With so many groups online you need to determine what you would like from the group, your writing niche (science fiction, crime, romance etc) and of course if the group objectives are aligned with yours. I found a great article The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly, or How to Choose a Writers’ Group by Holly Lisle that gives you rules to use when choosing an online group.  

So choose wisely since your group will be important in mentoring you to a successful writing career.

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The tips are:

1. Create an outline

2. Write every day - block out some time for it even if it is 10 min a day

3. Leave the editing until you are finished

4. Research is important

And above all have fun with the process.

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Make that time count for something!
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Happy writing

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The author gives 5 steps for finding jobs some of which are obvious and some of which you may not have considered. One example is joining newsgroups for writers. I will tell you that I never considered that one as a potential location for finding jobs. If you wish to read the article (it is a short 2 min read) you can find it at How to Find a Writing Job Online.

You can also check out Hourly writing jobs for more tips on jobs.

Hope this helps

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So what exactly are these rules? And what do we mean by humanity?

I do recommend that you give the article a read. It is quite a lighthearted read however it makes you think about the meaning of your life. Around this time of year it is common for most people to become introspective, looking back over the year past to determine what they did, could have done better and to establish goals for the future. All great however what exactly do we gain from the process if we take no action and set goals which we know we will break.

So this year I urge you to take a different spin on things - do the introspection, reflect on what can be and forget about making the goals. When the time is right - sometime early in the New Year you can consider to make monthly attainable goals. You will find at the end of the year that your life was better and had much more of an impact than the year past.

Have a life,
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is it to be the spectator or the player? To make an impact or be a lump of clay?

Each of us need to look within ourselves to dicover what we can do - it may be just being kind to someone or mentoring a young child. That one small act can lead to so much good.

Take time and do something for this place we call our home.

Here’s to you all

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For others you may be far away from your family however there are you new friends. Take joy in the rich friendships you have.

And yet for others there may be no friends or family. To you I say get out there and find a community event where you can be part of a group and feel the love. This may sound a bit cheesy however one never knows what may henn unless you just give it a try. You may find yourself in a conversation with someone who becomes a friend at a time when you need one. Or someone gives you a smile.

And we must remember those who are ill and ailing at this time of the year. My prayers go out to you and your family.
Blessings to all

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Shelly

1. A great tool for building link popularity

2. A way to promote your website by using article directories - you get back links to your site thorugh this method

3. To provide free content for webmasters and bloggers who reprint your articles on their sites - this is quite a valuable often overlooked resource since the article was chosen because it met the specific requirements of the site owner

4. A way to build your online presence as a trustworthy expert 

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