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Sunoasis X 2006 V3 Issue 1
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David Eide
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Jan 31, 2006 22:16 PST
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S U N O A S I S X 2 0 0 6
Volume 3 Issue 1
January 2006
"Our journalism forces us to take an interest in some
fresh triviality every day, whereas only three or four
books in a lifetime give us anything that is of importance."
-- Marcel Proust
_____________________T A B L E O F C O N T E N T S
1) [Editor Notes- We Begin Again ]
2) [Blogging for Writers]
3) [Resources]
4) [Job Leads]
http://www.sunoasis.com/sunoasisblog.html
Switch to the online version right now!
http://www.sunoasis.com/honor.html
I'm not charging for subscriptions but if the spirit
moves you please use the Amazon Honor System. Thanks.
Enjoy this issue! Forward any comments to:
eide-@earthlink.net
__________________E D I T O R N O T E S
I am like a lot of writers, caught in a twilight zone
between loyalty to print and excitement over the digital
publishing system.
This year Sunoasis X will look at blogs, the ways and means
of communicating effectively on the net, finding an
audience, turning expertise into business, along with
staying alert to how the internet is changing the media
landscape.
There are subtle changes writers have to be aware of as
they start to negotiate this new publishing system. As
I have mentioned in the past a change of habit joined with
new skills is a necessity for a writer of the new era.
Ultimately, we are looking for that tipping point that will
bring more capital into the internet, more talent, new
exciting publications, new ways for writers to use their
skills and expertise.
B L O G G I N G F O R W R I T E R S
Blogging has been in the news the past few years. I would
like to think, without destroying the spirit of the beast,
most blogging is made up of scribblers, ranters, linkers,
and that persistent beast, marketers. Hopefully, writers
and editors are there as well.
You, the writer, have resources. She, the reader, wants
the resources because it enhances her life. This is the
bottom-line. When writers get the idea that it is their
resource and expertise that counts they will be able to
profit from the new medium.
"Everyone is doing it," an old song says. They weren't
referring to blogging but if everyone is doing it, it must
be a happy activity.
Here are some pointers I've learned from my experience on
the beast:
(1) Keep to the topic at hand. If you are interested in
other things than your topic make another blog. If your
audience is impressed with what you give them, give them
more. You are never going to have exclusive rights to an
audience. If you are lucky you will be one of dozens of
blogs a person will go to at some point during the day.
(2) It's helpful to draw up a regular schedule and stick
with it. Since Friday through Sunday are not good days on
the Net, plan on the week-end and write during the week.
(3) Always ask yourself the question, "why am I doing this?
What is the goal?" Stick to the goal as much as you can and
focus the writing on the goal. It could be that you simply
want to lead readers into greater resources that's stored on
a web site. It could be you are promoting a book and deliver
resource to gain the trust of the reader. It could be you are
trying to deliver some ad revenue to the pot. It might even
be you are training yourself for some responsible, respectable
occupation and want to be a "blogger-in-training," as
corporations and governments figure out it's pretty good
business to do. Whatever it is, write it down and keep
it in mind.
(4) Let everyone know what you are up to.
http://www.ojr.org/ojr/stories/051215junnarkar/
This fellow makes money as a blogging journalist. His tale
is very instructive and it's worth taking up some of the
advice. Note that he has a day job as a visiting professor
but the persistent feeling is that writers will be able to
set up one-person publishing shops. It's worth the
adrenaline if nothing else.
* * * * *
Within the past month I've been approached by two long-time
subscribers to Sunoasis X, published writers, looking to
create web sites and/or blogs to start promoting themselves.
It makes sense to read the following sites and get a clear-cut
idea of what this blogging thing is about.
http://tinyurl.com/ap6ku
A writer teaches how to set up a blog.
http://www.unc.edu/~zuiker/blogging101/readwrite.html
An introduction to reading and writing a weblog by Anton
Zuiker. Well-made and attractive site on why and how to
do blogs.
http://tinyurl.com/4jsoy
Amy Gahran describes seven different formats for blogs.
http://tinyurl.com/8bt64
Wayne Hulbert contends blogging improves his writing.
http://tinyurl.com/9apvg
If you are a teacher of writing here is an outline to get
students involved in it.
http://www.downtheavenue.com/2005/01/art_of_great_bl.html
The Art of Great Blog Writing sets out a list of criteria
that can be helpful to conceptualize a blog.
http://www.problogger.net/
ProBlogger is one of the best resources out there on how to
become a great blogger.
| | | | | | | | | | | | >T h e B l o g O f O r w e l l>>>>>>>>>>
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George Orwell once described the pamphlet this way: "(It)
is a one-man show. One has complete freedom of expression,
including, if one chooses, the freedom to be scurrilous,
abusive and seditious; or, on the other hand, to be more
detailed, serious and 'highbrow' than is ever possible in a
newspaper or in most kinds of periodicals ...
"Above all, the pamphlet does not have to follow any
prescribed pattern. It can be in prose or in verse, it can
consist largely of maps or statistics or quotations, it can
take the form of a story, a fable, a letter, an essay, a
dialogue or a piece of 'reportage'.
"All that is required of it is that it shall be topical,
polemical and short."
Ok, we accept that as an excellent delimiter for the blog.
It is what you make it to be. Thank you George Orwell and
thanks to Chris Locke who alerted me to this quote in an
article I read recently.
Bloggers should re-read this part, "the pamphlet does not
have to follow any prescribed pattern." As in most art it
will be the ones who step out of the box and execute their
talent at the highest level who will make the models for
the future.
http://tinyurl.com/9r6mr
Speaking of Orwell, the author of the above article says
that writers have an obligation to counter-act the power of
image that has swept the modern world into a massive
propaganda mill. "So long as we are able to consume
information through words, are able to re-read, check exact
quotation, pore over figures and statistics and carefully
chosen descriptions then we, the public, will still have
some purchase or grip, and therefore power."
* * * * *
http://www.typepad.com
I like TypePad for blogging. For a nominal monthly fee you
can get as many blogs as possible up and running.
You want a nice, spiffy looking blog and learn the rudiments
of keeping the thing going. Have a plan of action, make sure
you get an entry up every few days, ask for links from
people who are doing something similar. Read many blogs
and the "how-to" links above.
| | | | | | | | | | | | A F e w S p l e n d i d R e s o u r c e s<<<<<
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http://www.debbieweil.com
Debbie's Blog: A blog managed by Debbie Well that contains
great ideas and links to many other resources,
http://www.natterjackpr.com
PR Opinions: A blog of thoughts and opinions on the public
relations industry hosted by Tom Murphy.
http://www.auburnmedia.com/wordpress/
InfOpinions: A blog about public relations and technology.
http://www.bloggingpro.com
Blogging Pro: A collection of links to blogging resources.
http://blogbusinessworld.blogspot.com/
Blog Business World:
Blogs in business, marketing, PR, and search engine
optimization,
http://www.cyberjournalist.net/cyberjournalists.php
CyberJournalist.net has the most comprehensive freelance and
journalist blogs around.
<<<<S o m e T h i n g s T o T h i n k A b o u t>>>>
It's relatively easy to get traffic but difficult to keep a
steady audience around. Transience defines the Net as much
as anything. In Taoist terms, "who is your reader today will
not be your reader tomorrow; who is not your reader today,
tomorrow will be your reader."
Professional editors are needed online as much as writers.
One thing that distinguishes print from digital is the
presence of good editors. They do a good deal of filtering
that saves people time. And one advantage that print has is
that it is "mature" and a typical reader can find what they
want. The net is still a hairy beast roaming wild in the
forest trying to find a way out. It stands to reason then
that good writers take on the role of editors until the
system matures.
One thing I've discovered on this thing: If one or two
different audiences passes through your web presence without
a sound, the third one will make thunder.
Everyone gets the feeling they are behind on the beast.
You're not. Just keep rolling the ball up the hill. It
will escape from you several times and roll to the bottom.
Go down as quickly as you can and start rolling it up again.
http://www.sunoasis.com/digitalwriter.html
You don't know what you'll run into. As I mentioned on The
Digital Writer, I was threatened by nasty corporate lawyers
in my third year and have run into some awful characters online.
The majority of people are good and decent and supportive.
Get bold and stay open to learning new things.
* * * * *
There are many bad blogs. But, there are very resourceful
ones since the people doing them have taken the responsibility
to help edit this beast. The problem I see is that there
is too much standardization, not enough real creativity and it
replicates the odd experience of hearing the Ambassador of
Uruguay explain why the world is messed up on TV, with Millie
from Kansas explaining why her kids are messed up. Or, an
endless summation of blog conferences. And nasty political
types who have never fought for their freedom or, even,
thought about why they have the thoughts they have.
So, is blogging for you? If you are a writer and have some
notes or writing idea or can write at a drop of a hat, then
start one. Dig in your heels. Don't expect the Earth to move
on your behalf but slowly and surely align your blog to
others and to interests that would attract people involved
in the same area of expertise. Blogs have shaken the
journalism world to the root; they will shake the publishing
world to the root because they are an attempt on the part
of talent to get front and center in the new literary system.
It is talented and intelligent minds getting outside the big
boxes and kicking tail. I can hear Jefferson and Adams and
Franklin, among others, whooping with delight. This is the way
it was supposed to be and the world will be forever different.
______________________________R E S O U R C E N O T E S
http://www.blogherald.com/
The Blog Herald--News about blogging. Often links to
information or to-dos that any blogger would need to know.
http://www.radiantmarketinggroup.com/
Radiant Marketing Group--Expertise on how blogs can
be used by businesses.
http://tinyurl.com/9g8k6
Is it ethical for bloggers to accept paid vacations in a
country in exchange for some ads and good publicity? It
certainly defines those bloggers as PR types rather than
journalists.
http://www.slate.com/id/2134918/
If print media and broadcasters don't produce news coverage
a blogger can match, "they have no right to survive," writes
Jack Shafer.
For writing resource we recommend going to these pages:
http://www.sunoasis.com/newmanna.html
http://www.sunoasis.com/freelanceresource.html
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For Freelancers Only:
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http://www.studentnow.com/career/freelance.html
StudentNow.com has a series of interviews with freelance
writers that are extensive and worth moving through. The
writers include Patricia Fry, Linda Radke, Kendall Hansen,
Peter Bowerman, Tom and Marilyn Ross, and others. It's
not just for students but anyone interested in the
freelance writing game.
http://www.ehow.com/tips_16298.html
eHow's tips on becoming a freelance writer.
http://www.writing-world.com/basics/titles.shtml
Julie Cohen shows writers how to think about the titles
they give to their articles.
http://www.freelancefactor.com/articles/deadly.html
Seven mistakes to avoid as a freelance writer.
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_________________B U S I N E S S O F W R I T I N G
http://www.bylinescalendar.com
Subscriber Sylvia Forbes has published a wonderful writer's
calendar. I have it on my desk and use it all the time.
There are some unique features to this calendar including a
way to keep the office organized with little reminders like
"back up computer files" and "update list of clips." Check
out the site and think seriously of putting this calendar
on your desk.
http://www.fictionfactor.com/tax/reminders.html
Tax filing time reminders for freelancers by Julian Block
______________W R I T I N G O R G A N I Z A T I O N S
http://www.icfj.org/
International Center for Journalists
http://www.constructionwriters.org/
Construction Writers Association
http://www.obswriter.com/
Organization of Black Screenwriters
http://internationalsciencewriters.org/
International Science Writers Association
http://www.thrillerwriters.org/index.php
International Thriller Writers, Inc.
There are many more links to writing organizations here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/newmanna.html
_________________________J O B L E A D S
Copy Editor
Falls Church, VA
Tax Analysts, a multimedia tax publisher, seeks an
experienced copy editor. Responsibilities include editing
news stories for grammar, spelling, punctuation, and
consistency with established style guidelines. Must be
able to work flexible hours, handle changing priorities, and
meet strict daily deadlines.
We strive to stir up great tax policy debate -- and fuel it
with the best news and commentary around. Because our
publication has no advertising, no holds are barred in the
aggressive pursuit of all angles of a given story -- an
advantage that few other periodicals can offer.
For Full Ad go here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/tax2.html
____________________________________________________________
JOB TITLE: ELECTRONIC PUBLISHING INSTRUCTOR
LOCATION: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
COMPETITION: #SO8637MD
POSITION TYPE: Tenure Track
DEPARTMENT: Centre for Communication Studies
COMPETITION CLOSES: February 14, 2006
DESCRIPTION:
The Centre for Communication Studies invites applications
for a tenure track position in Electronic Publishing that
will commence August 15, 2006. The College is seeking
candidates with a focus on teaching and learning. It
provides the opportunity for participation in course
development, scholarly pursuits, and service.
The Electronic Publishing program is an applied degree that
integrates classroom learning and practical experience.
Students learn how to use the most recent editions of
industry standard software and how to adapt to new
challenges and advances in technology. The aim of the
Electronic Publishing stream in the Bachelor of Applied
Communications degree is to produce a communications
generalist with extensive knowledge of the publishing
industry, including both traditional and new media.
For Full Ad go here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/calgaryjobs.html
____________________________________________________________
Position: Sr. Content Editor
Location: Downtown Minneapolis
Are you a successful qualitative researcher or consumer
insights pro with exceptional writing/editing skills? Are
you comfortable presenting your research and insights to
internal and external audiences? Do you thrive in a
fast-paced environment with daily deadlines? Then read on...
Iconoculture, Inc., a 13-year-old Minneapolis-based company,
the leader in consumer trend research and advisory services,
is growing. We are looking for a Content Editor to produce
and manage a variety of deliverables for the Research and
Advisory teams.
For full ad go here:
http://www.sunoasis.com/iconocult.html
_______________________________________E T C/ E T C/ E T C
Editor/Publisher: David Eide
E-Mail: <mailto:eide-@earthlink.net>
Sunoasis X 2006 is fully protected by copyright.
Please ask permission if you are going to use any or
all of this publication.
Reprint rights belong to the authors.
Contact them if you wish to use their material.
Unauthorized use of any material is strictly
forbidden.
Our hope is that we can help and enhance the world
of writing, publishing, and editing.
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