[EzineArticles] Getting Read: Essentials to Making Your Article Worth It

Getting Read: Essentials to Making Your Article Worth It Most People Mess This Up - Do You? Whatever you want to get out of article writing and content marketing, there's one thing you're probably getting wrong: You're focusing on the result, whether it's traffic, profit, or exposure in general. When you focus on the result, no connection is made between you and the reader. You're essentially just another article in a vast sea of informative articles on the Internet. Discover where your focus should be, what you can learn from a coffee shop, and how you can create loyal readers. I'll Buy Why You Do It We recently discussed how you must give before you take and the resultant rewards, such as established trust and the ability to meet the needs of your readers with solution-driven, fear-alleviating content. There was one element missing from that post ... Making your article truly worth writing and reading. If it seems to you like writing informative articles that merely meet your readers' needs isn't enough, you're right. It will get you some views and your readers will be thankful for the information you provide, but it simply won't position you as a leader in your niche. To be a leader, you need to inspire action and behavior in your readers that's tied to you and your platform. However, you can't focus on the result you want. You have to focus on why they should care. I recently listened to Simon Sinek's still highly relevant 2009 TED talk on How Great Leaders Inspire Action and was struck by this easily forgotten statement: "People don't buy what you do; they buy why you do it. The goal is not to do business with everybody who needs what you have. The goal is to do business with people who believe what you believe." Whether you get wrapped up in the details - writing keyword-driven titles, following market trends, launching, positioning your brand, and increasing visibility, the why you do it gets lost. Once you lose the why, you lose focus on the people you are trying to serve. The status quo for failing marketing methods tends to be the following (in order). What you do. How you do it. Why you do it. Even if you are the most qualified expert in your niche, this is the exact formula for abysmal article failure - it's outdated and no one can identify with it. It will exhaust all of the resources you dedicate to article writing and it will make you doubt whether content marketing is a viable option for your niche. Sinek continues on to say all those who have succeeded, such as brands like Apple and even great leaders like Martin Luther King, have done so because they flipped this order. He refers to this concept as the "Golden Circle": Why you do it. What's your purpose, cause, or belief, and more importantly, why should anyone care? How you do it. What's your UVP or what separates you from others in order to accomplish your why? What you do. What do you literally do, such as your niche or your expertise? By turning this process around and the emphasis on the reader or user, you completely change your connection with your audience. You're no longer just another author writing another article. By establishing why first, you're someone your readers can identify with - now your readers can see themselves through you. And that, my friends, is the secret to making your article worth writing and reading. Don't pursue the result - money or traffic. Pursue your belief in why you are doing it. The readers who share your purpose, cause, or belief will follow you. When I Realized My Favorite Coffee Shop Follows the Golden Circle Formula After listening to Sinek's talk, I took a coffee break to meet with one of our editors at a local shop just down the street from HQ. As I grabbed my coffee and sat down in a great blue chair near the street-view window, it dawned on me that this coffee shop I visited so frequently follows Sinek's Golden Circle formula to a t: The Coffee Shop's Why When you initially walk in to the coffee shop, you walk past other patrons sitting at tables and chairs enjoying a coffee and latte amongst colorful local art work, the smell of roasted coffee, the fresh light coming from the windows, and the old-building preservation that promotes a sense of community and self. This is the why - what makes coming here worth it. Anything can be complicated, but if you pause for a few moments to refresh, renew, and simply be in the community you are a part of, you can see the world much more clearly and appreciate the simple things. This is what this coffee shop stands for and why you can see me sitting here. The Coffee Shop's How It's easy for anyone: grab a latte, coffee, tea - whatever your beverage of choice - have a seat, take a sip, and relax, read the book you brought, or have a discussion - this is your moment to just be you without pretense. The Coffee Shop's What Quite simply, they're a local coffee roaster who by supporting their business, you support other local organizations they contribute to in order to appreciate and foster community. "Want to buy a cup of coffee?" While I love the coffee at this particular shop, I could just as easily go to the national coffee chain that's closer to HQ. Or I could save an extra $2.50 per cup by brewing my own coffee and be satisfied with it if that was my reason for going: the coffee. But that's not what keeps me coming back to this little shop. Like the others who keep coming back and telling everyone about it, the patrons of this particular coffee shop can easily see themselves sitting here. They can see themselves supporting community efforts. They can see themselves being the type of person who appreciates sitting in the moment. They can see themselves, period. And that fosters loyalty. It's Your Turn to Embrace the Why Sure, writing a great title will get your reader in the door and giving solution-driven content will help you build credibility, exposure, and more, but if you want your article to be truly worth it, then use the Golden Circle Formula: Establish the why of your topic in the introduction. Tell them how they can achieve it in the article body. Show them what in your conclusion. Bear in mind, your articles should be non-self-serving; i.e., the "how" and what should not "take" by promoting you or a product or service that you are affiliated with. You and your blog or business can be the "what" in the Resource Box, but ensure that your efforts don't tease the reader by failing to deliver your why's promise in the article body. I'll leave you with one last quote from Sinek that I strongly believe you should embrace: "We follow those who lead not for them, but for ourselves." Avoid getting trapped in an unrewarding cycle that's created by focusing on the results. Share your purpose, cause, or belief. Allow others see themselves through you. Can you cite any other examples of authors or brands who lead by "why"? Do you have a question or comment? Click here to let us know - we'd love to hear from you! * Sinek, Simon. "How Great Leaders Inspire Action," TEDxPuget Sound, September 2009. To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: The articles you write and submit may be viewed by the millions of visitors who use our website every month. Click here to begin your free EzineArticles.com Expert Author membership today! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "... professionalism and excellence ..." EzineArticles has impressed me with their standards of professionalism and excellence. I am happy to be one of their authors. Gerald Gillis GeraldGillis.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-10118124-4884430.91384863d13c19d33b8fa26a396b13a6@lists.permissionbasedemail.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2014 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

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[EzineArticles] Give vs. Take: "What Have Readers Done for ME Lately?"

Give vs. Take: "What Have Readers Done for ME Lately?" Are You Asking the Right Question? Content creation - no matter the type - can often feel like a one-sided relationship. You seem to give and give to your audience, but no one's taking. Before you nod in agreement, ask yourself one question: Is what you're giving worth taking? You know what you're giving is worth it when your audience is engaging and you're networking with the right people. You may find all of your writing efforts have been worth it when you look back at your year and see the changes in your traffic and exposure. But more importantly, you know it was worth it when you can look at the connections you've made and the feedback on how your articles, big or small, have positively impacted the lives of your readers. But wait! Before anything else, ask yourself, "What have YOU done for your readers lately?" What Your Readers Need and Why "Man needs, for his happiness, not only the enjoyment of this or that, but hope and enterprise and change." - Bertrand Russell Help your readers meet their needs and you'll help yourself. While every niche has a variety of insights on what readers need, we can use Abraham Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs to identify the basics that motivate our actions. Here's a quick refresher to help you recall or familiarize yourself with all 5: Physiological: Basic physical requirements needed for biological survival, such as food and water. Safety: Personal, health, well-being, financial, provisions, and protection needs. Love/Belonging: Sense of acceptance and belonging; to love and be loved. Esteem: Self-respect, confidence, and being respected; personal freedom. Self-Actualization: Being aware of personal potential; achieve personal growth to become the most that one can be. Now, let's talk about that elephant in everyone's rooms that often triggers that flight or fight reflex that may inhibit these needs: fear. Family and business consultant and psychologist Dan Baker classifies fear into two categories: Fear of not having enough. Fear of not being enough. Not having enough food. Not being able to provide for one's family. Not being loved. Not having enough confidence. Not reaching that personal potential. These are examples of basic fears that are on the minds of your readers. How You Can Give "Behold I do not give lectures or a little charity, when I give I give myself." - Walt Whitman Help your readers by creating content that empowers them to overcome their fears, helps them to realize their true needs, and ultimately achieve what they want most. Incorporate Baker's 12 mindfulness tools* that triumph over fear into your theme: Appreciation Optimism Courage Independence Proactivity Security Good Health Spirituality Altruism Perspective Humor Purpose Can you recall a moment in time when you used any of the above tools to overcome a common fear in your niche and achieve a basic need? That's exactly what you can give to your readers. And in doing so, you'll help them overcome their fears in conjunction, meet their basic needs, and create immeasurable value that's well worth the effort. The Importance of Giving Over Taking "The most successful relationships I have built are with people I do more for than they do for me. I give, give, give, give, give, then ask." - Paul C. Brunson Article writing is about giving. You can give and then take, but what happens if you take before giving? It's a trap many new Expert Authors fall into: "Taking is better than giving." You might say, "That's not me!" The truth is we see it all of the time in people who have good intentions, but fail to see their content as self-serving. For example, an expert gets frustrated and wants to move things along and ends up asking too much of their audience by pushing their take (promoting themselves) in the body of their article. This results in self-serving content that's appears inauthentic and loses any value it may have provided the reader. If you fail to give value, you and your brand will not grow. If you do give value, you will open yourself up to opportunities you otherwise would never be able to predict. Hence our formula: You GIVE quality, original, and informative content that targets readers' needs in the article body. Be sincere in your tone and style as well as share real stories and authentic examples. You TAKE by providing just enough information in the Resource Box to whet your readers' appetite so they will be inclined to visit your website. By keeping your promotional content within the Resource Box, you increase your visibility and chances of being republished by other publishers who select articles from our directory. This formula builds trust between you and the reader. When you skip the "give" and head straight into the "take," trust plummets. And for added measure, we recommend "taking" or your promotional content in your Resource Box to be limited to 10%-15% of the total article body. For example, if your article body's give is 1,000 words, then your Resource Box's take should only be 100-150 words. How Giving Will Inherently Help You "Love only grows by sharing. You can only have more for yourself by giving it away to others." - Brian Tracy Adopt the "giving" mentality by asking yourself, "How can I help?" Don't expect total reciprocity. You will not always get 100% back from what you give - it could be more, but it could be less. Receiving should not be your target, but inherently, we all seek cooperation, equality, and respect through the return of favors. Think of it as "I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine" or quid pro quo. In article writing, you scratch your readers' backs before you ask them to scratch yours. The idea of giving away anything for free, even in the form of informative articles, tends to give some newbies chills because it's simply harder to measure than traditional advertising and harder to see a direct correlation. You know the details on your end, but how readers interact with your articles may yield a variety of benefits that may not be easy to see the cause and effect. It's different for everyone, but trust in the process. It has worked for thousands of authors. If you give or scratch the backs of your readers with informative and relevant content, you will inherently gain trust, exposure, credibility, authority, and a supporting network of engaged individuals over time. Final Key Points to Remember Giving has been proven to be good for your health because it increases a sense of well-being and triggers altruistic appreciation, which has been found to decrease stress and increase happiness. It's also good for your business because it leverages your professional brand into your market niche as a trustworthy and reliable resource that your readers can count on. Once earned, that trust has long-lasting positive effects that will make all of your efforts well worth it and opens your network further than you would have previously imagined. Do you have questions or comments? Click here to let us know - we'd love to hear from you! *Baker, Dan, What Happy People Know: How the New Science of Happiness Can Change Your Life for the Better (New York: Rodale Inc., 2003), pages 19-20 (Nook). PS: This post was inspired by the Taking Is Better Than Giving Myth Article Template from the Busting Myths in Your Niche Article Templates package. After my last post, I'm teeming with ideas from this package because all of these templates resonate with many of the questions we receive from our members on a daily basis. Now is your chance to write your very own article that resonates with readers based on this template: Click here to get the 15 Busting Myths in Your Niche Article Templates from the Build Your Own Article Template Package series and share your own insights and experiences using the Taking Is Better Than Giving Myth Article Template. To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PPS: The articles you write and submit may be viewed by the millions of visitors who use our website every month. Click here to begin your free EzineArticles.com Expert Author membership today! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "My Staffing Agency Is Growing and Flourishing" EzineArticles.com is undoubtedly the top ezine online. You set the gold standard and all other ezines simply follow your example. Partly due to your website, my babysitting, nanny, and senior care staffing agency is growing and flourishing in greater Sarasota, Florida. Thanks for helping me get high Google rankings and find more satisfied clients! Debra Fortosis EliteFamilyCare.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-10112784-4884430.91384863d13c19d33b8fa26a396b13a6@lists.permissionbasedemail.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2014 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

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[EzineArticles] Busting the "There Are No New Ideas" Myth

Busting the "There Are No New Ideas" Myth Stuck on Old Ideas As an Expert Author juggling your business and personal goals, it's not easy to come up with an original article idea on the spot. Under the circumstances, you do your best with the resources and time you have. After all, you know the importance of maintaining a connection with your audience and you have an article deadline to meet. Pressed for time, you stick to writing what you know: The standards of your niche. But there's one problem ... Dozens of experts in your niche may also know what you know. Stuck, you exasperatedly exclaim: "There are no new ideas! How am I expected to write anything new when everything has already been done?" That's a myth. There are tons of ideas waiting to be discovered. And you can discover them in the same manner Johannes Gutenberg rethought the printing press around 1440, which would influence the Age of Enlightenment and centuries later cause Mark Twain to say, "What the world is today, good and bad, it owes it to Gutenberg." You rethink an idea. You focus your creativity. You think critically. You problem solve. You use your own experiences to dust off old ideas, polish them into insightful articles, and make an impact that's original and authoritative. Challenges You Face If you're following any number of websites on your personal social media or are signed up for email newsletters, you see the daunting task before you: idea churn. What's idea churn? It's the Internet machine that agitates and turns out the same topics, but in different packages. When you look for it, it's easy to recognize on many websites: A leading authority makes a ground breaking statement that resonates. Within hours, everyone begins publishing their version of the statement after seeing the waves it makes with readers. You've likely seen some variant of these titles from a variety of sources: Ways Successful People Think Differently What You Should (or Shouldn't Say) in an Interview/On the Job/Etc. The Relationship Advice You Need I'm sure you can rattle off 5-10 themes specific to your niche that are overdone on the Internet. It's the nature of the business, which has been going on long before websites were developed and the Internet was born. Readers clamor after the same topics during particular stages in their lives and careers because they need to allay their fears, meet their needs, satisfy their wants, and achieve satisfaction. Authors and publishers know this because they have proof in their data. While each of these articles and their variants no doubt contain original approaches, stories, and more - the core facts are rarely new or ground breaking. It's in the message - the impact the author has on the reader - that makes it successful. Reinventing the Wheel You can be a game changer in your niche by improving your message with original content. Establish these three methods into your writing routine to build bigger, better ideas. As soon as you reflexively begin passing your original ideas on to your audience, you'll have made a huge leap toward greater authority and improved exposure. Make idea generation and writing a priority. If you don't make time, you won't have time. Avoid the trap that ideas will come to you. You have to go after them. Idea generation is not sustainable without dedicated time for reflection and the act of writing. Many people get disheartened because writing begins to feel like an undesirable chore, so they give up or put it off. Don't quit. In fact, do the opposite: Write a huge body of work that explores every aspect of your niche, discloses your personal reflections on how trends affect your readers, changes the perspectives, asks new questions, and much more. Look for that special thing that marks your content as uniquely you to build credibility (and in turn, increase your exposure). Don't hold yourself back by striving for perfection for each and every article - you, your style, and your audience will grow with each article. Just write! Open up to creativity and curiosity by admitting three difficult words. People tend to think creativity is about spontaneity - that spark of inspiration that spontaneously combusts in your mind and possesses you to crank out an article in under an hour. Creativity is rethinking an idea and reshaping it from a new perspective. Creativity is also asking strange and difficult questions. Creativity is thinking macro and micro. Creativity is admitting you've reached the edge of your knowledge. Creativity is admitting you don't know. In their book, Think Like a Freak, authors Stephen Dubner and Steve Levitt explain those three little words, "I don't know," are the most difficult to admit. You may think, "I'm supposed to be the expert - readers are counting on me to know. If I admit that I don't know, then I'll lose face. I'd rather fake it to make it, then lose credibility." Here's the issue: By failing to admit that you don't know and only sticking to what you know may be wasting tons of your time, money, and resources. Not to mention, you risk more embarrassment if you make the wrong assumption while faking it. Levitt touched on this point in his recent Freakonomics' podcast: "Think about it. It might keep your job for another week or another month, it might make people think you are good, but that's not the point. I mean what fun is life if all you do is go through life trying to fake that you are something that you are not when really the goal is to be good, and to improve, and to learn, and to make things better. And the only way to do that is to start by saying I don't know. And when I don't know, I don't know."* There's safety in writing what you know, but do you know whether it's actually working for you and attracting your audience? Have you tested it? There's major opportunity in discovering new information. Break new ground. Test new strategies. Allow your topics to spill over into different facets of life and into other niches. Try new approaches to reach your audience. Your curiosities will lead you to new information in which you will be the primary source, leading everyone else. Know when to stop! If you feel like you're repeatedly charging at your idea like a battering ram, then stop. It's not going to make the idea reveal itself to you. A while back, I found myself watching an episode of The Big Bang Theory. The character Sheldon was stuck while trying to work out a physics theory. He tries a number of experiments that don't work, such as placing dozens of marbles on the floor (much to the dismay of his roommate) or sitting in a children's ball pit. He's at his wits end when it dawns on him that he should perform a menial task to take his mind off the problem and it will reveal itself to him when he's not looking. So he picks up a job clearing dishes from tables while letting this problem sit in the back of his mind. While carrying a tray of dirty dishes, Sheldon is distracted by another character and drops the tray. A look of awe and recognition overcomes him as he sees the answer for which he was searching in the array of broken dishes. Here's the moral of the story: Don't focus so hard on the problem that you can't see the solution. Change your tactic. Do something else. Wash the dishes, drop off the mail, play a puzzle, go to the park, read an article, or watch the news. Be a sponge that absorbs your environment and is in the moment doing other things. You'll be surprised when that idea you're looking for finds you. Don't Stand Still Dismiss the myth that there are no new ideas. What readers want is always changing. The world of article writing and content marketing is always growing. You can either go with the flow by reiterating the same old ideas or you can direct the flow by generating new ideas. Use the above strategies to achieve the latter and begin building your authority in your niche. Who knows? Someday, another great author may say this of you: "What the world is today, good and bad, it owes it to [insert your name here]." How do you ensure you aren't writing the same ideas over and over again? How do you develop new ideas? Click here to let us know - we'd love to hear from you! * Dubner, Stephen and Steve Levitt (2014 May 15). The Three Hardest Words in the English Language (Transcript). Retrieved May 19, 2014, from Freakonomics.com PS: I have a confession - I'm a huge fan of the 15 Busting Myths in Your Niche Article Templates our editors created. The idea for this post was inspired by the There Are No New Ideas Myth Article Template. As soon as I reviewed this template, my mind leaped to that old complaint by many frustrated authors who write into us and I had to jot this down as a reminder to share with you: "Original? How?! Everything's already been written on the Internet. What chance do I have to make it?!" Click here to get the 15 Busting Myths in Your Niche Article Templates from the Build Your Own Article Template Package series and share your own insights and experiences using the There Are No New Ideas Myth Article Template. To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PPS: Become an EzineArticles.com Expert Author today to have your articles sent to one of our 400+ niche daily email alerts that notify our permission-based email list members whenever new articles are available that match their unique interests. Click here to sign up for a free account today! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "I am really grateful that sites like Ezinearticles exist ..." I have really loved my journey with EzineArticles so far. It's a great tool to use. I often consider the amount of work that must go into this site. If I had to do all that myself, I'd go mad! I am really grateful that sites like Ezinearticles exist, as they make life for not-too-techie authors like me so much easier! And in a strange way, EzineArticles.com is somewhat of an accountability partner for me as well. If I don't post anything for a while, I start feeling guilty! Which makes me write, get noticed; which then motivates me to write more, etc.! Marc De Bruin LandMarc.com.au EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-10106369-4884430.91384863d13c19d33b8fa26a396b13a6@lists.permissionbasedemail.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2014 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

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[EzineArticles] 20 Tips to Help You Improve Your Focus

20 Tips to Help You Improve Your Focus Achieve Better Focus for Powerful Levels of Productivity Is a lack of focus costing you? Focus can be difficult in this distraction-driven world. Who can afford all of that precious time to be wasted? Here are 20 tips to help you maintain focus on writing great articles that will build your credibility in your niche, increase exposure to readers, and help you save time to do the things you want to do. Eat Breakfast: As they say, (a healthy) breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Not only does it prevent hunger pangs, it helps your brain function. Don't skip it - eat it! Drink More Water: Dehydration will make you feel tired, irritable, slow, or sick. If your brain doesn't have enough fluid, then it can't operate at peak performance and you'll struggle to remain focused. Stay hydrated. Improve Your Environment: Make your environment work for you. If you concentrate better with music or ambient noise, then plug in those headphones. If noisy coworkers or family are beyond "disturbing" your concentration, then address it with them or request help. Make a Master Road Map: At the beginning of the day, create a master list of tasks that you want to complete, including both personal and professional goals. This will be your map from the start to the end of your day. Committing to one list will prevent confusion and unnecessary distractions as well as help you visualize achieving each goal for added momentum. Prioritize Your Tasks: If you're not sure which tasks to start with or which are more important, take 10 or 15 minutes to prioritize your road map. Ideally, plan to do your most important tasks first to prevent procrastination and also plan your hardest tasks when you're most alert so you can charge through it. One Thing at a Time: Ideally, only focus on one task at a time. In a number of studies, the human brain has shown that it cannot execute two complicated tasks simultaneously. Perform two at a time and a distraction can easily derail your progress. Add a third and the brain simply can't keep up. You'll lose track of one of the original tasks and begin making errors. Write it Down: Thought of something that's unrelated to your current task? Don't jump into it (see #6). Write it down to remind yourself later. Similarly, this applies to good discussion and meeting etiquette. If an idea strikes you and you don't want to butt in, write down a simple keyword as a reminder! Take Care of It: Bills, sick kids, relationship issues, oil changes, etc. - address these things ASAP or create a plan of action (such as add it to your road map - see #4). The key is to get it off your mind and don't let it pass the threshold when you set out to write. Balance Work & Life: Don't sacrifice your personal or home life for your work life - the value and creativity you contribute in your writing will only suffer. Make time for yourself in order to boost performance and satisfaction! Don't Get Bored: If you feel your attention waning, regroup by taking a short break. A quick walk to get a glass of water or getting up to stretch can help. Don't be tempted to take a longer break and let your well-intentioned regrouping session slip into procrastination. Set Alarms: If you're constantly late or rushing, figure how much time it takes to get routine tasks done. Set the alarm on your phone to alert you when it's time to move on to the next task or get going. Don't have unlimited alarms on your smartphone? Download an app that does! Don't have a smartphone? Get a simple kitchen/egg timer! Know Your Limits: Unless it's to improve your skill set, allow tasks that are over your head to go to someone who can do it. Alternately, just because you can do it, doesn't mean you should - that's how bottlenecks are made if anyone is waiting on you and that's how you will risk burnout.* Delegate where you can so you can dedicate your time to more valuable tasks. Time-Chunk Tasks: If you have trouble estimating time or shifting gears from one activity to another, approach tasks for limited periods of time. For example, give yourself two 30-minute periods to work on something with a break in between. Reward Yourself: Plan time to do something you enjoy as a reward for yourself every day so you have something to look forward to - play a game, have a coffee date, read a book, etc. Keep Reminder Lists: Whether with pen and paper or using your smartphone, maintain reminder lists to input to-dos, appointments, and upcoming events to help remind yourself of what you have coming up. Keep these congruent with your Master Road Map (see #4). Build Mental Endurance: In strength training, you don't give up because you're too tired - you push yourself. Do the same with frustrating tasks - get a second wind by giving it five more minutes of your entire focus before you put it away. Play Brain Games: If you do need a break, play "brain fitness" games against the clock rather than hopping onto Facebook for the umpteenth time. Try Sudoku, crossword puzzles, or memory and attention training programs such as Luminosity's personalized training program. Do Not Disturb: Let your email and voice mail do its job. Close email, instant messengers (on your computer AND your mobile devices), and put your status on "Busy." Turn off your phone. Close the door. Put up a "Do Not Disturb" sign to let others know you need to focus. Give Yourself a Message: Post a note within view to remind yourself to stay focused. It will help you tell yourself: "This isn't the time to check messages. I'll do it later." Just Breathe: Frustration or lack of focus can be a result of loss of oxygen to your brain. Ensure you're sitting comfortably at your desk and rest your hands on your lap or thighs. Slowly, take a deep breath, letting your belly and ribs expand. Don't let it all out right away; hold your breath for a few seconds and then let it all out, allowing your ribs and belly to contract. Repeat for 5 breaths to recharge and clear your head. Use these tips to improve your focus, your performance, your value, your confidence, and even your overall happiness. Did I miss any? What's your tip to stay focused? Click here to let us know - we'd love to hear from you! * Feeling burnt out? Check out our previous post, How to Avoid Article Writing Burnout, here. PS: Can't focus because you don't know what to write about? Stop waiting for that elusive idea and start writing with EzineArticles' Build Your Own Article Template Packages, featuring 15 unique and interactive writing prompts on PDF. With over 200 article ideas to choose from and great deals, the article templates help you write more quality and original articles in less time. Start focusing with Article Templates: Shop.EzineArticles.com/BuildYourOwnArticleTemplates/ To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: If you're serious about taking your success to the next level, you've also been considering the incredible benefits of our Premium Membership. Sign up for any Premium Membership subscription length with the NEW10PREM coupon code at checkout and we'll give you 10 FREE Article Templates! Enroll today: https://EzineArticles.com/premium/ EzineArticles Member Endorsement "EzineArticles.com has worked out extremely well ..." The relationship with EzineArticles.com has worked out extremely well. As a consequence of publishing articles on EzineArticles.com, I have built a huge body of material that enhances my credibility and search engine optimization. However, and most importantly, I have been able to use EzineArticles.com as a way of helping others. Nigel Brooks NigelAlBrooks.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-10102244-4884430.91384863d13c19d33b8fa26a396b13a6@lists.permissionbasedemail.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2014 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

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[EzineArticles] How to Avoid Article Writing Burnout

How to Avoid Article Writing Burnout Are You Falling for This Myth? You want to earn a spot in your niche with your incredible range of insights and experience. So you work diligently by squeezing content creation in between meetings, calls, emails, professional projects, home projects, family time, and much more. You think you're on a great track and you'll never burn out as long as you keep up your momentum. Eventually, you start to stay a little later working on projects and even work on weekends. You begin worrying about whether it's working or if you should hedge your bets with this whole writing thing. "Never mind," you say. You still hold on to the idea that you will never burn out - giving up and in to burnout is for idle, non-dedicated people who don't share your vision or passion. Short of an uncontrollable disaster, all you have to do is keep up this momentum and your hard work will pay off in the end ... right? Wrong. A Seemingly Never-Ending Balancing Act That phrase you keep repeating, "I'll never burn out," is a myth. This busywork that's masquerading as "dedication" is the road to burnout. How do you know? Do any of the following statements apply to you? "Bad" days are more frequent than good. Most of your time is spent on tasks that seem impossible or are monotonous. You're exhausted - if not all of the time, most of the time. You don't feel appreciated or what you do makes a difference. You feel unmotivated - you can't see value in caring about your work or even home life. You're overwhelmed by venturing into a new territory. You feel like you're going nowhere. If none of these apply to you, feel free to skip to the end and share your secrets to burnout prevention. If any of these apply to you, even in the slightest increment, then you're showing signs of burnout. In turn, this could be negatively affecting your ability to accomplish your goals and have serious physical repercussions. The time is now to deal with it because you have a lot to lose if burnout gets the best of you. It's Time for a Time Out To address and prevent burnout, you need to stop and take a step back. Consider not only how you got there, but how you will bail yourself out to replenish your energy to accomplish your greater goals. Use these tips: Take a break. "I can't slow down - I have all of these things to do!" Once you've reached burnout status, it's hard to break habits that either serve little value or perpetuate the burnout-balancing act. Slow down. This isn't a request. Do it. Where you can, cut back on commitments that show little value and ask for help or delegate tasks, such as asking someone to proofread your content for you or even consider hiring a ghostwriter or transcriber. You cannot accomplish everything at once and deliver quality. Give yourself some time to recharge both your mind and body. Reevaluate your goals and priorities. "I don't even know where to begin …" Here's an exercise to get you started: Break down your obligations, duties, and tasks into two columns. In the first column, write all of those things people are depending on you to accomplish or what can only be done by you. In the second column, write down those things you do that could be done by someone else or reasonably eliminated altogether. Think of each item in your second column to be your "burnout relief" to-do list by delegating these tasks or jettisoning them from your routine if they lack value. Next, write down your goals - personal, home, writing, and work goals that will create value in your life and work. Compare your goals to your first column. Is there anything that you can move over to the second column? Allow your goals to be the ruler that helps you measure your tasks and commitments - if it doesn't measure up, delegate or eliminate it. For all commitments and tasks that remain in the first column, create a plan. Have a plan and rekindle your motivation. "A goal is just a wish without a plan." Whatever type of plan you choose to implement - whether it targets your personal, professional, or writing goals - make sure it contains at least these three elements: It targets a specific goal. It's broken into actionable steps. It's rewarding. What I Do to Prevent Burnout I'm S.M.A.R.T. - that is, I plan S.M.A.R.T. goals by asking myself the following questions: Specific: What do I want to accomplish and what are its requirements or constraints? Measurable: What are the indicators I use to measure its success or achievement? Achievable: What are the steps I will take to accomplish this goal? Relevant: Is it worthwhile? Timely: What milestones should I meet or when will it be finally accomplished? Another strategy I'm a huge fan of is the to-do list - daily lists, project lists, writing lists, shopping lists, activity lists, and honey-do lists (a list for my husband ...) - anything can chunked into a list. Call me peculiar, but I find an indescribable satisfaction in checking off each item as I finish it, which creates a powerful momentum that propels me through each task. For tasks I didn't plan for and do, I'll add it to my list (after the fact) to cross it off. Don't wait. When you're burned out, anything and everything can be a bear to handle. Change your course. Own your plan. Wear it out like a pair of running shoes until you can see through the soles because of all of the mileage you got out of it. Use these tips to alleviate stress, prevent burnout, and add more valuable contributions to your family, your niche, and your own peace of mind. What do you do to avoid burnout? Click here to let us know - we'd love to hear from you! PS: Fans of the all-new 15 Busting Myths in Your Niche Article Templates may have recognized the style and format of the "I'll Never Burn Out Myth Article Template" that I used for this post. (Yes, even I use the Article Templates!) Click here to visit the Build Your Own Article Template Package series and then select the View Template List to check out what else is included in this package and begin writing your own myth-busting articles for your readers today! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PSS: Time is running out! This is your last chance to take advantage of the Mother's Day special before midnight Saturday, May 16th CST! Buy any 2 from the Build Your Own Package series and get the 15 Keys to Working at Home article templates FREE. Click the banner below to claim your free article templates! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "I have grown my monthly newsletter to over 14,000 subscribers." I started article writing when I started my newsletter in late 2006. At that time, I had about 25 subscribers - mostly friends and family. Since then I have grown my monthly newsletter to over 14,000 subscribers. Lee Binz TheHomeScholar.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-10092855-4884430.91384863d13c19d33b8fa26a396b13a6@lists.permissionbasedemail.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2014 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

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[EzineArticles] Are You Making These 5 Grammar Faux Pas?

Are You Making These 5 Grammar Faux Pas? Heed These 5 Grammar Tips to Avoid Looking Pompous or Ignorant Grammar is a touchy subject, especially for those who write professionally. After a lot of finger pointing and excuses, you're either a member of the grammar police or a "I write in the language of my audience - grammar errors and all" rebel. You don't have to take sides. Think of grammar like this: Language, with all of its idiosyncrasies from dialect to dialect, is the vehicle of your message. You can get into the vehicle, but grammar is what drives your message to your intended destination. When you come across an article about grammar, such as this post, don't look at it as an accusation you're failing at writing if you do or have done these 5 things. Look at it as an opportunity to get into the vehicle and deliver your message to your audience. Let's get started! Don't Overuse "However" Used to introduce a statement that contrasts or contradicts something that was previously said or a synonym for "in whatever way or regardless of how," the word "however" offers great flexibility. Here are a few examples: The chef claimed the food was safe; however, we were skeptical. However, it was extremely wise to take precautions when cockroaches are present. There was no need, however, for the emergency responders. However you look at it, the chef prepared a delicious meal. Here's the rub with this word: when it's overused, it can seem condescending or pompous to the reader. Tip: Be real with your readers and feel free to compare/contrast; however, simply ease up on the use of "however" whenever you can to avoid a negatively perceived, "know-it-all" attitude. Stop Abusing "So" I'm sure you've seen the attacks on the word "very" across the Internet ("stop using very!" the grammar-mob cries), but how about its gross counterpart "so?" So let's go ... that's soooo cool ... So you should ... I was so pleased at first, but it turned out to be only so-so ... You might feel a bit weird, so it's important to ... So there you have it! "So" is the writer's version of "um" for public speakers. Tip: Much like the excess usage of the word "very," you can avoid "so" by using more descriptive language (e.g., "I was so wildly pleased") and eliminating it where it's not necessary (e.g., "So lLet's go"). Take It Easy on Commas True or False: "You should use a comma anywhere you pause." False! You may pause at a comma when reading text out loud, but it doesn't work the other way around. Some pauses are used for dramatic effect, to catch your breath during a speech, or to think of what to say next. For instance, consider the classic speech pattern of William Shatner. During a Q&A at the 2010 Toronto Fan Expo, he addressed the frequency of his pauses by saying the following:* "The speech pattern, to which you so gallantly pointed out, probably happened because I was trying to remember 10 pages of dialogue every day. And in the pauses I'd be thinking, 'what the hell do I say next?'" If we followed the "use a comma anywhere you pause" myth, then this is what the above quote would have looked like based on Shatner's speech pattern: "The speech pattern, to which you so, gallantly pointed out, probably happened because I was trying to remember, 10 pages of dialogue, every day. And in the, pauses, I'd be thinking, 'what the hell, do I say next?" Tip: Get to know the comma intimately by checking out the comma section in the Top Punctuation Howlers PDF punctuation guide here. Wait; Where Are You Going With That Semicolon? Semicolons are likely the most mystifying items of punctuation for many professionals. Take, for instance, these 2 incorrect examples of semicolon usage that I gathered while reviewing a peer's work: Remember; it's important to ... Note; to make use of the ... Semicolons are used to separate independent clauses (typically related) or used to separate elements in a series when the items are longer or set off by commas. For example: Semicolons aren't too bad; you simply need two independent clauses. In my peer's examples, the segments preceding the semicolon are not independent clauses and there's no sign of a complicated series. Here's what I recommended to my peer (essentially lose the semicolon altogether): It's important to remember ... Note: To make use of the ... Tip: If the statements on either side of the semicolon are not independent, then don't use a semicolon. (You can find out more about the semicolon and examples by downloading the Top Punctuation Howlers PDF; click the link in the "Take It Easy on Commas" section of this post.) Avoid Redundant Redundancies Repetition has its uses, but there's a big difference between effective frequency and verbiage. Here are 7 examples of redundant phrases we find in articles (I've crossed out the unnecessary words): actual facts point to ... ... completely filled to the brim. plunge down the ... retreat back to ... ... was skipped over. ... exact same object. ... whether or not ... Tip: Revise your work by reading it out loud and weighing the value of each word. For more tips on revising your articles to remove verbiage, visit the Short and Sweet: How to Revise Your Articles blog post by clicking here. Do you have any grammar "driving" trips to share? Besides an overuse of "however," do have any other examples of good grammar that may be considered condescending? Can you recall any other redundant phrases that drive you bonkers? Click here to let us know - we'd love to hear from you! Want more grammar tips? Check out the wealth of posts over in our Grammar Tips category. * tjmooney. (2010, August 30). William Shatner. Talks. About. His. Distinctive. Speaking. Style. [Video file]. Retrieved from YouTube. To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Our Mother's Day special is in full swing! See why others are saying EzineArticles' Article Templates work wonders for writer's block by clicking the banner below to get your FREE 15 Keys to Working at Home Article Templates when you purchase 2 Build Your Own Article Template Packages. That's a $20.97 savings for 45 original Article Templates! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "The Most Quality Article Website" I have been posting articles on EzineArticles.com for quite some time. I found it is the most quality article website and it helps authors' websites to get a higher ranking on big search engines as well as boost their traffic. Their customer service is excellent too! I would recommend EzineArticles.com to web masters who want to use "white hat" search engine optimization for their websites. Cindy Wydan CurvySea.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-10086538-4884430.91384863d13c19d33b8fa26a396b13a6@lists.permissionbasedemail.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2014 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

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[EzineArticles] Epic Formula to Beat Writer's Block and Save Time

Epic Formula to Beat Writer's Block and Save Time Writer's Block Woes ... You're staring at a blank screen, ready to tear your hair out. You type a few words - almost reaching a full sentence - only to delete it ... again. You had an incredible idea while you were in the shower, but now you can't remember it. You would be able to write if you could just get the title right. You're stuck in the middle, completely unsure where to go. You're bored; that is, you share the same enthusiasm as a rock. You're searching for that perfect word, but it's stuck on the tip of your tongue. You would write, but that noise from the next room won't let you to focus. You think the lighting, the chair, or even the room itself isn't conducive to writing. You sit down to write, but end up watching cat videos instead. Any of these writing pains sound familiar? Don't worry: There's an easy solution to overcome these common writing obstacles. Watch this quirky video to discover the The Ultimate Cure for Writer's Block: The Formula to Beat Writer's Block Once and For All: Article Templates EzineArticles' interactive Article Templates on PDF provide you with not only the seed of a great new article idea, they also give you the paragraph-by-paragraph, bullet point-by-bullet point, from introduction to conclusion structure for each article. All you have to do is reflect on your experiences and insights based on each writing prompt and let the writing flow out of you. With EzineArticles' easy-to-use Article Templates for Expert Authors, you can save time to do the things you actually want to do without sacrificing your exposure, such as focus on spending time with your family, spend more valuable time to focus on your professional goals, and have the ability to seize opportunities. Article Templates will also help you: Get rid of writer's block Get fresh ideas Make each article unique Type right in to the PDF Be more creative Write faster With over 250 fresh Article Templates available and 15+ packages to choose from, you can easily cure the worst writer's block and save time writing unique articles with EzineArticles' fresh Article Templates. Get yours now: http://Shop.EzineArticles.com/ Mother's Day Special Offer Buy any 2 from the Build Your Own Package series and get the 15 Keys to Working at Home article templates FREE. Click the banner below to get your article templates before time runs out! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Vanessa, Editorial Manager http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: What are you waiting for?! Click here to claim your FREE Article Templates today! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "it helped me finish the article in under an hour" I only used a template once in my latest article, but I can tell you it helped me finish the article in under an hour. Given that I had the idea, the template helped me organize it properly and the article was accepted within days. I am pleased with this product and will definitely use it again in my future articles. Neveen Gohar FeministCreatingFamily.blogspot.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-10080165-4884430.91384863d13c19d33b8fa26a396b13a6@lists.permissionbasedemail.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2014 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

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