The Fabulist Flash

Issue 52

Orange Mum Art Cards (Package of 6)

In This Issue:

1. This Week
2. Feature Article
3. Feature Article
4. A Writer Tidbit
5. About The Fabulist Flash

1. This Week

Welcome to Issue 52 of The Fabulist Flash.

The devastation in the gulf coast is overwhelming. It's impossible to imagine what the millions of people from that region must be feeling and experiencing. While it's important to make donations to organizations providing aid, like the Red Cross (www.redcross.org), it's also important to lend direct aid to friends and family who have had their lives devastated. So many now have nothing, yet won't ask for assistance. This was the case with one of my dear friends who got out of New Orleans safely, but has lost everything. She now has no home, no personal possessions, no pets, no bank account, and no job. It took the initiative of a mutual friend to come up with the idea of using PayPal (www.PayPal.com) as a way of getting her some much needed financial assistance. So, here's a suggestion, if you've got friends or family in the gulf coast area and you think they need individual financial help, but aren't asking, send them some cash via PayPal or one of the other online services. People not only need help right now, but creative solutions to getting that assistance.

Fall is arriving, not just in the changing of seasons, but in changing work attitudes. I've heard from many of you this week with news, questions and ideas, so I guess summer vacation is over. Congratulations to all who have recently shared your success stories with me. It's great to know that The Fabulist Flash is helping you on your writer's path.

My latest eBook, The Endorsement Quest, is filled with great ideas and tips for chasing those all important book endorsements. And, at only $10, it's a bargain. Check it out at: www.kompes.com

Planning for the 2006 Las Vegas Writer's Conference is well underway. We're lining up an excellent faculty for the event that already includes: Dr. Eva Shaw, Peter Bowerman, Michael Gross, Joyce Spizer, Carolyn Howard Johnson, and Kathleen Shaputis. If you'd like more information on the conference visit www.LasVegasWritersConference.com.

This week's issue has two feature articles. In Ten Ways to Be a Frugal Writer, Mary Cook has some excellent advice on ways to write more economically. Lynella Grant's article, Write Articles Geared to Your Local Market to Bolster Your Local Search Visibility is geared toward business owners garnering more online attention and much of this excellent advice crosses over into our writing world.

Until next week,

Gregory
=================================================================

Gregory A. Kompes is a writer, photographer and professional speaker. Learn more about Gregory and his work at www.kompes.com

2. Feature Article

Ten Ways to Be a Frugal Writer
by Mary Cook

The writer's livelihood comprises two precious commodities: words and time. The frugal writer uses both economically. Tight writing is saleable writing. And time saved is time available to produce more saleable work. Are your words earning you enough money? If not, you may be wasting your time. Perhaps you should take time out to review your working methods.

1. Research devours time. Rather than treat it as a separate task, incorporate it into daily living. That way it takes up next to no time. Be curious; be aware of everything that's going on around you. Eavesdrop on conversations and saleable copy will fall at your feet.

2. Let the information come to you. There's no such thing as junk mail - it's the writer's pay dirt. If you collect enough, you'll amass knowledge on topics you'd never considered writing about.

3. Create cuttings folders on every subject that interests you. Catalog your photographs, dividing them into categories. Abandon that piling system in favor of a filing system. Time lost rummaging through messy heaps of paper is time that could be spent producing dollar-rich copy.

4. Keep templates for your query letters and cover letters, changing the style and tone to fit the targeted publication.

5. File a single version of your biography and modify it for each market. Keep it brief and don't divulge too much information. Take care when listing your writing credentials. If you're targeting a spiritual publication it can be counter-productive to mention that erotic magazine you write for regularly.

6. Reuse ideas and recycle complete paragraphs and sentences, whether published or unpublished. Turn your work on its head. Change a few words to avoid force-feeding your readers a diet of déjà vu. You may even find the alterations give your words greater impact.

7. Writing is your business, so why give words away? When an editor pays by the piece and asks for 500-750 words, aim at the lower figure.

8. A quick-check method of ensuring your work is tightly written and readily saleable is to count adjectives. If you find more than one or two in a sentence, weed out the rest. Adjectives should stud your work like gems, not smother it like dust particles. The same applies to adverbs.

9. Don't throw in "free" words. They're not a bonus, they're just surplus. Do you ever use such phrases as "of course" or "at all"? Stop it at once! Use contractions where appropriate. And what about that little word "that"? For example: "He told her that he'd been seeing some one else" can be rewritten as: "He told her he'd been seeing some one else."

10. Recall your précis lessons from high school. Remember also to save only on words, not sense. If you find cutting a word changes the sense, turns it into nonsense or makes awkward reading, there's no law to say you can't put it back. And, if you have to cut a whole sentence or even a paragraph, you may be able to use it in another piece of work. Don't throw your words away - they're potential money-spinners.

Looking back over this article I realize I could have saved even more words. I'll leave it to you to find them.

About the Author
=================================================================
Mary Cook is a UK-based freelance writer and former newspaper reporter. Her articles, short stories and poems have appeared in numerous publications, both in print and online. Her main writing interests are humor, horror, frugal living and the craft and business of writing.

3. Feature Article

Write Articles Geared to Your Local Market to Bolster Your Local Search Visibility
by Lynella Grant

The Shortest Distance to Your Home Town Enterprise is Over the Internet

Combine two dynamite online methods for bringing your business to the attention of buyers - Local Search and widely posted articles you write. Doing both gives you a jump on your local competition, plus additional credibility and exposure to your market.

Local Search occurs by adding a geographic term to a search engine query. Instead of results comprising millions of pages, only businesses within your specific area are included. For example, entering Florists + Boston only returns Boston florists - a small pool of available choices.

Geographic terms can be town, state, region, zip code, etc. Results appear on both a list and map, so the most convenient stand out. Today, nearly 40% of search engine queries ask for Local Search information - with that number increasing rapidly. 70% of buyers go online to conduct research before they buy, even from local merchants. So the impact is considerable.

Articles Deliver Credibility and Links

When you write articles and post them widely to Internet directories and ezines, your knowledge is spread to thousands of readers. Sites displaying your articles link back to your website. That encourages readers to seek you out. Links also increase search engine rankings, which push you higher on the results lists. Capture all the benefits http://www.promotewitharticles.com/benefits.html that come with writing articles.

You’re Not Competing Against the Whole World

The widespread assumption dictates shooting to be on first page results if you can (most searchers don’t look past the first page). That all depends. If you’re competing against every other business and website out there, that’s true. And your odds are slim. But you don’t need to - only the ones competing for the same customers you are.

Besides, sophisticated search-engine optimization strategies or tracking methods are beyond the needs or skills of most small businesses. There’s a danger that SEO demands can easily pull an owner away from their brick-and-mortar priorities.

There’s a well-known joke about two men being lost in the wilderness, who come to the attention of a bear. One man stops long enough to put on his running shoes. His friend scoffs, "You really think you can outrun a bear?" He replied, "I only have to outrun you."

When it comes to Local Search, you don’t have to outrun all the other enterprises that do what you do. You only have to outrun the ones in your local market. Those likely to show up in the same Local Search results you do.

Consider all the plumbers who could show up in a Local Search for:

Plumber + "your town". Visualize three groups:

1. Those who won’t appear in the search because they’re not listed in the search engine data bases. See if your business is included in those databases at http://www.localsearchresources.com/listed.html

2. Those who appear in the results, but who have done nothing further. They won’t show up in all the search results they could have.

3. Those adding specific information for search engines, website visitors, and their local customers: a) enhance their website, b) provide search-engine-relevant information on their pages, c) provide easy-to-find information that Internet users are looking for.

#3 lets you outrun the other guy. Your articles help you to do that, too. Of those who show up in your search results list, how many are likely to have such additional information (and keywords) for the search engines to draw upon? Your information seems more complete and relevant—leap-frogging you to the front.

Adapt Your Articles for Your Neck of the Woods

The usual method for getting better search engine rankings is to post articles widely to article directory sites and ezines interested in your topic. That’s how the game’s played for e-commerce topics, or products and services with a national reach.

But that’s not primarily what you’re after as a small business operator. Certainly, you’ll benefit from links from other posting sites and links to your website. But you’re interested in reaching the people who live in your area. They’re the ones you want to read your articles and be moved to come to your place of business. Your priority is to build relationships on the local level.

So also post your articles to websites or portals in your community. They may not have high page rank, but they have access to your local customers. And links among local enterprises help to support each other and the local economy. Aso, print off a stack of your articles for handouts in your storefront.

Write your articles differently. Mention your town in your title or keywords. Make sure your signature file (sig) says your town and state. Use examples that are specific to your town or region. "Choosing roses that can thrive above the tree line." Refer to landmarks or make geographic references that the locals will recognize. The search engines will pick up some of those references, and they’ll boost your Local Search prominence.

Learn to Make the Most of Local Search Exposure

The easier you can be found online, the more ways you appear in Local Search results. It’s here for the long term, bringing customers to your door who don’t respond to your other marketing methods. Articles and Local Search awareness will build on each other, and you’ll gain a tangible edge in your local market.

About the Author
=================================================================
Dr. Lynella Grant An expert in Yellow Page ads and Local Search. Stand out online and offline, so you capture more Internet-savvy buyers for your brick and mortar business. Free resources http://www.localsearchresources.com 719-395-9450

4. A Writer Tidbit

Are you thinking about self-publishing? If so, you'll be considered an independent publisher. Self publishing can feel lonely. If you're looking for help, advice, and information check out Self Publishers of North America (SPAN).

From their website: www.spannet.org
SPAN is a nonprofit trade association dedicated to advancing the interests and expertise of independent publishers through educational opportunities and discounted services. Publishing is a business, and we strive to help our members flourish in this competitive market. A SPAN membership can bring publishers increased visibility, more sales, and larger profits.

ADVERTISEMENT
=================================================================
Get a life for just $2.95! Get a freelance job, work at home and make loads of money. Click here to start.

5. About The Fabulist Flash

ISSN: 1554-0804

The Fabulist Flash is dedicated to helping writers find resources and inspiration.

When you forward The Fabulist Flash to your friends please do so in its entirety.

If someone forwarded you this copy and you'd like to begin receiving The Fabulist Flash in your own inbox go to www.FabulistFlash.com to join the mailing list.

We’re open to ideas and suggestions for future issues. Let us know if there’s something you’d like to see or learn about, what you’ve enjoyed and would like to see more of, or just want us to know you think The Fabulist Flash is fabulous. Send your comments and ideas to editor@fabulistflash.com.

-------------------------------

Interested in being a guest columnist? Published Guest Columnists receive $25 for their 500-600 word article, plus a byline credit. Visit The Fabulist Flash Writer Guidelines for more information.

-------------------------------


The Fabulist Flash thinks your privacy is important. We NEVER lend, sell, or distribute our email subscriber list to anyone.

Contact The Fabulist Flash:

Email
Editor@FabulistFlash.com

Snail Mail
Gregory A. Kompes, editor
The Fabulist Flash
PO Box 570368
Las Vegas, NV 89157