From the category archives:

Tips and Tactics

Why the Rules of Art Matter

November 10, 2009
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Why are some books unreadable? Why is some music unlistenable? Chances are they either defied or ignored the rules of art. As you’ll see, the real opportunity lies not in breaking rules but in altering conventions. Click the title to read more.

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11 Tips for Better Internet Research

November 5, 2009
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The internet is a fascinating beast, but for curious people, it will eat hours of your life. Sometimes it’s fun to fill your head with ‘useless’ information, but other times it’s a pain in the ass. How can you make the most of your research time? Check out this article to find out more.

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Who Is Your Audience and How Do They Affect Your Work?

November 2, 2009
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Do you know who you’re creating for? How well do you know your audience? The people you have in mind as your working on your project will probably affect your final product.

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ESL Teaching: The Easy Way to Live Abroad

October 31, 2009
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Teaching English as a Second language can be a great way to live abroad, but there’s a lot to learn. This article covers requirements, how to find work, how to choose a destination, and a bonus section on how to be a decent (not good) teacher.

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Quickie: What Are You Waiting For?

October 26, 2009
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“If only I knew then what I know now. ” How many times have you heard this lament? Do you ever wish you could go back and tell your past self a thing or two? In this short post, Seth shares what he would tell his younger self…if only he could fix his blasted time machine!

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In Defense of Handwriting (plus tips!)

October 23, 2009
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Seth is sick and tired of having handwriting that looks like roadkill and decides to do something about it. He asks why we should bother to have good handwriting and offers some tips to improve it. Free bonus: Gratuitous before and after photos!

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Who Else Wants a Double Duty, Double Dipping Job?

October 16, 2009
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Want to get paid to create? If you start double dipping, you can do just that. What is double dipping?

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Temporary Insanity: 10 Lessons Learned from NanoWriMo

October 13, 2009
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In less than three weeks, over 200,000 people will allow themselves to go a little crazy for a month. They will gnash their teeth, smash their heads, and possibly destroy their livers. What can we learn from them?

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16 Easy Ways to Increase Focus

October 6, 2009
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Focus is as elusive as a ghost and slippery as a sturgeon, here one minute and gone the next. We all want to be focused on whatever we’re working on, but emails, cell phones, and the repo man all beg for our attention like neglected children.

This post details sixteen ways to increase focus, attention, and mindfulness.

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The Power of Naming Things

September 27, 2009
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When you start a project, what do you call it? Imagine you’re just getting started with a new creative work. If it’s a book, do you say “this story I’m doing about guilt, fear, and cakes,’ or is it “The Ministry of Fear?” If a painting, do you say ‘this thing  with a bearded guy [...]

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