Articles written by Elizabeth Ducie

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About me - Elizabeth Ducie

I'm a technical writer and manufacturing consultant by day. I'm based in UK, but spend much of my time overseas. I have a number of textbooks and management reports published. I am also editor of a technical journal.

I have been writing since I was very young.

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Business > Small & Home Business Why some home businesses fail: 1 of 28
It's an unfortunate, but true, statistic that the majority of small business ventures fail within a short period of time. Why might that be? Let's look at some of the reasons for things going wrong and identify strategies we can use to prevent failure. A good idea does not necessarily make for a good business We have a goo... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking (Other) Time-saving tips for cooking at home: 1 of 27
Cooking at home can be an enjoyable, relaxing exercise or it can be a complete pain. It all depends how we approach it. It also depends on the context in which the cooking is being done. If we've got plenty of time, good company and maybe a bottle of wine to hand, it can be fun getting out the recipe books and trying out s... More..
Creative Writing > Poetry Poetry: Chocolate: 3 of 53
The ABC of Chocolate You're absolute abandonnment You're basic biscuit covering You're crumbling in a crisis You're dear deliciousness You're energy enabling You're full forbidden fruit You're great for giving pleasure You're homely and (h)exotic You're in my every image You're just a jewell and jazzy You're kind... More..
Politics, News & Issues > News Industry Internet as a threat to newspapers: 3 of 31
"There will be blood on the streets and it will be over for some newspapers." This was the view of Cameron Yuill, CEO of Adgent 007, talking about the current turmoil in the newspaper industry on the BBC Money Programme recently. There are huge challenges facing newspapers and they need to identify possible survival strategie... More..
Travel > Travel Diaries & Adventures (Other) Why do you like where you currently live?: 15 of 125
I wake up every morning and pinch myself. For a townie who's always lived cheek by jowl with other people, this is so different and yet so right. We moved from London to Devon, in the west of England, just eighteen months ago, yet it feels like we've been here for ever. Devon is a county which is just 7% urban and 93% rur... More..
Business > Small & Home Business Low-cost marketing techniques for your home business: 3 of 25
There are several low-cost marketing techniques that can be used to bring your business to people's notice. Let's go through them one by one.NetworkingNetworking is about the people that you know - and the people that they know. There is a theory called "6 degrees of separation" which proposes that no-one is more than 6 conne... More..
Travel > Travel Planning & Advice A first-time traveler's guide to Russia: 1 of 8
Traveling to a destination for the first time can be daunting. Doubly so when the language is different, notices and signs are written in unfamiliar script and everyone seems to be scowling or shouting at everyone else. But look past this at sunlight dappling birch trees in spring, hills covered with frozen lace in winter; at... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Traveling: 29 of 204
Death in Business ClassI slowly return to consciousness, as though forcing my way through mist. I am lying on a trolley, being pushed at high speed through a concrete tunnel with no windows. Stark neon tubes burn above my head, illuminating central heating ducts and an occasional doorway. A short dark-haired woman is screamin... More..
Arts & Humanities > Writing Tips Getting over yourself: Making the transition from thinking to writing: 10 of 70
Thinking is easy. 'I think about what I am going to write' or 'I think I will write tomorrow' or even 'I think I can write, but I'm not sure'. Many of us think we have a great piece of writing in our heads - but unless it gets transferred on to the paper, it doesn't exist. Before looking at some solutions, let's start by th... More..
Food & Drink > Wine How to give a toast: 2 of 14
Being asked to propose a toast is an honour and it should not be taken lightly. The two key phases for giving a successful toast are the preparation time and the couple of minutes when the toast is being made. We'll look at each of these later in the article. Let's start by thinking about why the toast is being given. ... More..