TCK Publishing Videos

If you’re looking for a job, connecting with recruiters is one your your best bets for getting an interview for the position you want.  Traditionally, recruiters come from a third party that a company outsources to hire the manpower they need. However, the tips presented here will also work if you’re reaching out to a representative from the company’s own Human Resources Department. Whatever the case, many people searching for jobs are intimidated by the thought of emailing a recruiter or representative directly. But don’t worry: in this article, we’ll teach you the best practices for getting in touch with a recruiter so you won’t feel like you’re being a bother.  How to Email a Recruiter The following tips will help you write emails to job recruiters and increase your chances of getting interviewed, or even hired! First, make sure your message is:  Respectful. Understand that the message you’re sending is actually a professional letter . You can be friendly (greet with a “H

As more businesses are looking to keep costs down, many are increasingly turning to independent contractors. This can include people who work remotely from another state or even another country.  One position growing in popularity is that of virtual assistant. But what exactly does a virtual assistant do, and should you consider hiring one? What Is a Virtual Assistant? A virtual assistant is a worker who offers administrative services to clients and companies from a remote location, usually while working from home .  Traditionally, these were individuals who were considered self-employed and performed specialized tasks. In recent years, though, virtual assistant companies have cropped up, offering a range of services you can choose from.  What Are the Duties of a Virtual Assistant?  The job description of a virtual assistant depends on the needs of the company or client. However, the typical tasks that a virtual assistant might perform include:  making phone calls scheduli

The ongoing coronavirus pandemic has led to the cancellation of many in-person events, including weddings, concerts, and conferences. But just as happy hours, bridal showers, and work meetings have taken to Zoom and other telecommuting platforms, so too have writers’ conferences and workshops. There is still time to sign up and participate in a number of virtual events scheduled for 2021. Don’t miss out on these opportunities to learn from and network with other writers from a distance! 2021 Online Writers’ Conferences Get the benefits of a writers’ conference or workshop from the comfort and safety of your home. Kauai Writers Conference Online The Kauai Writers Conference offers live online events on most Sundays. These interactive sessions include workshops and master classes led by renowned authors, such as Adrienne Brodeur, Richard Russo, and Meg Wolitzer. For $49/month, participants can get access to these weekly events and become members of the Kauai Book Club. When : O

What if you could drive people and compel them to take any action you want, all with carefully-crafted words? What if you could create a headline, a blog post, or an advertisement to influence thousands, time and time again, even without having met them in person? That is the power of copywriting. You can wield the wonder of words to inform and educate, inspire and equip, invite and empower. Because of the unique power that words hold, it’s important to choose them carefully, especially when they’re plastered on billboards or the internet. In his book To Sell Is Human , Daniel Pink makes the argument that every human being is “selling” something in one way or another: it may not be the literal selling of physical products or services, but no matter what your occupation, you will always need to persuade someone of something, even if it’s just an idea or belief. What Is Marketing Copy?  Photo by  John Cameron  on  Unsplash Marketing copy is content that is written with the int

If you’ve decided that your story would benefit from a prologue , you’re probably eager to jump in and start writing. However, you should give this section as much thought as you would any other chapter in your book. We’ve created this guide to help you make your prologue an essential piece to your narrative. How to Write a Prologue Keep these 6 tips in mind when writing a prologue for your novel. 1. Drop hints. Prologues are helpful for foreshadowing , or offering subtle clues of what’s to come. This could be as subtle and simple as setting the tone and mood with your word choice. Especially in horror, crime, and thriller novels, the prologue is important for hinting at characters, settings , and mysteries to come. Even if the prologue is set years or oceans away from the book’s main setting, the relevance of what’s stated there becomes evident as you get deeper into the main story, even if at first it seems totally unrelated. While setting the prologue in the past is one o

The longing to love and be loved is inherent in the human heart. Perhaps that’s why the romance genre continues to be the best-selling genre in fiction today.  If you want to try your hand at writing a romance novel, we salute you! Not only is it a tough genre to break into, but it’s also an invitation to explore the depths of human emotion. How to Write a Romance Novel in 11 Easy Steps Here are some of the steps for writing a romance novel:  1. Choose a subgenre. Yes, you’ve decided to write a romance novel, but did you know you still have plenty of subcategories to work with? Suffice it to say, if you do want to dip into this genre, you should make sure you read plenty of romance novels in the different subgenres to get a feel for what you want to write! Here are some examples:  Contemporary romance The Romance Writers of America (RWA) defines contemporary romance as stories set from the 1950s to the present, with the focus on the romantic relationship between the main cha

If you read a lot of fiction, you might have come across a section in the front matter of a book called the “prologue.” Some hasty readers might skip over this section and jump straight to the first chapter—but if the prologue is written well, those readers could be missing out on important information or details that really help to enhance the story. What Is a Prologue? A prologue is an introductory section in a book (usually fiction) that helps to prepare the reader for the story they’re about to read. However, while it’s introductory, it’s not the same as your story’s actual introduction, but more of a preview to the main event. The information presented in a prologue is helpful (and often necessary) for readers to understand the rest of novel. It provides context or background details, and sometimes describes events that happened prior to the novel’s actual starting point. It’s important to distinguish the prologue from other frequently confused terms, including the preface,

Strong communicators know how to create lines that hit a point and stick with their audience. To achieve this, many writers and speakers use literary and rhetorical devices, including one called chiasmus. The good news is this is a skill you can learn in order to become a more effective communicator yourself!  Chiasmus Definition  Chiasmus (pronounced kee-az-muhs) is a literary device that pits two or more clauses against each other by reversing their structures for an artistic effect. Its plural form is also chiasmus. This device is most effective when used to elaborate on an idea or contrast opposing ideas, thought it can also be used to simply create a symmetrical structure and give the impression of completeness. For example:  He has all my love ; my heart belongs to him .  The sentence contains an idea that is inverted in the second half. The purpose of this “criss-cross” structure is to reverse the ideas in the sentence, without repeating the same phrases or words.

Everyday, an estimated 75 million people in the United States watch online videos, and about half of all that content is viewed on a mobile device. This means that utilizing video is a great way of reaching your target audience.  Whether you are a blogger or owner of an online business, you should to take video marketing seriously. But what if you don’t know the first thing about creating video content? The good news is, you can take online courses to boost your knowledge and set yourself up for success in producing online video marketing materials.  Free Online Video Marketing Courses If you want to learn how to create online video marketing materials but don’t have the extra cash right now, no worries! These free online courses can get you started right away.  1. Video Marketing Course: Learn How to Get Started with Your Video Marketing Strategy Available on : hubspot.com   Price : Free This online video marketing course will teach you how to attract your audience, as wel

If you enjoy writing poetry, or have just recently started experimenting, entering poetry contests can be a great way to hone your talent and get exposure for your work. Fortunately, there are plenty of opportunities out there, and many of them come with a chance to win cash prizes! We’ve put together a list of poetry contests that you can enter today so you can grow your confidence and your skills. 2021 Poetry Contests Contest Name Submission Guidelines First Prize Entry Fee Deadline The 2021 Colorado Prize for Poetry www.coloradoreview.colostate.edu/colorado-prize-for-poetry/ $2,000 $28 January 14, 2021 William Matthews Poetry Prize www.ashevillepoetryreview.com $1,000 $20 January 15, 2021 Rising Writer Prizes www.autumnhouse.org/submissions/rising-writers-poetry/ $500 $25 January 15, 2021 North American Book Award www.poetrysocietyofvirginia.org $1,000 $35 January 15, 2021 Magma Poetry Competition www.magmapoetry.com/magma-2020-21-poetry-