Writers: Dr. Phil Goes Fishing with Oprah in His Tackle Box, Shouldn?t You?

Dr. Phil's Life Strategies, #1 New York Times Bestseller catches us on page one. His bait? Oprah Winfrey.

A fisherman will spend hours throwing out into the lake one of the many trinkets he holds in his trusty tackle box "baiting" his catch-to-be. By trial and error, practice and perfection, the avid, alert fisherman builds strategy as to where his fish are hiding, when they eat, and what bait will draw his catch. Strategy produces success.

Dr. Phil? No different. A strategist. A master strategist from which we expect no less than expert strategy. And in his book, Life Strategies, we see this leader at work, both finding the fish and successfully baiting his catch-to-be. How, you ask?

Open this book and read. Page one, acknowledgments: Oprah, first sentence, third word, again in the second sentence and in the third. Introduction: Oprah, first sentence, second word, and a quick scan will give you almost thirty more. Chapter One: Oprah, twice in the first paragraph, once in the second paragraph, and fourth paragraph, Oprah, Oprah, Oprah. I'm drawn in and a bit curious. Who could be so lucky to have a hook like this one? It becomes a prosperous one as Dr. Phil "catches" enough to produce a best seller and an amazing career.

A "hook" is how you will draw your attention-deficit audience, and future fans, to continue reading your work.

Like the little fishes in the water, we need something to draw us. We swim around all day long ignoring the bits and pieces of rubbish floating around in front of our faces. But then, unexpected, we see a glimmer. It may be familiar or it may spark our curiosity. We swim over and nudge it here and there. If all else is going well--looks good, smells good, and holds our interest--we lunge at it. Set-the-hook success. Reel us in, cook us, sit back, and relax with your newfound fullness of a day well spent.

The first sentence in TIFFANY TWISTED: exposed, unraveled, rewritten reads, "I thought about bringing a gun over there." Our first thought may be, hmmm, familiar, I've thought about this too, or, unfamiliar, can't say I've ever wanted to kill anyone but, interesting, here's my chance to get into this head. "I thought about bringing a gun over there." Has one sentence set a glimmer through the muddied waters? Are you asking yourself, bring a gun where? Why? Has the sentence done it's job and propelled you to nudge the bait a little and read on?

"I thought about bringing a gun over there. Not just some little pistol. I had a statement to make. And a statement like this required one of those big shotguns..." Hmmm, one of those big shotguns? "One that would bring hell itself into the eyes of it's beholder." What? Why? What possibly could have brought on such horrid thoughts of revenge? These are the questions I hope you're asking because, like Dr. Phil and every other author out there competing for your time, I want to have at least tweaked your interest enough for you to lunge at my hook and read the book!

--------------------------

Tiffany Twist is the author of two books, TIFFANY TWISTED: exposed, unraveled, rewritten (June 2004 by Expert Publishing Inc.) and SOME DANCE: Hey Bartender, I'll take a decade of marriage on the rocks, a therapist straight up, and a fantasy guy with a twist (April 2005 by et al Publishing)

Tiffany has filmed for E! Television and Style Network's top rated "Diary of an Affair" to air in April and has currently been contacted by producers from both Oprah and Dr. Phil.

For more info and photos, visit http://www.tiffanytwist.com

In The News:


pen paper and inkwell


cat break through


Freelance Writing: How Many Regular Clients Should You Have?

This is a tough question for every freelance writer. For... Read More

Alternative View Points and the Lamp of Creativity

Pictures they say are worth a thousand words, but many... Read More

Memories Dont Fade Like Hair Does: Memoir Writing Help for You, Our Elders, to Tell Your Story

~~~Old age, to the unlearned, is winter; to the learned,... Read More

The Writers Identity: Exploring the Writer Within

Les Edgerton writes in his book, Finding Your Voice, that... Read More

New Authors Publishing Options

All your publishing options are as follows:--Conventional publishing--Vanity or subsidy... Read More

Through the Eyes of an Artist

As writers, we initially tend to be either more cerebral... Read More

The Daily Rite

If you want to be a writer, then you must... Read More

Writing Tips For Novice Authors

If you are reading this article then you probably have... Read More

Make Your Mark Upon Humanity

The greatest gift you have to give to yourself and... Read More

Write Again! - The Art Of The Written Letter

Remember the days when we wrote with pen and paper?... Read More

Italics Part 1 - Do You Need to Use Italics?

Next time you're tempted to use italics for emphasis... STOP!"Why?"... Read More

A Simple Contest with a Strong Message: Wake Up Your Writing Spirit

The Blogfest 2005 Writing Contest has only been running for... Read More

Dialogue Tags - A Study in Common Errors

Verb and SubjectIncorrect:"I bet you two had a fine time,"... Read More

How to Build A Success Freelance Career (Part 1)

In the current job market, many editorial workers have turned... Read More

Bring Out the Natural Writer in You

Think you can't write a book that will sell? You... Read More

Common Writing Mistakes - Are These Holding You Back From Writing Success?

During the years that I've been teaching writing and participating... Read More

Write With Passion: 4 Steps To Emotionally Charge A Nonfiction Article

You have just completed a draft of an article. It... Read More

Writing Requires Self-Control

The only way to become a writer is to write.... Read More

Review In 29 Steps Plus One

I just finished to read a book. A story for... Read More

Going On A Word Diet

There are three ways to write a first draft. One... Read More

Best Writing Advice I Ever Got

I've been in the communications business a long time?over 25... Read More

English Grammar ? Seven Outdated Rules You Can Ignore

No matter what your fifth-grade English teacher says, some grammar... Read More

Time to Write

SO YOU WANT TO BE A WRITER?Many people have entertained... Read More

Can Your Theme Be Proved In Your Story?

Creative Writing Tips ?Your theme has to be something you... Read More

Baby Boomers and Booklets ? Share and Share Alike

As one of those fabulous Baby Boomers, you now own... Read More

Ten Quick Tips for Inexperienced Writers

One of the biggest problems that inexperienced writers have is... Read More

Open a Vein

If you want to be a writer, you must write... Read More

How to Publish a Book: Key Differences Between Publishing and Self Publishing

For many authors just starting out, it can be a... Read More

Platform Development Tip #1: Switch Writing Hats!

Around eighty percent of nonfiction books today are written by... Read More

Top Ten Ways to Write Like a Pro Checklist

Sure you can write, but can you write crisp, compelling... Read More

Boost Your Income With Trade Journals

Why would anyone want to write for trade journals? Aren't... Read More

Making Freelance Writing Niche Types Fit: A Few Niche Types by Definition and Description

Our Freelance Writing Needs DefinedWe must make freelance niche types... Read More

The Demon Fear

You have a great idea for a poem, a story,... Read More