Writing: I DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' DOUBLE NEGATIVES!

I DON'T NEED NO STINKIN' DOUBLE NEGATIVES!

Written by Shery Ma Belle Arrieta

Continued from page 1

1. Bad grammar: He can't hardly wait for his present to arrive.

Good grammar: He can hardly wait for his present to arrive.

2. Bad grammar: They didn't hardly have enough food left.

Good grammar: They hardly have enough food left.

3. Bad grammar: She isn't but a homeless little girl.

Good grammar: She is but a homeless little girl.

4. Bad grammar: They seldom ever visit us.

Good grammar: They seldom visit us.

5. Bad grammar: Because of illness, he just merely weighs one hundred and ten pounds.

Good grammar: Because of his illness, he weighs merely one hundred and ten pounds.

* Writing activity

Ok, now it's your turn to transform sentences with double negatives into grammatically correct sentences:

1. You aren't barely old enough to live on your own.

2. Why can't you hardly wait for your parents to pick you up?

3. She was so disappointed because she couldn't go neither.

4. My father had to sell our car because he didn't scarcely have enough money anymore.

5. I have so much to do that I haven't ever got time to rest.

6. You aren't but a minority.

7. She just merely recalled how poor they used to be.

8. The new accountant hasn't worked here except three months.

9. The blanket didn't barely protect their shivering bodies.

10. Her daughters seldom ever visit her at repparttar hospital.

Shery is the author of the exciting new series of ebooks, SEEDS: Ideas for the Everyday (Non-Fiction) Writer. Visit http://www.seedsforwriters.com today or send a blank email to mailto:writebeginnings@followingup.com.

How to write a press release AND get it published

Written by Steve Nash

Continued from page 1

3.1) The Title of your press release is vital - some say that 90% of your time should be spent on your title; make it bold & boastful (hot and shocking!)

3.2) Opening sentence continues what you are talking about in repparttar headline

3.3) Tell your story in headline and leading paragraph

3.4) Use specific, powerful (and true) testimonials - use convincing case studies

3.5) Use a powerful guarantee, and draw attention to it

3.6) - No more than 5 bullet points - No .DOC files - No attachments - No HTML

3.7) Change passive words to active; use repparttar 129781 words YOU; and link selling points

3.8) For each sentence ask yourself 'So what?' - remove if there is no good answer

3.9) Edit your copy ruthlessly, over and over again!

=> Step 4 - Example Layout Of A Press Release

This is a simple example of what a press release should look like (more or less):

-- Benefit (tell me more, 36-40 chars) <For immediate release> <Simple contact><p><Sub-heading><p><Leading Paragraph> -- What / why needed / how it will help (40-75 words) -- Include quotes<p><Main Paragraph(s)> -- Who aimed at (the facts) - who cares?<p><Final Paragraph> -- Summarise; call to action<p><Full contact details><p>=> Step 5 - Is Your Press Release Ready?<p>1) Is your press release published on your website?<p>2) Better still, do you have an online press pack?<p>3) Do you know what to do or say if a reporter calls?<p>=> The missing ingredient - K-I-S-S<p>Phew! A lot to take in, I agree! The main trouble with doing all of<IMG height=12 src="/the2.jpg" alt="repparttar 129782"> above is that your press release will be... L-O-N-G!<p>Yes,<IMG height=12 src="/the2.jpg" alt="repparttar 129783"> vital ingredient to your press release,<IMG height=12 src="/the2.jpg" alt="repparttar 129784"> one factor that WILL increase<IMG height=12 src="/the2.jpg" alt="repparttar 129785"> chances of getting your news published is to:<p> Keep It SHORT Stupid (yet another K-I-S-S !)<p>Not convinced? Ask yourself these questions, then:<p>* How many of these press releases do you think editors get to read every day?<p>* How many long, badly-worded releases will they read before eventually becoming instantly put off just by<IMG height=12 src="/the2.jpg" alt="repparttar 129786"> length of a press release?<p>* And how much more likely do you think a press release will be read if it's a SHORT, quick read.<p>Keep your press release short, simple as that!<p>=> Appendix: Expert press release resources<p>If you want to know more about writing a press release then I can recommend<IMG height=12 src="/the2.jpg" alt="repparttar 129787"> following resources (but do still remember to keep your press release short, eh?):<p> * Articles<p> 10 Tips For Better Press Releases by B.L.Ochman http://www.whatsnextonline.com<p> Using And Writing Press Releases by Craig Lock http://www.nzenterprise.com/writer/creative.html<p> Publicity STARTS with a Press Release by Kate Schultz of http://www.ezineuniversity.com<p> How to Write Press Releases that Get Published - Paul Krupin http://www.roibot.com pnr.cgi?R26045_press<p> * Links<p> http://www.iboost.com/promote/press_releases/index.html http://www.pressreleasenetwork.com/ http://www.webpromote.com/products/prelease.asp http://www.ereleases.com/ http://www.web-source.net/web/Press_Release/ http://drnunley.com http://myws.sitesell.com/shopping101.html<p> * Press release distribution http://www.prweb.com - distribute your PR for free http://www.downesmarketing.co.uk/freepr.html http://www.emailwire.com http://www.sourcewire.com<p>=> And finally...<p>So there you have it - my checklist to writing a press release. If you need to learn more then do visit<IMG height=12 src="/the2.jpg" alt="repparttar 129788"> above links. And then just make sure that you follow<IMG height=12 src="/the2.jpg" alt="repparttar 129789"> checklist, and:<p> * have a story to tell * think like a journalist * format<IMG height=12 src="/the2.jpg" alt="repparttar 129790"> press release properly Do keep your press release short, then keep an eye on those publications - seeing your site in print is a great feeling! <br><img src="images/ata.gif"><br> <p>Steve Nash is editor of a twice-monthly newsletter called Promote! Promote! Promote! Subscribe by sending a blank email to pppromote@getresponse.com . To learn more about writing good copy for your press release, website, email (or anything) visit Make Your Words Sell NOW! and learn from a net copy-writing master - http://myws.sitesell.com/shopping101.html<br><br><br></font></td></tr><tr><td> <a class="mlink" href="I_DON'T_NEED_NO_STINKIN'_DOUBLE_NEGATIVES!-29782.htm"><</a>Back to Page 1</td></tr></table><script type="text/javascript"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"> </script> </td> </tr> </table> <table width="770" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> <tr> <td height="48" align="center" background="images/bg_nav_bottm.jpg"><span class="style3">ImproveHomeLife.com © 2005<br> <a href="terms.html" rel="nofollow">Terms of Use</a></span></td> </tr> </table></td> </tr> </table> <script type="text/javascript"> var HASH_ESCAPED="%23"; function TrackIt(adUnit){ if (window.status) { var adDomain = escape(window.status.substring(6)); var pyPage = document.location.pathname; var params = document.location.search; var hasAnchor = params.lastIndexOf(HASH_ESCAPED)!= -1; params = hasAnchor? 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