Typos Count: Catching the Errors Before You Hit Send

     

Poor, poor Peeface…

It used to be, back in the day, that Typos were a problem for writers, printed publications, and secretaries. Nowadays, in the world of social media and email, Typos are everyone’s problem.

Everything you write is about communication. When you make a thoughtless mistake, it’s distracting from what you wrote. Typos take the reader out of the experience and force them to judge you. To avoid this, you must proof—and preferably before anyone else reads it.

Well, at least there aren’t many words in paintings.

A while ago, I confessed that I have a long and tortuous relationship with Typos. I implored others to help me with their tips on how to catch Typos. My readers did not disappoint. I found out some great stuff.

So in the spirit of sharing and keeping emails, resumes, business writing, and cat video explanations error-free, here are additional ways to proof better BEFORE you hit send:

Matthew Steele, this is IT:

“Another way to catch typos is to save your article in PDF format and then open it in Adobe Reader (free) and go to View > Read Out Loud > Activate Read Out Loud, then click where you want it to start reading. It’s a monotone voice, but if you can put up with it, hearing it read to you while you read is a real help.”

Monique Huenergardt, Freelance Author’s Editor, Copy Editor, and Proofreader:

“Change the font style and size, and then reread it. The “preview” function in Blogger serves the same purpose; I almost always catch errors I didn’t see in the draft.”

Writu Tandon, Business Operations Specialist Advance with State of New Mexico:

“In my case, a ‘second pair of eyes’ saves me. Whenever possible, I show my work to my coworker or a friend. Otherwise, I email it to myself, and for some unknown reason, when I receive it in my inbox, I read it more objectively and am able to find ‘most’ typos.”

John Wurtenberger, President and Business Development Engineer at WURTEK:

“One thing my mom taught me when I was a kid was to read my writing backward, word for word. This gives the eyes and brain a different perspective, allowing some misspellings and typos to jump out that we would normally miss.”

If you want a refresher in how I proof, you can hear my radio interview on proofing resumes here.

So THAT’s why real estate is so much cheaper in the Inland Empire!

It’s not easy to proof your own stuff. One need only read over my past posts, to know that typos are alarmingly pervasive in today’s quick to publish genres. I would argue, however that learning from someone like me has distinct advantages, not the least of which is that I am just an ordinary sinner when it comes to proofing. Asking for proofing advice from someone who is perfect at proofing is like asking a cat how to make a video that is both cute and viral. They don’t know…so they can’t tell you. Plus in this case, cats can’t talk, which just creates more obstacles to knowledge.

Um…Thanks, guys?

I know firsthand that this is true. When I was in college, I decided to be a music minor. My parents were overjoyed, by the way. I guess they were so glad that I had something to fall back on in case my Theatre Major didn’t pan out for me.

As an illustrious Music minor, I had to take Music Theory (business school types: this is how you write actual music on a staff for instruments and voices and stuff). Part of the class that was particularly challenging to me was called ear training, a lab portion of the class where you listen to notes and have to write them down on the staff as played.

To be honest, it took me longer than it should to see this one!

IF the idea of this class bewilders you, then you know exactly how I felt. A professor with perfect pitch, a rare gift where the possessor knows exactly the notes and key just by hearing them, taught my first semester. Needless to say, he wasn’t much help to my complete ineptitude. He was generous, however, as he gave me a C, although I sincerely doubt I earned it.

The next semester, however, the professor who taught this portion of class had also struggled with ear training. He was a far superior teacher, because he had to teach himself. He knew how to talk to the clueless, like me, because he had also been clueless at one time.

Is number 6 gluten-free?

Because of the ear training course, I am living proof that an absolute idiot can get better at almost anything. So no matter how abysmal you are at proofing your own emails (posts, marketing copy, resumes, novels, letters to your mom), you can improve. To start the process of improvement, however, you have to take the first step.

Seems a little extreme…

I challenge you to try one of these methods above and let me know what you discover in what you thought was otherwise a perfectly acceptable email. Only this time, you will see the blunder before you hit send.

For many more hilarious Typo Memes, see “30 of the Funniest Typos of All Time” at weknowmems.com.

Terri Lively is a career marketing professional that has unique experience in the areas of messaging and client relations. Terri helps her clients break through the clutter by injecting a bit of humor into the business world. For the past 15 years, she helps her clients create marketing materials that effectively communicate their message and get results, across all types of media. More about Terri can be discovered at www.terrilively.com.

Typ0s: Part Deux

I have posted about Typ0s before. Now I am talking about it on Radio Shows!

Error Free Resumes By Terri Lively and Cady Chesney

Hope this helps you catch those elusive Typ0s today.

Alone Time is Good for Your Work

There is no question that being alone is a part of being a writer. John Irving said that he knew he needed to be a writer because he wanted to be alone.

Now, I’m generally a friendly person. I like to be around people. Many have joked that my name is very appropriate. It is in many ways. But like Irving, I also like my quiet time. For me that time comes to me when I am swimming.

When I am swimming, a different element surrounds me in a cocoon of peace, calming in its familiarity. Cool water and muted calm broken only by the echo of my breath in my ears and the rhythmic chunk, chunk, chink of my strokes as I power myself along the surface, legs kicking behind me like the roll of a paddle churning behind a riverboat.

Alone to think,or to listen to my thoughts as they roll past my mind’s eye, mental clouds against a blue sky of brain matter. My unfocused eyes peering out from the goggles, watching the sunlight dance through the water, shimmering and bouncing on the angles of the tiles like little white flames burning in the water.

Here I can fly, just like the dreams I used to have so often when I was young but now less frequently. I am suspended in the air soaring over the pool floor, a superhero with the power to change my mood, my stroke, and my course.

I still love swimming but too often a pool is elusive. A schedule dominated by the needs of others does not lend itself to the scarce nature of pool availability. As I pass, it beckons with lanes of possibility. But with a sad glance and a commitment elsewhere I pass by, an opportunity missed.

Today was not one of those days and like old friends I found my reassuring rhythm again. I was away from the daily responsibilities and commitments and back to myself. If only a respite, it is a welcome one that can help the call of duty feel less painful and more joyful.

Life is simple here. Stoke left, stroke right, breathe. Repeat. Stroke left, stroke right, breathe. If only all of our lives were this simple.

I find inspiration in the calm I get from my swim time. My advice to you is to find your “pool” and immerse yourself in it today.

Why You Need to Hire a Writer

Everyone thinks they can write. Chances are if you went to school or read a book every couple of weeks you probably can.

But the time it takes you to write is another story. That time you spend trying to remember the rules of grammar that are as dusty as the AP Style Guide you bought in college that’s still lurking on your shelf is time you could be using running your business or doing what it is the that you do best.

I am a writer. That’s what I do best. Whether it’s fiction, a blog post about something technical or a marketing piece about how great a widget you have when compared to the competition, telling stories is an area where I excel. Yeah, I know, bragging is tacky…but modesty isn’t really what gets you noticed when you freelance.

For the past four years, I have written about everything from infertility treatment to marketing for funeral homes to how to organize a garage. I’ve written brochures about Pilates, Printing Services, and Online Banking services, to name a few. One thing that all of these projects have in common is that my clients, who were perfectly capable and qualified to write these things themselves hired me to do it for them so they could go on about their business.

Your time is valuable. Each day that you spend doing activities for your business or your employer’s business earns you an hourly wage, whether you are paid by the hour or not. When you spend 2 hours writing a web page or a blog post, you spend that money whether you bill yourself or not. That’s two whole hours that you could have been calling that lead, researching that new supplier, or developing the next latest and greatest widget that the world has ever known.

So the reason you need a writer is simple: Your time is too valuable to spend writing your marketing, fiction or blog post. Outsource it.

There are a number of ways to outsource. You can contact me, of course (and I hope you do). But there is also Elance.com, where you have your pick of writers all over the world who are just waiting by their keyboards, ready to go. Also, you can just Type in Google, “Hire a Freelance Writer” and you will get pages and pages of writers available to free up your time so you can get back to work on your business.

Chances are that you can write your own project. Chances are it will probably be pretty good. But at what cost? Don’t waste your valuable time when there are a number of professional and affordable outsourcing options that are just a call or click away.

What will you do with the time you free up by outsourcing?

 

Terri Lively is a career marketing professional that has unique experience in the areas of messaging and client relations. She helps professionals that want to grow their influence and enhance their content for publication. For the past 15 years, she has been helping her clients create marketing materials that effectively communicate their message and get results, across all types of media. More about Terri can be discovered at http://www.terrilively.com.

 

 

My Goal Post

Do you have a defined goal for your writing?

I don’t.

Oh sure, I have ideas of what I want and visions of what I my career as a writer might be in my fantasies. But a defined goal with achievable steps that reaches a certain, specific point…not so much.

Part of the problem is that I am so busy that I don’t have time to really define what I want. If I am not raising children, cleaning a house, making food for someone, or collapsed on the couch exhausted after everyone is in bed, I am writing. But generally I write for other people. My poor personal blog hasn’t had a new entry in months and the novel I started two years ago, still sits gathering digital dust in the archives of a folder called “Thoughts” on my hard drive.

This is not a bad problem. Writing every day, even if it isn’t for myself, has greatly improved my writing. Working relationships that praise my talents that have absolutely nothing to do with my ability to put a straw in a juice box, have improved my attitude. Helping others achieve their goals through my writing gives me a sense of satisfaction that my “other job” could never provide.

Plus I just love the looks I get when I tell people I’m a writer. It’s a mixture of doubt, surprise, and skepticism. And for my neighbors, worry since they think I sit in my office writing about what they are up to…

All of this is fantastic, but without goals, I am likely not going to make it to the next step. So I have set a goal to make goals. Next week. Before you judge me, I would like you to know that I scheduled it in work calendar, so this is not a real procrastination. In fact, you can email me to check up on my next Monday morning, at 9am PST to see if I kept my appointment.

But what makes good goals? Lucky for me, there have been many, many authors that have gone before me that can help with this question.

Here is a summary of my favorite points others have made on this important topic:

• Dream big. Making a goal is silly if you can achieve it by the end of next week. That’s not the point of making goals. If you need to stretch yourself, risk a little, and really work to achieve it, then the goal is probably big enough. If you get a little embarrassed when you say it out loud, however, then it is DEFINITELY big enough and you should stop feeling sheepish about wanting it. Dreaming big is the only way to achieve big things.

• Plan to get to the big dream. Now that you have exposed your true goal, the one that is a little embarrassing to say out loud, start figuring out how to get there. If you don’t know how to get there, Google it. You will be surprised what you can find on the World Wide Web that will help you define these milestones. Here’s one tip that you can have without even clicking your trackpad, however: If you want to be a writer, whether it’s a screenwriter, a novel, or a comic book, writing it will be the first step…pretty much in any scenario.

• Channel your inner life coach. SMART method is a favorite of many different types of motivational gurus. That’s because it works. The SMART method helps you organize your goal achievement process by giving you criteria by which to define your next steps. The acronym stands for: Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-related. So to summarize, make a specific yet attainable goal that has a way to measure your progress, relevant to your big dream and put a deadline on it. If you want more detail, you can Google “SMART goals” and take your pick of spins on this effective acronym.

• Celebrate your victories; don’t give up when you fail. Working on a goal for a long period of time with no break can be demotivating and lead to abandonment of the big dream. Be sure to celebrate your victories as they come. Another reality is that not everyone achieves his or her goal. It’s a fact of life. The ones who do are the ones that never give up. Which group do you belong to?

Writing and planning your goals are an important way to achieve success. In a career like writing, it can be embarrassing to admit some of them out loud. In my experience, the people who aren’t afraid to say their goals aloud, to do the work to get there, to live through the pain of failure time and again, are the ones who achieve their goals. I need to define my goals and make my plan (next Monday at 9am, PST…) if I want to join them.

Wanna join me?

 

 

 

Being a Writer: Expectations Vs. Reality by Lenora Epstein, Buzzfeed.com

 

Being a Writer: Expectations Vs. Reality by Lenora Epstein on Buzzfeed.com

 

Just a little levity in the form of humor a little too close to truth to be entirely comfortable to get our weekends started off right!

Writers: Make Some Light Today

“Why would you save me?” Despereaux asked. “Have you saved any of the other mice?”

“Never,” said Gregory. “not one.”

“Why would you save me, then?”

“Because you, mouse, can tell Gregory a story. Stories are light. Light is precious in a world so dark. Begin at the beginning. Tell Gregory a story. Make some light.”

And because Despereaux wanted very much to live, he said, “Once upon a time…”

“Yes,” said Gregory happily. He raised his hand higher and then higher still until Despereaux’s whiskers brushed against his leathery, timeworn ear. “Go on mouse,” said Gregory. “Tell Gregory a story.”

And it was in this way that Despereaux became the only mouse sent to the dungeon whom the rats did not reduce to a pile of bones and a piece of red thread. It was in this way the Despereaux was saved.

  —  Kate DiCamillo. The Tale of Despereaux.

How to Raise Your Freelance Rates…and Deal with the Losses!

By Terri Lively

Today I was told that my freelance rates were too steep for a project. Rats! The facts are that my rates are steep and I am worth every penny. I say this (and put it in bold) because It’s important to believe that you are worth it if you want to charge a higher rate.

But daily affirmation aside, this client doesn’t think my rate is worth it. This is not an uncommon problem today for freelancers. So today’s topic is how to keep pushing your rates.

An excellent writer, Heather Waugh, sent me this article yesterday. It’s about how Freelancers Don’t Understand What They’re Worth. Check out this infographic:

Source: Community.copypress.com

So how do you raise your rates? I have some tips that might help:

1. Figure out your hourly rate…and stick to it.  All of us have an hourly rate with which we are comfortable. You need to figure out what it’s worth to sell your time to somebody else’s project. If the rate is too low, why not keep your time and spend it on the latest great American novel you are writing in your spare (read: unbooked) time?
2. Use the hourly rate to guide your proposals. I use my hourly rate as the base for all my quotes. I prefer to give project bids over hourly bids because I never want to get into an argument that what took me three hours should only have taken two. Or worse, what took 30 minutes should only be charged 30 minutes instead of the full hour. So using that rate, I come up with a price that includes likely revisions, image searches, posting charges, etc.
3. Google it. Sometimes I get a request for a new type of project, something I haven’t written before or that forays into a new area for me. Then I rely on Google to guide my bid. I type in a full sentence like, “What should I charge to write a 60,000 word novel?” and voila! I get about 10 sources that will give me ranges.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask for more. This is the toughest tip that has the most repercussions. If you ask for more, you might get rejected.  But if you don’t ask for more, freelancing stays a hobby instead of your profession. So ask for more. Fearlessly.
5. Renegotiate. Clearly you wanted the work or you wouldn’t have bid on it in the first place. But please, resist the impulse to say, “Just kidding!” and jump back to your cheaper rate. Instead go back with a question, like “Did you have a budget in mind?” If you are lucky enough to get a number back, go back to tip one and make sure that it’s worth it and try again with a lower but higher than before number. It’s all about pushing the needle up, after all.

So how did I respond to the client today that said my rates were too steep? I did the only sensible thing I could. I tried to renegotiate at a lower rate with my question, “did you have a budget in mind?” And then I kicked myself for asking for so much. Sigh. I suppose that the concepts are always easier to talk about than to live.

So clearly, not getting what you are worth is a trend. But is it a trend that will change? Probably not if other writers do what I did and assert themselves as being worth more and then immediately crumble when they get rejected at their higher rate.

So what do you do to raise your rates? I’d be interested to hear your suggestions in the comments below.

6 Ways to Get More Followers on Twitter

6 Ways to Get More Followers on Twitter.

If I tweet alone in the forest, does it make any sound?

If you are like me, then you would like to have more influence on Twitter. But how do you get more people to follow you on Twitter?

As a content provider, having a robust social media strategy is an important part of our career. So whenever I find a good resource for how to build up my following, I pay attention.

Theses tips from Everyday Social Media Marketing at hswriting.me are easy to do, good to know and an excellent foundation for building up a Twitter following. This is a great quick read that might help you get more of the following you want so that your tweets make a sound in the forest.

Anne Rice Encourages Us All to Be the New Voice

When it comes to successful a author encouraging new writers, Anne Rice certainly does a great job in this video. Three things in particular stuck out to me:

1. Every year people break into the business that were no one. It’s no different now then it was then.
2. The publishing world is crying for new voices.
3. She dresses a little like Lestat.

So consider that today when you are working. She also tells us to write the book that’s “interesting to you”, to go where the pain is and write about what hurts. But most of all she tells us to “just write.”

The publishing world is looking for a new original voice…will it be yours?