How to Find Ideas Through Daydreams

Daydreams as a source of ideas

We're discussing four different sources of ideas that you, as a writer of romantic fiction, can milk at will. Ideas that, elaborated and complicated, will give you original stories that'll form the backbones of your novel.

In the first article in this series, we talked about character as trigger for story ideas.

In this piece, I'd like to tease out how much of a creative engine room your own day-dreaming can be.

The source of inspiration for great ideas has become the subject of scientific study in recent years, and research has uncovered a fact that we've all been aware of all our lives: that those dream-like periods that happen just after you wake up, and just before you go to sleep, can be hugely creative. In an article called "The Eureka Hunt" in the New Yorker (July 28, 2008), Jonah Lehrer talks about research into how to create an environment in which creative insights are more likely to happen, and his conclusions include the following, well, insights:

"We must concentrate, but we must concentrate on letting the mind wander." In the early morning, "(t)he drowsy brain is unwound and disorganised, open to al sorts of unconventional ideas." He recommends setting your alarm clock for a few minutes earlier than you would otherwise get up and get sucked into the humdrum emergencies of breakfast, kids, school and a demanding husband. Use those few minutes for creative, non-focused mental meandering.

Day-dreaming falls into the same category. It's a state of mind, deliberately cultivated, in which we allow our minds to follow any elusive thought, without worrying about our destination, and without trying specifically to solve any given problem.

Day-dreaming is traditionally regarded as an escape from some undesirable condition - when at school, it's an escape from math and history and geography. Later in life, day dreams form the escape hatch to a world in which the most urgent, and stressful considerations have no weight.

But day-dreaming is also an escape to a realm in which original ideas pop out of the ether and take out what is usually a transitory life of their own. All you need is a note book, a pen, and a general understanding of how to yoke the power of day-dreaming. Here's what the experts say you should do:

Immerse yourself in the problem. You might, for instance, have identified a setting. Maybe even the main characters. What you want now is a story to drive your characters through the novel. It could have something to do with the setting - your setting might be a private game reserve; or it could have something to do with your characters... Whatever it is, though, focus intently on the components of your novel that you've already dreamed up.

Then set the problem aside.

Set that alarm clock for twenty minutes earlier than usual. Let images of your game reserve and your characters drift idly through your mind. Don't think too hard about developing a story. You have to de-focus your attention. This is analogous to looking at a faint star in the heavens at night: you're more likely to spot it by looking deliberately to one side, than by focusing intently on the object itself. Allow the ideas to drift into your consciousness. So if you're looking for a central love story theme, allow your thoughts to play gently with notions of love... Or of lovers at play...

Then - and this is crucial advice - write your thoughts down!

In the next article in this series, I'll be considering real life as a source of ideas for your fictional accounts of romantic love.

Richard Beynon runs online romance writing courses on allaboutlove.net and face-to-face writing courses in Johannesburg.

How to Increase Your Article Marketing

Article marketing can offer you with all the elements that you need in growing your ebusiness -- quality, search engine traffic, higher page ranking, an expert status online, great exposure for your products and website, and a stronger online presence. You just have to make sure that you do the process right so you can easily realize your marketing goals in no time.

Here's how you can increase your article marketing:

1. Write about topics that are relevant to your products and services. Always remember that your ultimate goal in publishing your articles is to gain exposure for your offerings so you can increase your sales and revenue. You can properly build up your products and services if you touch on topics or problems that can be addressed or resolved by using your products. For instance, if you are selling information products about SEO, you can talk about the common myths about search engine optimization that can mislead both marketers and bloggers. By doing so, you can easily pitch in your products on your resource box as the answer to your potential clients' dilemma.

2. Deliver newsworthy and timely information. Keep your readers abreast with what is happening on your chosen niche by writing about the newest topics that can surely interest these people. Subscribe to relevant RSS feeds or constantly check relevant reputable sites that can offer you with new information.

3. Multiply the number of your articles. You cannot promote easy recall if you just post 1-2 articles online. If you want your target market to easily remember you, you must be able to offer them with more information compare to your leading competitors. Work harder and strive to produce at least 5-10 articles per day. This can dramatically boost the number of your inbound links that can lead to an impressive search engine ranking.

4. Get your articles republished. Allow ezine publishers or other marketers to use your articles on their blogs, portals, and website as long as they will give you credit for it. This is one way of widening your reach and increasing the exposure of your articles.

5. Keep your articles short and simple. You can attract more attention online if your articles are not lengthy and boring. You can also effectively promote better understanding if you use simple terms or plain English all throughout your content that can help your readers to easily get the message that you are trying to get across.

Do you want to learn more about how I do it? I have just completed my brand new guide to article writing success, 'Your Article Writing and Promotion Guide'

Download it free here: Secrets of Article Writing

Do you want to learn how to build a big online subscriber list fast? Click here: Secrets of List Building

Sean Mize is a full time internet marketer who has written over 9034 articles in print and 14 published ebooks.

How Do I Become a Freelance Writer

These days, it's important to find ways to earn additional income. And asking yourself "How do I become a freelance writer?" is your ticket to exactly that. Of course, I assume that you do have an interest in writing; otherwise, this might not be fitting for you.

If you have a flair for writing, then finding freelance writing jobs is going to be easy. All you have to do is follow these steps and you're well on your way to writing yourself a good paycheck.

1) Surf the net for online "wanted" signs.

So how do I become a freelance writer? Well, try the net. A lot of people are actually looking for online writers at the moment. All you have to do is type "freelance writers" or "bloggers wanted" and you're all set.

I know this might sound too easy and so must be impossible, but that's not entirely true. To be honest, that's exactly how I first started my writing gig.

2) Don't be afraid to contribute.

If you want to know how to become a freelance writer for a magazine, you have to submit your articles to them yourself.

Many magazines accept contributions that are useful and valuable, so make sure your work is in line with what that magazine stands for and send your article!

3) Prepare sample works.

Whether online or in real life, you have to prepare sample works for your potential employers. This is one way they can gauge if you're fit for the job or not.

Sometimes though, they'll ask you to create a new article out of a topic they chose. When this happens, make sure you do your research. Never plagiarize and stick to what you know.

Trying to deal with the question "How do I become a freelance writer?" is an exciting journey. You're going to have to put yourself out there, trust in your instincts and in your own writing skills. Never be afraid to use creativity and imagination, too!

Want to earn a 5-figure monthly income through freelance writing jobs? Go to http://www.20daypersuasion.com/5figurewriter.htm and discover how to earn massive amounts of money by becoming a freelance writer.

Help for Writer's Stress - 6 Tips to De-Stress Your Life

You look at yourself in the mirror and ask "Is that vein supposed to throb like that?" In the back of your mind, you're pretty sure it isn't supposed to.

Stress hits everyone at some point in their lives. But it seems to hit writers more often. The solitary life we lead just adds to the amount of stress. Not to mention the deadlines, projects, family obligations, work problems, appointments, meetings, lack of exercise, poor diet, and everything else we have to accomplish in a day. The list of stressful things can go on and on.

Just taking a few moments of time for you when the world is crushing in around you isn't the easiest thing to do. Here are some things you can do to relax without taking too much time away from your writing, or life.

1. Don't take on more than you can handle. Keep in mind that the more you promise to do, the less time you'll have to do the things you want to do. If you really can't write that article this month either see if you can push the due date to something more doable or just say no. Don't over book yourself.

2. Music has charms to sooth the writer's mind, and mood. Listen to your favorite music while writing can lift your spirits and keep your stress levels in check. Some writers even work better with music playing in the background, maybe you are one of them?

3. Walk and stretch at least every 20 minutes. Moving helps keep your body flexible. By taking a short walk, even if it's just to the bathroom, you are giving your body a chance to increase circulation and decrease stress.

4. Take a mini mental vacation. For just a moment or two, imagine yourself in your most desired vacation spot. Is it lying on the beach in the Caribbean, or riding a double-decker bus in downtown London? Feel the sights, sounds and smells of your location. Don't let your work interfere with your trip for at least 5 minutes.

5. Drink water while you work. Water keeps your body hydrated, which will help keep your mind alert and thinking. And writing.

6. Learn to laugh at the absurd. Allowing the little things in life to frustrate and anger you just adds to your stress levels. By learning to laugh at them instead of getting angry, you release the frustrations bottled up inside you and allow your mind and body to relax.

Keeping yourself stress free while writing isn't always possible. But helping your body relax when the levels get to be too much is. Taking just a few minutes out of your day to lower your stress is good for your mind, your body, and your writing!

Dawn Arkin is an author on http://www.Writing.Com/ which is a site for Poetry. Her portfolio can be found at http://www.Writing.Com/authors/darkin so stop by and read for a while.

3 Tips For Top Notch Articles

Article writing is an art. However, it is an art that can be learned, unlike trying to paint like da Vinci. That takes real talent. Article writing...not so much. You're probably wondering why. Well, the answer is simple. Article writing is a formula and one that can easily be taught. So, in this article, I'm going to share with you three simple tips that will make your articles stand out from the crowd. When you see how simple this really is, you'll be amazed. So sit back and relax. You're about to become a top notch article writer.

Tip number one starts with the title of your article. It MUST capture the attention of your reader. In order to do that it has to give them some benefit that they're going to receive from reading the article. Take the title of this article. The reader knows from seeing it that he's going to learn three tips for writing top notch articles. If he's interested in writing articles, he'll read this. It's that simple. Give the reader the benefit. He'll do the rest.

Tip number two has to do with your introductory paragraph. The mistake many article writers make here is that they go right into the tips. This is the wrong approach to take. You want to prepare the reader for what he's about to read. So your introductory paragraph should tell them what they're going to be getting from reading the article. That way they can decide whether or not they even want to waste their time with it.

Tip number three has to do with the closing of the article. If I were to close with the last tip, I'd be leaving the reader feeling unfulfilled. A better way to end your article is with a summary of what you just told them. This way, the details are fresh in their mind and they'll actually have a better chance of remembering what it is they just read because you've reinforced what you've just said. Simple, right?

Article writing is kind of a paint by the numbers thing. If you give the reader a good title, introduce the main points of the article so that they know what they're reading and then sum up what they've read (just like what I am doing now) they will come away with a satisfying reading experience. And that is, after all, ultimately what you're looking for.

To YOUR Success,

Steven Wagenheim

Want to write articles that get people's attention and can earn you up to $200 per article written? Then check out my Complete Article Writing And Marketing Guide that you can find at http://www.honestincomeprogram.com/tcawamg.html - This is my own book that I wrote from over 30 years of writing experience.

How Do I Become a Freelance Writer

These days, it's important to find ways to earn additional income. And asking yourself "How do I become a freelance writer?" is your ticket to exactly that. Of course, I assume that you do have an interest in writing; otherwise, this might not be fitting for you.

If you have a flair for writing, then finding freelance writing jobs is going to be easy. All you have to do is follow these steps and you're well on your way to writing yourself a good paycheck.

1) Surf the net for online "wanted" signs.

So how do I become a freelance writer? Well, try the net. A lot of people are actually looking for online writers at the moment. All you have to do is type "freelance writers" or "bloggers wanted" and you're all set.

I know this might sound too easy and so must be impossible, but that's not entirely true. To be honest, that's exactly how I first started my writing gig.

2) Don't be afraid to contribute.

If you want to know how to become a freelance writer for a magazine, you have to submit your articles to them yourself.

Many magazines accept contributions that are useful and valuable, so make sure your work is in line with what that magazine stands for and send your article!

3) Prepare sample works.

Whether online or in real life, you have to prepare sample works for your potential employers. This is one way they can gauge if you're fit for the job or not.

Sometimes though, they'll ask you to create a new article out of a topic they chose. When this happens, make sure you do your research. Never plagiarize and stick to what you know.

Trying to deal with the question "How do I become a freelance writer?" is an exciting journey. You're going to have to put yourself out there, trust in your instincts and in your own writing skills. Never be afraid to use creativity and imagination, too!

Want to earn a 5-figure monthly income through freelance writing jobs? Go to http://www.20daypersuasion.com/5figurewriter.htm and discover how to earn massive amounts of money by becoming a freelance writer.

Top Ten Tips for Writing a Professional Overview or Biography

A professional biography or overview, showcasing your background, experience and expertise, is a necessity for every business owner. This often overlooked marketing tool is an excellent way to introduce you and your business to potential clients and possible strategic business partners. Potentially, it might open up opportunities for speaking engagements, radio or television interviews, or a feature print article. While any information about you and your business is helpful, information that is presented in a professional, well-polished manner can make all the difference in how others perceive you. Consider these important points as you craft your own professional biography.

1. One page wonder.

Your professional biography should be a few paragraphs and kept to one page or less. One page is perfect for copying on the reverse side of a handout or flyer. Several paragraphs, left justified make it easier to read and skim.

2. First, second, or third person?

Always write your biography in the third person. That is, refer to yourself by your name or she/he as appropriate. It sounds more professional as it appears that a third party wrote the text. For example, Alexandra has been featured in the New York Times, Forbes, Newsweek, and Time magazines.

3. Business in brief.

Not only do readers want to know what you do, but also they want to know who you work with because they might want to work with you! A professional biography should include a sentence or two about your business niche (or niches) as well as the types of clients you serve. A modified version of your 30-second elevator pitch might be perfect.

4. And the winner is.

Make sure that you include a list of awards that you have received. Readers are interested in knowing about your talents and the organizations that recognize you for them.

5. Organizations.

Include names of the organizations, clubs, or associations to which you belong. A readers interest might be highlighted at seeing that you belong to the same alumni association or professional business group. Again, these connections might possibly lead to some interesting and exciting business opportunities.

6. Certifications and designations.

Include any professional certifications or designations you hold. Make sure you write out their names in full, rather than use abbreviations. Not everyone might know that CMA stands for Certified Management Accountant. And, perhaps, in a different discipline, it might represent something else like a Certified Materials Analyst. If you no longer hold a particular designation, but it has played a major role in who you are and what you do, dont hesitate to make a reference to it. For example, Ann is a former Certified Data Processor and spent the last decade as an adjunct faculty member teaching higher mathematics at the University of Colorado, Boulder. Dont include abbreviations of college degrees, like MBAs as it looks unprofessional. The only exception to this would be for a Ph.D. designation.

7. Published?

Have you written any articles, books, e-courses or e-books? Self-published or not, your works add to your level of professionalism and credibility. Showcase them in your biography and you might earn additional royalties in terms of new clients or other opportunities.

8. Did I mention the media?

Have you been a guest on talk radio or television? Were you or your business featured or even mentioned in a newspaper article? If so, readers want to know. Again, these types of mentions add to your credibility and presence.

9. Call me any time.

People who want to know about you will read your biography for just that reason. And, if its compelling, rich, and includes the information theyre interested, in, theyll want to contact you. Include complete contact information like your title (if any), name, address, telephone, fax, email, and website address. Make it easy to find this information by including it in the last paragraph of your professional overview.

10. Write, rewrite, and do it again.

After you have written your biography, edit, edit, and edit again. You may need to do a dozen or so revisions before you get it just right. Eliminate extra words, use descriptive words, keep the sentences short but varied in length, and write in the third person. Ask some friends to provide input as well. Make sure to revise your biography regularly to keep it up-to-date and refreshed.

Copyright 2004 by Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff.

Tara Alexandra Kachaturoff is a business consultant, writer, speaker, Certified Guerrilla Marketing Coach and producer/host of Michigan Entrepreneur Television. Drawing on over 15 years of corporate experience, she coaches executives, professionals, and entrepreneurs on business and lifestyle issues and has been featured in print, radio and television. Her websites include http://www.virtualleverage.com, http://www.tarakachaturoff.com, and http://www.michiganentrepreneurtv.com