Writing Quote of the Week

Journalism is merely history's first draft.
Geoffrey C. Ward

Joining Twitter

Twitter was something I resisted for a while. I thought, I really have nothing to say and who will follow me anyway, right? Wrong. If you think Twitter will go away, it won't. Attending the Society of Professional Journalists Conference in Cleveland, OH this month opened my mind to opening a Twitter account.
There is a new generation of journalists who know social media and embrace the idea of letting others know what is going on with this world network. In the New York Times this week, newspaper circulations have declined, yet again. Local newspapers and TV stations are also catching on and using different methods to inform readers on the internet from Facebook to Twitter.

If you are not on Twitter yet, now is the time to act. It will be valuable to your journalism career.

Follow me on twitter at http://twitter.com/Angelaohwriter

Writing Quote of the Week

I keep telling myself to calm down, to take less of an interest in things and not to get so excited, but I still care a lot about liberty, freedom of speech and expression, and fairness in journalism.
- Kate Adie

Summer Education Focus

This is the time of year where you think education writing is slowing down. Kids are almost done with school and thinking about their summer vacation, as well as the teachers. However, education doesn't stop, just because the weather got nicer and there is no school. Most kids will be going to the library for their summer reading lists or attending camp. Last year juniors will now thinking about choosing their college, in which may be attending campus tours. Writers can pitch ideas to family and education magazines by focusing on the summer learning. Profile a camper, write a book review from the summer reading list, talk with parents about ways they do creative learning with their child during break, do an exclusive on summer school teachers.

Education writing doesn't stop when school ends!

The Heart of Lake County Magazine Jan 2010 article

Pick up The Heart of Lake County Magazine January 2010 quarterly edition for my upcoming article on The Indian Museum!

Visit Web site at www.theheartoflakecountymagazine.com for pick-up locations

Sun Newspapers - Chagrin Solon Sun 12/17/2009

Check out the front page of the Chagrin Solon Sun at
http://www.cleveland.com/sun/pdfs/chagrinsolonsun.pdf

New Year - Set a Writing Goal

Writers go years thinking about writing however, never really sit down and put that great idea to paper. Setting a goal in writing is important. You should have an end point in writing whether finishing the book to sending out the query.

I know the old saying of any procrasinating writer, "Writing is difficult to "fit in" everyday life." As a mother, I too, sometimes wonder if I wasn't writing in my free time, I could be relaxing or spending more time with the kids. However, I just couldn't see myself stopping something I love to do - write. If one loves to write, the logically next step is to find time to write no matter the circumstance.

In addition, writing for yourself is wonderful, however, getting published should be a goal. I remember the first time I saw my name in print. I cried and danced around the room holding my article like a little girl who just got ribbon in a local beauty pageant. Although it wasn't the national publication, it was a beginning to my lifestyle as a writer. I still don't really consider myself a writer, even with the consistant writing work. My goal is still to be published, just in more ways. I will become a real writer, when I gain my ultimate goal of being able to put the title "Writer" on my tax forms.