As I've written in another post, one key to good writing is, of course, good research. I think good research is both an art and a science. It requires not only the use of credible, authoritative and comprehensive sources, but it also requires something of the researcher herself.

As writers, we all know what semantics is. But there are some interesting intersections between fractals, semantics, computer programming and the science of information retrieval. These topics have, of course, been studied in depth by logicians and AI theorists. However, as Web publishing is becoming increasingly more important in today's writers market, an understanding of search engine semantics has very practical applications for us as professional writers.

A really good read that I finished earlier in the year...Adam, Eve & the Serpent, by Elaine Pagels. Pagels is a professor of Church History and Religion at Princeton University. She has done extensive research and writing on ancient Gnosticism.

This book (along with others she's written) has really re-ignited my spiritual curiosity. For anyone who wants to know about the "real" Christianity, I highly recommend her.

I had a conversation with Jack Payne the other day about the importance of research in professional writing . That conversation got me to thinking about the importance of thorough, fact-based research to good writing. I wondered whether most writers - particularly journalistic writers - really know how to adequately research a subject on which they endeavor to write.

Blogging is fast becoming a cult phenomenon of the Y-generation. To be a successful blogger requires a distinct form of writing and creative organization. I'm very pleased that The University of Texas recognizes the importance of Internet technology and Web writing by creating Blogging Pedagogy.

I was excited to hear that Dr. Sankaran Krishna of The University of Hawaii was coming as a guest lecturer in November.

Since he's coming, I decided to brush up on my Hawaiian history. (I've always been fascinated with Hawaiian culture anyway).

For those of you who want to learn more about Hawaii, there are some good books out there.

There are many great books on Hawaii's history, but one of the best places to start is with the formation of the Hawaiian islands, vividly described in David E. Eyre's "By Wind, By Wave: An Introduction to Hawaii's Natural History" (Bess Press, 2000).

Web Writing & Search Engine Marketing

When writing for the Web it also helps to know basic search engine rules. * REDACTED per http://www.utexas.edu/its/policies/responsible.php * Remember, no matter how great your article is, it doesn't much matter if no one sees it. To be a successful web writer, it's crucial to know how the major search engines are seeing your writing. This will enable you to craft copy that will get better page rank and visibility.

By Eric Bryant, Presidenta
Gnosis Arts, A Multi-Service Arts Company
http://www.gnosisarts.com

Does Philosophy Pay?

Answer: Absolutely!

I am a graduate of the UT school of philosophy, class of '98, and I'm actually using my degree in my professional and entrepreneurial pursuits. (Despite the fact that it took me 10 years of meandering around in the taverns pondering the meaning of life over cold pints...but who cares, as long as you get there, right?!)