Book Review on: The Smart Cookies' Guide to Making More Dough

Linda Randall

I decided to do some research on Bestsellers' and went to the "new" section at the local library. I found a delightful book written by Jennifer Barrett called "The Smart Cookies' Guide to Making More Dough."

It was fun and practical for everyday women and it really amused me that I could find similarities between one of the girls in the book and myself. The many range of ideas on how to make money were incredible. They also tell you how to invest your money and how to save a dollar here and there for those "big ticket" items that you really want to have.

I really liked the chapter about "How to live life the way that you want" I turned to it right away. For this has been my goal and philosophy for 2008, to do something different for once in my life! I like the idea of making more money. Lord knows we can always use a few extra dollars here and there. The girls also give ideas on how to spend that hard-earned cash and get the best deals on the items of choice.

You can see that they did an enormous amount of research on the various websites that you can click on for instant information about topics regarding financial decisions and credit reports and a writer's tips section and how they changed careers.

The part about changing careers was really encouraging to me. I have left my ten-year career of working in call centers to developing the skills required to become a freelance writer and photographer. It's been a battle at times to stick to the plan but I'm happy to report when you take the time and initiative and really focus on what you want out of life you do reach your goals in a matter of time and consequence.

I had to add consequence because now I'm saying if I had only known what this would lead too I would have done it differently. It's been said by almost everyone I've ever encountered and overheard while listening to the conversations around me in a coffee shop or on a bus. I wish I hadn't of done that, I wish I had done it this way instead.

Many a time as humans we regret the decisions of the past yet if we were to go back in time like James Stewart did in "It's a Wonderful Life" we would see that maybe all those decisions we made weren't so bad after all. What I mean is this, sure maybe some of the things didn't work out but think of the people you met and the other things you did while obtaining that goal. Did it change your course in life in any way shape or form?

To be inspired by a book that talks about going out on the limb of life and changing your career and how you do everything from day to day and to see that it turned out a success for these five women is very uplifting. So if your feeling depressed and out of sorts because things just aren't going so well in your everyday life, I encourage you to pick up this book and enjoy a good read! You won't regret it and I will guarantee that you will learn something new and different and that in itself is refreshing to the brain!

I decided to do some research on Bestsellers' and went to the new book section at the local library. I found a delightful book written by Jennifer Barrett called "The Smart Cookies' Guide to Making More Dough."

It was fun and practical for everyday women and it really amused me that I could find similarities between one of the girls in the book and myself. The many range of ideas on how to make money were incredible. They also tell you how to invest your money and how to save a dollar here and there for those "big ticket" items that you really want to have.

I really liked the chapter about "How to live life the way that you want" I turned to it right away. For this has been my goal and philosophy for 2008, to do something different for once in my life! I like the idea of making more money. Lord knows we can always use a few extra dollars here and there. The girls also give ideas on how to spend that hard-earned cash and get the best deals on the items of choice.

You can see that they did an enormous amount of research on the various websites that you can click on for instant information about topics regarding financial decisions and credit reports and a writer's tips section and how they changed careers.

The part about changing careers was really encouraging to me. I have left my ten-year career of working in call centers to developing the skills required to become a freelance writer and photographer. It's been a battle at times to stick to the plan but I'm happy to report when you take the time and initiative and really focus on what you want out of life you do reach your goals in a matter of time and consequence.

I had to add consequence because now I'm saying if I had only known what this would lead too I would have done it differently. It's been said by almost everyone I've ever encountered and overheard while listening to the conversations around me in a coffee shop or on a bus. I wish I hadn't of done that, I wish I had done it this way instead.

Many a time as humans we regret the decisions of the past yet if we were to go back in time like James Stewart did in "It's a Wonderful Life" we would see that maybe all those decisions we made weren't so bad after all. What I mean is this, sure maybe some of the things didn't work out but think of the people you met and the other things you did while obtaining that goal. Did it change your course in life in any way shape or form?

To be inspired by a book that talks about going out on the limb of life and changing your career and how you do everything from day to day and to see that it turned out a success for these five women is very uplifting. So if your feeling depressed and out of sorts because things just aren't going so well in your everyday life, I encourage you to pick up this book and enjoy a good read! You won't regret it and I will guarantee that you will learn something new and different and that in itself is refreshing to the brain!

ook Review : Editing And Revising Text Written By: Linda Randall

This is the first review that I typed and lost. It somehow popped up in my drafts today( I swear it wasn't there before?-creepy)I found this book extremely helpful as I am currently learning to edit my own manuscript. I figure a first impression is a good impression and from what I constantly read from Publishers is the cry for better manuscripts! These people are busy and they have little time on their hands. Besides, it's costly for them to have to comb over your manuscript and do mass editing, when in reality they could take that time instead to read another manuscript. Now if we all pull together and stop sending in sloppy work, we will get published more often and actually promote ourselves in one big way, we care about our work and what it portrays about us.Spelling mistakes - there is no reason for them. Don't rely on spellcheck because your words may be spelled correctly but it may be the wrong word in a sentence. i.e. I took too watching birds. - in this example your words are correct but the sentence structure sounds awkward.Dictionary- I bought a dictionary for two dollars at the Book Depot the other day, and I was so proud of myself for saving money. Then I read Grammar Girls statement, that the new Oxford Dictionary has removed many hypens from words. Guess what now I have to refer to the new book to find out what is spelled correctly. I really find it annoying though, cause I wrote my manuscript months ago and would you believe each time I read a new *writers guide* book I groan? Oh not another change to be made! Yes! One book told me to capatalize all the Mother, Father, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin etc%u2026 You get the picture right? A new book 2008 Writing Guide, now tells me I only capatalize Aunt when followed by her name? It says if I am referring to them as a person. Well I get tired of writing Aunt Matilda a hundred times, so I added dialogue in from one of the Nieces or is that nieces? Now I'm royally confused. I want to submit a great manuscript, but with this not clarified, what do you suggest I do?Sometimes I'm tempted to just throw in the towel. Now I know what they mean by being a persistent writer. It takes patience , perfection and knowledge to stay ahead of the game. It's funny though, I was reading Stephanie Meyer's site the other day and she said that she sent in a terrible synopsis of her book. Can I please have her agents email? I'd love to send you my terrible synopsis. My problem is I've created a hundred characters (I'm sure JK Rowling can relate) and I'm supposed to write a one page query and twenty page synopsis that makes sense and is written in proper english.It would be so much easier to send it text style. Michael a doctor, has a great sex life, falls asleep. dies. Now wouldn't that be much easier to write then a long proper sentence? I am getting my synopsis across right?Okay, when your not a professional publisher or editor, you can feel comfy writing that style, but someone who has been taught and practiced at doing it for years, probably cringes when in a few sentences they can tell when they are dealing with a novice. No wonder some of them refuse "unsolicited submissions". I don't blame them but what if I am a creative person and I come up with some fantastic ideas? You might miss out on making a few bucks. Right now, because of the economy everyone wants the sure thing.Now if retail had that attitude and Mcdonalds, we would be served the same thing over and over again. Give us fresh meat and we grab for it, right away. Twilight was a fresh new concept, something different, colourful, action packed and full of suspense, which is why we went nuts on it. Did you go to the theatre? I think it was more the characters "in the movie" that drove the madness. Every young girl under 15 was screaming her head off before the movie started, by the apperance of that cute blonde guy.(i'm terrible with names; you can all correct me in your mind)

Book Review: Editing and Revising Text - Spooky Computer

Funny, I typed this review this morning and got a knock on my door so I did a save and continue. Answered the door, gave a tour to the landlord to the leaky tap, roof and sewer gas smell, locked the door came back to the computer and it was gone? I look at my dog, "Daisy did you delete my article?"

I couldn't accuse her of eating it (paper only). I have no idea what happened to it. It's off in cyber space. Please let me know if you find it. I shut off my computer totally frustrated (really it took me 30 minutes to write all that and couldn't remember a thing when I wanted to redo it) hopped into the car and went to Walmart.

I decided to order a Mcdonalds chicken value meal minus the mayo( ways to save a buck, ask for the southwestern sauce (reg price $8 meal for $4)), then I wandered around. Found a nice .97 cent picture frame 8.5×11.5 for my Business License, toilet paper's 4 bucks for 28 rolls (the last two) and lots of junk food ($2 doritos, 1.17 pop, 1.00 popcorn.)

I watch American Idol Tuesday and Wednesday nights and those are my junk food nights. Tonight we'll be watching WWE. Well I kind of watch it, I sit there beside my spouse and pretend to like it, meanwhile, I'm reading my books, playing on the internet on my phone (surfs away) and still spending quality time with my dog licking my hands (oh I love massages) and my boyfriend massaging my feet(prerequisite for me watching WWE with him).

One big happy family!

I've been editing my own manuscript and finally I was done! Now I pull out a few books (ahem- the other ones were published in 2002, how was I to know that in 2007, and 2009 everything had changed!) and began to read. My heart began to sink lower and my frustration levels peaked. I had just spent two days, fixing capital letters on my Mother, Father, Aunt, Uncle, Cousin you get the picture.

The new book says you DON"T capitalize them ALL the time? But in my editing book from 2000/2002, you do yell, I'm leaving it! That's it, I've had enough (oblivious to scaring my poor boyfriend and daisy). Daisy starts to bark at me, the boyfriend is yelling "quiet you two I can't hear the TV!" I'm almost in tears, really I was feeling kind of emotional this week and this was the last straw.

I took a deep breath and found the "Editing and Revising Text" in my reading pile and grabbed it. The more I read, the more I realized that my manuscript was not really finished at all.It's a book about essays, journals, article and manuscripts. It's about changing your text so it's more understandable to the reader. That hit home. I had been writing my manuscript knowing the beginning, middle and end. I had received an email that pointed out that a new reader would be LOST in my first chapter. I said, "read the rest of the book, it will clarify itself."

Now after reading the editing book, I feel like a total well you know. needless to say I wrote an apology email and told her I had revised it, and practically rewrote the whole section.(her editing basically scratched out every other word, so I really had no choice).

I guess what I am trying to say is, it's great that you are out there doing research and reading books and trying to better yourself but please be warned, if you intend to be a serious writer, you have to keep up with the times. I read the older books and the newer ones.

Each one shares a bit of insight, but when it comes to finalizing a manuscript, query letter, synopsis, outline and whatever needs to be done, you have to get the latest information and tools required to do the job right. The same goes for those lovely old dictionaries. I was all proud of myself, I went to the Book Depot and saved $12 buying a used/damaged one at the back for $2 (copyright 2004) as opposed to paying $14 for the latest edition.

I read a bit of "Grammar Girl's" book (I shall add that review as well) and found out that the Oxford Dictionary has removed some 19,000(don't quote me on that figure it could be out a few here and there) hyphenated words in 2009! Imagine that, every single word that you learned in grade school (baby boomers hello!) is no longer hyphenated.

I'm finding it harder and harder each day to be a professional writer without going bald from pulling out all my hair, to trying to pinch pennies to buy these new books(why does it have to cost 60 dollars for one book?) I'm currently turning to my local library.

The latest editions are in the reference section. Oh yeah, I get to fight with the rest of the writers in the Niagara Region over one book. Also I am not about to write down every single name, address etc. Good News! Some of the books are being awesome by providing the update news in one section. This way you can actually buy the older book or take it out of the library and just review the companies that your planning to send stuff to and check if the address is the same. Also it's a good idea to call them and verify if the address is correct in the phone book.

In this day and age with so much downsizing and restructuring, I wouldn't be surprised if offices were moving to more affordable digs.I'm recommending this book to students, writers and publishers.

It has many words of wisdom in it and also you might want to take a look at some of the other "writers" books that I've mentioned in the past few days. Last of all, Remember we must take Joy in our editing and when we finally get a big pay check, we can then afford to hire someone to do it for us. *bright thought of the day*

Grammar Girl's Quick And Dirty Tips By Mignon Fogarty

I loved the Grammar Girl's Quick and Dirty Tips by Mignon Fogarty. The book was funny, entertaining and very knowledgeable.Grammar Girl covers the most recent information in regards to punctuation, capitalization, dictionaries and more. She also does Podcasts(I will take the time this week and listen in.)

She writes in a way I've never seen before. It is refreshing and it stimulates the brain. I mean most "Grammar & Spelling" books are kind of dry to read. I'm falling asleep by page two in most cases. This book was fantastic, because she has these cute little cartoons throughout the book giving examples of everything you need to know for sentence structure, punctuation, nouns, verbs,etc.

I think every student should read this book, even children. I started out reading the Scholastic Children's Grammar Books because I was having trouble reading after being in a car accident. I never realized how difficult it would be to study and learn to be a writer. I used to write before and it was natural and I knew it all, I lost my writing job because of the accident.

After the car accident, I couldn't think straight and I was suffering brain damage. It's been three years and I'm still having issues with it. What I liked the most about this book, is that it was written in a way so that even I (with brain damage) could understand it.If you want to learn everything in an easy to read format, this book is the one to pick. Also for those of you out there that have loved ones that have suffered brain damage, or are just learning English, please recommend this book as part of their studies.

They will not only find it humorous to read, but they will be able to learn each section quite easily. Please note - When studying anything, the brain will only retain up to nine things in short term memory; so in order for you to remember it, associate it with a picture or thing and you will find it easier to learn.

Also only do a page or two at a time, read it over several times, let it digest, meditate on it and then practice it in your writing for that day. I find it sticks easier that way.