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Have you joined the ranks of aspiring authors ready to take the next step to self publishing in the digital age of publishing? If so, congratulations! But wait, before you rush off to press, there are some things you should do to prepare your book for successful self-publishing. The preparation step of the self-publishing process includes everything you need to do to your book manuscript before you deliver it to the book printer. This includes deciding your publishing goals.

For example, is your book a personal family history book that you plan to sell to a few friends and family? Or do you plan to mass-market your book to the world? After deciding your market then you should avoid the following common mistakes:

1. Failure to write a Business Plan

This is where your book publishing journey should begin. You don’t have to start with a 15-page document. But do create an outline of all the costs that you will encounter in the self-publishing process.

Outline your costs before publication, after publication and everything from the beginning costs to the shipping price of mailing a book. This is the time you decide whether you should print a small amount of books for family or set up a small publishing company by buying a block of ISBNs.

2. Failure to get ISBN Numbers.

An ISBN number is what identifies you as a book publisher. Currently, it is the only way you can be considered a self-publisher in the publishing industry. At the time of this writing, no one can give, assign or sell you ISBNs except RR Bowker, the U.S. ISBN agency.

3. Failure to invest in Book Editing.

Don’t cut corners here. Invest in your book; get it professionally edited. Copy or line editing will bring your manuscript up to professional standard. Don’t settle for just having your family member take a look at your manuscript.

4. Failure to hire a book designer for book layout.

The book layout is what structures the content of your book and makes it look like a book. Again invest in your book project; this is not the time to settle for anything less than a professional look. If your book looks sloppy, it will limit its success in the market.

5. Failure to invest in cover design.

75% of 300 booksellers reviewed (half from independent bookstores and half from chains) recognized the look and design of the book cover as the most important part. They agreed the jacket is prime real estate for promoting a book. On that note, your book cover design has great importance. It can cause your book marketing campaign to fail or succeed. So, I encourage you to get your book cover professionally designed.

Are you ready to publish your book successfully? Did you consider all your options including a business plan and book cover design? Great! Now that you know how to set up your book for full speed ahead self-publishing, go ahead take the plunge. Don’t wait any longer. Start today. Your audience is waiting for YOUR unique message and viewpoint. Make it different. Make it count. Make it yours.

Are you ready to publish your book successfully? Get FREE instant access to my Self Publisher’s eKit at http://www.selfpublishinghouse.net Earma Brown, 14 yr author, book writing and publishing coach

For many students writing a research paper can be a major pain. Regardless, writing research papers is an important part of the education process and must be done. Another option which more and more students are choosing is the online writing service method. Instead of going through the trouble of writing yourself, you may want to look into hiring a research paper writer. There are many writers available online who will write for you anytime.

These types of services are all over the internet at low cost for students. I will provide a simple to use guide that will help you write a professional research paper. Following these steps should make the writing process easier and it may even be fun.

The first step is choosing the topic of research to write about. This is the center piece of your work and you should select something that you both enjoy and are fairly knowledgeable about. Useful topics that are very specific should also be considered. Once you have selected a topic, look at all of your available resources to see if you have enough data to use as your guide. You can use the internet, books, articles, magazines and even the television for resource material. If you can’t find many sources dealing with your topic, you may want to consider another one. After all, how can you write a research paper when you can’t find research materials?

Your next two steps should consist of brainstorming your subject matter and creating a rough draft. Just by writing down your thoughts as you go along can help you create an outline that will evolve into the final product as you continue to write. No matter how un-important it may seem at the time, these written ideas can be built upon. Whatever editing that needs to be done can be completed later on. Just go ahead and jot it down.

Research papers normally have various pieces that may include the body, title, references and the conclusion. Each of these areas play a specific role in your research paper. In some situations, documentation guidelines need to be followed closely. The criteria for your paper should have been explained by your instructor beforehand. You may want to double check with them ahead of time to make sure you turn in what they asked for.

When using the internet for research you should stay away from places that allow anyone to edit the information at anytime. These types of web sites no matter how popular they are just aren’t trustworthy. Don’t take the easy route by selecting the first result listed in a search engine either. You may need to go twenty, even thirty pages back looking over each site listed. The more information you review the better. Pinpoint your keywords so what you search for comes up and nothing else. Going through unrelated sites will eat up your time in the long run.

At this point the only thing left to do is to begin writing. Make sure you are in a quiet and comfortable area that is well lit. All distractions such as the television should be kept off. You may need to take a nap before you begin. This will ensure a clearly written research paper and will drastically reduce the amount of spelling and grammatical errors.

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Dissertation writing has turned out to be one of the principal ingredients of higher learning in recent times. Dissertations can be expected to be included in third level undergrad study in addition to playing a significant role in any Masters level curriculum. Dissertations are advanced writing projects that highlight your passage from a scholar into the professional realm.

It allows you the chance to work independently on lengthy assignments in your area of study while showcasing what you’ve learned. It’s also a sort of research teaching guide which aims to develop elevated intellectual accomplishments such as rating, analytic thinking and management abilities. Writing a good dissertation will show the faculty staff and your peers that you are ready to move on into your field of study.

Dissertation writing follows the basic principles of academic writing but other factors do come into play at some part. You should be knowledgeable in the particular subject but you should also leave room to learn and grow. Look at it as a work in progress. Secondly, you should make certain that you have the correct chapter headings. It’s like an introduction accompanied by literature that is aided by an experiment or an analysis of your topic.

Since dissertation writing depends on the author, don’t expect help from your professors or fellow students. Meaning, you are generally on your own during the entire writing process one hundred percent. This is a chance for you to show what you have learned during your time of education. This is also your time to work independently using the guidelines set forth. The good thing about this is the amount of time you will be given to write. Weeks or even months may be allotted in dissertation writing which should be plenty of time for the wise student.

Two very important steps are selecting and researching your topic. When deciding on subjects for your dissertation you need to be fully aware of the research requirements. If you are unsure in anyway, then you need to consult your teacher immediately. Writing a dissertation is quite similar to book writing. Your work needs to be something unique that addresses your proposed research topic.

In conclusion, your dissertation is one of the most important things you will ever write in your lifetime. A good, well written dissertation could mean a world of difference and open many doors for you in the future. Every conceivable step should be taken that will ensure a positive straight to the point dissertation.

It should be viewed as a launching pad for your entire career and a synopsis of your time spent in school. Aside from the actual writing you many need to get mentally prepared for the challenge ahead of you. Speaking with other who have gone through the same writing process you are about to endure is very helpful. A good dissertation adviser should be able to answer your questions which will set your mind at ease.

All other matters should take a back seat to your writing. Turn your cell phones off, gather your materials and begin to write. Procrastinating won’t do any good and prolonging the inevitable with show up in your final written draft. Stay calm and mentally focused during the entire dissertation writing process and you will be just fine.

If you are tired of writing your own term papers Essay Town is available for dissertation writing, term paper writing and much more.

Just about every college student has stressed about a college term paper. Those college term papers are as much a part of college life as homecoming weekend, cheerleaders, fraternity parties and bad college food!

While students often worry about their college term papers, these assignments can and do become easier over time. There are some great tips for success that underclassmen often learn from the upperclassmen. Here are some tips for success that will work with any major and any type of assignment.

Follow the instructions from the professor. Some college students might wonder what would be wrong with putting great effort into writing a ten-page paper and using seven sources for this college term paper. Well, nothing would be wrong, except that particular professor had asked for a seven-page paper, which used a minimum of ten sources! Getting the directions wrong is a big way to have trouble with an assignment. Before you even get started, read them slowly and highlight each point.

Ask the professor questions about the assignment if you are unclear. Sometimes a professor doesn’t include every detail, especially if they have been teaching a course for a long time. They just assume college students know what they are talking about. Your question could help the entire class.

Start the assignment the moment it is assigned. Some students might groan at that one, thinking that only a total geek would do that. However, a savvy college student knows that when time is on your side there is a lot more you can do for a term paper. You’ll have better research, more time to write and especially the time to edit your college term paper. You won’t be like those stressed out college students up the night before, drinking pots of coffee typing away at their college term papers cursing their professors for yet another assignment. Your assignment will have been done, sitting in your backpack waiting to be turned in.

Give every college term paper a bit of a twist. Your college professor reads tons of term papers each semester. Think of how many term papers do you think an English professor reads about the relationship between Romeo and Juliet. Alternatively, a science professor getting a term paper about how Thomas Edison discovered electricity. Try giving your papers a bit of a twist on the subject and topic every time and surprise that professor a bit. You’ll do more interesting research and you’ll get a better grade. Do a paper on the parents of Romeo and Juliet or on the inventions of Thomas Edison that didn’t work (there were a lot of them). This shows you’ve been thinking about the topic and put some of your own creative thinking into the class as well. That’s an “A” paper all the way!

Use a variety of research sources. Some college students today turn only to the Internet, doing one big Internet search for the subject and selecting the top five links for the college term paper subject. This is a huge mistake when it comes to your research. Get creative when it comes to selecting research sources. Use books, journals, newspaper articles, magazines and the Internet. Try even using personal interviews with sources you feel are interesting on the topic.

Be sure to format your college term paper. Every school and each department has specific guidelines about how a paper must be formatted. Follow these instructions. Additionally, spell-check and grammar-check your paper after you have a final document. Don’t simply rely on your computer’s system to do this for you, use a hard copy dictionary. Think of asking a classmate to read your paper for spelling or grammar check and you can do the same for them.

When writing college term papers is hard, ask for help. Sometimes we all need a little extra help; there is nothing wrong with that. Every college has a tutoring center where students receive tutoring in many subjects. You can easily find a tutor that will work with you one-on-one to write stronger college term papers for your assignments. You may discover after several appointments with a tutor that you have much better college term paper skills.

The college term paper is a rite of passage in many ways: every college student must write them for most of their courses. Learning to improve your college term paper skills is beneficial and will help with your college career.

Do you need help with your college term paper? View our list of free research papers and see if one meets your needs, if not we will custom write one for you.

Although the project of term papers is often one of the most dreaded tasks among a large majority of both high school and college students, it is one that if learned correctly, can benefit individuals a great deal.

Learning the art of being able to write an expressive and creative term paper is extremely beneficial in helping individuals learn important skills that can be very helpful for the future of their careers. For many of the professional careers that are available today, it is simply a must for a person to have learned adequate analytical and writing skills.

To be able to produce a term paper that is of great quality, a person must learn the ability of being able to do extensive research, using a variety of resources in obtaining the necessary information for writing the term paper. This task is quite possibly much easier today than it has ever been before. This could be quite simply because of the tremendous amount of data that is available through a variety of sources on the Internet.

Another advantage that the skill of writing a good quality term paper will offer to individuals is the ability of being able to filter through, and accurately process a plethora of information. After doing so, the individual must then be able to systematically convey all of the important information onto the term paper. To be considered a term paper of quality, it must include information that is not only expressive, but creative as well.

Most all individuals will have to learn the task of being able to filter information. This skill is used in a large number of different tasks that most all of us will face throughout our lives. Learning the steps of a well-written term paper will teach individuals the knowledge of being able to filter through a tremendous amount of information.

In writing a quality term paper, the first thing you will want to do is choose a topic of interest. Making sure to choose one that you feel passionate about, or one that you would be interested in exploring further, can benefit you tremendously throughout working on your term paper. Writing on a topic that is of little interest to you will be a lot harder to accomplish than writing on a subject that is of great interest to you.

Next you will want to begin the necessary research that will be used to define the scope of your topic. In this step, you will want to make sure you find an adequate amount of information during your research. Now it’s time to organize the information you have found. It is of utmost importance to present your ideas creatively, correctly, and stay well organized while doing so. Editing is the next step, and is probably just as important as the first. It can often be helpful to have another person proofread the term paper for you. When an individual proofreads their own information, many times, your eyes will see the information that you meant to convey, and not necessarily the information that was conveyed.

The final step into constructing a well-written term paper would be to cite references. This can be a big advantage to readers wanting to explore a particular subject further.

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If you dream of being a writer but you think that you have a long, long way to go, modern techniques and the right tools can actually get your writing career up and going in minutes. More and more amateur writers, as well as professional writers, are discovering the convenience of self-publishing. You can directly sell your book to the market without going through third party agents that can really get a run for your money with their high commission rate.

One way of entering the self-publishing market is to use a book template. If you are someone who has a hard time organizing what you’ve written in a well documented book format, you can get a big help from a book template. Using a book template can save you a lot of time and energy. No longer would you have to manually format each header, footer and content of your book pages. With just a few clicks of the mouse, you can instantly render something that you never thought possible- your very own book!

Book templates are a new technique that can speed up book creation. It is a fairly new concept, but nevertheless, more and more people are trying their hands on this tool and the response rate has been good so far. Although it is a tool of the Internet, you don’t need intensive computer skill to use this software. Book templates are designed for writers and people with average computer skills. If you know how to use Microsoft Word, then you can pretty much use book templates with ease and comfort. Some book template software also uses Adobe Design and Quark, but don’t you worry if you are unfamiliar with these programs. Book template programs include step by step instructions that can guide you through the program.

What does a book template exactly do? Upon using this program, you can easily format your writings into ready to publish materials. The format and style used would be similar to traditional books sold for retail. It would be composed of a title page, copyright, dedication page, table of contents, preface, book chapters and finally, an author’s page. You can also add an alphabetic index at the end of the book. The documents would be page numbered accordingly and the chapter pages would contain the chapter title followed by content.

You can also format paragraphs and character styles with ultimate ease and speed. All you basically need to do is to create a text body, headings for your titles, subtitles, footers and headers. You can also specify other additional formatting styles that you need. You can include numbered or bullet lists. For extra flavor to your book, you can easily add box outs, figure captions and tip boxes.

Aside from saving you a lot of time, using a book template can also save you a lot of money. An ordinary typeset service for a book would cost you more than a thousand dollars. Plus, you would also have to get someone to do the cover design for you, which would cost you a few more hundreds. Depending on the book template program that you purchased, you can also receive book template covers that allow you to use generic graphics and copyright-free images for your front cover design.

So if you want to save time, money and energy in self publishing your book, get your hands on one of the book templates sold online and start making profits out of your book today!

Did you know that you can self publish books on your own using an existing book template?

Early in the Spring of 2004, I was invited to a birthday party. I need to point out that this was no ordinary birthday party. You see, this was a celebration of eighty years of the life of a Matriarch, whose children recognized and embraced her significance in the forming of their lives and of their children’s lives.

Eleanor is the “Granna” to my dearest friend. But, because of the distance, I had been with her a few times over the course of my friendship with her granddaughter.

Eleanor is, and always has been, a “significant” person in that her presence affects you. Perhaps it is the paradox of her manner, which can be both gentle and strong in the same moment. Or, could it be the way her conversations, often laced with humor, also contain the wisdom of a sage? She has suffered as all of us who live on this earth have suffered, but unlike many of us, she lives and ministers with dignity and genuine affection. All of this being true, from the little I have observed and all I have been told, the paradox is rather the way that she knows her worth, both to herself and to others. Eleanor is the most authentic person I have ever met.

And, so it was on that gorgeous day in San Francisco that a celebration of love was bestowed upon her.

I had not attended with the notion that the experiences of that day would be remembered in a magazine. But, the events, the emotion, the devotion for this woman so touched me that I was compelled to share the occasion with you, for she is a living and vital contradiction to the world’s expectations of women, and we all love her for it.

Around 2 0′clock in the afternoon, the families and invited friends began arriving at the home of the eldest son, Jon. Though Eleanor’s spirit remains strong, her health is sometimes failing and the decision had been made to celebrate here rather than a hotel. And, as the events of the day unfolded, the backdrop of this beautiful home was ideal for the intimacy that evolved. How wonderful to watch so many generations laughing, singing and reminiscing together as the common thread of their heritage continued to weave them together. Yes, I felt like an outsider in a way, for only those who had shared the common wealth of this uncommon woman, and had had their thoughts and values shaped in so many ways by her, could truly revel in the joy of their shared memories. But, I felt so privileged to just watch the dream happen. No sense of a generation gap here. And, what was most obvious was how they genuinely cherished their Mother.

There were pictures of crayon presented by the little ones to their “Great Granna,” and a few precious poems expressing their feelings for her. Then, the older ones joined with them for a chorus of songs that had once been taught by the “Birthday Girl” to her children so long before. Spider songs and lullabies, even an old, forgotten Christmas carol, transported Eleanor back in memory to a time long past, a time when her hair was gold instead of gray, and her greatest joy was running to the source of a child’s voice calling “Mommy, watch me!” Tears mingled with laughter as we all were allowed to share in these moments.

So the afternoon passed, each generation taking their turn to remember with songs, poems, endless wishes, and stories told as only families know to do, of the many days that had come before this one. Stories of the one whom they had gathered to celebrate this day, the one who is their source.

But, the best of all was saved for the last. Eleanor’s own four children, all now in their sixties, had each written a letter of memories remembered most about their Mother. These letters, each one framed, were passed around the living room for all of us to share and enjoy. I have never read sentiments so beautiful, and I had the overwhelming sensation inside of me that I was reading, watching, and experiencing what the whole world of humankind longs for, all written down inside these beautiful letters.

My expectation was that eldest son, Jon, would present these four poignant letters, each one written in calligraphy and framed in dark mahogany, to Eleanor as a token of their love and also of this stunning day. Instead, each of the four grown children produced from under the dining room table several more copies of their particular letter, framed as the first, and began to give them to each of their children… and to their children.

It was then that I recognized that in these letters, and in this day, and in their lives, the gift to Eleanor from her children was the gift of remembrance.

Relationship expert, consultant, and educator, Morgan Delaney, MS, empowers single women with the real secrets about dating and relationships, based on a decade of research in the fields of developmental psychology, brain-based gender differences, and the fascinating mysteries of the male psyche. To learn more about Ms. Delaney’s relationship research, and forthcoming books, visit Single Sisterhood.

I’ve interacted with ghosts for as long as I can remember. They were my playmates when I was younger and as I got older, in an odd sort of way, they became my teachers. Ghosts have followed me everywhere I’ve ever lived and have haunted me at all hours of the day and night. For most of my life to date I never knew why. And then I met a shaman who showed me why they came to me. They were lost and they needed my help. They needed a guide to help them find their way home.

As I began guiding them home, many of them told me their stories. They didn’t consciously choose to become ghosts. But their fears, their limiting beliefs and their unwillingness to change got the better of them.

Ghosts give us valuable insight into the predictable results of a certain way of life. By their very existence ghosts teach us what not to do just as a drug addict or an alcoholic shows us the inevitable end of misery and loss as a result of their ill-fated choices.

Below are three powerful lessons that I’ve learned from my interactions with ghosts:

1. Depression must be faced and resolved, there is always an answer and a remedy to our suffering - Many of the ghosts I’ve met were so depressed and isolated in life that they committed suicide in an effort to end their suffering. They endured their grief and their suffering and hoped against reason that the next day would be different. Often without reaching out for help, and certainly without persevering to find the answers, they simply gave up hope. But what they found, is that there is no death, there is no end. And what they eventually learned, is that the depression was something they were meant to figure out and move beyond. After their death they saw that it wasn’t as bad as they thought it was and that it was going to get better. There is always a reason and a remedy to our painful emotions, and we are the ones who are responsible for finding these answers.

2. Hanging on to Anger and Resentment Will Ruin Your Life… and Your Death - I’ve met several ghosts who held on to their anger and resentment over betrayals and injustices right up until their dying day… and beyond. They were so immersed in their own anger they couldn’t manage to move beyond this life when it was time for them to do so. They didn’t want the peace that the after-life offered. They wanted revenge. (In my experience, these are usually the ghosts that haunt - in the truest sense of the word.) Resentment is most often a resistance to move ahead, to change and grow in the ways we are called to. As ghosts often do, particularly the ghost brides I’ve met who were still angry over being left at the altar, we can fail to see the true meaning within a failed relationship or opportunity. Most often it’s a doorway that leads us on to a deeper desire, and an answered prayer as long as we’re willing to evolve in the way we’re called to.

3. Suppressing Your Authentic Self will Keep You Afraid and Angry for the Rest of Your Life - Many of the ghosts I encounter are deeply mired in their own illusions. Many of them lived lives where they denied their authentic identities in fear of judgment and persecution. One religious woman who denied her homosexual identity was too afraid to cross over because she feared being punished in the way her church would have judged and shunned her. It took me a while to get her to see that the judgment was on this side of the veil, not the other way around. Limiting beliefs and self-judgment will only keep you angry and afraid in life, as well as in death. Regardless of society’s ability to accept you as you are, you need to find your own loving self-acceptance and self-support. From there you will begin to find others who can share with you what you’ve learned to first give to yourself.

Not everyone who lives their life without awareness will become a ghost. But everyone who fails to embrace this wisdom, does become a bit ghost-like in that they lose a bit of themselves every day.

Melissa Van Rossum is an accomplished psychic, empath and author. Her life’s work is to help people realize their dreams by finding their Divine Guidance. Their Way Home shares stories of her encounters with ghosts, who searched her out to guide them home. To learn more, visit All You’ve Ever Known and Their Way Home.

It was the middle of the school year last fall and I was rushing into my son’s kindergarten to pick him up. It was an early release day and I had forgotten… again. This wasn’t the first time and I was fairly at peace with the idea that it probably wouldn’t be the last time either.

These early release days were arbitrarily chosen and though they were marked on the calendar, they occasionally slipped my mind. Once a school mom from another class made a snide remark to me at a party, “Have you remembered any of the early release days, Melissa? You must have to keep up with so much.”

I bit my tongue, hard, and then took a sip of my martini, mostly so I wouldn’t toss it on her. “Well, I guess I do manage more than the average person,” I said with a knowing smile.

Not knowing about my two books, All You’ve Ever Known (about a phenomenal process for deepening your intuition) and Their Way Home (a book about many of the experiences I’ve had with ghosts who have sought me out for help), I’m sure this woman thought my corporate work was the extent of my work outside of being a mom to my two boys.

Many times my day starts around 2 or 3 in the morning by a ghost who is drawn to me because he or she knows I can see them and can help them. Though I try to discourage them from waking me up in the middle of the night, they aren’t always considerate of those of us who still need our sleep.

I began seeing ghosts when I was very little and by the age of five interacting with ghosts was a regular thing for me. They were my playmates and my confidantes, and one of them, a favorite friend of mine, stayed with me for several years. As I got older, more ghosts seemed to find me and follow me and I found this fact unnerving. I never had to go looking for ghosts, they would always find me. In fact, they would usually gather in one room of my home.

In my last home they gathered in my walk-in closet, and it wasn’t unusual for me to come in at the end of the day and find 10 or 15 ghosts gathered in there just sitting around waiting for me. It wasn’t until I met a Native American shaman who helped me to understand that these ghosts, or the earthbound spirits of those who have died, sometimes need help crossing over to the Other Side. When they’re finally ready to go home, they often reach out to those who can see them.

I found this suggestion surprising since it didn’t mesh with the ideas I had been taught about death and the afterlife. Yet, I was extremely open to the idea considering the number of ghosts I was interacting with on a daily basis. Perhaps these ghosts knew more about my abilities and my purpose than I did.

Using the techniques that the shaman taught me, I began to guide home the uninvited guests that came to me throughout the day and night. To my unending joy, it worked beautifully. Since then I’ve found tremendous reward in helping these lost souls find their way home. And sometimes they even tell me their stories. There was the ghostly woman who committed suicide, who was distressed at never knowing her children, a phantom businesswoman still addicted to her work, and a distraught teenager who desperately wanted to come back to life. They’ve run the gamut from a creepy criminal predator to a sweet little girl who had stayed behind to comfort her grieving mother.

After getting my oldest ready for school and getting my youngest up and ready to go with us, we head to the carpool lane at kindergarten. A few hours later the phone calls and the emails come in and it’s time to start readings for clients.

Occasionally ghosts position themselves outside of my home, and in locations where they know I’m bound to see them. Once, on my way to the office I passed a school bus full of ghostly children who had died in an accident some time ago. While sitting in traffic, I took a few moments to guide them to the Other Side.

And then, without an appointment, my cell phone rings throughout the day with clients who want immediate insight into a pressing issue. Once while in traffic, a Hollywood client called me when negative press hit the trade magazines and she wanted immediate insight as to how this would turn out for her.

Then, before I know it, it’s time to rush back to pick up my son again. This isn’t exactly the way I thought I would spend my days at this point in time, but living my life as a psychic, an empath, a ghost guide, an author and a mom is an authentic existence and that brings me immeasurable joy. Even if I do miss the occasional early release by a few minutes.

Melissa Van Rossum is an accomplished psychic, empath and author. Her life’s work is to help people realize their dreams by finding their Divine Guidance. Their Way Home shares stories of her encounters with ghosts, who searched her out to guide them home. To learn more, visit All You’ve Ever Known and Their Way Home.

Writers often think of themselves as not having enough talent to take writing classes, while at the same time, others think they are so good that they don’t need writing classes.

While writing classes may not be in order for everyone, they are usually the right answer for those who are considering them.

The very fact that you are reading this article is a good indication that writing classes are probably right for you. To learn more, take this simple self-evaluation test.

1. Do you still enjoy learning?

People who enjoy learning should take every opportunity to learn all they can. It will help you grow as a person, and it will stretch your mind and talents. Learning is fun – but writing will always be work. Perhaps you would like writing lessons with a personal mentor to coach you. Mentors will help you work through problems with time management, help you catch up if you get behind on your lessons, and will answer all the questions that plague you. But the best thing about a mentor is that they will tell you where you’re wrong, why you’re wrong, and ways to correct the problem.

2. Do you have a desire to write?

If you have the desire to write, writing classes are definitely for you. People who have the desire to write and then shut it off lose both their niche and desire. Don’t let this happen to you.

3. Do you have writer’s block?

If you have writer’s block, there are ways to cure it. Taking a writing course would be of great benefit to you. Learn how to never have writer’s block again.

4. Do you have an active imagination?

This is one of the best signs there is. It says, “get writing”. If you lay in bed at night and you can feel or hear what you would say if you were at the keyboard, a writing course would be perfect for you. Don’t let the muse die. Learn how to keep it coming on a regular basis.

5. Do you want to develop your talents?

Writing need not be a talent from birth. Writing is usually a learned art, and with a modicum of effort on your part, you can likely become a writer. The main thing that writing requires is the will to learn. If writing has always interested you, or is even a new interest, take one writing class to find out if classes are right for you.

6. Would you like to increase your self-esteem?

If you want to take control of your life, if you want to do something really worthwhile, and if you want to challenge yourself by quantum leaps, writing classes are for you. Writers who study and take courses will automatically build self-esteem. Self-esteem will also work in reverse to give you the courage needed to submit your articles and stories.

7. Would you like to do something that will leave your mark on the earth?

Almost everyone would like to do something that will leave a cornerstone behind. Something that others can look at after we’re dead and gone. Something that will show who we were, how we felt about life, and what we did with it. Writing is an excellent avenue to leave such a mark. You need not write for a career. You can blog, write memoirs for your family; you can journal, or just write for pure pleasure.

In conclusion – is writing right for everyone? No, it isn’t, but it’s better to try one class and see if it’s right for you than to neglect what may be an unclaimed gift. You won’t know if you can write until you try.

Deborah Owen is the CEO & Founder of the new mentoring school, Creative Writing Institute. As a teacher and author, her burden lies in mentoring students who have a true desire to learn. http://www.creativewritinginstitute.com - The Writer’s Choice