Mastering The Lost Art Of Article Writing

There are 3 letters in the word "Article" that almost always get overlooked. A-R-T

Article writing, or perhaps a more appropriate phrase, article development, is a lost art. For a wide variety of reasons, todays articles represent a continuum of quality that is amazing. Thanks to cut and paste features in every operating system, software that "twists" and regurgitates other peoples articles at the touch of a mouse button, and entire business models built around making money from unique articles, the artist has faded away.

What skills are necessary to rise above the mediocrity that is rampant on the Internet? Mastering the English language is a good start. Words have morphed into mere marketing mechanisms. Spelling and grammar are often an afterthought. Here in the Pacific Northwest, my favorite example is the hardware store: Lumbermens - get the joke? How do you master English? Read! It helps to read someone who knows how to write. Stick with the classics. Go back a few years, or a few hundred. If something is still in print after all those years, it's probably because there was an artist at work.

To become a great article writer, you have to write from the heart. If you dont have an original thought in your mind, and you must rely on stealing other writers ideas in order to set something down on paper...or keyboard, it will always show up in your writing. Great writers are rarely born with the skill. You grow into it, over time. Your readers dont get to see the things you wrote in 5th grade, or high school, or the mess you made on that college turn paper. All they see is 20 or 30 or 40 years of writing practice; every last second of which is delivered solidly into the next word you write. How could you NOT improve?

Great writers read other great writers. They research. They write drafts. An article that goes from your brain to the submission box, with barely a trip past the spelling checker, is in serious trouble. Without a review of its structure, its purpose, its impact, it is destined to gather electronic dust. Become a craftsman. Treat your creation like a custom-made piece of furniture that will stand inside your house for all the world to admire. Articles can stick around, for better or worse, for a long, long time. Treat them with love. Treat them like they are your work of art. Your children. Send them forth to mix things up with the routers, the article directories, the electronic magazines, the web sites. They are your representatives. Remember that EVERY time you are ready to press the publish button!

Steve owns and operates a whole network of web-based mentoring communities including a home for aspiring article & bum marketers at http://articlemastery.net

Improve Productivity in an Uncertain Economy

CURRENT ECONOMIC FACTORS ARE INCREASING STRESS. You may have noticed that the United States economy is somewhat unsure of itself these days. Consumer prices are rising, stock markets are fluctuating, and the rate of unemployment has increased. As illustrated in a recent study by Wayne Hochwarter of Florida State University's College of Business, these economic stressors are directly impacting the workplace environment. "People concerned with the effects of gas prices were significantly less attentive on the job, less excited about going to work, less passionate and conscientious and more tense," Hochwarter says in a statement.

STRESS DECREASES PRODUCTIVITY AND HURTS THE BOTTOM LINE. The American Institute of Stress estimates that U.S. businesses lose up to $300 billion per year (or $7,500 per employee) due to stress related issues including compensation claims, reduced productivity, absenteeism, medical expenses, and employee turnover. The Bureau of National Affairs suggests that forty percent of job turnover is due to stress.

WHAT CAN BE DONE? Here are a few suggestions on ways to reduce workplace stress.

• Make it clear to your employees that you have a plan and they are part of it. Having a comprehensive strategic plan in place that is accessible to all employees does wonders for relieving anxiety in the workplace. Employees are much more productive when they know what they are working toward and are not anxious about the future of their job or their company.
• Celebrate your successes! Too often, particularly in times of high stress, companies forget to celebrate their successes or affirm the work of employees. A little celebration and affirmation can go a long way toward future productivity.
• Let your employees know that you are sensitive to the pressures that they are facing and their need to relieve stress. Many companies might be tempted to cut "stress-relief" activities during periods of economic uncertainty. It is important to recognize that now is the time when these exercises are needed most.
• Focus on Communication. According to a survey by the Global Business and Economic Roundtable on Addiction and Mental Health, three of the top four workplace stressors relate to poor communication. Reduce stress by making an effort to improve channels for regular communication, implementing informal performance reviews, and offering positive feedback and constructive criticism.

Phil Kiracofe is the Director and Chief Innovation Officer of Gooseworks Consulting. Gooseworks has facilitated team development with organizations throughout the United States and abroad. Gooseworks offers a number of team building, professional development, and stress relief programs. Our strategy sessions utilize graphic tools to capture a vision and plan for your organization that is easily shared with all employees. Headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, Gooseworks is your local resource for Team Building in Maryland and surrounding areas.

Honest Opinion on God

Can One Book Change Your Life
Committed People To Success

Religious Freedom and Why - What Does it Mean to You

In the 1600s there were religious groups leaving England to come to America in hopes of escaping religious persecution. These people were strong believers in Christianity and once they arrived in the English colonies had their religious freedom. No one wants to be persecuted for their beliefs.

Why did the founding fathers state in the First Amendment, "Congress shall make no law respecting the establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

Our founding fathers were more than three to five generations away from their ancestors who escaped England to seek religious freedom. How did our ancestors know what the future would be like, if religion was allowed to influence this country's laws, churches and schools.

Thomas Jefferson was one of the leading voices and a strong influence for the freedom of religion. Did this one man have the foresight to see the damage that could be done if this country was ruled by a single religion. Our schools would be dominated by Christian thinking and this would eventually lead the future of this country towards limited possibilities. Freedom allows us the opportunity to expand on our beliefs and change them at will, right or wrong.

Strong religious doctrine must be followed strictly and wouldn't provide us any room to think outside of Christianity. A good example of a close minded system of government would be communism. The Russians couldn't make the changes necessary and lost their status as a world power because they were living within the boundaries of limited thinking. This could provide us with an example of what our government could have led us into if we didn't have the First Amendment or freedom of religion.

Most people take it for granted, that we can voice our opinions, join any religious group we choose and educate ourselves with books from local libraries, free schooling, government grants to promote higher levels of education and to live in a country that accepts change, if it benefits society as a whole.

Freedom of religion allows me to write this article and not be thrown in jail. I'm glad to be a part of the country that our founding fathers had foresight to create laws that would benefit us in the future. Freedom of free speech and religion is a necessity to create a healthy community or government.

Religous Thinking Ideas

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a self help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

Fighting In Gods Name

Home Improvement Tips - Types of Countertops

It used to be that laminate was pretty much your only choice for kitchen countertops. Those days are thankfully long gone but now a homeowner is faced with a variety of choices and wide range of prices available for your kitchen renovation.

Some of the popular choices include:

Ceramic Tile

This remains as a popular and economical alternative that is heat and scratch resistant. It is high maintenance though since it needs to have it's grout sealed regularly to avoid staining.

Concrete

This is a incredibly versatile surface that can be textured and detailed with patterns unlike any other surface. However it is extremely porous and needs to be regularly sealed to avoid stains.

Engineered Stone

This product is made of a quartz composite with colored pebbles or different materials giving its wide range of colors. Texture is usually even and the colors can be reproduced over larger areas. It as extremely durable product that can resist heat and stain.

Granite

Granite is a natural stone. It comes from different regions of the world and can vary widely in color and pattern. It needs to be seamed and requires period sealing to avoid stains. It cannot tolerate high heat from hot pans.

Laminate

Laminate comes in a variety of colors but is not designed to be long lasting. Although it is somewhat stain resistant it will scratch easily. It will also burn easily from hot pans.

Marble

This is another natural stone that is porous and stains easily. It must be sealed every two to five years. They are also easily scratched and cannot take high heat from hot pans.

Slate

This is a third natural stone that is less porous and doesn't require sealing but can be easily scratched

Stainless Steel

This is a very popular product because of the sleek modern look it conveys. It is very durable and resists staining. Often times the surface is brushed to hide any scratches.

Wood

Various types of hardwoods can be used for countertops. It does require regular sealing to avoid drying out and is susceptible to burns from hot pans.

These are some of the pros and cons of the more popular types of countertops. Choose your countertop carefully depending on your usage and needs.

Bob Current writes on a variety of subjects including home improvement tips. You can get a free copy of his report about Choosing The Best Contractor for your project at http://www.homeimprovementtips.info and at http://www.concretecountertops.bcurrent.info/concretecountertops

Interior Window Framing

Summer Gardens Dirt Cheap

Maybe you live in a rural area, take a Sunday drive on some of those country back roads. Many hardy wildflowers grow along the roadside, and can easily be replanted into your own garden .But always remember before you start digging get permission from the land owner and put things back just as you have found them, or possibly a friend or relative will have a small parcel of land and can help you out.

Your summer gardens can quickly turn into an expensive undertaking. But if you stick to a few simple guidelines you can achieve your goal of a low budget garden, purchase only the items you are going to need, your garden tools, seeds, plants, etc. We all know how tempting all these items are, especially if there is a big sale at your local garden center.

Take a second look at that old shovel or rake, they may do the job another season. Ask around your neighborhood or Call your local county or township offices, most areas will provide free compost material to the local residents. Talk to your fellow gardeners, maybe they are growing something that's not in your garden and vice versa. Work out a garden plant exchange. Hey it's free and possibly you'll make a new friend or two.

Check your local newspaper perhaps you will find someone having a garage or yard sale with some good second hand gardening tools or garden power equipment at reasonable prices. Also consider mulching, it is an excellent way to hold moisture in the ground allowing you to do less watering, saving you valuable time and perhaps a lower water bill, and it's also a good way to keep that pesky weed population down and your weed pulling to a minimum. Both these steps will be helpful to save you some time and maybe a few dimes.

For more on gardening just go to http://gardeningfunforeveryone.blogspot.com/

Imagine No Need for Greed or Hunger

Imagine There's No Heaven, It's Easy If You Try, No Hell below Us, above Us Only Sky, Imagine All the People Living for Today. Imagine There's No Countries, It Isn't Hard to Do, Nothing to Kill or Die for, and No Religion Too. Imagine All the People Living Life in Peace. Think about It.

It's hard to imagine, with the information today and even 50 years ago that most people still believe in religions all over the world, just because they were raised to believe in them. Religions of the future will have to adapt to change, a little faster as more people read articles like mine to promote education within your religion.

Find out a little bit more about Your Religious Freedom

You are free to copy this article to your site as long as you include the following resource information with an active link to my site:

Greg Vanden Berge is a published author, internet marketing expert, motivational inspiration to millions of people all over the world and is sharing some of his wisdom with experts in the fields of writing,marketing, and personal development.

Greg is currently working on a religous help library filled with great subjects on a wide array of topics, like religion, self help and spiritual changes in the world. His views on religious freedom are slowly changing the way people think about institutional religion.

You Have To Start Somewhere
Developing Wealth Building Habit