Tell a Better Story 3 Tricks that Arent Tricks at All

Tell a Better Story 3 Tricks that Arent Tricks at All As far as I can tell, there are no magical writing secrets. There is no magic wand, no set of tricks, no way to flip a switch to instantly create better stories with your keyboard. There are, however, ways to hone your focus: that is, there are ways to write better, more interesting stories that will captivate an audience. The three things I look for in my own storiesâ€"whether fiction or nonfiction, essay or short story, novel or scribbling on the bathroom wallâ€"are Urgency. The first sentence has one job: make the reader want to read the second. Hence, the second sentence must make the reader want to read the third. So forth and so on. If a sentence doesnt fuel a storys urgency, it must be cut. Details. God is in the details. But so is the devil. Details, even minute ones, are incredibly important; they give your story life. Ergo, its important to know which details matter and which details are junk. Superfluous details slow down an otherwise interesting story. So whats a would-be storyteller to do? Cut a detail to see if it takes away from the story or makes it better or more urgent. Fun or funny. Every good story is either fun or funny (or both). Said another way, a story is fun when it is engaging, when it has a payoff, when it makes you think differently. Its funny if it  elicits  emotion, if you laugh, smile, or cry. A good story must make you feel something. Thus,  I always ask myself this question: does this story feel alive to me? If it does, then Im doing my job correctly. If not, then I need to go back to the top. For more free writing tips, follow my How to Write Better tips on Facebook and Twitter. Also, if you’re interested in taking a deeper dive, I teach an online writing class called How to Write Better. During my tenure, I’ve taught hundreds of students how to improve their writing (testimonials). Subscribe to The Minimalists via email.

Describe Television Stations in the Contemporary Society - 550 Words

Describe Television Stations in the Contemporary Society (Essay Sample) Content: NameProfessorCourseDateTelevision stations in the Contemporary SocietyTelevision stations are one of the most important inventions of the 21st century. Almost everyone in Africa watches a favorite Television station at home today. Be it educational or entertainment. Life would be so boring without a Television nowadays.First and foremost, thanks to the Vernacular Television stations, we have first hand information in our local languages at our finger tips today. We are constantly informed about what is happening around the world without leaving our homes or even switching to foreign stations. Furthermore, Television has made learning at home possible. In fact, some Television stations dedicate their programmes to specific interests. With services providers Zuku and DSTV, one can watch hundreds of educative channels including documentaries (Campante and Daniel). Campante and Daniel sates that channels such as Discovery, NatGeo, Animalia among others reveal to us more a bout nature, thus expanding our world of thought. Nevertheless, when it comes to sports, fans can watch their favorite teams at home or at social joints. Moreover, Zuku and DSTV provide a wide variety of sports that one can watch for leisure. The some channels provide training programmes such as martial arts, which maybe be utilised for individual training (79-85). A further advantage is that old people living alone find Television a very good company at home. By tuning to the station they like most, or switching from one station to another, they get rid of their loneliness. On the same note, keeping the aged busy hinders them from psychological ailments such as stress, depression and high blood pressure, which emanate from excessive thinking in lonely environments (Bursztyn, Leonardo, and Davide Cantoni 26). We cannot forget to mention that Vernacular Television stations inculcate and save guard our cultures; by appreciating the use of vernacular languages. In addition, the use of our native languages encourages people to know their mother tongue hence protecting their natural heritage. Global companies also rely on Television stations in advertising their products. Through the invention of Television stations, entrepreneurs find it easy to monitor global market trends at the comfort of their houses. Television stations are also sources of income. Citizens are employed in the Television stations at different capacities, ranging from semi-skilled laborers to skilled laborers such as managers and technicians (Bursztyn et al 28). On the other hand, too much television can create problems in the family; through constant arguments of which channel to watch hence isolating part of the family members. When one is watching the Television, he or she does not feel like talking or being disturbed since they are so absorbed in what they are watching. This self-absorption brings in the issue of couch potato. Watching Television is also addictive hence may turn to be a cau se of irrespo...

The Use of Lightning, Music, and Mini-scenes in Williams Play A Streetcar Named Desire - Free Essay Example

Writing a Review with ThePensters Excellent Service, Original Writing, Individual Approach

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The Biltmore Estate The Largest Home in America Essay

The Biltmore Estate is located in Asheville, North Carolina. It is the largest privately owned home in the United States. It was privately owned by George Washington Vanderbilt and his family. The house was designed by Richard Morris Hunt. Frederick Law Olmsted designed the landscape. The Biltmore Estate had a major role in the development of the creative architecture of the era and is well known for being Americas largest home. The Biltmore Estate was built from 1889 and 1895. It cost about $10,000,000 to build. The Biltmore Estate was built on 125,000 acres of land. It had a total of 250 rooms. Included in these rooms is a swimming pool and a bowling alley. In the Biltmore Estate, there are 35 bedrooms, 43 bathrooms, and 65†¦show more content†¦After Hunt died in July 31, 1895, his son continued his work on the Biltmore Estate, even though it was essentially finished. The center of the Biltmore Village was the All Souls Episcopal Cathedral. This was one of Hunt’s favorite, but least known works. Today, full-height portraits of Richard Morris Hunt and Frederick Law Olmsted, the great designers, hang in the Biltmore. The Biltmore Estate had a major role in the development of the creative architecture of the era. The Biltmore had features and materials that were new and of the best quality of the time period. Some of the things in the house that were unique at the time were electric lighting, telephones, and an elevator. The stone used in the construction of the Biltmore was very popular and expensive at the time. It was mined in Indiana. Since the Biltmore included such new amenities, the house was considered a luxury. Since it is one of the largest privately owned house in the U.S., it attracts a lot of tourists. About one million tourist visit this house each year. Before a railroad was built near the city in 1880, Asheville was relatively quiet . After the railroad was built, tourists began visiting the city. Of these tourist was George Washington Vanderbilt. He was visiting the city with his mother to find aid for her chronic malaria. At that time, Asheville was known to have a â€Å"healing environment† due to its altitude and climate. Though Vanderbilt’s original sketchShow MoreRelatedBiltmore944 Words   |  4 PagesThe Biltmore Estate represents the finest architecture, construction, and materials available in the late nineteenth century. The famous house was built by George Vanderbilt, grandson of Corneluis Vanderbilt. George inherited money from Cornelius, a pioneer in the railroad industry (Hudson et al. 113). Cornelius Vanderbilt gained much of his wealth and prominence through hard work in the railroad and shipping industries (Cohen n. pag). BY the time he died, his railroad company he owned was

Mandating a Graduation Test to Stop Students from Slipping...

Throughout America the high school graduation rate is on the rise. This is great but are students actually learning what is important or are they slipping by. According to Daniel Kortez, a Harvard Professor, this might be the case. That is why we need to mandate a graduation test in North Dakota. What is the purpose of having the next generation graduate from high school but not have adequate knowledge to continue into the real world and in further education? The North Dakota Department of Public Instructions needs to mandate a standardized test which students must pass to demonstrate whether students are prepared for the real world, provide accurate comparison between sub groups, and show whether or not the current curriculum is†¦show more content†¦According to Education.com, sub groups can provide the school with data about ethnicity, special needs and socioeconomic status (Standardized). This provides schools with data about how to better enhance their students’ education and create programs that would be useful to students. Similarly, this graduation final will also give a superb evaluation of the current courses. The final reason that we need to commision a graduation test is to make sure that the schools and curriculum are properly teaching students.When I was in fifth grade I learned very little. At the time I thought that it was pretty cool but the following year my grammar skill were insufficient. That is why we need to mandate a graduation test. It would show if the students are accurately learning in the curriculum. Daniel Kortez a Harvard professor agrees. He thinks that graduation tests give us an accurate way of finding out what students actually know (Usable). Standardized tests also hold schools and faculty accountable for students knowledge. The scores of these types of test become public after a certain time. This would then show the public if the current curriculum is up to the task of effectively teaching students. This can lead to the loss of a job and maybe even the take over of a school to make sure that the students are learning properly (Standardized). People who oppose t he graduation test would say that teachers would then teach to the test. To prevent this the school

Over Abundance and Waste Free Essays

Over Abundance Imagine saving everything; from pieces of string, tin foil, and old clothing. Fifty years ago not much was being thrown away. In addition, almost everything had a considerably longer life span. We will write a custom essay sample on Over Abundance and Waste or any similar topic only for you Order Now According to Joshua Becker he states from his blog â€Å"from the moment we are born, we are told to pursue more†. Today, our lives are inundated with advertisements on television, radio, newspaper, magazine, billboard, and websites  that encourage us that more is better. As a result, we toil for long hours so that we can buy the biggest homes and fanciest cars, wear the trendiest fashions, and use the coolest technologies. What led us to this place of having and wanting so much stuff; stuff that we literally do not know what to do with or where to put when we are done with it? What we buy, what we use, what we keep and throw away make up the fabric of our daily lives. A sea of stuff flows in and out with such speed we hardly realize the global impact attached to each and every item we buy. â€Å"The process of becoming obsolete; falling into disuse or becoming out of date is also called obsolescence. (Rogers) Compared to fifty years ago our society is better known as a throwaway society; in essence we are never satisfied with what we have and always want more. Craving the latest trends and newest gadgets coming out every season, many people tend to just toss out the old items and purchase new. Common examples of this reckless and selfish behavior include: electronic devices (cell phones, I Pods and computers), clothing (newest fashion trends) and small appliances. In our collective society many people want more of what is new rather than repairing the item. The current generation of people (Generation Y) is described by the www. freedictionary. com as â€Å"members of the generation of people born since the early 1980s that are seen as being discerning consumers with a high disposable income has more time and money than any other. † A combination of new technology and the internet is partially responsible for this transformation. With the explosion of electronic access (free WiFi and smart phone technology) consumers today are exposed to persistent and persuasive advertisements. Instead of making an expensive product that will last a long time, businesses produce more affordable, disposable items. In addition, technological advances cause many people to discard products well before there useful lifespan has been achieved. For example; some electronic items such as portable DVD player ($50) have become so inexpensive that it is cheaper to replace them. Our society has been conditioned that time is money which busy people translate into paying for convenience over saving money. Conversely, complicated computerized equipment may be difficult or time consuming to repair and consumers may be less inclined to wait for a repair. Multimedia has programmed our generation to become a materialistic type society that focuses on the buildup of many new things over things that still work. â€Å"With only 5% of the global population the U. S. consumes 30% of the planets’ resources and creates approximately 30% of its waste. †(Rogers) Growth in America is being driven by a new sense of convenience and disposability. Paper plates, frozen foods, TV dinners, and aerosol cans are the way of the future, bringing a new convenience and ease to everyone’s life style. This drive thru mentality has filtered through our society and fueled our desire for more while reducing our level of patience and tolerance. â€Å"For example; we can live our lives without leaving our homes or automobiles using drive thru access for fast food, online education, pharmacies, dry cleaners and even banks. † (Rogers, 2) Today â€Å"to go† food comes in cheap, disposable single use packaging. Pre-packaged frozen and canned foods are increasingly popular, generating additional waste. Milk used to come in glass bottles that were recycled each morning when fresh milk was delivered. â€Å"Now, most beverages come in plastic bottles, of which less than a third is recycled. † (Rogers, 5)  These quick and easy products have been developed to suit our desire or instant gratification and convenience. Here are some simple and cost effective solutions that our society can implement to reduce our carbon footprint. Bring your own reusable bags when you go shopping. Buy things that can be reused over and over, like rechargeable batteries. Clean counters with a cloth towel instead of disposable paper towels. Create your own cleaning solutions using baking soda and bleach which are less harmful to our environment and cost effective. Ask whether your delivery person will recycle the plastic bags and rubber bands that newspapers come in. These are just a few simple ways to help make the earth a better place for our future. â€Å"More advanced technology being put on the market every six months our society has become a throwaway society. With technological advances and the desire to have the latest and greatest products who would want to pay almost the same price for something to be repaired when you can get it brand new? † (Rogers 2) Americans as a whole have become wasteful with material and place more importance on time and convenience. For our world to continue with plentiful resources we need to start making changes and change the way we live and use our precious natural resources more efficiently to have a better future. How to cite Over Abundance and Waste, Essay examples