Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.
Madonna builds a school for the
underprivileged.
Madonna is building a multi-million
dollar girls' school.
In the village of Chinkhota, Malawi,
outside of the capital of Lilongwe,
the school will hold 500 students.
It's scheduled to be ready in 2 years,
at a cost of $15 million.
The AIDS epidemic left a million children
orphaned there. There are 13 million
impoverished people in Malawi.
The singer has adopted 2 children from Malawi.
Now, she's giving opportunities back to other
underprivileged girls in the region.
"Growing up in a privileged life, I took
education for granted, but coming to Malawi
taught me lots of things. I have learned to
appreciate what life gives," Madonna said.
She plans to build other schools in the
surrounding African districts. Also, she
wants to construct schools in other
countries as well.
Source: http://thecelebritycafe.com/features/35078.html
Start Writing
Stop Writer's Block
Friday, October 30, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Scene: How To Write It?
Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.
A scene has a beginning, middle,
and an ending. It moves the
story along. The scene has
a purpose. A scene flows
smoothly.
A scene is a few paragraphs,
five pages, or twenty pages.
It depends on you.
Any word not doing its job
is deleted. Bloated, meaningless,
words take-up space, and slow
the story-line down.
The scene informs the
reader, shows the conflict
a character is having.
A character's conflict is
between nature, or against
man.
A character fighting a wild-fire
is an example of man against
nature.
Neighbors on different issues
involving politics represents
man against man.
The initial scene introduces
characters, sets a mood,
back-ground information
can be given, suspense
is stirred in, and the
reader meets the view-point
character.
The scene acquaints the
reader with the character.
Don't give too much information
at one time, or discuss many
characters in a scene.
The first scene's focus is to
present the main character.
Perhaps, you'd like readers
to know how the main character
handles problems, the issue
at hand.
Is the character aggressive?
He/she likes his/her fists to
meet mouths, teeth? Or,
he/she starts confusion, and
disappears. Will he/she
repeat him/herself?
Give an idea of his/her faults
in the scene.
Set the mood. Is the day
dark and gloomy? The
character is seeing shadows,
argues easily?
The back-ground information
given should be what's
necessary. Select carefully
the information shared.
Conflict dissolves confusion
into the scene. In other
words, suspense is sprinkled
into the mix through a problem.
Suspense keeps the reader
wanting to know what happens
next.
I suggest that you work
with the first person
view-point, I.
This particular view-point
character isn't in every
scene, and readers find out
information through
that character.
Still, the first person
view-point is easy to
work with.
Now, it's good practice
to read the work of
your favorite authors.
Read works of authors
in general.
Take note of how they
write scenes. How are
the scenes started?
The middle? Ending?
Re-write the scenes
from your imagination.
Are you happy with
the scenes? The
more you practice,
the better you'll
become at writing
scenes.
Did your scenes resemble
the original?
If no, well done.
The scenes should be from
your imagination, thinking.
If yes, try writing from a
different angle. Always
look at ideas upside down
and inside out.
A suggestion is to write
a scene with everything
you want to put in it. Go
back to slice-away
useless words, and words
weighing down the story-
line.
The result is your scene.
with me? Leave me your opinion.
A scene has a beginning, middle,
and an ending. It moves the
story along. The scene has
a purpose. A scene flows
smoothly.
A scene is a few paragraphs,
five pages, or twenty pages.
It depends on you.
Any word not doing its job
is deleted. Bloated, meaningless,
words take-up space, and slow
the story-line down.
The scene informs the
reader, shows the conflict
a character is having.
A character's conflict is
between nature, or against
man.
A character fighting a wild-fire
is an example of man against
nature.
Neighbors on different issues
involving politics represents
man against man.
The initial scene introduces
characters, sets a mood,
back-ground information
can be given, suspense
is stirred in, and the
reader meets the view-point
character.
The scene acquaints the
reader with the character.
Don't give too much information
at one time, or discuss many
characters in a scene.
The first scene's focus is to
present the main character.
Perhaps, you'd like readers
to know how the main character
handles problems, the issue
at hand.
Is the character aggressive?
He/she likes his/her fists to
meet mouths, teeth? Or,
he/she starts confusion, and
disappears. Will he/she
repeat him/herself?
Give an idea of his/her faults
in the scene.
Set the mood. Is the day
dark and gloomy? The
character is seeing shadows,
argues easily?
The back-ground information
given should be what's
necessary. Select carefully
the information shared.
Conflict dissolves confusion
into the scene. In other
words, suspense is sprinkled
into the mix through a problem.
Suspense keeps the reader
wanting to know what happens
next.
I suggest that you work
with the first person
view-point, I.
This particular view-point
character isn't in every
scene, and readers find out
information through
that character.
Still, the first person
view-point is easy to
work with.
Now, it's good practice
to read the work of
your favorite authors.
Read works of authors
in general.
Take note of how they
write scenes. How are
the scenes started?
The middle? Ending?
Re-write the scenes
from your imagination.
Are you happy with
the scenes? The
more you practice,
the better you'll
become at writing
scenes.
Did your scenes resemble
the original?
If no, well done.
The scenes should be from
your imagination, thinking.
If yes, try writing from a
different angle. Always
look at ideas upside down
and inside out.
A suggestion is to write
a scene with everything
you want to put in it. Go
back to slice-away
useless words, and words
weighing down the story-
line.
The result is your scene.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Titles: An Alternative
Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.
"I'm still not sure how to
title my work." You said.
Let's look at an alternative
method of picking a title.
Slowly read through your
work. Write down the
words that are mentioned
frequently.
Make lists. Select the words
that are attention grabbing,
and creative.
Search engines like Google,
Yahoo, and MSN sift through
their databases looking for
pages that satisfy the words
submitted to them.
Key-words make excellent
titles.
Key-words are typed in a
search engine when someone
is looking for something.
"How to figure out what key-
words to use?" You pondered.
Determine what words best
describe your work. Or, what
words will people type in a
search engine. Think of anything,
everything, people would type in
the search engine about your topic.
Prepare a list of key-words that
pertain to your article.
The best words describing your
work is selected as a title. Also,
the words in the title are sprinkled
throughout the piece.
Take a look at the excerpt.
Critique and Write: How?
Read through your story, essay,
article, poem, or draft. Do it once.
Put your work aside.
You need a mental break from
your work. Talk to friends. Start
a new project, treat yourself, or
join a writer's forum.
On day two, read it out-loud. You're
checking for mis-statements, typos,
omissions, syntax errors, grammatical
slip-ups, and weak writing. Is the
correct phrases situated in your
writing? Take notice of run-on
sentences.
Reading out-loud allows you to hear
errors.
Subjects and verbs match?
Have you done this?
It just happen, and I didn't get
a chance to respond.
Correction
It just happened, and I didn't
get a chance to respond.
Use plenty of strong verbs.
Adjectives are used, but not
often.
Was the wrong word typed?
You meant to type here, but
hear was written. Or, pair was
intended, and pear graced your
page.
Glide through the editing process
slowly. Go through your work as
many times as needed.
The bigger the writing project, the
more times it needs critiquing.
Remember, easy to read text
appeals to a wider audience.
Write as if you're talking to an
acquaintance, friend, in non-fiction.
Provide easy to understand wording,
and be direct.
When non-fiction is read, questions
comes to mind. So, look for
possible questions as you critique.
Anticipate questions, and answer
them.
During the critiquing process, answer
questions from the reader's point-of-
view.
Or, answer commonly asked questions
about your work.
What would you ask? Is a point
confusing? Clear-up jumbled
information.
In fiction, grab, hold, the reader's
attention. Often, readers escape
into the story world, because it's
written well. Many times, people
identify with a character, dislike,
a character's best friend, know a
person similar to the villain, and/or
something in the story makes him/her
angry, happy.
The critiquing process is more
challenging than the writing. Still,
it's part of the writer's job.
It's, certainly, my least favorite
task.
Follow these easy, but effective,
steps to critiquing your work.
Source: http://www.printcasting.com/content/critique-and-write-how
What key-words would
you pick?
Possible key-words are:
how to critique, edit, write
better, step by step critique,
critique fast.
What did you come-up with?
Note: There's a tool to help with
checking for key-words. It's called
Google Adwords Keyword Tool:
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal.
with me? Leave me your opinion.
"I'm still not sure how to
title my work." You said.
Let's look at an alternative
method of picking a title.
Slowly read through your
work. Write down the
words that are mentioned
frequently.
Make lists. Select the words
that are attention grabbing,
and creative.
Search engines like Google,
Yahoo, and MSN sift through
their databases looking for
pages that satisfy the words
submitted to them.
Key-words make excellent
titles.
Key-words are typed in a
search engine when someone
is looking for something.
"How to figure out what key-
words to use?" You pondered.
Determine what words best
describe your work. Or, what
words will people type in a
search engine. Think of anything,
everything, people would type in
the search engine about your topic.
Prepare a list of key-words that
pertain to your article.
The best words describing your
work is selected as a title. Also,
the words in the title are sprinkled
throughout the piece.
Take a look at the excerpt.
Critique and Write: How?
Read through your story, essay,
article, poem, or draft. Do it once.
Put your work aside.
You need a mental break from
your work. Talk to friends. Start
a new project, treat yourself, or
join a writer's forum.
On day two, read it out-loud. You're
checking for mis-statements, typos,
omissions, syntax errors, grammatical
slip-ups, and weak writing. Is the
correct phrases situated in your
writing? Take notice of run-on
sentences.
Reading out-loud allows you to hear
errors.
Subjects and verbs match?
Have you done this?
It just happen, and I didn't get
a chance to respond.
Correction
It just happened, and I didn't
get a chance to respond.
Use plenty of strong verbs.
Adjectives are used, but not
often.
Was the wrong word typed?
You meant to type here, but
hear was written. Or, pair was
intended, and pear graced your
page.
Glide through the editing process
slowly. Go through your work as
many times as needed.
The bigger the writing project, the
more times it needs critiquing.
Remember, easy to read text
appeals to a wider audience.
Write as if you're talking to an
acquaintance, friend, in non-fiction.
Provide easy to understand wording,
and be direct.
When non-fiction is read, questions
comes to mind. So, look for
possible questions as you critique.
Anticipate questions, and answer
them.
During the critiquing process, answer
questions from the reader's point-of-
view.
Or, answer commonly asked questions
about your work.
What would you ask? Is a point
confusing? Clear-up jumbled
information.
In fiction, grab, hold, the reader's
attention. Often, readers escape
into the story world, because it's
written well. Many times, people
identify with a character, dislike,
a character's best friend, know a
person similar to the villain, and/or
something in the story makes him/her
angry, happy.
The critiquing process is more
challenging than the writing. Still,
it's part of the writer's job.
It's, certainly, my least favorite
task.
Follow these easy, but effective,
steps to critiquing your work.
Source: http://www.printcasting.com/content/critique-and-write-how
What key-words would
you pick?
Possible key-words are:
how to critique, edit, write
better, step by step critique,
critique fast.
What did you come-up with?
Note: There's a tool to help with
checking for key-words. It's called
Google Adwords Keyword Tool:
https://adwords.google.com/select/KeywordToolExternal.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Writing: It Picked You
Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.
Sometimes, in life, a
path picks you. You
want to pursue a different
goal, but find yourself
engulfed in writing.
You read a book. It was
last week.
"How did it get published?"
You pondered. "I could have
written it better."
You have the urge
to re-write it. It
plays over in your
mind.
Writing picked you.
You've read many
greeting cards, and
each one you complained
about.
Your creative ability
is ignited. You, actually,
wrote down greeting
card sentiments. People
compared your writing to
greeting cards purchased.
Everyone raved that your
writing of greetings outweighed
purchased cards.
Writing picked you.
A newspaper article
was poorly written, in
your opinion. It wasn't
one article you read,
but many.
You've read several
daily papers, and they
lacked something.
Writing picked you to
do a better job. Or,
it's your green-flag
to write articles.
You commented on
a second book.
"Why didn't the author
write it from another
view-point?" You
asked.
You find yourself
asking the same
questions.
This is how writing
picked you.
Was English a
favorite subject of
yours? Have you
always had a way
with words? People
have remarked on it,
but you decided
against writing.
Still, for one reason or
another, you're asked
to write the review, business
proposal, and/or greetings for
occasions.
Writing picked you.
However, you don't want
to write full-time. Continue
at your present job. Try
writing when it's convenient,
do-able.
It's a waste of time, energy,
to complain. Simply, start
writing.
"I'm not sure." You looked
at the door.
Some of you have a
head-start. You're
writing already. Take it
to the next level.
Work on a project.
Don't let anyone see
it. Some prefer it that
way. Or, let people
know what you're
doing.
The word-of-mouth
advertising brings
more business than
a paid ad.
Get the opinion of a trusted
friend. Show him or
her.
The point is to find
time to write. It
picked you.
"Still not sure writing
picked me." You
shared.
There is one way to
find out, and that is to
begin writing.
If it's not for you,
move on.
You will know if writing
is a fit. The passion for
writing burns from within,
and constantly calls your
name.
Start writing something
that excites your creativity,
and go from there. Or,
write the first word that
pops into your mind.
Connect the words into
fiction, or non-fiction. Shuffle
the words around, and add
more words. Write a new article
using the new version of words.
When writing picks you,
there's no choice but to
write.
with me? Leave me your opinion.
Sometimes, in life, a
path picks you. You
want to pursue a different
goal, but find yourself
engulfed in writing.
You read a book. It was
last week.
"How did it get published?"
You pondered. "I could have
written it better."
You have the urge
to re-write it. It
plays over in your
mind.
Writing picked you.
You've read many
greeting cards, and
each one you complained
about.
Your creative ability
is ignited. You, actually,
wrote down greeting
card sentiments. People
compared your writing to
greeting cards purchased.
Everyone raved that your
writing of greetings outweighed
purchased cards.
Writing picked you.
A newspaper article
was poorly written, in
your opinion. It wasn't
one article you read,
but many.
You've read several
daily papers, and they
lacked something.
Writing picked you to
do a better job. Or,
it's your green-flag
to write articles.
You commented on
a second book.
"Why didn't the author
write it from another
view-point?" You
asked.
You find yourself
asking the same
questions.
This is how writing
picked you.
Was English a
favorite subject of
yours? Have you
always had a way
with words? People
have remarked on it,
but you decided
against writing.
Still, for one reason or
another, you're asked
to write the review, business
proposal, and/or greetings for
occasions.
Writing picked you.
However, you don't want
to write full-time. Continue
at your present job. Try
writing when it's convenient,
do-able.
It's a waste of time, energy,
to complain. Simply, start
writing.
"I'm not sure." You looked
at the door.
Some of you have a
head-start. You're
writing already. Take it
to the next level.
Work on a project.
Don't let anyone see
it. Some prefer it that
way. Or, let people
know what you're
doing.
The word-of-mouth
advertising brings
more business than
a paid ad.
Get the opinion of a trusted
friend. Show him or
her.
The point is to find
time to write. It
picked you.
"Still not sure writing
picked me." You
shared.
There is one way to
find out, and that is to
begin writing.
If it's not for you,
move on.
You will know if writing
is a fit. The passion for
writing burns from within,
and constantly calls your
name.
Start writing something
that excites your creativity,
and go from there. Or,
write the first word that
pops into your mind.
Connect the words into
fiction, or non-fiction. Shuffle
the words around, and add
more words. Write a new article
using the new version of words.
When writing picks you,
there's no choice but to
write.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
AT&T Called Google A Violater
Have a question? Agree, disagree,
with me? Leave me your opinion.
AT&T wrote a letter, to the Federal
Communications Commission, explaining
that Google violated the fair
competition principle.
AT&T and other phone companies aren't
allowed to block any numbers. It's
known as the common carrier laws.
AT&T alleged Google's call blocking
is in direct violation.
According to Google, the principle
don't apply. They offer a software
application that's helped by other
companies, and it's free.
The Federal Communications Commission
doesn't have any say, jurisdiction,
over software applications.
AT&T and others have been in opposition
to Google. It's rumored that's why
Google Voice application for Apple
iPhone was turned-down.
Google wants an open Internet, and
more free bandwidth to broadcast TV
channels.
AT&T and other phone companies feel
differently.
Google and AT&T, both, have supporters,
lobbyists.
The Federal Communications Commission
hasn't given its opinion on the latest
issue, and there's no indication when
it will.
with me? Leave me your opinion.
AT&T wrote a letter, to the Federal
Communications Commission, explaining
that Google violated the fair
competition principle.
AT&T and other phone companies aren't
allowed to block any numbers. It's
known as the common carrier laws.
AT&T alleged Google's call blocking
is in direct violation.
According to Google, the principle
don't apply. They offer a software
application that's helped by other
companies, and it's free.
The Federal Communications Commission
doesn't have any say, jurisdiction,
over software applications.
AT&T and others have been in opposition
to Google. It's rumored that's why
Google Voice application for Apple
iPhone was turned-down.
Google wants an open Internet, and
more free bandwidth to broadcast TV
channels.
AT&T and other phone companies feel
differently.
Google and AT&T, both, have supporters,
lobbyists.
The Federal Communications Commission
hasn't given its opinion on the latest
issue, and there's no indication when
it will.
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