A Date to Remember: The Ides of March

by Nanette Littlestone

“Beloved March, the herald of spring. Its gentle stirrings bring forth new awakenings.” When I think of spring I picture new buds on tree branches, flowers pushing through the earth, a hint of warmth in the air.

The month of March derives its name from the Latin Martius, which comes from the Roman god Mars. Best known as the god of war, he was also the god of fertility, a protector of cattle, and the god of spring. His parents were Jupiter and Juno, and he fathered Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome. 

All that is well and good, but not many people are familiar with the god or the founders of Rome. They are familiar, though, with an important day this month. A date before the Vernal Equinox. The 15^th.  The Ides of March.  

Originally, the Ides of March was the day of the full moon. This day corresponded to the 13^th in most months of the Roman calendar, with the exception of the 15^th of March, May, July, and October. The reason we know about the Ides of March is largely due to William Shakespeare and his play about Julius Caesar. The words from the play that live on in our minds are as follows: 

            Caesar: Who is it in the press that calls on me?

            I hear a tongue shriller than all the music

            Cry “Caesar!” Speak, Caesar is turn’d to hear. 

            Soothsayer: Beware the ides of March. 

            Caesar: What man is that? 

            Brutus: A soothsayer bids you beware the ides of March. 

Caesar was assassinated on the ides of March, stabbed to death in the Senate at the hands of his friend Brutus and others. Directly after Caesar’s death, the phrase “the Ides of March” came to represent the assassination and the betrayal of Brutus. When we hear that phrase today we think of secret plots and vengeance and murder. 

Are there important dates in your story? Something that coincides with revenge? Or murder? Perhaps there was a famous wedding, or a birthday. Can you place your characters in an event readers will recognize? If you’re writing historical fiction, look at the timeframe around your story. Search out details you can weave into your narrative to give your readers a sense of time and place. If you’re writing something contemporary, dates are still important. The seasons give us a sense of change. Spring is an indicator of new growth, new beginnings. What changes are happening in your story? To your characters? 

Let history or current events give you the structure for something riveting. Then use your imagination to fill in the rest. In the meantime, steer clear of the 15^th. You never know when Brutus might pop up.

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Nanette Littlestone is a freelance editor, writing coach, and author who has worked with both fiction and nonfiction for 20 years. She specializes in helping authors to use their passion to achieve their own unique voice and message. For more information, please visit www.wordsofpassion.com.

10 Ways to Meet Deadlines

It seems that no one likes deadlines. Yet these dreaded due dates loom in practically every aspect of our lives. There’s a deadline for filing taxes, a deadline for taking advantage of offers, a deadline for event regitration, a deadline for refusing to do something, and even a deadline for responding to invitations (RSVP = respond si vous plait in French, or respond if you please).

So, how good are you at meeting deadlines? Well, you must first understand that a deadline represents the FINAL date at which you are to complete or respond to something. This does not mean that you have to wait until the deadline date; simply that the deadline is the last point at which you must act. Unfortunately, deadlines have become somewhat flexible in society, causing many to virtually ignore them. We’ve gone from due dates to deadlines to “drop dead” deadlines to final-final deadlines. 

Even with your book project, there are numerous deadlines to meet: the deadline to complete your book plan, to finish your book outline, to complete your manuscript, to edit or proof the document, to get the edited version to the printer, to send copies of your book to reviewers, etc., etc. Okay, you get the picture. 

Deadlines pop up everywhere in your book production process. The key is to figure out how to meet these deadlines in the most efficient way with the least amount of stress. Here are a few ways to help you meet the deadlines in your life:

1. Start with a plan. So much of your success with meeting deadlines is contingent upon having a solid plan. Whether it’s a life plan, a business plan, a book plan, a marketing plan, or some other plan, you must know what you want to accomplish. Your plan should also include why you want it, how you plan to accomplish it, how much it will cost, how much time it will take, and what your results should be. Each of these elements is extremely important to helping you complete projects on time and seeing the success you expect from any activity you undertake. 
2. Examine how realistic the deadline is based on the other activities in your life. If you know for sure that you can’t meet the deadline, try to change it; the sooner, the better.
3. Prioritize the deadlines you must meet, not in order of the deadline itself, but in order of its importance to your ultimate goals. If completing your book is most important to you, look at the deadlines that relate to that project. Prioritize those first, in order of the deadlines. Then, take the next most important goal in your life and prioritize those deadlines. Perhaps generating more revenue or income is the next most important item for you. Look at the deadlines that relate to revenue-generating items and prioritize those by the deadlines. 
4. Take one bite at a time. As the saying goes: How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time. Okay, maybe elephant soup isn’t on your task list, but when you have big projects with short deadlines, or several projects with tight deadlines, it’s often easier to view them one task at a time. This is where your plan really helps. Setting a start and complete deadline for each task will help lead you through the process in an efficient and timely manner.
5. Focus on one thing at a time. When you spring into action, try to focus on the activities of one deadline at a time. Multi-tasking is great, but it can be distracting and cost you more time in the long run. Focus on one deadline-driven activity at a time. Make progress, and then, if needed, switch your entire focus to another deadline-driven activity. Avoid trying to do several activities at the same time. 
6. Get help. Doing it all yourself is a recipe for disaster, especially when you have a multitude of things to do (and don’t we all?). Get off your high horse and enlist the expertise or assistance of others. You’ll likely find that delegating can help you meet the deadline sooner than you would trying to go it alone.
7. Set reminders, either manual or electronic. These are excellent ways to remain on track with accomplishing tasks and meeting deadlines. Use an electronic task list with reminders that pop up onscreen. Post sticky notes in obvious places. Write key dates or activities on a dry-erase board or calendar. Create “tickler” files in your filing cabinet that show dates of the month and include activities for each date. Make a handwritten to-do list and keep it in your wallet, purse, or car.  
8. Cheat. If you know that procrastination is an issue for you, cheat a little. Set your personal deadline two weeks or so prior to the actual deadline. This way, you should feel the pressure to get the task done sooner. And seeing that you’re going to procrastinate anyway, you have a few extra weeks or days to get it done on time.
9. Examine how you feel about the deadline. Honestly, there are times when you will view deadlines as stupid, limiting, distracting, or unnecessary. Consider why you feel that way. It could be that you have no connection to the project or the outcome, or that the WIIFM (what’s in it for me?) isn’t obvious. In this case, review the task, find at least one benefit that you could achieve (even if it’s the experience), then change your attitude and get ‘er done. Think about it this way: It’s only going to hurt for a little while!
10. Learn to say no. Seriously, you can’t do it all. Biting off more than you can chew only leads to indigestion, exhaustion, and a really bad reputation. Learn to say no to new projects that interfere with what you’re already doing. Offering people options is one of the easiest ways to say no. When asked to meet a deadline that you know you can’t meet, your answer could be: “Sorry, I can’t help with that project because it doesn’t fit into my business model (or my life plan);” or “I can’t meet that deadline, but I could have it to you two weeks after that;” or “I’m unable to do it, but I know someone who could help you.”

See how easy some of these strategies are? Try out a few and watch your ability to meet deadlines increase! 

What are some of your strategies for meeting deadlines?

How to Raise Your Profile Through Personal Public Relations

By Jennifer Ransaw Smith

Early in my career, I learned one of life’s toughest lessons: if I didn’t define myself, others would do it for me.  Like many women of my generation, I grew up a people pleaser. I was taught to be a team player and that boasting was impolite. I learned that I shouldn’t take credit for every idea, even if they were all mine. So, that is exactly how I packaged myself—the nice girl with creative ideas that you wanted on your team.

But, do you want to know the problem with being the “nice girl?” They often get stepped on and are afraid to say ouch!

I spent years coming up with stellar ideas that others took credit for, I spent years nicely advancing my career but watching others advance theirs at mach 10 speeds. Then, one day I woke up. I mean I really got it. I was never going to have an advocate stauncher than myself; no secret genie. I was it—the Publicist and Chief Marketing Officer of Jennifer Ransaw Smith, Inc. — and it was time that I earned my titles. So that’s precisely what I did.

I learned the hard way that a “job well done” doesn’t speak for itself; I had to speak for it. And, so do you. Here are a few tips to help you along your own personal public relations evolution and journey as an entrepreneur and as an author:

Uncover your differentiators and highlight them: Just as companies spend millions of dollars and heavy brainpower to highlight what separates them from their competitors, so should you (minus the million dollar investment of course). Take the time to find out what makes you you. Are you funny, resourceful, a person with an innate ability to immediately put others at ease. Whatever your "it" is, bring it out and use it to your advantage.

What are your long and short term goals and what is standing between you reaching them? Do you need more training and education, or maybe another certificate or two? Get clear about where you want to go so that the path becomes more evident and the coaches along the way more obvious.

Know the industry players: It doesn’t matter if they work inside or outside your organization, you should know them and they should know you. Keep a file of who’s who, subscribe to the industry publications and highlight the key players. Drop them a congratulatory line on their latest achievement, acquisition or award, or send them an article of interest and introduce yourself on personal letterhead. Be strategic and fearless. Recognize the value of creating relationships with superiors who have the power to promote you.

Toot your own horn regularly and loudly: Look for opportunities to sing your own praise both internally and externally. Send updates to your company newsletters; send releases about your accomplishments to your local paper and business journal. Keep the higher ups in the loop through frequent updates.

Network, network, network. Women need to realize the importance of networking with everybody—junior, senior, and even people you don’t like. By strategically planning your career, there are going to be many people you wouldn’t necessarily want to hang out with, but who will prove to be extremely beneficial to your career advancement and positioning and that’s okay. It’s just business.

Once you take complete charge or your career and manage your personal brand accordingly, the sky's the limit.

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Jennifer Ransaw Smith is CEO and Chief Visibility Strategist for Brand id│Strategic Partners, a full-service personal branding agency that helps women entrepreneurs and executives leverage their skills and talents and position themselves as Industry Rock Stars. She works with clients who are ready to “be known.” You can find out more at http://www.thenextindustryrockstar.com

Looking for "Home Writing Made Easy"

by Bonnie Daneker

This Christmas, I received a voice from the past.  1928 to be exact.  My friend presented me with a nearly perfect copy of “Home Sewing Made Easy,” by Laura I. Baldt, A.M.

Stay with me now… Although sewing may not be everyone’s cup of tea (like it is mine), wearing clothing for comfort and protection is in everyone’s interest.

So, back to Laura Baldt. The A.M. after her name (Master of Arts degree) credentialed her to become an Assistant Professor of Household Arts in the Teachers College of Columbia University. In 1923, this was all highly uncommon: a woman going to college, earning an advanced degree, holding a professorship position—AND publishing.  In addition to this work, she wrote for magazines, contributed to the Department of Agriculture and Federal Board for Vocational Education, and penned textbooks. She wrote her life, and the wisdom in this treasured old book about creative expression is still relevant.

In her “Foreward” (sic), she shares:  “Some women have either a native or acquired ability to artistically design and construct clothing; others have the ability to construct, but not to design; still others know little or nothing of designing or construction.  Give to the first group of women some cloth, shears, tape measure and pins, and they, through spontaneous inspiration or carefully thought out design, will evolve a charming garment. The other groups – and they form the vast majority – seem not to have this creative genius.”  For them, it’s about education, dedication, and determination.

We understand that it is a biological need to cloth oneself, and some would argue that expression is also a biological need.  At the very least, written expression begs to be utilized, inspiring others and instilling feelings of fruitfulness in the creator.

If we applied Baldt’s exercise to writers – giving them a laptop, and plenty of paper and ink – some would showcase their native talents by producing an impossible-to-put-down suspense novel. Others of us would need to search for experts, follow their lead, and work diligently to learn the craft: as Baldt suggests in her next line, to find an “excellent way of achievement through the patterns of today.”

While the roster of my sewing teachers has been limited to four (including the fiercest, Experience), the roster of my writing teachers probably features 40 times as many educators. I’ve found that there is no “Home Writing Made Easy” book written just for me; instead, I’ve learned from others formally and informally. Each gives me opportunities to grow as a writer and a consultant to help other writers.

I’d encourage you to stop searching for the Holy Grail of all writing instruction materials and instead build your network of academic pros, literary pros, and colleagues to hone your craft. Be open to their wisdom, “their patterns of today.” What a great message from Baldt in 1928: Whatever your starting point, you can learn from others and produce a quality product with time.
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As CEO of Write Advisors, Bonnie Bajorek Daneker helps clients express themselves digitally and in print. Author of The Compassionate Caregiver Series®, Bonnie released her seventh book, CLIMB, in November 2010, with Sandy Hofmann, President of Women in Technology (WIT). Her most recent book, Publishing as a Marketing Strategy, is co-written with five other contributors and was released November 2011. She holds a BA in Journalism from The Ohio State University and an MBA in Strategic Planning and Entrepreneurship from The Goizueta School of Business at Emory University.  

Write What You Love

Passion. Desire. Excitement. Exhilaration. You probably felt all of these emotions on your first date with your significant other. But do any of these words come to mind when you sit down to write your book? If not, you might consider how much love you have for your book project. After all, your book should be one of the most exciting things in your life, not one of the most dreaded. If you approach your writing sessions with anything less than enthusiasm, perhaps you’re going about it the wrong way. Of course, that isn’t to say you shouldn’t write your book and get it published. But perhaps you need to shift gears and write what you love.

When you have a passion or desire for something (or someone), your entire disposition towards it is that of excitement and exhilaration. The before, during, and after aspects are all linked with a sense of desire and curiosity. You look forward to doing that thing. You enjoy the process (even if there are some snags here and there). And you feel rejuvenated and satisfied afterwards. That’s how it should be as you write your book.

You know the signs that you’re not really “feeling” what you’re writing: procrastination, avoidance, dread, frustration. But do you know the signs that you’re writing what you love?

How do you choose a genre or topic that’s right for you? And beyond that, how do you write compelling content that you love? I’ll offer two suggestions for selecting the topic of your next book and for writing content you love. 

1. Determine what resonates with you. Writing about what resonates with you is like meeting your soulmate. It’s sweet and fresh, interesting and thrilling. Every moment spent with him or her is one that could last forever. The same is true for the topic of your book. It’s the “aha moment” when you know you’re onto something. Think about those aha moments you’ve had. You know the ones when your head snaps forward, your eyelids pop open pullled up by the rising of your brows, the corners of your mouth reach towards your ears, and your gaze is a focused dreamy-ness that finds you resembling a deer in the headlights. Yep, that’s it. You’ve got it. That’s the aha moment when you’ve mentally stumbled upon a topic or idea that you love. 

Turning that idea into content for your book can be just as exhilarating as the initial moment when the idea was conceived. As with your relationship with your soulmate, you have to keep the love alive. Think about that topic and your content all the time. Jot down notes throughout the day. Read books and articles that are similar to what you’re writing about so you’ll keep the mood fresh and interesting. Talk about it with friends. And if you need help building the content beyond structured writing sessions, consider journaling. It’s a much more relaxed and therapeutic way to approach writing content for your book. For help, get a copy of my book, Write Your Life: Create Your Ideal Life and the Book You’ve Been Wanting to Write. 

2. Know what will capture the hearts and minds of your ideal readers. To know this, you must first know who your ideal readers are. This is like buying a gift for your soulmate. You have to first know his or her likes and dislikes, needs and wants, preferences, fears, and even those things that just freak him or her out. From an author’s perspective, who are you writing this book for? You might find it surprising to realize this, but for most authors, their ideal readers are people just like them. 

Most would never admit to it (which always suprises me), but authors and professional writers most often write for people with similar interests, concerns, challenges, fears, needs, and experiences as theirs. Don’t avoid this most logical audience for your book. By and large, authors write what they know because that’s what they like, have learned, are knowledgeable about, and wish to share with others. So go for it. If you find that your ideal readers are people just like you, then think hard about the words, stories, examples, and tips that caputure your own heart and mind. Give the readers what they want. That shouldn’t be so hard, because, after all, it’s what you want too. And to get to that, once again, I suggest journaling.

Really, it’s not so hard to write what you love. You just have to find the passion and cultivate it. So, what do you love to write?

Errors in Your Writing Can Be Costly

by Tippi Hyde

To stand out in a fiercely competitive market, entrepreneurs and other professionals have been encouraged to showcase their expertise by writing books. In fact, books have been called the new business cards 1. If someone you just met gave you a business card with several errors on it, you probably would not rush to do business with him or her. You might infer that the person is unprofessional, lazy, and does not pay attention to detail. These same judgments could be made about you if your book (or other work) is full of errors and inconsistencies.

Your image and income can be negatively affected by errors in your writing. Readers may feel that it is not worth wading through mistakes in your document to get to your point or to learn more about what you have to offer. You will never know how many people have (or will) put down your book, click away from your blog or website, or choose not to do business with you because of their negative assumptions about you based on errors and inconsistencies in your work.

If your writing is being published, you are a writer, regardless of your primary profession. As a writer, you should care about knowing writing-related rules and producing quality documents. Take time to review grammar, usage, and mechanics, and commit to reading at least one grammar or other writing-related book per month. Grammar and usage are taught simplistically in most SAT II Writing and Praxis I PPST preparation books, and the books include plenty of exercises. The following websites are also excellent resources: Purdue Online Writing Lab 2; Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing 3; and Guide to Grammar and Writing 4.

After reviewing your manuscript with your newly learned (or relearned) skills, hire an editor. In addition to a basic proofread (which includes checking for typos; errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics; and style consistency), an editor may rewrite for clarity or brevity and fact-check. An editor also ensures that what you intend to convey to your readers is what you actually convey.

Ironically, most professional, classically trained writers would not consider having their work published without having an editor review it, yet many untrained writers believe that they don’t need an editor and that publishing error-free work is not important. Each of the hundreds of manuscripts and other lengthy documents that I have reviewed during my 10 years of editing has needed a full edit, no matter how skilled the writer was. Granted, hiring an editor for short, time-sensitive works (like some blog posts) might not be feasible because of time or money. Before publishing these types of works, have friends or family members review them, and do not skip your own edit.

For books and other major works, however, do not think of hiring an editor as optional; consider it a necessary book-publishing expense. Something priceless is at stake: your credibility.

1  See “Is a Book the New Business Card?” in SmartMoney Magazine (http://www.smartmoney.com/plan/careers/is-http://www.smartmoney.com/plan/careers/is-the-book-the-new-business-card/the-book-the-new-business-card/)

2 Purdue Online Writing Lab: http://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/section/1/5/
3 Grammar Girl: Quick and Dirty Tips for Better Writing: http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/
4 Guide to Grammar and Writing: http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/

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Tippi Hyde is a freelance editor who also coaches doctoral students through the dissertation editing stage. She is currently developing online classes in grammar, usage, mechanics, and style, which will be free for the first 10 readers of this blog who inquire. If you are interested, e-mail her at tippih@theeditingexpert.com.

5 Ways to Repurpose Your Content

An author recently asked me how she could get more mileage out of her book. After all, she put a lot into the writing and production of her book, and she’s very proud of it. Currently, she sells her book at speaking engagements and appearances. She sells it on her website. She even gives it away to organizations as an incentive for membership renewals. But beyond that, she wondered what more she could be doing to get her message out in unique ways. My answer: Repurpose your content.

Who says the content of your book has to remain in your book after it’s published? There are numerous ways to repurpose the information contained in your book. The notion of repurposing isn’t new, but with social media and other technologies, there are more ways than ever to give new life to the concepts, stories, examples, tips, and advice in your book. Here are just a few:

Blog it. Take sections of your book and turn them into blog posts. Choose excerpts that are timely and give small bits of information your blog followers can use. One easy way to do this is to create lists similar to this post: 10 ways to do something; 5 reasons you need something; 8 things to avoid when going someplace. 

Post it. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google Plus, FourSquare and numerous other social media sites offer great exposure to your target audience. But it takes time to develop fresh ideas for engaging posts that get likes and retweets. Use some of the content you’ve already developed in your book for your social media posts. Be sure to make it brief and engaging.

Speak it. If speaking engagements are part of your business development strategy, pull from your book content to create compelling speeches and instructional talks. You could take the main points in just one chapter of your book to create a keynote speech that’ll leave the audience wanting more -- in which case, they’ll want to buy your book!

Teach it. You wrote your book to teach what you know, right. Whether you’ve written an autobiography, a memoir, a self-help, or a how-to book, you’re teaching a lesson or a concept. Why not develop a course, teleseminar, or workshop based on the very content you’ve already created for your book.

Share it. Why not give it away? That’s right; give away the content in your book by creating a one-sheeter with tips, charts, tables, lists, maps, links, or other useful tools. Offer this one-sheeter as an incentive for people to sign up for your e-newsletter, as a thank-you for those who attend your seminars, or as a leave-behind when you call on potential clients.

Even after your book has been published and several copies sold, there is still life in the content. Keep your book alive by repurposing the content and offering it to your target audience in creative ways.

What are some ways you’ve repurposed your book’s content?