What To Do When The Words Won’t Come

Sometimes, in spite of your best efforts to come up with a good booklet topic, you come up empty.  Or, you’ve started your booklet but now you’re stuck.  You just don’t know what to say next.  What can you do?

There are many reasons why you may not be able to come up with the words or the right topic for your booklet. You might be under stress and unable to think clearly, or you might be trying to write at a time when you’re tired.  You may have gotten out of practice because you haven’t written anything in a while, or you might be hungry and all you can think about is food.

Whatever the reason, the solution is simple.  Give it a little time.  Don’t think about it too much.  There’s no sense in beating a dead horse.  Just walk away, do whatever you need to do – eat, sleep, or deal with whatever you need to deal with – and then return to your writing refreshed and ready to go.

Sometimes you just need a little break, especially during a busy time such as the holiday season.  In that case, it may be best for you to wait until after the holiday to pick up your writing again. It can be very difficult to focus on your writing when you’ve got so many other things to do.

Take a break and take care of yourself.  Then the words will come.

To your riches!

Kim Hillman

PS: Need a little help getting started?  Click here.

PPS: Be sure to subscribe to this blog by clicking here. Remember, it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you!

 

 

Are You Really Qualified To Do This?

You’ve got an idea, or a goal – something you would like to do.  Maybe it’s writing that first booklet, or maybe it’s expanding your product line.  Or, maybe it’s offering classes or speaking about your booklet’s topic.  But, Whoa!  Wait a minute!  You’ve never done this before.  Are you really qualified?

Two Kinds Of People

There are two kinds of people in the world – those who achieve their dreams and those who don’t.  The ones who don’t outnumber the ones who do.  Why?  Because they don’t believe they have what it takes.  Either they don’t believe their idea is good enough, or they don’t believe they’re educated enough, or they don’t believe they have enough clout or credibility.  And the list goes on.

The ones who don’t believe they can do it are not looking at their situation from a realistic perspective. They’re caught up in their own web of unbelief, and they can’t see beyond it.

What The Achievers Do Differently

What about the ones who do achieve their dreams?  Do they really believe any differently than those who don’t reach their goals?

The truth is, the ones who do achieve their dreams have just as many doubts as the ones who don’t.  The difference is the people in the achievers’ group don’t allow their doubts to stop them. They have learned how to overcome their doubts and fears.

The achievers have the ability to look at the situation, analyze it, determine what needs to be done, and then do it. For example, if you wanted to write a booklet about the game of chess but you are not a professional player, you might be concerned that you don’t know enough about the game to write the booklet.  But, as someone with the mindset of an achiever, you would find a way to learn what you need to know in order to write that booklet.  This might include reading books, researching online, watching videos and/or DVD’s, getting involved in a chess club, and so on.

After immersing yourself in the game of chess for a short time, you would know enough to write your booklet.  You would be familiar with the game and able to not only give the basics of how to play, but also advice on a few good moves.

Join The Achievers

You don’t have to be the top expert in your subject to write your booklet or expand your products or teach a class.  You don’t have to be a professional chess player to write a booklet about chess.  There is always someone who knows less than you do, and who would appreciate any information you have to offer. There are plenty of people who don’t know how to play chess, but they would like to learn.  These people don’t care about becoming professional chess players.  They just want to learn how to play so they can get in on the fun and enjoy the game.  Your booklet, “Chess For Beginners” would help them do that.

You may not be qualified to tell professional chess players how to improve their game, although someday you could be.  But, it doesn’t matter.  Don’t worry about what you’re NOT qualified to do.  Look at what you ARE qualified to do.  If you’re qualified to give advice to beginners or amateurs, do that.  And stay immersed in your subject so that you can improve your knowledge.  As you improve, so will your qualifications.

Join the achievers group.  Look at what you need in order to be able to realize your dream, and see it as an opportunity to do something about it rather than brushing it aside.  Chances are you are qualified to do what you want to do on some level, and if you need a little more knowledge that’s an easy fix.

As for credibility and clout, those come with doing.  So get out there and do it!  The rest will follow!

To your riches!

Kim

PS: If you would like to discover how to write your booklet and get it on the market fast so you can start making money with it, click here!

PPS: Don’t forget to click on one of the links at the top right of this page to subscribe so you never miss a single, important post!  Remember, it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you!  Also, if you like this post, please share it on your favorite social website.  Thanks!

Your Booklet Manuscript: Five Tips To Tighten Up Your Writing

A booklet is a small publication.  It isn’t meant to say it all, and this what people appreciate about booklets.  They’re concise and to the point – a quick and easy read.

Here are five tips to help you tighten up your writing so you can give your audience the quick and easy read they expect, and deliver as much solid information as you can.

1) Decide what your booklet is really about. Your booklet’s topic should be clear, not vague.  It should be specific and to the point.

2) Keep your sentences short and to the point. Enough said.

3) Use the jargon your particular audience understands. You would write very differently to young, at home moms than you would to chiropractors.

4) Include only the facts or what matters most. When you’re writing a booklet, you don’t have room to include every last detail.

5) Proofread your booklet and remove any unnecessary words.

To your riches!

Kim

PS: If you’re ready to start writing your booklet manuscript and you would like more detailed help, click here!

PPS: Don’t forget to click on one of the links at the top right of this page to subscribe so you never miss a single, important post!  Remember it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you!  Also, if you like this post please share it on your favorite social website.  Thanks!

How To Create Content They Will Read – Five Writing Tips To Help You Do It

Not quite sure how to write your content?  Here’s a quick list to help you!

1) Know your audience and give them your best.

2) Write in your readers’ language so they will understand you and connect with you.

3) Get to the point.  Booklets are short.  You don’t need to include every last detail.

4) Varify your facts.

5) Proofread your work and hire an editor if you need to.

To your riches!

Kim

PS: Would you like more detailed, step by step instructions for writing your content?  Click here!

PPS: Don’t forget to click on one of the links at the top right of this page to subscribe so you never miss a single important post!  Remember, it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you.

Quick Tip: Never Start With A Blank Page

Have you ever sat down to write and stared at the screen in front of you or the paper in front of you, and found your mind wandering as you wondered what to write?  You may have chosen your subject, but those first words just wouldn’t come to you.

The best way to avoid this problem is to never start with a blank page.  You should always have something to work from, such as some research you have done, an article you’ve cut out or copied, or a list of ideas you’ve come up with.  This gives you some fuel for your brain so your brain doesn’t have to do all the work!

An extra hint: This works well for writer’s block too, throughout all the stages of writing your booklet manuscript.

To your riches!

Kim

PS: Don’t forget to click on one of the links at the top right of this page to subscribe so you never miss a single, important post!  Remember, it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you!  Also, if you like this post please share it on your favorite social website.  Thanks!

PPS: For those of you who have inquired about my new product, it’s at the printer’s as I type this and should be available next week!  Stay tuned to the blog for updates!

The First Step To Creating Your Best Quality Content

Once you know what you want to write your booklet about, the next step is the actual writing.  But, how do you write quality content?

Writing excellent content begins with something so simple that you’ve probably over-looked it – your environment.

Make A Plan

As writers, when we get an idea we often rush to the computer or grab a pen and paper and start writing.  This is ok if you’re simply writing down a few thoughts on which to embellish later.  But, if you’re beginning your manuscript this way it could be disasterous!

Although your booklet will be a small publication, it should still be something which you take pride in.  You should give it just as much thought and care as you would a full length manuscript.  That means you should plan when and where you will do your writing.

When Will You Write?

When you plan a time to write, you want to be certain that you will be relaxed and have no interruptions. You need to be able to focus, and if your focus is constantly broken you will never get the writing done, and any writing you do won’t be your best.

The first thing to ask yourself is when are you the most energized?  Is it at the beginning of the day?  After lunch?  Or are you a night owl?  Whenever you feel energized your brain will be at its best to perform. This is the time of day you should write your manuscript.

But, feeling energized is only half the battle.  You also need to make sure that you will be alone. This might mean writing while the kids are at school, or writing on your lunch hour in a quiet place at work or in your car.  Or, it might mean waiting until the weekend to do your writing so you can get away and really concentrate on your content.

Feeling energized and being alone will help you focus and create your best content, but there’s one more thing to consider before you start and that is where you will write.

Where Will You Write?

One of the most wonderful things about being an author is that you have a choice in where you work.  You can work from a desk, or from a table, or from your bed, or from somewhere completely outside your home such as the beach or a park.

What you need to consider is where are you most comfortable and relaxed? If you’re at home, will you be interrupted by others in the house watching tv or talking and interacting with each other?  Will you be thinking about all the housework that needs to be done and will that rush your writing?  What if someone comes to the door and you are alone to write – will you answer it?  What if the phone rings?

If you’re truly comfortable at home, decide not to let anyone or anything interfere with your writing time. Once you’ve made that decision you’ll find that it’s easier to ignore the doorbell should it ring, and you can unplug the phone until your writing session is over.

Your other option is to leave home to write.  You might drive to a quiet spot and sit in your car.  Or, you might get a hotel room for the night or for a weekend.  Maybe you’ll take your laptop to a local coffee shop (it’s not the most quiet environment, but if you can tune out the noise and get into your head this could work), or maybe you prefer to be outside in nature.  Whatever works the best for you, that’s what you should do.

When you have uninterrupted time alone and you’re in an environment that makes you feel relaxed and comfortable, and when you are at your peak energy for the day, that is when you will write your best quality content.  Otherwise, you won’t be able to think clearly, you’ll run into writer’s block, and the words just won’t flow the way you want them to.

Would you like to add an idea?  Please leave your comments below!

To your riches!

Kim

PS: Don’t forget to click on one of the links at the top right of this page to subscribe so you never miss a single, imporant post!  Remember, it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you!  Also, if you like this post please share it on your favorite social website.  Thanks!

Quick Tip: How To Make A Serious Subject Entertaining

I am officially declaring Tuesday as Tip Day for those of you who prefer shorter posts.  Here is your quick tip for today:

One way to make your booklet enticing to readers is by making it entertaining – especially if you’re dealing with serious subject matter.  And an easy way to do this is to make your booklet read like a comic strip.

For example, if you were writing a booklet to tell children who have been diagnosed with diabetes about the disease, you might write your booklet like a comic strip.  It would be informational in nature, but with a twist of humor and fun.

This idea could be used with just about any kind of booklet in any category, from house-training your puppy to weight loss to gardening.

To your riches!

Kim

PS:  Don’t forget to click on one of the links at the top right of this page to subscribe so you never miss a single, important post!  Remember, it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you!  Also, if you like this post please share it on your favorite social website.  Thanks!

How To Make Every Word Of Your Booklet Manuscript Count

When you write your booklet manuscript, the idea is to keep it short.  That means you need to make every word count.  It’s more important for your readers to understand your writing than it is for you to be clever and cute or artsy.

Why Reading Your Manuscript Is Important

When your booklet manuscript is finished you need to read it over more than once, and you should read it out loud to yourself several times.  This will help you find those sentences that don’t quite work, or those words that don’t convey the message you want them to.

Because your booklet is giving a small amount of information, as opposed to a book, you want to make sure that your information is crystal clear and easy to follow.

A Free Tool You Can Use To Help You

It’s a good idea to use a dictionary and thesaurus when you write your manuscript.  You can find these online for free.  A good one is www.dictionary.com.  You’ll find both a dictionary and a thesaurus there.

While the dictionary will give you the meaning of a word, the thesaurus will give you other words that have the same or a similar meaning as the word you’re looking up.  This gives you more words to play with and keeps you from being monotonous in your writing, while at the same time it helps you to be able to pinpoint exactly what you mean.

For example, if you’re looking up the word jump, you will also find the words leap and hop in the thesaurus as well.  Now all you have to decide is whether the lazy brown fox jumped over the log, leaped over the log, or hopped over the log.  Or maybe he sprang over it, or bounced over it.  Each word gives the sentence a little different meaning and creates a slightly different picture for the reader.

How To Write A Life Changing Manuscript

One question you need to ask yourself is what do you want your audience to do when they have finished reading your booklet. For example, if your booklet is about raising chickens in your backyard, you might want the reader to understand why raising chickens in their backyard is a good thing to do, and you will want to tell them how to build a chicken coop, what kind of chickens to buy, how to feed the chickens, and how to keep them safe from other animals that might prey upon them.   If that is your goal for the reader, then you should be checking your manuscript to be sure the reader will be able to do that without fail after they have read your booklet.

Your booklet should give the reader some action to do.  That’s what makes the read exciting and it will keep them coming back for more, because when your reader can take your information and apply it to their life in some way, it becomes life changing.

Don’t worry about writing perfect prose in your manuscript.  It doesn’t need to be artsy.  It just needs to be clear and easy to follow.  Make every word count!

To your riches!

Kim

PS: Don’t forget to click on one of the links at the top right of this page to subscribe so you never miss a single, important post!  Remember, it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you!  Also, if you like this post please share it on your favorite social website.  Thanks!

How To Make Your Booklet A Fun Read

When you write your booklet manuscript, you should think of it as a roadmap for your audience to follow.  Your information should NEVER be vague or leave your readers guessing as to what you’re really trying to say. The information should be easy to understand yet fun to read.

Relevant Information Only Please

Since a booklet is a small publication, you don’t have room for information that isn’t absolutely necessary.  You want to give the facts, or a taste of the whole, like giving the peanut butter and jelly without the bread.

Every word you write in your manuscript should be relevant to your subject and what you’re trying to tell the reader to do.  Words or phrases that are not relevant, or that confuse, or that add additional information that really isn’t necessary in order for the reader to get the idea, should be left out.

Your booklet should be jam-packed with useful information that is completely relevant to your subject. Anything less will bore your audience and leave them disappointed.

Make Your Writing Colorful

Being relevant doesn’t mean you have to be boring.  You want your information to be presented in way that is engaging. This not only gets your audience to read your booklet, it also gets them excited about it – hopefully to the extent that they will want to tell others about this great piece of information they have found.

So, how can you engage your readers?  By dressing up your writing a little and using some colorful words that help to create an image in the reader’s mind.   You want to avoid over using common words, and replace them with more colorful ones that your readers will still understand.

For example, instead of using the word excited, you might use “on fire,” or “fired up.”  You see this kind of thing all the time in advertising.  Instead of saying “raise” your income, you’ll see “skyrocket” your income.  It means the same thing, but the word ‘skyrocket’ gives the phrase some extra oomph.

Don’t over do the more colorful words.  Think of them like seasoning.  Too much salt will spoil it.  You want just the right amount.

Give Complete Information

Your manuscript should give a complete picture. It won’t do your readers any good if your manuscript has some relevant facts, but not enough to give the reader a clear sense of what to do.  And no amount of colorful words will fix this problem either.

Your manuscript is really like a set of directions. Imagine you were driving to a place in a city you had never been to before.  If your road map only took you half way there, you would have a problem.  Just as you would need a complete set of directions to find that place in the city,  so your readers need complete information (although condensed to fit into a booklet) to be able to accomplish what your booklet promises they can.

Your booklet will be a fun read when the writing is relevant, colorful and complete. Make sure it is and your audience will ask you for more!

To your riches!

Kim

PS: Don’t forget to click on one of the links at the top right of this page to subscribe so you never miss a single, important post!  Remember, it only takes ONE idea to start the riches flowing to you!  Also, if you like this post, please share it on del.ic.ious, StumbleUpon, or your favorite social website.  Thanks!

How To Write Great Content – 13 Ideas That Will Help You Write Your Best Every Time

Have you ever sat down to write and found that you just couldn’t get those first few words on the page?  This is something that every author struggles with at some time.  But, there are some things you can do to help your creative process.  Here are some ideas that will help you write your best every time.

1. Write when you’re alert and not tired. If you’re too tired, your mind will shut down and you won’t be able to think clearly.  Everyone has their best “time” to write.  Some authors are morning people, others are night owls.  Whenever you feel the most awake and alert, that is your best time to write.

2.  Eat Something. It’s difficult to concentrate when your stomach is growling.

3.  Use the bathroom before you sit down to write. Enough said.

4.  Clear your mind. You can’t write when you’ve got something else on your mind.  If there is something that is bothering you, take care of it first, and then write.

5.  Write when the mood strikes. While you can’t always afford to wait for the mood to strike you, when it does by all means take advantage of it!

6.  Write when or where it’s quiet. Noise and disruption will destroy your concentration.  Wait until the house is quiet, or go to a quiet place to write.

7.  Go somewhere beautiful. Sometimes it helps to get out of the house or away from the office.  Go to a park or beach, or somewhere peaceful and beautiful such as a garden.  A change of setting will do wonders for your creativity.

8.  Play classical music. Classical music is known for stimulating the brain.  Try playing a little Vivaldi softly in the background if you’re writing in a whimsical style.  Or, perhaps Mozart if you’re writing about something intense.  This technique works well for non-fiction as well as fiction writing.  Non-fiction writing has different styles and moods, just as fiction does.

9.  Get some exercise. This doesn’t have to be any kind of planned or daily exercise.  You might just walk to the grocery store or take the dog for a walk.  You could even put on some music and dance to it.  The point is to get your body moving.  This will make you feel energized and will help your thinking process.

10.  Drink caffeine. This isn’t something you should do in order to stay awake to write.  Rather, use it to perk you up during the day – as an energy booster.  But, don’t over do it.  Small amounts work best!

11.  Get organized. Make sure you have everything you need in front of you – note, interviews, etc. so that you don’t have to interrupt your writing to go and find these things.

12.  Unplug the phone and turn off your cell phone. You can’t write your best when you’re interrupted.

13.  Take care of yourself. This is the most important.  Make sure you eat healthy food and get enough rest.  You can’t write your best when your tired or sick.   Pamper yourself once in a while too!  It helps to clear your mind and ease stress.

Would you like to add your ideas to this list?  Please add them to the comments section below.  Maybe we can come up with 20 ideas, or 50, or even 100 or more!

To your riches!

Kim

PS: Like this post?  Please share it on del.ic.ious or StumbleUpon, or another social network of your choosing.  And don’t forget to click on one of the links at the top right of this page to subscribe so you never miss a single, important post!  Remember, it only takes one idea to start the riches flowing to you!