Need Motivation Enter a Writing Contest

Need Motivation Enter a Writing Contest The most assiduous writer comes face to face with writers block occasionally. The hand tires of embellishing the 59th promotional copy for Kirks Paving and Tiling Solutions Ltd, the soul wearies of deconstructing the 16th time Joe Hero battles sundry demons. Creative juices dry up, creative muses leave the building, inspiration imitates a certain 1985 DeLorean and vanishes in a puff of smoke, leaving behind only the dusty smoldering ashes of a burned-out freelancer or novelist. So you seek a jump-start. Because you are a writer, and write you must. Disregard everything vague youve ever heard about writing competitions. Oh, tts just a lottery . . . mumble . . . Â  mumble . . . What? Dont let the fear of scams and swindlers hold you back. Not all contests are created the same. As long as youve done your homework Here are seven solid reasons why participating in a writing contest could be the smartest move you make for your freelance career this year: 1. That winning feeling . . . is such a confidence booster! The high you get when your work is acknowledged to be better than others is a kick like no other. Drugs couldnt do it justice. Its like orgasming on words. Reluctant to approach that high-profile agent with your debut manuscript? To hell with hesitation! Drunk on your contest success, you can achieve anything. 2. The tangible benefits . . . include cold hard cash, certificates, trophies and merchandise. That fresh brew definitely smells and tastes better in your new winners coffee mug. 3. The reverberations . . . can range from a hooked agent and a baited publisher, to a public reading, a slew of interested offers of representation, an invitation to a residency, a place on a coveted workshop or course program, an interview on the local radio show, and ultimately a shiny new book on the shelf with your name on it. The effects of winning a contest can be far-reaching and long-lasting. That writers conference youve been requested to attend as a finalist? Guess who will be first in line to pitch their new book to a host of agents and publishers also in attendance? You, thats who. 4. The street cred . . . establishes your bonafides irrevocably. Call it platform or portfolio, you earn the title of serious writer. You increase readership, build relationships, gain prestige. A glowing testimonial from an impressed editor can add stars to your limelight. An eager advertiser keen to give you his dollars can raise your game to a whole new business stratosphere. More exposure equals more sales. 5. The practical advantages . . . are not far behind. Submitting exclusively to a contest at a time allows you to rest a piece, and review it with fresh eyes later and make improvements. Working under a tight deadline, to a strict word limit, can hone your self-editing skills to a fine razor-edge, allowing you to cull words and cauterize verbiage at a moments notice. Â  All that practice makes perfect. Save on hiring editing services much? 6. The feedback . . . from judges can be invaluable. You can revise a short story all the way into a novel. A well-analyzed critique from a respected and experienced doyen of the literary industry is worth its weight in entry fees. 7. The motivation . . . obligingly returns. Ideas come flocking back in droves when youre presented with a theme, prompt or topical challenge. Writers block, begone! So the next time you feel like putting up an Out of Order sign on your minds doorstep and fleeing the whole sorry scene, stop writing. Start competing instead.

Learn More About Edgar Allan Poes The Raven

Learn More About Edgar Allan Poe's 'The Raven' Edgar Allan Poes The Raven is the most famous of Poes poems, notable for its melodic and dramatic qualities. The meter of the poem is mostly trochaic octameter, with eight stressed-unstressed two-syllable feet per lines. Combined with an end rhyme scheme and the frequent use of internal rhyme, the the refrain of nothing more and nevermore give the poem a musical lilt when read aloud. Poe also emphasizes the O sound in words such as Lenore and nevermore to underline the melancholy and lonely sound of the poem and to establish the overall atmosphere. Story Summary The Raven follows an unnamed narrator on a dreary night in December who sits reading forgotten lore by a dying fire   as a way to forget the death of his beloved Lenore. Suddenly, he hears someone (or something) knocking at the door.   He calls out, apologizing to the visitor he imagines must be outside. Then he opens the door and finds†¦nothing. This freaks him out a little, and he reassures himself that it is just the wind against the window. So he goes and opens the window, and in flies (you guessed it) a raven. The Raven settles in on a statue above the door, and for some reason, our speakers first instinct is to talk to it. He asks for its name, just like you usually do with strange birds that fly into your house, right? Amazingly enough, though, the Raven answers back, with a single word: Nevermore.   Understandably surprised, the man asks more questions. The birds vocabulary turns out to be pretty limited, though; all it says is Nevermore. Our narrator catches on to this rather slowly and asks more and more questions, which get more painful and personal. The Raven, though, doesnt change his story, and the poor speaker starts to lose his sanity. Study Guide Questions for The Raven The Raven is one of Edgar Allan Poes most memorable works. Here are a few questions for study and discussion. What is important about the title of the poem, The Raven? Why does he use the title?What are the conflicts in The Raven? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) do you read?How does Edgar Allan Poe reveal character in The Raven?What are some themes? Symbols? How do they relate to the overall flow or meaning of the poem?Does the poem end the way you expected? How? Why?What is the central/primary purpose of the poem? Is the purpose important or meaningful?How does the work relate to Poes other works of supernatural and horror literature? Would you read it at Halloween?How essential is the setting? Could the poem have taken place in another place or time? Do you get enough of a sense of where and when the poem takes place?What is the significance of the raven in mythology and literature?How is madness or insanity explored in the poem?Would you recommend this poem to a friend?

'Has nudity in advertising become dysfunctional Essay

'Has nudity in advertising become dysfunctional - Essay Example The findings showed that mixed results. Majority of the participants felt that nudity enhanced the effectiveness of advertising. However, there were also some participants who felt that nudity lowered the effectiveness of advertising. The findings of this study have implications for marketing experts and for people responsible for developing adverts. There is an urgent need for marketers to understand how their target customers will view the advert that contains nudity. Marketers need to respect the views of their customers and not show anything which may offend them. Presently it is observed that utilizing nudity in promotional advertisements has take up pace and many people are falling for it too. Companies are concerned with large scale revenue generation and therefore it is okay for them to ignore some standards of ethics. 14 It should be noted here as per Gibson (1982), that the most important aspects of an organization that are depicted in its branding and advertisement schemes are organizational culture and organizational structure. 15 A company’s internal environment has a large amount of psychological and economical bearings on the company’s working. It serves as the paradigm says Cassidy (2005) in which workers from different departments work to a foreseeable future. It is therefore necessary for all the components to work in utter solidarity with each other. A harmonious environment catalyzes a more efficient response with better results as explained by Kasoori (2009) 20 A prosperous procedure in the company should consider some sort of well organized and also effectively propagated advertisement promotions which might be both equally influential and also workable. Elliot (1997) says that a number of variable mass media transmission options must be employed; web, radio stations and also television set must be used by promotional campaigns as the items along with the business

Mental Illness and Substance Abuse Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2250 words

Mental Illness and Substance Abuse - Essay Example On ingestion the THC is found to be absorbed into the blood stream from where it is carried to the brain, producing a high feeling. The THC molecules is found to affect a number of areas of brain, inclusive of the areas of control balance, perception of time, sound, color and as any other drug the Glucose craving. Psychosis on the other hand can be defined as a cluster of symptoms characterized by hallucination and impaired reality. Psychosis is often symptom associated with Schizophrenia. Cannabis used have shown to produce symptoms similar to psychotic disorder as Schizophrenia, when ingested at large amount. Mounting researchers have indicated that Cannabis found to trigger the onset of Schizophrenia or its relapse and also aggravates the symptoms. (Hambrecht, M. and Hafner,1996). The users of Cannabis experienced unpleasant effects on usage as anxiety and pain, while some may experience hallucinations. The unpleasant effects are found to disappear as cannabis wears off. But some people may have frightening experience as it withdraws. It is found that of 1 in 10 people who use cannabis are found to be addicted to it. It is worrying fact that usually it is the young people who get hooked to it and they smoke cannabis on daily basis. The early the age they are exposed, early is the onset of Psychotic symptoms. It is found to be still more severe in people with existing mental disorders as Schizophrenia or bipolar, where they undergo negative psychological effect on cannabis use. Researchers pouring in point to the direction that cannabis may be the gateway for many other drugs to enter in. Thus one point is established as, in persons having mental illness are for persons with known family history of mental illness, cannabis triggers adheres psychotic symptoms. (Imade and Ebie ,1991) Though the usage of cannabis is known from 1970s now it has become an issue of concern as more young people are found to be the smokers of cannabis. Most cannabis users started in very early teens, thus causing a psychological transition and misadventures on a young persons life. This issue of regular Cannabis use is found to be a menace in developed countries. This has really become a national crisis mainly for countries as Australia and New Zealand. The Government has taken wide range of steps from forming a forum, organizing discussion, releasing pamphlets, funding research to create an awareness about cannabis and its link to mental illness.( Jerrell and Ridgely,1995) So this essay tries to unravel the above facts by discussing and reviewing the articles published with this concern. The List of articles selected and the reason for the selection : 1. Cannabis use and mental health - facts - is an study based on Australian community with case study done among 2 age groups as adolescent and adults, aiming to pinpoint the majority groups age by which they start this habit. 2. Cannabis and psychosis - Information for health care workers - An research report done under the instruction and funding of Victorian government health information, by the state government of Victoria, Australia, tends to explore the relationship between the

The main techniques Fitzgerald used to introduce our main character Gatsby :: English Literature

The main techniques Fitzgerald used to introduce our main character Gatsby Author's Techniques by Fitzgerald The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald is a very diverse and interesting author to analyze. The techniques he uses for each character or theme that he wants to present is different from page to page, thus making him a multifaceted. When speaking of the title character of the book, Jay Gatsby, there are a few specific techniques used in the layout of his features. Gatsby doesn’t appear in the book in flesh and blood until the third chapter of the book however by that time Nick Carraway has received enough second hand information about him. However there is of course a reason as to why Fitzgerald waited with the introduction of this man; the more we waited for the Great Gatsby the larger his reputation grew in order for us to build a predetermined view about him. The main techniques Fitzgerald used to introduce our main character Gatsby was reputations and postponed introduction thus creating a lot of mystery around this man. At first when Nick enters one of Gatsby’s parties he doesn’t see the host indulging himself in the luxuries of the crowd, food and music though instead he is nowhere to be seen. This is a very surprising enigma for Nick since generally you would presume that whoever has this much wealth would thrive in showing it off to his guests. On top of this, you have a lot of rumors circulating every one of his parties. Catherine McKee once said that Gatsby is â€Å"the son of Kaiser Wilhelm†, the current ruler of Germany. Of course every speculation made was false however as Nick heard them all, his anticipations for their meeting grew. This is a clever technique since not only does it enhance Gatsby’s character importance in the novel though it shows how little the supporting characters of the book knows him. We hear all sorts of rumors about how Gatsby acquired his wealth however not until chapter VII do we have definite proof of how his money came about. On page 140, two thirds into the book, Tom confronts Jay about who he really is. It is during that event where Tom throws all the facts about his bootlegging in Jay’s face ‘I found out what your â€Å"drug-stores† were-‘ He turned to us and spoke rapidly. ‘He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug-stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts†¦..’What about it? said Gatsby politely. ‘I guess your friend Walter Chase wasn’t too proud to come in on it.

Renzo Piano †Favourite Artist Essay

Renzo Piano is a famous architect renowned for his unique approach to design and his philosophy. He was born into a family of builders and he continued on the tradition of â€Å"making things† as he puts it, by designing some award winning & famous buildings, including the Georges Pompidou Centre in Paris, France, the San Nicola Stadium in Bari, Italy, the Kansai International Airport, Osaka, Japan and the Jean Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea, New Caledonia. Renzo’s work is highly regarded as art. Each building is innovative, well detailed and each designed with a unique approach. Renzo views light as a â€Å"building material† and this is obvious throughout all of his projects. Born in 1937 in Genoa, Italy, Renzo studied at the University of Florence and the Milan Polytechnic. Following his graduation from architecture school in 1964, he worked in his father’s construction company where he got the chance to design, under the guidance of Franco Albini. Renzo formed his own practice in 1965 before joining Richard Rogers in 1971. It was his last collaboration with Richard Rogers on the controversial Georges Pompidou Centre, in 1977 that initially brought him fame. In 1978 Renzo began a long period of collaboration with Irish engineer Peter Rice, which would produce many fine buildings. Renzo then created the Renzo Piano Building Workshop in 1981, with studios in Genoa and Paris. He received the RIBA Gold Medal in 1989 and the prestigious Pritzker Prize in 1998. Inspirations Renzo lists the Renaissance architect, Filippo Brunelleschi among his many inspirations. Brunelleschi, who is famous for inventions including heavy lifting mechanisms based on the inner workings of a clock and linear perspective, was a true innovator and experimenter. In addition to his 15th century idol, Renzo pays homage to Jean Prouvà ©Ã¢â‚¬Å¡ of France with whom he formed a friendship while working in collaboration with Louis Kahn in Philadelphia and Z. S. Makowsky in London. Louis Kahn was regarded as a philosopher among architects, he didn’t have many projects (only 25 or so) but he has inspired hundreds. His work infused the â€Å"International Style†. Two other important influences he acknowledges were Buckminster Fuller and Pier Luigi Nervi. Family Renzo was born into a family of builders. His grandfather, his father, four uncles and a brother were all contractors, and he admits, he should have been one too. He was seventeen when he approached his father with the idea of going to architecture school. â€Å"Why do you want to be just an architect? You can be a builder,† was his father’s response which has never been forgotten. Renzo states that as the main reason for naming his architecture studio the Renzo Piano Building Workshop, rather than Piano Architects & Associates. While still studying in Milan, Renzo married a girl he had known from school days in Genoa, Magda Arduino. They have three children, two of which have carried on the Piano family tradition, with their son Matteo becoming an industrial designer and their daughter Lia an architect. Renzo & Magda separated during construction of the Georges Pompidou Centre as Magda preferred to be in Genoa, but Renzo was required in Paris. Renzo met Emilia Rossato when she came to work for him. They were married in 1992 by Jacques Chirac, then the Mayor of Paris who supported the construction of the Georges Pompidou Centre through the many crises. Renzo’s first important commission was in 1969 to design the Italian Industry Pavilion at Expo ‘70 in Osaka. His late brother, Ermanno, built and installed the pavilion and a number of other projects before his premature death in 1993. Georges Pompidou Centre, completed 1977. Renzo Piano’s association with Richard Rogers led to many interesting buildings, but it is the Georges Pompidou Centre, in Paris which brought them fame. One of his original ideas for the Centre had been to build a giant inverted pyramid but his clear belief in functionality and logic led him and Rogers to opt for the clarity of the giant rectangle of a city block. Initially, all of the functional structural elements of the building were colour-coded: green pipes for plumbing, blue ducts are for climate control, electrical wires are encased in yellow, and circulation elements are red. Although in recent renovations, this colour coding has been partially removed, and many of the elements are simply painted white. During the planning and construction stages of the project the Pompidou was very controversial, with various court cases and public protests holding up completion, but it has since become exactly what Piano and Rogers wanted it to be, â€Å"a joyful urban machine.† Despite often being described as â€Å"High Tech† Renzo gets very annoyed if the Pompidou Centre is described as such. Instead he prefers it described as â€Å"a double provocation: a challenge to academicism, but also a parody of the technological imagery of our time†. The building itself created over a hundred thousand square meters in the heart of Paris, devoted to the figurative arts, music, industrial design, and literature. In the three decades since it opened, over a 200 million people have visited it, averaging more than 25,000 people per day which shows its overwhelming success. San Nicola Stadium completed 1989. Renzo Piano and Peter Rice collaborated on the design of the San Nicola Stadium in Bari, Italy which was built for the World Cup, Italia ‘90. The stadium was built of one basic material, concrete. The shape of the stands and the beams clearly reveals the modularity of the structure. The entire ellipse of the stadium is made up of 26 â€Å"petals†, each assembled out of 310 crescent shaped elements, which were prefabricated on site. Each petal is supported by just four pillars. Although these supports are fairly massive, the well thought out design makes the petals appear to rise above the banked ground as if they are floating. The gaps between the petals let the light and colour of the landscape into the stadium. Usually, concave structures tend to induce claustrophobia however the transparency achieved with the vertical cuts reduces this effect, and contributes to a more relaxed enjoyment of the sport. Renzo Piano Building Workshop, Genoa The Renzo Piano Building Workshop was built in 1989 on the coast west of Genoa. Perched on the rocks and surrounded by the sea and mountains, Renzo describes this creation as â€Å"half rock, half ship†. In fact, the place is called Punta Nave, meaning Ship Rock. Renzo believes â€Å"Creating something is difficult enough, but putting yourself in the right state to create something is even more difficult† and says of this studio, â€Å"here I find calm, silence and concentration†. Overlooking the Mediterranean and surrounded by beautiful scenery, the setting provides an â€Å"inspiring ambience†. Renzo and his brother Ermanno’s firm collaborated with UNESCO to build a plant research station and workshop on the same site. UNESCO scientists are now growing and studying bamboo, agave and cane in the building and the surrounding lands. Kansai International Airport, completed 1990. Before entering the competition for the Kansai Airport, Renzo, wished to visit the site, as is normal procedure. In this case it involved a boat trip which led to a moment of embarrassment, as at a certain point on the open sea, one of Renzo’s party asked where the airport was to be, only to be told, â€Å"Here.† Since Osaka had no room for an airport, the local authorities decided to build an artificial island for it in the bay. Not a small island either, on completion it would be 15 square kilometres. Renzo describes the structure as â€Å"a missing link between ground and airplane† as it â€Å"spreads over the island like a glider†. At 1.7 kilometres long, it’s one of the world’s largest buildings and as the terminal caters one hundred thousand passengers per day, it’s also one of the busiest. A testament to Renzo’s quest for technological and site sensitive design considerations is that during the Kobe earthquake of 1995, there was not a single pane of broken glass at Kansai, despite being exactly the same distance from the epicentre as Kobe, which suffered severe damage. Jean Marie Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea The Renzo Piano Building Workshop won an international competition in 1991 to design the Tjibaou Cultural Centre in Noumea, a Pacific island territory in New Caledonia. The French government built this centre which is named after the late Jean Marie Tjibaou, to record and exhibit the culture of the Kanak people. Renzo’s concept is a genuine village composed on ten structures of different sizes and functions, the largest being as tall as a nine story building. The ten structures of the centre are organized into three villages: one is devoted to exhibitions; another is for administrative staff & historians; the third is for creative activities such as dance, painting, sculpture and music. The buildings are, as Piano puts it, â€Å"an expression of the harmonious relationship with the environment, that is typical of the local culture. They are curved structures resembling huts, built out of wooden joists and ribs; they are containers of an archaic appearance, whose interiors are equipped with all the possibilities offered by modern technology†. As Colin Amery (Special Advisor to the World Monuments Fund) put it, â€Å"there was a real danger that a western architect could have presented a scheme that was a kitsch rendering of traditional styles, but Renzo and his colleagues were more than aware of this possible pitfall and it is a tribute to their approach that their design appears indigenous while being contemporary†. Renzo won the competition because he did not arrive in the islands imposing his designs and ideas on the community. He listened to the client’s requirements, traditions and ideas in order to create a personalised design that is sensitive to the delicate and beautiful setting. Renzo states â€Å"There is always the temptation to impose one’s own design, one’s own way of thinking or, even worse, one’s own style. I believe, instead, that a light approach is needed. Light, but without abandoning the stubbornness that enables you to put forward your own ideas whilst being permeable to the ideas of others†. Conclusion Renzo Piano’s architecture has been described as a â€Å"rare melding of art, architecture, and engineering in a truly remarkable synthesis† and he has been compared to Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo for his innovation. While his designs incorporate the most current technology, his roots are clearly in the classic Italian philosophy and tradition. He is also intensely concerned with issues of habitability and sustainable architecture in a constantly changing world. Renzo’s designs are the result of analysis and research and are the best, practical answers to specific problems. As Colin Amery said, â€Å"there is a sense in all his works of a problem solved† and â€Å"He may try an experiment to solve the problem but he will not build anything that is not an intelligent solution†. What is Architecture? This is a topic on which Renzo encourages open discussion. In his words he describes architecture as â€Å"a service, in the most literal sense of the term. It is an art that produces things that serve a purpose. But it is also a socially dangerous art, because it is an imposed art. You can put down a bad book; you can avoid listening to bad music; but you cannot miss the ugly tower block opposite your house. And architecture is an ancient profession; perhaps the world’s oldest, a little like hunting, fishing, farming, exploring the seas. These are man’s original activities from which all others stem. Immediately after the search for food, we find the search for shelter; at a certain point, man was no longer content with the refuges offered by nature and became an architect†. In my opinion, Renzo Piano has more to offer than beautiful, purposeful buildings. I believe that his philosophies can be applied to all design disciplines. My interpretations of Renzo’s beliefs are: Embrace technology, but respect the theories, practices and traditions of the past. Good design is a union of technology and art. Listen to the client’s requirements rather than imposing your own ideas. You’re designs should be practical, innovative and effective. Pay attention to detail, for it’s the finest details that have the longest lasting effect. Don’t stick to one style; treat every project as a new adventure. If you don’t, you risk becoming bored and will gradually loose inspiration. Experiment with materials and processes in order to gain an understanding of what is possible, rather than abiding by the limits imposed by what you already know, or think you know.

How to Write an Editorial

How to Write an Editorial Writing editorial is quite different from the news story writing. In case with the latter one, the comments and points of views are not welcome. In case with editorial, it is based on the opinions and is supported by the facts. They are usually written by such people as newspaper editors or columnists. To write an editorial can be called a real privilege. With our simple steps you can find out how to write good editorial on your own. Step 1. First of all, it is necessary to pick a topical issue. In order to do your editorial in the best manner, you have to pick the issue which is on the public mind. In order to find the most interesting daily topics, you can consult surveys or broadcasting. Step 2. Write down a thesis. Your thesis will be some kind of foundation for your future editorial. The thesis will show up the position you are taking concerning a particular subject. Step 3. Provide facts which will serve as examples. Make a research concerning your topic, where it would be enough to skillfully use the statistics data to support your position. Step 4. Keep the balance while using off-topic emotional content and dry cliche phrases. There are many authors who use persuasive language in their editorial, which helps them to attract more and more readers and, thus, make their writing much more interesting than the news stories. Step 5. Join the other people. For example, if you are an editor, it is advisable to make a group-written editorial in your newsroom, which will represent your opinion taken separately and your colleagues’ in general. Once you succeed in bringing together all the information – that is really great! In case if you fail to do so, you will have to deal with it on your own.