As I report in "A defunct article about Five Manakin Birds", a now-defunct web site outdid themselves in same-day publication of my latest article.

Picture"Araripe Manakin Bird in Nest" by Hesperia2007
The Araripe Manakin chick pictured above is the most drab of the five images in the article.

I had actually wanted to write about another specific species, but could not find images that were available for commercial reuse.

Making sweet, sweet lemonade out of those lemons resulted in "5 Fascinating Species of South American Manakin Birds" in a site that no longer exists.


Writing Tips

The first tip was explicit in the above article.

Write about the material you have available. Don't whine about what you don't have.

The second tip was implicit, but very important for anyone writing for Internet consumption.

Images are really important for online articles and blogs. If you don't have at least one image, you probably don't need to write the article.

Ensure you have permission to use those images. Usually the important "filter" is "licensed for commercial reuse". It's "reuse" since you are re-using someone's image in your material. It's "commercial" if you, or the website where you publish, hopes to make any money out of online advertising or by any other means.
 
Normally I use this blog to publicize newly-published articles. At least once before, however, this site simply held some images I created in preparation for an article for an online magazine site.

Picture
"Collatz Sample" by Mike DeHaan
The Collatz Conjecture makes a very well-educated guess about the properties of numbers in the series shown above.

Updated June 27, 2011

My Decoded Science article is "Collatz Conjecture Remains Unproven Despite its Easy Arithmetic".

As always, I also promoted this article on my main site, in the entry "Simple Yet Unproven: The Collatz Conjecture".


Writing Tip for Images

By default, the originator of any creative work has copyright to that work. If I write an article, for example, my byline and the publication date indicate the I wrote it and have copyright. (Unless I sold that right to the publication, of course).

Images distributed over the Internet are very easily copied without a good way to establish "first publication". By posting an image in a blog under my control, and with the claim of creating it, I establish that it is mine and that I have copyright.
 
Both in my DeHaan Services site and, increasingly, through my DeHaan Fitness and Weight Control site, I acknowledge that my primary and almost sole form of exercise is running.
Picture
"Mike DeHaan as a Cyclist" by Roger Horst
This is how I looked near the end of a 100Km (60 miles if we were in the USA) bicycle excursion.I blogged about it in "Fortunately Running is Cross-Training for Cycling".

Then I realized I should mention this in a DeHaan Services blog, since I offer fitness training as a service.

Finally I also remembered that I had not yet mentioned the DeHaan Fitness... site in my DeHaan Directory, so of course it was added to the About page as well as a blog entry.


Writing Tips

These are tired, but tried and true, writing tips:

  1. Write about what you know. In my case, I know about my fitness and about my cycling excursion.
  2. Promote the articles once you've written them.
  3. Online writing for blogs and magazine-style web sites requires periodic updates. Keep those search engines busy by adding new content on a regular basis.
 
My "Why Tiny Krill Are a Major Link in the Marine Food Chain" was published yesterday in Environmental Graffiti, a now-defunct web site.

Picture"Antarctic Krill" by Crazy Creatures
Although I had previously written "Krill Oil Benefits and Side Effects as a Dietary Supplement" for Suite 101, another defunct online science magazine, the focus of my later article was how krill contribute to the ecology of the Antarctic.

I re-used some of the images and background about krill, although I had to do some further research anyway.

As per my standard operating procedure, I've also publicized this article in my latest DeHaan Services blog entry, "Krill in the Antarctic Food Chain".

Writing Tip

This writing tip bears repeating: once you've done some research, find ways to re-use it. Just be sure to change the focus and message.
 
My latest article, published today in Decoded Science, is "A Quick Explanation of Mathematical Induction".

It begins with toppling a row of dominos.

Picture
"Giant Domino Cascade" by zigazou76
Just what is "mathematical induction"? If you simply want to know, just read my article noted above.

Of course, I also promoted this article in my DeHaan Services blog. Please see "Mathematical Induction Compared to a Row of Dominos".



Writing Tips

The First, Lengthy Tip

After writing most of the technical information, I realized that I needed two things to make it a properly complete article: images and a "hook" idea.

At first I wanted to talk about a mathematician who had used this technique, but could not find both a reference and an image available for commercial reuse.

Then I found an article (one of the references listed in my article) that used the domino comparison. As well, zigazou76's image of large concrete dominos, ready to topple in a cascade, made a wonderful visual impact.

The Second, Quick Tip

Finally, in my Facebook self-promotional post, I asked my friends to complete the sentence "Mathematical induction is like a row of dominos..." as Forrest Gump would.

Social marketing works best by inviting interaction, collaboration and cooperation...so long as you don't have enemies who would usurp your grand designs.

 
I finally added another article to my portfolio in a now-defunct online science magazine.

"Krill Oil Benefits and Side Effects as a Dietary Supplement"discusses reasons for and against using krill oil supplements.

Picture"Krill Euphausia superba" by Ryan Somma
Because krill oil supplements are increasing in popularity, I researched the benefits side effects of krill oil.

As always, I also publicized this article in my DeHaan Services blog entry "Krill Oil Supplement Report in 2011".

Thanks to Those Who Linked Me

Thanks to the following online magazines that linked to my Suite 101 article:
Business Tip: It's good for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) and good for more page views when other sites link to yours. It's also nice when you return the favour.

 
Well, maybe some environmental or nature magazines will feature a story or two about periodical cicadas.

Picture
"Periodical Cicada in Illinois, USA" by tlindenbaum
"Periodical Cicada: The Insect that Can Live for 17 Years" is my latest article in Environmental Graffiti.

The word "periodical" means that these insects appear "periodically"...from time to time...as the article title indicates.

As always, I include a shout-out to my DeHaan Services blog that also highlights the primary article in "Featuring Periodical Cicadas".

Writing Tip for Online Articles

Today's writing tip is to write "evergreen" articles; failing that, to write "periodical" articles.

My article lists the next 15 scheduled appearances of the different broods of the 13-year and 17-year cicadas. With clever annual marketing and cooperation from search engines, people might return to this article "periodically" through 2025.

 
Once again I will use this blog to publish some of my own creations: images to be added to an upcoming article in Decoded Science.

[ Edited June 13, 2011: "The Proof and Practice of Thales' Theorem for Circled Triangles" was published today. It explains how to prove the theorem that angle(AOC) in the first diagram is always 90 degrees, no matter where point C is placed on the circumference. Well, anywhere but points A or B, obviously. As always, I also promoted the Dec.Sci. article in my main site, in the blog entry "Decoded Science Reveals How to Prove Thales’ Theorem". ]

Picture
"Thales Triangle with Notes" by Mike DeHaan
This is the basic diagram for Thales' Theorem.

It is so clear, simple and obvious, it is a wonder there is any need for an article at all.


Picture
"Triangle in a Circle" by Mike DeHaan
Surprisingly, this is the initial diagram for the article. Clearly the previous diagram is built from it.


Picture
"Starting to Seek the Centre of a Circle" by Mike DeHaan
Completely different circles and triangles are used for the second pair of images in my article about Thales' Theorem.


Picture
"Having Found the Centre of a Circle" by Mike DeHaan
Finishing the group of diagrams is the completion of the previous image. Hopefully this will be crystal clear to the readers of Decoded Science.

 
Almost a year ago I wrote "Caffeine And Sugar In Energy Drinks: A New Health Crisis?" for Suite 101. I had updated it with a new reference on May 31. Today I found yet another research report and just had to re-update my article.


Picture
"Coca-Cola and Effect Energy Drink" by tskdesign
This may be the article that received the most revisions in my brief career. A close second would be one of my Squidoo lenses, in which I have also added this research note. That lens is "The DeHaan Lens for Weight Control Through Diet".

Health Tip: Avoid the sugary drinks; diet soda is also bad for different reasons; and energy drinks are a bit of a problem too. Sometime I will publish a recap of all those articles.

Writing Tip: Keep your eyes open for updates to previous topics, and don't be afraid to add more information. An old rumour said that search engines like to see pages that get updated, and give them higher credibility. True or not, a real reader might be interested to see that you are updating your work.

 
Here are the articles I've written about seven insects that could invade your home...and you want to get rid of them! In alphabetical order:
  • Bedbugs
  • Carpenter Ants
  • Earwigs
  • Head Lice
  • Stink Bugs
  • Termites
  • Wasps
You should think about hiring a professional exterminator to handle some of these, like bedbugs. Home head lice kits or the components are available and effective. Depending on your jurisdiction, insecticides may be appropriate...but read my articles, get local advice, and solemnly vow to read and follow the directions carefully.

The first article I wrote on this topic was a "list of five", and does not have all the detail one would want. "5 Disgusting Bugs That Could Invade Your Home" discusses these potential invaders: Bedbugs; Carpenter Ants; Head Lice; Termites; and Wasps.


Bedbugs, the Tough Customer

Picture
"Adult Bed Bug" by Piotr Naskrecki for CDC via Harvard University
Bedbugs deserve a lot of attention. They are hard to eradicate, but are not known to transmit diseases to humans. Look for the following articles:

"How to Fight an Infestation of Bed Bugs" has advice.

"Bedbugs - Symptoms, Signs and Solving the Problem" has more advice.

"A Quick Guide for the Paranoid Traveler on How to Avoid Bed Bugs" is aimed at people traveling on vacation or for business, but includes some tips for the return home.


Carpenter Ants are Destructive

Picture
"Carpenter Ant" by Richard Bartz, Munich (Makro Freak)
Carpenter ants chew up the wood inside your home, doing structural damage.

"How to Avoid Hiring Carpenter Ants" really deals with recognizing and eradicating them


Earwigs Should Stay Outdoors

Picture
"Lesser Earwig on a Leaf" by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org
Earwigs are fine and dandy in the great outdoors. If they do live in your home, they will be in dark, damp places.

"The Earwig: A Best Friend to the Garden or a Health Hazard?" describes their dual nature and has some tips.

"The Secret Life of the Earwig" has more background on these insects, although my original title did include the word "pest".

Are Head Lice Scholarly?

Picture
"Male human head louse" by Gilles San Martin
Although head lice are not "scholarly", they do earn headlines at the start of every school year.

"Itching to Get Rid of Head Lice" has my advice.


Stink Bugs are Shield Bugs

Picture
"Stink bug on mandarin" by aussiegall
Stink bugs usually invade homes in the autumn, to seek shelter for the winter. That's when most people notice them. Like earwigs, they are fine in the garden.

"The Stink Bug Inside and Out" describes them, and points out their "indoor pest" qualities.

"Stink Bugs or Shield Bug, Please Eliminate This Insect Pest!" takes a stern approach.

I was amazed at the passion people expressed about trying to remove shield bugs from their homes.

Termites, the Unsung Villains

Picture
"Termite on Wood Bark" by Aaronyx
More accurately, the only article I've written about termites is the first one...the list of five pests.

If I ever feature them in an article, I should remember to update this blog entry.


Wasps who may Invade

Picture
"Wasp Hymenoptera" by kevinzim
Generally wasps build their nests outdoors, but some may invade your home.

"Convincing Social Wasps to Leave the Party" is the best article I've written to deal with removing wasps from your domain. However, it has more to say about outdoor parties.

"How a Social Wasp Queen Can Fight to become the Leader" and "How Can a Worker Wasp Become a Queen? By Face and Fight" tell the same story from different perspectives. There was a fascinating report on this in a science journal, so I dug deeper and produced these explanations.

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    Mike DeHaan began writing professionally in 2010 as the sole proprietor of DeHaan Services.To see this information with the best background image, please refer to "About.Me",  befriend me at Facebook, or circle me at Google+.

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