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SuccessNet Strategies: Ideas, Inspiration, Resources and Insights to help you live and work more effectively. Volume 9, Issue 11.3 - November 11, 2004 U.S. Library of Congress, ISSN: 1529-3378 Published by Michael Angier and SuccessNet ------------------------------------------- We send this publication only to those who have requested it. We don't sell, rent or give out our mailing lists. If you find this newsletter to be of value, we invite and encourage you to forward it to your friends. ------------------------------------------- In This Issue: Word count: 1,217, estimated reading time: 6.6 minutes :: Featured Articles :: 16 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer :: Featured Freebies :: Featured Product/Service :: Feedback & Contributions :: Classifieds ------------------------------------------- If you have problems with paragraph alignment, try making your window wider. SuccessNet Strategies is a no-cost electronic newsletter dedicated to helping people be more effective and fulfilled--to be masters of change instead of victims of change. We offer tips, strategies, quotes, resources and shortcuts to getting more done in less time and having more fun in the process. We're always on the lookout for information to make your life easier and help you be more successful. ------------------------------------------- Thank you to all of you who have referred us to your friends and associates. We appreciate it. We have a quick and easy-to-use page to refer up to five of your friends to our association. Go to: http://SuccessNet.org/refer.htm <A href="http://SuccessNet.org/refer.htm";>Share</A> A copy of 'Be Your Best', as well as another report, is yours just for telling others about us. And thanks. ------------------------------------------- Please Visit This Issue's Top Sponsor. 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Read article at . . . http://Successnet.org/articles/cook-objections.htm <A href="http://Successnet.org/articles/cook-objections.htm";>Objections</A> Perf�rmance Reviews, by Michael Angier Professional relationships, like personal relationships are built on trust and clear communication. Learn how to effectively give and receive feedback from your team. Read article at . . . http://Successnet.org/articles/angier-performancereviews.htm <A href="http://Successnet.org/articles/angier-performancereviews.htm";>Perf�rmance Reviews</A> 16 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer, by Michael Angier Based on the positive response to last week's article on checklists, we decided to resurrect this very popular article. Although it's not actually a "checklist", it's a quick reminder of ways to make your writing more effective. Read article below or online at . . . http://SuccessNet.org/articles/angier-writingtips.htm <A href="http://SuccessNet.org/articles/angier-writingtips.htm";>Tips for Better Writing</A> For other recent articles, visit http://SuccessNet.org/home.htm ------------------------------------------- 16 Tips for Becoming a Better Writer, by Michael Angier Whether you're writing a memo, a letter, an article or a full- length novel, there are a few basic rules to keep in mind that will help your message first to be read and then to be better understood and accepted. 1. Nev�r Be Boring Your reader will forgive almost anything except you being boring. They don't have to agree with you, but they should at least be intrigued. Make the reader care. Don't be afraid to be "edgy." Look at every sentence and ask yourself, "Why will they care about this?" 2. Write in Short Sentences The reader shouldn't have to work hard to understand what you're saying. If they have to go back over a sentence because of poor structure, it's not their fault, it's yours. Read what you've written aloud or have someone else read it aloud to look for sentences that are too long or convoluted. 3. Write TO the Reader Use "you" often. Look for ways to eliminate or reduce "I" and "me". Present tense, second person is always best. It feels more to the reader like you're talking to THEM. 4. Go Active Use active verbs as much as possible. They're more engaging. They move the reader along and take fewer words to get your message across. "John loves Mary" is much more powerful than "Mary is loved by John." 5. Keep it Simple The front page of The Wall Street Journal and all of USA Today is written for the eighth grade reading level. Why should we be any different? People aren't interested in things they don't understand. Make your points quickly and succinctly. Make your words work and use as few of them as possible. You want to use the right word, but make sure you're using it because it's the right word and not just to show off your vocabulary--or your new thesaurus. 6. Tell Stories Facts tell and stories sell. The best writers and speakers of the world have always been good story tellers. Your own stories are the best. What you're sharing is wisdom from your point of view, and stories can illustrate this better than anything else. 7. Know Your Subject Write on things on which you've earned the right to write. Know 100 times more about your subject than you write about, but don't write about all of it. The more you know, the more confidence--and credibility--you'll have. 8. WIFM This is the radio station that everyone listens to. The call letters stand for What's in It For Me. People want to know what they'll get out of what you're writing. Appeal to what they want. 9. Write Like You Talk Or at least the way you'd LIKE to talk. Too many times, I see people who are good verbal communicators try to put on a different air in their writing. It doesn't work. It's much better to be conversational. 10. Paint Pictures We think in pictures and should write in ways that create these pictures in the mind of the reader. Be descriptive. Use examples. Describe the unfamiliar by using some of the familiar. "Jennifer's first day at her new job reminded her of the freshness and unfamiliarity she experienced on her first day of school." 11. Sleep On it It's a rare individual who can sit down and write something well at the first attempt. Any writing of import should be written and then reviewed later--preferably at least a day later. Some things should be edited several times over an extended period of time. 12. Write and Read Extensively This advice is from Stephen King--a prolific writer. If you want to be a good writer, you have to do two things--read a lot and write a lot. Enough said. 13. Break it Down Where appropriate, use bullet points. Use them for summaries or outlines. Think about someone who may only start out by scanning your text. Let your bullet points draw the reader in. A Few Added Points for Email Writing 14. Keep your lines 60-65 characters maximum. A column thats too wide taxes the eyes of the reader and appears overwhelming. 15. Keep paragraphs to no more than six lines. Short paragraphs provide white space to the text. They break up the page and make it appear less formidable to the reader. As in music, the space between the notes is as important as the notes themselves. 16. Don't use all caps. Capital letters are harder to read than upper and lower case. They also can be perceived as SHOUTING! A little uppercase usage is OK--using all caps doesn't work and looks amateurish. ------------------------------------------- "The greatest joys of life are happy memories. Your job is to create as many of them as possible." --Brian Tracy ------------------------------------------- What People are Saying About Our New Book http://101BestWays.com "I've heard it said, 'Beware the man who offers you new fundamentals. There are none. Fundamentals take time to get that way.' Well, success guru Michael Angier has taken that advice to heart and compiled a list of 101 Success Fundamentals that are sure-fire, time-tested ways to get ahead. Michael and his team have combed the public record for simple, powerful and far- reaching wisdom anyone can use to improve their lot. My advice? Pick one idea each day and find some way to apply it--in three months you'll be so much farther ahead, you wont believe it." --Paul Lemberg http://PaulLemberg.com http://101BestWays.com <A href="http://101BestWays.com";>101 Best Ways</A> ------------------------------------------- Featured Freebie You cannot buy "The 9 Insights of the Wealthy Soul" from us. You can only receive it (PLUS the two essential guidebooks "The Making of the Wealthy Soul" and "The Vision of the Wealthy Soul") TOTALLY F'R*E*E for the next 21 days. Do not, under any circumstances, send any m�ney now. Simply C*L I C K below for your F'R*E*E READ. Your beautifully printed books with Gold Foil Embossed Covers will be rushed to you. They will arrive in a handsome clear-topped gift box, ready for preserving for the most meaningful gift you may ever give a loved one. Or yourself! All finished with a rich, golden stretch tie. You will have 21 days to read, at your leisure, and experience it's uplifting messages. Without any risk or obligation whatsoever! If, for any reason (or for no reason at all) you decide this book does not meet your exact needs--simply return it, and you owe nothing. There will be NO questi�ns asked and no hassles. Please C*L I C K h�re to go directly to your 21-DAY F'R*E*E READ: http://snipurl.com/ahlg <A href="http://snipurl.com/ahlg";>Read Book F'R*E*E</A> (a small shipping and handling charge applies) ------------------------------------------- "It is a sheer waste of time and soul-power to imagine what I would do if things were different. They are not different." --Frank Crane ------------------------------------------- Featured Product - 101 Best Ways to Get Ahead We spent the last six months creating it: A survey was conducted; letters were mailed to the most successful people on earth; replies were compiled; biographies were researched and written; advice was indexed; over $1,500.00 in bonuses were added. "101 Best Ways to Get Ahead: Solid Gold Advice from 101 of the World's Most Successful People" is available n�w at http://101BestWays.com <A href="http://101BestWays.com";>101 Best Ways</A> ------------------------------------------- Feedback - "The Breakfast of Champions" We welcome and encourage you to share your comments and suggestions. mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Contributions Please visit our web site to review our Writer's Guidelines at http://SuccessNet.org/writers.htm ------------------------------------------- Classifieds Our sponsors and advertisers help bring this newsletter to you. Please support them. We only recommend and aff�liate with other companies and individuals whose products we use ourselves or with whom we've had personal and favorable experience. If your experience ever differs from ours, please contact us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] and tell us about it. 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Use the included affirmations or customize it with your own. http://SuccessNet.org/go/subliminal.htm <A href="http://SuccessNet.org/go/subliminal.htm";>Subliminal Software</A> ------------------------------------------- "A man should nev�r be ashamed to own that he has been in the wrong, which is but saying, in other words, that he is wiser today than he was yesterday." --Jonathan Swift ------------------------------------------- Dream-Minder: Software for Personal Life Enhancement It helps you achieve your Life's Dreams, your passions, things you LOVE to do in life. Dream-Minder is "Software that Fr�es Your Mind and Lifts Your Spirit." http://SuccessNet.org/go/dreamsalive.htm <A href="http://SuccessNet.org/go/dreamsalive.htm";>Dream-Minder</a> ------------------------------------------- Are you interested in having Michael Angier speak to your group? He works with executives who want to build world class companies and with people who want to do value-driven work. Contact him at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit his web site at http://MichaelAngier.com/ Go to "16 Reasons Why Your Company Benefits from Having Michael Present His Program." ------------------------------------------- "Make it a rule of life nev�r to regret and nev�r to look back. Regret is an appalling waste of energy; you can't build on it, it's only good for wallowing in." --Katherine Mansfield ------------------------------------------- GoalPro Software A program to help you set, monitor and ACHIEVE your goals. http://www.goalpro.com/entrance.cfm?ID=10287 <A href=" http://www.goalpro.com/entrance.cfm?ID=10287";>GoalPro</a> ------------------------------------------- "The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time." --Jack London ------------------------------------------- Subscribe/Unsubscribe Information To subscribe to SuccessNet Strategies, simply go to http://SuccessNet.org/mem_app.htm <A href="http://SuccessNet.org/mem_app.htm";>Membership</A> and fill in your name and email. If you don't have immediate access to the Web, just send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe to this newsletter, use the unsubscribe link at the end of this message and you will be removed. (C) Copyright Success Networks International, Inc. & Michael Angier. All rights reserved. U.S. Library of Congress ISSN: 1529-3378 Please honor our copyright. While this publication is intended for mass distribution, it's not to be altered in any way. If you would like to republish certain sections, we will usually grant permissions. 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