Transmission Wire

The comma is the most frequently used internal mark of punctuation. Of all the marks of punctuation, it has the widest variety of uses.

Using commas with dates, addresses, greetings, names, and large numbers

* Commas are used with full dates (month, day, and year) but omitted with partial dates (month and year):

1. Gas has been first used by the Germans on October 14, 1914, when they fired a prototype of modern tear gas from artillery near Pyres. - Paul Fussel

2. In June 1985 Beth Henley was working on her fifth play.

Exception: No comma is used to separate parts of a date that begins with the day.

The atomic bomb was first dropped on 6 August 1945.

* Commas are required between most of the elements in place names and addresses:

1. Miami, Dade County, Florida

2. Writing Lab, University of California, Riverside

Exception: # Do not use comma to separate street number from the name of the street:

15 Amsterdam Avenue

# Do not use comma to separate a state from zip code:

5625 Waverly Avenue, La Jolla, California 92037

* In complete sentence, a comma must follow the last element of place name, addresses, or dates:

1. He shot himself twice, once in the chest and then in the head, in a police station in Washington, D.C., with the cops looking on. - Red Smith

2. July 4, 1776, was the day the Declaration of Independence was signed.

* Commas are used to set off the names of someone directly addressed in the sentence:

A few years ago, Mr. Taplow, I spoke to you about the possibility of a summer job.

* Commas are used after the greeting in a friendly or informal letter, and after the closing of the letter of any kind:

Dear Mary,
Sincerely,

Yours truly,

* Commas are used to set off titles or degrees after a person’s name:

Barbara Kane, M.D., delivered the commencement address.
Exception: But Jr., Sr. may be written without commas:

Sammy Davis Jr. started his singing career at age four.

* The comma is used after the last part of a proper name when the last part comes first:

Lunt, George D.

* Commas are used to mark groups of three digits in large numbers, counting from the right:

Antarctica is 5,400,000 square miles of ice-covered land.

Using commas with conjunctions

* The comma is used before a conjunction (and, but, for, or, nor, so, yet) linking two independent clauses.

Canadians watch America closely, but most Americans know little about Canada.

Exception: Some very brief independent clauses may not require a comma.

We dickered and then we made a deal. - Red Smith
I have seen the future and now I’m tired of it. - Gerald Nachman

* If one or both independent clauses have internal punctuation (especially commas), a writer might choose to separate two clauses with a semicolon and a coordinating conjunction so that the reader can easily see the main division of the sentence.

Genetically, we are nearly identical to mankind fifty thousand years ago; and some of us delight in the continuity represented by this, while others may be appalled. - Edward Hoagland

* Comma alone should be used between two independent clauses (comma splice):

“I plan to travel to England”, my friend said happily. “I want to visit Shakespeare’s birthplace.”

* When a conjunction adverb joins the independent clauses in a compound sentence, it is preceded by a semicolon:

Petra was absent on Friday; consequently, she missed the chemistry test.

* The use of a comma to join coordinate clauses is more common in novels, stories, and some types of journalistic writing than it is in serious expository prose. Although it is hard to make general statements here, it is safe to say this practice is the exception, not the rule. The comma is used by most writers to join coordinate clauses in the following situation:

- When the series of sentences takes the form of a climax:

1. I came, I saw, I conquered.

2. The leaves are turning to gold, squirrels are fattening, hunting time is near.

- When the statements form an antithesis, or are arranged in the “it was not merely this, it was mainly that” formula:

It was more than an annoyance, it was a pang. - Winston S. Churchill

To allow the Mahdi to enter Khartoum would not merely mean to return the whole of the Sudan to barbarism, it would be a menace to the safety of Egypt herself. - Lyton Strachey

Linda Correli is a staff writer of http://www.CustomResearchPapers.us/ and an author of the popular online tutorial for students “What Teachers Want: Master the Art of Essay Writing in 10 Days”, available at http://www.Go2Essay.com/ Visit Linda’s web log at http://custom-research-papers.blogspot.com/

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A freelance writer’s best resources of finding jobs online are
Job boards or sites. While some boards are geared specifically
to the freelancer, many others also list other type of jobs.

Some job boards allow freelancers to register their profiles and
credentials for prospective employers to peruse, others allow
resumes and classified ads to be posted. Other sites such as
www.elance.com enable employers to post jobs and freelancers to
bid fees for the jobs. The site earns a place for any jobs
awarded. There are other sites similar to www.elance.com such as
www.contractedwork.com.

There are many writing job boards online and it is not that
difficult to discover them. Some Jobs boards provide links to
other job sites and the list could be a bit long.

Searching through the major search engines can also provide an
exhaustive list of writing jobs. Use key words such as:

Freelance writing Jobs boards Writers Wanted Writing Jobs
Copywriting Jobs Technical writing jobs

To make your task of searching for writing jobs online, we have
provided you with the following list of sites. We hope you will
find what you want.

http://www.emoonlighter.com http://www.elance.com
http://www.burryman.com/freelance .html
http://www.recruitmedia.co.uk/jobs.asp http://scriptlance.com
http://www.ants.com http://www.e-work.com
http://www.freeagent.com http://www.freelancejobs.com
http://www.freelancers.com http://www.careerpath.com
http://www.monster.com http://www.sunoasisjobs.com
http://www.ajb.dni.us http://www.employmentall.com
http://www.epclassifieds.com http://www.freelanceexperts.com
http://www.copyeditorjobs.com http://www.mediabistro.com
http://www.journalismjobs.com http://www.newsjobs.com
http://www.freelancebbs.com http://www.freelancers.com
http://www.freelanceworkexchange.com
http://www.writergazette.com/jobboard.shtml
http://www.freelancejobsearch.com http://www.freelancebank.com
http://www.mediajobsearchcanada.com http://www.smarterwork.com
http://www.codelance.com http://www.looksurf.com
http://www.csne.org/jobs/postings.html

If you have checked the above sites a number of times in two or
three months and you have not got any job. I suggest you assess
your skills and consider taking some relevant writing courses.
You may also supplement these with a college degree in a
relevant field to enhance your marketability. While doing so do
some writing exercises and write articles on a wide variety of
topics and post them on to articles submission sites online.

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Robert, I like you. Don’t take this the wrong way.

But in your book, “Story,” you give the Hero’s Journey barely a passing mention.

OK, you do call it the “Quest” and on page 196 you do say that “all stories take the form of a quest.”

Having admitted that, surely you should have devoted more than a paragraph to it. This is a screenwriting book, right?

First, why not call it the Hero’s Journey? Using the common and well known frame of reference helps screenwriters, instead of confusing them.

Second, calling it a “quest,” is misleading. It implies that it covers a particular genre - Lord of the Rings, Arthurian Legend etc. But as you yourself state, all stories take the form of a quest. That includes Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990), Out of Africa (1985) and a million other very good and subtle stories that are not very “quest” like.

Third, if it is the template that all stories are structured around (and it definitely is), then you should have constructed your arguments around it.

Fourth, the Hero’s Journey is also a study of repeating patterns in successful stories and screenplays. It is compelling that screenwriters have a higher probability of producing quality work when they mirror the recurring patterns found in successful screenplays. Any screenwriting book is incomplete without it. As is yours.

Fifth, why the resistance to the Hero’s Journey? You, a screenwriting “guru,” should know it’s range, adaptability and flexibility. Most screenwriting “gurus” ignore it, actually. It’s as if they’re in denial because they didn’t spot the pattern.

Consider this:

• Titanic (1997) grossed over $600,000,000 - uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

• Star Wars (1977) grossed over $460,000,000 - uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

• Shrek 2 (2004) grossed over $436,000,000 - uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

• ET (1982) grossed over $434,000,000 - uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

• Spiderman (2002) grossed over $432,000,000 - uses the Hero’s Journey as a template.

• Out of Africa (1985), Terms of Endearment (1983), Dances with Wolves (1990), Gladiator (2000) - All Academy Award Winners Best Film are based on the Hero’s Journey.

• Anti-hero stories (Raging Bull (1980), Goodfellas (1990) etc) are all based on the Hero’s Journey.

• Heroine’s Journey stories (Million Dollar Baby (2004), Out of Africa (1980) etc) are all based on the Hero’s Journey.

SAMPLE deconstruction: Million Dollar Baby (Academy Award Winner Best Film, 2005)

Call to Adventure - where the hero is pushed to resolve a challenge. Maggie needs to escape her White Trash roots and Frankie needs to resolve issues concerning his daughter.

Refusal of the Call - where there is refusal, resistance, warning and foreboding. Frankie refuses to train Maggie.

The Supernatural Aid - where a mentor encourages the hero along the path. Eddie (Morgan Freeman) begins to help Maggie with her training and simultaneously guides Frankie towards her. As is usual, the supernatural aid has a challenge of his own (Danger Barch).

First Threshold - where a point of no return is crossed. Maggie persists in the gym. There is no dissuading her or going back for her.

Physical Separation (Belly of the Whale) - where the hero physically separates from his Old World and heads into the Transformation. Willie leaves Frankie, who has little else to do but train Maggie.

Transformation (Road of Trials) - where the hero significantly, but not completely, transforms. Maggie becomes a professional boxer.

The Ideal and the Seizing of the Sword - where the hero faces a difficult choice and journey to (often) the heart of the antagonism. Maggie buys her family a house and Frank takes on the role of father.

Rebirth Through Death - where the Hero is reborn. Eddie saves Danger Barch from the gym bully; Maggie doesn’t know what to do about the bear.

Atonement with the Father - where the hero confronts the obstacle to the apotheosis. Maggie loses to the blue Bear.

Apotheosis - where the hero has the illumination. Maggie should have listened to Frank and protected herself.

Ultimate Boon - both hero and heroine get a family.

Refusal of the Return - where the hero is repulsed by his Old Self or, on a practical level, there is refusal on some level. Frankie refuses to go back to the gym.

Magic Flight - where the hero attempts to escape from the antagonism or, for some reason, is unable to confront it. Frankie takes Maggie away and attempts to find doctors who can reverse the situation.

Rescue for Without - where the hero is pulled back toward his or her challenges. Maggie’s family return; Frankie wants to replace them and resists their arrival.

Crossing the Return Threshold - where the hero confronts the antagonism. Maggie loses her legs and asks Frankie to kill her.

Master of the Two Worlds - where the antagonism is defeated. Frankie kills Maggie.

Freedom to Live - where the hero is freed from the antagonism. Frankie does not return to the gym.

Learn more…

The Complete 188 stage Hero’s Journey and FREE 17 stage sample and other story structure templates can be found at http://managing-creativity.com/

You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.

Kal Bishop, MBA

**********************************

You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author’s name and site URL are retained.

Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached on http://managing-creativity.com/.

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“I don’t know if I should put ‘writer’ on my business card,” I murmured.

“Then don’t,” my wife said in her infinite wisdom. “Put ‘author’ on it.”

“But if I put ‘author’ on, none of those big companies with overflowing coffers will want to hire me as a writer,” I said, wondering if George Bush needed a speechwriter or if General Motors wanted someone to write the owner’s manual for next year’s Oldsmobile.

“Fine. Put ‘writer’ on your card then, and all those fancy people you give it to will know you can write for them.”

“But writer looks so small,” I pointed out. “I also want Fortune 500 companies to hire me as a speaker, and nobody important hires a writer to speak. They hire authors.”

“OK, why don’t you put both?” she offered.

“Ho, right. That’ll impress them. A writer who can’t even write his own business card with duplicating his redundancies,” I said. “I might as well shoot myself with my own sword.”

In the end, I put “author”, figuring I would get most writing jobs over the Internet, but when I speak live I would have to hand out cards to lots of people. An author’s autograph would make those people giddy as strawberry Jell-O on the Amtrak Express. Those same people would search nervously for a graceful retreat from the company of a mere writer.

What is it about being an author.? You can author an article or a report or just about anything. And you can be the author of just about anything (including “your own misfortunes”). But you can’t be “an author - period” unless you’ve published a book.

Big warning: writing a book does not count. I have a friend who wrote a book. That makes him a writer, not an author. When he publishes it, only THEN will he be a real author and only THEN will he be entitled to learn the authors’ secret handshake. Don’t try sneaking into the clubhouse on the scant pretext that your wrote a book. Anybody can write a book. Even a writer. You have to publish the book to get through these gates of glory.

But if my friend does publish, and he does become an author, and he does learn the secret hand shake, then he’ll be ready to cross that threshold of pride when a reader he’s never met before tells him, “I just couldn’t put your book down.”

Well, not quite. In fact, his book is about humorous anecdotes from many years in his particular profession. Hmm. That wouldn’t qualify him as an author, even if he publishes. It would put him in that blurry purgatory between “writer” “and” “author” in the company of so many silver medal winners who almost made it and whose names we almost remember .

Why? Because he doesn’t qualify for that crucial qualifying praise, “I just couldn’t put your book down.” That comment is reserved for novels, “serious” non-fiction like biographies and history, and how-to books on topics that require wads of glue. Other lowly books just don’t count.

But what if a lowly book could attract an ” I just couldn’t put your book down?” Would that make the writer an author, or would the author remain just a writer?

My book is a self-help book. Climb your Stairway to Heaven: the 9 habits of maximum happiness. Self-help books are certainly not considered second-class books by the literary elite. They wouldn’t even let self-help books into fourth class. In other words, mine is not a title any self-respecting New York Times book reviewer would allow to qualify for “I just couldn’t put your book down.”

At least, not in theory. But several people have said exactly that. (Too bad they said it to me and not to the New York Times.)

One lady even apologized for not calling me back one morning because she had stayed up into the wee hours of the morning reading my book. Now that’s the kind of feedback that makes an author smile. What the heck, that kind of feedback would make even a writer smile.

Call me a writer. Call me an author. I couldn’t care less. As long as you tell me “I just couldn’t put your book down,” I’m happy as a pig in … uh … Jell-O.

About The Author

David Leonhardt is the Happy Guy, author …No, make that writer. No, wait. Yes, he’s an author. But he’s also a writer. And a book reviewer. And a speaker. This article is an excerpt from the popular ebook Musings, written by a dozen prominent authors. Pick up your free copy at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/ happiness-self-actualization-products.html. Or sign up for your free “Daily Dose of Happiness” at http://www.TheHappyGuy.com/daily-happiness-free-ezine.html

amabaie@phastnet.com

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1. Swap ads with other ezine publishers.

Swapping ads creates a win-win situation for you and the other
publisher as both of you will get highly targeted promotion of
your publications without spending any money.

When asking for an ad swap, personalize your email with that
publishers name, and state what your ezine is about, how many
subscribers you have, and how often you publish your ezine.

Swap ads for at least 3 issues in a row to maximize the number
of new subscriptions to your ezine as well as to see which
ezines are best to swap ads with.

If your ezine still has a relatively small subscriber base, you
can still trade ads with ezines with a much larger circulation,
by offering free ads, ebooks, promotional tools, software, or
anything else of value to even up the swap.

2. Pay for classified ads and sponsor ads in ezines.

People that are already actively reading an ezine that deals
with the topic yours does, will be very likely to be interested
in what your ezine has to offer, and want to subscribe to it.

When paying for advertising in another ezine, your ad is going
to be key in generating new subscriptions to your publication.

Start your ad off with an attention getting headline and stress
the benefits your future subscriber will receive by subscribing
to your publication.

Provide free bonuses to increase the number of people that
subscribe such as free ebooks or a free ad, and end your ad with
a call to action that directs your reader to click on your
subscription address and visit your website.

3. Give your future subscribers a taste of the valuable content
to be found in your ezine by writing articles.

Writing articles will supply you with a powerful way to reach
thousands and thousands of subscribers at no cost, and also help
you brand yourself as a trusted resource in your field of
expertise.

Because people that subscribe after reading your articles have
already proven to be interested in what you have to say, writing
articles will also increase the number of your subscribers that
read every issue of your publication.

This will give you more opportunities to market your products to
your subscribers and generate more sales.

After you’ve finished writing your article, post your article on
your site, to article directories and announcement lists, and
submit your articles to ezine publishers directly.

4. Submit your publication to ezine directories and announcement
lists.

Just like when placing a classified ad to promote your ezine,
when submitting your ezine to directories and announcement
lists, stress the benefits that your reader will get by
subscribing to your publication — what makes your ezine unique,
a must read — and spice up your offer by giving away free
bonuses for subscribing.

It’s also a good idea to make up a list of keywords that people
would use to find your ezine, as some directories will ask for
this when you submit to them.

5. Promote your ezine in your signature file.

This is an often overlooked way to promote your ezine but can
yield a very good return.

Your sig file should include your name, your ezine’s name, the
benefits of subscribing to your publication, any free bonuses
you are offering, and a call to action that tells your reader
how to subscribe to your ezine.

Keep your sig file to no more than 6 or 8 lines, and use your
sig file in all your outgoing mail as well as when posting your
advice to moderated discussion lists.

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