Sourcing Newsletter Content On The Internet (2)

Foreword By The Author

This is the second in a series of articles where the focus is on sourcing newsletter content on the Internet. The full sequence of articles is as follows:

1. Copyright Issues

2. Help and Guidance Resources

3. Subject Research
4. Content Providers

Mike Alexander
For all your content needs go to ClipCopy Content Solutions

Writing Your Own Material

If you intend writing your own newsletter articles, or even just the occasional piece, you already know those areas where you might need help. For example, some people have no trouble putting their thoughts on paper but, when it comes to spelling, they are practically dyslexic. Others can spell even the most difficult words but have trouble stringing them together in grammatically correct sentences. And even the most proficient of writers need reference material from time to time.

One of the great things about the Internet is that anyone can now access whatever assistance they require without even leaving the keyboard. It’s like having a vast library of reference works right at your fingertips. In fact it’s better than a conventional library because the interactive nature of the electronic medium allows for greater flexibility in terms of describing nuances, illustrating examples, explaining details and so on.

URLs that you might find helpful when writing your own copy appear below under the headings: General Writing Help, Writing Courses and Training, Dictionaries and Thesauri, Writing Style and Grammar, and finally Other Writing Aids.

Outsourcing Work

For those publishers who need to outsource work, whether it is to contract a writer, editor, artist, proofreader, or some other writing or editorial service, things are not quite so easy—but it only takes a little perseverance to get very satisfying results. Obviously, the main problem is that services are easily offered but it takes a little investigation to be sure that the person or organization you choose is capable of producing to the standard you require and within the parameters you set. It is the same in the virtual world of the Internet as it is in the real world. However, as with the copyright issue covered in Part One, extra care is required when communicating, and especially when carrying out transactions, online. The worldwide nature of the Internet offers incredible scope and a huge range of options but the opportunities for gain are available just as much to the unscrupulous as to the honest. The old maxim ‘Let the buyer beware’ has every bit as much relevance as it ever did.

URLs that you might find useful for outsourcing work appear under the following headings: Writing and Editing Services, and Photographers and Cartoonists.

Publishing Resources

The range of resources available to publishers of all types is immense, not least in the area of most interest for our purposes: desktop publishing, and more particularly newsletter publishing. This is not really surprising when you consider that the growth of this particular industry is closely aligned to the growth of computers and their rapid adoption in the modern workplace.

URLs that publishers may find of use are grouped under the headings Desktop Publishing Services, Newsletter Publishing, Publishing Courses and Training, Graphic Services, Fonts etc, Stock Illustrations and Clipart, and Publishing and Graphics Software.

Ancillary Services

Under the heading Ancillary Services are found thumbnails for those other items related to content, or that can vitally affect the presentation of it, but that don’t fit comfortably into one of the slots mentioned above.

The Resource URLs

Included among the thumbnail sketches are some of the more popular and well-known sites and mailing lists that provide help and guidance for writers and publishers. Popularity though, is no guarantee of quality, so I have included some personal favorites of mine as well as interspersing some that are completely new to me. It is, therefore, a somewhat random collection and you need to bear this in mind, as well as the fact that it is has been put together to help only non-professional and occasional writers.

‘Cyberspace’ is an ever-changing and evolving environment and thousands of sites get added and hundreds deleted every day. This means that there might be many better places to go for help by the time that you read this and some of those mentioned might even have dropped out of sight (though I hope not many; I have tried to restrict the list to the tried and tested). Nevertheless, these URLs will give you an idea of the range of services available and should prove a good starting point. Many of them also provide their own hyperlinks to other resources worth exploring.

Searching The Internet

What follows is a very small selection of representative URLs but many more resources of these types exist on the Internet than appear in this article. They can be found on various ‘portal’ and directory sites, including our own ClipCopy Content Solutions and of course, this site, which have many more resources than appear here but the abstracts are more detailed as well.

Most of the sites that were found in the course of research whilst planning this article are archived there. More still can be found by conducting your own Internet search and this is what will be covered in some detail in Part Three (Subject Research) of ‘Sourcing Content On The Internet’.

General Writing Help

Article Ideas

A weekly newsletter jam-packed with article ideas for writers. Send for a sample copy (put NEW on the subject line) at:
arti...@yahoogroups.com

Editorial Eye

A monthly newsletter for writers, editors, designers, project managers, communications specialists, and everyone else who cares about contemporary publishing practices.
http://www.eeicommunications.com/eye/

PenLinks.com

This site features a categorized and searchable directory of writers’ resources on the
Internet.
http://penlinks.com/

Write-It-Right

This list is for writers who need help with: spelling, grammar, punctuation, etc. To subscribe, send an email to:
writ...@topica.com

Writing Tips

Features tips on how to avoid some of the more common errors in writing such as how to use the apostrophe and other punctuation demons and vocabulary quizzes to improve word power.
http://move.to/writewell

Writing Tips, Tools & Ideas

The World-Wide Web‘s first comprehensive English-language writing assistance center brought to you by Academic Consulting International.
http://www.aci-plus.com/tips/

Writing Courses And Training

Basic Learning Systems, Inc.

Bull’s Eye Business Writing, a self-paced workbook that can help managers and others improve their business writing and all other written communications.
http://www.basic-learning.com/wbwt/tipstw.htm

Say It Better!

Kare Anderson, author, and speaker, shows how to Say It Better in how you speak, appear, write, and create the work and other settings of your life.
http://www.sayitbetter.com/

Write101.com

Home Study Tutorials to improve writing skills or professional copy writing, editing and proof reading.
http://www.write101.com/

Dictionaries And Thesauri

American-British – British-American Dictionary

The definitive American/British translation guide.
http://www.peak.org/~jeremy/dictionary/

Dictionary.com

Free online English dictionary, thesaurus and reference guide.
http://www.dictionary.com/

Merriam-Webster OnLine

A free, searchable on-line dictionary and thesaurus that includes many other English language and vocabulary reference tools and resources.
http://www.m-w.com/

Online Dictionaries, Glossaries and Encyclopedias

An annotated listing of dictionaries, glossaries and encyclopedias that have some sort of version online.
http://stommel.tamu.edu/~baum/hyperref.html

Phrase Finder

A phrases thesaurus and searchable database of English phrases and sayings.
http://www.shu.ac.uk/web-admin/phrases/

Thesaurus.com

Roget’s Thesaurus of English words and phrases.
http://www.thesaurus.com/

Writing Style And Grammar

A Guide to Grammar and Writing

Contains several digital handouts on grammar and English usage and a way to submit questions about grammar and writing.
http://webster.commnet.edu/HP/pages/darling/original.htm

Garbl’s Writing Resources

Online Annotated directory of web sites focusing on grammar, style, usage, plain language, words, references, etc.
http://pw1.netcom.com/~garbl1/index.html

Grammar Slammer

The English Grammar help file that goes beyond a grammar checker.
http://englishplus.com/grammar/

Robin’s Nest

Grammar help and rules offered in areas such as common English errors, copyediting, and elements of style.
http://www2.netdoor.com/~smslady/grammar.html

UIUC Writers’ Workshop

Mainly for students who want help and assistance with grammar, writing techniques etc.
http://www.english.uiuc.edu/cws/wworkshop/

Other Writing Aids

Writers’ Guidelines Database

Keep experts, news sources, government databases, online dictionaries, writers’ search tools and more at your fingertips.
http://mav.net/guidelines/

Writing And Editing Services

Apryl A. Duncan

Freelance copywriter and Web marketing consultant.
http://www.copywriter.bizland.com/

Editorial Experts

Writing, editing and proofreading services.
http://www.editorialexperts.com/

Frankie Thornhill

Freelance writer, editor, proofreader and designer for brochures, newsletters etc.
http://www.cadvision.com/thornpub/

Lake Technical Communications, Inc.

A technical writing company.
http://www.laketec.com/

Nightcats Multimedia Productions

Business writing at reasonable rates for reports, newsletters, articles, proofing, brochures, etc. Projects available in PDF, HTML, word, ASCII or print.
http://www.nightcats.com/

Persuasive Pen

Freelance writing, editing and proofreading service.
http://www.persuasivepen.com/

Sederquist

Photographer/writer/editor Betty Sederquist has been publishing her writing and photography for over 20 years.
http://www.innercite.com/~bettysed/

SuccessWorks

Powerful, results-driven dynamic online writing including website and marketing writing, online copywriting and site content.
http://www.successwks.com/

Tim Badgery-Parker

An Internet-based professional editor specializing in biological and medical sciences.
http://www.rpi.net.au/~timbp/

Word Magic

Producing and repairing all kinds of communications, such as newsletters, articles, brochures, flyers, etc at a very low cost. Also proofreading and editing services.
http://www.tcguide.com/wordmagic/

Photographers And Cartoonists

Barry Myers Photography

Still lifes and photographs for advertising, brochures, e-commerce etc.
http://myersphoto.com/stillife/

Bob Storts – Artist

Original art, custom commissions, murals, and accessories for your collecting, designing, and decorating needs.
http://www.customart.bizland.com/

Carol Chislovsky Design Inc.

Stock and custom images by several artists represented by Carol Chislovsky.
http://www.chislovsky.com/trial.html

Cartoon Factory

Cartoon fun by Ron Coleman and George Crenshaw.
http://www.cartoonfactory.com/

Cartoons by Ted Goff

Hundreds of business and safety cartoons searchable by keyword or topic.
http://www.tedgoff.com/

Images.com, Inc.

The world’s largest stock illustration agency.
http://www.spotsonthespot.com/

John Keith Photography

Specializing in brochures, annual reports, executive portraits, newsletters, etc.
http://www.johnkeithphotography.com/

Outsight Photography Images Online

Nature and scenic stock photography suitable for desktop publishing for numerous personal and small business uses.
http://www.outsight.com/imonline.html

Desktop Publishing Services

About.com

Desktop Publishing Articles about getting started in desktop publishing including design basics, software tips and tutorials, classes for learning DTP etc.
http://desktoppub.miningco.com/compute/desktoppub/

Desktop Publishers Journal

Everything you need to be successful in this competitive industry. Every design technique, every product review, every technology trend is at your fingertips in Desktop Publishers Journal.
http://www.dtpjournal.com

Desktop Publishing Supplies

A large line of banner paper, designer brochures, trifold brochures etc all at great prices.
http://www.dpsstore.com/index.htm

Desktop Publishing’s Premiere Resource

The ultimate resource for clipart, desktop publishing, fonts, web authoring, and much more.
http://desktopPublishing.com/

DTP Newsgroups

The following Usenet newsgroups are quite active and new users of the applications concerned would probably find them quite valuable.
alt.aldus.pagemaker
comp.graphics.apps.pagemaker
list.comp.software.adobe.acrobat

IDEAS Publishing Consultants

For publishers, associations, and SOHOs (small/home offices) including exclusive articles, reports and newsletters.
http://www.ideasdtp.com/

PAGEMAKR mailing list

The subscription base varies from 1,000-2,000, with a core of wonderfully knowledgeable and helpful members. Mail messages can be received as they are posted or once daily as a digest.
http://www.hypercorp.com/gain/pm/

Newsletter Publishing

A Manager’s Guide to Newsletters

Newsletters that influence employees, customers, prospects, and members: learn how with the help of this definitive book.
http://www.managersguide.com/

Graphics and Words – Newsletter Central

Resources for newsletter editors and publishers.
http://www.graphicsandwords.com

Newsletter & Electronic Publishers Association

The international trade association serving publishers of subscription, for-profit newsletters and specialized information services.
http://www.newsletters.org/

Newsletters Only

Information for people who edit, produce or publish newsletters.
http://newslettersonly.com/

PSP Communications

Specializing in start-to-finish, turnkey newsletter solutions.
http://www.pspcommunications.com/

Publishing Courses And Training

Designer-info.com

Reviews, articles and tutorials of all the latest DTP, photo editing, drawing and web design software.
http://www.designer-info.com/

Internet Brothers

Tips and tutorials about HTML and DHTML, graphics editing, layout and design, desktop publishing, digital photography, and site promotion presented often with humor, and always with examples.
http://internetbrothers.com/desktoppub.htm

Mike’s Sketchpad

Free tutorials plus undocumented tips and techniques for Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, CorelDRAW, Macromedia Freehand, Paint Shop Pro, Deneba Canvas and QuarkXPress.
http://www.sketchpad.net/

On With Learning Inc.

Software training videos with a large selection of desktop publishing material.
http://videoed.com/pcsub06.html

Graphic Services, Fonts etc

Abke Publishing & Graphic Services

Graphic design and illustrations, desktop publishing services and multimedia presentations.
http://www.abke.com/

Ad·Mark·Com

A proprietor-operated graphic design studio offering copywriting/design of logos, newsletters, brochures, etc.
http://www.admarkcom.com/

Cool Archive

Huge free vault of 1000+ clipart images, 950+ fonts, 4000+ icons, hundreds of animations, buttons, bullets, etc.
http://www.coolarchive.com/

Font Archives

Free fonts archive with over 200 free fonts.
http://www.what-next.com/fonts/fonts.html

Graphic Design Resource Center

Huge graphic and web design database of useful graphic tips, techniques, and tutorials.
http://deezin.com/

Graphics Newsgroups

If you are a Photoshop or Paint Shop Pro user, or you have one of the Ulead applications, you might be interested in one the following Usenet newsgroups.
alt.graphics.photoshop
comp.graphics.apps.paint-shop-pro
comp.graphics.apps.ulead

Graphics Resource Center

The complete online information resource center for the graphic arts, publishing, printing, press, bindery, and mailing professional.
http://www.graphicsresourcecenter.com/

GraphSearch

GraphSearch allows you to quickly locate icons, animated GIFs, photographs and clip art.
http://www.graphsearch.com

Stock Illustrations And Clipart

1-click-clipart.com

One of the most popular clipart and resource sites on the web containing high quality free material for you to use.
http://www.1-click-clipart.com/

ArtToday.com

The largest collection of clipart, photos, fonts and sounds on the Internet.
http://www.arttoday.com/

Clipart.com

The net’s best clipart, font, photo and web graphic links.
http://www.clipart.com/

Digital Art Shop

The Internet’s royalty free source for stock images, clip art and graphics.
http://www.digitalartshop.com/

Doctor Stock

Stock photography and illustration for healthcare.
http://www.doctorstock.com/

PictureQuest

Stock photography including royalty free photography, stock photos, digital media and online images.
http://www.picturequest.com/

Technical Clip Art

A clipart library of standard parts for technical illustrations and technical desktop publishing.
http://www.techm.com/

Publishing And Graphics Software

Extensis Products Group

Software for Adobe Photoshop, QuarkXPress and Digital Media.
http://www.extensis.com/

Jasc Software Products

Jasc Software image editing and multimedia product index -home of Paint Shop Pro.
http://www.jasc.com/products.html

PDFzone

Adobe Acrobat and PDF technology – everything you wanted to know.
http://www.pdfzone.com/

Solidus Corel Ventura

Publisher information, scripts, FAQs, and chat forums for support and discussion of techniques and approaches to this market leading program.
http://www.solid-us.com

Square One Graphics & Associates

This site is designed to support serious Corel users from around the world.
http://www.squareonegraphics.com/

Ancillary Services

Crossword Construction Kit

The Desktop Publisher for creating theme based crossword puzzles.
http://www.crosswordkit.com/

DeepTrans Translation Services

The art of good communication is simply ensuring that the translated text perfectly conveys your message and nothing else. To meet this challenge we have a dedicated team of professional writers.
http://www.deeptrans.com/

ITO Translation & Publishing

Japanese translation, desktop publishing, and software localization. We offer support services to translation agencies and software companies worldwide.
http://www.itotranslation.com/

Lingua – Language Software and Fonts

Multilingual software and fonts for all languages and scripts from Arabic to Urdu.
http://www.lingua-uk.com/

Microsoft Page Layout Newsgroups

These are very popular and very busy newsgroups that new users of MS Publisher and/or MS Word might find extremely useful.
Microsoft.public.publisher
Microsoft.public.word.pagelayout

Publishing and Prepress Newsgroups

The following are some Usenet newsgroups that cover publishing and preparation.
alt.publish.books
alt.publish.newspaper
comp.publish.prepress

Puzzlemaker

Generate your own educational puzzles, games, and activities based on your lesson plan needs.
http://puzzlemaker.school.discovery.com/

Sullivan’s Online Scanning Resources

Sullivan’s Scanning Tips and Techniques is a valuable online resource for all levels of scanning operators.
http://www.hsdesign.com/scanning/

Tongli International

Your solution to translation, DTP, Web page design and software localization in over 60 languages.
http://www.tongliusa.com/

Transit – Computer-Aided Translation System

The primary goal is to boost translation productivity by providing translation-specific support, and fully compatible interfaces to popular desktop publishing systems.
http://www.star-ag.ch/products/transit/

© 2000 Mike Alexander (Revised 2009), All Rights Reserved

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