Sharing A Few Thoughts On Writing International English for the WWW (Updated)

Article Title: Sharing a few Thoughts on Writing International English for the WWW (Updated)
Author: Craig Lock (Eagle Productions NZ)
Category/Subject: Writing Hints, Writing Tools, Internet Marketing, Writing, Creative writing, Writing Course,
Other Articles are available at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles.html
(Personal growth, self help, writing, internet marketing, words of inspiration and money management)

Publishing Guidelines:
We hope that the following article (formatted to 65 characters,
approx) may be informative and helpful to your e-zine readers,
or on your web site. If it helps others "out there" in any way,
then we're happy. This article (as with all my articles) may be
freely published, electronically or in print.

If they help others out there in any way, then we're happy."
"We share what we know, so that we all may grow."

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SHARING A FEW THOUGHTS ON WRITING INTERNATIONAL ENGLISH ON THE WWW

"It's easy being a writer... the hardest part is figuring how to
make a living, whilst one does so."

"A person who works with their hands is a laborer; a person who
works with their hands and their brain is a craftsman; but a
person who works with their hands and their brain and their
heart is an artist."
- Louis Nizer

Here is my "dime's worth" (see learning "American English" , or at least
your expressions already) on the subject of writing for an international
audience on the world wide web. The Web is a mix of different international cultures (even amongst English speaking nations), yet there may be differences in understanding and interpretation of your words with different peoples. Still the "net" offers you an opportunity,
unique in history, to target and speak directly to millions of potential customers at minimal marketing cost.

Some commentators advise that if you want to be listened to,
speak to them "in their language".
I only partially agree (but then, I'm always breaking the rules - story of my life!)...

When I write articles for "the international market" of the net, I don't
target particular countries and try to adapt my writing style.

I've found that people around the world don't seem to mind the fact
that I may use "funny" words or spelling - small details, like "s's"
instead of "z's", color or colour...as long as the grammar is reasonably correct.

I just try to write in my "natural style" and try in bring dashes of my "funny/weird humour - one in which I feel comfortable
(seeing I was brought up in South Africa with British English) and
suggest you writers do the same. Let your unique personality come shining through the phone lines.

Incidentally, I put this short note at the end of many of my articles (especially in the past, when my confidence on the web was still growing)...

"PS: Dear Americans, please excuse my British English spelling. Very Colonial!

I just write and use my own style and spelling,
one that I'm accustomed to (sounds funny that ending sentence in a "preppie").

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To sum up...

My advice is just find your "natural style" by writing as you
speak- as practice writing in your "natural style" breeds confidence.

Then submit your articles to ezines and announcement lists, like
Article Announce, Free Content, Article Publish, Publisher Network, Read-My-Articles, The WriteArticles, Free-Reprint Articles, Free Ezine Content, FreeWrites, ArticleSubmission and Netwrite-Publish-Announce. Also to high traffic and popular web sites (check out Google). We find this marketing method by far the most effective means of getting traffic to our various sites (and one thing then leads to another)... and best of all it costs nothing, but a little time and effort!

Make sure your layout is good (not one of my strong points!), as this greatly enhances your prospects of getting published.

Hope this may help you "spaced out readers out* there in cyberspace".
Enough "outs" - bad grammar "out-of-it, Craig!)

Happy writing and as the famous shoe company's slogan says...

Just GO FOR IT and happy writing

Craig Lock (Eagle Productions NZ)

"All my life I've wanted to be someone; I guess I should have been more specific."
- Jane Wagner/Lily Tomlin (1939- )

"Let your light shine through your words to
impact and help others ...to inspire people throughout our
(sometimes happy and sometimes dark and sad, yet always beautiful and magical) world."

"Life is about finding, then following the dream...
and one's dream/vision comes to reality through believing in yourself, making the commitment and then creating it."
- Craig Lock

P.S: On re-reading this short piece, found I used a lot of "eyes". Very
"ego-centric" (big word). Sorry, but didn't know how to write it any other way based on my experiences!

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"You will do foolish things, but do them with enthusiasm."
- Colette

"Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to use the Internet, and he won't bother you for weeks."

About the author:
Craig is a writer, who believes
in sharing information, as well as encouraging and helping others to find their talents and gifts, to strive for and accomplish their dreams in life - whatever they may be.
http://www.craiglockbooks.com

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"If you have knowledge, let others light a candle to it."
- Margaret Fuller

That's a metaphor, btw!