It's looking like Spring here in Southern California, just in time to think about taking your business or career to the next level.

This includes adding new parts to your marketing mix this year. One of the best ways to distinguish yourself from the crowd is to write a book or speak to groups and organizations.

I'm sure you've heard this before. It always seems like a nice thing to do if you could just figure out how to get started.

It's not that hard. For instance, I just finished editing books for two clients of mine. They'd never done a book before and had to be coaxed into trying it. They succeeded with a bit of prodding from me but mostly with the determination that it was worth it to them to complete that book, get it into circulation, and establish themselves as experts in their fields.

Many of you probably wonder what it would take for you to finally achieve that goal. For most of us it comes down to whether the result is worth the time, money and effort you would put into your project, not much different than deciding whether to buy a $20 dinner or a $40 dinner. If the expensive one doesn't seem worth it, you won't do it.

By the same reasoning, if your dream for the future doesn't seem worth the time or money you would spend realizing it, you won't do it. This means that your book will get written or your business will get started only when you decide that the value you will get outweighs the expense you will incur.

I say this because as I look back over the last 15 years of learning to write, learning to market, learning to speak and learning to network, over all the costs, the time invested, I would do it again in an instant. Has it been worth it? Absolutely.

I hope you will decide your dream is worth it this year. When you do I will be here to help you make it happen.

Today I'm sharing with you a few tips for making your writing stronger. Many of the books and articles I edit show several common errors that will either turn off the reader or obscure your message.

Change these errors and your writing will automatically be much more effective.

1.  Use the active voice, not the passive voice. This includes using strong statements containing a subject you can see with an action verb. For instance,  the sentence -- The car hit the tree. -- is far stronger than the sentence -- The tree was hit by the car. Avoid the use of such words as was, by, has, been, and others of that type.

2.  Eliminate flab from your writing. Most writers can remove up to 20 percent of the words they use without affecting meaning. This includes filler words, extra phrases, repeating the same idea twice in different words, and repeating the end of the previous sentence when you start a new one.

3.  Use very few adverbs. Adverbs modify verbs and are used to give weak verbs more strength. However, the best way to accomplish this is to use stronger verbs in the first place. Eliminate adverbs like certainly, really, and simply, among others.

4. Don't begin sentences with "and" or "so" or "but." These seem to be connectors. In reality they weaken the noun-verb interaction in the new sentence. If you must use them, connect the two sentences to make a complete thought.

Try these new techniques out and watch your writing automatically get better.

Story Magic Weekend

The Story Magic weekend will be held April 12 and 13 this Spring.

If one of your goals for the new year is to upgrade your speaking skills, consider taking my next Story Magic Intensive. Stories are fundamental to all speaking, selling and personal relations skills. Here you will learn to use them in ways that will change your life.

Previous Story Magic Intensives have been great successes. My next one will be held in April and will be limited to a maximum of ten participants.

Story Magic teaches you story creation techniques in a small group setting. These techniques can be used to create stories you can use in speeches, writing or promotional materials. During the event, you will discover where stories come from, you will write your own story and you will practice delivering it orally. Go to www.storyseminars.com for details.

News From Speak Your Way to Wealth

Our special 2 for 1 offer ends tonight at midnight. You can attend Speak Your Way to Wealth for just $297 and bring your honey or a friend for free. We've had lots of signups at this rate and will not extend it past tonight.  This special is the lowest rate we will ever offer for Speak Your Way to Wealth.

This year's event will be at the Ayres Hotel in Manhattan Beach, California. It's a fun European-style hotel with great ambiance, a great meeting room and a great place to relax and learn.

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Where Is Lee Speaking?

Story Magic Weekend, April 12-13, 2008. Location to be announced.

South Orange County Genealogical Society, Saturday, June 21, 2008. "Compiling and Publishing Family History"

Speak Your Way to Wealth, August 22, 23, 24, 2008, Newport Beach, CA.

New Books

Fifty-Seven Steps to Better Writing is my personal look at the writing and publishing business. You will learn how to choose a genre, how to select a publishing method and how to use the craft of writing to make your work sparkle.

Order this book now

Do you need help with your writing?

Lee Pound  helps writers and speakers strengthen their communication skills by teaching them to write clear, concise prose that all readers can understand.

Learn more about coaching here

Do you need a speaker?

Lee is an inspirational and motivational speaker who presents to organizations, conferences, businesses and clubs interested in learning more about skills used to communicate in writing and speaking and how to apply those skills in our daily lives.

Learn more about my presentations

Toastmasters

Learning to speak well requires practice. The best forum to practice is at a local Toastmasters Club. You can go to www.toastmasters.org for more information. You are invited to visit my clubs at any time. Call or e-mail for further information.

Possibilities Unlimited
Carrows Restaurant on Marguerite Parkway north of Avery Parkway in Mission Viejo, CA, Monday evening 7:15 p.m.

Performance Unlimited
Executive Career Services Conf. Room
2955 Main St., # 110, street level
Irvine, California, 92614, Thursday evening, 7:00 p.m.