[EzineArticles] 6 NEW EzineArticles Wallpapers

6 NEW EzineArticles Wallpapers Give Your Motivation a Boost with These Wallpapers Need a little article writing inspiration? Freshen up your background with one of these article writing themed wallpapers! Not only do these unique wallpapers offer a change of pace for your background, they also serve as a reminder to help you stay focused in your article writing efforts. Downloadable EzineArticles Bike Wallpaper: 1,024 x 768 pixels [542 KB] 1,280 x 768 pixels [642 KB] 1,280 x 960 pixels [761 KB] 1,280 x 1,024 pixels [801 KB] 1,920 x 1,200 pixels [1,253 KB]   Downloadable the EzineArticles at the Beach Wallpaper: 1,024 x 768 pixels [729 KB] 1,280 x 768 pixels [840 KB] 1,280 x 960 pixels [1,059 KB] 1,280 x 1,024 pixels [1,129 KB] 1,920 x 1,200 pixels [1,768 KB]   Downloadable the Super EzineArticles Expert Author Wallpaper: 1,024 x 768 pixels [505 KB] 1,280 x 768 pixels [613 KB] 1,280 x 960 pixels [735 KB] 1,280 x 1,024 pixels [788 KB] 1,920 x 1,200 pixels [1,164 KB]   Downloadable Time for Your Next Set of Articles Wallpaper: 1,024 x 768 pixels [450 KB] 1,280 x 768 pixels [517 KB] 1,280 x 960 pixels [661 KB] 1,280 x 1,024 pixels [729 KB] 1,920 x 1,200 pixels [1,104 KB]   Downloadable Ernest Hemingway Quote Wallpaper: 1,024 x 768 pixels [533 KB] 1,280 x 768 pixels [610 KB] 1,280 x 960 pixels [727 KB] 1,280 x 1,024 pixels [778 KB] 1,920 x 1,200 pixels [1,085 KB]   Downloadable Celebrate Writing Independence Wallpaper: 1,024 x 768 pixels [700 KB] 1,280 x 768 pixels [806 KB] 1,280 x 960 pixels [1,024 KB] 1,280 x 1,024 pixels [1,133 KB] 1,920 x 1,200 pixels [1,911 KB] You can find more EzineArticles-themed wallpapers on My.EzineArticles.com. Visit the Wallpapers section of your Resources tab. Get psyched and enjoy your new EzineArticles background. What's your favorite? Let us know in the comments section here! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Christopher M. Knight, Publisher http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ EzineArticles Member Endorsement "The benefits ... will be dramatic" EzineArticles has been one of the best Internet marketing decisions I've made over the years. One thing that is important with Internet marketing is to produce content consistently, not once a month. The benefits ... will be dramatic in that regard. The whole process is a marathon, not a sprint! David Greene PreferredPainCenter.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-7609916-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

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[EzineArticles] Second Quarter 2012 Video Roundup

Second Quarter 2012 Video Roundup My.EzineArticles.com Tools, Quick Tips, Laughs, and Leveraging Your Credibility! Get the most out of your article writing efforts with these great videos, which cover a wide variety of Expert Author tools and resources. You can also catch a glimpse of what happens behind the scenes too! In case you missed the video releases on the Blog and in the EzineArticles newsletters, here's a list of the videos to help you get caught up, along with a short recap of each video's message. Author Tools and Resources Late Night Article Writing: 4th Edition: Catch up with your favorite Late Night Article Writing host, Lenny Wordsmith to discover the top ten ways you can instantly build your credibility.   Article Content vs. Real Life - Quality Linking: Discover how Jessica's search for a stapler is similar to a visitor clicking-through to a blog or website in 5 discouraging (and even scary) scenarios.   Late Night Article Writing: 5th Edition: Lenny Wordsmith and special guest, Calvin Grammar, reveal the top ten ways to generate article ideas. Article Pieces and Parts How to Monitor Your Recent Article Activity: Find out how to easily manage your articles, save time, and have peace of mind with the Recent Article Activity section.   Common Article Writing Roadblocks: 2nd Edition: Maintain your credibility with these 5 tips to safely steer clear of poor keyword usage and keyword abuse.   1-Minute Approval Tips #2: How to Reset Your Password: In our second installment of 1-Minute Approval Tips, discover how to reset the password of your EzineArticles account easily. EzineArticles Quick Tips Get the Latest and Greatest Information in Article Writing: Easily stay up-to-date in your niche or category, keep track of your competitors, and improve your writing skills by signing up for EzineArticles.com Email Alerts.   Achieve Your Goals with My.EzineArticles.com Challenges: Challenges can be motivating, rewarding, and even fun. Increase your article writing efforts by joining or creating a Challenge.   Behind-the-Scenes at EzineArticles: Meet Kristi: Find out how Kristi, EzineArticles Learning and Development Trainer, focuses on helping you make your article writing efforts easier. Where to Find Even More Videos A complete list of all of our EzineArticles videos can be found in our Video Archive. Organized to help you find the videos you're looking for, the Video Archive is based on skill level and arranged categorically! You can also view all of our videos on our Facebook Fan Page, YouTube Channel, Metacafe Channel, and our Dailymotion Channel. What's your favorite video? We'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions in the comments section here. To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ EzineArticles Member Endorsement "Now we have a direct pipeline to our potential customers and audience." EzineArticles helped shift the entire paradigm by putting the power back into the hands of the writers and authors. Now we have a direct pipeline to our potential customers and audience.... Phillip Davis PureTungsten.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-7594881-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

[EzineArticles] Top Punctuation Howlers - The Comma

Top Punctuation Howlers - The Comma Commas Help Separate You from the Cannibals What's so great about the comma? It clears away ambiguity, confusion, and on occasion steers us away from cannibalism. For example: Martha finds inspiration in cooking her family and her dog. Martha finds inspiration in cooking, her family, and her dog. There are many, many rules for comma usage ... So many that we're going to break it down to the most common grammatical errors involving the comma. Prevent confusion and uphold your credibility by using these comma tips: To Use or Not to Use the Oxford Comma Commas are used to separate elements in a series. Some authors choose to use the Oxford Comma (a.k.a. the serial comma) and some don't. The argument for not using the Oxford Comma generally revolves around printed publications, like newspapers, to save on space. While considered perfectly acceptable in either case, the Oxford Comma is used before a concluding conjunction in a simple series and offers that extra edge of clarity for complex sentences with internal conjunctions. In addition to the example involving Martha above, without the Oxford Comma: Today's menu includes eggs and toast, peanut butter and jelly and fish. In this example, is it [peanut butter and jelly] and [fish] or is it [peanut butter] and [jelly and fish]? The Oxford Comma clears that right up: Today's menu includes eggs and toast, peanut butter and jelly, and fish. Commas in a Series of Equal Adjectives Equal adjectives (a.k.a. coordinate adjectives) occur when two or more adjectives of a similar nature modify or describe a noun. Commas are used to separate a series of equal adjectives. If the adjectives could be separated by 'and' without changing the meaning, the adjectives are considered equal. Avoid walking down a dark, dangerous street alone. Avoid walking down a dark and dangerous street alone. If the last adjective alters the meaning of the noun (a.k.a. cumulative adjective) and creates a noun phrase (e.g. denim pants, red eye, etc.), then no comma is necessary. The cheap wooden chair exploded when my Great Aunt Sue sat in it. Commas in Nonrestrictive Clauses Both restrictive and nonrestrictive clauses give additional information about a word or phrase in a sentence. What's the difference? A restrictive clause is essential to the meaning of a sentence and its intention is straightforward. A nonrestrictive clause can be eliminated from a sentence without changing the sentence's basic meaning. It all depends on the intention. Restrictive: The bus driver who was in the accident usually drives my bus. Nonrestrictive: The bus, which normally arrives on time, is behind schedule. Don't Force the Comma Where it Does Not Belong We've heard this farce time and time again: "A good rule of thumb is to use a comma when you feel the sentence needs a pause." This is far from the truth. One common error is joining two (related) complete sentences, otherwise known as a splice. Here's an example of this scenario: "I went to the store with Frank, I bought milk." Ugly, isn't it? Here are a few fixes for this situation: Period: I went to the store with Frank. I bought milk. Semicolon: I went to the store with Frank; I bought milk. Conjunction: I went to the store with Frank, and I bought milk. 5 Last Chance Quick Comma Tips Name and Hometown: John Smith, Santa Barbara, and Hillary Baker, Ithaca, were called to the podium. Name and Age: John Smith, 42, and Hillary Baker, 38, were called to the podium. Name and Age and Hometown: John Smith, 42, Santa Barbara, was called to the podium. Yes and No: Yes, I can come to the party. No, I will not. In Address: Happy Birthday, Rufus! Let's eat, Susan. Frank, could you take a look at this? Use these comma tips to strengthen your writing skills, as well as maintain your credibility as an Expert Author. We will have more punctuation howlers coming up in the next few weeks, so stop by the Blog for the latest and greatest tips to error-free articles. Did you miss our last edition of Top Punctuation Howlers? Find out more about the apostrophe here! What punctuation howler would you like to see next? Let us know by visiting this post online and sharing your suggestions in the comments section! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Want more tips on grammar and spelling? Visit our Grammar Tips Blog category by clicking here! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "...the positive effects of passive income and name recognition is well worth the effort." Thanks so much for the great publicity. I was amazed at how many articles I already had written when I started digging out all my old notes and speeches. It just took a little reformatting, bringing up to date and filling in here and there to have them ready to send off to you. Even though we are swamped with projects, the positive effects of passive income and name recognition is well worth the effort. Keep up the good work. Judy H. Wright ArtichokePress.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-7587482-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

[EzineArticles] Article Summary Writing Tips

Article Summary Writing Tips 3 Keys to Compelling Summaries and More Quick Tips Next to your article title, the summary is one of the most critical aspects to capture your reader's attention. An article summary is a brief teaser or synopsis highlighting the benefits of your article. Appearing anywhere from RSS feeds to your Expert Author profile page, article summaries bring your readers in after the initial title hook. Article summaries should entice the reader and should make the reader want to read your article above all other articles. Many Expert Authors will reuse their article's introductory paragraph as their summary.* While this practice is considered acceptable, unique article summaries can go much farther in delivering results. 3 Keys to Writing Great Article Summaries 1. Don't Play Cat and Mouse with Your Readers Your main point(s) and benefit(s) of the article should be clear to the reader in the summary. Of course you don't want to give too much away, but don't rely on the reader's curiosity. Think taste, not hint, to compel the reader forward. This means the reader has had a taste of the article and wants more, rather than what they imagine the article will be like. 2. Less I and We, More You and Yours Target your reader's needs and wants with strong benefit-oriented language. Avoid using self-serving information in your summaries, including your name, website, and other blatant self-promotion. Compel the reader in one direction: your article. 3. There's No Time like the Present Use present-tense language for a sense of immediacy, use active language to excite the reader, and use stronger, more descriptive language. Considering the 3 keys above, here's a me-oriented summary that lacks informative value and uses round-about language: EzineArticles Managing Editor, Penny describes how to write engaging article summaries. Discover this and more writing tips at our website http://Blog.EzineArticles.com You are less concerned with who I am and more concerned about what I can provide you, i.e. "What's different about THIS article that will go above and beyond what I need?" Also, this summary pulls you in two directions: should you read the article or follow the URL? Here's a more compelling summary: Want to take your article writing efforts to the next level? Discover the strategies, like reader-targeting and language tweaks, to write an engaging article summary that delivers results. Here are some additional quick article summary tips: 2-5 sentences in length and a maximum of 200 words Grammatically sound (including proper sentence structure, capitalization, and punctuation) Free of special characters to make it ready for RSS feeds Concise and precise, i.e. straight to the point Keep it fresh and don't repeat the article's title Use these tips to write compelling article summaries to give your article writing efforts a boost. And remember: the best summaries give a taste, not a hint. *Attn. EzineArticles Expert Authors: If you choose to reuse your article's introduction as a summary, please ensure the introduction is included in both the article Body field and the Summary field. Article summaries don't appear at the beginning of the article and therefore can cause confusion when an article lacks an introduction. Questions? Comments? Share your feedback by visiting the comments section of this post online! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Discover how to build trust with your readers using relevant article titles and avoid breaking promises: Article Titles and Broken Promises. EzineArticles Member Endorsement "Can't recommend it highly enough!" I was introduced to EzineArticles over a year ago. If I had got myself in gear and stopped panicking, I would have realised what a simple place this is to publish articles. I'm also reassured that this is a quality site, so there is a distinct lack of duplication and also a simple way for my clients to navigate and have a browse. Can't recommend it highly enough! Amie Crews Will2Succeed.co.uk EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-7581393-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

[EzineArticles] Social Media Tips for Expert Authors

Social Media Tips for Expert Authors Wrapped Up in Your Own Social Media Web? Did you know a spider's web isn't just one mass of sticky silk? The threads that join at the center of the web aren't sticky at all! Spiders strategically use this thread to navigate in and out of their webs without getting caught like their prey. Similar to a spider's web, experts can get trapped in their own social media web because it's either a time-consuming obsession or they don't have a strategy and get wrapped up in the details. Experts who know the safe thread from the sticky thread are the experts who flourish in their social media efforts. Here are 5 strategies you can use to safely and successfully navigate in and out of your social media web presence. POPULARITY: Keep an Ear to the Ground Don't spread yourself too thin by attempting to have a presence on every social networking site available. Concentrate on those with the most popularity for your target audience, i.e. it's fairly safe to stick to major social networks like Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. Keep an eye out for where your audience goes to avoid being the sole guardian of a dead space no one visits anymore. SOCIALIZE: Post, Share, Discuss, and Comment Your Way into Their Hearts (and Minds) The key to remember with social networking sites is the platform was designed to network and to socialize. Successful networking is done on an individual basis to build a connection. You maintain that connection by socializing and sharing your unique insight and position. Be yourself and share your most compelling insights, not just on your profile, but engage and appreciate your audience to encourage reciprocation. SIGNIFICANCE: All Things Great and Relevant People want to be in the loop that's relevant to them. They want to know what's going on, what's available, be included in the conversation, relate to other people, know what's happening, and more. Become a beacon of positivity and share the things you like and even love. Audiences tend to lean toward the relevant and positive, rather than the negative and irrelevant. BALANCE: There Is Such a Thing as Too Much of a Good Thing Ever logged into your own social networking accounts, saw your wall flooded with irrelevant posts by others, and had that feeling of "not you again!" Always place quality over quantity. Find that balance you need to prevent yourself from being ignored, unliked, unfollowed, etc. Find the sweet spot between too much and too little. Consistently post a variety of items on a variety of topics (e.g. 1 photo, 1 text-based post, 1 link, etc.) to keep it fresh and avoid inundating your audience with 1 type of post that's easily ignored. FOCUS: Don't Measure Numbers, Measure Involvement You can have heaps of followers and still have no success in your efforts. This is a result of focus on numbers and not on quality involvement. The amount of people following you is less important than how you actually interact with them. An engaged audience is an active audience that will help spread your credibility and message. Focus on your immediate audience (those actually listening) and more followers will brighten your future. There you have it! Locate your audience and show your appreciation for their participation. Reciprocate with positive, relevant content to strategically navigate in and out of your social media web. Want more social media strategies for Expert Authors? Discover how to share your articles on Facebook and Twitter as well as on Pinterest. What's your favorite social media site? What do you do to ensure you are connected to your audience? Let us know here! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Discover how you can harness The Power of Social Networking and achieve the many benefits with the strategies and tips in this video! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "EzineArticles surely has worked for me." I really have supported my business with my ezine articles. I appreciate that with my articles, I've been able to use them to communicate to people I want to know about me, my program, and my projects. I've gotten wonderful opportunities for speaking engagements, as well as people wanting to use my articles on their websites and in their newsletters. This has been a tremendous boost to branding of my name, my website, and my various projects. I am looked upon as an expert on aging, someone that writes about their subject. People get an idea of what you think, as well as what you can give to their organization or on an individual basis. EzineArticles surely has worked for me. Patricia Weaver PatriciaWeaver.net EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-7574897-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

[EzineArticles] A Recap of Recent Blog Posts

A Recap of Recent Blog Posts Whether you are looking to improve your writing, build your niche as an expert, find tools to help you grow, or see what is going on in the EzineArticles community, we have you covered on EzineArticles' Article Writing & Insights Blog. Here is a quick recap of what you may have missed on the Blog in May: Improving Your Writing... Top Punctuation Howlers - The Exclamation Point! - Is your writing overdramatic? Discover one of the most common punctuation offenses and how to use an exclamation point properly.   Accelerate Your Focus with an Article Outline - Reach your desired speed of success by prewriting your articles with this great outlining strategy.   Top Punctuation Howlers - The Period - Proper punctuation is critical to create a good user experience. Discover the period, as well as its close relative the ellipsis!   15-Minute Brainstorming Power-Exercises - 5 article writing brainstorming exercises you can do in 15 minutes to get the most out of your article writing sessions.   Write Relevant Free-Standing Articles - Discover how to write relevant, convenient, and accessible free-standing articles readers love. Building Your Niche... Best Practices for Expert Author Facebook Users - Implement these Facebook strategies to truly make your Expert Author platform into a super-platform.   Late Night Article Writing: 5th Edition - Discover the top ten ways to generate article ideas with your favorite host, Lenny Wordsmith and special guest, Calvin Grammar.   Article Writing for an Online Audience - Be careful about making assumptions of your online audience! Discover 4 more tips to writing articles for online audiences to draw more exposure to your platform.   Pleasure Principles Article Template - Discover how you can identify with your readers by promoting how they can achieve pleasure.   Article Writing Tips to Retweet: May 2012 - Retweet any of the best EzineArticles Twitter tidbits of information and training from May to enhance your article writing efforts. Tools to Help You Grow... How to Monitor Your Recent Article Activity - Check out how to easily monitor your Recent Article Activity and save time in this quick video.   Write Relevant Articles with Topic Suggestions - Discover how you can write highly relevant articles using substantial topic suggestions relevant to your niche and your readers.   Share Your Articles on Facebook and Twitter - Keep your Facebook and Twitter audience happy with fresh content. Discover how we can automatically tweet your most recently published articles for you.   Achieve Your Goals with My.EzineArticles.com Challenges - A challenge doesn't have to be an arduous task. Discover how it can be motivating and rewarding in this quick video. The EzineArticles Community... Engage in Expert Author Discussions on My.EzineArticles.com - Don't know what to share on your My.EzineArticles.com Discussions page? We'll give you a topic. Discover how relationship building can help you target your goals and enhance your credibility.   My.EzineArticles.com Mission Update! - The My.EzineArticles.com Expert Author network is teeming with activity - from article submissions to discussion and challenges to sharing achievements. Find out why.   Behind-the-Scenes at EzineArticles: Meet Kristi - Find out what motivates our EzineArticles Learning and Development Trainer to help you.   Benefit from Your Traffic Search Terms - Want to get a higher-return on your article writing time investment? Discover how by using the terms visitors actually used to find your article. Expert Author Case Studies... Expert Author Showcase: Nancy O'Neill - Meet Nancy, an extraordinary Common Sense Consultant who gained exposure to accomplish her long-term goals using quality articles.   Expert Author Showcase: Cheryl Cran - Find out what Expert Author Cheryl Cran's 3 solutions are to 3 common article writing challenges.   Expert Author Showcase: Lisa Michelle Jones - Meet Expert Author Lisa Michelle Jones who has a solution to finding original article content.   Expert Author Showcase: Ken Solin - Meet an Expert Author who helps his audience grow and achieve happiness by writing without ego. We would love to hear your thoughts on any (or all) of these posts! Take a minute to check them out and add your comments, questions, suggestions, or stories to share with the entire EzineArticles community. Visit the Blog today and read our most recent posts by clicking here! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Receive daily updates and article writing tips by subscribing to the EzineArticles Blog. Enter your email address here, select EzineArticles.com Blog, and then select the Save Changes button at the bottom of the page. EzineArticles Member Endorsement "Writing articles is truly the best way to become a leader of thought in your industry or within your circle...!" When I launched a new business this summer, I knew that article marketing and blogging was going to be a huge part of it. Writing articles is truly the best way to become a leader of thought in your industry or within your circle... Thank you, EzineArticles - You literally changed my life, and the process of writing has been profoundly rewarding! Camille Rodriquez PolkaDotImpressions.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-7566525-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

[EzineArticles] Share Your Expert Author Awards and Achievements

Share Your Expert Author Awards and Achievements Earn Bragging Rights with the Badge to Prove It Besides being both intuitive and aesthetically pleasing, My.EzineArticles.com: Helps you easily network with fellow Experts Authors Provides encouragement through article writing challenges Keeps track of your articles' performance statistics Gives you access to dozens of article writing resources Delivers bragging rights to share your triumphs with badges "Bragging rights?!" As you submit articles and are active on My.EzineArticles.com, you earn achievements and awards in the form of badges. Collecting badges shows how active you are as an Expert Author as well as contributes to your credibility. Check out what badges you've earned: Log into your My.EzineArticles.com account Select the Profile tab Select Achievements and Awards from the left navigation menu The Achievements and Awards section is divided into Profile Awards and Account Achievements. Account Achievements are badges you earn based on your account-wide activity (e.g. membership level upgrades and adding an alternate author). Profile Awards are badges you earn based on your Expert Author Profile activity. The types of Profile Awards you can earn are: Profile: Earn badges by completing your author profile and uploading author photos. Published Articles: Earn badges for writing and submitting quality articles. Networking: Earn badges for linking social networking accounts and connecting with other Expert Authors. Article Niches: Earn badges for publishing articles in a particular niche. Article Submission: Earn badges by using various tools within My.EzineArticles.com. Unearned badges are indicated by a lock whereas your earned badges are colored in. We've sprinkled in a few mystery badges and we're keeping mum on what you need to do in your profile or account to earn them. Click on any of the badges within your My.EzineArticles.com account to: View the "Badge Details" "Discuss" with Expert Authors in your Network "Share" with your Twitter Followers Use your awards and achievements for major bragging rights by showing off your badges to your Expert Author network and of course sharing them with your Twitter followers. What badge are you striving to earn? Let us know in the comments section here! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: What more My.EzineArticles.com tips? Visit the Discover My.EzineArticles.com category of the EzineArticles Blog! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "A motivational tool to help me keep momentum" I use the EzineArticle challenges and accomplishment badges as a motivational tool to help me keep momentum. I find myself itching to finish off another piece and send it for upload. I then like to track progress until I receive confirmation that it's been accepted. That's a great feeling and I'm very pleased when I see it's been uploaded without any problems! I'm currently working to get 50 articles published and then hope to have the next benchmark completed as I complete the various challenges I've signed up to. Sumi Olson LearningBusinessSkills.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-7560135-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

[EzineArticles] From My Desk to Yours – 37th Edition

From My Desk to Yours – 37th Edition WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW By: Penny, EzineArticles Managing Editor The Internet is ruled by content. You can leverage your expertise, increase your exposure, and more with content. However, your success depends on how well you separate yourself from other experts in your niche with a dazzling spark that attracts readers. The spark? Creativity. Creativity can be defined by a great many things. Some will say creativity is originality, idea generation, critical thinking, and even bravery. When we peel back the many layers of creativity, we are left with the heart: originality. Originality can be intimidating. Many Expert Authors may feel as though they're attempting to find another piece of land to stake as their own, but everything has already been identified or claimed. So, how do you incorporate originality into content when A, B, and C has already been claimed? You write what you know to ensure 100% authenticity and originality. Writing what you know is about unlocking your experiences, adding a personal twist, and creating something new that holds great value to others. Your audience still demands A, B, and C, but you need to light the way - you need a spark. Your contribution to your niche (your experience, insights, examples, scenarios, etc.) adds an ingenious spark to your content to light the way for readers. If you're thinking: "Hold up! What if I don't have many experiences or insights to write what I know?" What you know isn't limited to a play-by-play of situations you've encountered. You can discover and apply what you know by considering the following during your brainstorming sessions: Resources: What resources or information do you already have on the topic? Having knowledge or first-hand experience provides your articles with a solid foundation.   Critical Thinking: What are your own assumptions (past and present) as well as your audience's and your peers' assumptions on the topic? Considering assumptions by proving/disproving them helps you break away from the norm and assess the topic in a new light.   Imagination: What new ideas form regarding this topic (e.g. solutions, growth, etc.)? Your creativity to build up from the foundation sets you apart from other experts in your niche.   Response: What is your emotional response to the topic (e.g. desire, happiness, anxiety, etc.)? Recognizing and conveying your response helps you be sensitive to how readers approach your topic as well as builds trust. Reap the many benefits of creativity and originality by writing what you know. In doing so, you will provide 100% original content and strengthen your platform as a leading expert. In turn, you will cultivate trust and foster loyalty with your audience, which will build exposure to you, your message, and your brand. How do you ensure originality? Share comments, questions, or view what the Expert Authors have to say here. To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Unlock originality with these 15-Minute Brainstorming Power-Exercises! Click here for more details. EzineArticles Member Endorsement "I recommend EzineArticles.com to anyone who wants to increase their web visibility and build an expert reputation." After submitting articles to EzineArticles.com, I experienced a dramatic improvement in my website's search engine rankings -- and the increases in traffic and sales that come with top rankings. Cathy Stucker IdeaLady.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-7552362-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.

[EzineArticles] Top Punctuation Howlers - The Apostrophe

Top Punctuation Howlers - The Apostrophe Possession, Contraction, Omission, and Other Apostrophe Tips Similar to the many accents and dialects of the English language, there are many punctuation rules that vary from region to region. Many Expert Authors will follow a style guide, such as APA, Chicago, MLA, The Associate Press, etc. to ensure their writing is consistent and to uphold their credibility. You may choose a particular style based on your audience, your niche, etc. Whatever the style you use, make sure you are consistent throughout your articles. Which brings us to today's top punctuation howler: The Apostrophe. Have you ever walked past an eatery and cringed when you saw the daily menu: "Come on in! Were serving burger's, frie's, and salad's"? Did it make you think: "Why would you tell me what you were serving? Or is a werewolf taking lunch orders? And what's with the burger, the fry, and the salad? Are they fighting over possessing some mysterious object?" And then you might think it's probably best not to go into that eatery for lunch. If only the owners of the eatery had followed these basic apostrophe tips! Prevent confusion and uphold your credibility by using these apostrophe tips: Possession The apostrophe is used when indicating ownership. For example: Singular Nouns: "Fred's house is around the corner." Indefinite Pronouns: "That's someone else's gum." Compound Nouns: The Duchess of Cambridge's hats are made by a milliner. Hyphenated Nouns: Her mother-in-law's car was due for maintenance. Two or More Nouns (Share Possession): Lenny and George's store is closed. Two or More Nouns (Don't Share Possession): They washed Bob's and Sue's pants. Plural Nouns (End in S): The gorillas' habitat has a lot of vegetation. Plural Nouns: The children's toys were all over the floor. Additional possession and plural tips to bear in mind: Don't use an apostrophe with pronominal possessives: "'Are these cupcakes yours, hers, theirs, ours, or its?' she asked as she pointed to the dog." Don't use an apostrophe to show the plural of proper nouns: "The Smiths are coming over for dinner." Idiomatic or special expressions, e.g. "my heart's desire," "a year's wages," etc., are often written with an apostrophe s. Contractions In contractions, an apostrophe is used when omitting a letter (or letters). For example: "It's a lovely day." vs. "It is a lovely day." "Don't touch the hot stove." vs. "Do not touch the hot stove." "You're the wizard?" vs. "You are the wizard?" "I should've gone to sleep." vs. "I should have gone to sleep." Tip: If you choose to use contractions in your articles, don't mix and match, e.g. "I could have used contractions in my article, but could've, should have, would've." Omitted Numbers and Letters When omitting a number from a year, use an apostrophe e.g. "Party like it's '99." vs. "Party like it's 1999." An apostrophe is also used when dropping off a letter in a few colloquial dialects as well as in some forms of poetic prose. For example: "We're goin' (going) ridin' (riding) and we'll listen to our good ol' (old) country 'n' (and) western music." "No child o' (of) mine would steal." "Lest ye be judg'd (judged)." Use these apostrophe tips to strengthen your writing skills, as well as maintain your credibility as an Expert Author. We will have more punctuation howlers coming up in the next few weeks, so stop by the Blog for the latest and greatest tips to error-free articles. Did you miss our last edition of Top Punctuation Howlers? Find out more about the period here! What punctuation howler would you like to see next? Let us know by visiting this post online and sharing your suggestions in the comments section! To Your Article Writing Success & Passion! Penny, Managing Editor http://Blog.EzineArticles.com/ http://EzineArticles.com/ PS: Want more tips on grammar and spelling? Visit our Grammar Tips Blog category by clicking here! EzineArticles Member Endorsement "I have grown my monthly newsletter to over 14,000 subscribers." I started article writing when I started my newsletter in late 2006. At that time, I had about 25 subscribers - mostly friends and family. Since then I have grown my monthly newsletter to over 14,000 subscribers. Lee Binz TheHomeScholar.com EzineArticles Newsletter Information Join EzineArticles | Manage Your Subscription | EzineArticles RSS Feed | List Support Create Free Membership Account | Login For Members Only To Leave The EzineArticles Newsletter: leave-7544661-5233187.e085d87993250aab11f3e0c15f1c2785@lists.ezinearticles.com ISSN: 1525-7126 - Library Of Congress, Washington D.C. Postal address: EzineArticles.com, PO Box 12740 Green Bay WI 54307 USA © Copyright 1999-2012 EzineArticles.com. All Rights Reserved.