I'm back at the computer after taking a break to spend time with a cute baby on my maternity leave. Freelancers have an interesting relationship with work and taking personal leave. Since we're self-employed, we don't really get paid time off. Thus, I'm back in the saddle again already and ready to make a portfolio… Continue reading I’m Back and What I’m Working On
Author: RondaBowen
Research Note-Taking Methods Part 1: Taking Notes on Paper
It is vital, when writing, to document any material you used during the research phase. Developing a system for taking and making notes is key. Being able to report quotations and paraphrases accurately depends upon careful research note-taking methods. Here are classic paper-based note-taking methods that work well for any research project. Note: This post… Continue reading Research Note-Taking Methods Part 1: Taking Notes on Paper
How to Create an Annotated Bibliography
An annotated bibliography can be an enormously helpful tool when performing research for a major project. During the preliminary research phase, it can be helpful to create an annotated bibliography so you can see where you are going with your research and so others can follow as well. Endnote, Zotero, and other bibliography programs can… Continue reading How to Create an Annotated Bibliography
Fiction Friday Writing Challenge 2: Letter to an Absent Friend
Today's Fiction Friday Writing Challenge was: Write your challenge submission as a letter from your character to someone he or she hasn’t spoken to in more than ten years. You can find this challenge along with others on the September 1st post listing the Fiction Friday Challenges for this month. Here are the Fiction Friday… Continue reading Fiction Friday Writing Challenge 2: Letter to an Absent Friend
12 Tips to Help You Find Ideas for Your Writing
Are you having difficulty finding writing ideas for your writing? You're not alone. One of the biggest stumbling blocks to getting started on any writing project is not knowing where to start. Generally, that begins with coming up with an idea you're excited about. One of the most difficult things to do when working on… Continue reading 12 Tips to Help You Find Ideas for Your Writing
How to Write a Preliminary Bibliography
An important step in beginning research is to survey the materials available. By formulating a preliminary bibliography before beginning work on a research project, you can help kick-start your project. You can use OneNote, Word, Evernote, Google Docs, or any other word-processing tool to store your working bibliography as you compile the reference materials for… Continue reading How to Write a Preliminary Bibliography
Fiction Friday Challenge Writing Prompts 2-5
As promised here are the prompts for the next four writing prompts for Fiction Friday challenges! If you're looking for ideas for what to write about, why not join in the fun? Each month, I'll post a list of prompts for each week of the month. Each Friday, we'll share what we wrote. This should… Continue reading Fiction Friday Challenge Writing Prompts 2-5
Fiction Friday Post 1: The Things She Never Did
Welcome back to Fiction Friday! This week's challenge was to start a story with the words, "She never..." and then continue writing from there. Did you write something? Share your Fiction Friday post or a link to it in the comments below. The Things She Never Did She never wore braids in her hair. It… Continue reading Fiction Friday Post 1: The Things She Never Did
Using OneNote for Organizing Research
Using Microsoft OneNote for organizing research is a great option when you need to keep your research searchable. Microsoft OneNote can also be used for organizing your classes, like in this Bright Hub article I wrote: "Organizing College Classes Using Microsoft OneNote." Alternatively, OneNote can be used for organizing your projects like in this article:… Continue reading Using OneNote for Organizing Research
How to Write a Letter of Introduction
When writing a letter of introduction (LOI), you want to make a great first impression. There are two main types of LOIs: a letter connecting two people who should know each other and a letter introducing yourself in hopes of securing a job, a networking connection, or selling products or services. This post will focus… Continue reading How to Write a Letter of Introduction