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Blog

Days to Celebrate in September

August 25, 2023 Post a comment

September: Self-Improvement Month. Take some time to improve yourself. What class will you take or conference will you attend to improve your business self? Think ahead and sign up for an on-demand training!

September 4: Labor Day. This day recognizes the men and women who labor to build this country. As self-employed professionals, many tend to work on this day, but what will you do to celebrate?

September 6: National Read a Book Day. Grab a book (a fun read or even one for professional development) and spend the day reading.

September 10: National Swap Ideas Day. Share a creative or helpful idea with a client or colleague.

September 12: National Day of Encouragement. This day is dedicated to uplifting people around us and making a positive impact. Who can you encourage?

September 15: National Online Learning Day. This day recognizes the advantages and vast potential of online learning and the accomplishments of these students. What can you study today to improve your skills? NAIWE hosts monthly webinars to help you improve your skills!

September 19: National IT Professionals Day. This day is set aside to honor the venerable geeks of the world we all rely on to keep us connected.

September 22: American Business Women’s Day. A day set aside to honor and reflect on the contributions and accomplishments of the millions of women in the workforce and the millions of women business owners in the United States.

September 24: National Punctuation Day. A period, a comma, a semicolon, a question mark, and an exclamation point are examples of some of the punctuation used in writing to separate sentences and their elements and to clarify meaning. National Punctuation Day commemorates these and all punctuation marks.

September 29. National Coffee Day. According to an expert cupper (a professional coffee taster), there are four components of a perfect cup: aroma, body, acidity, and flavor. Linger over s cup today while examining the importance of your words.

Categories: National Days

2023 Summer Challenge

August 21, 2023 Post a comment

This summer, NAIWE is challenging you and your fellow NAIWE members to be the best version of yourselves. You may personalize this challenge to fit your needs and summer goals. Choose a book to read that you classify as a self-help book even though its genre is far from that. Choose a project that has been nagging at you but will also produce great reward upon completion. And finish the challenge by spending some quality time with our experts learning how they mastered creating multiple steams of income. Throughout the challenge, be true to yourself and your goals!

There are three parts to this challenge:

  1. Read one book that will stretch your mind and inspire your creative spirit. The 2023 Summer Challenge is a great way for you to catch up on those business reads that have been piling up.
  2. Finish one project that’s been nagging at you for longer than you care to admit. This is not so much about the length of time to complete the project as it is about finishing what you started. (For some motivational tips, listen to NAIWE’s Productivity Expert Meggin McIntosh’s teleclass on How to Complete Your Projects, Especially the Ones that Have Been Bugging You.)
  3. Brainstorm a new project that will bring you an additional stream of income, then take the first step to make it happen. NAIWE is willing to be your partner and advocate to bounce ideas off of.

As you finish your one nagging project, leave a comment below about your accomplishment and how it made you feel.

Categories: Events

Book Review: The Little Lion

August 18, 2023 Post a comment

The Little Lion

Author: Nancy Wright Beasley

Laibale Gillman was naturally brave. At the age of four, he rescued his older brother from a large, ferocious dog by distracting the snarling animal with a rake while Moshe — who was terrified of dogs — ran into the house. Because of this bravery, Laibale’s mother nicknamed him “the little lion.”

Laibale also had an innate mechanical ability. He used this ability to work on his motorcycle and to fix things for his mother and neighbors.

At 15 years old, Laibale raced motorcycles. In this opening scene, Laibale was determined to win the race, to beat the other boys who now attended Catholic school and teased him for being a Jew. When Joel, a friend participating in the race, crashed into Mr. Todras’s potato cart, Laibale’s quick reactions allowed him to avoid the accident, speed along, and win the race.

Laibale was a typical teenager living in Kaunas, Lithuania, when Nazi troops forced his family and thousands of other Jews into Kovno Ghetto, where they endured persistent threats of beatings, starvation, and death.

In the ghetto, Laibale’s skills came in handy. His ability to work on engines proved useful and allowed him to have some freedoms within Kovno Ghetto, as the Nazis found him to be a valuable asset. Laibale took advantage of the freedoms and also took additional risks over a two-year period of escaping the barbed-wire fence to return with food, medicine, and hope. Laibale, showing courage beyond his years and living up to his nickname, devised a plan that helped several of his family members escape to freedom — at a time when some 40,000 individuals (the vast majority of them Jews) were being executed within a few miles.

Without having read the acknowledgments, a reader would not know that this book was the thesis for the author’s MFA in children’s literature. The book is well-written, and the scenes are extremely vivid. The author uses few words to develop entire scenes and involve the reader as a participant in the story.

As a rare privilege, this book was adapted for a screenplay where the Nazi horrors came to life. This book — and the play — shares the risks Jews took to survive. The timeless messages are presented in a way that will grab the readers’ attention and keep them hooked until the end.

This book is a good educational read for young adults learning about the Holocaust, but it is also an excellent read for all readers as a great reminder of what occurred in 1941. The Little Lion emphasizes the importance of being brave and selfless in a time of German oppression. This book is sure to spark discussion among fellow readers.

The Little Lion: A Hero in the Holocaust is the remarkable story of a teen’s heroism during the horrors of the Holocaust.

Categories: Book Reviews, Member Benefits

An Author’s Co-Pilot

August 14, 2023 Post a comment

Developmental editing, also known as substantive editing, structural editing, or heavy line editing, can begin even before the author starts writing. The developmental editor may help plan the organization, features, and other aspects of the work. Although the author is technically writing the text, the editor may work with the author to create an outline to help with organization as early as possible in the writing process.

For many traditional publishers, developmental editing is completed in-house, so the publisher can ensure the overall product fits within the brand the book will be published under. The developmental editor may help establish the goal for the book and define the goal for each chapter within the book.

Once the outline of the book has been refined, many publishers will then outsource copyediting to a freelance copyeditor.

To learn more about developmental editing, check out Editing 101’s Lesson 1.

 

 

April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive Director

April Michelle Davis has been the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) since 2018. Prior to that, she was NAIWE’s Social Media Marketing Expert. NAIWE is an association that focuses on career building for writers, editors, and other professionals in the publishing industry by developing multiple streams of income; it helps its members market their products and services through social media, newsletters, and more.

She is also the coordinator for the Virginia chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association, a lifetime member of the American Copy Editors Society, and a freelance editor, indexer, proofreader, and author. April Michelle has taught courses through her own company, Editorial Inspirations, as well as for associations and colleges on topics such as editing, indexing, grammar, writing, and creating macros.

Her credentials include a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Messiah College, as well as certificates in editing (University of Virginia), book publishing (University of Virginia), and professional editing (EEI Communications).

April Michelle has shared her insights about her career development by contributing quotes and vignettes to several books. She has presented sessions on various editorial topics to many groups, including the Virginia Writers Club, the Communication Central conference, Randolph-Macon College, the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, the EFA, Copyediting newsletter, RavenCon, and the Hanover Book Festival. In addition, April Michelle has published three books.

Categories: News

Member Benefit: Searchable Database

August 11, 2023 Post a comment

Member Benefit #6

NAIWE members are all listed in NAIWE’s free searchable database! The database can be accessed by members and non-members so instead of just hoping for traffic, you can have the confidence that anyone can easily find your NAIWE website. You’ll be able to communicate with readers and potential clients through the information on your NAIWE site.

Visit the NAIWE website to see all of the member benefits.

Categories: Member Benefits

Amy Waters Yarsinske, NAIWE’s Nonfiction Expert

August 4, 2023 Post a comment

We wanted to get to know Amy Waters Yarsinske (NAIWE’s Nonfiction Expert) better, so last month we sat down with her. Here are some thoughts she shared with us.

Do you interview people for your nonfiction projects?

Yes, I’ve done hundreds of interviews (often 100+ on a single project with a significant research and investigative requirement), which I am quite sure are well into the thousands over my 35+ year career.

 

How do you manage controversial topics, or perhaps topics you disagree with?

It is not whether I concur or not with the subject matter but present it fairly and pointedly for the reader; I am not baited into controversy and believe it unprofessional to make something personal. Narrative nonfiction provides ample opportunity to parse controversial subjects. Investigative subject matter is a good example where getting into the controversies can be enlightening for the writer and the reader. Stories should be told honestly and with all the bark on. I don’t shy from that aspect of my writing, and readers and reviewers respect that by and large.

 

Do you come up with the ideas/topics for your manuscripts?

Yes, I do pick the subject matter for my books. The best work comes from what you know and what drives your interest.

——————

This webinar starts with a short introduction from NAIWE nonfiction expert Amy Waters Yarsinske followed by a time for attendees to ask Amy whatever you wanted to know about the multifaceted aspects of writing nonfiction and being successfully published.

You can join in this conversation on August 24, at 2:00 pm eastern, when NAIWE will host a discussion on refining your public speaking skills. The cost for NAIWE members is only $10! Nonmembers can join for $30. Register today!

 

Amy Waters Yarsinske is the author of several best-selling, award-winning nonfiction books, published regionally, nationally, and internationally. Amy’s proposal technique was featured in literary agent/author Peter Rubie’s Telling the Story: How to Write and Sell Narrative Nonfiction; she also did a National Press Club panel with Rubie during the No One Left Behind press tour. She has been a regular contributor with international, national, and regional media, to include continued guest spots on national radio. An American in the Basement: The Betrayal of Captain Scott Speicher and the Cover-up of His Death won the Next Generation Indie Book Award for General Non-fiction in 2014, and No One Left Behind: The Lt. Comdr. Michael Scott Speicher Story earned her literary awards, an incredible press tour, and national/international recognition. With over 30 years in the publishing industry, Amy has published over 85 nonfiction books, most of them spotlighting current affairs, the military, history and the environment with a few biographies and corporate histories interspersed. Amy graduated from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College in Lynchburg, Virginia, where she earned her bachelor of arts in English and economics and the University of Virginia School of Architecture, where she earned her Master of Planning and was a DuPont Fellow and Lawn/Range resident.

Categories: Board of Experts, Events, Professional Development

Days to Celebrate in August

July 28, 2023 Post a comment

August: National Wellness Month. This month focuses on self-care, managing stress, and promoting healthy routines.

August 5: National Work Like a Dog Day. This is a day to pay attention to how hard you are working.

August 7-13: Simplify Your Life Week. This week was dedicated to be an encouragement to refocus your life and declutter. A suggestion is to eliminate things that cause stress or anxiety.

August 8: National Happiness Happens Day. Happiness is a choice. It is not a destination, but a life-long pursuit.

August 8: National Dollar Day. This day commemorates the day Congress established the U.S. monetary system in 1786.

August 9: National Book Lovers Day. A day for those who love to read to find a favorite reading place and settle in with a good book.

August 10: National Lazy Day. Nearing the end of summer, we all need a day to just kick back and do very little.

August 15: National Relaxation Day. Take this day to slow down, unwind, and relax!

August 25-31: Be Kind to Humankind Week. This is a week when we can make a difference in someone’s life by being kind to them.

August 27: National Just Because Day. This is a day to do something unexpected for another (or even for yourself) just because!

Categories: National Days

2023 Summer Challenge

July 24, 2023 Post a comment

This summer, NAIWE is challenging you and your fellow NAIWE members to be the best version of yourselves. You may personalize this challenge to fit your needs and summer goals. Choose a book to read that you classify as a self-help book even though its genre is far from that. Choose a project that has been nagging at you but will also produce great reward upon completion. And finish the challenge by spending some quality time with our experts learning how they mastered creating multiple steams of income. Throughout the challenge, be true to yourself and your goals!

There are three parts to this challenge:

  1. Read one book that will stretch your mind and inspire your creative spirit. The 2023 Summer Challenge is a great way for you to catch up on those business reads that have been piling up.
  2. Finish one project that’s been nagging at you for longer than you care to admit. This is not so much about the length of time to complete the project as it is about finishing what you started. (For some motivational tips, listen to NAIWE’s Productivity Expert Meggin McIntosh’s teleclass on How to Complete Your Projects, Especially the Ones that Have Been Bugging You.)
  3. Brainstorm a new project that will bring you an additional stream of income, then take the first step to make it happen. NAIWE is willing to be your partner and advocate to bounce ideas off of.

After you read your book selection, leave a comment below with the name and author of the book and your takeaway from this book so others will know if they should read this book.

Categories: Events

Book Review: Izzy’s Fire

July 21, 2023 Post a comment

Izzy’s Fire

Author: Nancy Wright Beasley

Bravery was rare during the Holocaust in Lithuania, as many people tried to keep their head down and simply survive. However, the bravery of one small Catholic family saved thirteen Jews.

Chapter 1 opens in the year 1943 in the Kovno Ghetto with Edna Ipson, her son, and her husband escaping in the middle of the night. The tension is strong, and the details are vivid. Edna climbs up on a wagon, and once seated, she regrets how she climbed up, worried that she may have lost a button from her sweater. It is too dark to see, but she slides her hand along her sweater’s edge, counting the buttons. One . . . two . . . three . . . four . . . five. All there!

The reader is quickly captivated by this family to discover if they survive their escape. However, the next few chapters take the reader back in time, leaving the reader to continue wondering and unable to put the book down. Several chapters describe Edna’s life in Lithuania before the Nazis entered. Their simple but happy life was filled with family, friends, and love until 1941. Their life even included a baby daughter, leading the reader to wonder where this baby was during the escape from Kovno Ghetto.

Edna was given the nickname “Izzy’s Fire” when she was young and her husband’s sisters were trying to convince their mother to allow Edna and Izzy to marry. She was called “Simchah Fire,” everlasting flame or unquenchable fire. Izzy’s parents had wanted him to marry a wealthy woman so he could rise in society.

Nancy Wright Beasley is a gifted writer. She is able to keep the information accurate while entertaining the reader at the same time. Beasley brings the characters to life and helps the reader relive the events through the eyes of Edna. She showcases the tensions between family members who make different decisions and shares how families are ripped apart emotionally and physically.

As of 2015, five of the thirteen Jews that were saved were still living. Beasley interviewed survivors and read memoirs, which led her on a seven-year journey of Edna Ipson. This enlightening and empowering book was nominated for a People’s Choice Awards in 2006.

Categories: Book Reviews, Member Benefits

How to Learn a Style Manual

July 17, 2023 Post a comment

Learning a new style manual takes time, and part of being a copyeditor is thoroughly knowing at least one style manual. As you edit, you ask questions, often about the same types of changes, so knowing some items to look up when learning a new style manual can give you a head start in the familiarization process. You may even want to create a style sheet for the new style manual.

When choosing which style manuals to begin studying, keep the following in mind: For general trade books, use CMS. For academic writing, use MLA Style Manual, 3rd ed. or CMS. For journalistic writing, use the Associated Press Stylebook. For scientific writing, use the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association.

Here are some topics you may want to include.

  • Abbreviations
    • How do you introduce acronyms and initialisms?
    • Which state abbreviations do you use: two-letter or traditional?
  • Dictionary
    • Which dictionary does the manual use?
  • Hyphenation
    • AMA Manual of Style (10th ed.): Section 8.3
    • Associated Press Stylebook: Punctuation chapter, “hyphen” entry
    • CMS (17th ed.): Section 7.81
    • The Gregg Reference Manual (11th ed.): Chapter 8
    • Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (6th ed.): Table 4.1
    • The Yahoo Style Guide: Section IV, “Hyphens”
  • Names
    • Personal names
    • Titles of people
    • Organization and company names
  • Numbers
    • Numerals vs. words
    • Plural and possessive numbers
    • Dates
    • Fractions
    • Units of measure
  • Possessives
    • Singular noun
    • Singular noun that ends in s
    • Plural noun
    • Plural noun that ends in s
    • Exceptions to singular or plural rule
  • Punctuation
    • Serial comma
    • Em dash
    • Ellipsis
  • Titles of works
    • Capitalization rules
    • Rules for using italics, quotation marks, or nothing at all

To learn more about style manuals, check out Editing 101’s Lesson 2.

 

 

April Michelle Davis, NAIWE Executive Director

April Michelle Davis has been the executive director of the National Association of Independent Writers and Editors (NAIWE) since 2018. Prior to that, she was NAIWE’s Social Media Marketing Expert. NAIWE is an association that focuses on career building for writers, editors, and other professionals in the publishing industry by developing multiple streams of income; it helps its members market their products and services through social media, newsletters, and more.

She is also the coordinator for the Virginia chapter of the Editorial Freelancers Association, a lifetime member of the American Copy Editors Society, and a freelance editor, indexer, proofreader, and author. April Michelle has taught courses through her own company, Editorial Inspirations, as well as for associations and colleges on topics such as editing, indexing, grammar, writing, and creating macros.

Her credentials include a master’s degree in publishing from George Washington University and a bachelor’s degree in English from Messiah College, as well as certificates in editing (University of Virginia), book publishing (University of Virginia), and professional editing (EEI Communications).

April Michelle has shared her insights about her career development by contributing quotes and vignettes to several books. She has presented sessions on various editorial topics to many groups, including the Virginia Writers Club, the Communication Central conference, Randolph-Macon College, the Christian PEN: Proofreaders and Editors Network, the EFA, Copyediting newsletter, RavenCon, and the Hanover Book Festival. In addition, April Michelle has published three books.

 

Categories: News

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