I’ve just concluded a writing assignment of a deeply technical nature.  The assignment was in two parts, first of all dealing with the need for Solvency II in the context of life insurance companies and secondly, the factors that persuaded the Massachusetts legislature to implement a mandatory universal healthcare system, the first US State to do so.

By now, you are probably thinking “What?” or yawning.  For the curious, click on the links above and they will take you to Wikipedia for a brief overview.

This assignment is not totally uncharted territory for me; I hold UK life insurance professional qualifications so grasping the general view and identifying the issues did not mean I was stumbling around in the dark. 

My research took me first of all to Google - inputting search terms that related to the topics produced the usual, incredibly long list of results and in both cases, Wikipedia was featured on the top page of my queries.

Now this is one time when you really need to question the value of an online resource such as Wikipedia.  Equally, you could be using some other voluntarily compiled reference work such as DMOZ, but my point is, you must question what you are being told by your source no matter who is providing it.

Wikipedia in this instance provided an excellent jumping off point for researching the Massachusetts healthcare legislation, and 90% is my guestimate of how much of the material presented was actually used by me to support my work.  In particular, dropping down to the references at the bottom of the listing provided a wealth of additional source material that allowed me to directly access summaries from the lawmakers themselves.  Far more valuable than the published press stories and reviews which are loaded with opinion rather than actual hard fact.

Turning to Solvency II and a new European Union Directive in the making, Wikipedia was almost next to useless.  The entry has virtually no material, within the entry or the footnotes to help with getting the facts straight for publication to a target audience of senior insurance professionals across the globe.  As I lurched around Wikipedia for more information, it became clear that some of the information that was available suffered from a very serious defect - in some instances, material was presented as factual whereas in reality, it was clearly opinion.

If you readership are looking for your work to help them reach a decision on a few billion pounds of investment and assets, be clear, they are the ones that will be exercising opinion, they are only looking to you for some facts. 

Wikipedia seeks to counter criticisms that it is not a reliable, objective source of factual information (such as Brittanica or other encyclopedias) by use of NPOV procedures for resolving opinion disputes. In Wiki jargon,  NPOV or Neutral Point of View policy requires that articles are written from an objective viewpoint with “no stand taken on the issue”.  Therein lies the rub, as many contributors are opinionated, some deliberately and some inadvertently.

NPOV disputes abound on Wikipedia, often representing nothing more than childish sibling-type rivalry. 

Wikipedia using the term “articles” for their product should also set some alarm bells ringing; articles are not encylcopedia entries.  Remember how often Michael and I, along with the rest of the article writing world advise you to be opinionated in your writing?  Don’t be fooled into believing that just because you see it in print it is in fact, correct!

Caveat Emptor is a Latin phrase which means “Buyer Beware”, and as a buyer of the information you are being sold, no matter what your research resource, always question what is being provided.

Wikipedia is a great resource, but as with everything else in life - check the small print!

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Sunday morning, early awake but still in bed with the electric blanket warming the tootsies, birds twittering and some joker with a shotgun blasting away since 5am on the estate.  Why some people think rabbits, pheasants and grouse deserve to be shot at defies any explanation, but I can think of at least one person who I dearly would like to take a pot shot at … whoever the bugger is blasting away right now!

Today is supposed to be a day of rest but I have a writing test to submit for a project, or rather a contract for country profiles for an insurance directory.  I posted last week about going in for a meeting with the company in London.  I’m happy to report that I’ve made it to the last two writers, though I’m the underdog as my competitor has more relevant experience than I do.  At least the project principal is straight forward and completely open with me about the state of play. 

After the writing test is submitted, which is really a combination of research and summarising rather than whether Shelley is going to get a run for his money, it just comes down to waiting… and waiting … and of course, more waiting.

 This is the largest project I’ve bid on in my brief writing career and though it will not make me rich, it certainly will significantly boost my income to the tune of £30,000 every 18 months.  As a writing friend of mine who is also on their panel said very succinctly, “I do this because I need the money!”, and I agree with him 100%. 

One of the issues with pitching for larger projects is that I personally tend to get what I call “Big Deal’itis” where my focus is on that project to the exclusion of the rest of the work I need to be churning out and clearing.  It’s important to remember, whenever you are starting to bid on projects that otherwise may be outside your normal comfort zone, you still must continue to do the little things and maintain your standards.  Until this contract is done and dusted, it will be the little customers with their smaller projects that will be stumping up the heating bill, petrol money and paying for all the other things in life that are not free.

So, today I’ll crack out the writing test and take some time to proof and edit it to the 400 words required.  Then I’m cooking lunch for the hungry mites and planning my work schedule for the rest of the week.  If the deal comes in, fantastic but until it does it’s business as usual.

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Writing is so tough for some people. But, I’m going to rant for a minute. It cracks me up what I have to deal with sometimes.

Just Get Started Already

A guy is pacing his floor, throwing his football up and down, looking out the window, banging his head against the wall…

“The night was dark and salty…”

Salty, I don’t think that word works all that well. Not salty. The air can be salty I guess, but the night wasn’t salty.

“The night was dark and lonely…”

Well, I guess the character could have been lonely. But, night doesn’t get lonely.

Our guy paces the floor a bit more with his football. He puts it down and pours himself a short glass of his flavor. He takes a drink and paces the floor a bit more as he grapples over what word is going to follow, “The night was dark and…”

Just Get Started Already

It is in my personal experience that I’ll have no idea how to write the beginning until I get to the end. Oh, I know what direction I want to take with what I’m trying to write. I know that I have to start somewhere. But, I have never started from the beginning.

Try to follow what I’m trying to say. I figure out where I would like to start the story. So, I just get started writing the story. I figure out every nook and cranny of the story until I get to the end. That’s when I understand everything about my story. So, I return and I start all over.

Now, I know how to build the intrigue. I know how to start the first sentence and what words to use because now I know the real story. If you have ever endured reading three hundred pages of a Stephen King novel only to discover that the book was just beginning, then you know what I’m talking about.

He is the master of telling an entire story before the actual story begins. Well, I’m not saying write a three hundred page introduction every time. But if you know the basic elements of a story, then you know that introductory information exists.

You need setting and character development. You have to have some rising action to get you to the climax where you have falling action and a final conclusion. That’s all called the plot of a story.

Well, the setting and the rising action might all be understood before you get started writing. But, where is that first sentence going to come from when you are ready to write? Don’t worry about it…

Just Get Started Already

When I teach others to write, I always get an episode like the one depicted above. Whether they are writing an essay or a story, they just can’t seem to get past that first sentence. Let your writing tell you the story, then come back and write the beginning all over again.

If you have any questions or concerns about this entry, feel free to drop a comment. I’ll try to explain it another way if I have to do so.

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I’m frequently asked about setting up a web presence and whether the web is a good way to attract business, irrespective of whether you are touting your writing or selling widgets. My answer is “Yes!” you really do need a web presence if you intend to attract clients, work and raise the level of awareness of your product and most of all, yourself. I came across a web site of a writer, Holly Lisle, who I have never heard of before, but nevertheless I was extremely impressed by what she has set up.

You can see what I mean by visiting her site here - Holly Lisle Official Author Website

Now this is certainly something I am going to aspire to with my own site, Ghosts Lair, as yet still only an apparition in my developer’s office so it is aptly named for the moment. I am not suggesting that you all rush out and do the same, but I felt that Holly’s site has all the elements that Michael and I have both been applauding.

The site is first of all, very clean and well laid out with lots of interesting links and clearly Holly is an established writer with a lot of goodies on offer. The sections are laid out and very easy to navigate, with clearly labelled titles for readers, writers, a shop (we are in the business of selling our work after all), a diary/blog which she updates as she works on a piece and of course, the “About Me” section.

You can also see there on the first page, a literal plethora of download material for use as samples or indeed, just free stuff on offer. In effect, it is a brilliant, understated showcase of her talent, her work and herself.

Hat’s off to Holly.

Unusual for an American Michael, my fellow contributor, is too bashful to shout about his own efforts so I’ll plug his site as well as I like the use of video and the dark feel created. At the same time it is still very commercial in getting his work across.

You can see Michael’s site for his novel, Danger to Society and other work here - Mr I Dan Dawg

A common theme you will find with many writers websites is the desire to talk about themselves; not a surprise as though we may spend our time locked away in dark attics, broom cupboards and away from the general population in writers solitude, we are in fact, quiet extroverts. Why bother writing if only to satisfy the desire to express yourself?

Michael is no different, though aside from book signing schedules he also is brave enough to cover his weight loss program with photo’s of himself. Fifteen pounds and still falling - way to go Michael!

Now, before we all rush out to get a website just like Holly or Michael’s, you should be aware of the cost and time that is involved. Nor do you necessarily need a website of your own when you can swing by the blogging sites and set up a a blog that can also double as your online showcase. You can find free blogging made easy, by signing up for Blogger or Wordpress and be set up in an hour or so.

The key element to remember is no matter how large your budget, keep the site clean and simple. Website users are a notoriously impatient lot, so be very clear and spell out the sections you are going to offer. Place samples of your work prominently on your home page so they can be obtained easily without potential clients having to sift through the site to find something you have produced.

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Promoting your services does not have to be so hard. You can very quickly gain a readership by taking a little time and effort and paying attention to current events in your chosen field.

Michael and I have both harped on about creating a portfolio of work, even if you have not been commissioned to produce it or sold it. The issue is, what should you write about that will immediately get you readers?

If you are using an email account such as Yahoo!, AOL or Hotmail, every time you sign in you get news features listed on your sign in screen. I signed in to my Yahoo! account and was confronted with pictures of Britney Spears on a stretcher surrounded by paramedics trying to help her find a hairgrip or a grip on reality. The singer is embroiled in a custody battle with her ex over the children and “something” happened over the weekend. As sure as Gordon Brown is scared of calling a General Election, if you wrote something about custody issues and cited Britney, you are going to get some attention over the next couple of days at least because people are going to be interested in it and not just sad Britney fans either.

Take another example; one of the heroes in the Glasgow Airport terrorist attack has collapsed with a brain aneurism which in part has been attributed to stress. At the same time, over 200 servicemen diverted to Birmingham International Airport on the way home for Christmas leave from Afghanistan, were forced to change from uniform to civilian dress before being allowed to enter the terminal from the aircraft. How about writing an article on Post Traumatic Stress Disorder or a piece on how we treat our “heroes” in the UK? Either way, you are guaranteed a readership on a very controverisal issue that holds widespread interest in the population at large.

For those of you who believe this smacks of opportunistic voyeurism for selfish interests; you’re absolutely correct!

The question that really needs to be answered is whether you wish to write something that will be read and stands a chance of circulating or whether you are happy for your “Ode to a lump of dried skin in my armpit” be written purely for your own creative pleasure without thought of furthering your career or prospects. Personally I take the Jeffrey Archer approach everytime; write crap and get paid, not least because it allows me to continue writing. As Ernest Hemingway said, “I may write one page of genius but there are ninety-nine pages of mediocrity that go with it.”

You can write a short 500 word piece on whatever the news of the day happens to be; give it a twist if you can and then publish it to the plethora of article sites available.

Here is a practical example of this technique in action: Angelina Jolie

Anjelina Jolie, superbabe, Hollywood star, married to Brad Pitt; has been involved in discussions to play the role of Melissa Hawach from Canada.

Melissa who?

Why?

Melissa Hawach had two children kidnapped from Canada by her ex husband, they were taken to Australia and then disappeared to the Lebanon. After exhausting the legal process and with her kids in a war zone, Melissa hired a couple of mercenaries and kidnapped the kids back, fleeing through Syria and eventually back to Europe and flew home to Canada. The mercenaries were arrested and spent a few months on a Lebanese prison diet.

I knew of Melissa’s story because I write on international child abduction matters and have a deep interest in the topic. No matter how compelling Melissa’s story though, it was just another story of a type we have all heard before, filed away and dismissed as “old news”.

I wrote a blog post and by accident, used Angelina Jolie’s involvement as a possible to play Melissa in a film.

The traffic to the blog spiked, with that post generating over 3,000 hits in one month - more than the entire blog generated in 3 months. Analysing the traffic it became apparent why - one of the main search terms was “Anjelina Jolie”. Nothing to do with child kidnapping, or the Hawachs, or anything else - simply people looking for news and information on the superbabe.

“So what?” you may say, “It didn’t attract the right readers or achieve anything did it?”

Actually it did - donations topped over $1,000 to a charity the blog promotes and several readers started subscribing simply because they found the blog interesting and wanted to stay current with events.

The moral of this tale is simply this; do not try to reinvent the wheel when there is nothing stopping you from jumping on a bandwagon!

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