Tag: Graphics

Editing Your Own Work

Be it a business proposal, a short brochure, a website, business card, or a completed book of any genre, it’s best not to edit or even proofread your own work.

That second pair of eyes, that alternate mind that confirms or denies whether you’ve made your point; enriched your plot with descriptive, thrilling, emotional scenes; or included the correct steps and keywords to support and reach your logical conclusion is essential to the success or failure of a written piece online or in print.

Much expense can be avoided by getting an editor, ghostwriter, or trusted business colleague involved in not just grammar, spelling, punctuation (copy editing), but also in flow and ease of reading, using the most current terminology and format intertwined with unique design and pleasing, enticing, accurate writing, graphics, and pictures.

Show you care enough to make all forms of media on-target for your audience, specific purpose, and desired response.

Present your writing in the best design possible. It is a reflection of YOU and leaves a lasting impression.

Let Clasid Consultants Publishing make that impression memorable, sustainable, and relevant.

Deborah A. Bowman, CEO

The Genius Of Walt Whitman allows writers to wordsmith their own work to death, but it could lead to marital problems!

The Genius Of Walt Whitman allows writers to wordsmith their own work to death, but it could lead to marital problems!

1 – “Writers are readers, and readers are writers …”

2 – “All writers are readers, but not all readers are writers—many readers ‘could be’ but prefer the mystique of the story and the beauty of words!”

3 – “Writers need readers, and readers need writers. One without the other is a blank page in a dark world.”

Mmmmm . . . In my youthful dream-state today. Who knows why? Maybe because its Sunday and the sun is shining? Maybe because I always have one foot in the dream world? No matter.
Which caption do you prefer?
1
2
3
None of the above
NONE—GET A JOB!
Fill in the blank: ___________________________________________
(my personal favorite vote) Depends on the audience
I don’t really care!

I feel justified by Walt Whitman’s endless revisions: “… I am a part of every person I have ever met . . . and what I assume, you assume . . . [yet] … I separate myself and I sing myself … and we are but Leaves Of Grass.” Walt’s quotes are like the wind, forever changing, so he can never be misquoted. I think he let us choose the version we identify with, so nice of him!

Whitman’s words tell me that we’re all the same, but we’re also vastly different. Even what I was ten minutes ago is not what I am now or what I will become ten minutes from now. We grow and change and evolve with every word we speak and every word we see.

Every word being perceived as perfect only in my eyes (“wordsmithing”) drives my mate crazy (just finish it, already!) but it’s what I live for (why write it, if IT isn’t perfect?). The joy of words is breath for the soul!

Graphics, Layout, and Design (Gandhi’s Vision For India)

Graphics, Layout, and Design (Gandhi's Vision For India)

Most of my own fiction writing requires no graphics except the cover. Now that I am doing some ghost-writing, editing, proofreading, and publishing, I’ve found non-fiction, transformational, business books need graphics to break up the copy and hold the reader’s interest. It’s very different than telling a story where you can’t wait to see what happens to your favorite character!

Of course, Microsoft Publisher is a great program to start the process of incorporating graphics, pictures, and layout design. It’s easy to use and flexible: sizing, framing, changing color, contrast, brightness, and other effects like reflection, glow, WordArt, bevel, shadow, and much more.

I just recently found a great web site: http://www.dreamtime.com . Thousands and thousands of free stock photos or if you need something unusual you can purchase credits to buy photos at extremely low prices ($14.99 bought me enough credits for about 11 pictures).

I was writing a brief non-fiction section for a client on Mahatma Gandhi. We all know that Gandhi was a great spiritual leader, but his story of tribulation in gaining India its independence from Great Britain was one of great sacrifice that failed. No, he did achieve independence, but the plan he had for India as a united, self-sufficient country never materialized after one of his own followers murdered him. The country was taken over by leaders that did not follow Gandhi’s vision. Consequently, India has had social unrest and division among its varied groups of people for over 60 years.

You’re probably wondering why I bring this story up? The icon or symbol of the Gandhi movement was the oldest form of the spinning wheel. It represented the self-sufficiency of growing your own cotton, spinning your own threads, making your own clothes, and the crops feeding the people of the village. I was able to find many, many graphics of this item on dreamtimes and purchase what I needed for about $1.20 in credits. I will include it here as an example of the unusual, but check out dreamtimes for photos and graphics to pull your writing together, mix up the layout, and add interest to your piece!

My New Tag Line

While developing my new business card for the writer/editor/proofreader/designer hat I wear (oh hum, I know so boring, but so necessary), I had a little help from a business partner to come up with my new tag line:

Clasid Consultants Publishing: More Than Mere Words and Pictures!

What do ya’ think? Comments, suggestions, snide remarks?

My love and passion is still fiction. I just need to find the time to write it all down! Then the hard part begins: the edit, the proofreading, the cover design, the fonts, the leading, the layout, the graphics, the logo . . . on and on and on . . . but the better it looks, the better you look. Another tagline I may use at some point:

Words are your “real” first impression!

Deborah A. Bowman, author, writer, editor, ghost writer, proofreader, designer, publisher