10 Tips for Getting a Staff Writing Job

10 Tips for Getting a Staff Writing Job 10 Tips for Getting a Staff Writing Job 10 Tips for Getting a Staff Writing Job By Mark Nichol Chances are that your job involves some writing, but perhaps demonstrating that skill doesn’t constitute enough of your workload, or it’s not the type of writing you’d like to do. Or perhaps you’re still in college, or have a job that doesn’t involve writing any more complicated than signing your time sheet. Regardless of your situation, at least some of the following tips will help lead you toward the writing job you want. 1. Develop a portfolio of college or continuing-education writing projects that resemble the work you would like to do professionally, and distribute it, or samples from it, to people who work at a company or in a profession that interests you. 2. Blog about your passions, on your own blog or someone else’s. Again, emulate the kind of writing you want to get paid to do. 3. Find people who do what you want to do for a living and volunteer to do some writing for them to supplement, not to pass off as, their own assignments. 4. Submit articles to a local publication or to a website for a nonprofit organization with a mission or an area of interest that appeals to you. If they can’t pay you, offer to write for them anyway (at first). 5. Obtain an internship in a professional field you’d like to be part of, and persist in asking people you report to for writing assignments until they comply just to get you out of their office. Make yourself indispensable so that when a writing position is created or becomes vacant, managers will think of you. 6. Get an entry-level job in a company or organization that sells or does something you like, and act like an intern. And, just as an intern should, become the person known for stepping up and solving problems so that your name comes up when a writing-job vacancy appears. 7. To help you develop your skills, study the publications you desire to contribute to or familiarize yourself with the types of documents you wish to write. 8. At informational interviews, ask what people in the interviewees’ positions look for when they assign or accept content, and refer them to your blog or another online source of samples of your writing and ask if they can spare some time later for a brief critique. 9. Volunteer for a group or organization that supports or otherwise is integral to the profession you want to work in. Offer to be a chapter secretary or outreach coordinator or webmaster/website content manager all jobs that require writing. 10. Start out as a freelance writer (search this site for those keywords for information and advice), and ask your clients to let you know about job openings at their company or elsewhere in the industry. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Freelance Writing category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:Grammar Test 1Do you "orient" yourself, or "orientate" yourself?Educational vs. Educative

Writing for accountants - Emphasis

Writing for accountants Writing for accountants Finance is a murky place for many people. Money comes into the bank account and it goes out again. And the process in between is something of a mystery. But even if your clients are financially savvy, it can still be difficult to explain money matters. Accounting has its own language and is often riddled with jargon that even experienced business people can sometimes find difficult to understand. (I know: Im one of them.) Writing financial information in accountingese can waste time and money. If your clients are unclear about what your figures mean, theyll ask for further clarification. A single document could lead to several hours of unnecessary (and frustrating) follow-up phone calls. Thats one reason why the tide is turning in the financial industry. Leading firms such as Deloitte, Ernst Young and Grant Thornton have commissioned specialist writing training programmes. And more accounting firms are following suit, adopting plain English in all their written communications. Another reason is that the Financial Services Authority keeps a watchful eye on adverts for financial products and services that are misleading. So as a finance professional, you have to make sure your writing is not just legal, but effective too. Follow our six steps to clear client communication and you cant go wrong. 1. Put your reader first Many accountants overestimate the knowledge their clients have. Even if you have been working with a client for many years, theres no guarantee they really understand the nuances of finance. Get back to basics by asking yourself the following questions: What is the document about? Who will read it? How much do they already know about the subject? What do they absolutely need to know? How important is the subject to them? How interested are they in the subject? Use the answers as a guideline for the amount of detail that you need to include in your document. 2. Avoid a mind-dump of ideas Whether youre writing an email, contract or report, do plenty of groundwork before putting pen to paper. Brainstorm all your ideas using a mind map and then put your points in order of importance. If youre having trouble getting started, ask yourself the questions: Who? What? Where? When? And Why? Becoming clear in your thinking helps you to create clearly structured documents that are easy to follow. 3. Put technical terms in plain English Financial abbreviations and other technical terms can be useful when communicating with colleagues but they can confuse clients. For example, the term accrual rate may seem simple but it still needs to be accompanied by an explanation of how the interest is built up. Similarly, never assume that your clients will understand terms such as smoothing, arbitration and cap-and-collar rate. You dont need to dumb down your writing, just make sure you provide clear, concise explanations. 4. Avoid verbosity Often, though, its the words in between the jargon that cause the problem. Never add redundant words into your writing. For example, I herein enclose details of your asset classes for the aforesaid investment, as requested sounds complicated, archaic and stilted. A much simpler way of writing it is, I enclose details of your investments, as requested. 5. Opt for verbs instead of nouns Verbs help to give sentences movement and life. So write, We will decide on our next steps on Monday, rather than, A decision will be made on our next steps on Monday. The word decide is more powerful than decision. And the first sentence is also written in the active voice, so it is punchier. 6. Keep sentences short and sweet Aim for your sentences to be a maximum of 20 words. If you make your sentences longer, its likely your readers will have trouble making sense of what you mean. Remember, clear language makes sound business sense. It sends out the message that you have nothing to hide and that your words are as transparent as your financial dealings.

Criticlly assess the basis of obedience by states in international Assignment

Criticlly assess the basis of obedience by states in international law. What factors do states take into account in compliance with international law rules - Assignment Example nal protocol faces the most potent challenge of embracing of the formulated laws and sustenance of the appropriate adherence across the member states (Alter, 19). While the membership of the international community has evolved in the recent past to be synonymous with the most acceptable yardstick for development, there are several considerations that make the expected transition the challenge it is today. The platform on which the international law is founded outlines the integrity of the leadership and governance of the international community and is built on commitment to comply with the binding regulations. Due to the unavailability of a political structure at such a level, only goodwill can be applied in the delivery of the commitment expected for compliance and adherence. In such an arrangement, it is evident that there are loopholes which expose the sovereignties of individual member states to the mercy of external forces. External interference is a contradiction to the existence of the member states as sovereign states, which is the predominant building block of the international community. In the protection of the integrity of the individual state and the international community, there is undoubted favor for the integrity of the member state sovereignty which is the basic unit of the international community. In light of conflicting interests and objectives as expected in such an arrangement, there are important considerations to be made by the leadership of the individual member states regarding becoming signatories of the effective protocols as well as the details of compliance. State behavior in embracing international law and handling international relations is important in determining the considerations that are likely to be highlighted by various leaderships before making commitment to such undertakings (Raustiala and Slaughter, 544). While politics therefore becomes central to the nature of state behavior detailing embracing international laws,

Wegener's Granulomatosis Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Wegener's Granulomatosis - Research Paper Example Wegener’s granulomatis has no known cause and although it affects people at any age, it usually affects the young or adults at their middle age. Fatigue, loss of weight, fever, shortness of breath, bloody sputum, joint pain, and inflammation in the sinuses are the common symptoms of Wegener’s granulomatosis. Several literatures are reviewed in this paper. Among patients with Wegener granulomatosis, narrowing of the lumen with some evidence of vasculitis resulted from thickened or fibrotic laryngeal wall. In some cases, granulation tissue replaces the mucosal lining of the larynx. Hence, laryngoscopy must be carefully performed to avoid bleeding from granulomas and dislodgement of ulcerations tissue among patients whom suspected diagnosis of Wegener granulomatosis is noted. Wegener’s granulomatosis is a fatal disease when it is not diagnosed and treated properly since it presents in various forms and deceives as manifestations of other diseases. Annotated Bibliogr aphy 1. Tanna, et al., (2011) Otolaryngologic Manifestations of Wegener Granulomatosis (WG) This article discusses that it is common to have otolaryngologic manifestation among patients with Wegener granulomatosis, and usually presents as nasal, sinus, ear, or tracheal manifestations in about 70 percent. The symptoms of otolaryngologic manifestations are oftentimes misdiagnosed as infectious or allergic in etiology and generally precede the pulmonary or renal involvement. On the other hand, up to 80 percent of nose and paranasal sinuses are involved in WG and in its early stage, are often misdiagnosed as chronic rhinitis or sinusitis. Mucosal edema with obstruction, rhinorrhea, ulceration, crusting, and epistaxis are common nasal signs and symptoms observed in WG. It is mentioned in this article that necrotizing granulomatous inflammation of upper and lower airways, small arteries and veins systemic vasculitis, and focal granulomatous are known as the classical triad of full  œ blown granulomatosis. However, it is noted that it does necessarily involve all three areas and organ systems. Hence, both could be limited and systemic variations may include in the head and neck alone; head and neck and pulmonary; and head, neck, pulmonary and renal, which can be indolent or rapid in its clinical course. Its constitutional signs and symptoms, which are common but dominate rarely the clinical picture, include fever, loss of weight, and fatigue. 2. Goritsas, C., Paissios, N., Trigidou, R., and Delladetsima, J. (2010). Hepatic Involvement in Wegener’s Granulomatosis: A Case Report. This paper talks about the hepatic involvement in a patient diagnosed to have Wegener’s Granulomatosis. This is a case report of a 58 year old man, Caucasian Greek presenting with dry cough, fever, bilateral alveolar infiltrates, and acute hepatitis. The patient was diagnosed with Wegener’s granulomatosis after a lung biopsy, and its diagnosis was supported by anti-p roteinase-3 anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies present. Liver biopsy indicated a â€Å"presence of mild non-specific lobular hepatitis and periodic acid-Schiff positive Lafora-like inclusions in a large number of his liver cells.† Patient had remissions of chest x-ray findings and liver function test after being treated with prednisone and cyclophosphamide. The authors of this paper concluded that there is an etiological link between hepatitis and

The 1920s Essay -- essays research papers

The 1920’s The 1920's were a decade of enjoyment, employment, and for some disappointment. It was a decade classified as the "roaring twenties." Men returning from World War I had to deal with unemployment, wheat farmers and oil companies were striking it rich, new modern conveniences were being thought up, and fashion was a major issue among the rich. During the twenties the economy had a definite impact on the society. It benefited some, but hurt others. The people that benefited were the prairie farmers and the oil companies. The people who didn’t benefit were American soldiers returning from WW1. Around the middle of the twenties, a wheat farmer was the person to be. Business was booming for all the wheat farmers, places like Europe, which were in war, were hungry for American’s wheat and contributed tremendous business to the American wheat industries. Farmers began making more money than ever before, and they started buying farm machinery to take place of their cattle and horses. Prices of wheat were at an all time high, which gave America’s wheat industry an even bigger advantage and a bigger form of money making in our economy. American soldiers on the other hand who had returned from war were expecting to be employed when they returned, but not even after fighting for their country could they get a job . It was very hard to get a job because women and immigrants had taken them all during the war. American soldiers were surprised at how difficult it was to...

Rhetorical Devices Essay

The Importance of Rhetorical Devices We, as students from America, may not be familiar with religions other than our own and especially religions from other countries. There are many factors of religions and cultures we may not be used to; Catholics go to Church on Sundays and that is considered to be their â€Å"day of rest.† Some Mormons have to maintain a certain appearance and dress in an appropriate manner. In the Muslim religion it’s perfectly normal and expected to have an arranged marriage. In â€Å"A Proposal I Never Thought I’d Consider† Sabaa Saleem gives us an insight regarding marriage in the Muslim religion by sharing her thoughts and why she decided to eventually have an arranged marriage. Saleem was born from two Pakistani parents and lived in a small town in the Mojave Desert (Saleem 323). Despite the fact she’s lived in California throughout most of her life, her culture and religion remain with her and are prominent especially during the time she and her parents star ted to discuss her plans for marriage. By applying good techniques and specific rhetorical devices throughout her article, Saleem allows her audience of people who aren’t as informed about the Muslim religion to get a better idea of why Muslims would have an arranged marriage, as well as their views and ideas. She uses a variety of tools such as repetition, including personal history and appealing to pathos. However, the tools that made â€Å"A Proposal I Never Thought I’d Consider† more effective and enjoyable was Saleem’s use of tone and employing comparing and contrasting lists throughout. â€Å"A Proposal I Never Thought I’d Consider† is written with an informative tone. It’s filled with information regarding why arranged marriages are favored in Islam, why it’s expected and the consequences of refusing to have an arranged marriage. Saleem does a good job employing this tool because all throughout her piece she explains to her audience more about the culture and religion. In Islam an arranged marriage is a tradition that promotes the masculinity of a man because women need to be handed over to a man for â€Å"safekeeping† (Saleem 324). Saleem explains to her audience that Muslims are obligated to abstain from intimacy with the opposite sex; she says an arranged marriage would â€Å"easily satisfy her religious obligation† (Saleem 325). Employing an informative tone for an article whose audience is to less educated individuals is beneficial because they gain better knowledge of the topic. If the reader remains unknowledgeable a bout the topic they’re reading or why it’s essential, they become confused and lose interest. Saleem’s use of an informative tone allows the reader to better understand why she has conflictions of having an arranged marriage or not. Although â€Å"A Proposal I Never Thought I’d Consider† conveys an informative tone, she presents the article with two contrasting tones such as serious and humorous. This helps the reader remain interested and keeps the paper light hearted. She is serious about the topic of an arranged marriage, yet remains light-hearted and appeals to pathos by using humor. She says â€Å"I should make a decision after five or six meetings†¦our engagement would likely last a year or two†¦ (Saleem 325)† When Saleem discusses the process of how arranged marriages work, it has a strict timeline and makes you sense a serious tone of the article. Adding a serious tone conveys to the reader that this really is a serious topic; arranged marriages are highly important and must be discussed and planned thoroughly. Saleem wouldn’t be sharing her thoughts and ideas with us if it wasn’t an important matter. Understanding that arranged marriages are a serious matter also ties in with having an informative tone because it helps us recognize that this is vital to their culture and religion; it teaches us more about it. Despite the fact that Saleem has a serious tone, she still makes her article enjoyable to the reader by adding humor. In the beginning she talks about certain qualifications a man must meet in order to be her husband. Her list of criteria is humorous, especially when she says her stringiest test is whether or not he owns and regularly listens to every Radiohead album (Saleem 324). Authors need hooks to gain the reader’s attention. The reader most likely has no idea who Sabaa Saleem is or what her writing style is. Starting off with a humorous introduction entices the reader at an early stage and makes them want to keep reading because they’ll think she’s funny and entertaining. By continuing to apply humorous statements throughout the rest of her piece, the reader stays engaged and has a more enjoyable time reading. Because Saleem is able to joke about arranged marriages, Saleem’s humor shows us that she is open to the idea of an arranged marriage. Her use of a variety of tones is an effective tool because no one would want to read an article where the author portrays no emotion. Having no emotion or set tones makes writing bland and less enjoyable. Saleem is continuous ly presenting one idea regarding arranged marriages and comparing and contrasting her feelings with her parent’s. First she mentions how her brother decided not to have an arranged marriage, how that affected her parents and how they eventually accepted it. She then discusses about how her friendships with men were generally frowned upon, but as she got to college they were more lenient than other Muslim parents by allowing her to attend college away from home and enjoy her youth. Because of their leniency, Saleem wanted to just make her parents happy. When her father had a stroke, Saleem felt that her father would be more at peace if she had an arranged marriage, to make it seem as if his responsibility of being a good Muslim parent was fulfilled (Saleem 326). This list of conflicts she presents builds up to the climax and keeps the reader constantly questioning whether or not she will decide to have an arranged marriage. It was a good idea for Saleem to wait until the ending of her article to present to the audience her final decision because that way they’ll keep reading and learning about the Muslim religion in order to find out what Saleem will end up doing. Providing a climax makes an article more interesting and appealing. This is an effective tool because if there was no climax or build up to the story, there would be no point reading. The readers are reading Saleem’s story to find out how her culture affected her and what her final decision was. The climax is what gets the reader to ask â€Å"why.† Why does the reader share this story and how is it related to her decision? Climactic points keep the reader questioning her decisions. Not only did providing a list of conflicts help build to a climax, Saleemâ€℠¢s problems were from her own personal stories. Adding personal stories and writing in a first person point of view allows the readers to feel more connected with Saleem and relate. Personal stories and climactic points are all effective ways of having the reader engaged and more connected. â€Å"A Proposal I Never Thought I’d Consider† was well written. Saleem strategically employed various rhetorical devices to write an appealing article. Utilizing rhetorical devices are vital for writing an effective article because it’s what keeps the reader interested and allows them to see a topic from the author’s perspective. After reading Saleem’s article the readers are left with a better understanding of why people agree to arranged marriages and the Muslim religion as well. By employing specific tools such as tone and a climax in her article, she was able to achieve her ultimate goal of informing her readers about the difficult choices concerning arrang ed marriages. Sabaa Saleem wrote â€Å"A Proposal I Never Thought I’d Consider† that advantageously used rhetorical devices to write an informative and interesting article and I enjoyed reading it. Works Cited Saleem, Sabaa. â€Å"A Proposal I Never Thought I’d Consider.† 75 Arguments: An Anthology. Ed. Alan Ainsworth. New York: McGraw Hill, 2008. 323-328. Print. View as multi-pages

About The Secret Life of Bees - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 1 Words: 393 Downloads: 6 Date added: 2019/08/16 Category Literature Essay Level High school Tags: The Secret Life of Bees Essay Did you like this example? The novel The Secret Life of Bees is about a girl that is named Lily Owens and is living with her abusive father which is named T.Ray. Her housekeeper, Rosaleen, is a person who cares for Lily and is more of a craetaker to Lily. Lily plans to run away from T.Ray and get Rosaleen out of a hospital as she was hit in the head by a group of white men trying to register to vote. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "About The Secret Life of Bees" essay for you Create order As the story in the novel continues, the author shows the relationship between Lily and Rosaleen in many ways. The author shows this in many ways, for example, Rosaleen is always caring and tender towards Lily, she also stands for up for Lily and herslef and was brave enough to do so against T.Ray but, thier relationship is also complex with each other in many different ways. Furthermore, in the novel, thier were many parts in the story that showed that Rosaleen is tender and caring towrds Lily, for instance, Lily says that I was the only one who knew that despite her sharp ways her heart was more tender then a flowers skin and she loves me beyond reason. This quote shows that Rosaleen is caring and it is also another use of flowers as a figure or image. Also, Rosaleen is very brave and protective when she has to. When Lily was 8, Rosaleen had given Lily a easter dyed chick, when T.Ray finds out, he had threaten to boil the chick for dinner. However, Rosaleen stands up to T.Ray and says There is worse things in the house than chicken poop. When she looked towards the chick then at him, she said You aint touching that chick. This goes to show that Rosaleen is capable of defending herself and other people she cares about. Another section of the novel that shows her braveness is when she meets 3 racist men when she was on her way registering to vote. In response to their comments, she scribbles her name in scuff juice on their shoes. This had caused her to land a blow coming from one of the men and be sent to the hospital but, this part of the novel showed that Rosaleen is bold and pasionate, in addition it also shows that she is not afraid to defend herslef.