“Yeah, I’d like to know the
secret to writing.” You said.

The secret to writing is doing it,
frequently. It’s required that you
write daily. Let the writer in you
run free.

Schedule your writing time.
Select a time during the day
or night for writing. Spend a
minimum of two hours writing.

Find a space just for writing.
It doesn’t matter where. Curve
out your space in the garage,
attic, or extra bedroom.

Turn off your cell phone,
land-line, radio, television,
and tune-out anything else
that would prevent you from
writing.

Bring fruit, snack of some
kind, coffee, water, and
other items to keep you
from leaving your writing
space.

This time is for writing,
creating. Make it a
habit. Make a mental
note of it.

I suggest you keep a pen
and pad on you at all times.

“Why?” You asked.

You never know when
an idea will pop-up. You’ll
have the means to capture
those ideas.

It’s likely you’ll forget the
ideas as the day rolls on.
It’s hard to pull them to
mind as you work, take
care of the kids, grocery
shop, care for relatives,
etc. So, scribble the ideas
down.

Store your ideas in your
writing place. Type them
in a file, or slide them in a
folder.

During your writing time,
look-over various ideas.
Any ideas ready to be
spun into fiction, or non-
fiction?

One morning, birds chirped
outside my window. A simple
observation. What could I do
with that?

My notes on the idea.
–birds chirping at 3 am
–why?

Take a look at my idea.

Two guys planned to rob
a house when the family
was out. The would-be
robbers were surprised
as the family arrived back
home.

One of them were in the
house.

The second thief used
a bird chirp to signal his
partner.

This is how the idea looks
in non-fiction. Specifically,
an essay.

Crime is a factor in urban living,
but your exact location raises
or lowers your vulnerability.
This fact relates to…

There is material for poems.

There are other writing streets
to go down with it.

Are you beginning to understand
the secret to writing?

Writing ideas can be
adapted from the original.

The focus of my idea
could center on what type
of bird chirps in the early
morning hours.

Or, a story about crows
who gather at a certain
house. They congregate
there everyday at the same
time. Why? The plot unfolds
as the reader finds out why.

Let your imagination run
free as you write.

Now, you know the secret
to writing. Simply, sit down,
and do it.

Popularity: 7% [?]

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70. Dining Out

Eating out can be expensive. Rather than stop eating out, simply cut back and look for options of two-for-one. Restaurants of all calibers offer weekly specials and if you check in your Sunday paper, you can often find special bargains. You might even think about signing up as a Mystery Shopper on the Internet where you can eat at fine restaurants free or at a huge discount just for writing a report on the food, service, and cleanliness.

71. Plan Menus

Although it will take some time initially, after you have planned a week’s menu once, it will become much easier and best of all, it will save you money. Knowing exactly what you will be making helps you to shop for foods that can be used more than once. As an example, if you are going to have spaghetti on Tuesday, you could buy bulk ground beef at a better price and then use the other half for tacos on Saturday. Another option would be buying round steak where one night you fix Salisbury steak and then a few days later, you use the leftovers for breakfast hash. This will help you stretch meals and avoid last minute or impulse buying.

72. Coordinate Efforts

If you are married, make sure you and your spouse are working on the same agenda. If one is trying to save money while the other is busy spending, what is the point? When you work as a team, you can encourage each other to keep on track with your saving.

73. Computer Software

In order to keep on track with your debts and credits, you need to use some type of software such as Quicken or Quick Books. This will keep you focused on your goals and tasks while you strive to achieve them. Additionally, rather than buy software programs to download, first check Download.com or Freeware.com to see if there are free versions to download.

74. Life Satisfaction

Learn how to enjoy life and nature rather than possessions. The next time you feel like spending money, head to your local park where you can enjoy the warm sun, green grass, and towering trees without spending a dime. Being happy in life is far better than buying item after item. Having an inner peace is better than having a house filled with “things.” That does not mean you cannot enjoy some of the finer things in life it just means learning how to be happy with yourself and not “things.”

75. Live Within your Means

The quickest way to get in debt is to live beyond your means. Sure, most people want more than they have but life is not all about spending money. Be thankful for what you do have and learn how to enjoy the financial position you are in. This is where your budget will help identify the amount of money coming in against the amount of debt going out.

76. Christmas Fund

Many banks and financial institutions offer a Christmas Fund program. This is an excellent way to put aside some money for your holiday shopping so you do not end up with a ton of spending. With these programs, you do not even miss the money and better yet, less stress around the holidays.

77. Previously Viewed

Home videos and DVDs are hot items and perfect for any family entertainment. Now you can visit the major video chains and purchase previously viewed videos and DVDs for about half the cost. For example, at Blockbuster, you can purchase either one and get a 30-day warranty. This is still a wonderful way to have quality entertainment for a terrific savings. Another great option is to record your own movies either from TV or any of the popular cable channels such as HBO, Showtime or Disney. Rather than hitting the theater every weekend, make it a special occasion. Instead, pop your popcorn, grab a soda, spread out a blanket, and create your own theater-type atmosphere.

78. Dinner Guests

Invite friends over for dinner as a potluck. People love sharing their favorite recipe and by splitting dinner, everyone enjoys variety while saving money. In fact, make this a tradition amongst your friends.

79. Instant Messaging / Microphone

Rather than spend a small fortune in long distance, contact friends and family via instant messaging on the Internet. In addition, you can download a program that will allow you to connect a microphone and actually have a voice conversation free. All you pay for is the normal price of your Internet connection, which generally runs from $9.95 to $21.95 a month. Either option allows you to have real-time conversations for no extra money.

Popularity: 9% [?]

Every Friday Night, Podcaster Training presents specialized training on New Media, podcasting, videocasting and screencasting. Here is some of the topics that will be presented over the next few weeks. Not necessarily in this order, and this list is subject to change without notice! Ok, enough of the disclaimer…here’s the list:

A Full Presentation on Mogulus
A Complete Basics Presentation on Audacity
Working with Wordpress as a blogging platform
The Basics of Talkshoe
Adding Intros and Outros to your Recordings
Putting the Cast Back into Podcasting
Broadcasting On A Shoestring
Giving Your Podcast An Extreme Makeover

Also, with our new format of handling listener issues and questions during the show, this will add a new element to each episode as we will be covering other topics too!

If you have any suggestions for future topics, please feel free to contact me with your suggestions and I will implement them as quickly as possible.

Share and Enjoy:

Related posts:

1. Changes Coming To Podcaster Training It’s been a while since I have made some...
2. Changes to the Podcaster Training Show Coming Soon On last week’s show, Jeff Chandler, my Co-Host, announced...
3. Coming Up on Podcaster Training: Interview with Patrick O’Keefe Friday Night on Podcaster Training, our special guest will...

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If you are reading this post, then you already know that I have changed the Podcaster Training site once again!  I have decided to begin posting the show notes and other relevant posts here and will also syndicate them over at The NMP Network blog too.

I have most everything setup and running here and will begin using this blog site immediately for Podcaster Training.

Another new change that happened today, Podcaster Training is on Twitter!  @podcasttraining is the Twitter name, so be sure to follow the show!

More changes to come!  Watch this site for details!

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Earlier this week, I announced, by way of a blog post, of changes coming to the format of the show. Tonight, I will be implementing these changes. Even though they aren’t real big changes, they are changes none the less.

First off, for those of you that catch my videocasts each week, I am now streaming live (and recorded) on Mogulus instead of uStream.tv. I have revamped my live page at http://www.newmediapro.tv to reflect these changes to the video streaming.

Now, most of the show will remain as it was, such as the segment hosts will still come in an deliver their segments each week. The main change to the format is in the Main Topic area. I will choose a topic for the episode to discuss, however, the floor will remain open for anyone, and I stress anyone, that wants to come on and discuss other things, like how to use Talkshoe for example. This will allow the new hosts to Talkshoe to come in and to learn, like a hands on approach (thanks to the video) how to do the things they are wanting to learn how to do.

Anyway, the topic for tonight is What is REALLY important to your podcast. Now, since I am a Support Rep for Talkshoe, I see some really strange requests sometimes that are bugging people about the service or their shows, and so I have come up with a list of things that a podcaster should be looking at and not sweating the small stuff.

You can add to this list if you like, as there may be things that you feel is important to your podcast and I may have overlooked. This is NOT an all inclusive list!

Important things to a podcaster:
1. Make sure your equipment is working BEFORE you go live!
This is probably the most important item in the whole list. Now I know, better than anyone, that technical difficulties can happen after you press the Record button. However, it is extremely important that you mak sure your mic is working with your VOIP program (Shoephone, Gizmo, Skype, etc.) and that you know how to use the aformentioned VOIP program to log into Talkshoe to do your show. If you are using a landline or cell phone, again make sure your batteries are charged (like for a cordless phone or cell phone) and that you know the shortcut keys to use in case you need them. Remember, *2*1 to start and stop the recording, *8 to Raise Your Hand (For listeners) and *6 to mute and unmute.

2. Before you start the recording, and if you have someone else in the chat room with you, make sure your audio is functioning properly.
There is nothing worse than to go into your show and then find out that your mic was muted or turned off and that no one can hear you. If you are in doubt, then take an extra minute to double check BEFORE you start your show!

3. Decide how to handle hecklers during your show, BEFORE you begin!
Make sure you know how to mute the chat room users and how to mute the live phone in listeners. When you get that ever present podcrasher, and you will (we all do) be ready to mute them both in the chat and on the phone. To do this, as a host, simply click on the computer icon next to their name to mute/unmute their chatroom and click on the phone icon next to their name to mute/unmute their live conversations. And if you get someone that is being persistant in wanting to be unmuted, think twice unless you know the person and know that they aren’t wanting to disrupt your show.

4. If you are inviting someone in for an interview, make sure they know how to log into Talkshoe on the phone (at the very least) and that they have an account. This way your invited person isn’t coming in as a guest and you are trying to second guess yourself as to who or where they are.

5. After your show is finished, don’t rush right out and “hope” that the recording is there. It most likely won’t be. You may have to wait for up to 30 minutes or more before your recorded show will appear. Also, the recording will not appear until AFTER you have terminated the show and exited your chat room.

6. Going along with number 5, don’t look for the stats to be immediately updated. They most likely won’t be. The stats are usually updated daily and they aren’t updated on the fly. If you want to check your stats, that’s ok, but don’t make this a priority and then generate a support ticket when they aren’t there 10 seconds after your show if finished!! Wait until the next day and check them, if 24 hours have passed and they still haven’t updated, then go to GetSatisfaction and let Talkshoe know. There may be an issue with the Stats Server that needs to be looked at.

7. When scheduling your future shows, take a few minutes to learn how to use this interface. It’s not too complicated and once you learn it, you can schedule a show within a few minutes and send out your invites and be done. Again, don’t just jump out and generate a ticket because you don’t want to take a few minutes to learn how to do it right!

8. Speaking of scheduled shows, once you schedule a future show, make sure you actually show up to do the show! When listeners see you are live and they go into the chatroom and no one is there, especially the host, then they will tend to quickly migrate to another show and not want to come back. Now, I understand that sometimes life can get in the way, so take a second to go out and reschedule the show to another day or time and in this way, you will be able to retain more listeners when you can’t make it.

9. Take some time to update your profiles.
When you are hosting a show, make sure your show profile is updated with a proper name and description. This will help new listeners decide whether or not they want to come in and check you out. If your profile is incomplete or blank, they will most likely keep moving along and won’t stop in. Your personal profile is especially important to make sure you have it updated. There is nothing more frustrating to a host to click on a listeners name to find nothing, just a blank profile. Also, include your proper age. If you are a teenager or pre-teen trying to act like an adult, believe me, adults can tell the difference. The more honest you are in your profile, the more respect you will earn from your fellow hosts and listeners.

10. If you don’t know how to do something, just ask someone!
Whether you are just starting out or have been doing this for a while, you may see something new or hear of something new that you would like to incorporate into your podcast. If you can’t figure it out, don’t get upset just because someone else if making it work, ask someone. Usually the host that is using the new technology will be more than happy to explain what they are doing and how they are doing it. If all else fails, come onto a show like Podcaster Training or submit a support ticket to Talkshoe and ask how to do this. You might be surprised of the amount of information you will get back in return!

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Popularity: 8% [?]

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Or better yet, Don't Sweat The Samll Stuff! This will be our topic of discussion tonight as we delve into what the important issues are for a podcast and what isn't so important after all! http://www.podcastertraining.com

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WordPress MU 2.7.1 Released – Although it’s gone through a few delays, WordPress MU 2.7.1 is now available. This release features a revamped plugin system where you can activate and deactivate plugins across the entire site. The admin bar at the top has been removed and is now a plugin. And the site admin can now set a global dashboard blog for users who don’t have blogs. If you’re using WordPress MU 2.7 you should be able to use the core update functionality to upgrade to the new version. - http://ocaoimh.ie/2009/04/21/wordpress-mu-271/

Blo.gs Acquired – Matt Mullenweg announced on April 20th that Automattic had acquired a service known as Blo.gs. Blo.gs was owned by Yahoo and was a service that enabled you to easily keep an eye on your favorite blogs via web and email. Essentially, you could embed Blo.gs into your blogs sidebar and it would reorder your favorite blogs based on their most recent post. Automattic has said that they plan on beefing up the service while giving it a refresh. Will ping-o-matic and blo.gs merge into one service? Only time will tell. - http://ma.tt/2009/04/blogs-lives-on/

Contact Form 7 – Earlier this week, it was discovered that the WordPress plugin Contact Form 7 contained a serious security vulnerability which was actively being exploited. This is a popular plugin that is used to create simple contact forms. Over the past few days, the plugin author has worked with a few other people and has since released a new version containing the necessary security fixes. If you use this plugin, be sure to upgrade to the latest version.

Plugin Pick Of The Week – Odiogo Listen Button – Odiogo.com is a service that takes your text based blog posts and provides a listen button where end users can listen to a synthesized voice read the blog post. This makes your blog a little more accessible to those with vision problems. The voice isn’t bad but you can tell we still have a long way to go for natural sounding speech. http://www.odiogo.com/listen_button_wordpress.php

If you’re interested in WordPress, head on over to WPTavern.com where all sorts of WordPress related information can be consumed. While you’re there, hop in the forum and join the conversation while enjoying your favorite beverage because at the WordPress Tavern the drinks, are always on the house.

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Rejection is a part of life. When someone
can’t, will not, accept something from you,
stop. The best action is to move on. Try
another person.

The same applies to writing. Make sure
the person, publication, is a match for
your work. Check for grammatical errors,
run-on sentences, and weak verbs.

Take the concept, article, and flip-it.

“What do you mean?” You asked.

Take a look at one of my rejected
articles.

L. Frank Baum played the Tin Man in
The Wizard Of Oz. It was popular,
a feature film, during 1939.

It was a funny, upbeat, fantasy.
The movie offered funny moments,
tearful ones too.

I, even, recall the re-runs of it
as a teen.

Here’s the twist.

According to a Los Angeles reporter,
a mini-series is being made. It isn’t
your mother/grandmother must see show.

The re-make stirs in acid tripping addicts,
crazed-acting people, possibly multi-
personalities, and sex. I’m not talking
about an appearance of a kiss, but a sexy
sorceress.

Could the series be a “thing” for a new
generation.

This is just my opinion. Gothic images
danced in someone’s head when the
idea was in its conception.

It takes place in not exactly OZ.
The location is O. Z., like Outer Zone.

Whatever happened to the good and bad
witches?

A mean spirited, sorceress, Azkadellia
is in the house. Kathleen Robertson
plays her.

Well, her character is nuts, looks for
revenge. She shows plenty of chest, if
you know what I mean. Oh, let me not
forget, the chest tattoos. They will
be exposed.

The mini-series sprinkles in other
neon characters to this version.

It is a matter of taste, or profit.
Specifically, is art imitating life?

Now, what can I do with that?
I can write an essay on L. Frank Baum,
write my own version of the Wizard Of
Oz, or come up with a new idea.
There is no limit to how the article
can be re-worked.

The same is true for your
rejected work.

Some need to discuss
rejected work.

If you do, talk about it with a
trusted friend. Distance
yourself from it.

Come back to it with
fresh ideas. Ask yourself
questions.

Some people prefer
working immediately
on returned work. Others
pull their work out after a
reasonable time has
passed, and there has
been no word from the
publisher.

It’s up to you.

Questions to ask yourself.
Did I send it to the right
publication? Is it grammatically
correct? Look at your work
upside down, and inside out.
Where else can I send it?

Make sure you have read
the writer’s guidelines before
submitting to any new publication,
or web site.

In conclusion, writers handle
rejection of their work by
finding a new place for it.

Popularity: 5% [?]

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60. Car Shopping

Shop around for the best price. While you may have your eye on that “perfect” car and want it now, by waiting and looking around, you could be saving yourself a lot of money. In addition, check out other states. If you live within a few hours drive from other cities, check out the price difference. The five hours it takes to drive may be worth the money saved.

61. Check Receipts and Statements

If you were to check your grocery or store receipt, approximately 50% of the time you would find an overcharge. This happens all the time and in some cases, the charge can be substantial. The same is true for credit card statements, bank statements, phone bills, etc. Check the detail because it is quite common to find errors. These mistakes can easily be corrected simply by asking and providing a copy of the receipt or statement.

62. Overdraft Protection

Almost everyone has at one point or another had an insufficient check. Most banks charge $20 per returned check, which if not careful with your account, can quickly add up to a lot of money. If you have a savings account, consider adding overdraft protection onto your checking account so if you ever go into a negative balance, the money would automatically be covered by your savings. Most banks offer this service free.

63. Bank Accounts

Make sure you work with a qualified banker that can set up the “right” kind of account for your type of spending. There are numerous options specifically designed for people that write a good number of checks versus those who do not. Check with your existing bank to ensure you have what you really need and if they are not willing to work with you, change banks. In general, credit unions are good options. Their rates are typically lower and because they are employee owned, you can find better options.

64. Organization

You may be wondering what being organized has to do with saving money but in reality, it has a lot to do with it. For example, if you miss a credit card due date by one day, you will be charged anywhere from a 15% to 25% penalty. The same would be true for taxes. Missing one simple date can cost thousands. You need to be organized so you know the exact dates your bills are due as well as keep all receipts, contracts, etc. in an orderly manner.

65. Good Health

You need to make sure you take care of yourself physically. Missed dental cleanings (every six months) can lead to gum disease or tooth decay that can cost thousands to fix. The same is true for your health. After trying home remedies or over the counter medications, if you still do not feel well, see a doctor. It is far better to pay the doctor visit than to let your simple summer cold turn into pneumonia.

66. Automobile Care

Keep your car oil changed, tires rotated, and overall care up-to-date. First, the $30 for your oil change will save wear and tear on your car, which could result in significant money. Second, you need your car to get to and from work. By not having your car in top working condition could put you in a bad position when it comes to required transportation.

67. Vacations

While Paris, England, or Germany offers excitement, they also cost money to visit. Unfortunately, people on a regular basis forget about the United States and even the very state in which they live. One man had lived in Arizona his entire life. At age 50, when asked by a friend what the Grand Canyon was like, he was unable to answer because he had never been there. The next time you get ready to plan your family vacation, look around where you live and consider an exciting road trip that will not only be educating but cost effective. A vacation does not have to be expensive to be fun and memorable.

68. Borrowing Money

Unless you have an emergency, avoid those enticing advertisements to lend you money at incredible rates. Banks and lending institutions make it much too easy to borrow money and especially during the holidays, they flash all their great advertisements drawing people in. Afterwards, you have borrowed money that you could have done without and now you are locked into a five-year repayment contract. If you want a new car or boat, it is better to save. If you do need a new car, avoid brand new cars, which lose massive amounts of appreciation the minute you drive off the lot. Instead, look for something a year or two old where you will still have a nice car but much more in line with an appropriate cost.

69. Repair versus Replace

Instead of spending $1,000 on that beautiful new couch, you might consider one of two options. If your couch frame is still good, you might spend $300 to have it recovered or purchase a quality slipcover for $100. Your couch will look brand new for much less, than it would to replace. Another example would be if you have a lamp that you want to replace. Consider painting it and adding a new shade rather than spending money to buy a brand new one. Perhaps you have a washer, dryer, or refrigerator that is running a little sluggish. Find out the cost of repair over that of purchasing a new one. Even if you have an appliance with the wrong color, businesses offer fantastic paint jobs. With a little creativity, you will be amazed at how much can be repaired, thus saving you money.

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Popularity: 5% [?]

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It’s been a while since I have made some drastic changes to the format at Podcaster Training and beginning with this week’s episode, I will be changing a few things. I know change can be frightening to some and welcome to others, however, I’m gonna do it anyway!

First, I am going to put uStream.TV on hold for a while. I will still do video, but I will be using Mogulus for a while as it is most likely the most stable of all of the networks running right now. I will be changing the template at http://www.newmediapro.tv, my live page site, to reflect this change. Mogulus also has a chat room, but is not solely dependent on using it, like what uStream does. Also, with Mogulus, I will have a 24 hour station running and will be able to more easily incorporate videos into my training sessions. This change will be the most drastic of all, I assure you!

Next, I will be changing the format around and will make the training more interactive. So, look for me to call on those of you that phone in, more than I have in the past. I also want to encourage others to phone in and get involved as well. This new format will allow me to do “immediate” training during the show, such as answering questions and providing additional training that is not part of the session for that night. Also, this new format will allow new and prospective hosts to call in and get some “one on one” hand holding with special consideration to Talkshoe.

Lastly, I will be incorporating more Talkshoe related training back into the format once again. Since I am a Support Rep for Talkshoe, this seems like a good time to bring back this style of training.

I will be changing around some of how I present the show as well. You’ll be able to find out more come Friday Night!

Popularity: 6% [?]