Book Writing - Using Styles in Microsoft Word

When writing a book, and submitting it to a publisher it is important to give your manuscript a professional look. The best way I've found to do that is by using styles.

Some people may tell you that MS Word is not the best program to use for a book manuscript, but it is the program most users have on their computer, and Word is a format accepted by most publishers. Publishers have their own typesetters and use book set up programs they like best. Since Word is easy to use and has a lot of good features for writers, I'll share some tips about using styles in Word.

As Words

You will use a variety of formatting styles in writing a book:

* chapter headings

* page headers and footers

* Body text

* italicized text

* underlined

* works cited/bibliography

* table of contents

* bullet points

* hyperlinks

To set a style, go to format on your tool bar. Click on styles and formatting, then click new style. A box will open and you will give the style a name such as regular book text, italic book text, etc. You may change the style type in the drop-down boxes below. For example, you may want body text to follow your chapter headings.

If you want your newly created style to be available next time you open a new document. You will need to add it to the template. While you have the window open, look at the bottom of the dialogue box, check the box for "add to template" and "automatically update". This means that whenever you decide to change something to one section of text, Word will automatically change all sections of text which have been assigned that particular style. Don't close the box yet. There's more to do.

Now click on the format button on the left side of the dialogue box. Set your font and paragraph or any other feature you need such as tabs or bullet styles. Click ok to close.

Now highlight an area of text that you want to assign to the style you just created. On the toolbar just below "file" in the upper left side of your Word document there is a box next to the font type that you may have noticed and wondered what it is for. This box has a drop down menu from which to choose a style. In the list, find the style you just created and click on it. Close the box. The highlighted text will then be formatted to the style you just specified.

You can modify the style at any time by going to "format" on your toolbar at the top of your document screen. Select styles and formatting which will open another window. There is a list of all the styles you have available to choose from. Right click on the style you want to modify and use the regular toolbar to make the changes.

I'll be teaching a class on the advanced features of Microsoft's Word program, so be sure to check my blog for information on upcoming classes and events.

Book Writing - Using Styles in Microsoft Word

Resume Writing - 5 Words You Should Never Use on Your Resume

Human Resources professionals are inundated with resumes on a daily basis. Now, more than ever before, job seekers must learn to make their resumes stand out. One of the simplest and more effective ways to do this is by using power words and phrases. These words add muscle to your resume statements and exhibit intelligence. Search online for resume power words and you will be overwhelmed by the amount of websites that claim to 'provide' the complete list of resume power words.

Some power word sites list several words as power words that are NOT power words at all. Your resume can land up in the reject pile if you use the wrong phraseology.

As Words

Five words you should never use on your resume are:

A lot - This is probably the most obvious in the list. The problem with saying 'a lot' is that the phrase is entirely too vague. 'A lot' probably means something different to you from what the phrase means to me. There is no value in the phrase 'a lot.' One girl saying, "I eat a lot of chocolate," could mean something entirely different from another girl making the same statement. How much is 'a lot?'

Instead of saying, "I did XYZ a lot of the time," you could say, "I did XYZ 16 hours per work week." The more specifications you add to your resume, the better your chances are of getting an interview.

Creative - Should someone who boasts of being creative actually have to come right out and say they are creative? Probably not. The best way to show creativity is by accentuating accomplishments or skills you have that emphasize your creativity.

Flexible - Flexible is so overused that the word has lost all power. Flexible does not impress anyone. Flex that muscle on top of your head and come up with another power word that gets the same idea across.

If you are applying for a job where physical flexibility is critical (i.e. ballerina or yoga master) feel free to leave this word on your resume.

Interesting - Interesting as a power word is not interesting enough to grab or keep the attention of a human resources executive. Using stronger power words will create the idea that you are interesting and companies will be interested in calling you for an interview. Anyone truly interesting will never come right out and say that they are!

It - Using 'it' in place of actually telling what 'it' means confuses most readers.

Want another reason to cut 'it' out?

You automatically appear more intelligent.

Using power words can boost the effectiveness of your resume.

Resume Writing - 5 Words You Should Never Use on Your Resume

Writing a 250 Word Article is Like Taking a Flight From Philadelphia To, Well, Philadelphia

Start articles strong. Stay strong. End strong.

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Captain has informed me that we are #1 for takeoff. Oh, and he also has alerted the flight crew that we are cleared for final landing. So you know what to do with your tray tables..."

As Words

The fact is that two hundred and fifty words is not a lot of time AT ALL.

As a full-fledged article writer, you do not have the luxury of back-story or foreshadowing etc. You do not have 'novelist time' or 'screenwriter time.' You have news snippet on the eleven o'clock news time. So you need to start these babies strong and keep them strong.

Resist the urge to keep looking down at the word count to make sure that you are approaching your conclusion smoothly. Let the importance and boldness of your early thoughts keep your article in flight...throughout its entire flight. For just two hundred and fifty of these words things, that should pose absolutely no difficulty.

I realize that I'm leaning rather heavily on the flight metaphor, but it serves a nice purpose. The same way it takes engines to lift that huge craft into the sky is the same force necessary to start and continue great articles. *Hmmmm. Engines.*

Start articles strong and there's no 'lag time.' You won't find yourself pointing to a flow of logic that 'gets your reader there.' Starting articles strong allows you, as a author, to substantiate as opposed to titillate.

Should you ALWAYS construct your articles this way?

Absolutely not.

In fact, you need an barrage of weapons in your writers toolbox. And you need to use them in rotation. Keep your readers involved (and guessing and entertained) by mixing things up. Become the kind of author that you like to read.

Start articles strong. And keep them at cruising altitude. Do that every time you write an article, and you become an airline owner.

Writing a 250 Word Article is Like Taking a Flight From Philadelphia To, Well, Philadelphia