AboutWarren D. Miller Expertise I believe I can answer nearly any question about business writing. That goes in spades if the target audience is a lay readership. I make my living writing and speaking. N.B.: I DO NOT ANSWER QUESTIONS MARKED 'PRIVATE' because I believe that knowledge should be shared, not hoarded. I also believe such questions are likely to be submitted by people trying to cheat. In addition, don't waste your time asking me to write something for you. You don't learn anything if I do that. I'm happy to critique something that YOU write, of course. That's the best way for you to learn how to write well.
Experience My profession is business valuation, which means appraising businesses whose shares are not publicly traded. This requires in-depth knowledge about a number of disciplines, including economics, finance, strategic management, accounting, anthropology, statistics, and psychology. The left-brain part of me must conduct rigorous research and financial analysis. The right-brain side must then separate what matters from what doesn't and then explain it all in writing (and in everyday English) to people (usually business owners, but sometimes judges and juries) who do not have the expertise that I have been lucky enough to acquire over the years. I love what I do and consider myself fortunate to live in a country where I can do what I love doing and make a nice living doing it. I am glad to help with writing issues, but NOT, please, with any valuation, business consulting, or other non-writing questions.
Organizations CFA Institute, American Society of Appraisers, Strategic Management Society, Academy of Management, Institute of Management Accountants
Publications My writing has appeared in the Harvard Business Review, American Fly Fisher, Business Valuation Review, CPA Expert, Academy of Management Executive, CFA Digest, and others.
Education/Credentials MBA - Oklahoma State U. (1991);
BBA - U. of Oklahoma (1975);
Chartered Financial Analyst designation (2006)
Accredited Senior Appraiser (2006)
Certified Management Accountant
Certified Public Accountant (1992)
Awards and Honors Business Valuation Volunteer of the Year (2001) - American Institute of CPAs
Winner - Statewide Humorous-Speaking Contest - Oklahoma - Toastmasters International (1971)
Expert: Warren D. Miller Date: 5/29/2008 Subject: inquiry: How to sell articles to magazines
Question Dear Sir,
Good day! I need information on the following questions.
1) What is the correct format in writing an article?
2) will you tell me the exact distance between the first and second line?
3) about the paragraph - how many spaces between the first and the second paragraph?
4) still about the paragraph - How many spaces are needed to indent the first line?
5) tell me what is the correct margin?
6) Give me an advice on how to make an article.
7) Inform me also on how to prepare an article that will have a chance of being published and paid?
8) What will i do inorder that i can sell my articles to a magazine?
9) Give me relevant advice concerning article writing.
10) How will i improve my writing inorder for me to become a world class writer like you?
I am sorry for asking you a lot of questions, but i am really interested to become a skilled writer,and i think the best way to start is article writing.
thank you very much. Hope i can hear from you soon.
Respectfully Yours,
Amram
Answer Dear Amram--
Rather than try to answer your questions, which would take an incredible amount of time (which I don't have - remember, I'm an unpaid volunteer who is just trying to be helpful), let me steer you to several of my favorite writing books. You don't say whether you want to write fiction or non-fiction, so that makes it more difficult to help you:
1. "The Elements of Style" (3rd Ed. - AVOID the 4th edition) by William Strunk, Jr., & E.B. White.
2. "On Writing Well" by William K. Zinsser.
3. "How to Get Happily Published" by Judith Appelbaum.
4. "2008 Writer's Market" by Robert Brewer. This is a volume that is updated annually, and all serious writer's buy it every year.
I would offer two other thoughts:
1. You are only partially correct that "the best way to start" to become a skilled writer" is to write articles. The best way to become a good writer is to READ Books written by great writers. Some colleagues I know even retype these books into their computers in order to get a feel for the construction of the sentences and the paragraphs. No one can become a great writer without reading, reading, reading. And books are preferred to articles because an article is just a snippet of a book and is much easier to write.
2. Take classes in Journalism (or Professional Writing, if they're offered at a college near you) and AVOID trying to learn to write in English classes. English has its place, but teaching good writing skills is not one of them. If those English profs could write, they wouldn't be professors.
Hope this is helpful. Since I've helped you, I hope that you will return the favor and complete the "rate the expert" email you'll receive right after you get this reply. Your ratings help me do a better job of helping people like you.
Take care, good luck, and let me know if I can do more.
