done with technicians all over North America, and from ideas that were generously shared by people I have had the pleasure to meet and work with across several service industries.  I have written a number of articles which helped me to formalize my thoughts, so when it came to write the book, it was simply a matter of putting the ideas on paper.

Why did you choose the story-telling format you used?

Jim:  I wanted to write a “how-to” book on the subject, but I struggled with what form it would take.  I chose to go with a fictional account because I thought it might be more interesting for the reader and I hoped that the reader would see elements of themselves in the characters.  There were also some people issues that needed to be considered, and I thought the story approach would allow me to explore those interpersonal issues more effectively than a straight forward “how-to” book.

What’s next for you as an author?

Jim:  I have a few of ideas that I am working on — all based on the service industry and what strategies management can take to differentiate themselves and create a sustainable competitive advantage.

And now to you, the reader, what’s next for you?

Embrace your creativity!  Make time to write and share your unique gifts and expertise!   Look what can happen when you do!

I’d love your feedback! Don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog as well via the commentluv feature here on the site.

Until next time,

Sheri

 

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Understanding the Goal Setting Process

Mar 6th, 2012 by

It’s about that time of year when many people get discouraged, and abandon the New Year’s resolutions and goals they so passionately committed to just a few short weeks ago!  So, at the risk of somewhat repeating the main theme I wrote about in January, I’m thrilled to introduce you to one of my “amazing” clients that I have had the pleasure of coaching, mentoring and working with for many years who will talk about the goal setting process.  Her name is Terri Segal, owner of Rhythmic By Nature.  She has developed such an incredible business, team and community – and her energy and authenticity inspires all who meet her.

I humbly share a recent conversation and message from Terri:

“Sheri, you really helped inspire and shape this for me – and now I’m passing it onto my team – thank you!”

“The thought of sitting down and setting goals can be overwhelming, as it holds ourselves accountable for our OWN LIVES … Yet really, we are in the driver’s seat, making choices every day, big or small, difficult or easy, at every moment. Our choices ripple like a rock dropped into water touching our own lives in ways we could never imagine and the lives of our family, loved ones and community.  Living a life of passion, purpose and meaning takes courage, resilience, support, trust, faith and action.  When your passion becomes your profession and you choose to carve out your own career path and business, setting goals is paramount in helping you grow your business in a way that stays congruent with your own VISION.

Whether setting goals at the beginning of a new year, beginning of a season, or anywhere in between, here are some tips below that can help your goal setting process:

Tips for Setting Goals:

  1. Carve out the time ‘just for you’, to stop and check in with yourself – consistently.
  2. Create a ‘time out’ and ‘tune in’ atmosphere that encourages and energizes you – i.e. take a walk in nature, read or put on inspiring background music, indulge in your favourite flavour of tea/coffee, etc.
  3. Type notes on the computer, or write in journal.
  4. Ask yourself and answer key guiding questions:
  • What is working?
  • What is not working?
  • What do I want more of?
  • What do I want less of?
  • What do I need to do NOW to make these necessary changes?
  • What kind of support do I have or still need, to move forward?
  • How will these choices and actions impact those around me?
  1. Suspend Self-Judgement
  • One moment we can feel really motivated to take action towards a goal, and the next moment, we can lose the momentum, feel discouraged and think of a million other things that are more important to do, putting it off for another day.  In a split instant, our inner critic, saboteur, and judge can get in the way of making a great idea or inspiration come to fruition by telling us all of the things that we “cannot do, cannot handle, aren’t good enough for, lack experience in etc., etc.,” … Sound familiar??  It happens to us all, and may even occur more frequently when on the brink of crossing a new boundary or moving outside of our comfort zone to almost the point of breakthrough.  Again, go back to the key questions as they can be our guiding light.

Here’s more to consider when the inner critic is having a “go” at you:

  • Who is missing out by me not following through with the meaningful work I do, or the great idea that I have?
  • When I follow through with this step, how will I feel, and what will be the results for me and my clients?
  • What support do I already have in place to assist me to reach this goal, or take this step?

Like everyone, the start of the New Year is always a great time to look back on the previous year and forward to the next year, redefining and refining my VISION, setting concrete goals and putting a structure in place for me to achieve these goals.

I also take time to re-assess my goals and set smaller, reachable and immediate goals for each season… and I encourage you to do the same.”

Terri Segal, Terri@RythmicByNature.com, www.RythmicByNature.com

Recognize the powerful learning in your biggest challenges.  Track and acknowledge your accomplishments regularly (big and small).  Know what you want, financially and otherwise.  Embrace what excites and motivates you the most, and let it be the driving force to help you create and live your ideal life.

As always, we look forward to your comments.

Sheri Andrunyk

 

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Online Book Marketing

Feb 28th, 2012 by

Welcome!  In this blog, we’re going to continue with last week’s theme in part, and look at another way that the book publishing industry seems to be shifting, sometimes on a daily basis. This is a great article about Online Book Marketing, contributed by a wonderful new I C Publishing Team Member, Carole Audet.

Writers who find agents that find them lucrative publishing deals are rare—they do exist, but they are rare. What’s happening more often these days is an author will self-publish, and then a traditional publisher will pick up his or her book for mass production when it has attracted an audience and is doing well. This tends to happen more for fiction.

For nonfiction, self-published authors, their books give them added credibility in their field of expertise, which in turn attracts more speaking engagements, clients, and revenue.

The one constant, whether self-published or published through a traditional publisher, is that authors are largely responsible for marketing their books.

Self-published professionals have neither the time nor the resources to travel around the world to promote their books. Enter the virtual book tour. Whether in person or virtually, a book tour has one purpose: to reach thousands of potential readers.

A virtual book tour starts with a blog, one focused on the author—particularly if the author has more than one book—or one that focuses on the book and—if the title has an upcoming street date—on the book launch itself.  Please click here for an example of the content and pages that make up a book or author blog. Once the book or author blog is established, it’s time to organize the book tour. A virtual book tour can be scheduled in a variety of ways, including over the course of a day, a month, or a year.

All blogs are self-published content. In fact, many books actually started their lives as a series of blog posts. So, it makes sense to use your own blog and those of other experts in your field to promote your book. And, as popular blogger, Jon Morrow says, the best way for you to become a popular blogger and drive traffic to your site is to guest blog on other popular blogs.

Most professionals have a community of similar professionals and that’s a great place to start when researching guest blogging opportunities. Those that know you and your work are likely to jump at the chance to have you guest on their blog. Don’t forget, they will want you in their corner when it comes time for them to write, publish and launch their own books.

And just like newspapers and magazines that are always looking for new and original content, bloggers that don’t know you but that work in your area of expertise, are potential stops on your blog tour. If you provide the blogger with relevant information about your work, accomplishments and your book, in other words, don’t leave it up to them to research what you are all about, most are happy to publish content—written, audio or video—from someone else in their field; it offers a fresh perspective, provides the blogger’s audience with additional information, and gives the blogger a bit of a break from creating content. For the guest blogger, they benefit from the endorsement of someone else in their field and exposure to their audience.

Follow-up is crucial when guest blogging. Like every social media avenue, it’s about building relationships. Once the guest post has been scheduled and published, it’s important for the guest blogger to continue to interact with the audience when comments are posted. And, a great way to stimulate a conversation about a blog post is to end it with a question.

I’ve been marketing my author clients’ books for a couple of years now. Out of all the methods I use to conduct this marketing, none is as effective at reaching a large audience in a short amount of time as a virtual book tour. So, if your book is full of valuable tips, techniques, information, and inspiration consider a virtual book tour to spread your message.

As always, we look forward to your comments here at I C Publishing. And, here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv. What a wonderful opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog at the same time!

Carole
carole@intouchonline.ca
www.intouchonline.ca

Carole is our Certified Ghost Writer, Professional Author’s Assistant, and soon to be a Certified Online Book Marketing Specialist.

 

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The Ever-Changing World of Writing & Publishing

Feb 22nd, 2012 by

The explosive growth and evolution of technology and the internet has definitely changed many industries, including the writing and publishing world.  In fact, right now, I bet you’re nodding your head in agreement  … and maybe even in confusion.  And you’re not alone.  Lots of opinions and perspectives run rampant for both the positives and the negatives.

All we can do is research, discuss, share and collaborate with like-minded people, to help us discern how to interpret the information that is available to us at any given time.  Then make the decisions that are best for us, our goals, our life, our work … and our message.

I have spoken to so many in the writing and publishing world, new and seasoned, and the feeling is generally the same.

Recently, I had the great pleasure of meeting and hearing Douglas Gibson speak at an event I was attending.

Douglas Gibson worked in the Canadian publishing industry since 1968, first as a Trainee Editor with Doubleday Canada, then working up from Editorial Director to Publisher for Macmillan. He was lured to McClelland & Stewart to start the first editorial imprint in Canada, Douglas Gibson Books; and in 2000, he became President & Publisher.  He retired just a few short years ago and wrote a beautiful book called Stories About Storytellers – which of course I had to purchase a signed copy of.

As a relatively new author and publisher, I was truly inspired and encouraged by his words.  It made me even more purposeful and assured about the work that we are doing here at I C Publishing and the amazing journey that I chose to embark on early in 2011.

When I think of all the changes that have taken place in the world of writing and publishing, some just in the last few months, there is one significant change for the good; the playing field has levelled a fair bit, making the opportunity to pen and produce one’s own book much more accessible than it once was.

There is so much more to say on this subject, and of course I will, in another blog.

For now, let me encourage you to keep exploring and asking questions … and know that there will still be more change, but don’t be afraid.  Embrace what you can learn at your own pace, and enjoy the amazing choices that will continue to present themselves.

Should you be an author looking for support and you’re not sure what you need, here are a few excerpts of current Wikipedia definitions to ponder on.  Please note that there are differences between traditional and non-traditional publishers, and there is a fast-growing trend towards non-traditional, as well as “self” publishing.  There are also different publishers for different genres of writing.  More on all of this too, another day!

PUBLISHING / PUBLISHER

“Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public…  Publishing includes the stages of the development, acquisition, copyediting, graphic design, production – printing (and its electronic equivalents), and (can include) marketing and distribution of newspapers, magazines, books, literary works, musical works, software and other works dealing with information, including the electronic media.”

PUBLICIST

“A publicist is a person whose job is to generate and manage publicity for a public figure, especially a celebrity, a business, or for a work such as a book, film or album…  One of the publicist’s main functions is to generate press coverage on behalf of clients and to serve as the bridge between clients, their public and media outlets.  (They) manage campaigns and perform other public relations functions. It usually takes many years to develop the media contacts, experience and relationships necessary to be an effective publicist.  Some publicists specialize in representing ‘ordinary’ members of the public to procure the maximum possible fee for stories they wish to sell to newspapers, television stations and magazines.”

LITERARY AGENT

“A literary agent (often synonymous with “publishing agent”) is an agent who represents writers and their written works to publishers, theatrical producers and film producers and assists in the sale and deal negotiation of the same. Literary agents most often represent novelists, screenwriters and major non-fiction writers. They are paid a fixed percentage … of the proceeds of sales they negotiate on behalf of their clients.”

In addition to the invitation to contact me personally, please feel free to engage in conversation right here on my blog.  Either way, I’m happy to be of assistance.

We’re in it together!

Warmest regards and appreciation,

Sheri

 

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Exploring the Writer’s Language Toolkit – Part 2

Feb 7th, 2012 by

Last week we looked at some of the most commonly used elements of punctuation and how they are used.  But our punctuation, grammar and language toolkit has a lot more in it. Ellipsis …, italics, (parentheses), “scare quotes” and bold-face are the most frequently used ways to enhance the written message.

The Ellipsis—the three little dots that follow a phrase is used for two reasons.  The first is to indicate words missing … from a quoted passage.  The second use is to trail off in an intriguing manner … This invites the reader to use his or her imagination to complete the thought. If this is exactly what you intend then by all means, insert the ellipsis. Be careful not to use the ellipsis … instead of dashes … as this can be quite irritating.

Italics can be very effective if conveying an emphatic thought but quickly lose their force if overused. Ideally, only one to three words at a time should be italicized, rarely a whole sentence, and never an entire paragraph. Think carefully about using italics to convey the intended feeling. Instead, try to pick the best possible words themselves for the job. More about this below.

Last week we looked at parentheses and scare quotes, but it’s worth referencing again as a reminder that these should be used only when absolutely appropriate. Here are a couple quick examples:

It is without a doubt (see chapter 3) a widely misunderstood concept.

His review of the play noted that the “acting” was atrocious.

Bold-face, underlining, capitals, italics, exclamation marks—these are all emphatic elements at the writer’s disposal. While all have their place, there is nothing quite like using language as the best way to convey your story.

Poet and author Barry Dempster says that language should evoke a response. Telling a story with words is one thing, but having those words create an image, an emotion or transport the reader to another place and time is a powerful skill. At a recent writing seminar, he asked the participants to create a list of ten happy sounding words, and ten horrible sounding words. Not that the meaning of the words be happy or horrible, but that they sound happy or horrible. Words that sound horrible often have hard consonants like G, B, GM, K.  Words that sound happy may have vowel/consonant combinations of “en” or “ess” and have a light, airy or soft feel. My happy list has words like twinkle, cozy, pink and buttery. My horrible list has words like cough, phlegm, wrought and splotch.

Language is the most powerful tool of all. Give totally to the description to evoke the emotion. The language tools are many: alliteration, sound echoes, rhymes and sibilance to mention just a few. If you write a meaningful, powerful poem, book or essay, punctuate it properly and use just the right mix of styles, then you are surely on your way to writing success!

Think about your words—play with the possibilities and send us your feedback! Here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv. This is a wonderful opportunity to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave your comment.

Kim Leitch

 

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Are You a Writer? Tips on Packing Your Punctuation Tool Kit

Jan 31st, 2012 by

The Art of Language

Whether you loved your English studies or not, you’ll find the following a wonderful refresher. Kim is my publishing assistant, proof-reader and our resident expert on everything English. Creative license aside, Kim gives you lots to ponder. And next time you go to write or type a personal email, business letter or pen a book, I’m sure you will appreciate these tips on what to put in your punctuation tool kit. It might make you think twice on how best to deliver your message…

We’ve probably all heard that using the right tool for the job makes the world of difference in the creation of the project and in the end result. For a writer, the tool kit is packed with options.

The top tray of the tool kit contains the most widely used elements: the periods, commas, semicolons, colons and question marks.

Of these, the comma is the most misunderstood. The tendency is to over-use commas. We often see pages peppered with commas as if the writer were afraid the reader would forget to breathe unless the comma was there. Professional editors today use commas much more sparingly than even a few years ago. On the other hand, it is important to put a comma in the correct spot:

Suzy walked on her head a little higher than usual.

Suzy walked on, her head a little higher than usual.

Semicolons are used to separate two independent clauses in a single sentence: “She felt she had worked enough; it was quitting time anyway.” Colons introduce a list or series: words, colours, numbers, etc.

The second tray in our kit contains lesser used but equally important tools: the exclamation points, parentheses and brackets, and hyphens and dashes.

When do you use an exclamation point? As little as possible—only if the statement really does mark an outcry or emphatic comment.

When do you use parentheses? As little as possible; while stronger than commas and similar to the dash, they are used to include words with no grammatical relationship to the text: “She thought the balloons at the party (gold and silver) were just the right touch.”

Hyphens and dashes are often used interchangeably but in reality there are distinct differences. Hyphens are used for compound words and as separators: my name is Kim; that’s k-i-m. There are two types of dashes: En dashes are connectors, replacing the word “to”.  He lived from 1931–2011. Em dashes are used sparingly instead of commas or parentheses and are also used to bridge sudden breaks: Will he—can he—get there in time?

The little pull-out tray in our tool kit is small, but very important. This is where the apostrophes and quotation marks live. The Greek word for apostrophe means “turned away; omission”. Here is a quick primer on apostrophes:

  • Contractions: I’ve, couldn’t, it’s
  • Speaking of “it’s”, let’s put this question to rest. Here is the definitive answer on the use of an apostrophe with the letters i-t-s:
  • It’s your turn (contraction of “it is” or “it has”, and the only time it’s used with an apostrophe.)
  • Its snout was rooting up truffles (possessive for any use other than “it is” or “it has”.)
  • Possessive plural: The boy’s hats (one boy, many hats)
  • Regular plural: The boys’ hats (multiple boys)

Quotations could take up a book by themselves, but here are a few notes:

To surround a direct quote. The period goes inside the end quote. In multi-paragraphs, the end quote is only at the end of the last paragraph while there is a beginning quote at each paragraph.

To accentuate; sometimes called “scare” quotes: slang, ironic or other nonstandard use: “Child protection” sometimes fails to protect. Scare quotes should be used very sparingly. Consider whether the word really is unique or you are just trying to set it apart from the rest of the text. Italics may be the answer but don’t overdo these either.

Single quotes are used to denote a quote within a quote. “I told them all that John said, ‘I am always right’.”

Two of my favourite books are: Eats, Shoots & Leaves, by Lynne Truss, and The Chicago Manual of Style, The University of Chicago Press. While some of the points above may be obvious, in our age of email, abbreviations and instant messaging, we sometimes overlook the importance of creating a properly written message, letter or book.

We’d love your feedback. Here on this blog, you’ll get commentluv. Don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment.

Happy writing!

Kim Leitch

 

 

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Success: Know Who You Are, What You Want and Do Your Homework

Jan 24th, 2012 by

This week’s message is simple – 2012 has started with phenomenal energy and intensity – and if you’re going to keep the pace and enjoy the process, much less accomplish what you set out to, it’s important that you get in touch with who ‘you’ are and what ‘you’ really want.  Do your homework and follow through with an action plan.

If you’re a regular follower of my blog, you’ve probably noticed that I like to share content that will empower you in all areas of your life – whether you wish to be a successful writer / author, teacher, parent or business owner.  I like to offer you tools that can be used again and again, as you move forward on your journey.  In keeping with my last post, I have some more questions for you below.  Should you notice the occasional message repeated, it’s likely a cornerstone of my thinking and choice points that I reflect on regularly.  And so, it’s meant to be there.

Yes, my blog is designed to be somewhat interactive – I believe that ‘when we do, we learn’.  These questions are in no way intended to overwhelm you – they’re simply meant to gently stimulate new thinking and help you recognize what’s most important to ‘you’ – so you can enjoy the experience and results FULLY!     

Know Who You Are, What You Want and Do Your Homework

Writing a book?  Know your message, your audience and your goals around your book.  We’re not all moved and inspired by the same things.  Do you want a small supplemental revenue stream or a national / international book tour?  Why?  What will this require of you?  What new things do you need to learn?  What support might you need to access?  What are your time lines?  What are the benefits?

Want more success in business?  Know your message, your expertise, your goals and why?  Be mindful of comparing yourself to others … except for inspiration and encouragement of what’s possible when you put your mind to it!  What do you need to learn?  What support might you need to access?  What are your timelines?  What are the benefits?

These days, more than ever, it’s obvious that we can’t be all things to all people.  That said, we can be almost ‘all things’ to many – as long as we know who we are and what our own special gifts and talents are.  For example, it’s uncanny the kind of work that continues to flow to I C Publishing – and I believe in part, it’s due to my clarity about ‘who we are’ and ‘who we’re not’.

Recently, I’ve been refining my marketing plan and materials for the first half of 2012 – and this has become even clearer:

I C Publishing serves primarily the non-fiction writer, whose intent it is to share meaningful and moving messages from their own personal or professional experiences – to encourage, empower and enlighten the reader.  I C Publishing is committed to quality content, meeting the author where they’re at and providing the necessary services to help bring their work to life – keeping at the front, their unique voice and style of writing!

How did I get to this point?  I asked myself the same questions I’ve shared with you in my last two posts.  I’ve also paid attention to how I feel when I working with my ideal clients – and I’m clear that I want more of that.  It makes me feel alive …  I feel like I’m fulfilling my purpose.

Why did I start this blog, or for that matter, I C Publishing?  I was ready.  It was the next logical step in my career.  I had self-published my first book, Hearts Linked by Courage, and through my own journey saw that there was a need to fill.  There were so many unknowns that I had to figure out – and there were very few local resources available at the time.  Since then, the resources and my amazing team have grown considerably.  I’ve learned so much – and continue to of course.

Through I C Publishing, I’m able to share my knowledge and expertise on so many fronts, offering business consulting, assistance in the creative process and administrative support – to budding and seasoned writers … the kind of support I wish I had when I first embraced this elusive and intriguing path myself.

I look forward to your thoughts! Here on this blog, you’ll get ‘commentluv’ so don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog when you comment.

Continued success!  What’s next for you?!

Warmly,

Sheri

 

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Don’t Set Goals to Write A Book or Increase Income or Change The World?!

Jan 10th, 2012 by

Don’t Set Goals to Write A Book or Increase Income or Change The World?!

That’s right!  Don’t set goals to write a book or increase income, mend a relationship or change the world this year – unless you are going to ask yourself the following questions, and then take the answers to those questions to create a clear a pathway for your success:

1. What are you willing to do ‘differently’ that will support you achieving this?  And what will you do to sustain these new habits.

2. How would accomplishing this goal change your life, personally and professionally – for you, your family, friends, colleagues or clients?  Look at all angles.  Would you be happy with these changes or might it be helpful to adjust your goal slightly – to ensure that the outcomes you are striving for have a lasting and positive affect all, where possible?

3. Who do you need to hire, consult and/or surround yourself with, for your added learning, resources and accountability?

If you are a writer, this might mean taking a course or joining a group with similar interests as yours, like the Writing Community of York Region (or Durham, or Simcoe County).

It might mean working with a creative coach, editor and/or publisher – depending on where you’re at in your journey.  Since this is the work that I do and ‘love’, don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions you might have and I’d be happy to point you in the right direction.  Feel free to comment on my blog or email me directly at icpublishing@primus.ca.

If your projects are business related, Masterminds groups are an excellent consideration too.

There’s a lot of advice available about setting and achieving goals.  It’s ‘everywhere’ this month, and I would also be happy to share more on this topic, from my own perspective and years of experience.  However, I believe that the questions I’ve included above will have much more impact and meaning for you initially.  They’re meant to encourage you to think outside the proverbial box, give you better answers (to the better questions you are asking), and ultimately provide you with the results you desire!

The world of writing, book production, publishing and publicity can be an elusive one at times, and it is ever changing and evolving in this fast-paced world of technology!

In the coming weeks, I will be sharing some more great information with you; from a few helpful Wikipedia industry definitions, to resourceful tips on Social Media and a great message from one of our ‘soon to be published’ authors, Robin Smith, sharing thoughts on her creative process and a bit about her awesome book Jump For Joy When Your Dreams Come True!

I look forward to your comments, and please feel free to offer suggestions for topics that would be of interest to you…Don’t forget to leave a link back to your own blog when you leave a comment!

p.s. For those of you in the York Region, Ontario area, I will be leading a Mastermind Group for local writers from February to June.  Please contact me personally should you be interested.

…And more great news, you can now find my book Hearts Linked by Courage at Blue Heron Books in Uxbridge, Ontario – they host some great workshops too.  Here’s their website http://blueheronbooks.com/.

Wishing you a prosperous and joy-filled 2012!

Sheri

 

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