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How to know your best work: Editor's Notes #285
April 17, 2019
Hello,

Far and away the best prize that life offers
is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.

—Theodore Roosevelt


In this issue:

1.Do Your Best Work — Always
2. Tickled my funny bone
3. Interesting Web site
4. Writing prompt
5. Letters to the editor
6. A special offer for you

1. Do Your Best Work — Always
WhenI read Marcia Yudkin’s Marketing Minute last week, I immediately asked for permission to reprint it here because she has fleshed out something I constantly tell writers who want me to edit their work. "Do Your Best Work - Always" tells you how to know you’ve done your best writing.


Do Your Best Work — Always
by Marcia Yudkin

I once admonished a copywriting mentoree for not proofreading an assignment before sending it to me. "I want to see only your best work, every time," I said.

"How can I know whether something is my best work?" he shot back.

Here's a little checklist to help answer that question.

* Did you set your work aside and then look through it carefully to eliminate embarrassing mistakes?

* Did you pay attention while completing the task, instead of working on autopilot?

* Are you confident you did a better job than you would have done last year, or five years ago?

* Did you go above and beyond what was asked of you in some little (or bigger) way?

* When you finished, did you feel satisfied with what you'd done, as opposed to feeling glad that it was over with?

* Can you hand in the work with a clear conscience, and no excuses or blaming of others fluttering around in the back of your mind?

Take any "no" or "sort of" answer to the above as a red warning light, and change your work routines accordingly.

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2.Tickled my funny bone
Headline: Miners Refuse to Work after Death

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3. Interesting Web site
For more of Marcia’s wisdom, visit her site to subscribe for yourself.
https://www.yudkin.com/markmin.htm

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4. Writing prompt
Write for one minute. Set a timer. After you are finished, count your words. How much you can write in one minute?

Here’s a topic to get you started:

A character arrives at work. Nothing is in the expected place. What happens next?

I’d love to see what you can do in one minute.

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5. Letters to the editor
Hi there,  

I found your revision tips to be a great idea – keeping tabs on areas you might need to return to.  

I think, there is another area where keeping track is important – that is the timeline of a long novel or series. Or simply the time of certain events.

This was a discussion that came up in my writers group. I am into a story, set back in the 1970s, and refers to people and events even earlier. I had to be sure the relative ages of people were right, and that real events in the background were correct. Also, one of my group members was writing about the 1940s (here in Melbourne Australia) – after I looked at his draft, and pointed  few things out – he realised that there was wartime rationing at the time of his story, and that would need to be added to make the story stronger.  

Margaret Gregory
Managing Director
Tried and Trusted Indie Publishing
https://www.tatindiepublishing.com.au/

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6. A special offer for you
I am a book designer in Victoria BC, Canada and I would like to work with you to design your book. I have over 6 years experience in graphic design and I am looking to work with independent authors. Services include: Cover Design, Typesetting, eBook Design, Bookmarks, Business Cards, Createspace & KDP Management, and Author Websites. Exclusive deals for subscribers of Editor’s Notes, email to find out more.
sjbarnesdesign@gmail.com

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