5 Strategy Questions for Nonprofits

Glenn Tecker and colleages have written in The Will to Govern Well about four primary questions (and one “wrap around”) that help Boards govern with knowledge.  Those questions help provide a framework for data gathering and analysis to be used in planning.  In general, they are:

1. What do we know about the needs, wants, and preferences of our members and/or stakeholders that is relevant to this issue?
2. What do we know about the evolving external context that is relevant to this issue, and how that might impact planning?
3. What do we know about the strategic capacity (and position) of our organization that is relevant to this issue?
4. What are the ethical implications of our choices?
5. Then there is a fifth question:  What do we wish we knew, but don’t?

These questions are designed to move an organization from “information and data” to “knowledge.”  They are quite effective in moving Boards from operations to strategy as well.  The issue then becomes, what to do with what you know in terms of action?  And further, what do we do when there are 20 good ideas on the table, but we can really do only two or three of them?

Character Development

This is a summary of an article at terribleminds by Chuck Wendig.

Set the Character Logline.

Describe the character in 140 characters or 23 words or less. What do I really need to know about him?

Identify the Character's Problem.

Shorter is better. You may have included the problem in the logline. This is why this character is here. This drives the plot.

Identify the Character's Solution to the Problem.

This is his solution, not yours. The character will try to use the solution to solve his problem.

Establish the Conflict.

This is the inherent conflict between the Character's Problem and the Character's Solution. Obstacles abound.

This is the difference between what the character wants and what he cannot have.

Identify the Limitations.

Limitations are generally internal. They get in the way. They are part of the conflict. Limitations help define the character's traits. They might be flaws or frailties.

Identify the Complications.

Complications are usually external. They are entanglements outside the character that make things difficult.

Identify his Greatest Fear.

This is useful to torment the character later on.

Write a Character Description

This is a lot like a logline and all of the above are description. Keep it short. 140 characters or less. Focus on the unique or odd characteristics.

Take a 1000 word test drive.

Write a piece of flash fiction to see how he acts. Have him talk to people. Give him a new problem. Get inside his head.

Now, Rewrite the Logline.

You idea of him may have changed.

Interview Questions - Nonprofit and For Profit

This is from Nonprofit Marketing Guide.com. Written by Kivi Leroux Miller.

"Here are my 25 favorite interview questions. I've never used all 25 at once, because the profiles I write are usually only 500-700 words and the people I'm interviewing often really busy. On average, I pick ten questions. Adjust the wording to meet your needs -- insert real names, places, topics, etc. that relate directly to your subject.

1. Tell me how you first got involved in with (the Nonprofit or the Cause) . . .
2. What was your first impression of (the Nonprofit)?
3. What's your first memory of (something related to the Cause)?
4. What has surprised you most about working with (Nonprofit or Cause)?
5. What do you find most challenging about (the Cause)?
6. What's the best/worst thing to happen since you started working with (the Nonprofit)?
7. When you last (volunteered, made a donation, etc.), how did that make you feel?
8. If you could change one thing about (the Cause or Nonprofit), what would it be?
9. What do you wish other people knew about (the Cause or the Nonprofit)?
10. Why are you supporting (the Nonprofit) as opposed to other groups working on (the Cause)?
11. Tell me about some of the people you've met while working on (the Cause)?
12. What would you say are some of your strongest beliefs about (the Cause)?
13. What's your personal philosophy on what should be done about (the Cause)?
14. When your friends/family find out that you (volunteer, donate, etc.), what do they say or ask?
15. Tell me about someone who has influenced your decision to work with (the Nonprofit)?
16. What might (someone) be surprised to know about you?
17. The interest in (the Cause) seems to be growing/waning. Why do you think that is?
18. What would you tell someone who is thinking about (donating, volunteering, etc.)?
19. What do you think will change about (the Cause or the Nonprofit) over the next five years?
20. What's it like to be a (volunteer, client, donor) or (the Nonprofit)?
21. If you weren't (volunteering, using their services, etc.), what would you be doing instead, or what would your life be like?
22. As a (client, volunteer, donor), what sorts of trends do you see?
23. How would (someone) describe you?
24. What do you do when you aren't (working, volunteering)?
25. What else can you tell me about (the Nonprofit or the Cause)?

And don't forget to follow-up on interesting answers! Here are some good follow-up questions:

1. What makes you say that?
2. How do you know that?
3. Why do you feel that way?
4. Can you give me an example?
5. Has that ever happened before (or since)?
6. How would you respond to someone who disagrees with you about that?"

- See more at: http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/resources/case-studies/interview-questions-to-help-you-write-great-donor-volunteer-and-client-profiles-for-your-newsletters/#sthash.GBjIc39X.dpuf

Another Story Sturcture

This one comes from Write to Done by K.M.Weiland. It uses Star Wars: A New Hope as the example.

The classic approach to structure divides story into three acts, which we can further divide into distinct categories:

1. First Act - In which characters, settings and stakes are introduced to the reader. (e.g., in Star Wars: A New Hope, viewers meet the droids, Darth Vader, Princess Leia, Luke, and Obi-Wan, and learn what is at stake for the characters on a personal level and the galaxy as a whole.)

 2. First Major Plot Point - In which the First Act ends with a definitive event that forces the character to react. (The murders of Luke’s aunt and uncle make him decide to go with Obi-Wan to Alderaan.)

3. First Half of the Second Act – In which the character reacts to his plight and tries to regain his bearings. (Obi-Wan hires a ship to Alderaan; Luke starts learning about the Force.)

4. Second Major Plot Point or Midpoint - In which another definitive event occurs, this time forcing the character out of his period of reaction and back into action. (The Death Star captures the Millennium Falcon.)

5. Second Half of the Second Act - In which the characters begin to come into their own and take definitive action against the antagonistic force. (Obi-Wan goes off to shut down the tractor beam, while Luke, Han, and Chewie decide to rescue Princess Leia.)

6. Third Major Plot Point - In which the character’s actions seemingly lead him to a place of defeat. (Obi-Wan dies and the Empire places a tracking beacon aboard the escaping Falcon.)

7. Third Act - In which the character must rally for a final assault against the antagonistic force. (Luke and the Rebels use R2-D2′s schematics of the Death Star to plan a last-ditch assault.)

8. Climax - In which the conflict between protagonist and antagonistic force reaches a deciding moment. (Luke blows up the Death Star.)

9. Resolution - In which loose ends are tied up, and the characters react to the events of the climax. (Princess Leia passes out medals.)

List of Potential Risks

From NFP Consulting Resources:
The following are a few of the more common areas of risk which can be assessed and addressed:

1. Availability of Information for Decision Making
2. Billing and Collections
3. Business Expenses
4. Business interruption
5. Cash Management
6. Continuity/Disaster
7. Contract compliance
8. Copyright infringement
9. Corporate Governance
10. Data Security
11. Donor/member records
12. Donor/member recognition and benefits
13. Emergency preparedness
14. Facility Management
15. Financial Reporting
16. Fraud & Ethical Behavior
17. Fund Raising
18. Gift Acceptance
19. Harm to clients
20. Human Resources
21. Insurance/Risk
22. Investment policies
23. IT Infrastructure
24. Litigation Risk
25. Misfeasance/Malfeasance
26. Malpractice
27. Operational Quality Performance
28. Personnel/Volunteer Behavior
29. Regulatory Compliance
30. Related Party Transactions
31. Special Events
32. Storm damage
33. Subcontractor Utilization
34. Succession Planning
35. Tax Exempt Status
36. Transportation
37. Unrelated Business Income
38. Use of intellectual property

Dan Wells on Story Structure

7 Elements of Story Structure. See the video Here.

(In Story order. Consider them in Number order.)

2. Hook

Starting state Harry is orphan under the stairs

4. Plot Turn 1 – Conflict is introduced. Sets the story in motion.

      Harry learns he is a wizard

      There is a problem to be solved. Call to adventure.

6. Pinch 1 – Apply pressure to force the characters action

      Troll attack in Harry Potter

3. Midpoint – moving from reaction (running away) to action (do something about it)

      Harry learns of Voldemort and decides to fight against him

7. Pinch 2 – Applies more pressure, things really get bad. the jaws of defeat.

      Mentor is lost. Gandalf is gone.

      Loss of everything.

      Loss of companions. Ron and Hermione are lost to traps in the dungeion

5. Plot turn 2 – Get the last piece you need. The Clue that we need.

      Luke. Use the force.

      The power is in the shoes.

      Grasping victory from the jaws of defeat.

           The shark has the tank in his mouth.

      I am your father and I have human emotion and I care about you.

      The mirror puts the stone in Harry's pocket.

1. Resolution

Start at the end.

     Where is the story going Harry defeats Voldemart

Plot (External conflict)

Character (Internal conflict)

Simple Growth Arc- Starts with weakness, Ends with strength

Complex Shift Arc – One kind of strength to another kind of strength

Other items

- Round characters

- Enrich environments

- Ice Monster prologue

- Try / Fail cycles

- Subplots

The Hero's Journey

• Hook. Hero has a sad boring life.
• Plot Turn 1. Hero becomes a role.
• Pinch 1. A bad guy attacks.
• Midpoint. Here learns the truth about something and swears to defeat the villain.
• Pinch 2. Companions fall to the villain, and hero is left alone.
• Plot Turn 2. Facing villain, hero discovers the power is in him.
• Resolution. Hero defeats villain.

Romance Plots

Ends well

Tragedy Plot

Ends bad.

• Hook. Happy
• Plot turn 1. Iago swears destruction
• Pinch Point 1. Creates rumor of unfaithfulness
• Midpoint. Suspicion
• Plot turn 2. Othello Kills her
• Pinch Point 2.Othello finds she was innocent
• Resolution. Everyone Dies

Horror

• Hook. Narrator is sane
• Plot turn 1. Narrator decides to murder.
• Pinch Point 1. Narrator tries, but cannot do it.
• Midpoint. Narrator kills.
• Plot turn 2. Police come to house.
• Pinch Point 2. Hears heart still beating.
• Resolution. Narrator is insane

Ice Monster Prologue.

Action fighting ice monster in prologue. Avoids boredom during the hook. Grabs them early.

Starts with space battle. Then lay the foundation.

Try / Fail Cycles.

Victory must be earned. First time success is too easy. Hero must try and fail multiple times.

Demonstrate consequences

Sometimes the cycles look like victories. They are just en route obstacles

Plots and Subplots

More than one plot.

Each has the journey.

Each can follow the Action, Character, Romance, or Betrayal plot form.

Important things in various plots happen at the same time, but may be at different point of structure.

How to Critique an Essay

From http://dfdinsauce.tripod.com/ProcessEssay/id2.html
1. Read the thesis. Stop reading and write what you EXPECT will be the topic and purpose of the essay. Write your response after first paragraph. Who is the audience and were there needs met? (you may need to ask the author who the reader is supposed to be-remember you need to know what THEY would know before you will be able to judge whether their needs are met in the intro and throughout the essay.)

2. Now, finish reading to the paper. Were your expectations met? If not, what do you now think the topic, purpose and audience are now?

3. Is the thesis sentence itself a strong statement (not a quote from someone else, not a question, etc)? does it give a purpose for the essay/topic? Does it address the process that will be discussed? Make sure there is a very specific statement at the beginning of the essay that will be supported through the essay.

4. Mark the examples you find(could be whole paragraphs or just single sentences). At the end of each example, evaluate its usefulness or strength in supporting the essay by adding a comment.

5. Mark the helpful hints and first aids you find. How many are there? Are they appropriate for the audience's needs? Are they detailed enough for the audience to follow and use? If this is a "how it was done" paper rather than a "how to," there should still be helpful hints and first aids describing the problems that occurred when the process was completed.

6. What did you like best about the essay? Add a comment about what you liked about it

7. What did you like the least about the essay? Add a comment about what could be improved about it.

8. Did anything in the essay surprise you? Be specific!

9. What TWO features of the essay most need improvement? Mark them and add a comment/suggestion about what/how they could be improved. Remember that just marking a problem area without explanation won't help the author fix the problem.

Why Do People Hate Their Jobs

Great Article by  James Altucher. Click Here
It's kind of a downer, but really true.

I limped out of the meeting and said, “excuse me”, and took the elevator down 67 stories, went to Grand Central, limped home, and never went back to work at that job.

Every day I try to practice reversing that. I do that by listening to the body, the mind, being grateful, being around positive people, sleeping a lot, eating well.
But having a job and being controlled by Masters ruins the practice. 

 Jobs are modern-day slavery. We are paid just enough to live and not more. You are punished if you ask for more. 

- We are often verbally abused on the job and we take it because we think it’s normal that people would yell at us. 

- The government gets up to 50% of your paycheck and then 10-20% of that goes to kill people on other parts of the planet, including our own children. 

- We are deluded into thinking our job-friends are our real-friends. With our job friends we talk about pens, genitals, and cubicles. We stop having real-friends. 

- There’s a glass ceiling. It doesn’t matter if you are a woman or minority or a white man. The glass ceiling is that you aren’t allowed to make more than your Master, even if he’s an idiot.

- You realize that all the dollars you spent on degrees to get you a job that will make you happy were completely wasted. You were scammed but you can’t let the next generation know how stupid you were so now you become part of perpetuating the scam. 

- A trillion dollar marketing campaign forced you to buy a house you didn’t really want and now you will “lose a house” you never really owned if you don’t bow down to the Masters every day. The words “The American Dream” were coined by Fannie Mae in a marketing campaign 40 years ago to sell mortgages to slaves. 

- Your spouse is tired of hearing about your job after six months. And you couldn’t care less about hers. Ten years later you wake up next to a total stranger. 40 years later you die next to one 

- Your IRA was not intended to provide for your retirement. It was intended to take money from you every month so you remain chained to your cubicle. Inflation then takes 90% of your IRA. 

- Over time everyone is getting fired and being replaced by younger, cheaper, more temporary, more robotic, versions of you. You see this but are afraid to do anything about it. 

Cross-posted here.

The Power of the Author Interview

by Sherrie Wilkolaski

A marketing tool all authors need to utilize to market and promote their books is the author interview. It’s quite simple to create and the investment of 30 minutes or less will go a long way to produce a tool that can be used time and again, both on and offline.  If you’re interested in treating yourself to one of the most valuable 30 minute book marketing exercises…please read on.

What is an author interview?

An author interview is a series of questions and answers that is prepared by the author.  Questions are typically pulled together by the book publicist and coordinated with the overall goals of the author’s marketing and PR campaign. The questions are developed and put into a Word document and then the author types (writes) out their answers. That final interview Q&A is then ready to be used and re-purposed in a variety of ways.

What kinds of questions should an author be asking themselves?

Authors should be asking basic questions (see list of examples below) about how the book came to life as well as questions that provide a deeper insight and teasers about their new book release.  Once the book basics have been covered, then the questions can get more personal and the author can talk about everything from their writing style and what books are on their own bedside table.  This is an opportunity for authors to share more about who they are. Authors should have fun with their questions and answers.  Asking questions about things outside of writing, like favorite foods, or types of music make for an interesting interview.

7 tips to capitalize on an author interview:

1. Use the author interview on their website.  Authors can use their online Q&A and publish it in their “about the author” section of their site.  It is more than just an author bio.
2. Incorporate the Q&A into the book media kit.  Every successful author media kit has prepared questions and answers for the media to use.  An author’s book publicist will use the author’s media kit to pitch the author to the media for interviews, both on and offline. Radio interviewers will always require this of every author before putting them on the air, so why not be ready for the invitation.
3. Online author interview is ready for instant guest blog appearances. There are thousands of book sites looking for online author interviews. Once the Q&A has been pulled together, it can be submitted along with the author’s bio and book summary to any website looking for this type of content. Makes for quick and easy book marketing.
4. Elevator-pitch preparation. Amazingly, authors learn a lot about themselves doing this exercise and it helps to prepare them their elevator pitch and for any typical questions they are likely to encounter while marketing their title.
5. Book signings and events. Bookstores and other venues that may be interested in considering an author for a signing will see how professional an author is because they have their Q&A pulled together.
6. Social media. Authors can use their online author interviews to promote their books in an interesting way. Send out a Tweet to your online interview, post random questions to your Facebook fan page or pin it. So many possibilities!

Get creative! There are so many ways for an author to use their author interview to present themselves to their audience and the media, think outside of the box.

Embrace the author interview.

The author interview opens so many doors for authors and is a marketing cheat sheet that will be used more than an author could ever anticipate. It will showcase the author as a professional while creating interest from readers looking or an insider’s peak at what the author is all about. Questions for fiction and non-fiction authors will be different.

As an example, see how the authors of the Salem Witch Trilogy included Q&A in their online media kit, as well as on the individual “about the author” pages for co-authors Jack Heath and John Thompson.

Here are a few interview questions you may want to consider using for your own Q&A.

• Tell us a little bit about yourself. (Short author bio)
• Can you tell us where people can find you? Website, social media, blog, etc.

Fiction:

Here’s your chance to market your book.  Describe it.  And why readers should pick it up?

• How did your book come to life?
• Who is you favorite character in your book and why?
• How did you name your characters?
• Are the characters in your books based on people you know?
• Why do you think your readers are going to enjoy your book?
• Are your characters’ experiences taken from someone you know, or events in your own life?

Non-fiction:

Here’s your chance to market your book.  Describe it.  And why readers should pick it up?

• How did your book come to life?
• What other books are most similar to yours?
• Why do you think your readers are going to enjoy your book?
• How long did it take you to write your book?
• Who designed the cover?
• What are you doing to market the book?  Are you using social media?
• In two sentences or less can you tell readers something unique about your book.

Don’t forget personalize your questions and answers so that they best position your book. If you’re looking for a customized author interview and need help with building your personal media kit, please email services@authorsboutique.com.

Best of luck!

About the Author

Sherrie Wilkolaski is a public relations and book marketing expert for independent authors and traditional publishers, specializing in small to mid-sized publishers.  She is the former Director of Publishing Services at Lulu.  She is a columnist for Press Pass.  In 2011 she co-founded Pressque Publishing, a traditional publishing house.  She is a bestselling author, radio talk show host of Pub Smart, and IFWTWA board member and treasurer.  To learn more go to www.authorpublishingservices.com.

How to Write a Compelling Author Bio

Source: Excerpted from How to Sell More Nonfiction Books author training program, available in video format along with the 37-page Nonfiction Book Marketing Resource Guide. This article was written by Dana Lynn Smith.

For how-to nonfiction books, it's often just as important to promote the author as it is to promote the book. Book buyers want to feel that the information in the book comes from a credible source, so the author bio is an important promotional tool.

You will need several bios in different lengths, to use for your book cover, website, speaker introductions, resource boxes for articles, and so forth.

I recommending writing a bio of several paragraphs first, then condense it down to several shorter versions for different purposes. Aim for a one-sentence blurb, a one-paragraph summary, and a longer bio of several paragraphs.

The nonfiction author bio is about expertise and credibility. List those things in your background that are most relevant to the book and your target audience. It's not a resume - keep it interesting, engaging, and focused on the audience.

Answer these questions to start building your bio:

• Do you have a degree, special training or extensive experience in the topic that you're writing about and/or in the craft of writing?
  
• Do you have a professional certification in your area of expertise?
  
• How do you use your credentials to help others? For example:  "Dr. Liz draws on her background as a clinical psychologist to help couples find their way back from the brink of divorce."
  
• What awards or other recognition have you received?
  
• What kind of media exposure have you had? For example: "Joan's relationship advice has been featured in Good Housekeeping and other major media.
  
• How many people do you reach each month through speaking and writing? For example: "Susan runs the most popular blog for aspiring authors, with more than 100,000 visitors a month."
  
• What leadership positions do you hold?
  
• Why should people listen to you or read your books?
  
• What interesting or unusual facts are relevant to your expertise? For example: "Hank started his first business at age 12, recruiting a team of neighborhood boys to do yard work."

Grammer Rules

Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

Curing Tutorial

Here's a link to a great tutorial on curing meat.
Click here

How to Work a Room Tips

Summary of How to Work a Room.
From Susan Roane @susanroane

1. Read name tags. Wear one.
2. Reintroduce yourself.
3. Look for the White-Knuckled Drinker
4. Extricate and Circulate
5. Allow for Serendipity
6. Be nice to everyone
7. Ditch the digital devices
8. Have Fun

Generating Story Ideas

From S. James Nelson on Youtube.

Watch for ideas. Keep a notebook.

Every story needs:

• Characters
• Setting, Place
• Problem
• Plot

Brainstorm the mundane, then brainstorm the opposite of each mundane characteristic.

Ask, "What if …" or "What could go wrong?" "Is there a secret from his past?" "What is his motivation?" "What is the threat here?"

Finish a book a year. Do it!

Eternal Salvation is NOT a choice

Eternal Salvation comes to those who believe that "Jesus Christ" is the messiah:

John 3:14-16

14 As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up; 15 so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life.
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His [e]only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

Belief is a state, not an action.

For example. Suppose I said, "He who has blue eyes and blond hair is of Nordic descent."  Did I chose to have blue eyes? Did I chose to have [naturally] blond hair? No. Likewise, I did not choose to believe.

How do I come to believe? I must first have Faith. 

How do I obtain faith?

It is a gift of God.

Ephesians 2:8

For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God

We cannot reject the gift and calling of God.

Romans 11:29

The gifts and calling of God are irrevocable.

 How do I get this gift?

This is strictly God's call. He choses who he calls, according to HIS purposes, not ours.

[Also note the phrase "for good to those who love God" does not say "for the good of those who love God." God's definition of good does not mean my safety, comfort, and happiness. Good means in accordance with His prescribed will. But that is another study.]

Romans 8:28-30 Emphasis is mine.

28 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.

So what is the point of Evangelism?



God gave us, the believing body of Christ, a task to perform in making this process happen. Our task is to preach the word and to send others to preach.

Romans 10:12-17

12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; 13 for “Whoever will call on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
14 How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? 15 How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news of good things!”
16 However, they did not all heed the good news; for Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed our report?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.

John 5:24

Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Revelation 3:20

Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him, and he with Me.

We are God's chosen instrument here on earth, chosen to glorify Him by preaching His Word, empowered by the Holy Spirit. Note that some do not heed the Word and believe. This was because they were not among the called.

Matthew 28

18 And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Mark 16

 15 And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. 16 He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. … 

20 And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. 

Objections

Some object to this by pointing out Deuteronomy 30:19 tells us to “choose life.” But then we read in Romans 3:11 that “there is none who seeks for God”(NASB).

Romans 3, [quoting Psalms 14:1-3; 53:1-3; Eccles. 7:20]

 as it is written,
“There is none righteous, not even one;
11 There is none who understands,
There is none who seeks for God;
12 All have turned aside, together they have become useless;
There is none who does good,
There is not even one.”

So we are absolutely incapable of seeking God and doing good without the initiation, intervention, and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. In fact, were were dead in our sins. Dead means we could do nothing; and nothing means nothing.

Ephesians 2

1 And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2 in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

… 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.

Paul also says that we were slaves to sin, which means that we must obey that master, until we are born again.

Romans 6:6-7, 12, 16, 17

6 knowing this, that our old self was crucified with Him, in order that our body of sin might be done away with, so that we would no longer be slaves to sin; 7 for he who has died is freed from sin.
… 12 Therefore do not let sin (T)reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts
… 16 Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness? 17 But thanks be to God that though you were slaves of sin, you became obedient from the heart to that form of teaching to which you were committed

John 8:34

Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin

We were chosen by God, not by our actions, to do good works, which are the prescribed will of God.

Some argue that it is possible to fall or turn away from God and lose their eternal salvation.

1 Tim 4:1

But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith

Heb 12:3

For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

However, God has promised that salvation is a gift of eternal life. God promised eternal life to those who confess with their mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in their heart God raised Him from the dead.

Rom 10:9-11

 9 … if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; 10 for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be disappointed.” 

 This is a promise from God. Can we choose to break God's promise? I think not.

God also promises that he who has faith will overcome the world and that the evil one does not touch him.

1 John 5:4 &18

 4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith. 5 Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?
… 18 We know that no one who is born of God sins; but He who was born of God keeps him, and the evil one does not touch him. 

Therefore, I can only conclude that those who fall away never believed in the first place.

Creating Compelling Content

From Copyblogger:

Like this infographic? Get more content marketing tips from Copyblogger.

15 Ways to market your freelance writing

From Make a Living Writing: You want more leads because that allows you to pick and choose the types of projects you want to do. It makes you feel more confident asking for higher rates, too. As it happens, there are a fairly limited number of ways most writers find paid freelance work. Here are the basic options, with a look at the pros and cons for each type: Friends and family. That’s right — let the people in your life know you are looking for freelance writing clients. You never know who they might know. You could earn a little, or a lot. Content mills. The pay is rock-bottom, but once you’re accepted, it’s so easy to grab assignments off that content mill dashboard. Bidding sites. It’s a race to the bottom against every writer on the globe on oDesk/Elance/Guru and all their imitators, but if you’re selective and choose quality gigs few are bidding, you might do fairly well. Revshare platforms. The effort you put in writing for Examiner and similar platforms will determine whether you earn pennies or thousands. I’m told you should post 1,000 articles in a short time to earn well. Craigslist ads. These are so easy to find…and so full of scams and lowballers. Every once in a while a real client wanders on here because they don’t know its reputation, which keeps scads of writers checking Craigslist compulsively in hopes of finding that one gold nugget. Place your own ads. Whether you get in the resource guide of your local professional association or place Facebook or Craigslist ads, you can spend a bit in hopes of attracting some new clients. This one’s real hit-or-miss, though with Facebook you’ll at least know how many people viewed it. Inbound marketing. If you take the time to create a strong LinkedIn profile, blog and writer website, they could send you quality clients while you sleep. I’ve gotten several Fortune 500 clients this way that paid $.50-$2 a word. Query letters. You don’t need connections if you know how to develop a stellar story idea and pitch it to the right publication. Pay at publications is all over the place, from $.10 a word to $2. Letters of introduction. For custom publications (that hospital magazine, for instance) and trade publications (think Ad Age), emailing off a strong letter of introduction can open the door to a steady string of assignments. Most pay $.30-$1 a word. Social media marketing. If you know how to do it, you can use LinkedIn and Twitter to connect with prospects of all sorts, from magazine editors to corporate publications managers. In-person marketing. Grab some business cards and show up at a business event. Shop around until you find the meeting your prospects visit. You never know who you could bump into — I met the editors of Costco Connection and Microsoft Office Live at in-person events. Cold calling. Reach out and touch marketing managers. Find out if they need freelance writers. Repeat as needed. Cold calling allows you to hit a lot of prospects in a short time. Direct mail. Sure, you’ll spend to put together a slick postcard or marketing package. But it allows you to impress the heck out of big-money clients. Referrals. If you have happy editors or business clients, either current or former, from either paid or pro bono work, they may tell their friends and send more gigs your way…especially if you tell them you need more clients. Contests. I got my start winning two of these. The prize isn’t the money — it’s the connections you make with the editors who read your entries. I ended up writing long-term for both the publications where I won contests. My free Marketing 101 for Freelance Writers series has a ton more detail on the best ways to do the types of marketing that get better results, but that’s a quick overview. How

Campbell's 'Hero's Journey' Monomyth

From ChangingMinds.org. See that for numbered links.

Disciplines > Storytelling > Plots > Campbell's 'Hero's Journey' Monomyth
Separation | Initiation | Return | See also

Joseph Campbell defined a classic sequence of actions that are found in many stories. It is also known as the Monomyth, a term Campbell coined from James Joyce's Finnigan's Wake.
I. Separation / departure
The first section of the story is about the separation of the hero from the normal world. Separation has symbolic echo of infant transition away from the mother and so has a scary feel to it.

  I.1 The Call to Adventure
  I.2 Refusal of the Call
Acceptance of the Call
  I.3 Supernatural Aid
  I.4 Crossing of the First Threshold
  I.5 Entering the Belly of the Whale

II. Initiation
In the main part of the story the hero is initiated into true heroic stature by various trials and rites. Through daring and battle, the true character emerges.

  II.1 Road of Trials
  II.2 The Meeting with the Goddess
  II.3 Woman as Temptress
  II.4 Atonement with the Father
  II.5 Apotheosis
  II.6 The Ultimate Boon

III. Return
After initiation the hero can cleansed and return in triumph to deserved recognition, although this in itself may not be without its trials and tribulations.

  III.1 Refusal of the Return
  III.2 Magic Flight
  III.3 Rescue From Without
  III.4 Crossing of the Return Threshold
  III.5 Master of the Two Worlds
  III.6 Freedom to Live

As with other frameworks, Campbell receives his fair share of criticism, typically that not all stories are like this. His much-admired and much-copied pattern has also been criticized as leading to 'safe' movie-making, in which writers use his structure as a template, thus leading to 'boring' repeats, albeit in different clothes. The same has been said about Shakespeare, of course, as well as other classic writers.
See also
Propp's Morphology of the Folk Tale, Vogler's story structure
Campbell, J. (1949). The Hero With a Thousand Faces, New York: Bollingen

Seven Tips From Ernest Hemingwa

From Open Culture:

1: To get started, write one true sentence.

2: Always stop for the day while you still know what will happen next.
So obvious, but we never do it. We try to press on.

3: Never think about the story when you’re not working.
Let your subconscious work on it.

4: When it’s time to work again, always start by reading what you’ve written so far.
This builds continuity.


5: Don’t describe an emotion–make it.
 The key is to not only watch and listen closely to external events, but to also notice any emotion stirred in you by the events and then trace back and identify precisely what it was that caused the emotion.

6: Use a pencil.
You need to work at it and using a pencil forces you to slow down.

7: Be Brief.
Using a pencil forces brevity.

Case Study Outline

Tips from Stories that Sell

Here are four ways to make your success stories more seductive:
1- Feature Only Insanely Smitten Customers
Who eloquently sings your praises? Who already refers you to others? Get those customers on record.
Take the time to pre-qualify customers

2- Capture Passionate Customer Quotes
To get passionate quotes from customers, ask questions that get them talking and sharing their emotions:
- “Describe the situation before and the pains/problems/challenges of that.”
- “Describe how your workday (or whatever) has changed for the better with the new solution.”
- “Can you share an example or anecdote of a time when the solution [insert name] made a difference for you?”

DON’T: Write quotes for customers.
Customers say infinitely more interesting things than what you might manufacture.

3- Tap into Prospects’ Narcissism – Make it ‘About’ Them
If you’re dating, you’re told to keep the other person talking about themselves. The same goes for wooing potential customers.
We all like talking about, hearing about, and reading about ourselves or others like us.

4- Display your Feathers – Those Tantalizing Customer Results
Show customer results – specific and as measurable as possible.
How do you get strong results? Going back to tip #1, choose customers well, in this case those that have only the best results and can share them.
Then, ask before-and-after questions. How much time or money (or whatever) did this require before, and how about now? Present those numbers in ways that put customers at ease. If dollar figures are too revealing, use percentages or factors of (i.e. cut in half, tripled, etc.). Weave them into your headline, highlight them in customer quotes and include them in sidebar summaries.

Case Study Questions

From Make a Living Writing:
Ask questions.:

• Why did you start this company?
• What were you doing before this?
• How did you get into this industry?
• What is the problem you solve for customers?
• What does this product do that’s different or better than competitors’ products?
• How has the company evolved since you started it?
• What are the big issues in this industry, and what’s your opinion on them?
• What does the company plan to do next?

Learn the story of who the founder was, why this company was born, where it was headed, where he was coming from, and why it was successful.

Taxes and Deficits

From Hoisington Investment Management – Quarterly Review and Outlook, Fourth Quarter 2012 as quoted by John Mauldin in Outside the Box.

 ...the latest fiscal policy actions will serve to further restrain economic growth. We cannot tax ourselves into prosperity as FDR’s 1937 effort and numerous other historical cases demonstrate. We can, however, deficit spend ourselves into poverty. Consistent with the academic research, we could not find historical precedent for the proposition that prolonged deficit spending achieved prosperity.
...
Still valid is the thinking of classical economists like Adam Smith and John Stuart Mill: prosperity derives from the hard work, creativity and ingenuity of a country’s people, not by the federal government spending funds that it does not have. However, by diverting dollars from highly productive individuals and businesses through borrowing or taxes, government policy can spend a country into poverty. Transferring assets from income and wealth generators to consumption, unproductive or even counterproductive uses, however, produces failure.