There are many MP3 sites to choose from: Napster, Rhapsody, Wal-Mart, and many, many others. By the time you finish reading this article, you will have a new favorite MP3 Site. It's called AllofMP3.com.
At first glance, you might wonder why the site is hard to read. It's actually in Russian when you first visit their site. A simple click in the upper-left corner changes the web site language to English. Once you have done that, you are now free to peruse the vast collection of music that AllOfMp3.com offers you.
The first thing you will probably notice is how inexpensive their albums are. A popular album, such as Aerosmith, may cost you as much as $2.50 to download. You read correctly: $2.50 for the entire album. With hundreds of thousands more songs to choose from, you will have plenty of music to choose from. You can even choose which bit rate you want your new music encoded. Of course, price varies depending on which bit rate you choose. An average length album, at 192kbs, will cost about $2.00.
This isn't one of those sites filled with outdated mp3s either. You can find almost anything you're looking for, new or old, with a simple search. To make things run smoothly, you have the option of downloading the Allofmp3.com Explorer, which automatically downloads your selected mp3s into your desired folder.
What about incomplete mp3s you ask? Well, I'm glad you asked. Your account is not charged until you have downloaded the complete song.
Allofmp3.com has turned out to be a diamond in the rough of the MP3 industry. They offer inexpensive, superb quality music. If you're looking to build up your collection for cheap, check them out. I'm sure you will be mesmerized at the plethora of audio files that are at your fingertips.
Contributed by:John T Darrah
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How to write a Short Story
Everybody knows writing a story is not easy. Like the drama or the poem, it is imaginative literature that should appeal to the emotions of the readers. Since it communicates the writer's interpretation of reality, there must be an artistic use of language to signify human experience. But how do we write a great short story? What are the things to keep in mind in order to come up with a short story that works? Here is a quick guide to get you started:
Read
Reading is essential to anyone who wants to write. In order to be able to write a good short story, you must read other short stories first. This will not only give you the motivation and inspiration for your own story, but it will also help you learn how other authors made an impression on the reader and use their style as basis to create your own style and impression.
Get inspired
For seasoned professionals, there is no need to obtain inspiration because thoughts naturally flow and they only have to put them into words on paper. But for novice writers, it is important to have one because it will not only help you begin your first paragraph but also keep you going throughout. Your inspiration may take the form of an object. a person, or an event that you just can't seem to forget.
Conceptualise your story
Think of something you want to talk about with your readers. Let's say you want to relate a story about a couple who fell in love with each other. What about the couple? What is it about them that you are interested to let your readers know? Focus on this idea and think of other concepts that you want to associate with this couple. Suppose the girl's parents discommended their relationship. What about the parents? What did they do to stop the two from loving each other? This could signal a good beginning for your story. From here, you would have the notion what to write down.
Map out the scenes
In order to keep your writing aligned with your pre-conceived story events, it is good to briefly map out scenes of your story on a different piece of paper. Write down the possible characters of your story and list the main events in order. You don't have to put so much detail on them because this only serves as a rough sketch of how your story will look like.
Choose your point of view
Who tells the story and how it is told is very critical for a short story to be effective. The point of view can change the feel and tone of the story radically. Hence, you must decide carefully before finally resolving with the angle of vision to use for your story. But whatever it is you decide to choose as the point of view, make sure it stays constant throughout your story to maintain consistency.
Conceive your characters
For a short story, create a maximum of only three main characters. Too many main characters will make your story confusing since each new character will provide a new dimension for the story. Each character should be more than cardboard caricatures. Make your characters speak naturally in proportion with their traits. Make them believable but mysterious.
Furnish a good introduction
When you have everything planned out, start scribbling your first paragraph. Introduce your main characters and set out the scene. The scene must be some place you know much about so that you'd be able to supply the necessary snapshot for a clearly described setting. Make your introduction interesting to hold the reader's interest and encourage them to read on to the end. It is also important to hold back significant details and the greater part of the action at this point so the mystery is kept.
Build up a great plot
From your introduction, draw out events that will eventually create a problem or a conflict for the main character/characters. After that, begin laying out an array of clues to keep the reader interested, intrigued and guessing. Intensify the conflict as the story moves forward. This will not only make your reader enthused to read more but will also keep them riveted to your story.
Show don't tell
The characters should be the ones responsible for expressing the story through their actions and dialogue and not the writer telling the reader what is being expressed. Rather than saying, "Annette was really mad at her best friend Christina for stealing her boyfriend", say "Annette felt an ache in her stomach and a strong pang of betrayal as Christina approaches her and flashes her with a sweet smile. She breathed hard trying to calm herself as she speaks with suppressed anger: "I hope you're happy now that you've proven yourself as a friend."
Use active verbs
Put as much life into your story as you can. In order to do this, employ verbs in the active voice in your story. Instead of saying," The flower was picked by Johanna", say "Johanna picked the flower."
Use dialogue every now and then
Dialogue is important in bringing your story to life. Don't just use it to pad out your characters. Use it to convey your character to identify with the reader. Use it in direct quotes like "Go there!" instead of indirect quotes as "She told him to go there."
Keep references handy
A good reference such as a thesaurus or a dictionary is crucial in creating a good story. You can use them to check your spellings and to find the words which best fit your description. Instead of using one lengthy sentence or paragraph, you can utilize one or just a few words to convey what you want to say. Oftentimes, one strong word has a greater effect than a paragraph full of fancy language.
Conclude briefly
Conclusions are tough sledding. For a good ending, it is advisable to experiment and to add a little twist. Make your ending unique but not hanging in a loose end. Make it satisfying without making it too predictable. Keep in mind to keep it short but concise and lingering so that the reader is left with a feeling of resonance. Your conclusion should wrap up everything from start to finish.
Edit and revise
After fashioning the last words of your story, it is time to begin the editing cycle. Carefully go through your work and fix all your mistakes regarding sentence construction, word usage, formatting, punctuation marks, diction, spelling, grammar, and descriptive analysis. Scratch out words, phrases and even paragraphs which don't seem to contribute to the basic elements of the story. After you are done, let it sit for a while for days and even weeks, then edit it again. Reread your story over and over again at different occasions. This will make you see various things you may want to change to make your story shine at its best.
Let others proof read
Have your friends look at your work. They may just be able to see mistakes which you have missed. For instance, they may be distracted with some words or lines which you adore dearly. In this case, you have to decide on changing it or cutting it off completely.
Writing a short story may not be easy but it can surely be done. With some knowledge on the basic elements and some passion and patience, it's effortless to pull together a story with just a few ideas. Just keep in mind that you are writing not because you have to, but because you want to. Keep the spirit up! Give it a go now!
Contributed by: Rachelle Arlin Credo
Send in your articles for free publication
Read
Reading is essential to anyone who wants to write. In order to be able to write a good short story, you must read other short stories first. This will not only give you the motivation and inspiration for your own story, but it will also help you learn how other authors made an impression on the reader and use their style as basis to create your own style and impression.
Get inspired
For seasoned professionals, there is no need to obtain inspiration because thoughts naturally flow and they only have to put them into words on paper. But for novice writers, it is important to have one because it will not only help you begin your first paragraph but also keep you going throughout. Your inspiration may take the form of an object. a person, or an event that you just can't seem to forget.
Conceptualise your story
Think of something you want to talk about with your readers. Let's say you want to relate a story about a couple who fell in love with each other. What about the couple? What is it about them that you are interested to let your readers know? Focus on this idea and think of other concepts that you want to associate with this couple. Suppose the girl's parents discommended their relationship. What about the parents? What did they do to stop the two from loving each other? This could signal a good beginning for your story. From here, you would have the notion what to write down.
Map out the scenes
In order to keep your writing aligned with your pre-conceived story events, it is good to briefly map out scenes of your story on a different piece of paper. Write down the possible characters of your story and list the main events in order. You don't have to put so much detail on them because this only serves as a rough sketch of how your story will look like.
Choose your point of view
Who tells the story and how it is told is very critical for a short story to be effective. The point of view can change the feel and tone of the story radically. Hence, you must decide carefully before finally resolving with the angle of vision to use for your story. But whatever it is you decide to choose as the point of view, make sure it stays constant throughout your story to maintain consistency.
Conceive your characters
For a short story, create a maximum of only three main characters. Too many main characters will make your story confusing since each new character will provide a new dimension for the story. Each character should be more than cardboard caricatures. Make your characters speak naturally in proportion with their traits. Make them believable but mysterious.
Furnish a good introduction
When you have everything planned out, start scribbling your first paragraph. Introduce your main characters and set out the scene. The scene must be some place you know much about so that you'd be able to supply the necessary snapshot for a clearly described setting. Make your introduction interesting to hold the reader's interest and encourage them to read on to the end. It is also important to hold back significant details and the greater part of the action at this point so the mystery is kept.
Build up a great plot
From your introduction, draw out events that will eventually create a problem or a conflict for the main character/characters. After that, begin laying out an array of clues to keep the reader interested, intrigued and guessing. Intensify the conflict as the story moves forward. This will not only make your reader enthused to read more but will also keep them riveted to your story.
Show don't tell
The characters should be the ones responsible for expressing the story through their actions and dialogue and not the writer telling the reader what is being expressed. Rather than saying, "Annette was really mad at her best friend Christina for stealing her boyfriend", say "Annette felt an ache in her stomach and a strong pang of betrayal as Christina approaches her and flashes her with a sweet smile. She breathed hard trying to calm herself as she speaks with suppressed anger: "I hope you're happy now that you've proven yourself as a friend."
Use active verbs
Put as much life into your story as you can. In order to do this, employ verbs in the active voice in your story. Instead of saying," The flower was picked by Johanna", say "Johanna picked the flower."
Use dialogue every now and then
Dialogue is important in bringing your story to life. Don't just use it to pad out your characters. Use it to convey your character to identify with the reader. Use it in direct quotes like "Go there!" instead of indirect quotes as "She told him to go there."
Keep references handy
A good reference such as a thesaurus or a dictionary is crucial in creating a good story. You can use them to check your spellings and to find the words which best fit your description. Instead of using one lengthy sentence or paragraph, you can utilize one or just a few words to convey what you want to say. Oftentimes, one strong word has a greater effect than a paragraph full of fancy language.
Conclude briefly
Conclusions are tough sledding. For a good ending, it is advisable to experiment and to add a little twist. Make your ending unique but not hanging in a loose end. Make it satisfying without making it too predictable. Keep in mind to keep it short but concise and lingering so that the reader is left with a feeling of resonance. Your conclusion should wrap up everything from start to finish.
Edit and revise
After fashioning the last words of your story, it is time to begin the editing cycle. Carefully go through your work and fix all your mistakes regarding sentence construction, word usage, formatting, punctuation marks, diction, spelling, grammar, and descriptive analysis. Scratch out words, phrases and even paragraphs which don't seem to contribute to the basic elements of the story. After you are done, let it sit for a while for days and even weeks, then edit it again. Reread your story over and over again at different occasions. This will make you see various things you may want to change to make your story shine at its best.
Let others proof read
Have your friends look at your work. They may just be able to see mistakes which you have missed. For instance, they may be distracted with some words or lines which you adore dearly. In this case, you have to decide on changing it or cutting it off completely.
Writing a short story may not be easy but it can surely be done. With some knowledge on the basic elements and some passion and patience, it's effortless to pull together a story with just a few ideas. Just keep in mind that you are writing not because you have to, but because you want to. Keep the spirit up! Give it a go now!
Contributed by: Rachelle Arlin Credo
Send in your articles for free publication
Goth-Emo-Punk-Hardcore with a Twist of Pop and Adidas
The local, amateur scene seems to be a big craze in communities around the country. A large percentage of high school and college students alike are starting their own "garage bands" in hopes to one day make it to the mainstream, professional level. With the conception of so many new bands comes the goal to, somehow, create a new, unique sound in which to classify the hopeful's music, and make it more appealing to the masses. The truth, however, is not that a unique sound is created, but a new label or genre is placed on the music in an attempt to intensify the appeal.
With the interest in hardcore bands like Hatebreed, Atreyu, Bleeding Through, and a host of others on the rise, many of the fans of such bands have taken to creating their own bands with the same style. Most of the members in these amateur bands, however, will almost certainly never describe their music as simply "hardcore". We all know these people: the kids in school who are always trying to get you to come to their shows on Friday nights, always bragging about how they are so good, and are always describing their music as some mix of random genres like "emo-skate-metal" or "goth-thrash-with a bit of punk". Then, if you do go to see these bands, it sounds no different than the Shadows Fall CD you listened to on the way over.
Probably the worst description of a band's music came from that crazy white wannabe: Vanilla Ice. A few years ago, he had a rock band in which he described their genre as "Adidas Skate Rock". Adidas skate rock? Does Adidas really need its own classification of music? Furthermore, does Vanilla Ice have to be the poster boy for it? This is getting out of control.
I, personally, am all for high school and college students starting their own band as a hobby, or just something to do after work or school. I was there once. I used to have the dream of being a rock star. I am sure we all have. However, if an amateur band sounds just like every band of the same type of music, you are not going to succeed just because you call it something different.
Whatever happened to the days when music fell into only a few distinct categories like alternative, rock, metal, punk, easy listening, country, and pop? Nowadays you have an unlimited number of sub-genres attached to these. Why do we need "Adidas skate rock" and whatever other bullshit people come up with? I mean, honestly, is it really necessary? Most of the time, fans categorize their favourite bands' music into genres on their own. Sub-genres are a mask for the people who don't want to be exposed for falling on the bandwagon. In my opinion, a true artist does not have to explain his work; his work is to be explained by the public.
Contributed by: Rob Maynard
With the interest in hardcore bands like Hatebreed, Atreyu, Bleeding Through, and a host of others on the rise, many of the fans of such bands have taken to creating their own bands with the same style. Most of the members in these amateur bands, however, will almost certainly never describe their music as simply "hardcore". We all know these people: the kids in school who are always trying to get you to come to their shows on Friday nights, always bragging about how they are so good, and are always describing their music as some mix of random genres like "emo-skate-metal" or "goth-thrash-with a bit of punk". Then, if you do go to see these bands, it sounds no different than the Shadows Fall CD you listened to on the way over.
Probably the worst description of a band's music came from that crazy white wannabe: Vanilla Ice. A few years ago, he had a rock band in which he described their genre as "Adidas Skate Rock". Adidas skate rock? Does Adidas really need its own classification of music? Furthermore, does Vanilla Ice have to be the poster boy for it? This is getting out of control.
I, personally, am all for high school and college students starting their own band as a hobby, or just something to do after work or school. I was there once. I used to have the dream of being a rock star. I am sure we all have. However, if an amateur band sounds just like every band of the same type of music, you are not going to succeed just because you call it something different.
Whatever happened to the days when music fell into only a few distinct categories like alternative, rock, metal, punk, easy listening, country, and pop? Nowadays you have an unlimited number of sub-genres attached to these. Why do we need "Adidas skate rock" and whatever other bullshit people come up with? I mean, honestly, is it really necessary? Most of the time, fans categorize their favourite bands' music into genres on their own. Sub-genres are a mask for the people who don't want to be exposed for falling on the bandwagon. In my opinion, a true artist does not have to explain his work; his work is to be explained by the public.
Contributed by: Rob Maynard
Art and the Artist
Art is expression and the artiste is one gifted with the ability to express but expression is not confined to the ability of the artiste. It is the need of man to express and be understood that has brought about communication protocol like gestures and languages. An artists ability to express is none like any ordinary mans, thus setting him apart, because he has the ability to see things that not everyone can see &appreciate until they have been revealed.(there are people who have good taste and people who give them an opportunity to enjoy that taste.).
It's like there are things that "metaphorically" float in the air above our head and between us. It's an artist's ability to see these "metaphorical" things and bring them to the notice of the rest of the world. Though the people of the world need artistes to find the perfect companion when a fellow human being wont do, to take them away from this crazy world we live in for a while and to give them hope against faultless reasoning when it is uncalled for, they bind him down by forcing him to give them things that they want to hear in they want to hear them in an indirect manner by determining his success in the support they lend to him in return for that pleasure. The constant complaint of an artiste, if he chooses to complain, is that when he offers his audience something to think about, they tackle on the armour of analysis and analyse it until it dies away or dies down until it is kept alive by a few who believe in it. If he offers them something hollow, rebellious or just what they want to hear, they take it in because they like things the way they know, rather blame someone else or they'd just rather leave life's questions unanswered.
A clever artiste knows what people want and gives them exactly what they want. A true honest artiste digs out the truth and offers it up. He is a true believer in the arts. He is like in between the audience and the art. The audience needs to understand that they are ill informed when it comes to things that he can give them that are worthy taking in. If they could do what he can, he wouldn't be needed to do them but since they can't, he is there. They only have the power and the ability to stop him in his tracks and deny his discoveries from further penetrating into their lives and affecting them.
In touching hearts, souls and lives lies an artiste's success. That is where his audience can cut him off. They can choose to let their hearts, souls and lives be touched by things they choose to let it be touched by. As an amateur artiste (as I'd like to call myself), it is this that weighs heavy on my head. It needs to be understood that an art wouldn't be called an art if you could make it what you want. A true artiste is a visionary who is gifted with many a vision, which he understands better than anybody else that he can speak of, sing about, write about or describe with conviction in a manner that nobody else can.
Every art has got its folk form which almost anyone can indulge in as well as another but its true form is one which one needs to be gifted enough to be a part of. Being the key to its survival and it being almost our everyday need, we need to allow the free flow of expression and support the arts. We can never tell what it may bring us because they are so many things that we don't see. Its best we leave that up to artistes, because only they can bring them to our notice, without allowing them to work only within a certain framework. There's a huge world out there. Most of us live in our own world far from it. That's what motivates me as a songwriter. There's never a song not to write. The world is never big enough, beautiful enough or versatile enough. So many things to understand and define before you get to what's absolute
Contributed by: Sunil Noronha
It's like there are things that "metaphorically" float in the air above our head and between us. It's an artist's ability to see these "metaphorical" things and bring them to the notice of the rest of the world. Though the people of the world need artistes to find the perfect companion when a fellow human being wont do, to take them away from this crazy world we live in for a while and to give them hope against faultless reasoning when it is uncalled for, they bind him down by forcing him to give them things that they want to hear in they want to hear them in an indirect manner by determining his success in the support they lend to him in return for that pleasure. The constant complaint of an artiste, if he chooses to complain, is that when he offers his audience something to think about, they tackle on the armour of analysis and analyse it until it dies away or dies down until it is kept alive by a few who believe in it. If he offers them something hollow, rebellious or just what they want to hear, they take it in because they like things the way they know, rather blame someone else or they'd just rather leave life's questions unanswered.
A clever artiste knows what people want and gives them exactly what they want. A true honest artiste digs out the truth and offers it up. He is a true believer in the arts. He is like in between the audience and the art. The audience needs to understand that they are ill informed when it comes to things that he can give them that are worthy taking in. If they could do what he can, he wouldn't be needed to do them but since they can't, he is there. They only have the power and the ability to stop him in his tracks and deny his discoveries from further penetrating into their lives and affecting them.
In touching hearts, souls and lives lies an artiste's success. That is where his audience can cut him off. They can choose to let their hearts, souls and lives be touched by things they choose to let it be touched by. As an amateur artiste (as I'd like to call myself), it is this that weighs heavy on my head. It needs to be understood that an art wouldn't be called an art if you could make it what you want. A true artiste is a visionary who is gifted with many a vision, which he understands better than anybody else that he can speak of, sing about, write about or describe with conviction in a manner that nobody else can.
Every art has got its folk form which almost anyone can indulge in as well as another but its true form is one which one needs to be gifted enough to be a part of. Being the key to its survival and it being almost our everyday need, we need to allow the free flow of expression and support the arts. We can never tell what it may bring us because they are so many things that we don't see. Its best we leave that up to artistes, because only they can bring them to our notice, without allowing them to work only within a certain framework. There's a huge world out there. Most of us live in our own world far from it. That's what motivates me as a songwriter. There's never a song not to write. The world is never big enough, beautiful enough or versatile enough. So many things to understand and define before you get to what's absolute
Contributed by: Sunil Noronha
The Art Of Henna
Henna tattoos have a long history of use in eastern cultures, particularly in the sub continent, Arabia and North Africa, but why is henna so popular today? Some would say that it is simply a fashion trend inspired by celebrities such as Madonna, Liv Tyler, Demi Moore and Prince. Seeing Madonna with henna tattoos on her hands in her video for 'Frozen' certainly gave henna more exposure to the media. It became a much talked about style of body decoration, and as a result interest in this traditional art form was ignited, spawning a great deal of promotion on television and in glossy magazines.
One cannot wholly attribute the popularity of henna to those celebrities alone. Henna is still used in eastern cultures and it was only probably a matter of time before these practices became more accessible in today's multicultural society.
Mehndi, which is a far more traditional name for henna, celebrates the hands as a miracle of creation and a vehicle of love. It focuses our attention on the sacred nature of the hands activities. Here instrument in turn becomes canvas. From the hand to the hand the henna flows a deep red into patterns of personal meaning, defined by and redefining traditions.
Mehndi is a unique form of painting because it is not only honourable but also requires contact. Human touch, itself a medium of expression, it adds another dynamic dimension to this work.
It is a fundamental human trait to use the skin as a canvas for artistic expression. To decorate one's body is the most pertinent expression of individuality and creativity that is available, be it permanent or not.
Tattooing as an art form on the skin has been practiced for many thousands of years. Today it is constantly growing in popularity, as are all forms of body decoration and adornment, such as piercing various parts of the anatomy.
The history and origins of the use of henna are hard to trace. With centuries of migration and cultural interaction, it is difficult to determine which culture and people started using henna first. There is archaeological evidence to suggest that the ancient Egyptians used henna to colour their nails, hair and even their beards, as traces of these have been found on the nails and hair of mummified pharaohs.
Whatever the case, it is clear that henna has been used by many different cultures for many centuries.
Once the use of henna as a form of body decoration became more widespread, it developed in its cultural importance and was included in many aspects of daily, spiritual and ceremonial life. As its popularity grew so to did the diversity of designs, application methods and recipes.
Another attraction of henna tattoos is that they are temporary. You can try out different styles and designs without them being permanent or painful, unlike real tattoos.
As we all know that fashion changes rapidly, and what is in vogue today may well be out of date tomorrow. With henna you can change your designs as your taste and fashion demands.
Contributed by: Fazilla Shujaat
One cannot wholly attribute the popularity of henna to those celebrities alone. Henna is still used in eastern cultures and it was only probably a matter of time before these practices became more accessible in today's multicultural society.
Mehndi, which is a far more traditional name for henna, celebrates the hands as a miracle of creation and a vehicle of love. It focuses our attention on the sacred nature of the hands activities. Here instrument in turn becomes canvas. From the hand to the hand the henna flows a deep red into patterns of personal meaning, defined by and redefining traditions.
Mehndi is a unique form of painting because it is not only honourable but also requires contact. Human touch, itself a medium of expression, it adds another dynamic dimension to this work.
It is a fundamental human trait to use the skin as a canvas for artistic expression. To decorate one's body is the most pertinent expression of individuality and creativity that is available, be it permanent or not.
Tattooing as an art form on the skin has been practiced for many thousands of years. Today it is constantly growing in popularity, as are all forms of body decoration and adornment, such as piercing various parts of the anatomy.
The history and origins of the use of henna are hard to trace. With centuries of migration and cultural interaction, it is difficult to determine which culture and people started using henna first. There is archaeological evidence to suggest that the ancient Egyptians used henna to colour their nails, hair and even their beards, as traces of these have been found on the nails and hair of mummified pharaohs.
Whatever the case, it is clear that henna has been used by many different cultures for many centuries.
Once the use of henna as a form of body decoration became more widespread, it developed in its cultural importance and was included in many aspects of daily, spiritual and ceremonial life. As its popularity grew so to did the diversity of designs, application methods and recipes.
Another attraction of henna tattoos is that they are temporary. You can try out different styles and designs without them being permanent or painful, unlike real tattoos.
As we all know that fashion changes rapidly, and what is in vogue today may well be out of date tomorrow. With henna you can change your designs as your taste and fashion demands.
Contributed by: Fazilla Shujaat
The Whys of Writing
Have you ever told yourself that you think too much? Have you ever wondered why you waste so much time...writing?
You pick a pen, grab a piece of paper and scribble…or, nowadays, turn on your PC, go to MSWord, exhaust your fingers on the keyboard…and you're done…instant article! That easy, and you're an instant celebrity.
It has been made clear that everybody can write. Why not? It's as basic as reading. Once you've mastered the alphabet, able to distinguish plural from singular and loaded your cerebral bank with tons of vocabulary, you're off to a good start.
Why write?
A semester of essay writing classes and four years of enduring journalism teachers who were fond of dumping projects with tight deadlines helped me come up with the reasons for writing.
Reason #1 Power
Writing is a good weapon in swaying opinions, influencing people's mindset and way of living and in fighting for causes believed in.
Being a writer, you can bask in the glow of glamour. You become a celebrity but most of all a leader.
Reason #2 Expression
Other than being a weapon of might, writing is a good outlet for your pent-up emotions. Also, it allows the graceful or direct presentation of opinions and know-how.
Reason #3 Attention
You can use writing to bring attention to an issue you deem important or to things unheard of, which you want to share. As for my case, the scribbled words became my voice.
Through writing, you can reach a great number of readers from all walks of life without exhausting your vocal chords.
Reason #4 Entertainment
You can write for people's delight, and even for your own entertainment when you've got nothing else to do.
Reason #5 Immortality
You can be immortalized through people's memory; the written works you leave behind would remind them of you and your ideals.
Reason #6 It's a Write-Or-Starve Situation
It's your job. No escape. Write or be fired.
Reason #7 For Others
Most of all, write for others, not only for your self. Use writing to reach out to someone who feels alone and misunderstood, and who needs all the comfort in the world. Use writing to teach a lesson. My mentors had made that perfectly clear to me.
Before, I was merely satisfied with creating a world of my own. I enjoyed playing god. However, I soon realized that to be a better writer, I must not write merely for myself.
As a writer, you have readers whom you communicate a world of ideas, and who are affected by what you write. Don't only think of yourself. By becoming a writer, you have taken a responsibility to the society. You are molding and reshaping somebody's persona.
As a writer, you move readers to do something. Lead them to the light; lead them to the truth. They deserve nothing less.
One of my mentors used to read this to me: A writer without a sense of responsibility is no better than the leader who goes on with his work without regard for the welfare of those he leads.
I have failed to remember the writer from whom those wonderful words came, but they are words that are not easy to forget.
Contributed by: Sheryl Joy Olano
You pick a pen, grab a piece of paper and scribble…or, nowadays, turn on your PC, go to MSWord, exhaust your fingers on the keyboard…and you're done…instant article! That easy, and you're an instant celebrity.
It has been made clear that everybody can write. Why not? It's as basic as reading. Once you've mastered the alphabet, able to distinguish plural from singular and loaded your cerebral bank with tons of vocabulary, you're off to a good start.
Why write?
A semester of essay writing classes and four years of enduring journalism teachers who were fond of dumping projects with tight deadlines helped me come up with the reasons for writing.
Reason #1 Power
Writing is a good weapon in swaying opinions, influencing people's mindset and way of living and in fighting for causes believed in.
Being a writer, you can bask in the glow of glamour. You become a celebrity but most of all a leader.
Reason #2 Expression
Other than being a weapon of might, writing is a good outlet for your pent-up emotions. Also, it allows the graceful or direct presentation of opinions and know-how.
Reason #3 Attention
You can use writing to bring attention to an issue you deem important or to things unheard of, which you want to share. As for my case, the scribbled words became my voice.
Through writing, you can reach a great number of readers from all walks of life without exhausting your vocal chords.
Reason #4 Entertainment
You can write for people's delight, and even for your own entertainment when you've got nothing else to do.
Reason #5 Immortality
You can be immortalized through people's memory; the written works you leave behind would remind them of you and your ideals.
Reason #6 It's a Write-Or-Starve Situation
It's your job. No escape. Write or be fired.
Reason #7 For Others
Most of all, write for others, not only for your self. Use writing to reach out to someone who feels alone and misunderstood, and who needs all the comfort in the world. Use writing to teach a lesson. My mentors had made that perfectly clear to me.
Before, I was merely satisfied with creating a world of my own. I enjoyed playing god. However, I soon realized that to be a better writer, I must not write merely for myself.
As a writer, you have readers whom you communicate a world of ideas, and who are affected by what you write. Don't only think of yourself. By becoming a writer, you have taken a responsibility to the society. You are molding and reshaping somebody's persona.
As a writer, you move readers to do something. Lead them to the light; lead them to the truth. They deserve nothing less.
One of my mentors used to read this to me: A writer without a sense of responsibility is no better than the leader who goes on with his work without regard for the welfare of those he leads.
I have failed to remember the writer from whom those wonderful words came, but they are words that are not easy to forget.
Contributed by: Sheryl Joy Olano
Inside a writer's Mind
I'm sitting with pen in my hand, the bitten with bite marks on it. I look at the last sentence that I just wrote and I feel proud of myself. Upto now I've never feared a writers block. I only learn from each one and I get more confident with each one. Looking at what I achieved so far, it's is quite an effort. It seems like I was only beating around the bush until I wrote that concluding sentence. That hit the right spot and ended it perfectly.
My heads full of ideas that I know are great because I know of many people within my own social circle who would love reading it. It would relieve them of what is offered to them to think and what opportunities the world gives them to do what they want to which they say is the best you can get. They all succumb to the drudgery of living within those limits.
"Everywhere you go people are rating people There are people just waiting to find a reason to tag you. Everywhere you go, people realize that people They make opinions that can make, break or just nag you. If you look around, you will see hidden suppressed spirits all around you So many things they want to be but they don't want to let all that come down on them."
I want my writing to affect people and change lives. The truth is my motto. It is for me-my calling if you will- to dig it out and offer it up. I believe that art of any kind should do more than just be a mere observation of life. It should correct, console and encourage as and when required and above all bear the truth. The editor is not too keen too publish things that radical. He is scared that it would tarnish the reputation of his publication. It would scare people too much. Well, people could fall in love with that perspective of writing but if they don't, they might not buy the next issue of his publication. It's a risk on his part.
I want to be a writer. Once I'm established, I'll only have to work about 3-4 hours a day. That's the excuse people have to reason out why I should study, get a job, get settled and succumb to life being a pain the backside which you cant do anything about. They say there's no reason for you to stop studying- "It'll only occupy your free time". They don't know of the satisfaction of accomplishment- the satisfaction which fills you up when you do something you value. When I finish breaking my head over a piece, I feel like laying back and enjoying that fulfillment that it gives me. I don't see anything wrong with that.
When I'm asked what I want to do, they shut my aspirations up saying that it is not ambitious enough. Ambition they judge by salary, reputation and post. The self hasn't got anything to do with it. It's all weighed by what the world would think of you. Will the self ever carry weight? Why does everything have to be logical and statistical especially when no one even understands life in its entirity? We're all travelers on the same road. We're all in the same boat on the same waters. None of us know any less than anybody else in the entire world. The best we can do is guess, cross our fingers and hope that were right. If our chances wont do us any good, we might as well just live with what we are sure of and not worry about the rest. We will most probably will never be able to find out certain things about life's mysteries in one lifetime. For all you know there could most probably be nothing that's definite- nothing to find. Life could only be what you make of it and nothing else. It would be a more worthwhile venture to make sure our passage through it is good and not worry about anything else.
Contributed by: Sunil Noronha
My heads full of ideas that I know are great because I know of many people within my own social circle who would love reading it. It would relieve them of what is offered to them to think and what opportunities the world gives them to do what they want to which they say is the best you can get. They all succumb to the drudgery of living within those limits.
"Everywhere you go people are rating people There are people just waiting to find a reason to tag you. Everywhere you go, people realize that people They make opinions that can make, break or just nag you. If you look around, you will see hidden suppressed spirits all around you So many things they want to be but they don't want to let all that come down on them."
I want my writing to affect people and change lives. The truth is my motto. It is for me-my calling if you will- to dig it out and offer it up. I believe that art of any kind should do more than just be a mere observation of life. It should correct, console and encourage as and when required and above all bear the truth. The editor is not too keen too publish things that radical. He is scared that it would tarnish the reputation of his publication. It would scare people too much. Well, people could fall in love with that perspective of writing but if they don't, they might not buy the next issue of his publication. It's a risk on his part.
I want to be a writer. Once I'm established, I'll only have to work about 3-4 hours a day. That's the excuse people have to reason out why I should study, get a job, get settled and succumb to life being a pain the backside which you cant do anything about. They say there's no reason for you to stop studying- "It'll only occupy your free time". They don't know of the satisfaction of accomplishment- the satisfaction which fills you up when you do something you value. When I finish breaking my head over a piece, I feel like laying back and enjoying that fulfillment that it gives me. I don't see anything wrong with that.
When I'm asked what I want to do, they shut my aspirations up saying that it is not ambitious enough. Ambition they judge by salary, reputation and post. The self hasn't got anything to do with it. It's all weighed by what the world would think of you. Will the self ever carry weight? Why does everything have to be logical and statistical especially when no one even understands life in its entirity? We're all travelers on the same road. We're all in the same boat on the same waters. None of us know any less than anybody else in the entire world. The best we can do is guess, cross our fingers and hope that were right. If our chances wont do us any good, we might as well just live with what we are sure of and not worry about the rest. We will most probably will never be able to find out certain things about life's mysteries in one lifetime. For all you know there could most probably be nothing that's definite- nothing to find. Life could only be what you make of it and nothing else. It would be a more worthwhile venture to make sure our passage through it is good and not worry about anything else.
Contributed by: Sunil Noronha
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