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Making a major career change can be very tough, particularly in the current job market where, because of the large number of job seekers, employers can afford to insist on only seeing candidates with previous experience in the same role.
However, if you’re really set on making a major career change, it can be done. You may also feel that you’ve no other option because being in a job that no longer gives you any satisfaction can be soul destroying.

Either way, you’ll need to start your job search with a strong CV that’s going to convince a potential employer to invite you for interview, despite your lack of previous experience.

Here are 10 Top CV Tips to help you change careers:

1. Throw out your old CV! Don’t even try to modify or update the old CV document. In order to make a fresh start in your career you also need to make a fresh start with your CV.

2. Research your chosen new career. Check job advertisements to see what employers are looking for but also investigate any industry conferences, exhibitions or events that you can attend. Here you will have the opportunity to meet people who are already working in your chosen field. Collect business cards and don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

3. Rewrite your CV. Now that you thoroughly understand your ‘market’ you need to start the process of rewriting your CV (or pay someone to do it for you). The key here is to try and match any of your current skills and experience to your new role. For example, you may currently be working in an IT Support role but thoroughly enjoy dealing with customers and would like to move into a sales role. Your new CV needs to emphasise those customer skills.

4. Explore new skills. In addition to your known ‘transferrable skills’ (as in the last example) you may have a number of other skills that will be an asset in your new job. If you happen to be very proficient in using your computer at home or you have excellent writing skills then these may not have been relevant in your previous career but could be essential now. Make sure your new CV highlights these additional skills.

5. Assess your skills. Assuming that you now have a solid list of skills that you will need in your new job, it’s time to get these into your new CV. Compile a list or table headed ‘Key Skills and Experience’. Think carefully about what an employer will be looking for and then give brief examples of each. So for that sales role, you might want to add:
Strong Customer Relationship Skills. Extensive experience of working with customers on a face-to-face basis. Excellent listening skills and the ability to respond effectively to customer needs.

6. Fill any ‘skills gaps’. Once you’ve compiled your list of existing skills and experience you may find that there are gaps in your skill set. The answer here is to look out for training opportunities. So sign up for evening classes, day release or an Open University course. Make sure that you understand what qualifications or training you will need to succeed in your new career and get studying!

7. Update your CV. As you continue to develop your CV, do include all of the new (and relevant) skills that you are acquiring. Remember that just being accepted and committing to a training course will be appreciated by an employer. The fact that you have signed up to this course (whether it’s an MBA or evening classes) is an indication of your motivation and commitment. So, be sure to mention that you’re “Studying for…” even if you haven’t actually got the qualification yet.

8. Work with your experiences. One of the challenges you’ll have with your new CV is how to deal with your earlier, and perhaps not very relevant, experience. Think about writing up the experience as it happened but be sure to highlight any particularly relevant experience or skills, as in the example in Tip number 3 above.

9. Send a powerful letter. Now that you have your new CV you also need to consider writing a powerful application letter to accompany it when you apply for jobs. If your old job is very different then this will be very important. Emphasise why you have chosen to make this major change and highlight the time, effort and commitment involved in retraining and preparing yourself for work in your new field. You might also emphasise here that you have self-funded all this training and development, another indication of your determination and commitment, which will impress employers.

10. Finally, be positive. It won’t be easy but if you really and truly want to make this major change in your career, then you won’t regret it. It may take time to make the transition but at the end of the day you will be doing something that you really enjoy. That’s worth a lot. Good luck!

Credit: Jobsite Post

Don’t let the challenges of a resume rewrite overwhelm you. Take a look at your skills and successful resumes to get your head in the game.
She never had to look for work.
As a Truman scholar and a top-notch statistics, marine biology and water-quality expert with two master’s degrees and a Ph.D., work looked for this seasoned professional. Until recently, that is, when the bottom fell out of the economy.

After a recent layoff, the overwhelming prospect of redoing her resume is paralyzing the mid-career scientist. Because we’re hearing plenty of stories like hers, we turned to time-management and resume experts for help on how to prepare for a major resume update, if you’re going to have a professional do the writing for you. Read on for their tips.

Professional, Google thyself

Henry Motyka likewise found himself overwhelmed when he found himself back in job-search mode after a long career as a business analyst and project manager. At first, he said, he was overwhelmed and “failed miserably.”
Motyka gleaned one crucial tip to shorten the process: A career coach told him to conduct an Internet search on his title to find sample resumes. He searched the terms “Business Analyst Resumes” and “Project Manager Resumes.”
Look for the strongest resumes that your search returns for a blueprint of how peers most effectively present their skills and accomplishments.

Talk first, draft later

Cheryl Heisler, president of the lawyer career consultancy Lawternatives, said the best advice she offers resume writers is to “talk first and draft after.”
“There is virtually no way to know what a new industry needs to know about you until you have a sufficient understanding of what employers in that industry are looking for,” she said.
Heisler said that while sampling industry-specific resumes is a good way to get started, the next step should be getting out and networking with people connected to your target market.
Heisler advised asking such people what skills and talents they look for in a new hire. Next, build evidence of those skills into your resume, “even if you developed those skills in a completely out-of-the-norm industry,” she said.
“Many abilities transfer really well from one industry to the next,” Heisler told Ladders. “For example, I work with lots of lawyers who want to re-career. The technical legal skills they have honed (i.e. writing briefs, drafting contracts) probably won’t sell well in alternative careers. But break those technical skills down into their transferable components and you have demonstrated abilities to research, write, analyze, persuade, negotiate and get to a resolution. Those skills are marketable to most anyone.”

List accomplishments, dump responsibilities

Another way Motyka shortened his resume redo time is by only listing accomplishments and leaving off responsibilities. “No one wants to see those anyway,” he said.
Get professional help
“The biggest thing is to get help,” Motyka said. “Why waste time? If you aren’t sure of what you are doing, get someone who knows to help you.”
An overwhelmed mid-career manufacturing/engineering professional did just that, turning for help to Lynda Zugec, managing director of The Workforce Consultants. He was so anxious about writing his resume, he had pretty much just given up, Zugec said.
Try to replicate the coaching experience by asking yourself some of the questions Zugec asked her client:
• What tasks did you engage in at your prior work?
• What time periods did you take to complete the projects?
• What skills did you need at the time?
The conversation only took about an hour, Zugec said. Her client felt so anxious about the task simply because he’d exaggerated his perception of the information required. “Everyone knows what they have done and the skills they used to get there,” she said. “It’s just a matter of organizing it, and talking through it helps.”

Break the work into little chunks

Life/business coach Julie Melillo said that it’s helpful to break the resume-redo task into numerous smaller steps. Her approach:
1. Sit down at your computer.
2. Look through your files and locate your old resume.
3. Print out your old resume.
4. Google “resume makeover” and make a list of helpful Web sites.
5. Look for obvious resume errors.
6. Begin to make changes to your resume.
7. Show your resume to trusted people for feedback.
“Keep asking ‛What is the next step?’ and write down that step,” she said. “You won’t start out with a perfect resume. You’ll start out with a lot of questions and confusion — and that’s OK. Endure through the process of listing out your action steps and you will finish with a completed, stellar resume.”

Credit: Lisa Vaas

1. Use a confident tone and positive language

2. Concentrate on your achievements not your responsibilities. This means listing things you have done - such as products launched, sales increase, awards won - not rewriting your job description. Quote figures whenever possible

3. Make your most relevant experience and skills prominent to encourage the employer to read on

4. Keep it to the point and concentrate on the quality of your achievements, not the quantity

5. List other skills that could raise you above the competition such as languages and IT skills

6. Your CV can be far longer than the normal 2 pages of a non academic CV but your first page should include all the best bits

7. Check thoroughly for correct spelling and grammar - spotting errors is a quick and easy way of weeding out weaker candidates when faced with a mountain of CVs to read

8. Appeal to your online audience, ensure you have relevant keywords in your CV

9. Capture immediate attention, Prioritise the content and detail the most relevant information first.

10. Make sure that you include all Education and prizes awarded, research interest, funding awarded for research projects, other research experience and your publications.

Credit: Jobs.ac.uk

The task of forming thoughts into easily understandable sentences can be daunting. One method for writing good academic paragraphs involves following a basic template of presenting information in an organized, logical manner. The average academic paragraph typically consists of 8-10 sentences. Learn to construct a paragraph that makes sense by including the main idea, supporting sentences and a conclusion.

Introductory Sentence
The topic--or introductory--sentence should concisely state the topic, informing the reader of the main idea of the paragraph. Think about your purpose for writing. Consider whether you are writing to inform the reader with facts, to sequentially describe an event, to defend your position or to tell a story. Your topic sentence could be at the beginning, middle or end of the paragraph. It should be a limited statement that clearly conveys the meaning of the paragraph. For example, if your broad topic is your childhood, then a limited topic sentence might be, "My childhood camping trips shaped me into who I am today."

Supporting Sentences
Follow your topic sentence with about six supporting sentences. The role of supporting sentences is to provide additional details on the topic. Begin with your most important detail. For example, follow an introductory sentence on childhood camping experiences with, "Camping taught me responsibility." Provide more evidence with subsequent statements, such as, "I always had to pack my own clothes, gear and sleeping bag." Develop remaining sentences that offer details to support previous sentences and relate to the introductory topic.

Color-Coded Sentences
Writing a good paragraph takes practice. It can be helpful to write your sentences on a graphic organizer, a blank chart with one box for each sentence, first to ensure your paragraph flows with relevant details. Mack Lewis, author of Scholastic's "Super Sentences and Perfect Paragraphs," recommends color-coding your supporting sentences to help organize your paragraph. Highlight your first sentence after the topic sentence in blue. Follow that sentence with one or two sentences offering more details. Highlight your supporting sentences in green. Follow-up with another supporting detail of your topic sentence, highlighted in blue. Continue with one or two more supporting details, highlighted in green. You should end up with a topic sentence, two blue sentences and two to four green sentences.

Concluding Sentence
The final sentences of a paragraph conclude the topic by supporting or summarizing the main idea or by transitioning the reader to the next topic. Smooth transitions allow the reader to understand that one topic is finished and another is coming in the next paragraph. An example concluding sentence for a childhood piece might be, "Over the years, camping trips taught me to be responsible, brave and independent." In a longer piece where one paragraph is dedicated to learning responsibility and proceeding paragraphs discuss other traits like bravery or independence, the conclusion of the first paragraph should logically transition the reader to the next paragraph; for example, "Although camping taught me to be responsible, I also learned that bravery comes with experience."

Credit: Dana Tuffelmire, Demand Media

To make your job-hunt, internships or Industrial Attachment search a success; we advise that you learn to write a good CV in Nigeria – the way it truly appeal to local employers. We have noticed with utmost dismay that writing a CV in Nigeria is something people put off for as long as possible and when they eventually get to it, they have the impression that so long as important elements such as work experience, educational qualifications and bio-data are in place, a CV is complete. Sorry to disagree!

We believe that your CV is an account or narration of yourself. It is YOU talking about YOU in YOUR very own words and in the best way possible. It starts from who you are, to all the places you have been and how you have contributed to those places; your achievements, how you spent your time, and even personal details like your marital status and so on. Bearing this in mind, every detail and information provided must be meticulously considered and articulately presented. Put your most flattering qualities or accomplishments up front and then move gradually to less flattering qualities.

In writing your CV in Nigeria, presentation is everything! Your content, layout, template, font type, font size, line spacing, bullets and borders are all crucial in achieving a great looking CV. If someone has 3 years of experience and another has 6 years of experience, and they are both applying for the same job, the ONLY thing that differentiates them is the way they both present their work experiences.

The basic elements of your CV in Nigeria should be profile, work experience, achievements (if any), training's (if any), educational qualifications, bio-data, hobbies and referees. Please note that no particular format or template is cast in stone, every template can be amended to suit a particular requirement at any given time.

Credit: Students Web Post

Imagine you’re a prospective employer. You have one vacancy, 50 CVs to read and only a few minutes till your next meeting. Where do you start and how do you figure out who to call for interview?
Here are five critical questions a recruiter will ask him or herself – and how to make sure your CV can answer them.

1. Who is applying?
The correct answer isn’t your name. An employer needs to know as much about you as possible, as quickly as possible – so make sure that you include a profile of yourself. Just ask John Lees, author of nine careers books including Knockout CV. “The opening 50 words of your CV matter. Don’t waste them on background information – write a short profile that sums up your work history, sector knowledge, skills, and know-how.”

2. How good are they really?
Listing universal transferable skills isn’t the same thing as proving you have them, especially if you’re using the same laboured descriptions as everyone else. “Avoid CV clichés (self-starter, team player, highly motivated),” says John Lees, “but show where you have made a difference in your most recent jobs.” So, don’t simply say that you’re ‘a team player’: give a relevant example of when and how you’ve proved you are. Clichés are comfortable, but they won’t convince anyone.

3. Is this CV unique?
This doesn’t mean ‘is the CV printed on glossy paper and does it have a photo of the candidate?’ In recruitment, ‘unique’ doesn’t mean gimmicks, it means submitting a CV that is specific to the job you’re applying for. Dr Joanne Earl, co-author of Brilliant CV, recommends you “tailor your CV for every job you apply to. Think about your strengths – what are you best known for? What is your point of differentiation? What makes you an asset? Analyse the job of interest carefully.” No CV can magically fit every job, so don’t waste your time by sending the same one off with every application. It won’t fool anyone.

4. Where are the achievements?
Experience isn’t the same as achievement. Don’t just list where you’ve been and what you’ve done, show the recruiter how you stood out. James Innes, author of The CV Book and chief executive of the UK consultancy The CV Centre says that: “If you can include an ‘achievements’ section then it can make an instant and dramatic difference to the power of your CV, enabling you to distinguish yourself from other candidates.” So don’t spend too much time describing the obvious parts of your job – focus instead on what you actually achieved while doing them.

5. Why am I still reading this?
This is not a question you ever want someone to ask while holding your CV. Thankfully, there’s a way around it. “Give more attention to the first half page than any other part of the document,” says John Lees. “Say the things that matter early on, while you’ve got the reader’s attention.” Even the most dedicated recruiters skim-read applications, so don’t make it too hard on them to decide that you are right for the job. Your profile is the most important part of the CV and your current job is vastly more important than what you were doing five or ten years ago. Think of the first page as the main event and the first half as the only bit likely to get close attention. Before you send off your CV, read it alongside the job spec and ask yourself: have I made it as easy as possible for a very busy recruiter to call me for interview?

Credit: Jobsite Blogpost

You spend ample time working on your portfolio, print it out on special paper and get ready to go to that job interview. But wait what's that? Right on the front of your resume, a small typo! It's only a small error, probably insignificant right? Wrong! A large percentage of recruiters said that they would turn down an applicant due to a typo on part of their portfolio.
The real reason why resume spelling and grammar are so important is because you want to present yourself in a manner that focuses on your career strengths while down playing your weaknesses. An easy way to make yourself look better is to be sure that you always spell your words correctly. With modern technology it isn't as much of a problem, you simply press a button and your words are spell checked for you automatically. Don't be the one that got away because you're feeling lazy today!

Don't make resume spelling and grammar mistakes.

Before the advent of computers you would have to look up words in a dictionary (ancient technology, right?) which could be time-consuming if you weren't sure how to spell the word. Just to explain how this works for our Millennials out there: you would open the dictionary and look to where you think the word would be found, then scan up or down the page to find it. If you were way off with where you thought the word was, the process was even more troublesome.

This procedure may sound like an inefficient way to check it, but at the time that's all there was. Trying to check your grammar? Forget it! You couldn't check that unless you actually knew what you were doing. There were no buttons to push to run an automatic grammar check. Today it is so simple to eliminate one of the most common mistakes people make.

What does improper spelling and grammar mean to an employer?

• Lack of Education
Employers believe that if a person is properly educated, then they would have been taught how to correctly spell words or know how to find the correct spelling. This also applies to proper grammar and correct sentence structure. One of the first methods you have to introduce yourself is through your resume and cover letter.

You want to come off as intelligent and competent, and guess what? A correctly constructed document can make that happen! We offer thorough help regarding the writing and construction of resumes, cover letters and more. Employers want to hire the best and the brightest they can for the wage they are willing to pay.

• Lack of Care
It may not seem like it, but writing a resume and cover letter is important and life changing. A reasonably competent person would make sure everything was correct. That person would want to display care, diligence and attention to detail by using correctly spelled words and proper grammar. These are all valuable traits that employers look for in an employee.

• Lack of Technological Sophistication
With it being as simple as a push of a button to spell check and grammar check your documents there is no excuse to have errors on your resume, cover letter or any other business correspondence.

• If you find yourself in the position of lacking these technological devices or technological know-how there are several solutions for you. You can find access to a computer at a library, a friend/family member or school.

Whatever the reason for the failure, an employer doesn't care. That company is going to put a negative strike against you when it could have been your opportunity to excel. If others make these mistakes and you don't then you will be one up on them. You can learn to check it manually or find someone else to help you who knows how.

Double-check your resume spelling and grammar.
Although this is a very basic and obvious topic it is surprising how many people still make these mistakes. You would think that because spelling and grammar errors are such easy mistakes to avoid that they wouldn't occur, but they do!

You don't need to be one who has these problems. Just double-check everything that you write and possibly ask a friend or family member to double-check it for you too. It never hurts to have another set of eyes look it over. With the knowledge of why resume spelling and grammar are so important you may need some additional help with creating your resume.

Credit: Resumizer

There are a lot of reasons to write a memoir or autobiography, not the least of which is the possibility that details of events will be forgotten or changed over time, the line between fact and memory becoming less distinct as the years go by. Writing forces us to think and rethink about our past and present surroundings, the people around us, relationships, and occasions that seemed ordinary at the time, but make our lives extraordinary. The following are just several reasons you should begin to write your life story.

1. Leave Your Mark
Translating and interpreting the circumstances and events of your life puts a figurative stake in the ground for all to see, adding color to a drawing or filling in the empty spaces of a form. Your autobiography defines you and is evidence that you are an active participant in the events occurring around you. Writing allows you to present your side of the story – your interpretation of facts in a manner that you can connect with readers and share your triumphs, disappointments, joys, and trials.
To my dad, a childhood of carrying a pocket knife, going barefooted to school, or sleeping on a blanket in the front yard during the hot summer nights in Texas were ordinary occurrences in the life of every little boy growing up in a small town. To his grandchildren reading his memoir 60 years later, it appears to be a life of excitement, freedom, and incredible adventures. Best of all, his memoir allowed them to see him as a tow-headed young boy like their friend down the street, not the balding old man, crippled by arthritis, whom they visited on Thanksgiving and Christmas.

2. Reconcile the Past
Many people encounter hard times at some point in their lives, often leaving residues of resentment, remorse, and regret. In some cases, the cause might be the actions, intended or not, of another person. Our disappointment may be the result of a suspected or real betrayal or a supposed failing on our part. Whatever the cause, such events can trigger bad feelings that fester for years, corroding relationships and eroding happiness.
Writing a memoir gives you an opportunity to revisit the past and reconsider the events and circumstances with the perspective of wisdom and experience. While there are villains in the world, much unhappiness and many toxic relationships stem from misunderstanding and miscommunication of facts or intent. You may discover during the process of self-examination that you and your feelings are as much the cause of estrangement as any second party. Confession and forgiveness of others and ourselves are often the outcome of a life story project.

3. Make Money
Are you a person who has led an extremely interesting life, perhaps a brain surgeon who rides bulls at the weekend rodeo and writes a popular murder mystery television show? Do you have the skill to turn the mundane of everyday life into humorous, unforgettable escapades of modern suburbia? In either case, you may discover that there is a plethora of customers willing to pay for the privilege of reading your memoir.
At least three different channels exist through which you might reach those interested customers:
• Traditional Book Publishers. Securing a publishing contract with a major traditional book publisher can be very difficult unless you are already a bestselling author, a celebrity, or have an extraordinary story to tell. Before approaching a publisher or a literary agent about publishing your memoir, ask yourself the following questions: If the reader doesn’t know you, why would he or she read your story? What is the theme of your story – transformational, inspirational, or cautionary? Why is your story different from other memoirs already available?
• Self-Publishing. Amazon and their Kindle readers have transformed the book industry. eBooks now outsell traditional hard-back print books with higher margins for retailers and authors alike. As a consequence, many authors are forgoing traditional publishing arrangements, electing to self-publish with the assistance of freelance editors, proofreaders, designers, and specialty marketing companies. My father’s book is currently being serialized, the first book published in August 2014 and the second to follow by year’s end. While it is unlikely to become a bestseller, I know my father would be pleased to know that his story was enjoyed by some, even if the royalties are small.
• Blogging/Freelance Article Writer. If you have the interest, style, and discipline, a second career as a writer awaits you. Each publication and website has its own editorial requirements, which can be very exacting. Payment is usually formulated according to word count, and is rendered when the article is published. A friend of mine (now a widow and a grandmother) with a wicked sense of humor and an ability to laugh at herself has turned her passion for writing Facebook posts about the trials of motherhood into regular contributions to a popular women’s magazine. Some writers have turned their memoirs into personal websites, complete with updates on different aspects of their lives – relationships, finances, lifestyle, and health – as retired seniors. They are monetizing their writing through tie-in marketing arrangements with other companies in return for recommending and selling their products.

4. Inform and Educate
Everyone, it seems, has a story that might interest others. Sometimes, the story is about our own lives and the events that shape us. Sometimes, the story is about other people the writer knows or his or her participation in situations that attract the public’s interest or curiosity.
Memoirs and autobiographies may appeal to very select audiences, such as the members of a single family, or they may become large, commercial successes, particularly if the writer is well-known or has been associated with a historically important event. However, commercial success is not the only measure of a memoir’s value.
An autobiography causes you to record the adventures, tragedies, and dramas of your life with insights that can be valuable to others. My dad’s experiences of anger about a lost childhood due to a misdiagnosed case of tuberculosis, as well as his angst in struggling to maintain a romantic relationship, resonate with many. The story touches readers, despite his simple descriptions and sometimes awkward phrasing, because they can visualize themselves in my father’s situation.

Source: Money Crashers Blogpost

1. Remarkable writers have the ability to size up content

A remarkable writer can:
• Scan a sales letter and immediately identify specific problems … and then articulate the solution to those problems.
• Read a story and pinpoint where the story fails — and why.
• Review a speech and offer advice on how to make a lecture open and close with a bang.
Other professions do the same thing in their fields — programmers with software code or military strategists with an enemy’s battle plan. What makes this unique to writers is that it lies in the mechanics of the language.

2. Remarkable writers are able to connect the dots

A remarkable writer is a visionary of sorts.
Although you might find her with her nose in the spine of a book (in a room strewn with scattered volumes), she’s actually 30,000 feet above, scanning her mental landscape, spotting potential material and logging these ideas away.
She’s doing this subconsciously, but it’s just a matter of time before something clicks, a web of associations light up — and she sees something she’s never seen before:
• How to bring that character to life.
• How to close that blog post.
• How to tap into an emotion.
In essence, she’s a problem solver.

3. Remarkable writers can express ideas clearly

One of the reasons that I find new social situations awkward (and can come across as shy) is because I’m often reluctant to open my mouth and commit to a position until I’ve thought it through.
The last thing I want to do is sound dumb.
During a conversation I can have several responses to one question — but those responses are muddied with emotions and half-baked positions. What I long to do is sit down and sift through those thoughts on paper — after the conversation.
I’m not alone. This is how novelist and short story writer Mary Gaitskill expressed it:
Writing is in some way being able to sit down the next day and go through everything you wanted to say, finding the right words, giving shape to the images, and linking them to feelings and thoughts. It isn’t exactly like a social conversation because you aren’t giving information in the usual sense of the word or flirting or persuading anyone of anything or proving a point; it’s more that you are revealing something whole in the form of a character, a city, a moment, an image seen in a flash out of a character’s eyes.
This ability is unique to writers (especially of the introverted variety).
On a side note, I’ve learned how to inject my opinion in conversations without feeling dumb by saying “I’m thinking out loud here,” and then talk to them as if I was writing.
What they would hear is someone exploring one path, finding it unpleasant, turning back and heading down another. They might hear me go down three or four or five or six different paths.
I might seem lost. But I’m not. I’m actually exploring.

4. Remarkable writers can write in their head

I keep a notebook. A journal of sorts. I try to record ideas as they come. But there are times when I have an idea, and I’m entirely too lazy to get up — or it’s just downright dangerous to write. This usually occurs in bed, the shower, or on a long drive.
Here’s what I do.
You’ve got your mind’s eye, right?
1. Write your headline on that screen using the principles behind persuasive headlines.
2. Work that headline twenty different ways until you can settle on something useable.
3. When you get a chance, write it down.
4. Move on to the first paragraph. And so on.
This is exactly how I wrote Sorry — Your Humdinger of Headline Won’t Save the Catastrophe that Is Your Blog Post. I worked that headline out in my head late one night as if I was talking to my wife (who was fast asleep beside me). Then I worked on the lead. All in my head. The following morning I wrote the post.
I don’t share that little story to brag as much as I share it to say that it works, which is why remarkable writers use it. Verilyn Klinkenborg, member of the New York Times Editorial Board, agrees:
Before you learn to write well, to trust yourself as a writer, you will have to learn to be patient in the presence of your own thoughts.

5. Remarkable writers read with a deep purpose

There are three kinds of readers.
• Libertarian — He is free to read whatever he wants. Whenever he wants. However he wants. Scan his reading history and you’ll see Mashable blog posts, Stieg Larsson novels, National Geographic magazines and bottles of shampoo. Think promiscuity.
• Social conservatives — He is a little more purposeful in what he reads. He might grab the Atlantic Wire’s Beach Reads for Smart People or be a member of Oprah’s reading club. Either way he narrows his reading scope by taking cues from social authorities.
• Extremists — This is the PhD preparing for her doctorate in medieval chemistry. The defense attorney hunkered in the library to bone up on local moonshine statutes. The writer working on a memoir of Hungarian-Jewish physician Joseph Goldberger. The writer is absorbed (and obsessed) with one topic — and one topic alone.
Remarkable writers absorb their books. For long stretches of time. Clueless to the rest of the world. Of course, writers can’t exactly claim a monopoly on this trait. The next trait, however, they most definitely can.

6. Remarkable writers swing the snow shovel

That’s my metaphor for rewriting. Let me explain.
It begins with a foot of snow (you dump a rough draft on to the blank page). You start to shovel (edit) down the sidewalk (page). You reach the end of the sidewalk (page), wipe your brow with your cap and look behind you. My goodness, you didn’t realize it started snowing while you were still shoveling (it hardly looks like your editing job put a dent in your rough draft).
And boy, it sure is coming down fast.
You shrug, put your cap back on, lower the shovel and scoop. On and on. American novelist, critic and essayist Walter Kirn expressed it this way:
At the beginning of a novel, a writer needs confidence, but after that what’s required is persistence. These traits sound similar. They aren’t. Confidence is what politicians, seducers, and currency speculators have, but persistence is a quality found in termites. It’s the blind drive to keep on working that persists after confidence breaks down.
That ability to re-work a piece of copy ad nauseum is utterly unique to a writer. No other profession can claim that ability. And that, my friend, is what separates a remarkable writer from everyone else.

Written by:
Demian Farnworth

Everyone has the ability to write the perfect essay.
The ideas are inside your child’s or student’s brain just waiting to be put on paper in a form that everyone can read.
The following is an excerpt from the book Instant Learning for Amazing Grades.
Schools and home-schools require essay writing, so do colleges and college entrance exams, so, why not learn a few simple tips to make essay writing easy? Below is a template, followed by 9 additional easy steps on how to write the perfect essay every time.

Template for Excellent Essays

1. Write down the topic you are writing about – simple, straightforward

Example: Amazing Grades

2. Brainstorm ideas that someone interested in your topic would also be interested in. This helps you think of related ideas.
Example: Motivating yourself instantly
Cut learning time in half; higher grades in 14 days
High Performance Memory Strategies

3. Select a title for your essay – like, Tips for x, or Top 10 Things You Must Do If You Want Y, etc.
Example: How to Create Higher Grades in 14 Days Using Your Child’s Personal Learning Style

4. Pretend your reader knows absolutely nothing about your topic. What is the first sentence you would use to give them peak their interest? Perhaps it might be a question, or a simple statement.
Example: Would you like to have higher grades in 14 days?

5. Keeping in mind your title, explain why you are taking the position you take, or why you believe your title to be true. This is the part where you use as many facts to support your idea as possible. Write several sentences, using some of the brainstorms you had in step 2.
Example: Learning can be tough, but you don’t have to do it alone. Many learning experts say that learning is not about being smart – it’s about strategy. These experts show you how with Bleep…

6. After you’ve written your supporting ideas and facts, go back and ask yourself if you would like to write a short introductory paragraph.

7. Then ask yourself if you would like to write a conclusion tying everything together.

8. Congratulate yourself – you’ve just written an excellent essay!

9 More Easy Steps to Perfect Essays Every Time

a. First, create a Picture Perfect Summary. Put your title/main idea in the center of the page, make a circle around it and write down all the ideas and key words about your topic that you can think of. Use one branch off the circle for each main idea. You’re brainstorming at this point so just write down any ideas that come into your mind. (That’s how I write magazine and news articles and books too)!

b. Look over your Summary of ideas and key words. Organize them into groups. Make sure that each group reflects the topic or question that you’re writing about.

c. Divide your groups into the three main parts of the essay – the beginning, middle and the end. Your beginning has to be snazzy to make your reader want to read more. The middle develops and supports your main topic. Back everything you say up with facts, quotations, evidence. The end will give a clever answer or summary to the original question or idea that you started with and tie up those loose ends.

d. Draft your essay – get on the computer and start in the middle. That’s how I wrote this book! Give each idea it’s own paragraph, don’t worry about style and spelling at this point. You can check this later. Your Picture Perfect Summary is your guide. Use all the ideas that you decided were important.

e. Now proceed to write the ending. Make sure it sums up your answer/summary to the main topic/question. Look back at the draft of the middle. Write down the 5 or 10 most important key words. Find the shortest way to link them together – this is called your ending.

7. Now, draft the beginning. It will be the overall – big picture of what you’re going to say. There’s an old saying from my college days English class: Tell em what you’re going to say, tell em, tell em what you said! This beginning is very important to set the stage – make sure it’s catchy and makes the reader interested in what you have to say.

8. Now, go to bed and get some rest. Give the ideas a chance to process in your brain. Tomorrow you’ll notice a few more points to talk about and think of additional ways to say things.

9. Author, Colin Rose, says, “EDIT – Excellent Draft, Inspirational Text”… read the whole essay aloud to yourself. Tape record it if you can. Does it sound logical and convincing? Your are on your way to understanding how to write the perfect essay.
Are your examples bringing your ideas to life? Check the beginning – is it awesome – does it make sense? Edit the beginning, middle and end – check spelling and grammar. Have someone else proofread it too. Now check the middle. Did everything you said relate to the main topic or question? Is it convincing? Go to your ending. Edit it – is it punchy? This is the place to really put on your thinking cap. Did you really convince your reader??
Polish up how the essay looks – Is it neat, organized, well written? Are you satisfied that it does the job you started out to do? Only you can be the judge of this. Your essay reflects how you think – do you like the way it came out? If so, turn it in and you now know how to write the perfect essay.

Credit: Pat Wyman

1. Define and articulate a research question (formulate a research hypothesis).

2. Identify possible sources of information in many types and formats.

3. Judge the scope of the project.

4. Reevaluate the research question based on the nature and extent of information available and the parameters of the research project.

5. Select the most appropriate investigative methods (surveys, interviews, experiments) and research tools (periodical indexes, databases, websites).

6. Plan the research project.

7. Retrieve information using a variety of methods (draw on a repertoire of skills).

8. Refine the search strategy as necessary.

9. Write and organize useful notes and keep track of sources.

10. Evaluate sources using appropriate criteria.

11. Synthesize, analyze and integrate information sources and prior knowledge.

12. Revise hypothesis as necessary.

13. Use information effectively for a specific purpose.

14. Understand such issues as plagiarism, ownership of information (implications of copyright to some extent), and costs of information.

15. Cite properly and give credit for sources of ideas.

Source: George Town University Library Web post.

As easy as telling a story about yourself might appear especially if you feel you don’t need other sources of information, apart from you, telling a story about yourself can actually be challenging. This is because you have too much information and you might not know where to start from or what part to tell that people might connect with. However, like any other story you just have to focus on the interesting parts and do not be scared of becoming vulnerable.
Perhaps you want to write a cover letter for a resume or even an autobiography or an academic essay, first think about the part of your life that can tell a great story and start with it. You don’t necessarily have to start from the beginning, you can start from the middle or even the ending if you like. Here are some other things to consider:

Your Strengths: Perhaps the skills that you have that help you get things done

Your Weaknesses: What are the things you are struggling with?

You can use them to connect with your readers

Your Interests: Things that you find fascinating

Your Dislikes: Things you would rather not do

The Theme: An area of your life you will like to write about such as; love, your profession or your family background

The Plot: What part would you like to start your story from and how would it progress?

After considering these things you can now write your story based on your considerations. Here are some writing tips to consider:

• Read how other people had told their own story
• Focus on the theme of your story
• Tell how your story has improved your life
• Tell your story at once
• Review after you have written your first drafts
• Give a friend to proofread
• Then edit again

Although telling a story about yourself might take time to master, you will get better at it after a few practices.

Writing or typing consistently for hours can cause pain to the hand, in order to avoid this kind of pain; there are some basic things you should now. Some of them include:

1. When you want to type, make sure your fingers are not isolated from each other and that they level with your arms.

2. Make sure the chair you are sitting on is higher than the table, that way you arms will be above the keyboard.

3. Learn to type in a coordinated manner so as to keep your fingers balanced.

4. Take breaks while typing to give your hand rest.

Then for writing:

1. Use a pen that you are comfortable with and it’s not too robust.

2. Don’t put pressures on the pen while writing and try to hold it in a loose manner.

3. Try to make frequent stops while writing, for example, you can eat a snack while writing.

4. Try to maintain a good hand position while writing, so that it won’t cause strain on the wrist.

5. Don’t write too fast so that you won’t put too much pressure on your hands

Aside from these tips, whether you are typing or writing or doing both, try to exercise your hands regularly and also watch videos on the appropriate manner for typing. Although adopting a new method of typing might make you type slowly than usual, however, typing in the right manner will help you prevent the agony of a hand pain.

To your relief…

Sometimes you might be compelled to write but feel frustrated because you seem not to know what to write on. There seems to be no inspiration whatsoever, even though you have heard several times that there is inspiration everywhere, none seems to be around you at that point in time. The truth is, we understand the feeling, which is why we have taken the time to list some of the ways you can get inspiration for your writings:

Books: Reading books are great ways to find inspirations because they contain series of ideas and while reading a book it is easier to get an idea you can write on. Perhaps the book might remind you of something or you might agree with the writer’s discussion or disagree with it. Opinions like that can be a great way to get inspiration for your own writing.

Social media Platforms: Since most people publish their ideas, views and opinions frequently on these platforms (social media) it could be a great place to get inspirations for writings, by scrolling through what have been published by others.

Blogs: Reading contents and peoples writings on blogs can also give you an inspiration for something to write on.

News sites: News sites can also be a great medium of inspiration. By reading what is going on in a country and peoples opinion about news posts, you are likely to get an idea of what to write on.

Search Engines: They can also be useful for getting information on what to write on, this is because when you type a word, some search engines like Google gives you suggestions on how to complete the sentence or even related topics to what you have searched. These suggestions can also be a source of inspiration.

Conversations: If you don’t know what to write, you can simply ask your friends or colleagues for an idea or engage in a conversation with some people. Through such conversations, you can get inspired on what to write about.

Magazines: Magazines are usually filled with contents and sometimes with pictures; as a result, they can be a great medium for getting inspirations for your writings.

Aside from the above tips, there are also other interesting ways you can get inspirations on what to write on; so far you keep an open mind.

No matter how good one is at writing, there is always a room for improvement; below are 10 tips on how you can become a better writer.

1. Become conversational while writing.
2. Set a writing goal and have someone who will hold you accountable for it.
3. Read other people’s write-ups.
4. Always research on what you want to write in order to have a better insight.
5. Discover the place you feel the most relaxed at while writing.
6. Have a storehouse for your write-ups.
7. Improve your writing vocabulary by learning new words daily.
8. Take time to revise your work and correct ungrammatical sentences.
9. Make use of online writing tools such as Google docs and spelling checkers.
10. Listen to feed-backs from your readers and use their responses to become better.

Aside from these tips, you can do more research on how to become a better writer and don’t forget to practice what you have learned.

While it may seem that creative writing is something that only liberal arts majors and people in writing careers need, the ability to write well and to communicate effectively is important in different business spheres.
Creative writing is a business skill that few people choose to cultivate and which helps boost those who do above their competition.

Advantages of Creative Writing

Many shareholders appreciate when information is given to them in a concise manner. However, they also appreciate when communication from a company that they are investing in takes the time to write them a creative and well-worded newsletter, having the ability to communicate effectively while exciting investors and keeping them up to date on the inner workings of your company is an important skill for any manager. This can also translate over to thanking individual investors and keeping them up-to-date with the impact that their financial backing has made within your institution.

Within the company itself, memos, emails and other communication with employees will generally be better received if they are funny, interesting, and relevant to the situation at hand.
Softening bad news or explaining an issue to your employees in a way that they are able to understand, will have a much bigger impact than a tersely worded memo that creates confusion and a hostile atmosphere. This can help you be a much more effective manager and show that you are ready to take on higher levels of responsibility while still having the support of your employees and those that you interact with on a day-to-day basis.

Investment Plans will generally go over smoother if they have interesting projections, well thought-out predictions, and information that shows everyone involved that they have been under consideration for a long time. Deploying your creative writing skills to expand upon presentations, facts, and quick information, will make it easier to woo over individuals who are not quite on board with your plans.
This also makes it easier for the media and other outlets to tell the public about your plans and can be used to gain viral support from groups that would otherwise ignore your plans or brush them off before they come to fruition.

Source: skillsyouneed.com

Writing skills are an important part of communication. Being able to write can open lots of doors for you and make you communicate with people you can’t see. A good writing skill to some extent is tied to the level of success you are likely to have. For instance having a good writing skill can help you achieve a good academic result. You can land a career in writing or even gain access to some companies through some proposals you might have written and sent. Having a good writing skill comprises knowing the correct spelling of words, using the right grammar, using grammatically correct words, using the right punctuations, and organising words appropriately.

Mind tools.com gives some tips on how you can structure your writing and get your message clearly to your audience. Some of the tips include to:

• Start with your audience – Remember, your readers may know nothing about what you're telling them. What do they need to know first?
• Create an outline – This is especially helpful if you're writing a longer document such as a report, presentation, or speech. Outlines help you identify which steps to take, in which order, and they help you break the task up into manageable pieces of information.
• Try some empathy – For instance, if you're writing a sales letter for prospective clients, why should they care about your product or sales pitch? What's the benefit for them? Remember your audience's needs at all times.
• Use the Rhetorical Triangle – If you're trying to persuade someone to do something, make sure that you communicate why people should listen to you, pitch your message in a way that engages your audience, and present information rationally and coherently. An article on the Rhetorical Triangle can help you make your case in the most effective way.
• Identify your main theme – If you're having trouble defining the main theme of your message, pretend that you have 15 seconds to explain your position. What do you say? This is likely to be your main theme.
• Use simple language – Unless you're writing a scholarly article, it's usually best to use simple, direct language. Don't use long words just to impress people.

It is important to know that your writing skills can be tied to your vocabulary and consequently the extent ofyour intelligence, which is why it is advisable for one to regularly improve your writing skills.

Dyslexia is a common learning difficulty that can cause problems with reading, writing and spelling. It's a "specific learning difficulty", which means it causes problems with certain abilities used for learning, such as reading and writing. Unlike a learning disability, intelligence isn't affected.Dyslexia is a lifelong problem that can present challenges on a daily basis, but support is available to improve reading and writing skills and help those with the problem to be successful at school and work.

What are the signs of dyslexia?

Signs of dyslexia usually become apparent when a child starts school and begins to focus more on learning how to read and write.
A person with dyslexia may:
• read and write very slowly
• confuse the order of letters in words
• put letters the wrong way round – such as writing "b" instead of "d"
• have poor or inconsistent spelling
• understand information when told verbally, but have difficulty with information that's written
• find it hard to carry out a sequence of directions
• struggle with planning and organisation

However, people with dyslexia often have good skills in other areas, such as creative thinking and problem solving.

Getting help
If you think your child has dyslexia, the first step is to speak to the teacher or the school's special needs coordinator (SENCO) about your concerns. They may be able to offer additional support to help your child if necessary.
If your child continues to have problems despite extra support, you or the school may want to consider requesting a more in-depth assessment from a specialist dyslexia teacher or an educational psychologist.
Support for people with dyslexia
If your child has dyslexia, s/he will probably need extra educational support from the school.With appropriate support, there's usually no reason your child can't go to a mainstream school, although a small number of children may benefit from attending a specialist school.

Techniques and support that may help your child include:
• occasional one-to-one teaching or lessons in a small group with a specialist teacher
• phonics – a special learning technique that focuses on improving the ability to identify and process the smaller sounds that make up words
• technology, such as computers and speech recognition software, that may make it easier for your child to read and write when they're a bit older
Universities also have specialist staff that can support young people with dyslexia in higher education.

Source: NHS Choices

Writing a good piece is a process and you don’t become an expert writer overnight. It takes time, effort and practice to become an expert writer; however there are some things you can do to improve your writing skills so that you can start writing better and eventually become an expert. Here are some tips:

1. Find role models in your field – writing
2. Read wide and take note of writing styles of different authors.
3. Start a blog to develop a public voice with a small audience
4. Help people to edit their writings so that you can take note of their errors and avoid them in your own write ups
5. Make use of a dictionary always
6. Make content outlines before you start writing
7. Develop your own unique voice when writing
8. Edit your work thoroughly
9. Reduce the use of prepositions and to be verbs
10. Avoid padded sentences

Aside from knowing these tips, it is important for you to practise what you have learnt.

Practise. Practise. Practise.

1.Incorrect verb forms — 51%
Irregular verb forms are one of the most difficult grammar concepts to master, even for native speakers – many of whom use incorrect irregular forms without realising it. While these “mistakes” are part of English dialects all over the world, these non-standard forms carry a stigma that can significantly damage your credibility if used in formal settings, like business or school. Here are the most common verb conjugation mistakes:
I seen vs. I saw
Incorrect: I seen the movie last week.
Correct: I saw the movie last week.

2 Subject-verb disagreement — 20%
In many languages, it is important that the subject of the sentence aligns correctly with the verb conjugation in terms of number and gender. Since English does not conjugate verbs to reflect the gender of the subject, you only need to pay close attention to the number of the subject – is it a singular or plural noun?
Incorrect: The struggles that the horse experiences while climbing the mountain is intense.
Here the subject the struggles does not align with the verb “is.” Because struggles is plural, the verb should are.
Correct: The struggles that the horse experiences while climbing the mountain are intense.
In English, irregular verbs and compound subjects make subject-verb agreement somewhat tricky. Irregular verbs, like those above, must be memorised, but compound subjects follow a simple rule – they are plural. See below for an example using the compound subject Jane and Mark.
Correct: Jane and Mark are running a marathon this month.

3Run-on sentences — 10%

According to Grammarly’s research, run-on sentences are among the top grammar mistakes made by writers worldwide. A run-on sentence contains two or more independent clauses (a group of words that contains a subject and a verb and that can stand alone as a sentence) that are not connected with correct punctuation. Though there are different kinds of run-on sentence errors, most often writers neglect to use a comma before a coordinating conjunction (and, but, or, etc.).
Incorrect: I enjoy writing immensely but my deadline is looming I am starting to feel overwhelmed.
Correct: I enjoy writing immensely, but my deadline is looming; I am starting to feel overwhelmed.
Each independent clause must be set apart from other independent clauses with punctuation or a comma and conjunction. Punctuation marks that are ideal for marking complete sentences are periods (full-stops), semicolons, and em dashes.

Credit: Grammarly

After knowing the essentials of a winning business proposal, it’s time to go ahead and start writing, right? Well, not exactly.

The next thing is to find out what to put in your proposal so that you can develop a business proposal that gets attention and wins you that contract.

Do Your Research
Not all clients and buyers will give you the explicit details of their wants and needs, especially if you’re submitting an unsolicited business proposal. Extend your research to include the competitors of your potential client, and their customers as well. This will ensure that your business proposal will be as comprehensive and as detailed as possible.

Put Yourself in their Shoes
Another thing to remember when writing a business proposal is to always put yourself in the shoes of your potential clients. Doing this will help you provide information on things that they would most likely ask, such as “Why should we pay you this much amount for the solutions you’re offering?” and “How can these changes benefit me?”

Why You?
If you determined that a company or client has certain needs, chances are others would have done the same. That means that there will be others that have submitted their respective proposals to the company or client.
That being said, it is important to make sure to highlight your talents, experience and other qualifications to convince the client why they should choose you or your company.

By: Ruben Gamez in Bidsketch Blogpost

1. DO give yourself time. Two weeks is ideal, but twelve days would work too. Even if you’re only a day or two away from your deadline, starting now is always better than starting later.
2. DON’T plagiarise. Using someone else’s work will kill your chance of admission.
3. Be honest. Trying to make a four-week internship that you spent mainly answering phones sound like you were the CEO of a Fortune 500 firm for a year won’t improve your standing in the eyes of the admissions committee.
4. DON’T exceed the length limit. Admissions officers have heard every excuse in the book for why a particular applicant desperately needs 700 words when the maximum specified was 500. The simple fact is that there is never a good reason to go over, and doing so will reflect poorly on you.
5. Be descriptive. The easiest way to do this is by using active verbs and dynamic nouns. “The red car stopped directly in front of my friend,” is nothing compared to, “The Ferrari squealed to a halt inches from Steve’s face,” and both use the exact same number of words.
6. DON’T write a resume in essay form. If your essay or statement reads like a narrative listing of your various courses, clubs, jobs, and accomplishments over the past several years, it isn’t serving its intended purpose.
7. DO respond to the prompt. It’s amazing how many applicants write essays that, while generally solid, aren’t actually relevant to the prompt at hand. If the prompt asks a specific question (or several), make sure your essay provides an answer.
5. DON’T use clichés or overuse idioms. This one should be a piece of cake, like taking candy from a baby.
8. DO take breaks. Writing comes in fits and starts. If you feel like you’re making good progress, then by all means continue. If you’re stuck with a nasty case of writer’s block, though, the best cure is often a nap, some exercise, a movie, or anything else that takes your mind off the essay for a while.
9. DON’T rely on spell check. Automatic functions in programs like Microsoft Word are helpful tools, but they’re not infallible. Mistakes can make it through unchecked.
10. DO have someone else review your work. Whether a close friend, parent, teacher, counselor, or professional, having someone else read through your essay will give you valuable feedback. Sometimes it takes a new perspective to spot problem areas that you would otherwise miss.
11. DON’T completely stress out. Yes, this is important, and yes, it takes a lot of work, but it’s not the end of the world. Make sure you still find time for relaxation and the things that are important in your life.
Credit: Ryan Hickey from Essay Edge

Poor writing–including lots of grammar and spelling mistakes–can leave a bad impression. Send in a resume or cover letter using the wrong form of “there” and a hiring manager may dump it right in the recycling bin. Use sentence fragments in a business proposal and the recipient may not take you seriously. How you write says a lot about you. You don’t need to be an English or journalism major to produce well-written, error-free letters and business communication.
Here are six simple ways to avoid common spelling and grammatical errors:

Don’t rely on spell check
That may sound counter-intuitive and yes, spell check is a great help, but it doesn’t catch everything, and it isn’t always right. Use spell check as just one tool in your proofreading process. On a related note, don’t trust a computer program’s grammar check either; it might point out possible problems, but it doesn’t catch anything and can tell you something is wrong when it isn’t.
Proofread, but do it later
You see a job you’re excited to apply for and put together what you think is a great cover letter and read it through. But before hitting “send” on an important document, wait at least an hour–or maybe even the next day–and then proofread it again. Putting some time between when you finish writing and when you go back and proofread will help you catch more errors. When you write something and then immediately proofread it, you’re likely to rush through it, since you “know” what’s coming next. Giving yourself a little extra time will help catch those mistakes.

Find a reliable resource
Remember the dictionary? It’s still a great resource when you’re confused about a spelling or are looking for just the right word to use. Whether you’re using an online dictionary or a paper copy, dictionaries are important tools and can help avoid a lot of senseless errors. If you don’t know which “witch” to use, look up both words in the dictionary to make sure you have the right one. This isn’t a mistake that spell check will catch. Beyond the dictionary, there are other resource books available including the Chicago Manual of Style and the Associated Press Style Book. Now, you may not be writing a news story, but the AP Style Book contains great information about abbreviations and proper word choice. If you write frequently for your job, it’s definitely a good book to have around.

Make a list of common mistakes
We all have problem words we can’t remember how to spell or grammar lessons we never quite understood. If you know, for example, that you have trouble remembering which “its” to use, put together a quick list and post it where you can see it. Make sure to look at it when writing. It can really make a difference.

Use easy shortcuts
Remember how you learned the names of the Great Lakes in school by using the word “HOMES?” You can use that same methodology in helping you remember how to spell certain words. For example, there’s “a rat” in “separate” and the “principal is your ‘pal’” to help you remember if you should be using “principal” or “principle.” It may sound silly, but easy shortcuts should be a part of every writer’s tool box.

Don’t rush
Yes, you want to get out that letter or proposal, but rushing through a writing project likely means more errors. Take your time and always leave plenty of time for editing. Books break down the writing process like this: 20 percent of the time thinking about what to write, 30 percent actually writing and 50 percent refining or editing. Don’t just sit down, write off that important email to your boss, and hit send. Think first about what you want to say, then write it, and then read it through again using some of the tools described above. They’ll help catch silly mistakes and help you produce a quality document.
Anyone can put together an error-free email, letter, or business proposal–you just need to go slowly and use the above tips.

By:MARYBETH MATZEK from Lifehack.

It is possible for you to have a flair for writing but because of some criticism of your work, you feel you are not meant to be a writer. In spite of those doubts you might have, here are some indicators that you are meant to be a writer:
1. You have a childhood passion for writing: There is a tendency that if as a child you loved to use pen and paper mostly to write (and not to draw), then you are probably meant to be a writer. Children mostly know what they love and are meant to do, even if they cannot express it.
2. You daydream about writing: When you find yourself frequently mulling over an unwritten story in your mind especially when you are not in an environment that would permit you to write, you are probably meant to be a writer.
3. When you don’t mind writing for free: Do you readily accept or even search for opportunities to write without getting paid for it? That could be another sign that you are meant to be a writer.
4. If your excuse for not hanging out with people is because you want to write: This is quite straightforward; that is, if you would rather stay indoors and write than hang out with your friends, it’s clear you love writing and you are probably meant to be a writer.
5. If you have great admiration for writers: When the people you admire most are authors like Shakespeare, J.K. Rowling, Chimamanda Adichie and John Grisham, then you are probably meant to be one too. Also, if you also have natural talent for using elevated language and you tend to use it most times in your writing and speech, then, that is another indicator that you are probably meant to be a writer.
6. If you feel empty on the inside unless you write:Do you sometimes get bothered or feel somewhat incomplete because you haven’t written for a long time?That is a sign that you are meant to be a writer.
Now, if you found yourself nodding in agreement as you read this piece, don’t quit writing yet; you are probably meant to be a writer.You just have to keep writing so that you can get better at it.

In Nigeria today, there are few jobs with lots of job seekers. Apart from building a great CV, writing an attractive application letter will also increase your chances of getting a job. Here are a few tips to get you started:

 Addressing your letterto the right person. Go to the company’s website and find out the person who is authorised to make hiring decisions.If you are not sure, search LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook.

 Research the job’s requirement and tailor your writing to align your skills with the requirements.

 Then paint a great picture of yourself in the application letter.This will make the decision makers quite interested in you and consider your CV seriously. Don’t repeat things already mentioned in your CV.

 Briefly summarise your experience, strength, and weakness. Be careful when highlighting your weakness and make sure it is something that you can work on.

 Say a few things you know about the company incorporating it in your writing to show why you are interested in the job and the company. This will further strengthen your application.

 Write your contact address and phone number in a corner of the application that is quite visible, maybe as a signature to the mail if you are sending by email or at the front of the envelope if you are submitting itin person. That will make it easy foryour employer toreach you if you are considered for an interview.
Although writing an application letter might seem like an arduous task, especially after several fruitless attempts, being mindful of the foregoing tips can help you land your dream job.

If you have several people who work for you, you probably prefer the one whose writing gets your signature on the first reading. That’s the independent writer! Your job as a delegator or editor is to move your writers to that level of independence by critiquing them supportively.
Here are a few tips on how to do so:
1. Expect writers to critique themselves first: Ask “How do you think you’ve done so far?” Place the initial burden of editing on them—and give them a chance to acknowledge their own possible concerns about the document. This strategy can reduce defensiveness.

2. Watch your timing: Use good judgment in returning your comment, no matter how non-defensive the writer seems to be. No one likes even a supportive critique after receiving some bad news from another side of life.

3. Show models: Use reports or proposals to illustrate format as well as style. Examples speak much more clearly than a generalised explanation. Be as specific as you can to help writers understand their goals.

4. Say something positive: When you are writing comments, try to offer at least one positive tidbit for each page you read. People are less defensive when they know you’ve appreciated their strengths, even if your job is to help them find their weaknesses.

5. Comment on the writing not the writer: People naturally feel vulnerable when they submit their writing to someone else. Try to make it clear from your tone that your comments are not personal attacks; you are focusing on what you see on the page.

6. Pay attention to the emotional component: Even when the six step process seems to be going smoothly, there may be some ruffled feathers. If you suspect unresolved issues, communicate more by asking questions. Bad feelings often stem from insensitivity to others. Learning more about their feelings can help you improve the process for the rest of the project.

Credit: Deborah Dumaine

It is obvious that SERAP action is all about propaganda. Okonjo Iweala already submitted a 100 page document to SERAP and they are trying to disturb her again. There is no point in the wild goose chase SERAP is engaging with Dr Iweala, it is obvious that she is not a corrupt woman as she has always been against it and there is no way she stole 30 Trillion and her universe wouldn't have transformed. SERAP should please stop wasting the nation’s resources in chasing one innocent woman, it doesn't make sense at all.

1. Nutritional / nutritious
The adjective nutritional means, “related to the process of nutrition,” that is, using food to support life.
Example: The nutritional value of one egg is the equivalent of one ounce of meat.

The adjective nutritious means “nourishing or healthy to eat.”
Example: A nutritious breakfast can help prevent overeating and snacking later in the day.

2. Noisome / noisy
The adjective noisome means: “offensive to the smell or other senses.”
Example: I was repelled by the noisome smell that accompanied the speaker back from the smoking area.

The adjective noisy means “characterised by the presence of noise.” Example: Many writers find it difficult to work in a noisy environment.

3. Observance / observation
The performance of a customary rite is an observance.
Example: The observance of Memorial Day includes military parades and the placing of flowers on graves. Example: Do you support moving the observance of Memorial Day to May 30th?

An observation is an act of recognisingand noting some fact or occurrence, often involving the measurement of some magnitude with suitable instruments.

Example:Gallileo’s achievements included the observation and analysis of sunspots.

4. Obsolescent / obsolete
Something that is obsolescent is going out of use.
Example: Although still used in 66 percent of US homes, landline telephones are obsolescent.

Something that is obsolete is no longer active or in use. Example: Mimeograph machines are obsolete.

5. Ordinance / ordnance
An ordinance is an official decree.
Example: An ordinance in my town forbids residents to allow pet cats to go outside without a leash.

The term ordnance refers to military supplies including weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, and the necessary maintenance tools and equipment.
Example: In 1969, he served as a platoon sergeant in the 70th Ordnance Battalion, responsible for maintaining the 5th Infantry Division’s basic load of ammunition.

Credit: Daily Writing Tips

Gokotta: The act of rising in the morning to watch the birds or to go outside and watch nature. (Origin: Swedish)

Fernweh: The ache for distant places; the craving to travel. (Origin: German)

Nemophilist: A hunter of the woods; one who loves the forest and its beauty and solitude. (Origin: English)

Aesthete: Someone with deep sensitivity to the beauty of art or nature. (Origin: Unknown)

Smultrostalle: A place of wild strawberries; a special place discovered, treasured, returned to for solace and relaxation; a personal idyll free from stress and sadness. (Origin: Swedish)

Nelpot: One who walks barefoot (Origin: Unknown)

Kawakaari: The glow of a river in darkness. (Origin: Japanese)

Source: Earthables

WORD OF THE DAY— OBVIATE
Definition:
The word ‘Obviate’ means to anticipate and prevent or eliminate (difficulties, disadvantages, etc.) by effective measures.

The word can be traced back to the Latin verb obviāre, "to act contrary to," which in turn is derivative of obvius meaning "in the way, lying in the path." The common English term obvious once carried the meaning "being or standing in the way."

Citations for the word:
 Well, sir, to obviate the inquiries which would inevitably be set on foot, should Mr Fink-Nottle not present himself at Deverill Hall this evening, it would appear to be essential that a substitute, purporting to be Mr Fink-Nottle, should take his place.
P. G. Wodehouse, The Mating Season, 1949

 ... as it had ever been abhorrent to my nature to ask for pecuniary assistance, I had early acquired habits of self-denying economy; husbanding my monthly allowance with anxious care, in order to obviate the danger of being forced, in some moment of future exigency, to beg additional aid.
Charlotte Brontë, The Professor, 1857

Source: Dictionary.com