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Staying alertNo annotation specified You are a freelance writer and work from home. You wake up one morning and find yourself buzzing with a fantastic topical idea. You have no doubt in your mind that you could turn it into a huge copy success. But then you meandered to another idea that has nothing to do with writing and another idea and another idea. By the time you get to your desk, you check your e-mails then go on line and get your credit report, let’s say. You spot a mistake and before you know it, you’ve spent half the day querying it. The fantastic idea you awoke with is now hazy and you’ve lost all motivation to follow it up and there goes a wasted and unpublished ‘nugget.’ How many times have you done this? Many times, sure. How then do you stay focused on your idea[s] so as not to fritter them away? By not focusing, you’ve not only lost the essence of the idea, and missed the opportunity to get it published, but you’ve lost a copy that you could have been credited for, added to your portfolio and not to mention loss of a fee. The best suggestion there is, that will pay off in the long run and is effective, is write things down. Better yet, keep a Dictaphone handy to speak your thoughts and ideas. Either avenue will ensure that if you take an indirect route from your idea, you will not lose the essence. Even if the thoughts seem insignificant at a moment, note them so that when you're ready to prepare your outline, you have something to start with. It is amazing how quickly you can forget something that you thought would stay with you, so keep notes on every thought and ideas relevant to what you do. Many of us couldn’t count the times we didn't write something down immediately upon thinking of it and later couldn't remember it no matter how hard we tried. Make it a point, even if the idea occurs in the middle of the night, to quickly jot a few words down on the pad kept beside your bed. Yes, keep a pencil or pen and a pad on your night stand. Even if it’s only key words you jot down they will jolt your memory and bring the idea to the forefront for when you are ready to pitch to a magazine or newspaper editor. © 2008 Cherry-Ann Carew If you would like to use or quote one
of my articles in your E-zine, newsletter, or magazine or you want me
to write an article for your publication? No problem. If quoting,
please do so in its entirety. If you would like me to write an article Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com
ABOUT THE AUTHORCherry-Ann Carew is the former sports editor of Blaqsport Journal and former freelance sports journalist for The Voice Newspaper in England. She currently lives in the USA and works as copyeditor and writing coach. See http://writercacarew.com for more info 
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