"When real music comes to me - the music of the speres, the music that surpasseth understanding - that has nothing to do with me, cause I'm just the channel. The only joy for me is for it to be given to me, and to transcribe it like a medium...those moments are what I live for."
Recommended Products
Featured Articles Articles
The Free-Reprint Articles Powerhouse and Copyright Law Writing articles is definitely a very solid method of building a client base for your online business. There is no doubt about that. The writers I speak with who use free-reprint articles for the promotion of their businesses all proudly talk about the ... Why Ezine Articles Make Me Dance I wrote my first ezine article in December 2001. I titled it 'The Power of Online Friendship'. It was five paragraphs long and contained 3 typos. I used it to promote 'The Free Promotion Tips Ezine', an ezine of mine that has long since faded into the ... Why You Should Get Your Articles Syndicated While there are numerous benefits to syndicating your articles, it is a time-consuming process. That is why many people only syndicate a few articles and do not fully realize the potential associated with syndicated articles. While not doubting the ...
10 Tips for Writing Exotic Articles About Where You Live
Starting off: One indispensable resource is the telephone book. These pages contain enough starting information for you to produce reams of articles, if you know where to look. The front pages often contain maps, contact data for government agencies, museums, libraries, other reference sites and key organizations. Listings under clubs, fraternities, and organizations yield special interest groups just clamoring for promotional or human interest pieces. Thumb through your directory, you'll start generating ideas right away. Buy every postcard you can find related to your area. Key names, dates and facts on local sites will be printed on the back. Be sure to check out any available antique postcards of the area as well. Assemble them into a future reference scrapbook. Enter your town name and local sites key words from the postcards into several internet search engines. By following up on the results, points you'd never imagined can generate article ideas or new slants on "old" stories. You'll doubtless be spending eons of time at the library anyway, so get to know the reference department staff if you don't already. They are invaluable allies in your quest for all types of knowledge. For the price of a cup of coffee rich rewards can be reaped as you chat with staff members informally. Ask for suggestions for article ideas. Don't have a library card? Get one - and use it. Readers may not be writers, but writers are always readers. If you're not scanning the daily papers and historical archives at the local library you're missing out on a treasure trove of idea-starting news pieces. The TV/radio news and commentary: Local events are often mirrored at broader levels. Never assume that a seemingly "local" problem is only of interest locally. When houseflies became a serious problem in a small Latin American town, I queried European and Asian magazines about possible interest in an article on what the townsfolk did to not only solve the problem, but make money from it too. An international magazine expressed its interest almost immediately. Tune in AM band talk radio broadcasts. Note the issues and contact information. Scrutinize them from different viewpoints. Talk with the station, friends, and family. Research radio or TV program featured sites, locations or businesses. Crime: What was the most publicized, infamous crime committed in town? A robbery? Kidnapping? Arson? Murder? A modern re-telling of the events or a follow-up on the aftermath might be of interest to numerous crime magazines, police gazettes, law enforcement and insurance industry trade publications. Ghost tales can be both fascinating and profitable. Is a local site reputedly haunted? Cemeteries are a veritable cache of interesting ideas. Look for the unique, researching facts by Internet or
newspaper archives. Talk to caretakers too. Food: Almost every place has a hometown recipe or concoction they're proud of. What's its origin and special significance? How long has it been passed down? Are ingredients only available locally? Can people make it elsewhere? Can unavailable ingredients be substituted? Hotel, restaurant and bed & breakfast reviews are also marketable. In my hometown, eighteenth century Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like shoo-fly pie, apple butter, three bean salad, and chicken corn soup grace our tourist- attracting menus. An informative or historical piece, or perhaps a recipe collection might be just the ticket. Celebrity appearances: Maybe Elvis didn't sleep there (or maybe he did), but if ANYONE of note passed through, stopped or stayed, there are those who'd like to hear about it. The celebrity can be historic or modern, represent any walk of life from Art to Zen, or be their spouses, family and descendents. With an advance schedule of events, you can profile upcoming concert performers and try for interviews. Public relations and publicity offices carry stock bios on celebrities, which you can use as a start. Music is of worldwide interest; an unusual type performed in your area could spiral into specialized pieces on local artists, artisans or exotic instruments like the accordion, harmonica, dulcimer, harp or zither. Where and how are they crafted? Are lessons available? Why is the instrument attached to the local area? If it exists elsewhere, compare your area with any others. Nature: Are there seasonal invasions of bees, butterflies, bats, or other critters? Is your area home to an unusual species? A haven for hummingbirds? A wildlife sanctuary? Wildlife and environmental publications might like the story. Zoos, insect museums, pet shops and university departments are good starting sources. I discovered a family-run business that cultures butterflies then releases them at weddings, parties and other special occasions in addition to giving presentations at schools, trade shows and environmental conventions. Have you noticed a bizarre or curiously-shaped tree? Check with neighbors and the city planning commission. See if there's a tale attached to that trunk or another natural wonders in the area. Sports or Fairs: Cover city, county or state events with an eye to unique angles and multiple marketing. Look for interesting viewpoints. Talk to category winners. Are they elderly, ethnic, or handicapped? Family secret sharers? View the events in different ways. Take photos. Surely your area proudly hosts some tournament, race, rally or marathon? How contestants prepare, interviews with sponsors, family and fans are possible article generating material. When a backyard row of huge collard greens drew attention to my late grandmother's fertilizing methods winning her a mention at the county fair, I wrote it up. (She'd used free elephant dung from a visiting circus as fertilizer.) Whatever your writing genre, diamonds-in-the-rough ideas for articles abound all around you. Continually note ideas, brainstorm, observe, listen, converse and question everyone you can. Keep a calendar of local and regional events. Stay abreast of happenings. You'll never again say, "Here? There's nothing worth writing about around here."
About the Author Larry M. Lynch is a writer and photographer specializing in business, travel, food and education-related writing in South America. His work has appeared in Transitions Abroad, South American Explorer, Escape From America, Mexico News and Brazil magazines. He researches articles throughout Latin America and teaches at a university in Cali, Colombia. To get original, exclusive articles and content for your newsletter, blog or website.
Articles News
Most Commented Articles - Orange County Register A tag cloud is a visual list of key terms associated with a piece of content. Larger and bolder tags are more relevant to the content. To see a list of items associated with a particular tag, click on the tag below
More Sport articles - Pretoria News Pink has been very much in vogue during this third and final Test. Pink stumps, pink on-field advertising, pink on-shirt advertising for the Australian team, baggy pink caps, pink bandanas, pink shirts and pink dresses. [ Full Story
EU calls for resumption gas supplies - Salon Jan 7th, 2009 | PRAGUE, Czech Republic -- The European Union has called on political leaders in Russia and Ukraine to restore gas supplies to EU member states. Russia has confirmed that gas shipments to European consumers have stopped. It says this ...
Dakar Rally says French motorcyclist found dead - Salon Jan 7th, 2009 | PARIS -- Dakar Rally organizers say French motorcyclist Pascal Terry has been found dead during the race in Argentina. Organizers say the 49-year-old Terry had gone missing Sunday during the second stage of the race, between Santa ...
Sign Up for Bleacher Report - Bleacherreport.com You must register in order for that functionality to work! I am a Sophmore at Mongomery Blair High School outside Washington D.C. I love Manchester United. Period. My father is from London, England and started supporting them aftering seeing Georgie ...
