3.Is my submission method correct?

A publication's writer's guidelines will often tell you how editor likes to receive submissions. Do they prefer to receive a query or a finished article? Do they want submissions sent through post or electronically by email? If sending an article by email, does editor prefer attachments such as Microsoft Word or do they request article to be sent as regular text within body of your email. With proliferation of computer viruses, many editors now refuse to open attachments that may be carrying dangerous macros or code. If you really want your proposal to execute a rapid depth test on editor's trashcan, simply ignore this checklist item.

4.Does my opening catch reader's attention?

If editor only reads first two or three sentences of your query, will you have captured their interest? The first paragraph must be a winner. Intriguing. Enticing. Like a fat, juicy worm wiggling on end of a fishing line. Read your opening again. Can you improve it?

5.Can I cut any unnecessary or redundant words?

Many of us include unnecessary or redundant words when we first draft a piece. The makers of some editing software I know of claim that their software typically removes 25 to 30 percent of unnecessary and redundant words from users' documents. That's significant. Cast a critical eye over your work again. If words add value to piece, leave them. If you have waffled it may be worthwhile to take a black marker pen and start striking out any unnecessary phrases. Think crisp, think concise.

6.Have I checked my grammar?

It can be frustrating for an editor to read what would otherwise be a good article but for fact it is riddled with bad grammar. Some writers wonder why editors haven't taken them seriously, but they haven't even taken time to proofread their own manuscript before submitting it! Some good word processing software programs will even check your grammar for you.

7.Have I checked spelling?

Again your software can probably do this for you. If you are writing for a publication in another country have you also taken into account any different spelling for that location, e.g. British vs. American English? Also try to spot any words that may be different from country to country, for example footpaths and sidewalks, diapers and nappies.

8.Have I included some details about my background?

This may not be necessary if editor already knows you. Otherwise be sure to include a brief biography and list any relevant credentials, clips, or links to your articles online.

9.Have I included article's publishing history?

Remember last time you had to clear customs at airport? This is just like that. 'Do you have anything to declare?' If article has been published elsewhere, you do.

10.Have I included my contact details?

If you want a reply from editor, and hopefully one day to receive a check in post, be certain to provide your full contact details. Many writers making submissions by email forget to include any other contact details.

It's been a long day. The editor, red-eyed and wired on caffeine, is ready to go home. Incredibly, trashcan is nearly full now. A few crumpled manuscripts lie scattered nearby where they didn't quite hit mark. 'One more', editor thinks, 'then I'll hit road.' Finally your submission is opened, and editor, for what seems like hundredth time today, wonders what this new writer has to offer.

Where will your submission end up? Have you helped yourself by sending in a well-prepared submission? If you have followed advice given here, you're well on your way. Now let's hope your idea was a good one.

Happy Writing!

Some of wording may be very different compared to how you normally express yourself. When I received words such as: “My child” or “Let me say unto you” or “this has already happened” it felt awkward.

10. After you receive answers to your questions, read all of your information.

11. Save your writings!

I cannot stress this enough. In future, you will look back, and see how guidance or answers you were given was astoundingly accurate.

12. That is all there is to it!

Here is an analogy of invaluable personal advice.

Whenever I had a gut instinct, and I did not follow it, I wanted to kick myself afterward. I would say “I knew it, I had a feeling, and I went against it.” I felt regret.

The same thing happened to me every time I did not follow guidance given to me in my writings.

I received information in writing. I did not follow it. I did this because either I didn’t believe it, or I didn’t have enough personal growth, or self esteem yet, to follow it. I always wanted to kick myself afterward. On other hand, when I DID follow guidance I received in my writings, just like following my gut instincts, I never went wrong.

Your motive has to be pure when you do a writing. To want truth. To better yourself. To find best course of action in any personal decision or circumstance facing you.

If you think this is akin to airy fairy nonsense, then I ask you to remember a time when you had a gut instinct, and did not follow it. What was result?

Were you ever trying to figure something out, and then received answers in your sleep?

If you wanted an answer to a question, and I handed you an encyclopedia containing every answer, would you pick it up and look up answer?

This is your own personal encyclopedia. USE IT!

Let me know if it helped you. Every person I taught this to thanked me. They were amazed at accuracy.

It took me two years of written proof to believe I was not insane, or making this up. I am also here to tell you that every human being on Earth has this same ability.

I am sharing this with you so you can access your own personal encyclopedia of advance information and answers. To soar in your own life, gain clarity, and empower yourself with profound wisdom and answers available to you whenever you ask for them.

Give it a try. You have nothing to lose, and everything to gain!

Enjoy this gift. Enjoy your wisdom. It is there for you to access and use to uplift yourself.

In her nationally praised seminars and workshops, Author, public speaker and columnist Barbara Rose shares the secrets of turning tragedy into triumph. Her books; Individual Power: Reclaiming Your Core, Your Truth, and Your Life; and If God Was Like Man (Publication Date April, 2003) share profound, inspiring insight. Please visit her website http://www.borntoinspire.com