Rick Warren recently wrote a post about writing “Purpose-Driven Sermon Titles.” (Yes, the man has a franchise. Everything he writes is “purpose-driven.”) The tips he provided for pastors could be for all writers, be they authors of sermons, nonfiction articles or sci-fi novels.

He suggested testing your tentative title with these four questions:

1. Will it capture interest?
2. Is it clear?
3. How appealing is it?
4. Is it relevant?

These are important questions that may prove quite helpful.

On the other hand, they may induce greater uncertainty. Only two of them are clear-cut Yes or No questions. The other two “tests” are rather subjective and seek open-ended answers. I may think it is appealing, but could it be more appealing? Where does it fall on the spectrum of least appealing to most appealing? And how do I know if others will find it appealing?

Here are a few other tips and guidelines for writing great titles.

Keep it short. Three to six words is ideal.

Use your title to label and represent. It should reveal what your content is (label) and who will read it (represent). You don’t want to mislead readers with a label that truly only applies to the first or last paragraph. Nor do you want to use high-impact words that appeal to a demographic that isn’t interested in your content. I once wrote a parenting article with “zombie” in the title. While the definition of the word was just what I wanted to portray, it didn’t adequately describe the article nor attract loving parents my direction.

Employ your Thesaurus wisely. You may want a more exciting way to say what you mean, but make sure you know what the words mean. Don’t choose words that you wouldn’t normally use. Use your Thesaurus to remind you of great words you already know.

Don’t settle too soon. First ideas are rarely the best. Keep a running list of tentative titles. Mull them over as you write your piece. Eventually one will stand out. Or you’ll come up with something even better.

For more tips on writing great titles, follow these links:

• How to Write Magnetic Headlines, an 11-part series at CopyBlogger
• Hook Your Readers with Great Chapter Titles

Oh, but that was almost twenty years ago! Surely I don’t do things like that any more – right? Two years ago I wrote a book proposal. I used the word “intimate” 13 times in just 3 double-spaced pages.

Every writer has favorite words. Those pets change as we grow and work on different projects. They transform with the culture and the trends that create proper contemporary buzz. (I’ve noticed far too many instances of “chortled” in Christian chick-lit lately. Apparently, giggling is out and chortling is in.)

There is nothing wrong with having favorite words. There’s nothing wrong with keeping your finger on the pulse of popular culture and tuning your language to it. The problem, though, is in overuse. Reiterated words and phrases lose power. Worse: undue repetition causes readers to glaze over. They start to skim the pages thereby reducing the chance that the words you’ve worked so hard to craft will actually affect their lives.

Think carefully on how you employ your favorites. Do you write hypnotically with comfortable default or choose wisely each word’s frequency?

Author and writing mentor Camy Tang suggests a quick and easy tip for minimizing overuse. She calls these favorites “hot words” and here is how she cools off on them.

1. Keep a running list of your “hot words.”
2. Use the search feature in your writing program to find every instance of use. (In Microsoft Word, this is called “Find” and it’s located under the “Edit” tab of the toolbar.)
3. Evaluate the word’s effectiveness within context. Not every instance needs to be altered, but if you find you’ve used the same word several times within a couple pages, you’ll want to consider changes. Is this the best word for this particular part of the manuscript? Is there another word that might be more effective? One that might strengthen the piece as a whole?

The whole process will only take a few minutes of your time and it will reduce the need for extensive (and possibly embarrassing) editing later.

Special Note: this rule applies to undue repetition. Many writers are also speakers. The rules are different for speech writing than they are for published writing. Speakers can get away with far more repetition than authors. In fact, good speakers utilize repetition to a fruitful advantage. Conference attendees cannot rewind your talk to figure out what you just said, so you must say it again and again to ensure proper understanding and retention. Readers, however, can easily back up a page or a paragraph or even a chapter to remember what they’ve already read. In most cases, they don’t need you filling extra pages with redundant information.

If you’re writing a speech, go ahead and repeat yourself! If you’re writing something else, keep your information and your words fresh. A thesaurus rarely hurts anyone.

Eats, Shoots & Leaves: The Zero Tolerance Approach to Punctuation

by Lynne Truss

Available in paperback, hardback, Kindle and other formats. Gotham, 2006; ISBN: 1592402038; 235 pages.

This book was a #1 New York Times bestseller a few years back. Before that it was a British bestseller and before that a top-rated radio show. If you haven’t read it, you should.

One might assume an over-200-page book on punctuation might be the perfect cure for insomnia. To the contrary, this title is quite entertaining. The author has started a revolution against poor punctuation usage. Fueled by passion, an acerbic wit, and a deep understanding of the history of language, the author motivates readers to take a full stand. Rules and explanations are included, of course, but only within the context of great stories and logic. By the end of this book, you’ll be a card-carrying member of her vigilant watch.

My copy even includes a Punctuation Repair Kit! That’s right; I am armed with giant apostrophe, comma and period stickers to correct foolish attacks on the English language. After reading this book, (hopefully) I can employ them properly.

Final Thoughts: Great book. Learn the rules without pain or boredom.

I don’t have an office. I have a bedroom. Or a couch. Or a dining room table. None of these encourage proper work posture. The table is too high, the couch is too low, and the bed, while extremely comfortable, is one big level. It often finds me hovering over Tamar like a giant pretzel. While reclining may not be ideal, it definitely is more comfortable.

Here are a few great options for working in bed (or wherever else your legs can stretch). Bonus: none of them look like hospital tables.

• Laptop Laidback (pictured) – $99.00
• Lapworks Off the Lap Stand – $99.95 (Other laptop desks are available through this site as well.)
• LapDawg – designs start at $59.00

WebWorkerDaily posted about reclined computing in January. Read Charles Moore’s article for more details and reviews.

Working with a Coach

I took the plunge and hired a coach late last year. She’s been a fabulous addition to my team and is worth every penny. Here’s how I’m benefiting:

• Accountability: At the end of each session, we identify 3-5 activities for me to complete by our next session. I don’t want to disappointment my coach or embarrass myself so I find I’m highly motivated to get my “homework” done each month.

• Advice: I’m able to outline my thoughts and then ask for her advice. Though she doesn’t always say, “This is what I think you should do…” she is always able to ask pertinent questions to help me come to a decision I’m comfortable with.

• Expertise: My coach has small business acumen and more importantly to me, is an expert in online marketing, something that intimidates me. I have a lot of questions about how to implement my online marketing ideas and she’s a great resource for getting the answers I need. When I’m stuck, she reminds me that I don’t have to know how to do everything and that between us, we can find the resources to implement even the craziest ideas.

• Companionship: Let’s face it, being a solo-preneur can be a lonely endeavor. My coach gives me someone to bounce ideas off of as well as the comfort of having someone along on the journey with me. Knowing someone else is rooting for me encourages me to continue to strive for excellence.

If you’re looking to help your business reach new heights in 2010, consider hiring a coach. Doing so is a great way to stretch yourself and grow your business.

So, how do you find the right coach for you? I suggest the following:

• Referrals. Ask friends and colleagues if they can recommend anyone to you. Listen to conversations. If you hear someone mention that they work with a coach, ask if they’d be willing to share the name and contact information. Referrals are by far the best way to find a coach.

• Identify specifically what you need help with. Do you need help increasing your income? Decreasing your expenses? Someone to brainstorm marketing ideas with? Or, do you have plenty of ideas but lack the follow through to do them? In this latter case, you’ll want someone who can use a little tough love to hold you accountable for getting things done. The more specific you are regarding where you need help, the more likely you’ll be to find a coach that’s a good fit for you.

• Search online. Do a search for coaches online. You’ll find plenty! Pick a few sites to go to, read about each coach and his or her philosophy, and watch the videos. You’ll get a sense of who you might feel comfortable working with. Narrow the list to these possibilities.

• Request a complimentary introductory session. This is THE most important step. I “met” by phone with several coaches before finding mine. One coach spent the whole conversation talking about herself. Another spent the entire time saying, “If you decide to work with me, then…” And a third was not at all focused during our conversation, which led me to believe our coaching sessions would be the same way–frustrating for me.

• Make the decision. Know that your coaching relationship won’t last forever. This makes it easier to decide who you will work with. Pick the coach you are most interested in. Then, ask if you can sign up for a limited number of sessions (a minimum of three). You’ll have a good sense of how the relationship is working after several sessions.

Once you take the plunge, be willing to do the work. When you enter a coaching relationship, you’re making a commitment to help your coach help you. And you’re making a commitment to doing homework between sessions as well as to do the heavy thinking required to help take your business to the next level. Coaches see lots of people who are willing to pay for help, but fewer who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work. Your work with a coach only pays off if you’re invested and willing to sweat along with your coach.

Good luck!

Mary Byers is the author of Making Work at Home Work: Successfully Growing a Business and a Family Under One Roof. You can learn more about making work at home work by subscribing to Mary’s free blog at www.makingworkathomework.com.

You can purchase the poster (also available in burgundy and white) for$18 through 826 National.

Where is it: www.writerunboxed.com

Who writes it: Founded by Kathleen Bolton and Therese Walsh, Writer Unboxed offers a contributing panel of fifteen people, the founders included. Among them are award-winning and New York Times bestselling authors, editors and literary agents.

Why you should follow it: Writer’s Digest named this site in their 101 Best Sites for Writers list for three consecutive years (2007-2009). The comprehensive panel ensures thorough subject coverage. It targets fiction writers with great articles about the craft and business of the genre. Many of the discussions are helpful for nonfiction writers as well. All in all, it’s a great resource that encourages writers to be better through teaching and example. I enjoy reading it, even when it doesn’t apply to me, simply because it’s so well written!

Caveats: I can’t think of any.

Wrong Idea, Wrong Publisher
One mistake I see novice writers make again and again is coming up with an idea, then trying to find a publisher to suit it. Most freelancers find better success doing exactly the opposite: They find a publisher they’d like to work with, examine their work, and come up with an idea they think the publisher will love. This is less true in the book publishing world, but before you go to the trouble to write a book query and proposal, you should have a list of publishers who already sell books similar to the one you wish to write.

Or Simply the Wrong Idea
Sometimes there’s a topic you love, but there’s just no market for it. Sure, you can try to angle it in such a way an editor might find it interesting, too; but ultimately, if she doesn’t think readers are interested, she’ll reject your query.

Too Windy
Even though queries are short (no more than a page and a half long – one page is considered better), you should spend a lot of time polishing them. Rambling queries are sure to get rejected. A good format to follow is this:

Paragraph #1: The hook. Use a statistic, a quote, a terrific description, or an anecdote to grab your reader’s attention. For magazine writing, notice what sort of hooks the editor tends to publish, then use that type for your query.

Paragraph #2: Tell the editor how you’ll cover your topic. Bullet points are a nice touch here and a decent working title is a must. Be sure to mention how the editor’s readers will benefit from your piece.

Paragraph #3: Explain why you’re the best writer for the job. (More on this in a moment.)

Paragraph #4: Close, in one or two sentences, tops.

Keep it short, concise, and to the point.

Make it Interesting
Although queries must be short, they shouldn’t be dry. Also, they should reflect the tone of the publisher. For example, don’t write a perky and casual query for a publisher interested in scholarly work.

Sell YOU
Never neglect to tell editors why you are the best writer for the job. Sure, tell the editor about your most impressive and relevant published writing, but also detail your personal experience. For example, if you’re writing a book about parenting preemies, you’d better be able to say you have experience doing just that. Do you have a PhD in child psychology? Have you conducted seminars for parents of preemies? Do you have special access to a preemie expert? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, let the editor know.

Too Many Details
Although some writing books suggest telling magazine editors how long your article will be, this can give editors an excuse to send a rejection letter. Instead, you could show your familiarity with the magazine, but reveal a willingness to write to the editor’s needs. For example: “I envision this piece fitting into your ‘How I Did It’ feature, but I’m open to writing to any format you need.” Or, you could say nothing about length at all.

Ditto all this for giving yourself a deadline. Magazine editors expect freelancers to write their article as soon as an assignment is given; the editor will give you a deadline. You only need to meet it.

Rejected, Still?
Even if your idea seems perfect for the publisher, even if you’ve stated your case in an entertaining, concise, and professional way, you might still receive a rejection. Look at it this way: If you were an editor with a deadline approaching, which would you choose? A writer you’d already worked with and knew was reliable? A writer you’d never worked with, but had impressive credentials? Or an unknown writer without impressive credits? Of course you’d pick the first writer, if possible. If not, you’d choose the second writer in an effort to save yourself time, energy, and money.

So while it’s great to query major magazines, do expect your rejection rate to be higher. And in the meantime, query small and medium sized magazines, where the competition is less fierce. Think about non-writing ways you can boost your bio, too. Giving talks or establishing a well-read blog on a topic you want to write about are two excellent ways to do this. (“Well-read,” by the way, means thousands of unique hits per day.) If you want to sell a book, this process (called “platform building”) is absolutely essential, but many writers forget it matters for magazine work, too.

Although it can be discouraging to receive rejection letters (or, increasingly, no word from queried editors at all), remember that even the world’s greatest writers receive rejections regularly. Above all, remember this: The more queries you mail out, the higher your chances of success.

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Thanks to Kristina for writing this post! Learn more about her and her coaching services at her website or on our Members page.

Perhaps you spend more time on less important writing projects (like social blogs) than on more important projects (like finding and completing paid assignments). You may think you only spend a few minutes on email or Twitter, but those “few minutes” can easily transform into hours. If you knew exactly where your time went, you would know what needs to change to better meet your goals.

Enter RescueTime. This web-based time management and analytics tool helps freelancers, such as yourself, maximize their time use toward greater productivity.

Here’s how:

• Track time, projects and activities: This is similar to features offered in online accounting services, but with a different purpose. Rather than billing your time, you can analyze the efficiency of time spent.
• Compile time data in chart form: This is useful for seeing exactly how your time is spent and evaluating what changes, if any, are needed in your time management.
• Set goals for efficient time use: You can even use this tool to remind you when you’ve exceeded your goals. For example, if you set a goal of only spending one hour on communication, RescueTime will give you a pop-up when you go beyond that, hence stealing time from other goals.
• Block distractions: They call this “Focus Mode.” The people at RescueTime have already categorized certain sites as “distracting,” such as Facebook, Twitter, and Yahoo! games. These are automatically blocked when you enter Focus Mode. You can alter the list to target your greatest distractions and set the clock for the time you designate. Once that time ends, so does the block on those distracting websites.

So, how much does it cost? You can get all this FREE for fourteen days. After the trial, though, you need to select a package. The Solo Lite is free forever, but it may not include all the features you want. Other packages start at $6/month.

Check out the website for information on their team and management packages, too.

The Grammar Devotional

by Mignon Fogarty
Author Website: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/

Available in paperback. Holt Books, 2009; ISBN: 0805091653; 240 pages.

Become a better writer one day at a time. Just like a spiritual devotional, this book offers short, daily readings, usually just half a page. The book is organized by generic weeks so you’re not restricted by the calendar. Rather, you can start wherever and whenever you want. The author’s love of language comes through in her content which spans from practical tips and rules to history, trivia, and games. Usually punctuation is on Mondays, Language Rock Stars on Wednesdays, quizzes and word scrambles on Fridays, word searches and puzzles on Sundays. Simple line illustrations add dry humor to the book.

The included index allows readers to search for specific content making this an valuable reference book as well.

Final Thoughts: I love it! This book offers an excellent (and easy) way to keep your mind sharp without drudging through long, boring exercises and seemingly irrelevant rules. We often forget what we once knew. This little book serves as a welcome reminder.