Karen Southall Watts

Thanks to author Robert J Sawyer for this excellent interview about WordStar for professional writing! Explore why this DOS word processor from the 1990s is a power tool for professional writers in 2024. Answer: It's powerful and makes it easy to focus on writing. And WordStar can do some things that Word still can't do in 2024. https://lnkd.in/gMtKvSGx technically we write . com

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So you are half-way through with your manuscript and don't know if you're headed in the right direction with the story. This is a great place to stop and seek developmental editing help. What is developmental editing? It is a deep dive into the story that you have written. A critical look at the plot, characters and the story flow. I do this for authors. I'm a published author of 4 books. I have been published by Harper Collins, Om Books. Over & above this, I have done writing courses with London School of JOunrnalism & Curtis Brown of London. Don't struggle with your writing. Let me help you in your writing journey. DM me. (The pic below is with author Anuja Chauhan, when I met her at the Times Lit fest, Bangalore after my 2nd book - Nobody's Child was published.)

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📣 Attention speakers! How well do you use language to land your message and boost your impact? I posted about the use of literary devices the other day. If you are not using them in your keynote, you are leaving impact (and money) on the table. Literary devices are used by writers and speakers (listen to Barrack Obamas acceptance speech 28 August 2008) to enhance their message and add a dimension of depth and insight that draws the audience in. They are super powerful! I want to share a story of how a client used Onomatopoeia in her signature talk to convey the cantering and galloping of her horse🐴 It is probably one of the best uses of Onomatopoeia I have witnessed. If you're a word nerd like me, then I'm sure you'll enjoy hearing what I have to say! And hey, go over your keynote and see where you can inject some spice by way of using literary devices, into your talk. You can thank me later 😜 #speakers #keynotespeaker #publicspeaking #publicspeakingcoach #voicecoach

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Low response rates on member surveys: what they mean and how to improve them | by Candace Vanderpoel, McKinley Advisors https://buff.ly/41enUyb #membership #associations #associationmanagement

A public service announcement ‼️ If you’re going to self-publish your book, do yourself a favor and 𝗵𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻 𝗲𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗼𝗿 to clean up your manuscript. You’d be well served by a copyeditor, someone who can save you from looking illiterate, and a proofreader. If or when the various tasks become overwhelming, you may look for assistance from assisted self-publishing companies. This kind of company typically offers a range of services, including editing, cover design, formatting, eBook conversion, printing, distribution, and marketing assistance, which are mostly pick-and-choose menu items. These companies will let you pick as many or as few menu items as you wish. They do not evaluate your manuscript for “readiness,” ..that’s 100% on you! If you’d like to know the 𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱-𝘣𝘺-𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘱 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘤𝘦𝘴𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘱𝘶𝘣𝘭𝘪𝘴𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘢 𝘣𝘰𝘰𝘬, comment the word 'GUIDE' and we'll give it to you for FREE! #selfpublishing #bookpublishing #bookwriting #bookcoach #authorscommunity

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Empowerment in print: From coaching insights to leadership wisdom, our publishing platform amplifies the voices of industry experts. Let's share knowledge and inspire change together! 📚💡 #EmpowermentInPrint #CoachingInsights #LeadershipWisdom #IndustryExperts #PublishWithPurpose

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"How does this work, exactly?" Since every ghostwriter, co-writer, and book collaboration professional is a little bit different, I'd like to share some Laura Schaefer LLC process information with you today. Generally, I meet with clients from anywhere on the globe at the same time each week via Zoom. 1. First, we work on determining the audience for your book and how publishing it will help you meet your goals. Some people want to leave a legacy for their families or for their industry. Others are looking to grow a business and plan to use the book as a calling card. 2. Next, we plot out a roadmap for the project...figuring out the main idea of the book and how each chapter will intentionally support it. I like to create a loose outline that may change over time but will give us some idea where we are going. This also helps me set agendas for our meetings and provide sets of questions if that's helpful. 3. Some of my clients do a chunk of the writing themselves; others are completely hands off the manuscript and I write it based on the transcripts of our meetings. In either case, I build out the manuscript in a shared Google document and use ongoing client feedback to iteratively improve it. Some of my client engagements are as short as six months; others stretch to ten or 12. It's based on the book length and complexity, and how much of it is already done. My retainer fee is the same regardless and invoiced on the first of the month. When the manuscript is complete, I will refer you to a fee-for-service hybrid publisher or write a query letter for you so you can try to get a literary agent and a traditional book deal. Most of my clients are U.S.-based. I split my time between my adopted state of Florida and my home state, Wisconsin. More questions? Please email laura@lauraschaeferwriter.com.

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What if I told you that.. You can learn how to finish and polish your manuscript in six months without being stressed, overwhelmed, confused, doubtful, or lonely. You can PUBLISH your book. I’ll help you! https://lnkd.in/eTd3vBgQ #writeyourbook #authormastermind #crippledbeaglepublishing #bookwriting #publishyourbook #manuscriptcoaching #writingcourse #knoxvilleauthors #cbpauthors #cbpublishing #knoxvilleauthor

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Writing post 3: Why You Should Write Download IF YOU WANT TO WRITE, by Brenda Ueland ($1.50 on any E-book or pdf reader). Written over 90 years ago, still beloved by writers, it’s not about how to write—no; It’s why you must write (or honor another art form). EXERPT: “Everybody Is Talented, Original and Has Something Important to Say. In a writing class I had were all kinds of people: prosperous and poor, cultivated people and little servant girls who had never been to high school, timid people and bold ones, slow and quick ones. This is what I learned: everybody is talented, original, and has something important to say. “This creative power and imagination is in everyone, and so is the need to express it, i.e., to share it with others. But what happens to it? It is very tender and sensitive, and it is usually drummed out of people early in life by criticism: teasing, jeering, rules, prissy teachers, critics, and all those unloving people who forget that the letter killeth and the spirit giveth life. “When you write, if it is to be any good at all, you must feel free, free and not anxious. The only good teachers for you are those friends who love you, who think you are interesting, or very important, or wonderfully funny; whose attitude is: "Tell me more. Tell me all you can. I want to understand more about everything you feel and know and all the changes inside and out of you. Let more come out." And if you have no such friend--and you want to write--well, then you must imagine one. “And so now you will begin to work at your writing. Remember these things. Work with all your intelligence and love. Work freely and rollickingly as though you were talking to a friend who loves you. #CreativeExpression #MustRead #EmbraceYourTalent #WritingInspiration

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HAVE YOU HEARD?!!! “Do Not Write a Book … Until You Read This One,” co-written with the incomparable Alyssa Berthiaume (she/her), is the winner of a Nonfiction Authors Association & Writers Conference GOLD AWARD! Here’s what some of the reviewers had to say: “If you want to write a book, always keep in mind that you are the CEO of the project. That is the primary advice the wonderful book ‘Do Not Write a Book … Until You Read This One’ provides.” “This book is concise, easy to read, and packed with tips and suggestions for writers. The chapters follow a logical sequence and answer many of the common writer questions and concerns about publishing. The most outstanding part of the book are the many appendices.” “What I like best about this book is that it is very, very thorough. It covers every possible aspect about book publishing that you could possibly think of, and many that you would never have thought of.” “The book by two authors with more than 35 years of writing/publishing experience between them is a terrific manual, written with humor and full of great advice on writing and publishing a book. Included are 18 appendices (whoever said you don’t need your appendix hasn’t read this book) that spell out, in precise detail, every step in the difficult process of writing and selling a book. If the appendices were in themselves the complete book, the price would still be worth it.” “The book is an absolute game-changer for anyone considering diving into the world of writing. This book is packed with practical advice, insider tips, and real-world examples that demystify the process of writing and publishing. Whether you're a seasoned writer or just starting out, the author's candid and often humorous insights will help you avoid common pitfalls and guide you toward success. It's like having a personal mentor guiding you through each stage of your writing journey.” “Although the appendices are very helpful, the remaining 271 pages are even more so. I hesitate to use the phrase “chock-full,” but it’s entirely accurate in this case. A 15-page index helps the reader find precisely what s/he needs in order to take advantage of the sage advice contained throughout the book.” “I also found all the appendices at the end to be extremely helpful. I highly recommend this guide for anyone serious about turning their writing dreams into reality.” “I highly recommend this book to anyone who, like me, is an aspiring author and who needs a step-by-step guide to working through the many steps it takes to write, publish and sell their book.” Order your copy TODAY!: https://a.co/d/2Y3BOcx

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I've just started a 90-day trial period with Legacy Tree Genealogists, and during this time, I can continue taking private clients. If you've considered hiring or rehiring me for your genealogy research, now is the time! My hourly rate is much lower than that of larger companies, and I offer smaller research packages to fit your needs. After this trial period, I won't be able to take on private clients, so don't miss out! #Genealogy #FamilyHistory #AncestryResearch #Genealogist #LegacyTree

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Why publish with Performance Publishing? I didn't establish this company for profit; I believed in a mission of helping and empowering authors to share their stories. That's why every author is always met with the honesty, consistency, and quality they deserve. The best part? With Performance Publishing, you keep 100% of your rights and royalties! Unlike traditional publishing houses, we believe in letting you retain complete control over your book and the royalties it earns. Click here to learn how Performance Publishing can help you on your author journey! https://lnkd.in/gngm78P #performancepublishing #yourstorymatters #publishingcompany #rightsandroyalties #writingtips #publishing #publish #writing #writeabook #makeadifference #shareyourstory

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As an adoptee myself with a pioneering DNA success story, I try to collect useful tips that I can share with adoptees searching for birth families. #DNAtesting #Genealogy #GeneticGenealogy

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📣 Authors, I'm doing some research for a blog post. Here's the question I'm pondering: How do you know when you've reached THE END of your book? 🤷‍♀️ I have a few thoughts I've gathered on this topic from reading many, many manuscripts and helping authors work through all sorts of problems with the end of their narrative, but for the purpose of my blog post, I want to get into the mind of a writer for this one. ✍️ This question is two-fold. First, how do you know you've reached the end of the narrative? And second, how do you know that the book should end at the moment you've chosen? These seem like two separate issues to me. So let me know in the comments about your own writing experience. Did you receive some kind of guidance (whether a writing coach, a critique group, a writing craft book, etc.) that helped you determine where the story should end? Was it a feeling? Did you have certain criteria in mind as you plotted or pantsed your way to the end? No wrong answers! 😁 Photo by Gabriella Clare Marino on unsplash #proofreader #bookeditor #writingcommunity #blogpost #amediting

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https://lnkd.in/eNAqk65W #Child #rape #survivors face extraordinary barriers in states with #abortion bans Child rape survivors face extraordinary barriers in states with abortion bans Since fall of Roe, 14 states have passed near-total abortion bans – most with no exceptions for rape or incest survivors ..."When a minor child is a survivor of incest, it is often the primary caregiver – parent, step-parent or grandparent – that has raped them, Dr Peta-gay Ledbetter, a psychotherapist and former maternity nurse working with low-income populations in Texas, said. That makes it even less likely she or a relative will report the crime to law enforcement. Ledbetter said she had seen a 10-year old become pregnant after her mother’s boyfriend sexually assaulted her, with the mother’s knowledge. “Her little body was unable to carry the pregnancy, and she started to have a uterine rupture before the fetus was at a viable gestation.” The complications of preterm labor and uterine rupture necessitated a C-section to save the child’s life; the fetus did not survive. “An abortion would have saved this 10-year-old child great suffering and trauma for the rest of her life,” Ledbetter said. ... Some lawmakers have tried to introduce carve-outs to abortion bans for minors but have faced pushback in conservative states. In May 2024, a legislative committee in Louisiana rejected a bill that would have added cases of rape and incest as exceptions to Louisiana’s abortion ban. They also rejected an amendment brought by the Democratic state representative Delisha Boyd, which would have narrowed the bill to apply only to minors under the age of 17. Other states are seeking to make it even harder for children to access care. Laws in Idaho and Tennessee seek to punish any adult who helps a minor cross state lines for an abortion. Such laws are “falsely presented as ‘parents’ rights’ measures”, says Alison Brysk, a political science professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara, who researches the politics of abortion. “This means that the access to abortion for a child impregnated by parental abuse could depend upon the permission of the very person who abused them.”...

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