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Vivian Gilbert Zabel - EzineArticles.com Expert Author
After a career in the business world and then twenty-five years teaching, Vivian Gilbert Zabel retired to devote her time to writing. A wife for over forty-four years, a mother of three living children, a grandmother of ten, and a great-grandmother of two and another on the way, she uses family and life experiences in her writing.
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Vivian Gilbert Zabel Email Alerts
- The Joys or Headaches of Email Groups
[News-and-Society:Pure-Opinion] More and more organizations (organizations and loosely organized combinations of people) start on-line email groups (mailing lists), such as Yahoo Groups. The opportunity for people who share an interest, such as writing, to be in contact by email regularly, and with all members of the group at the same time, works well most of the time. Knowing important dates and activities helps members keep on track.
- Autumn and Winter in Verse
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Elegantly gowned trees shed their cloaks, Flooding the ground with a multi-hued quilt Which weaves a formless pattern, Smothering the carpet beneath. Crisp breezes tickle noses With haunting memories of smoldering leaves Beneath azure jeweled skies Teased by veils of misty clouds.
- Spring and Summer Imagery
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] The imagery of Spring and Summer can range from sunshine to storms. Smiles delight all around, brightening joy brought to a sometimes dreary, dismal world.
- Needed - Readers with Imagination
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Writing takes both authors and readers. Readers complete the partnership with their imagination.
- My Life in Poetry
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Life can form poetry since it contains all the components needed to write verse. I sit here nearly sixty-four, less than two weeks to go, And I count my blessings as they pass through my mind.
- Christmas Past
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] The first Christmas from the past was the first Christmas ever. The road to Bethlehem was hard and ended with no place to rest.
- Marching Down the Aisle at Christmas
[Relationships:Wedding] A Christmas wedding sounds romantic. Not only can a couple end the year together, hopefully forever, but the season itself means joy and celebration. A wedding during the holidays has certain benefits, but some problems can arise.
- Pets and Christmas
[Pets] Some pets become part of the family. They receive gifts and special treats and meals for Christmas or other holidays just as other members of the family do.
- Fiction - Story or Narrative?
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Some "literary" writers refuse to use conflict or plot in a "story." Without both, do they have a story or simply a narrative?
- Baby's First Christmas
[Home-and-Family:Holidays] How well I remember each of my children's first Christmases. Even when we couldn't afford to take many photographs, pictures are printed on my memory. What memories, and for whom, do baby's first Christmas create?
- Getting the Most From a Home Business
[Home-Based-Business] New tax laws benefit home businesses, even for writers. Tax filing time always comes, wanted or not. Home business owners need to have needed records saved and ready to use. But what type of records are needed for business tax returns or records?
- Making Characters Breathe
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Characters who live and breathe through a writer's words capture a reader's interest, and keep it. Believable, living characters make a story, novel, article live and breathe, too.
- Dark Assassin by Anne Perry
[Book-Reviews:Mysteries-Thrillers] Anne Perry's mysteries take the reader into the world of Victorian England. Dark Assassin
is the latest in her William Monk series. Monk, who was on the road to becoming Bow Street supervisor, not only solves mysteries, but also explores his own past in this series.
- Living With Inner Pain
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Pain can be physical, mental, or emotional. We have to learn how to live with all kinds.
- Betrayal and Pain
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Poetry can express emotion in a way no other words can. Betrayal brings pain and at times growth.
- Writing for the Holidays
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Writing about holidays shouldn't have too many details about the holiday, only those that add to characterization or move the plot forward. Writing any short story requires the same components: setting (usually woven into the story), plot, characters (with three dimensional characterization), dialogue, action, conflict, climax, and resolution.
- I Don't Want to Know
[Arts-and-Entertainment] "No!" The sound of my own voice yelling brought me out of the nightmare. I pushed the covers off and sat on the side of the bed.
- Making Stories Live
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Strong words and verbs can make stories live if the authors allows the reader to "see" the story. Every where a writer turns or reads, she runs into the phrase, "Show, don't tell." But what does "show" mean? To me, to show means to allow the story to live through words into the mind of the reader. Unless the story is alive in the reader's imagination, the author hasn't written as well as needed.
- Listen to the Drum
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] The drum of nationalism thrums through the years. Listen to the drum As it marks the pace of the Pilgrims As they land at Plymouth Rock, As it rolls the beat of their struggle With disease, with want, with death.
- Crazy-Woman Dance
[Home-and-Family] Although Indian Summer had extended its stay into November, by the week after Thanksgiving, winter decided to sweep into northwest Oklahoma. When an embarrassing event occurs, family members can help or hinder.
- From the Past
[Home-and-Family] When an elderly man visits his childhood home, memories are ruined by the destruction he finds. The true story of an elderly man, my husband, visiting his childhood home after several years:
- Come Home
[Home-and-Family:Death-Dying] The homeless, unwanted pup, a mongrel, appeared part wolf, part collie, part shepherd. The shy, sensitive, small-for-his-age boy loved that cast-off pup the moment she lay in his arms. The dog immediately trusted the lonely boy. Children also suffer grief and have to learn how to cope with death.
- Another Nightmare
[Home-and-Family:Death-Dying] The still quietness soothed my mind and body as I washed the last of the lunch dishes. Both boys napped, for once without a fuss. Sometimes one person's tragedy can help another endure hers, to discover that suicide isn't the answer.
- Romance Midst Tragedy
[Home-and-Family:Death-Dying] The dimly lit hospital halls echoed nothing but silence. My mother left over an hour earlier to go care for my other children, her grandchildren. Death of a child can bring a couple closer, if they love each other enough.
- The Day After Thanksgiving
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] When families divide and become mixed, with different households expecting children to take part in festivities for holidays, ideas and plans change. Our two oldest grandchildren, both beautiful girls, had to be with their father and his family on Thanksgiving Day, and with us the day after.
- Season of Sorrow
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] The Thanksgiving/Christmas season has always been a special time of the year for me, a time of family, being thankful, and giving. As a young child, I knew that I would see grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins that I might not see for months. My mother would make her famous potato salad and pumpkin pies if we were going to a relative's house for Thanksgiving.
- Love Poems
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Love and romance can be woven into poetry of love that lasts forever. Wrinkled hands, trembling and spotted with age, Hold letters yellowed and fragile, brittle and torn. Fingers touch the memories found on each page, Of the man who wrote the words now so worn.
- Poems to Remember Missing Children
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Poetry becomes therapy when a poet pours forth the sorrow left by missing grandchildren. Written for two of my grandchildren, taken by their father in November, 1996, never seen or heard from by us since.
- Why Oklahoma?
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] The Oklahoma centennial deserves special recognition for the state. Why Oklahoma? For the mountains in the southeast, Where they soar mantled with a wooden cloak.
- Hi, My Name is Fibro - Fibromyalgia
[Health-and-Fitness] A baffling disease speaks. Oh, the joy of watching her struggle through a very good day. True, she may call it a "bad" day, but she doesn't realize how hard I work to make those days special.
- Once Upon a Christmas Eve
[Home-and-Family:Holidays] Every family has at lease one tradition built around holidays, one which grandparents enjoy sharing. "Granny, why does Papa always give us new pajamas for Christmas?" Kurtis asked as he crawled into my lap.
- Comments About Genesis 2
[News-and-Society:Religion] Genesis chapter two gives relevant details of creation. Many Bible experts believe that the first three verses of the second chapter of Genesis grammatically and logically belong at the end of chapter one. Reading those verses with chapter one, we can see that these verses complete or finish chapter one.
- Writing for Children - Brief Workshop
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Many believe that writing for children would be easy. The opposite is true: Writing well for children is hard work.
- Comments About Genesis 1
[News-and-Society:Religion] The first chapter in Genesis gives us a summary of creation. The writer uses "day" as the period of time, something that people can relate to, understand. However, since "days" didn't exist as we know them until after the sun was created, many Biblical experts believe that the time periods weren't literally twenty-four hours. In fact, the sun was created during the fourth period of time, or fourth day.
- Finances 101
[Finance:Personal-Finance] People want basic economics and financial knowledge taught in high schools and colleges, required classes. How simple information, available if anyone wants to know it, should be required learning in school surprised me until I remembered from my teaching days that many students learn nothing at home.
- Wedding Memories - Professional or Amateur
[Relationships:Wedding] A romantic wedding needs tangible memories that will last the lifetime of the couple. Professional photographers make their living from recording the aspects of weddings. Some use film; other use digital; a few use a combination. The same is true of amateur photographers. Both types of "artists" ply their talents to create beautiful memories.
- Story or Plot Ideas
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Often writers don't know where or how to start. Each fiction item needs a story line or plot.
- Write Tight
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Time after time I've heard and read at various writing conference, workshops, and clinics, "Write tight, delete unnecessary words and phrases." Even though I thought I knew and practiced writing tight, I discovered I could do better after some of my work was critiqued as part of an online conference.
- Working Fact Into Fiction
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Most fiction writing has a touch or two of fact mixed in: Perhaps a real city, state, or locale is used; a real person/celebrity may be mentioned; facts about a family or from history may be woven into the work. However facts or non-fiction may become part of a work of fiction, the author must be sure his/her facts are correct.
- Critiquing Stories
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Being able to critique a story constructively also helps a person to write better. Knowing what to look for when reviewing or critiquing a story also helps a writer know what to have or not have in her own work.
- Turning Fiction into a Short Story
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Short stories are not condensed novels. They are a type of writing all their own.
- Keep the Kitty in the Cat
[Pets:Cats] Cats can stay younger longer with proper care and attention. Cats should stay young and happy, just as an adult needs to stay in shape and youthful. Several ways exist to help keep the kitten alive in the cat.
- Mystery Writing Tips Part 2
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Mix action, tension, misdirection, and dialogue with a well-written story, strong and believable characters, using only techniques that work for you, and a strong plot, and the result is a strong mystery.
- Book Review - Al-the-Gator and Freddy Frog
[Book-Reviews:Childrens-Books] Can natural enemies overcome their emnity? A brightly illustrated children's book answers the question.
- Romantic Touches for Weddings
[Relationships:Wedding] Romantic touches for weddings don't take a fortune, but romantic ideas and suggestions. To add romance to a wedding doesn't require a fortune, an elaborate sit-down dinner for the reception, or bankruptcy for parents or couple.
- To Self-Publish or Not to Self-Publish - Thoughts About Self-Publishing
[Writing-and-Speaking:Publishing] Out of curiosity, I hosted a survey about self-publishing on a writing site. Many people have self-published their books, others have considered self-publishing, and some would never consider self-publishing.
- Four Tips For Writing Mysteries
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Well-written, attention catching mysteries take certain components to be successful. Four of many give writers a start.
- Facing Honesty Honestly
[Self-Improvement:Motivation] Life with kindly honesty makes for a more comfortable life. Let's first look at what some say about honesty...
- Virtue Is the Basis of Morality
[News-and-Society:Religion] Following rules and living with principles are two different things. Virtue is needed to have morality.
- Living Life Fully
[Self-Improvement:Spirituality] One reason I believe what I do is that my belief tells me to live and to live fully. I could list numerous scriptures in the old and new testaments that talk about living, but I'm not going to do that.
- Wedding Locations to Match Different Tastes
[Relationships:Wedding] Every bride and groom have their own ideas for the ideal wedding location. Sometimes the place is selected based on weather constraints; some, on tradition, others, on romantic ideas. Whatever the reason for the choice, every bride wishes for a beautiful wedding which leaves behind lovely memories.
- Common Errors in Short Stories
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Some common errors can keep a short story from being publishable. If we are going to treat our writing seriously, then we have to be serious about improving how and what we write.
- Start With a Bang
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] If the first two to three paragraphs don't grab the reader's attention, then the rest of the book, article, or story are wasted.
- Benefits of Entering Contests Part II
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] By the end of January, 2007, fifteen (15) large manila envelopes carried contest entries to the OWFI writing contest. Each year, the Oklahoma Writers' Federation Inc. holds a conference the first part of May, and each year the organization sponsors a huge contest of 33 categories, open to people all over the world. I entered 15 of the categories.
- Testing The Writing Waters With Contests
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Many people have file drawers filled with short stories, but those writers are afraid to submit them to a publication. Here's a suggestion - Why not submit those best stories to contests for feedback before submitting them to magazines or anthologies?
- Babies and Pets
[Home-and-Family:Babies-Toddler] When my daughter, my first-born, was six weeks old, we brought home a German shepherd puppy, Pepper. The puppy was black trimmed in silver, and she and my baby fell in love with each other immediately.
- Writing Tips for Teen Writing
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] First, we need to recognize that "teens" covers a large range of ages and maturity. We have the "tweens," also called juvenile, which incorporates the early years, ages approximately twelve through perhaps fourteen to fifteen. Young adult covers the ages from about fourteen, those more mature, to age nineteen and twenty.
- How Do I Love You
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Writing about love and romance takes balance and more than rose-colored glasses. Over a century and a half ago, Elizabeth Barrett Browning penned:
- I Do - Wedding Glimpses
[Relationships:Wedding] Observing wedding details can add to the lasting enjoyment of the occasion, through writing or memories. My granddaughter re-married, after over five years of being single, the first of the month.
- How to Write for Children
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] When writing for children, fourteen tips will help the end product be strong writing. Many ideas about writing for children are false. Let's approach the perspective of false ideas (not-to-dos) that keep circulating. Here are fourteen not-to-dos with suggestions for what-to-do.
- Writing Tips for Children's Picture Books
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Children's picture books are not easy to write, no matter what many people think, but a few ideas may help an author be successful. Although some advice for authors of children's stories and books may seem contradictory, the basics are rather unchanged and stable.
- Using Story Boards
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Using a modified story board idea helps an author organize his work. The conference I attended the first of May gave me several topics to use for my newsletters. One session explained the use of story boards to keep plots, sub-plots, and characters consistent and organized. In the May issue of The Writer, T.J. MacGregor covers using story boards to keep a multiple-POV novel on track.
- Writing Conferences Ho
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] How does a writer break through the slush piles (which I think should be called sludge piles, since agents and publishers complain that all those manuscripts, proposals, and queries clog up their offices)?
- Publishing Woes - Tips and Thoughts
[Writing-and-Speaking:Publishing] Most writers want to be published, but what are the obsticles, what can an author do to increase his odds? Did you realize that six (6) major publishing companies, which in turn are owned by giant media conglomerates, have hundreds of imprints (sub-publishing entities) under them?
- Action in Children's Books
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Writing for children is not easy, not if done correctly, but using action can add to the betterment of stories.
- Make Sports Dramatic
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Drama is needed in sports writing. Without drama, the action is boring.
- Action or Inaction Equals Adventure
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Adventure can include physical or non-physical action, but action must be included. When we're writing about adventure (which according to the dictionary means an exciting or remarkable experience), we have to include some action of some kind.
- Batter Up
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Writing about sports must include action. My grandsons' baseball teams started games in April. Of course Granny and PaPa had to be at every game possible.
- Forgiveness and the Law
[News-and-Society:Crime] Forgiving criminals and asking that they not face the consequences of their crimes are two different concepts and parts of the same crime. Newspaper headlines cried, "Protesters demand forgiveness for killer."
- Women's Fiction vs Romance
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Women's fiction as a genre is coming into its own, even though it is often compared with romance.
- Drama In Writing
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Strong emotion that leaves a lasting impression is required in writing drama.
- Writing Tips For Any Genre
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] What is required to create a writer? Hard work and actually writing is necessary.
- Children in Weddings
[Relationships:Wedding] Children can add a delightful flavor to weddings, if precautions are taken.
The youngsters leave everyone in awe, sometimes taking attention away from the couple marrying – especially if one or both start crying, throwing a temper tantrum, or becoming bored during the ceremony. However, with some pre-planning, children can become a positive and delightful part of a wedding.
- The Need for Poetry
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] What purpose or need is there for poetry in this world of ours? Poetry meets some most basic needs.
- Suffering Kitty Cats
[Pets:Cats] A common problem for cats can be prevented and treated, stopping suffering of felines.
- Pain, Agony, and Misery
[Health-and-Fitness:Pain-Management] Living with constant pain is difficult, but a few ways will help one endure.
- Writing for Teens - a Trip into Imagination
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Writing for teens takes a large portion of imagination.
Writing for teens is different than writing for children or adults – what a minute! That statement is not true. Except for possible topics and making sure the reading level is correct, good writing is good writing. No reader likes bad writing. The difference is teenagers will tell you when they find something boring, loudly.
- How to Format a Manuscript
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing-Articles] Often "writers" won't submit material because they are afraid they will do somthing wrong when formatting their manuscript. Most publishers provide guidelines, but if they don't, or if the guidelines aren't specific enough, a few suggestions might help
- Lights! Camera! Action! (Showing action in writing)
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Long narrative portions in a story or novel bore readers. Using action scenes allows readers to "participate" and better enjoy what they read.
- Writing Book Reviews - Fiction
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Book reviews are in demand, but how does one write a good review?
- Too Much Detail Stops the Flow
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Too often authors include too much information bunched together into paragraphs that readers skip. They have too much detail that should be eliminated or woven into the story.
- Show - Don't Tell: Not Show and Tell
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] The phrase "Show, don't tell" is bantered around writing circles, but what does it mean?
- Writing that (Almost) Perfect Poem Using Imagery
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Imagery is the ingredient that makes poetry live and breath. The stokes create a word picture that leaves an impact on readers.
- Expert Writing Tips
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Writers often need a list of "to do's" as reminders.
The following writing tips have become mine through study and usage, but they are based on techniques advocated by English textbooks, creative writing books, composition books, and various published authors and other experts in the field of writing
- Writing Groups Aid and Abet
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Writers need support and suggestions to help them improve their work. Writing groups help fill that need.
- And Baby Makes - Trouble in Paradise
[Home-and-Family:Babies-Toddler] A new baby often shatters the peace a couple once knew. However, there are ways to keep a relationship loving and close, even with a baby.
- What is Love?
[Relationships:Love] Couples fall in love, out of love, and in love with someone else. Commitment is missing, but perhaps it's because we don't know what love really is.
- Wedding Memories
[Relationships:Wedding] How can wedding memories be used?
- Wedding Dresses
[Relationships:Wedding] As machine made materials resulted in less expensive cloth, wedding dresses have changed, and fads and fashion kept pace.
- What Size Is That?
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Often people wonder how long a writing should be to be considered a short story, a novellete, a novella, a novel. Answers vary, but at least we can have an idea.
- Alternatives to Major Publishers
[Writing-and-Speaking:Book-Marketing] Alternatives exist for publishing a book other than the few major publishing corporations. The first step to marketing, namely publishing, is possible.
- Peace in the Workplace
[Business:Workplace-Communication] Some problems, which bring a feeling of battle, at work can be solved and peace returned.
- Is the Customer Always Right?
[Business:Customer-Service] When is a customer right and when is he not? What does a business or employee owe a client?
- Leaving Pets Alone for Long Periods
[Pets] At times, a pet must be left behind as the owner travels or works. Care should be taken that the pet is safe and secure with supervision.
- A Few Ideas About Choosing A Pet
[Pets] Choosing a pet depends on more than what a prospective owner likes.
- Weddings Bring Memories, or Bankruptcy?
[Relationships:Wedding] The memories of a wedding should be in the minds, photos, and stories, not in a pile of debt remaining.
- Some General Wedding Choices
[Relationships:Wedding] Many choices must be made before a wedding. A few are often overlooked, but are necessary.
- Caring For Baby: Daycare, Home Care, Parent Care, Family Care
[Home-and-Family:Babies-Toddler] When mother has to return to work, where does baby go?
- Beginning the Beginnings: How to Start Writing
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Sometimes the hardest thing to write are those first words, sentences, lines. However, some suggestions might help face that blank paper or computer screen.
- What's in a Name? Your Baby's Future
[Home-and-Family:Babies-Toddler] What parents name a baby will effect the child the rest of his/her life.
- Writing through Troublesome Times
[Writing-and-Speaking] Writing becomes the means of coping with trauma and emotional distress, therapy for the writer.
- First Step in Becoming an Excellent Supervisor: Self-management
[Business:Management] Managers or supervisors need certain skills and knowledge such as how to delegate, communicate, hire, resolve conflict, and work with difficult people. However the first step for people to become excellent supervisors involves their managing themselves.
- Pets Do What?
[Pets] Some people make their pets part of the family. Others dislike all creatures except human ones. Authors who write about animals need to make them interesting so that both groups will enjoy the work.
- Who's Tense? Oh, Verb Tense
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Switching verb tenses in a work of writing results in lack of consistency and coherency.
- Wedding Details: How Much to Use and When
[Relationships:Wedding] Detailed information concerning a wedding has a time and place.
- Point of View: Whose Point of View?
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Many people confuse point of view in writing with something else. POV is connected directly to the narrator of a story, the "someone" telling the story.
- Working from Home: Set Parameters
[Home-Based-Business] Working from home may be a choice or a necessity. Either way, a home job requires parameters to work.
- Publishing Myths: True or False? Five to Start
[Writing-and-Speaking:Publishing] Myths often cause writers from taking the next step toward publishing. Examining some of the myths may give courage to authors.
- Avoiding Publishing and Agent Scams
[Writing-and-Speaking:Publishing] Many writers end up with nothing to show but expenses, once they finish a book, because they trusted the wrong person or company. They paid up-front for inflated services and promises never kept.
- A Well-Written Cover Letter - Necessary Aid in Writing Business
[Business:Resumes-Cover-Letters] A cover letter gains or loses the attention of an editor or agent. A well-written letter promotes an author's business of writing.
- Write the Right Word - The Correct Word Matters
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] One glance at the following sentence causes a reader to pause and wonder what is wrong since some words don't seem to "fit": The peasant trotted into his bungalow, his shoulders dipped from languor and cold. Good writers find ways of tightening and strengthening their work by using appropriate, specific words. They create concrete images as they avoid general, overused, "cringe," and/or incorrect words, whether in stories, articles, business letters, policy manuals, or speeches.
- Read Baby a Story, Sing a Song
[Home-and-Family:Babies-Toddler] Parents can avoid delayed language skills in their children by reading to children from the time they are infants. Reading and singing to children develops thinking, language, and reading skills.
- Prose: an Overview Analysis of Narration
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Narration is a form of prose used when a story is related. A narrative essay is a fact-filled account of something which happened.
- Prose: an Overview Analysis of Exposition
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Many are confusion about what prose really is and how to use it. Exposition is one type of prose.
- Create Emotion, Not Sentimentality, in Fiction
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] To allow a reader to experience emotion in fiction, the author must "show" the emotion. Sentimentality only skims the surface without revealing the depths needed for understanding.
- Plot: A Main Ingredient for a Well Made Story
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] A "story" without a plot is like light bread with yeast - flat.
- To Read Or Not To Read About Writing, That Is The Question
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Books, essays, and articles abound about writing: how to write, why to write, how not to do either. However, are they worthwhile?
- Make Words Live with Vivid Modifiers
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Yes, adjectives, adverbs, and preposition should be used in writing if they are specific and vivid, not abstract or vague.
- Put Modifiers Where They Belong and "Undangle" Them
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Modifiers that are misplaced cause confusion for readers, and dangling modifiers often lead to inadvertent humor.
- Subjects and Verbs Stop Fighting: Subject-Verb Agreement
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] A few guidelines to keep at hand with examples will help writers keep subjects and verbs in agreement.
- Believers, What Kind of Fruit Do You Produce?
[News-and-Society:Religion] Christians should be recognized by the way they live, the "fruit" they produce.
- Developing Characters That Live through Dialogue and Action
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] A major part of writing good stories and novels is having characters that live and breathe.
- Are Pets Intelligent Enough to Understand Us?
[Pets] Many people believe that animals reacts from instinct only, but do they? Pets I have known were intelligent and understood.
- How to Avoid a Wedding of Errors
[Relationships:Wedding] A wedding can create a memory of happiness and joy or one of horror and errors.
- Book That Appearance or Signing
[Writing-and-Speaking:Book-Marketing] Once an author finished that manuscript, submitted it to a publisher, who accepted it and printed it, the proud writer holds it tenderly. The work, however, is not over: The author can't sit back and watch the royalties accumulate. He or she needs to publicize the book many ways: one way is through signings.
- Flashback the Flashbacks
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Flashbacks in short stories can hinder the flow and focus, but if used correctly, can work.
- Beware the Attack Cat
[Pets:Cats] Cats can have behavior glitches that make them unique, even an attack cat.
- Make Writing a Business
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Writing, if done in a professional manner, becomes a business.
- Leashing a Cat
[Pets:Cats] A cat can be trained to be on a leash, if a person is willing to give the time and effort.
- Promote That Book
[Writing-and-Speaking:Book-Marketing] Writing, whether full-time or part-time, is a business. One part of the business of writing is promotion of novels and non-fiction books, because without sales, there are no sales, no income. Marketing one's book is as important as writing it.
- Morocco: Marriage of Old and New
[Travel-and-Leisure] Exotic Morocco gives a visitor a taste of ancient times and modern. The contrast adds to its interesting allure.
- Maine in Winter
[Travel-and-Leisure] In winter, Maine presents a Christmas-card beauty, giving those who like cold and snow an ideal vacation spot.
- Guam:Island Paradise
[Travel-and-Leisure] Want to find a tropical vacation spot? Visit Guam, a paradise in the South Pacific.
- Glimpses of History
[Travel-and-Leisure] A trip to the Washington D.C. and parts of Virginia means returning to the past. Take a glimpse into a slice of history.
- Check Those Feet
[Health-and-Fitness:Diabetes] Too many diabetics don't check their feet, even though told numerous times. One example may illustrate the need.
- Writing for Children
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] When writing for children, an author needs to address the special needs of children, including the point of view of a child. Children deserve the best a writer can give.
- Where Is God When Trouble Hits?
[News-and-Society:Religion] When trouble and tribulations stike, people ask, "Where's God?" So, where is God?
- I'm Okay
[Health-and-Fitness] Dealing with chronic illness is difficult for healthy people to understand. Suffers are expected to just say, "I'm okay." However, maybe others need to understand.
- A Full Life
[Self-Improvement:Inspirational] Life can be lived to the fullest even with multiple problems.
- Avoid the Truth about the Author
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Authors can tell more about themselves than about the hero of their story, if they aren't careful. Enjoy a few tips to avoid that mistake.
- Where's the Emotion?
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Making the emotions of a character real, believable means the writer must first feel then put those feelings into words.
- Numbers, Numbers, and More Numbers
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Writing numbers in items can be confusing and at times non-professional. Following a few guidelines can result in a professional appearance.
- He Said, She Said, Who Said
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Dialogue is an important part of writing, if used correctly. Dialogue not only adds interest to a story, but also reveals much about the characters and moves the action or plot.
- Let's Keep It Real
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Often when we read male-lit, rather than chick-lit, we find men with flabby muscles and big bellies attracting young nymphs. We need to learn to write well enough that we can make our stories believable.
- I Beg Your Pardon
[Business:Customer-Service] Business etiquette requires that employees care for the clients or customers of a company or store. When good customer service is lacking, soon the business is gone, too.
- Suspense in Writing
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Mystery, action/adventure, crime, and detective stories require components which build, add, and/or continue the suspense needed to keep the reader's attention.
- Making Heros and Heroines Real
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] If a writer follows certain criteria and ideas, heros can live in the pages of a story or novel.
- Free Verse
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Free verse may not have a rhyme or rhythm scheme or pattern, but it still has its own flow and poetic imagery.
- Emotion in Poetry: Analogy
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Analogy can enhance poetry by giving another tool for the poet to use to create imagery and aid emotion.
- Emotion in Poetry: Oxymoron
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Oxymoron can add to the emotional effect of poetry and create imagery.
- Using Alliteration to Enhance Emotion in Poetry
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Poetry cries for emotion, whether it is supposed to make the reader whether to weep tears of sorrow or laughter. One way to enhance that emotion is to use alliteration.
- Emotion in Poetry: Using Metaphor and Simile
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] One way to help the emotion in poetry is to use metaphor and/or simile. Imagery and emotion are a necessary part of poetry.
- Emotion in Poetry: Personification
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] One poetic device that can add much emotion to poetry is personification. Giving non-human things emotions reserved for people creates a greater sense of emotion.
- Allusion in Poetry
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] A touch of allusion in poetry allows the writer to create a full mental picture with a name or incident from history or literature. That use allusion can also help create emotion in the mind of the reader.
- Helpful Hints for Writing Short Stories
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] Sometimes writers forget what is needed to write a true short story. A few hints help make the job easier.
- Revise, Revise, Revise
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] As advice for the writer, “Don’t do any revising or editing until you have finished writing the whole story or book” isn't aways the best to follow. Revising as one goes avoids some pitfalls.
- First Step in Publishing Short Stories - Reading
[Writing-and-Speaking:Publishing] Writers often want to be published, but they don't know where to start. To publish short stories, the first step to read many well-written stories.
- Stumbling over Sentence Fragments
[Writing-and-Speaking:Writing] When senteces aren't sentences but fragments, a story or article becomes confusing. Learning how to create solid sentences keeps writing from being fragmented.
- To Comma or Not to Comma
[Writing-and-Speaking] Comma seem to reproduce radomly or hide when needed in writing at times. A few tips help authors know when and where to comma.
- Poetic Devices in Poetry
[Arts-and-Entertainment:Poetry] Many times writers are told their poetry lacks poetic language or imagery. Using poetic devices helps develop both.
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