This weekend I was asked if I would Emcee a town hall meeting. Over 100 good paying jobs are in jeopardy at our local prisons and the Chamber of Commerce is calling this meeting with a dozen or so state legislators and area officials giving a few minutes each to the crowd.

They wanted someone who is known to give a few opening remarks and then to introduce each dignitary. I told them I would have to check with my bosses as I intended to cover the story.

I know the rule is a reporter is never to be part of the story but I asked ownership what they thought of my doing just the introductions with a few sentences here and there during the night.

I was reminded of the cardinal rule by them and so I bowed out of the offer.

I then groused all afternoon. I had some neat sentences I could have used and I’m sure I could do the job as good as anyone in the town.

But then I thought about it and realized this isn’t about me. This is about young men and women losing their livelihoods. I know I can report this story as well if not better than anyone in the area so shouldn’t that be what I am enthused about doing? Yes, my ego temporarily got in my way.

I have been starting the buzz’ about helping the entire community write the memoirs of an iconic Route 66 building in Lincoln and I am excited to be a hub on that project but again I needed to be reminded of what I am supposed to be doing and where to check my ego.

A friend handed me a dime and said, “Here, this is to pay for your work on writing the Mill book.”

The point he was making was I was spending too much time telling people I wasn’t going to make a dime on the project and now thanks to my friend I can’t say that anymore. The book should be my reward, not my Philistine aggrandizement that I am doing it for free.

When I started writing columns many years ago, my mentor and forty-year newspaperman used to keep me in check with some good quick barbs. “Can you get your head through the door or do I need to knock out a wall?” was his favorite.

Now, everyone who writes has to have a large ego. You have to have one in order to say, “Hey world, this is what I think or this is what I have created and I want all of you to read it.” That takes an ego, but the ego needs to be passed on to the work and should not remain on the author.

There is far too much ego in the media news, especially cable. The program hosts spend more time telling us what they think than the story and what was actually said or actually happened.. Yes, they have to have a huge ego to sit in front of television cameras for the world to see. But their ego should be directed to making their stories the best they can be without comments or punditry.

I receive many chapters from new writers asking me for my opinion. Often I see too many huge, rarely used words. Often I see overdone metaphors and waxing on and on poetically to the point I can’t follow the story.

I send them an explanation and remind them that the book, the story is what they are supposed to be concerned with and not telling the world, “Hey look at how smart I am.” Or, “Hey don’t I write well?”

I think that if there is any one tool, or personal skill that can make a writer be the best they can at what they are doing, it is the skill to understand that “Everything is just words. But the words are everything.” Writers ego not included.

Congratulations and best wishes for your up and coming marriage. Your wedding celebrant will tell you that there is a lot to do to make the day memorable for all the right reasons, in particular the format and content of your ceremony. Marriage ceremonies are a public expression of one of the most precious and beautiful of all gifts, the love that you have in your hearts for one another. Writing your own ceremony offers you the freedom to express those feelings in your own special way. Wedding ceremonies are an expression of the commitment between two people that will be witnessed by family and friends. Under the guidance of a Brisbane Celebrant, the creating and writing of your own ceremony provides the opportunity to construct a meaningful and unique event that incorporates all the elements you want thus creating a day that will be remembered by all who attend. Here are a few ideas prepared by a Brisbane Marriage Celebrant for when you are considering what you want in a ceremony and how your ceremony is to be conducted. By incorporating words, music and readings that reflect your own feelings for each other, together with your hopes and dreams for your future together, you are making a declaration of love and commitment to marriage which is the union of a man and a woman who make a permanent and exclusive commitment to each other.(Marriage Act 1961). Research:- there are many resources available including books, Marriage Celebrants, wedding planners and the internet. An internet search for writing a wedding ceremony uncovers over 656,000 results. Marriage Celebrants:- have conducted a number of ceremonies and are a wealth of knowledge and ideas on what to include in a ceremony, particularly what works and how they can be incorporated to make the ceremony flow. Legal Requirements:- there are Forms of Words that must be included in your ceremony. The Marriage Celebrant must make clear his/her authority to perform the ceremony The nature of marriage is the solemn and binding union of a man and a woman, voluntarily entered into for life, to the exclusion of all others You are free to write your own vows but your ceremony must include the words, I call upon the persons here present to witness that I (name) take you (name of partner) to be my lawful wedded (husband/wife). Venue:- the choice is yours and the decision fundamentally comes down to what sort of wedding it is you wish to have. There is a lot to consider in choosing a venue for a wedding ceremony – inside, outside, will it handle the number of guests, noise, weather, just to name a few. Music:- is fundamental to many ceremonies and can be live or recorded and appropriately chosen for its significance to the couple and their relationship. Music is generally used as background, for the entry procession and the exit by the Bride and Groom, at the signing of the Register and anywhere else you may choose. Readings:- are not only a traditional aspect of a wedding ceremony, they add a personal touch in the way they communicate your values and the sentiments associated with your relationship. Readings should be chosen with care so make sure you understand the meaning of the text. Your reader should have a strong voice and should be well rehearsed before the ceremony. Vows:- remembering to include the legal requirement, vows are an integral part of the ceremony. It is a very romantic moment where love, promises and commitments are made. Writing vows may not be easy so there are many examples that can be found and adjusted to reflect the nature of your relationship. Just ask your Wedding Celebrant for advice. Special Rituals:- add a special touch to a ceremony with a visual and active element that can involve just the Bride and Groom and Marriage Celebrant and/or some or all of the guests. Some ritual ideas include Warming of the Rings, Sand Ceremony, Hand Tying, Sharing the Wine, Breaking the Glass, Candle Lighting, and many more. Writing your own ceremony gives you the opportunity to spend time together while considering the meaning of the depth of your relationship. The process is straightforward, fun and can incorporate family, cultural and spiritual traditions. Your Brisbane Celebrant should, not only take care of all the legal aspects of a ceremony, but also work closely with you providing as much guidance as is desired and necessary allowing couples to compile your own civil ceremony reflecting your own particular style. Creating your own ceremony provides a rich and unique opportunity to share the essence of your relationship with family and friends. All the very best in creating a ceremony that is distinctively yours.
Bio: Anthony Walsh CMC, is a qualified, registered Civil Marriage Celebrant (A12962), Brisbane Celebrant, public speaker and workplace trainer. Anthonys personality, relaxed style, and commitment to the betterment of people around him, stand him in good stead as a Brisbane Marriage Celebrant. His web site is www.marriagecelebrantservices.com.au Related Articles – Brisbane Celebrant, Marriage Celebrant Brisbane, Wedding Ceremonies, Writing a Wedding Ceremony, marriage celebrant, Civil Marriage Celebrant, Brisban, Email this Article to a Friend!Receive Articles like this one direct to your email box!Subscribe for free today!

Learn how to write a funny but endearing Valentine’s poem that flows well and more importantly, makes the object of your affection think you are the most intelligent, creative and downright gorgeous person they have ever known.

You can write Valentines poems for your long-term partner, for someone you have been dating for a few weeks, or someone you have a secret crush on. The main thing is to make it rhyme and to include plenty of compliments in it without sounding ridiculous. The old clich of roses are red, violets are blue is too ancient, but is a great basis for starting your own poem. You just need to give it a modern twist, like for example, ‘lilies are white, daffodils are yellow, I lie in bed at night, feeling smug that you are my fellow’ or something like that. Be creative. But basically you can pick any flower and any colour because they usually exist.

You can make anything rhyme; it is not as hard as it sounds. Just think of a sentence that you might want to write to your loved one such as, you always make me smile and then just go through the alphabet trying out every letter that could rhyme with smile. For example, dial, file, I’ll, mile, Nile, pile and so on until you find something that could begin to make sense in the third sentence. Then just build your next line around finishing with that word, say, you always make me smile, when I’m down you come round, your number I just dial, you lift my chin off the ground. Oh, you get the idea.

There is no word limit in writing poems. Once you get in the swing of things you might want to write pages and pages of witty yet touching prose, or you can just stick with 4 lines. But remember that this is best advised if you are in a new relationship or is a secret admirer. You would not want to scare them away with all the hundreds of things you have noticed about them while you were spying or making out. Make sure that you do not come in too strong when writing your Valentines poems.

You can try to bring some more love with these poems by including small tokens of sweet nothings.

What absolutely chaps me is seeing people use the wrong word in a sentence, particulary homophones. You know what those are–they’re those words that sound the same but are spelled differently and have different meanings. Like “too”, “to”, and “two”, for example. It’s not just new writers that have this problem, either. My wife and I watched a professional video the other night where one of the menu items was labeled “Sneak Peak” — and the content of that option had nothing to do with mountaintops.

When you have three possible choices for a given word, and they all are pronounced the same, what’s the difference? Why not just pick one and go for it? If you look at the title of this article, that’s exactly what I did. So what’s the big deal? The sounds are still the same, and that’s all that matters, isn’t it?

Actually, in speaking, it is only the sound that matters. You can be thinking “too” and pronounce “to” and your listener will pick up on which of the two (no pun intended) words you actually meant, based on your content. In writing, it’s a different matter entirely. The word you spell conveys the meaning. Put in the wrong word and your intent changes completely.

So how do you avoid including the wrong homophone in your writing? In a day and age when the vast majority of authoring is done on a computer with a connection to the Internet, there really is no excuse. Go to dictionary.com and type in the word you want to use. If the definition matches the concept you’re trying to convey, then use it. If not, or if you’re not sure, go to thesaurus.com, type in your word, and see if the synonyms listed have similar definitions. If neither of these options works for you, then don’t put in a word to fill a hole; instead, change the sentence and use different wording to make your point. It may not make a difference to you, but at least one of your readers will be intelligent enough to know that you meant “piqued” (aroused interest or curiosity) but wrote “peeked” (caught a quick or furtive look or glance) instead–and that affects your credibility as a writer. (By the way, don’t count on your spellchecking program to resolve this issue. The program only identifies misspelled words, not properly-spelled words used incorrectly.)

Sew next thyme yew have a kneed two ewes uh word that Mae halve the same sound as another, bee sure too chews the won with the rite meaning — oar else yew mite sea your sentence saying something ewe did knot wont it two!

Use the following as a guide when writing your “get well soon” note:
1)  State that you are very sorry about their injury, illness, accident, or hospitalization.  Refer to what has happened to them in a general sense.
2)  Share your concern for their well being.  State that you want them to be comfortable and that you want the healing to begin.
3)  Assure them of your warm thoughts and best wishes.  Offer your prayers (if appropriate), share your feelings of affection or friendship.
4)  In closing, wish them a speedy recovery, your hopes for better health, rapid improvement.
Your message needs to reflect the seriousness of the injury or illness.  A light-hearted message should not be sent if it is a serious illness.
Don’t say that “you know how they feel” or share a story of someone else who has the same problem.  Your note should be written with the goal of brightening their day.
With just a little effort on your part, you can send a “Get Well Card” that will make both of you feel better.

Having been in the gift business for over five years, our company receives numerous emails and phone calls each week from customers wanting to verify that a gift we sent on their behalf has been received. Some go so far as to ask us to phone the recipient because they are too embarrassed and dont want the new mom or dad to feel bad for not thanking them sooner. After the thank you phone call or email, a follow up handwritten card in the mail within a month or so will also let the person know that you appreciate the gesture. Take another step by adding a photo of the newborn with the gift incorporated in the photo.The handwritten note should include first and foremost a line of appreciation for the thoughtfulness of the time and energy taken to select a gift for your baby. It should then be followed by a description of the gift itself and how helpful, cute, useful or original the gift may be. Let the gift giver know that youd love for them to meet the baby in person and thank them again for their generosity. The closing signature from you personally is appropriate. Here is an example of a quick, thoughtful note:Dear Jane,Thank you so much helping us welcome Baby Jack into the world. We just love the new bib, burp & blanket gift set. These personalized treasures will come in handy at every phase. Thank you again for thinking of us. We hope you can meet Baby Jack in person soon.Love, JulieTechnology is a convenient time-saver for a new parent, but nothing compares to reciprocating the kindness of a friend or family member with a handwritten thank note.Author: Kathie Papera, founder and owner of Lilypad Baby a premier site for stylish and unique baby gifts that can be personalized.

If you don’t have a website make sure you get one before you write your ad. Almost everyone these days has internet access and this will give your leads a chance to read all about you and your business. You can usually buy hosting for $10.00 per month some times even cheaper if you have just one website so shop around. I go with Hostgator which has great support but there are quite a few others available if you google website hosting you’ll find all the major ones. Also when getting your website developed, make sure you have some form of lead contact form on the page. When people visit your website offer a 30 minute free consultation or something similar like a free estimate to get people to fill out your form.

You’ll want to get them on your double opt-in email list. We use Aweber for this which is the best email management tool there is in my opinion. After they fill out your form and opt-in you’ll be able to follow up with them and send them subsequent offers like specials you are running. For example if you own a Lawn Care Business on your website tell them you’ll make a free trip out to there house and give a no pressure estimate.

Your newspaper ad itself should be brief and to the point. Give your name, your website and your phone number. Also put your phone number on your website to make it easier to call you. In your ad also offer a free estimate and mention how long you’ve been in business as well as any certifications or licensing numbers you may have. Your newspaper ad is your chance to establish instant credibility to your future potential customers. You should also consider using local Craigslist in your area to place small ads.

And don’t forget the smaller rag sheets in your area like the Pennysaver or other papers that target your local area. If you can use these tips and budget one ad per week in a few different papers, it should attract a lot of needed attention to your business. Tony Robbins always said if you wanna be the best copy the best and do it better. So take a look at the ads your local competition is running in the papers for their business. Pick out the ads of the people who are the most successful in your area. Do what they are doing but add a thing or two to make your ads better than theirs are, and your business will pick up drastically before you know it.

If you ask me, one of the best middle school writing prompts is to ask the child to pick any random five words from a dictionary and then write three-four paragraphs, using all those words. Off course, if the words are a bit difficult, you need to explain their meaning to them before they get on with the writing. Scroll down to know of some more fun writing prompts for middle school…

Journal Writing Prompts for Middle School
Write about yourself. The kind of person you are. Your likes, dislikes. What you want to become when you grow up. Write about things that make you happy or sad. The things that stress you out. Is there anything that you want to change about yourself?
Write about your favorite genre of music. Mention your favorite singers who are known for especially singing in this genre. Write about the history of this kind of music – how, when and why it became popular.
Daily write about things, experiences or conversations during the day which left an impact on you. The entries can be about something good, something sad or about the things learned.
Write about your friends and family, people who are close to you. How they are an important part of your life. The things that you like about them and the things that you don’t. Write why you feel connected to them.
Write about any picnics or vacations you have been to in the past. The people that you met there, the experiences you had, the picnic or vacation spots that you saw, etc.
Creative Writing Prompts for Middle School Students
Narrate an incident in your life in which you desperately wanted something (like winning a match or topping an exam or something as simple as a particular gift from your parents), but were not able to get it. Write how did you react to the situation. What course of action did you take, etc.
Narrate how the last year in your school went. Write about your first day in the class, any incidents that stand out or moments that were special, anything new you discovered about yourself or your school mates or teachers. Write about the things that you look forward to doing in school in the coming year.
Write an article describing any of your hobbies. For instance if you like to bake cakes, write your favorite cake recipe. If you like to play soccer, write a composition describing the rules and some winning ways of playing it.
Imagine that you could change into a celebrity one day. Who would that be and why? Narrate how would you spend your day as that celebrity.
Write about the changes that you would make, if you were made the principal of your school for one day. The subjects that you would introduce or the teachers that you would shuffle or the students that you would want out!
Do you think that cell phones should be allowed in schools? What, according to you, are the pros and cons of students getting their cell phones to schools.
Technology, as is said, has changed the way we live. How has technology impacted your life? Have computers changed the way we socialize? Do you think that you or any of your class mates have got addicted to the Internet or television? What, according to you, is the solution for this?
Teen obesity is very wide spread in the USA. How can it be curbed? What is a healthy lifestyle and how can students incorporate it in their daily living?
During middle school, students are encouraged to take up narrative writing, descriptive writing, fiction writing, persuasive writing, essay writing, etc. The writing prompts for middle school mentioned above, will surely help them with each of these writing styles. You may further go to writing prompts for kids in elementary and middle school. A writing prompt can be anything – even something as small as a pencil. You can ask the children to describe it’s various uses and they will come up with hordes of them. So, make use of the writing prompts given here, come up with a few of your own and the children will surely be “prompted” to write beautifully and effectively!

There are many types of prompts that compel a child to think and come up with a logical and imaginative write-up. Narrative writing prompts, persuasive writing prompts, expository writing prompts, journal writing prompts, and essay writing prompts are few of the types of writing prompts, a teacher or parent can use for giving assignments to children.

Narrative Writing Prompts
Narrative writing prompts are related to a sequence of events that have taken place. The children are supposed to explain the events and the order in which the events took place. The clear explanation of the sequence of events and elaboration of the facts makes a good narrative description. The narrative writing prompts can be based on fictional or non-fictional events.

Narrative Prompts for Elementary School Kids

You spent a day with your grandmother. Tell about your day.
Narrate how you spent the first day of your school.
It was your birthday yesterday. Narrate how you spent the day.
Imagine you wake up one morning and realize you have become invisible. Describe what happens and how you come back to your normal self.
decribe the time when you had a fight with your best friend.
Narrative Prompts for Middle School Kids

Write about the most memorable day of your life.
Trace back your memories from the day you joined school.
Write about the worst day of your life.
Write about the various achievements in the American history.
Write about the time when you went of your way to help someone in need.
Persuasive Writing Prompts
Persuasive writing makes the child use logic and reason and prove his point of view. It persuades the reader to adapt the writers notion. The persuasion is based on facts, logical reasons and examples.

Persuasive Prompts for Elementary School Kids

How will you convince your teacher to give you more play time?
Convince your dad to take you to the carnival in your town.
How will you convince your mom to let you watch cartoons before bed?
How will you pursue your older sibling to take you along to the mall?
How will you convince your parents to adopt a pet dog?
Persuasive Prompts for Middle School Kids

Why should there be no dress codes at school?
Where and why should you go for a field trip?
Should smoking be allowed in public places?
Write a letter to your school principal asking him to lift the ban of chewing gums in schools.
How will you convince your parents to raise your weekly allowance?
Expository Writing Prompts
Expository writing prompts are used to present reasons and explanation regarding a topic in an step-by-step process. The expository essay should contain a main idea, supporting details and a conclusion in a logical fashion.

Expository Prompts for Elementary School Kids
Explain how you play your favorite game.
Explain whether you like or don’t like staying with a baby sitter.
Explain the smile of your mother.
How do you feel when you visit your grandparents?
What is the best thing about your brother/sister?
Expository Prompts for Middle School Kids
What are the good things and bad things about living in your town? Explain with logical reasons and examples.
What does the phrase, “There are two sides to a coin” mean to you?
Explain your feelings and thoughts when someone picks on you or your friends.
Do you think families are important? Explain with valid reasons and examples.
Is it important to be honest?
Journal Writing Prompts
Journal writing prompts help children remain occupied creatively during their summer holidays. It helps them share their experiences and emotions. Writing journal can become a habit in some children, where they can write and keep a track of all the good and bad experiences of their lives

Journal Writing Prompts for Elementary School Kids
Write about your fishing experience. when you went with your dad.
Write about your favorite hobby and how do you pursue it.
Which is your favorite season and why?
If you were a bird, you would……
What would happen if you could talk to animals?
Journal Writing Prompts for Middle School Kids
What would you do if you could fly?
Write about your favorite pop star. Explain his music and why it appeals to people?
Make journal entries describing how you spend your week.
Gather information about the likes and dislikes of all your classmates.
Write a description on an extinct species and what would have happened if it were still alive.
Essay Writing Prompts
Essay writing prompts require short articles to be written from the writer’s point of view. It is written to explain the meaning of the statement used as a prompt. Essay writing prompts can be based on personalities, subjects, events, etc.

Essay Prompts for Elementary School Kids
Write an essay on visit to the zoo.
Write an essay on ‘My Mother’.
Write about your best friend.
What would you do if you were 5 years older.
Write an essay on your favorite toy.
Essay Prompts for Middle School Kids
How will you like to spend your free time?
Our Sports Day function.
The most beautiful place or scene you ever saw.
Write an essay on benefits of a healthy diet.
If I were the President…….
There are many ideas that can be used to make creative writing prompts for children studying in elementary school and middle school. The writing prompts should be simple yet make the children ponder while writing. Different types of writing prompts help children improve their writing skill and make them aware of their surroundings. Creative writing prompts can be fun-filled assignments and you never know, when you may discover the next Enid Blyton or J.K. Rowling in your child.