Apr 28-May 4, 2003 - View from the Top, HTML Colors, Brain Dump
Volume 2, Issue 16
The weekly ezine with a road map for
sidetracked writers.
"Be better writers today
than we were yesterday."
Happy spring, and hello to our new subscribers!
Thought for the Week - View from the Top
Have you heard the phrase: You can get everything you want if you help enough other people get what they want? I've always liked this phrase, and I just found out where I first heard it. It's Zig Ziglar's famous phrase from his book, See You at the Top. This classic was one of the first motivational books I read back in high school.
This week I've been listening to one of his sequels, A View from the Top. It's filled with lots of inspirational stories including how it took him nearly 20 years before his speaking and writing career took off, and he reached the top. If you need some motivation to get cracking on your goals, check out the book or the audio.
Women's Day Update:
Women's Day is no longer accepting unsolicited submissions. Their writer's guidelines are still online, but
they have asked to be removed
from Writer's Market.
In addition, I have had no luck getting a response to the "What Book Changed Your Life?" contest. Neither the Library Association or Women's Day answered my emails, and the page has been removed from the ALA web site.
I apologize, everyone, for any inconvenience this may have caused.
After my emails weren't answered, I sent a plea to Debi Ridpath Ohi, the Market Watch expert at http://www.writersmarket.com, and she found the answer for me even though she's having computer challenges right now (talk about dedication!).
Thanks so much to two subscribers who passed this information on to me. I really appreciate your eyes, ears and emails on this one!
==> 990066 is what
color?
==> Nine personality types
==> Your Perfect Writespace
Mon, Apr 28, 2003
Make Your Household Hum (so you have more time to write!)
Time for a clothing sort -- if you live in a seasonal climate like I do, it's time to switch from winter clothes to spring and summer clothes (or summer to fall if you're in another hemisphere!).
Don't you wish we could just set a date, and switchover from sweaters and long pants to short sleeves and shorts? I used to hate washing and packing up the clothes, and then the next day I'd want that clothes back again because it got cold. Instead we added another row of hanging space in the closet and instead of packing away the clothes, I just swap from the top to the bottom. The clothes
are always handy if a spring storm cools the day.
Tue, Apr 29, 2003
Mini-HTML Course
990066, FFFFFF
Do you know what these are? Fancy programmer speak? Sort of. What if I told you 990066 is the color purple and FFFFFF is the color white?
Let's talk COLORS for the next few months... internet and HTML colors.
216 Internet-safe Colors
The first thing you need to know is that there are only 216 internet-safe colors. These colors are safe regardless of whether you are in Windows, on the Mac, using Explorer or Netscape. If you use other colors than these 216 colors, you run the risk of your site looking strange on a different browser. Here is a list of the 216-safe colors: http://www.pagetutor.com/pagetutor/makapage/bgcolors216.html
RGB? RGB stands for Red, Green and Blue. Each color is created from a combination of red, green and blue.
Each of the colors are generated with a value for Red, a value for Green and a value for Blue. In the internet color-safe palette, the RGB values are limited to 00, 51, 102, 153, 204, and 255.
You can experiment with different values for each of these colors using Word. Use Format > Font. Under Font color, select More colors and pick the Custom tab. Change the numbers under Red, Green and Blue to see different colors.
HEX? To make color choice even more fun <grin>, programmers use the hexadecimal number system to represent the red, green and blue values.
In the decimal number system, we count from 0 to 9. But in the hexadecimal number system, we count from 0 to 9 and then add on A for 10, B for 11, C for 12, D for 13, E for 14, and F for 15.
For our purposes, it's easiest to use the following chart to convert our decimal RGB values to Hex values:
RGB HEX
00 00
51 33
102 66
153 99
204 CC
255 FF
So an RGB value of 00, 204, 255 would be the Hex number 00CCFF.
In our purple color above, 990066 in Hex is RGB 153, 00, 102. White in Hex is FFFFFF and 255, 255, and 255 in RGB.
Most HTML programming uses the Hex numbers, but if you are trying to match a color in Word or some graphic design software programs, you need to understand how to convert between the two.... or just use the converter at the bottom of this page http://www.catnmoose.com/wsc.shtml
Wed, Apr 30, 2003
Mini-Copywriting Course
If you are considering a corporate copywriting job, have you considered the image you project? Is it one of the organized professional writer, or is it the distracted, wild-haired writer who was up all night working on their latest novel? When I first started working as a corporate consultant, my firm gave us "etiquette" classes -- complete with rules for corporate attire!
What is your Personality Type? This site describes nine different personality types: reformer, helper, motivator, romantic, thinker, skeptic, enthusiast, leader, and peacemaker. http://www.9types.com/homepage.actual.html
I scored highest on Helper and Thinker....hmmmm....
Fri, May 2, 2003
Your Master List and Project List
Time for a brain dump! I don't know about you, but I've got so many different and new projects going, it's getting harder and harder to keep track of everything.
Grab your Project Index and Project Detail Sheet, and start brain dumping. Get everything out of your head, and listed on a Project Detail Sheet. Stack the sheets in order by priority of project, and then list them on the Project Index. You can easily glance through your list to check the status at least weekly (or even daily!) if necessary.
Which writing projects will you finish in May?
Sat, May 3, 2003
What Works for You?
Our focus for May is your Office and Writespace. Spend some time today thinking about what works in your writing space and how you would like it to work.
Think about a time when you were the most productive and did some of your best writing. Where were you? What was the environment like? What colors surrounded you?
Clutter is one of the biggest drainers of creative energy, and if your writespace is cluttered, try to get a handle on it this month.
Let's design your perfect creative space this month!
-- Julie
To
get this newsletter in your email each week:
Get
the book that goes with the plan for only $14.95!
"I'm on day 5 of your book and already have done more writing and compiled more ideas in this short time as I usually do over several months." -- reader M. Howard
M T W T F S S
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 1. Declutter (only 5 minutes)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 2. Read (only 5 minutes)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 3. Assess (30 seconds to 5 minutes)
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ 4. Write (at least 5 minutes)
Weekly Checklist
For freelance writers: Use this weekly checklist to find, write and send a query every week of 2003!
Monday
__ Make notes on a new idea.
Tuesday: Accounting Day
__ Post your accounting records.
__ Pay bills.
__ Follow up on outstanding invoices and queries.
Wednesday
__ Find a new market using links below.
Thursday: Errand Day
__ Make copies.
__ Return books to library.
__ Make deposit at bank.
Friday
__ Finish query and submit.
__ Match your query to the market.
Saturday Weekly Review
__ How was this week?
__ What's up next week?
__ Review your Projects list in your planner and check the
status.
__ Jot the next action steps for your projects on next week's
calendar.
__ Backup your computer files.
__ Virus scan your computer.
Sunday
__ Relax and enjoy!
__ Do something fun today!
Thanks for visiting Writer-Reminders! If you have comments,
success stories, or suggestions, reply to this message or e-mail
me at :julie@writer-reminders.com
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