Elaine Flinn

Stephen King’s “On Writing” isn’t just a book about writing, it’s an experience. It’s like settling down with a cup of coffee and having a heart-to-heart with a master storyteller, one who pulls no punches and shares his wisdom with both humor and raw honesty.

More than just “how-to”: While King dives into the nuts and bolts of craft, with sections on grammar, character development, and avoiding adverbs like the plague, the book shines when it transcends mere technique. He weaves in personal anecdotes from his own journey, from childhood scribblings to facing down writer’s block and the near-fatal accident that shaped his perspective. These stories don’t just illustrate his points, they make them resonate. You feel King’s passion for the written word, his struggles, and his triumphs.

A down-to-earth approach: King doesn’t put himself on a pedestal. He readily admits his own mistakes and shortcomings, reminding aspiring writers that the path to success is rarely smooth. His language is clear, conversational, and often downright funny, making the book accessible even to those without literary aspirations.

Inspiration through perspiration: One of the most powerful takeaways is King’s emphasis on hard work. He doesn’t sugarcoat the dedication required to become a good writer. But within that message lies a spark of encouragement. He assures readers that with commitment and practice, anyone can improve their craft.

Not just for horror fans: While King’s horror roots peek through occasionally, “On Writing” is relevant to writers of all genres. His focus on storytelling fundamentals, character development, and the writer’s mindset transcends genre boundaries.

In short, “On Writing” is:

• Honest: King pulls no punches about the realities of the writing life.
• Inspiring: It reignites the passion for anyone feeling lost in their writing journey.
• Practical: Filled with actionable tips and exercises to hone your craft.
• Entertaining: King’s wit and personal stories make it a joy to read.

Whether you’re a seasoned author or just starting out, “On Writing” is a must-read. It’s a reminder that the journey of writing is as important as the destination, and that even the King of Horror started with a blank page and a dream. Just remember, as King himself says, “Constant work gets better results than constant talent.” So grab a copy, settle in, and let the master show you the way.

Bonus points: The 20th-anniversary edition includes contributions from King’s sons, Joe Hill and Owen King, offering additional insights and perspectives on the craft.

But is it perfect? No book is for everyone, and some might find King’s occasional profanity or personal anecdotes jarring. However, these elements contribute to the book’s raw and engaging feel.

Overall: “On Writing” is a gem for anyone who loves the written word, regardless of genre or experience level. It’s a masterclass disguised as a chat with a friend, leaving you inspired, informed, and eager to get back to that blank page.

By all accounts, World War II was the defining event of the 20th Century. Spanning several years from the late 1930’s through the mid-1940’s, it altered the geopolitical landscape and defined an entire generation. It’s legacy lives on through countless books, movies, stories and even video games. The recent mobile game from Supercell called Boom Beach is loosely based on World War II weapons and background.

I’ve always known the basics of World War II (Germany invaded Poland, the Allies rallied to stop them, it took a while for the US to enter the war, Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, the US dropped the atom bomb on Japan, etc.) but there really was so much more nuance and detail to everything that took place in that time period.

So when I stumbled across World War II: The Definitive Visual History, I was intrigued. This book from DK Publishing, devotes 360 pages spread across nine chronological chapters to virtually all aspects of the war. It is richly illustrated, as most DK books are, and uses timelines and cross-referencing to link everything together. It’s a great read and makes an ideal coffee table book for anyone interested in that period in history.

A friend is expecting a baby and asked if I had any sage wisdom on baby care. I realized I didn’t, beyond the general common-sense advice that’s been handed down from mothers to daughters for thousands of years. Well, that and a recommendation to check out the Dr. Spock book from the library. Not as many parents read that as much as they used to, but it’s such good advice.

Here’s some other advice I pulled down from articles on the Web. Can’t vouch for it since it’s not mine.

Baby care does not require to be stressful for parents. Provided that you understand a few distinct tips and tricks, you’ll find that caring for a baby is rather easy. A couple of items that you would need to know to take care of an infant is the way to sooth them, and how to feed them, how to get them to sleep. You’ll not have a nerve-racking time caring for your child, should you take some time to look for tips that are available for new parents.

If you’re thinking about breastfeeding, then you should speak with a nurse at the hospital. They have nurses there that specialize in this task, and you may have the capacity to make sure that you do it right. In the event you get home along with your infant and find that you’re experiencing problems with breastfeeding, you always have the option to call the hospital to inquire any questions that you may have.

You should ensure that you just learn how to alter your baby’s nappies. You will be doing this action frequently, and it is vital that you know the best way to do it. Before you begin shifting your baby’s diaper, you should make sure that you have everything that you will desire. This suggests that you need to get a fresh diaper, some balm or powder, plus some baby wipes.

You should make certain you know the correct steps that you would need to take to be able to bathe your infant. You’ll have to ensure that you have all that you will want before you put your child in the water. It’s never safe that you leave your child alone in the water. You should also check to be sure that the water is the proper temperature.

Remember that when you plan on bathing your infant, you’re going to be utilizing a baby tub rather than the one which is in your own bathroom. The reason being you really do not desire to place your child in water which will be overly deep. It is a good enough idea for you to ensure that the chamber is warm before you begin bathing your baby.
You will want to start out washing your infant from his / her head, and work your path right down to his or her toes. In case your baby is an infant, then you should make sure that you just follow a medical facility’s instructions on taking care of the navel until it’s treated.

You ought to know that there are many important bits of information that you should be aware of before you bring your child home from the hospital. Not merely will you need to have a notion about how to look after an infant, but you should make certain that you just get as many details as you can about looking after a newborn.

April Fools’ Day, sometimes called All Fools’ Day, is one of the most light-hearted days of the full year. Its sources are uncertain. Some see it as a party associated with the change of the times of year, but others believe it originates in the adoption of a new calendar.

New Year’s Day Moves and Changes

Ancient cultures, including those of the Romans and Hindus, celebrated New Year’s Day on or about April 1.

In 1582, Pope Gregory XIII ordered a new calendar (the Gregorian Calendar) to change the old Julian Calendar. The new calendar called for New Year’s Day to be celebrated Jan. 1. That year, France adopted the reformed calendar and shifted New Year’s day-to Jan. 1. According to a well-known explanation, a lot of people either refused to just accept the new date, or failed to learn about it, and continued to observe New Year’s Day on April 1. Other people began to make fun of those traditionalists, sending them on “fool’s errands” or attempting to deceive them into believing something false. Eventually, the practice spread throughout Europe.

Difficulties With This Explanation

There are at least two issues with this particular explanation. The foremost is that it does not fully account for the spread of April Fools’ Day to other European countries. The Gregorian calendar was not embraced by England until 1752, for example, but April Fools’ Day was already well established there by that time. The 2nd is that we’ve no direct historical proof for this particular explanation, only conjecture, and that conjecture appears to have now been made more lately.

Constantine and Kugel He clarified the practice started through the reign of Constantine, when a bunch of court jesters and dingbats told the Roman emperor that they could do a much better job of working the empire. Constantine, amused, let a jester named Kugel to be king for just one day. Kugel passed an edict calling for absurdity on that day, and the custom became an annual occasion.

“In a way,” described Prof. Boskin, “it was quite a serious day. In those times idiots were really wise men. It was the character of jesters to place things in outlook with humor.”

This explanation was brought to the public’s curiosity in an Associated Press article printed by many newspapers in 1983. There was just one catch: Boskin made the unit up. It took a couple of weeks for the Associated Press to comprehend they’d been victims of an April Fools’ joke themselves.

Spring Fever

It is worth noting that a variety of cultures have had days of foolishness around the beginning of April, give or consider several weeks. The Romans had a fest named Hilaria on March 2 5, rejoicing in the resurrection of Attis. Maybe there’s something concerning the time of year, with its turn from winter to spring, that gives itself to lighthearted celebrations.

Observances Throughout the World

April Fools’ Day is observed through the Western world. Practices include sending someone on a “fool’s errand,” looking for points that don’t exist; playing pranks; and striving to get folks to believe ridiculous things.

French kids sometimes tape a picture of a fish around the back part of the schoolmates, hollering “Poisson d’Avril” when the joke is discovered.

What do you think of when you hear about Yoga meditation? Are you currently a bit confused in regards to the whole procedure for Yoga meditation? Let’s appear at among the several types of Yoga meditation along with the benefits of daily practice.

There are several types of Yoga meditation, but these are similar to branches on a tree, resulting in the exact same trunk. When you attend a Yoga course, you may well be guided by your Yoga instructor, through meditation, in a range of ways, but you’ll usually develop a popular method of Yoga meditation.

Remember that a calm and peaceful mind is everything. Source: YogaSimple.net

Most likely, your favourite method will likely function as the form of Yoga meditation, which delivers you the most success. You can’t compel yourself to meditate. Usually, a state-of Yoga meditation will happen through centered observance and non-effort.

Breath knowledge meditation is the first technique, which I educate to beginning meditation students, and also to pupils of Yoga. A beginner Yoga pupil understand the deeper advantages of meditation and can easily comprehend the concepts of breath awareness.

Pulling the back, in to the straightest line possible, is the primary goal, because poor spinal alignment is counter productive to meditation, and isn’t helpful for suitable respiration. Many start Yoga pupils may have trouble sitting direct, without a back rest. Some cultures have no trouble sitting on the floor, while others sit in seats, or on furniture, which provides them off the flooring; and these Yoga students are accustomed to back support.

If a Yoga student is sitting on the floor, within an uncomfortable position, they may be unable to concentrate on anything greater than suffering. Thus, contemplate using chairs as a Yoga meditation theatrical prop. If you use a chair with a back, and lumbar help, that is ideal for seated Yoga meditation.

There is also another Yoga meditation pose where seats become a helpful Yoga theatrical prop. Lay down in your Yoga mat, along with your toes facing the seat. Subsequently place your lower legs on the seat of the chair. You will need to change your system, to ensure the lower legs are parallel to the ground, the upper legs are perpendicular to the flooring, as well as the back is level.

Now you’ve settled in, simply take a moment to find your breath, without looking to alter, force, or lengthen your respiration cycle. Most Yoga pupils will attempt to control their breath, but the key of Yogic breath consciousness meditation is non- attempt and observance.

Take some time to discover your breath, without attempt or judgment; this will allow you to filter out aware ideas about your breath, sounds, or your next task. When you have put the distractions of existence aside, you will observe the cycle of your breath expands.

This is just the beginning of the many rewards you may reap from Yoga meditation. The Yoga meditation systems you learn from your local Yoga studio will reduce anxiety, quiet your head, and potentially decrease your blood-pressure. A life with less stress, and worry, is really worth the time necessary to practice Yoga meditation.