Getting Syndicated
Over the years I’ve spoken to a number of authors who say they aspire to write a syndicated column. Getting syndicated is a great idea, albeit a challenging one. If you’ve thought of this no doubt most (if not all) of your competition has too. But don’t let this discourage you, while syndication may take a while, it’s still worth pursuing.
There are a number of tried and true ways you can enter this market, there are also a few “back door” methods that might work equally as good. The first thing you’ll need to do however is get to know your competition. For this I recommend that you get a copy of The Editor & Publisher Annual Directory of Syndication. Sometimes you can get this in bookstores but I’d recommend just ordering it online at www.editorandpublisher.com. Explore this book carefully and you’ll find that syndicated columns are listed by both the syndicated service that offers them as well as their topic. This will give you a good starting point in your research and since most newspapers now have on-line archives, you’ll be able to explore past articles and see how these topics differ from your own.
Once you’ve explored this, define for yourself how your topic/angle is different from the ones you found during your research. Then once you’ve defined this, you can start targeting papers or syndication services with your query letter and sample articles. This is the traditional way of entering this market. For most it can be long and tedious and you might find that without prior “clippings” to offer them, the process takes even longer. In that vein, I’d recommend that you try offering your column locally first or to one paper at a time but not in a “syndication deal” but as a filler, newspapers will be a lot quicker to take filler items than to explore syndication options with you. By offering them consistent filler content (and saving those valuable clippings) you’ll start to grow your level of experience, you’ll build a reputation with the editor or editorial staff and you’ll begin to get a sense of what does and doesn’t work with printed media. An associate of mine did this, not with a local paper but with a paper she’d been offering her articles to, after about two years of consistent submission she may be in line to fill the shoes of their in-house syndicated columnist who is retiring.
Once you have build some exposure for yourself and gathered clippings of your work, then it’s time to start pitching your topic to syndicated services (some of them are listed below) or regional newspapers. For this you’ll need a great query letter establishing your credentials and explaining why your idea is different from the others they might be considering, you’ll need some sample articles (other than your clippings) and perhaps some letters of reference from some papers you’ve worked for. Submit this packet to newspapers or syndicated services that might be appropriate to your topic and then keep good records and do your follow-up just like you would if you were pitching the media on anything else. The same rules apply really, pitch and follow-up and stay on their radar screen.
So, at the end of the day when you find yourself successfully syndicated will you get paid for all your hard work – absolutely! What you’ll get paid varies depending on how many papers feature you and whether you are working through a syndication service. Syndication services are great but they will typically take 40 to 50 percent of your sales. If you self-syndicate you get all the proceeds. While it’s great to do this, keep in mind that you’ll need to have good tracking systems in place once your column takes off.
As an already published author, syndication can be another great way to promote you and your book. Your book will lend you the credibility you need to get that column and from this ongoing printed exposure some lucrative publishing deals could follow suit. Syndication may not be an easy road but if tackled correctly, can be a great way to boost your promotion, expand your platform and get the kind of exposure you only ever dreamed of!
Major syndicates – check online for their submission guidelines
Copley News Service
http://www.copleynews.com
King Features
http://www.kingfeatures.com
Universal Press Syndicate
http://www.amuniversal.com/ups/index.htm
BONUS TIP: If you’re trying to follow the comings and goings of syndicated writers, Editor and Publisher (www.editorandpublisher) is a great resource for that. Check out the “Departments” tab on their web site for the latest news on columns that might be coming available!
About the author:
Penny C. Sansevieri
The Cliffhanger was published in June of 2000. After a strategic marketing campaign it quickly climbed
the ranks at Amazon.com to the ##1 best selling book in San Diego. Her most recent book: No More Rejections. Get Published Today! was released in July of 2003 to rave reviews. Penny is a book marketing and media relations specialist. She also coaches authors on projects, manuscripts and marketing plans and instructs a variety of coursing on publishing and promotion. To learn more about her books or her promotional services, you can visit her web site at www.amarketingexpert.comTo subscribe to her free ezine, send a blank email to: mailto:subscribe@booksbypen.com
Copyright 2004 Penny C. Sansevieri
Do you want to write a Best-seller? (Part 1)
“Whatever you can do or believe you can, . . . begin it now.”Goethe
When beggars receive freshly minted coins from the lords with a bow and a smile, it is not that they do not desire to ride horses as the masters do. But wishes don’t ride horses.
I have oftentimes been contacted by many young writers for suggestions to develop a story. After they receive the ideas, they chicken out.
One of thema female Americanwanted help to develop what I think is a great story. You probably know about it: Ted Kennedy watching on as his girlfriend drowned in a river. I pity such dreamers. They are among the world’s eminent failures.
It will therefore be a miracle if you yourself will ever write a book after reading this. If you do, then thumbs up, for you belong to the few great minds on earth today.
Anywhere you look today, 20 percent of the people are getting 80 percent of the best things in life. Or put another way, 80 percent of all good things belong to 20 percent of the people. Or, one person succeeds out of five! So, 80 percent of all best-sellers today are written by 20 percent of the writers. And, out of about five writers, only one has written a best-seller. Where is the other four?
Out of five writers that thought of writing, only one wrote. Out of five people that wrote, only one got published. And out of the five that got published, only one became a best-seller. That is the principle of life: Only those who back their desire with action succeed. For nobody has “the power to curse the darkness” someone says, “unless he has the courage to light a candle.”
You don’t write best-sellers by wishing that you did, and go to sit on the sandy beach of the Pacific Ocean dreaming of your millions and far away islands with lollipop names. Don Quixote the great visioner didn’t even do that. At least he fought imaginary enemies. What did Hippocrates say? “Ars longa. Vita brevis.” Translation: “Arts is long but life is short.” The point then is this: Don’t dream it; WRITE IT!
Best-selling books don’t just happen; just as good writers don’t grow on trees. You have to work hardput your heart in your work, to write a mega-yield title. Today, everyone is falling heads over heels for the magic of Harry Potter. But if J.K. Rowlingthe single motherdidn’t have the gumption to write herself off the dole, the story of Harry Potter wouldn’t have been written or read. A number of factors help to make best-sellers. I have provided a number of those factors here to help you write that your echo-Bible.
Write on a best-selling topic.
I have listed 10 best-selling topics in the early chapter of this book. Why not think of working on one of them?
But think carefully before you choose a subject. You don’t want to write on a topic because everyone is writing on it and winning prizes.
I can tell you what is happening this moment zillions of light years up there in the world of stars and galaxies. But can you imagine that? If things like that are beyond your imagination, then don’t dream of writing science fiction. Come down to earth and spy on your neighbors who are marrying this moment and divorcing after the wedding day.
You will be at home here. And you are probably familiar with stories of that sort. Like the man who married a woman and divorced her after having 7 male children for him. (He badly needed female children to pay off his debts from the dowries on their wedding day.) His divorced wife remarried and got a baby girl while the man married a second wife and had a male as well. They divorced again and remarried and had a ninth boy. And the man sold all the boys to pay his debts.
Why don’t you give the story a new angle? The world has had stories of Siamese twins. But have they had of the birth of a seven-headed baby girl by a desperate parent who sought the assistance of a witch?
Don’t miss an opportunity to write a best-seller from great news events. Such stories present little research challenges.
Do you remember the British boy who wanted to be famous, climbed the wall of Buckingham Palace and made his way into the queen’s bedroom? When the cops came to the rescue they met him helping himself with a glass of wine and chatting with the queen. And the police, thinking of what offence he has committed, thought of charging him of stealing a bottle of wine. (Did the boy say that the queen was her lover?) There is a similar one of an American boy who shot former president Reagan. Best-sellers are made of such stuff.
Master your subject
You can’t do a good story if you do not know your topic. You will even find it difficult to communicate because you will be groping for words, qualifying every word, or reaching out for every figure of speech and idiom in the book. Bad writing! A good reader will find out that you are not a master of your subject, and you are done in.
You have every opportunity to research your story. You have the libraries. And thank God, there is the Web. Why not take advantage of it?
This is very important if you are writing a factual story. But even then that word “factual” has changed meaning. But there has to be a measure of credibility in your work. Writers don’t just write. They educate. Would the reader find something to learn from your story?
Know your audience
This is one of the first things for you to consider before you begin writing your book. For example, are you writing for men / women; boys / girls; youths / adults; learned / general, reader?
When J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Porter, she had the youths in mind. Youths are, however, fast in spreading words about a book that they enjoyed reading. But Harry Porter happened to have a subject matter that interests the adults as well. Now readers in the two worlds read the book.
So ask yourself this question if you have not already done so: Who will read my book?
(To be continued)
Excerpted from How to Write a Best-seller by Arthur Zulu
Arthur Zulu is an editor, book reviewer, and author of Chasing Shadows!, How to Write a Best-seller, A Letter to Noah, and many other works. For his works and FREE help for writers, goto:
http://controversialwriter.tripod.com
Mailto: controversialwriter@yahoo.com
Web search: Arthur Zulu
About the Author
Arthur Zulu is an editor, author and book reviewer.
Debt Management Help & Advice
Debt Management Help & Advice
I’ve put together this quick resource page for anyone looking for help and advice with debt management. There are loads of places offering debt help & debt advice, and sometimes it’s difficult to see who’s offering useful advice and who’s not.
The list of debt management companies below is largely based on who I know to be active in the industry through the national press.
In case you didn’t know, debt management is the process of re-negotiating the repayment terms of credit with a lender with the intention of reducing the monthly amount to be repaid. This reduces the monthly cost for the borrower, but spreads the repayment over a longer term so that the creditor reclaims the total amount owed. Unlike an IVA, the creditor eventually gets all their money back, which makes debt management a very attractive proposition.
Here’s a list of useful debt management resources:
(non-commercial debt management help & advice)
CCCS
Citizens Advice
National Debtline
Money Made Clear (FSA)
Your local council
(commercial debt management organisations)
Gregory Pennington
UK debt management company established for over 14 years.
Debt Management, IVAs, Debt Consolidation, Loans, Mortgages, Bad Credit Bank Accounts
http://www.gregorypennington.com
Money Solve
Debt Management, IVAs, Debt Consolidation
Baines & Ernst
Debt Management, Debt Consolidation, IVAs
Chiltern Debt Management
Debt Management, Debt Consolidation, IVAs
Debt Free Direct
Debt Management, IVAs, Debt Consolidation, Loans, Mortgages
Thinkmoney.com/debt/
Debt Management, IVAs
Think Money
Clear Debt
Debt Management, IVAs, Debt Consolidation
Debt Advisers Direct
Debt Management, IVAs, Debt Consolidation
Freeman Jones
IVA specialist (also offer debt management)
Do-It-Yourself Indexing
Indexing a book is a science in itself. I have a friend who is a professional indexer, but if you have written a book and need an index created, you can do it yourself. And adding an index gives your book or ebook a professional edge, a bonus that the reader will appreciate.
I indexed my nonfiction ebook, From Old to Gold: How to Start and Run an Antiques Business. Here’s how I created a “quick and dirty” index for my book:
1. I started by looking at the indexes of other similar how to books. I checked out which words they list in their index to get an idea of which words are relevant for my book.
2. I then went through my book, making a list of words that would be relevant to readers in their search for specific topics. The list included words like antique malls; appraiser; art; collectors; dates, of antiques; styles, of antiques; trends. Decide how detailed you want your index to be.
3. Next, after my book was ready to go, that is, all final layout was finished so no page numbers would change, I searched my book (in Microsoft Word, click on Edit, Find, then type in each word you want to add to your index, one at a time). I then
wrote down each page number where each word appeared in my book.
4. I did this process for each word then typed in the index as the last section of my book. I listed the word then the page numbers where the word appeared. I did not get too detailed,
but I listed enough general words that someone can easily find a topic by using my index.
This is the simplified version of how to create an index. There is software you can use or professional indexers, but this process worked for me and it can work for you too!
About the Author
Peggy Hazelwood runs the Albooktross Electronic Bookstore, http://www.albooktross.com/, where you can find ebooks from A to Z in categories like How To, Self Help, Writing/Publishing, and so much more.
The Makings Of A Personal Essay, Really
Sometimes I can be dense when it comes to realizing the potential of my own life experiences as essays for magazines. I, of course, fully believe that everything in my life is newsworthy, but sometimes have trouble figuring out which experiences will hit home with other people.
I recently learned the secret, and it can be summarized in one word: “Really?”
My friends know that I can talk. I mean, I can talk! Get me on the phone and I’m likely to tell you all about my day, from my breakfast to my editor’s latest comments to my insomnia. I don’t inflict my tendency toward verbosity on everyone, but at least a few trusted souls get to bear the brunt of my solitary lifestyle and my need to dish.
Their reactions tell me whether or not I have the material for a marketable personal essay.
My all-time best-selling essay is a simple story about a boy who won a stuffed animal for his little sister in a crane machine. When I saw it happen, I was so touched I almost cried. When I retold it to my mom, the tears welled up again. I got to the climactic moment–”And then he bent down and gave the stuffed animal to his little sister and kissed her on the forehead”–and my mom asked, “Really? That’s so sweet!”
Bing. “Really?” translates to “That’s a great story.”
When I tell mom about the new toy I bought for my cat, she never asks, “Really?” She doesn’t press me for details. She probably can’t wait for me to shut up so she can hang up the phone and do something productive that doesn’t involve listening to my escapades with my cat. But when I’ve hit on something that might actually warrant an article, her reaction won’t be a simple “Mmm-hmm,” or “That’s great.” It’ll be a question, or a plea to share more.
The reactions to listen for, in addition to “Really?” are:
-Then what happened?
-What did you do?
-How did you (/he/she) react?
-Tell me more!
-That’s amazing!
-That’s so cool!
A few weeks ago, I was talking to Jamie Blyth (I’m helping to write his book, Fear Is No Longer My Reality) about how far I’ve come in beating my anxiety disorder. One of the things I mentioned was that I used to have an obsessive-compulsive disorder related to food. He wanted to know more. I explained that I went through a two-year phase where I ate nothing but canned foods and other food with really long shelf lives.
“Really?” he asked.
Oh. I hadn’t thought about that phase of mine in quite some time, and had forgotten that it might be intriguing to people who’ve never experienced OCD. OCD as an overall topic has been done many times, but this detail– the canned foods and my almost deadly diet– hasn’t. It doesn’t belong in a how-to article. It works because of the telling, because of the personal nature of the story. And as I sat down to write it, a beautifully marketable essay formed almost effortlessly.
Think about what details of your story set it apart from similar stories. Countless essays have been written about alcoholism, eating disorders, miscarriage, drug abuse, abusive marriages, finding God, giving birth… that doesn’t mean you can’t tell your story. You just have to find a unique angle, a new way of telling it, a nugget that people will remember.
The same effortless type of story formed when I told people how Anthony and I bought our house. We fell so in love with it that we kept coming to visit and take pictures– we would sit on the other side of the lake, facing the owners’ backyard, and just hug and dream of what it would be like to live there.
When it came time to make an offer, we were immediately outbid by thousands of dollars and couldn’t match the price. We went to say goodbye to the owners, and they told the Realtor to take it off the marketwe were the people they wanted to live in the home they’d loved for 40 years. They had seen us from their back window all the times we came to admire the house from afar, and they knew we would appreciate the gardens, the greenhouse, the lake. So they took a loss of thousands of dollars because they wanted us to live our dream.
Quick, what was your reaction to that story? I hope it was “That’s amazing!,” because that’s the reaction I got from nearly everyone who heard the story. Within a couple of weeks of moving in, I sold the essay to A Cup of Comfort and sent the anthology to the previous owners of the house.
If someone’s eyes light up when you tell a story, chances are excellent that there’s a market for it. If one person finds it interesting, inspiring, hilarious, or moving, others likely will, too.
Consider your friends and family your test audience. Test out your experiences on them. If they don’t press you for more details, either the story isn’t there, or you need a more compelling way to tell it.
You can also test by e-mail; send a few friends a note about a recent experience of yours and see how many of them react to it. Note, too, how quickly they react. If they respond right after reading it, their interest levels are probably high. If they respond a week later and mention, “By the way, that was a nice story,” it likely didn’t pass the test.
Personal experiences don’t need to be earth-shattering to be worthy of print. They just need to be interesting, insightful, and emotion-provoking in almost any sense of the word. Your story may make someone happy, mad, upset, horrified, shocked… as long as you can elicit a strong emotion, you can draw readers. And editors like writers who can draw readers.
Go forth and share your experiences. Personal essays are wonderful gifts to share with the world. Really!
About the Author: Jenna Glatzer is the editor of http://www.absolutewrite.com (pick up a FREE list of agents looking for new writers!) and the author of 14 books, including MAKE A REAL LIVING AS A FREELANCE WRITER, which comes with a FREE Editors’ Cheat Sheet. She’s also Celine Dion’s authorized biographer. Visit Jenna at http://www.jennaglatzer.com
Source: www.isnare.com
“Can You Become a Freelance Copywriter in Los Angeles?”
Is it out there? The chance to be a freelance copywriter in Los Angeles? For those looking to become a copy writer, finding employment in various cities can be difficult. In fact, most freelance writers around the world struggle to find employment or jobs that are within their own cities and home towns. But, if you want to become a freelance copywriter, Los Angeles can add several benefits.
That is due in part to the fact that the city is a much larger area with more businesses who will need your services. Many companies are headquartered in the area that can provide employment to you. But, how do you find them? A few steps that you can take include the following:
Find jobs as a copy writer by first putting together a comprehensive resume showcasing any experiences you have had, projects you have worked on, and your educational background. Strong points should always be listed first!
Employment opportunities in copy writing are available to those who have knowledge of the field and the skills needed. Do you have this? If not, consider schooling to learn and hone your skills.
Jobs can also be found when examples of your work are show cased to the potential buyers. Do you have a portfolio? Can you put together a personal project to show your skills? Even if you create a project and then use your copy writing skills to “fix” it, this will help to bring out your level of expertise.
You can also speak with others who are in the field. Teachers, friends, and family who may have a need for your services can be an excellent way to get your foot in the door. Vacancies can be simple, one time projects if it gets you the experience you need! No matter where you live or where you plan to work, you will find the vacancies that you need in copywriting to make your career work.
So, freelance copywriters, Los Angeles can be the perfect place to start looking for the right career.
About the Author
Visit http://www.FreelanceWritingResource.com for more Articles, Resources, News and Views about Freelance Copywriting Jobs. This article may be reprinted in full so long as the resource box and live links are included intact.
Beware: The Dreaded Article
The fine art of writing for your e-zine
Stymied. It’s a good word to describe those poor, unfortunate souls who have the knowledge to write a content-rich article but who run from the idea like a quarter horse headed for the finish line. Why do they run? Too often because when they sit down with a blank sheet of paper or a blank computer screen, it all seems too overwhelming to even begin, and so they don’t.
However, even if this describes you, it doesn’t have to forever. If you will follow these simple steps and practice a few times, you will be filling in those dead sections of your e-zine with aplomb.
The Idea
Obviously all articles start with an idea. This should be something in your chosen field or in your area of interestsome area that you can shed light on for others. When you find your idea, write it down immediately. Don’t try to write it into paragraph form, just take a moment and jot down a sentence or twoor even a few wordsdescribing what you would like to write the article about.
For example, the idea for this article might state:
A step-by-step how-to guide to writing articles for people who think they can’t.
The development
This step, I think, is where countless English teachers have completely set up brick walls in the minds of their students for years. The teacher gives a writing assignment, and a student asks, “How am I ever going to write two pages?” To which the teacher responds, “Just write.”
Of course most English teachers don’t set these blocks up intentionally. The problem is almost invariably, you teach what you’re good at. When you’re good at something, it comes naturally, and you don’t have to think about every single little step you’re doing. However, when you teach, you must think about every single step, and this is where the train runs off the track.
If we would teach the following secret to children as far back as elementary school, the fear factor when an adult sits down at a blank computer screen years later would be nearly non-existent.
Here’s the secret. Once you have your idea, break it down into three separate sub-topics. For example:
A step-by-step guide to writing articles for people who think they can’t.
1.Have or find an idea
2.Develop the idea
3.The five-paragraph model
Each sub-topic is then written about and expounded upon by using supportive information. Think of this supporting information like the legs under a table. If you have a table with one leg, obviously it will fall. Two legs will make it wobbly. With three legs the table will be more stable, but with four legs it will easily stand on its own. This is your goal with your articleto make each sub-topic supported by enough legs so that it can stand on its own.
So, under each sub-topic, list three to four supporting information bits. For example:
A step-by-step how-to guide to writing articles for people who think they can’t.
1.Have an idea
Chose a field or area of interest to write about
Write the idea down in a few words or one or two sentences
Example
2.The Development
English teachers
Three sub-topics
Example
Supportive Information
Table legs
Example
3.The five paragraph model
Eighth graders
The model
30-page papers
A matter of organization
If you’ve been following, you already know where we’re going . . .
The Five-Paragraph Model
Without a doubt this is the skill that should be taught in every English class from second grade on. The sad fact, however, is that too many students have gone completely through school and never so much as heard of it. In fact, when I put all these pieces together for an eighth grade English class I taught, one student asked, “Why hasn’t anyone shown us this before? It makes writing so much simpler.” I have to agree with himit does, in fact, it makes writing anything simpler.
The five-paragraph model is simply this: Paragraph one is the introduction. It tells in broad strokes what you are going to be discussing. Paragraph two presents your first sub-topic and each supporting leg under it. Paragraph three is the second sub-topic and its legs, and paragraph four is the third sub-topic plus its legs. The final paragraph, number five, is the conclusion in which you simply restate what you have talked about.
Now, if you are thinking in terms of word-count (how many of us spent hours in school counting words to make sure it was long enough? Ugh!), here’s a simple way to do that. Break the word count down into paragraphs. So, if you have to write 250 words, the first paragraph would be 50 words, the second 50 words, and so on. For most of my students, 250 words seemed overwhelming at first, but 50 didn’t. By breaking it down, the task seemed manageable, and they weren’t left looking at a blank piece of paper with no clue what to write.
This technique also words for longer papers. My seniors had to write a 30-page research paper (it was a school requirement). Many if not most of them were understandably panicked by this idea. However, when we broke the paper down in the form of the model, it didn’t seem nearly so intimidating.
The first page was a broad overview. Pages 2-10 were the first point; pages 11-20 were the second point; pages 21-28, the third point; and pages 29-30 were the conclusion. Admittedly even ten pages on a point is a lot, so we broke each of them down again so that each “leg” was more like a sub-topic with legs under it. By the time we finished breaking it down, they were no longer looking at a 30-page monstrosity, they were now looking at 15-20 five paragraph papers. One paragraph at a time didn’t seem nearly so overwhelming as “I have to write a 30-page paper.”
My suggestion for you is to take this model and practice a few times. Don’t focus on the frightening notion of writing an article.
Organize it, then break it down, and write it section by section. I think you will be surprised at how much less intimidating the process of writing becomes. With a little practice, you too will be writing e-zine copy like a pro.
About the Author
Need more writing tips? Come visit the author of this article, Staci Stallings, at http://www.stacistallings.com You’ll be glad you did!
Poker Hand: Gap Hand
In poker en ligne, a ‘gap hand’ is a hand where the hole cards are separated by one or more rank. Cards separated by one rank are a one-gap, while those separated by two are two-gaps, and so on. Also known as connectors, these kinds of hands are valuable mainly for their ability to make straights, whereas hands with wide gaps, such as jack two or queen three, can not make a straight using the two hole cards together.
Extra value is added to the gap cards where they are of the same suit, as they can then not only make straights but flushes. Typically, in drawing poker games like Omaha hi-lo, these hands have just as much if not greater value than hands that contain large pairs but no connectors.
In less draw-based games, like Texas Holdem, these hands are valued in that they either miss the flop or they create draws, after which they can be thrown away easily, whereas it is much easier to go broke with a larger pair. In this mind, one would much rather have a hand such as 5-6 against pocket aces instead of pocket kings against aces, as you are not only less dominated, but you are giving yourself the ability to fold when you miss.
A Little More Than Fate
Is there an ideal kind of life that you dream about? Perhaps your ideal life consists of more money, more friends, or more time to do the things you love. Maybe the ideal life is one filled with less work and more vacations. Having the ideal life can be as simple as starting to exercise more, losing weight and becoming healthy again. Whatever kind of life you dream about having, I guarentee that it will take a little more than fate to get you there.
Many, many people believe that fate will take them where they are supposed to go. While I do believe that everything happens for a reason, I also believe that you have an important role in making your own life amazing. I believe that creating the ideal life is not so much about fate as it is about making better choices every day.
There are many ways to assist fate in making your life great. A first important step is to take time to evaluate your life and get a clear picture of where you are really at. Be careful to not idealize your current sitation. Commit to being honest with yourself in this process. Look for areas of your life that are going well and look for areas that could use improvement or extra care. If you’ve left your life in the hands of fate, there is a good chance that you’ll have some work to do in the weeks and months ahead.
Once you have evaluated your life clearly, take time to consider the kind of life you really want. If fate could give you any kind of life you wanted, what would it look like? Write down everything you think of even if it seems too hard to attain.
Your ideal life will not happen without intentional action. Take the description of your dream life and begin breaking it down into goals that you can work toward. If you desire to have a better job, take steps to finding a new job by looking at job postings or by inquiring at businesses in your area. The more proactive you are, the more you can cooperate with fate and change your life.
A better life is possible for every single person in the world. No matter how bad things are or how good things are for you right now, things can always get better. Work with fate instead of against it by taking action and moving toward the things you dream about. No matter what the result, your life will be richer and more full because of your proactivity.
Author Martin Stoleman believes it takes a little more than fate to have the kind of life we all want. Disagree? Learn more about fate at www.fatetimes.info
Medicine and Prayer Don’t Mix
A recent television news program broadcast a segment about a surgeon who prays with his patients. When does he pray with them? Not several weeks prior to surgery, for example, in an office visit when the decision to proceed with surgery is made. Not several days prior to surgery during routine pre-hospitalization medical testing. Not even several hours prior to surgery.
The surgeon “asks” if “it’s OK” to say a prayer when patients are gowned and on the gurney ready to go into surgery. Put yourself in the patient’s position. Would you feel free to say no to a physician dressed in surgical scrubs who is about to have your life in his hands, who is about to take a scalpel to your body?
He could simply pray for his patients and do so in private. That’s something that undoubtedly is quite common and laudable. But he doesn’t. This surgeon prays with his patients.
Welcome to the brave new world of religion-and-health where science, medicine, faith and ethics coexist in a potentially explosive mixture. It’s all part of a concerted effort to make religious practices part of clinical medicine. But before we go any further down this path, we should answer three central questions about these efforts: Are they based on good scientific evidence? Do they represent good medical practice? Are they good for religion?
In each case, the answer is no.
Most research studies that claim to show how religious involvement is associated with better health fail to rule out other factors that might account for the relationship, or mistake chance findings for real ones.
In at least two ways they can cause harm rather than benefit to patients. Study after study shows that doctors have so little time in their interactions with patients that they routinely fail to follow established practice guidelines for preventive care and for treatment of chronic disease, even though they are strongly supported by scientific evidence. If physicians spend their limited time with patients engaging in spiritual inquiries, they will have even less time to address depression, smoking cessation, weight control or diabetes self-care factors that are demonstrably related to disease. In this way, bringing religious matters into clinical medicine will deprive patients of adequate medical care.
The inclusion of religion in clinical practice can harm patients in other ways too. When physicians make claims about the benefits of religious activities, patients can feel manipulated or even coerced into engaging in religious behaviors that are not their own, merely to avoid displeasing their doctors. In a country that values religious freedom as much as anything else, coercive religious practices are simply unacceptable.
And physicians risk transgressing other ethical boundaries too, when they tell their patients that religious practices can beneficially influence their health. Asserting that such activities promote health can lead patients who do poorly to question their religious devotion and to experience guilt and remorse over their supposed religious failures.
Finally, and perhaps most important, efforts to connect religion and medical practice are bad for religion itself. Bringing religion into the laboratory subjects it to the reductionism of scientific materialism, stripping away all elements of transcendence. The recent report that religious experience is based on the neurochemistry of the serotonin system in the brain is a perfect example of how religion is trivialized by studying it scientifically.
“The methods of science have little or nothing to contribute to ethics, inspiration, morals, beauty, love, hate or aesthetics,” according to astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson. “These are vital elements of civilized life and are central to the concerns of nearly every religion.” These essential domains of human existence are beyond the means of science to address. For religion, on the other hand, they are central.
Attempts to closely connect religion and medicine unwittingly imply that religion has no strengths of its own and instead needs the methods of science to establish validity. Proponents forget the advantage of religion over science that Tyson describes. In these efforts, they demean rather than value religion.
For many, illness raises important religious and spiritual concerns, providing comfort to some and anxiety to others. No one disputes the significance of these concerns but recognizing that they arise in times of illness doesn’t mean that doctors should take them on as part of their responsibility. These are matters for patients, their families and the clergy.
Dr. Richard P. Sloan is a professor of behavioral medicine in the department of psychiatry at Columbia University Medical Center and author of the forthcoming Blind Faith: The Unholy Alliance of Religion and Medicine. This article was written for Science & Theology News.