ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ENTERING CONTESTS

ON THE IMPORTANCE OF ENTERING CONTESTS Entering contests is an important component of any working writer’s outreach and promotions plan. Although it may seem that winning a contest is a long shot, that’s not necessarily true. Most contests (but not all) charge an entry fee, so the cost of entering should be weighed. Pick and choose carefully and be sure to match your entry to the focus and intent of the contest. I have entered my work in contests for years and have rarely won. Rarely is not the same as never. One of the few contests I won was a big one. My novel Memories from Cherry Harvest won the Frances Fabri Literary Prize. The award was a standard publishing contract with Counterpoint Press, a generous advance, and a dedicated marketing budget. There was no entry fee for this contest. The Fabri Prize Selection Committee is comprised of Matt McKay at New Harbinger Books, his wife Jude, and Tom Southern at Boaz Publishing. (More information about the Fabri Prize is available at the Boaz website.) Memories from Cherry Harvest appeared in print in June 2012. I spent about 20 years working on this book and I could wallpaper my living room with the rejection notices I have received for it. I have been submitting the manuscript to agents and publishers for 10 years and have been entering it in contests steadily since 2006. My eventual success at getting it into print is a lesson in perseveranc e and it demonstrates the importance of entering contests. There are many types of writing contests. Entering contests with short essays, short fiction, and poetry is an important way to build your credentials, to get your name out into the world, and to contribute to your platform as a recognized working writer. Remember that even if you don’t win, someone read your work, and you never know when that connection might evolve into a larger success for you in a different way than you expected. Also, consider the fact that reading tastes are subjective Memories from Cherry Harvest is not my first book in print. In 2007 I self-pubbed my children’s fantasy adventure The Call to Shakabaz under my own Woza Books imprint. I mention this because I want to point out that entering contests with Shakabaz was part of my marketing plan for the book. Whenever the book won an award, I used it as an occasion to send out press releases and email blasts and to bring the book back into the spotlight. Additionally, many contests have their own promotional mechanisms and that translates into free publicity for the winners. There’s an old Jewish joke that goes something like this:    There was once a good and pious man named Morty who was very poor. His life was difficult. One day he turned his eyes heavenward and pleaded with God, â€Å"I’m a good man, I obey all your laws, so why don’t you help me out here, maybe send some money my way; why don’t you let me win the lottery?† Thunder and lightening pierced the heavens and a booming voice replied, â€Å"Morty, I feel for you, but you gotta meet me halfway- buy a ticket.† Here’s my advice:   You have to work really, really hard to be a successful writer; but remember to buy a ticket.  

Implementation plan (Our company Starwood hotel&resorts) Assignment

Implementation plan (Our company Starwood hotel&resorts) - Assignment Example Some customers come and go due to the way they are treated. Once a business notes some deficiencies in its service provision to the customers, it can keep the customers. The manager of the department will be tasked with the sole purpose of dealing with customer needs and ensuring that they are well taken care of (Thompson et al., 2014). The analysis of the different age groups will help the company to come up with solutions to increase the popularity of its products in the market. Market research is a valuable tool that determines the popularity of the business and where the business needs to change to increase its success and customer base. The business will, therefore, target customers in the market by positioning itself in the various segments (Laljani, 2009). It will use the customer relationship department to reach out to customers and get more feedback by including the customers in the running of the business. As a result, the customers will be loyal to the

Scuba Diving with Jellyfish Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1750 words

Scuba Diving with Jellyfish - Essay Example When we arrived at the island the captain stopped and anchored the boat. I immediately jumped in the water and started snorkeling while all the other drivers were still on the boat putting on their scuba equipment. After being in the water for about two minutes wearing only my swim trunks, I started feeling this stinging sensation all over my body. After about another minute or so the stinging got so bad that I had to get out of the water and back on the boat. I mean the stinging felt like I was being burned or something the pain was excruciating. When I got on the boat, I found that I had welts on every inch of my body that wasn't covered by my swim trunks. I had been stung numerous times by a Jellyfish. I was blessed to still be alive said the captain of the boat, Poseidon. He was a Mexican man who claimed he was king of the ocean. Personally, I thought the guy was a little wacky. However, he poured this liquid substance all over my body and immediately made all the stinging go away. I immediately asked what the liquid was, soon after he implied, it was a secret liquid he made back home. I thought it was vinegar from the way it smelt, nonetheless, I was just happy for the stinging to be gone. Poseidon said the jellyfish had to have been one of the smaller species of Jellyfishes because if not I would have been dead. I immediately knew then that if I got back in the water I would have to wear a wetsuit and all the protective gear I could find. A little while later, after I recovered from the jellyfish stings, I put on my wetsuit, weight vest, regulator, tank, fins, and mask, all the equipment essential for scuba diving. I was pretty nervous about going down, so the instructor, a man named Michael Walters went over all the steps, equalizing, breathing, and reassured me everything was going to be okay and to just relax. Â  

Legal Analysis Memo Case Study Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Legal Analysis Memo - Case Study Example Did police officers uphold the 4th amendment of the United States constitution, when they entered Mr. Smith’s home without a warrant, simply after investigating an noise complaint and observing what were thought to be illegal activities through the window, then seizing Marijuana, Cocaine and unregistered firearms? Do police have enough evidence to convict him of distribution? The state should be allowed to use the evidence gained, because Mr. Blake does not have a reasonable expectation for privacy within Mr. Smith’s home. They do not have enough evidence to convict Mr. Blake with possession of firearms because the firearms could have belonged to anyone. They also do not have enough evidence to convict him with distribution of cocaine, because the act of him transferring a white bag to someone else is ambiguous, and there is not enough evidence to corroborate the crime. Rule: The 4th amendment of the United States Constitution provides: The right of the people to be sec ure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and Warrants shall not be issued, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized (US Constitution). However, the owner of the property may consent to the search. Also the person must have a reasonable expectation of privacy. In Minnesota Vs. Carter, the courts ruled that a guest at another person’s residence does not have a reasonable expectation of privacy (unless they are spending the night), and thus are not protected under the forth amendment (Minnesota vs. Carter). Also, officers are allowed to seize anything in plain view during lawful observation. Analysis: On the grounds that police officers made observations through the window before Mr. Smith authorized a search of his property, Mr. Blake could file a motion to have all evidence stemming from thos e observations to be discarded under the 4th amendment. However, if the court grants that motion the evidence will stand, because as seen in Minnesota Vs. Carter, if you are a guest in another person’s home, you do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy and you are not protected under the fourth amendment (Minnesota vs. Carter). Even though Mr. Blake runs a business with Mr. Smith in the basement of the home, it still is not technically his home, and according to Minnesota vs. Carter, you are given a significantly less expectation of privacy in the commercial arena anyhow (Minnesota vs. Carter). Thus the evidence observed from the window as well as the evidence found after Mr. Smith consented for the officers to enter the home can be used in court. The firearms were in plain view when the police entered the home, so those can be used as well. Even though the evidence must stand, there is not enough evidence to convict Mr. Blake of all of the crimes he is being charged w ith. The police report states they â€Å"observed Mr. Blake hand a baggie of white powder to someone standing near the couch.† They then found a large amount of cocaine in Blake’s possession, cash, and a small amount of cocaine in a stranger’s possessions. While the law states that the government need not prove he received anything of value in return, the fact that they didn’t see him receive anything makes it tough to prove he was actually distributing the cocaine. While not the most intuitive explanation, it’

Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 206

Assignment Example It can also track the non-performing segments and provide a platform from which the group can decide whether or not to clear with some departments. Using Stern Stewart’s lists of effective management with regards to maximizing on the components of EVA, it is possible to see just how appropriate capital employed serves the business. The Capital Light strategy seeks to make available larger sums of capital all in the name of taking advantage of the way in which potential investors will hold the fort in case of an expected payday. EVA can be put to task with regards to its effectiveness in picking out the non-performing segments or investments. As the instigator of EVA, Stern Stewart and Co., enjoy a significant share in the market and a healthy result for their years of service. The current levels of compensation seem excessive especially when put into perspective regarding profit and loss. The example of Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae shows just how far the rot has spread with the company now operating at a loss in the name of maintaining staff with major skills. It becomes a major burden ensuring that the objectives of the shareholders are satisfied. The compensation levels however, should come into play even before a CEO’s term ends. The payment will make a significant impact on whether or not the company continues in the set pathway. The way in which a CEO drives forward his/her agenda is mainly dependent on the manner of their economic contribution (Fortune, n.d). An imbalanced and overpaid leader will impact negatively on morale and lead to loss of profit levels. It is especially true in the event of an economic downturn. The question of giving raises and bonuses to the employees of the federal and state governments during poor economic performances desires an answer. These governments have the power within them to improve living standards for

Music Copyright & Interband Agreements Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2500 words

Music Copyright & Interband Agreements - Essay Example (c) The Members agree they will act in good faith in connection with any matter relating to the constitution of the group and any of the activities of the Group and any obligation of the Group entered into with third parties. (d) the choice of record company and publishing company and the negotiation of the terms of any long term agreement relating to the professional services of the Group or any promotion or exploitation of any product of or rights in the goodwill and reputation of the Group; (g) the making of any request for or commitment to any significant loan or any other Group financial liability to any party (including any guarantee of third party obligations) and for any purpose in this context the term "significant" shall mean a transaction or series of related transactions or a facility exceeding (e.g. Â £30.00 - insert appropriate amount) whether or not the whole amount thereof is intended be drawn down at any time; 3. (a) Any decision not being within clause 2 or which is otherwise stated to require the unanimous consent of all Members will be decided upon by a majority vote on a show of hands each Member having one vote. (c) If the Group appoints its manager or any other party to adjudicate on any matter which cannot be resolved by voting then a condition of that appointment is that the decision of the adjudicator will be accepted by the Group. (ii). In the case of any ground for expulsion other than fundamental disagreement on Group policy or development the expelled Member must first (if appropriate) have been given a reasonable opportunity to remedy the complaint or to have been warned about his or her activity complained of and the written notice of expulsion must state the reason for the expulsion. (b) If the unanimous decision is given without reasonable cause such as (but not limited to) a material breach of this Agreement or permanent incapacity or a serious criminal conviction or a fundamental

Shouldice hospital Essay Example for Free

Shouldice hospital Essay Executive Summary: The Shouldice Hospital, Ontario, Canada is a pioneer in the field of treating patients suffering from external abdominal hernia. The speedy ambulation coupled with its reasonable price rates leads to satisfied patients publicizing the hospital by word of mouth. The issues that confront the hospital management are:  ·Deciding on ways to meet the backlog of operations, by expanding the hospitals capacity, while still maintaining control over the overall quality of service delivered.  ·Handling piracy and bad mouthing due to piracy.  ·Selection of the next chief surgeon after Dr.Obney. After analyzing various plans of actions, it is proposed that the capacity of the hospital be increased by scheduling the operations on Saturdays also. At the same time a successor to Dr. Obney must also be selected. This solution seems like the most feasible in terms of cost and time and also leverages the existing strength of the hospital in providing quality services to the patients. To implement the solution discussed above, first of all, awareness must be created among all the employees by means of workshops etc., about the urgent need for such a step to expand capacity. The selection of the new chief surgeon must be done by carefully scrutinizing all the surgeons in the hospital as well as interviewing new candidates for the same. The administrative processes in the hospital must be made computerized to improve their efficiency. Proper training for using them must also be imparted to the employees. If it is not possible to increase capacity beyond a certain limit due to the above plan and the backlog list continues to expand, then opening an additional facility in some other geographical location, such as the US of A may be considered. Situational Analysis and Problem Definition: The Shouldice Hospital, Ontario, Canada is a pioneer in the field of treating patients suffering from external abdominal hernia. With its current capacity, it can treat 6850 patients annually. The patients are treated using the operated upon using the Shouldice Method, and on an average each patient has to spend four days in the hospital recuperating. The USP of the Shouldice Hospital is its distinct surgical procedure. The speedy ambulation coupled with its reasonable price rates leads to satisfied patients publicizing the hospital by word of mouth. The hospital is having a successful run as a niche player catering to the demand for treatment of hernia patients. In spite of this, there is a huge backlog that the hospital needs to meet. Because of an increasing backlog, patients tend to go to other doctors for operations. The issues that confront the hospital management can be primarily listed as follows:  ·Deciding on ways to meet the backlog of operations, by expanding the hospitals capacity, while still maintaining control over the overall quality of service delivered. The primary issue here is deciding on the manner in which the capacity should be increased without diluting the quality of service rendered.  ·The issue of piracy and bad mouthing due to piracy are also important concerns for the hospital. Many clinics or doctors claim to use the Shouldice technique or the Canadian method and in the eventuality of the operation performed by them being unsuccessful it brings a bad name to the  Shouldice Hospital.  ·The next chief surgeon after Dr.Obney, who is due to retire soon, has to be selected. At the same time, retaining the existing talent pool of doctors and attracting newer doctors willing to learn the specialized hernia operations skill is also a primary issue. Long Term and Short Term Objectives: Short term: -To clear the backlog by increasing capacity of the hospital services. -To select a successor for Dr. Obney, the chief surgeon who is to retire soon. Long term: -To sustain quality in their services, ensuring good patient experience. -To remain the leader in the medical field of hernia operations. -To maintain the brand equity associated with the specialized technique of Shouldice Method for performing hernia operations. -To ensure working towards goal of profitability while at the same time serving the society by passing on the proper knowledge of the Shouldice technique to other surgeons. Evaluation Criteria: -Whatever step is taken, it must ensure that there is no dilution in the quality of the services rendered by the hospital. -The action plan implemented must adhere to the government regulations regarding the profitability of hospitals. -The solution implemented must be economically viable. Hence any step taken must be cost effective. -There is an atmosphere of concern for the employees in the hospital. The decision with regard to the issues at hand must ensure that the employees are receptive in accepting that decision. -The existing strengths of the hospital setup must be leveraged in any decision taken. -Also because of the increasing wait lists of patients to be attended to, it must be ensured that the plans be implemented as swiftly as possible. Alternatives: 1.Capacity of the hospital could be expanded by scheduling operations on Saturdays also, leading to a 20% increase in existing capacity. 2.An additional floor of rooms could be added to the hospital, with an investment of $2 million and permission from the provincial government. This would expand the number of beds by 50% and result in scheduling the operation rooms more heavily. 3.Expansion into other geographical locations such as the United States could be undertaken. For having a quality level in the new facility equivalent to that as in the current Hospital facility at Canada, one option maybe to transfer 6 of the 12 specialized surgeons to the new facility. Also diversification into other related medical fields of surgery such as eye surgery, varicose veins, and hemorrhoids is possible. 4.Another alternative could be scheduling operations at other times during the day too, by utilizing the capacity of the operation theatres to the optimum level. This can be implemented by having doctors and other medical staff to work in shifts. 5.The successor to Dr. Obney as Chief Surgeon has to be selected. The selection of such a candidate should preferably be done among the existing doctors in the hospital. In case a specialized doctor from outside is appointed, proper induction to acquaint the existing surgeons must be carried out. 6.Currently the hospitals services are not being marketed. Plans to adequately market them in order to create awareness of the genuine Shouldice method of surgery should be undertaken. This would also aid in protecting against privacy to an extent. Evaluation of alternatives: 1.Increasing the capacity by scheduling Saturday operations is a swift and cost effective solution (See exhibit 2 and 3). No additional capital expenditures need to be incurred to carry out this plan. It does not violate any government regulations and at the same time also leverages the existing strength of the hospital in rendering high quality services to the patients. However, some employees seem to have some reservations about operations on Saturday. 2.This plan involves an additional capital expenditure of $ 2 million. While this would lead to an increase in capacity of the number of beds by 50%, but it would also require additional well qualified surgeons who will be able to carry on the quality tradition at the Shouldice Hospital. Also this solution would take some time to implement. 3.The plan of expanding the capacity by moving into another geographical segment such as the United States, involves extensive capital expenditure in setting up a new facility. Also by dividing half of the specialized staff into the two respective facilities, the quality levels may not remain same for the initial span of time. Since we are looking at the United States as an alternate the government regulations of Canada would not be applicable. This plan would be beneficial in meeting the demand in the US of A of the  42% American patients of the Shouldice Hospital. By diversifying into other medical fields of surgery, the low cost and high quality advantage, which the Shouldice Hospital currently enjoys, will be diluted. Currently the patients are made to become self sufficient soon after the operation. 4.By implementing the shift system, the existing strengths of the hospital will be leveraged. This is similar to the plan 1 in terms of the expenditure involved and the time frame being talked of. However, under the given case facts, the employees might resent this move of working in extra shifts during the day. 5.The selection of a successor to Dr. Obney is a step that must be taken soon, in conjunction with any of the above plans chosen. 6.Marketing the services of the hospital, though would lead to an increased awareness of the authenticity of the Shouldice method, while exposing the piracy in the method, but at the same time it will also lead to an increased number of patients wanting to come to the hospital. The backlog list would continue to increase. Recommended Solution: After analyzing all the alternatives I would propose a combination of plans 1 and 5 to be implemented. The operations should be scheduled on Saturdays also (see Exhibit 1). At the same time a successor to Dr. Obney must also be selected. This solution seems like the most feasible in terms of cost (see Exhibit 2 and 3) and time and also leverages the existing strength of the hospital in providing quality services to the patients. Plan of Action: To implement the solution discussed above, first of all, awareness must be created among all the employees about the urgent need for such a step to expand capacity. Workshops for the same will help dispel any fears in the minds of the existing staff. The selection of the new chief surgeon must be  done by carefully scrutinizing all the surgeons in the hospital as well as interviewing new candidates for the same. The administrative processes in the hospital must be made computerized to improve their efficiency. Proper training for using them must also be imparted to the employees. Contingency Plan: If it is not possible to increase capacity beyond a certain limit due to the above plan and the backlog list continues to expand, then plan 3 may be considered. This would need some capital expenditure but at the same time will help us expand our capacity into another geographical location, i.e., the USA. Information Adequacy Issues: There is insufficient amount of information given in the case about the internal dynamics of the hospital vis a vis the issue of the successor to Dr. Obney. Also no information is forthcoming about the market status of other hospitals, that is whether they are open on Saturdays or not. This bit of information is likely to hasten our decision making process.