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Sankofa Literary Society Posting Home
Author: Kal Bishop
I owe the completion and success of my book to a big cardboard box
that saw me through the entire process. I found this box and filled it
with any and all information I could find on my topic 'advanced
presentation skills for speakers and business presenters.' I printed
out articles I had written, listened to tapes and read every single
book on presentation skills that has ever been published. I have a
huge library filled with these books, which are a great thing to have.
I took notes and pulled out the best information from each text,
finding a way to work it into my own. This is not plagiarism. Some
information is too important not to use, so you reword it and use it
as substantial background information, giving credit in your
bibliography.
When my box was full, I had a huge mess of papers filled with quotes
on speaking, great techniques I had jotted down at other
presentations, and even cartoons. I grabbed a pile of manila folders
and slowly sorted through the rubble, putting items of similar
interest together. At the end of the day, I had about 14 folders that
represented my book chapters. I hadn't written a word, but I was
organized.
I told myself I would write as much of my book as I could by myself
and I did. When I had done all I could, I hired an editor who worked
word magic and made my book a grammatical success. Then I designed the
cover, well, designed is the wrong word. I brainstormed, came up with
an idea, and then bartered presentation skills training to get it
done. Lastly, I hired a professional copywriter who wrote something up
for the back cover, and that is how my book came to be.
Another benefit of having a book is that you can sell those blank
pages that make up dead space in the back of your book. I sold and
traded this ad space, putting some of the money I spent back in my
pocket.
Tom Antion provides entertaining speeches and educational seminars. He
is the ultimate entrepreneur, having owned many businesses BEFORE
graduating college. Tom is the author of the best selling presentation
skills book "Wake 'Em Up Business Presentations" and "Click: The
Ultimate Guide to Electronic Marketing." It is important to Tom that
his knowledge be not only absorbed, but enjoyed. This is why he
delivers his speeches laced with great humor and hysterical jokes. Tom
has addressed more than 87 different industries and is thoroughly
committed to his client's needs.
Sankofa Literary Society Posting Home
Author: Bob Curtis
Someone once commented that there were no new ideas to write, that all
that could be done was a recombination of the words and phrases for a
deeper, more personal expression of meaning. They have completely
missed the point and purpose to 'writing'.
One writes, not to refine old ideas, but to express personal, heart-
felt thoughts that have been born anew, deep within the longing soul.
Writing is an attempt to understand oneself, and to explain those
often deeply personal feelings to the world at large; a world that
needs more honest and personal understanding of the expression of
oneself. In life, we see the darkness and the worst in people. But we
also see the very best in individuals who are sincerely trying to make
the best of their time here on this earth. We need to be the
chroniclers of these people and these times.
I've been struggling to write exactly what I feel.
The muse works like that.
She doesn't let me go until I struggle and
Wrench out my heart
Wringing the blood all over the page
Scratching the thick, red ink
Into words and phrases that truly mean something
Because of the struggle
Make the struggle. Make it count for each and every moment that you
spend in front of the blank page. But be sure that you understand that
the things you write are straight from the heart when you put in the
time and effort and struggle.
Write often, write sure, and write from the aching soul.
But write.
Bob Curtis has been writing for over 30 years. He has published
articles, short fiction, and poetry. He is currently the managing
director of people4people.blogspot.com, and is president of Nexus
Publishing, nexus4u.blogspot.com, in Midvale, Utah