Strong Interest Inventory Reflection Paper Essay

Strong Interest Inventory Reflection Paper - Essay Example hich closely reflect my personal preferences; I often seek to be efficient in my undertakings, to ensure that my results are not only accurate, but also consistent throughout. The realistic theme underscores my inclination towards routines, practicality and commonsense; I would prefer working with machines in real life situations. The enterprising theme underlines my innovative potential; I like taking risks, competing as well as influencing people. I agree with my personal style scales preferences because they accurately reflect the different ways through which I am likely to approach people, to learn, and to lead others; moreover, these scales depict exactly my interest in risk-taking and team activities. I have often been successful working both alone and in group settings and I learn best through practical situations, where I can take charge of my work, leading and participating in team activities. I honestly feel some of my personal style preferences are more important to me than others because they have a more powerful impact on my overall personality than the others. For instance, my personal style scales preferences indicate that I prefer learning by doing, and through lectures and books, which is true; however, I personally feel that learning by doing is more important to me because it often leads to great mastery in the end. Upon self-reflection into my own life right now, I would say my personal style preferences are clearly reflected in the manner in which I work, interact and even make decisions regarding virtually everything in my life. I always perform well whether I am working independently or with my peers, and I approach practical life situations as my primary sources of learning; also, I like leading by examples, taking charge of group tasks, and taking risks. I have absolute confidence in the overall results off the strong because they accurately reflect my career interests; besides precisely reflecting my career interests, these strong

Charismatic Leader Essay Example for Free

Charismatic Leader Essay This type of leadership holds a lot of power. In both productive and counterproductive respects. The rhetoric employed to effectively carry out charismatic leadership acts as a double edged sword. While it is true that a message delivered in a charismatic manner inspires the followers to implement it with a lot of fervor, but in this same zest, there are a lot of important issues that are overlooked and lots of questions ignored. This entails problems when the charisma delivers its desired results, but they still leave a sour taste in the mouth. In my professional career, I have not encountered charismatic leadership neither in the top echelons of power nor in the middle management slots. However, most of us have been affected, and even wowed, by the charismatic skills of Barack Obama, while running for the US Presidency in 2008. Inspirational rhetoric, exceptional oratory skills and narcissistic excellence were expertly deployed towards millions of people. Perhaps in our lifetimes, it has proven to be a living, breathing example of pure, unadulterated charisma. It was a need of the time and a result of the disillusionment with the last 8 years. But, the cynicism that perhaps was put in the back seat during this process, made a comeback in the last two years, where more and more people have grown disillusioned by the lack of actual, and perceived, objectives being achieved. The overhyped expectations that are, in effect, created by charismatic leadership, eventually end up hampering its own effects, even though the results achieved might be significant. In the spirit of double edged swords, narcissism fits the bill perfectly. Excessive traits of this personality type have officially been diagnosed as a psychological disorder, whereas a good mix of those same qualities supposedly makes a great leader. From my personal experience, there has been a lot more interaction with unproductive narcissists, as compared to the productive ones. Charismatic leadership is an outward focusing theory, but since being confident and thoughtful requires a thorough understanding of one’s own self, unless it is coupled innately with authenticity, there would continue to be major loopholes in its implementation. As is the case with most leadership theories, the situational context of the company or market matter deeply. Charismatic leadership is the need of the hour during turbulent times and thus ends up being encouraged and nurtured. However, during mature and stable market times, charisma tends to be counter-productive and pointless. Also, since narcissistic leaders tend to believe undoubtedly in their vision, not taking into account the ideas put forward by others, it can become self-destructive for companies. This leadership theory, more than others, needs to be deployed with a lot of care and consideration.

The Characters Metamorphoses In Shakespeare’s Tempest-Universe Essays

The Characters' Metamorphoses In Shakespeare’s Tempest-Universe In the play The Tempest, Shakespeare provides a unique and alternate universe for his characters to function in on the magical island. In this universe there are both native characters: Prospero, Miranda, Ariel, and Caliban, who have lived on the island previously, and external world characters, namely: Alonso, Ferdinand, Antonio, Sebastian, Stephano, Trinculo, and Gonzalo, who have been forced upon the island. While the different characters' histories cross paths in the past, the clear and present division between the two groups' immediate situation represents the division in their differing kind of spiritual journey. That is, while the natives seek rejuvenation from isolation outward, the shipwrecked characters seek rejuvenation from the outside world inward, on an island of solitude. As David Bevington notes in the introduction to the Bantam edition of the text: Shakespeare creates in The Tempest an idealized world of imagination, a place of magical rejuvenation like the forests of A Midsummer Night's Dream and As You Like It. Yet the journey is no escape from reality, for the island shows men what they are and what they ought to be. Even its location juxtaposes "real" world with idealized landscape: like Plato's New Atlantis or Thomas More's Utopia, Shakespeare's island is to be found both somewhere and nowhere. (xvii) In this Tempest-universe Prospero rules as a kind of artist-king, creator, and magician. Invested with these qualities he represents the God-figure of the universe, effecting change in others, while consistently demonstrating God-like qualities in himself: the ability to perform miracles, grace, and forgiveness. Ul... ...and Dreamworks, 2000. -Eliot, T.S. The Complete Poems and Plays. New York: Harcourt Brace & Company, 1980. -Howse, Ernest Marshall. Spiritual Values in Shakespeare. New York: Abingdon Press, 1955. -Hunter, Robert Grams. Shakespeare and the Comedy of Forgiveness. New York: Columiba University Press, 1966. -Knight, G. Wilson. Myth and Miracle: An Essay on the Mystic Symbolism of Shakepeare. London: Ed. J. Burrow & Co., LTD., 1929. -Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare: As You Like It. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997. -Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare: Hamlet. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997. -Shakespeare, William. The Norton Shakespeare: Macbeth. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, 1997. -West, Robert H. Ceremonial Magic in The Tempest. Knoxville: The University of Tennessee Press, 1964.

Conformity Vs individuality Essay

Though many struggle to be there own person. Many struggle to decide things on there own.We are all different, but most of us are the same, because of conformity. Conformity is the easy way of things. Following the leader is the natural way of humans. For an example take Germany during World War II. There was little hate towards Jew or Jipsys or the mentally disabled but because one man was such a persuasive and strong leader a whole country conformed to killing millions. We see the nonconformity in Thoreau, the strive to conform in Gatsby and the struggle to do become an individual in a place of discor in Fahrenheit 451. Thoreau wanted to be his own man and live his own life without, the influence of government or society. He did not want to follow in the american dream of a white picket fence, instead he wanted to create his own dream. A dream that was his and his alone. To accomplish this unorthodox dream he cut his life off from society and from the government. He strove to creat e his own person, to be different from the average. To be unique. Thoreau isolated himself in the woods, did not pay taxes, and lived off the wild so he would be without influence from the government. Thoreau did not feel a part of america. He saw how the american people were conforming and thinking more about self image than which was truly important. So he decided instead of conforming to the american way he would create his own little society. Thoreau tried which most would not even considered he tried to be an individual. Gatsby on the other hand tried to conform to impress his loved one. Is conformity attractive? To most they would say yes. Few want someone who thinks differently . Few want a unique person. People want safeness and people find that in the norm. Gatsby tried to reach the white picket fence not because he wanted it forsay but because he wanted to attract his loved one, Daisy. Daisy was attracted to the american dream. Though because of her situation she was not able to achieve the dream for herself she wanted to marry and be with someone who had achieved it. So Gatsby tried his best to get to the White picket fence. Though the ways he ended up getting to the white picket fence was a little unorthodox . He did conform to the american dream and the american way. We see the struggle of doing what one wants to do even when it is against the norm in fahrenheit 451 by the character Guy Montag. Montag feels the emptiness of conformity and wants to read which is illegal. Instead of  listening to those around him or to his wife or even the government he starts to read. And in doing this he becomes an individual. Becoming an individual causes him to lose his wife lose his job and makes him a fugitive but his emptiness vanishes. The government had become tyranny controlling what each individual did. We see throughout the book people conforming like they conformed in War World II to this tyranny. The outcome was the same as in WWII the government fell and the ones who had not conformed were regarded as heroes. To be unique is a great thing but society continues to look down its nose at those who want something different. When you start to think for yourself you are no longer â€Å"Part of any country.† Most people when they think of a country they think of the leaders or the people who control the things. But in itself that its wrong. A country is a mass of people that follows the laws and and silent laws dictated by the people. Inside the Unite d States of America there are thousands of countries each of them have slightly different silent laws. To become an individual you obey the laws but you create your own silent laws. When Thoreau made that choice to leave the masses and make his own country, a country of one then he became a individual. A country of one is infinitely better than a country of two for one reason, freedom. When you create your own country you are granted more freedom than ever before. No longer do you have to follow the normality or silent laws of the other countries The difference between a Non-conformist and a criminal is silent laws verses laws. Thoreau gave up on all the silent laws so he is no longer a part of â€Å"America.† Gatsby gave up on the enforced laws but kept the silent laws so he is part of america. Guy montag gave up on the silent laws which were enforced so he became a individual.

Thw Winter Holiday Homework

EICHER SCHOOL HOLIDAY HOMEWORK CLASS – VIII ENGLISH Q1Read the newspaper article and answer the questions that follow: Ban is the correct move 10 Feb 2009, Vikram Sinha The move by the central government to finally introduce an amendment to the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, prohibiting the use of cell phones while driving, has materialized. It also ensures that there are no loopholes left in the law by including hands-free sets in the ban . Doubtless, there will be those who claim that such devices are safe since they free both hands for driving. It is a false claim. There is an assumption that it is the physical hindrance caused by conversing on the phone while driving that is the main safety hazard. Rather, the issue is the mental distraction of the driver. The US is pushing all its states to implement a similar ban. For evidence, it cites several studies, such as one by the university of Utah, which prove that using hands-free devices is as dangerous as speaking on cell phone without them. Another study cited by the report establishes why this so. It states that conversing with a fellow passenger is not dangerous and many instead lead to greater safety. The reason for this is simple enough . a co-passenger is likely to keep an eye on the road, adjust or stop danger. A person at the other end of a phone connection cannot do this. The conservation will remain unchanged, demanding the driver’s attention and lessening his focus on the road at the moment when he might need it the most. The introduction of such a specific law in India is long overdue. And now that one is finally being introduced, the Ministry of Road Transport and highways is taking the correct step by being thorough. [ source: TOI 10 Feb,2009] 2. 1 ‘It is a false claim’ ( para 1). What is the false claim? The claim that A. the amendment is finally being introduced B. co-drivers can help a driver avoid accidents C. all cell phones can create distractions for drivers D. hand- free phones can be safely used when driving 2. 2. What is the usual assumption of people? A. Conversing on a cellphone causes maximum accidents. B. Using a phone while driving does not cause any difficulty C. Mental distractions are more harmful than physical distractions. D. These bans should only be implemented in US. and 2. 3 According to the passage, in what way is the driver talking to a co-passenger less risky as compared to talking on phone? A. Talking to a co-passenger increases the concentration of the driver. B. Talking to a co-passenger keeps a driver awake in long drives. C. Co- passengers will stop the conversation and warn the driver of danger. D. Co-passengers can answer the phone calls 2. 4 ‘The US is pushing all its states to implement a similar ban’ Here ‘similar ban’ refers to A. Use of cell phones while driving B. Talking to co- passengers while driving C. Use of both cell-phones and hands- free devices while driving D. None of the above 2. 5. Choose the word from the passage that means the same as â€Å" strictly not allowed† A. rohibited B. implemented C. hindrance D. loopholes Q2 Prepare a book review on the class library / school library book you have read based on the following points: 1) Name of the book 2) About the author 3) Judgement 4) Summary G. SC Bio Q1. State the importance of water. Q2. Why is the frequency of irrigation higher in summer? Q3. What is irrigati on? Describe two methods of irrigation which conserve water. Q4. Write a paragraph in your own words on each of the following a) Preparation of soil. b) Sowing Q5. Why weeds should be removed before they produce flowers and seeds? Q6. Why is weeding necessary? Chem Q1. State the different ways to stop fire. Q2. Why a gas burner does has holes surrounding it (on outside)? Q3. Cooking utensils acquire the coating of a black powdery substance if kept on yellow flame of the burner. Why? Q4. Draw a well labeled diagram to show the different regions of flame. Phy Q1. What is the purpose of L. H. C? (Large Hadron Collider) Q2. How are charges developed here? Q3. Write two areas where problems are coming LHC? Q4. What discovery it will make once it becomes successful? Q5. Write a short note on LHC. [READ CHAPTER NATURAL PHENOMENA TO UNDERSTAND THE CONCEPT] S. ST ? Collect information on Durban ,South Africa Earth Summit held this year. ? The information has to be pasted in the class note books. ? Students will be graded on the work submitted. S. kt Do pg . 77 to 81 in Assignment. Hindi (Do page num 117 and 135 from assignment) MATHS 1. Express the following as the product of two factors:- i) 18Ãâ€"2 + 24x + 8 ii) 25t2 + 10t + 1 iii) 9u2 – 6u + 1 2. Evaluate (48Ãâ€"2 + 30x + 3) ? 16x + 3) 3. Divide :- i) a6 + 2a3b3 – 3b6 by a3 – b3 ii) 4Ãâ€"4 + 1 by 2Ãâ€"2 + 2x + 1 4. Check whether x -2 is a factor of x3 – 8 5. A certain sum of simple interest becomes double in 20 years. In how many years will it become four times? 6. If the C. P of 8 articles is equal to S. P of 6 articles, find the gain %. 7. What sum of money will amount to 45582. 25 at 6[pic] p. a in 2 years, interest being compounded annually? 8. A cubical container is 15 cm long. The volume of container is 5. 4 cm3. Find the area of its end. 9. Due to rainfall, a square terrace of length 9m is filled with water up to a height of 6 cm. How many litres of water has accumulated on the terrace? 10. Find the value of x, if i) 2x = (6)2 – (4)2 ii) 6x = (23)2 – (17)2 11. If the area of rectangular field is 21 x2 – 7x and one of its sides is 7 x,what is its other side ? 12. Find the greatest no. of seven digits which is perfect square. What is the square root of this number? 13. A decimal fraction is multiplied by itself. If the product is 251953. 8025, find the fraction. 14. Find the volume of a cube whose total surface is 486 cm2 ? 15. Multiply – 3x2y by (7x3y – 5xy2). Verify the product by taking x = -2, y = -1.

Story-Writing Masterclass 10 Tips for the Perfect Piece of Fiction - Freewrite Store

Story-Writing Masterclass 10 Tips for the Perfect Piece of Fiction - Freewrite Store With the rise of self-publishing on platforms like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing and Lulu.com, it’s never been easier to realize your dreams of becoming a published author. You can publish with Amazon - both paperback and Kindle editions - for zero cost. There’s nothing holding you back from seeing your name in print. But the availability of self-publishing for all isn’t an entirely positive thing. With no quality checks, no requirements for your books to be edited, and no painstaking procedure of submitting to publishing companies (and waiting for the inevitable rejections), there’s much less pressure on would-be authors to spend time really honing their craft. That is a travesty. Don’t be one of those writers who, just because you don’t have to worry about publishers rejecting your novel, cut corners in the writing process. Your (potential) readers deserve so much more. That’s why, in this masterclass article, I’m going to share with you my ten top tips for the perfect piece of fiction - drawing on the wisdom of some of the greatest bestselling authors of all time. 1.The Glint of Light on Broken Glass The great 19th-century Russian story-teller, Anton Chekhov famously advised: â€Å"Don’t tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.† You will, of course, recognize the cornerstone piece of advice that every fiction writer reads in every single book on writing: show, don’t tell.  Ã‚  It’s not a secret, it’s not new or revolutionary, so why is it still at the top of my list? Because it’s the single most important piece of advice a writer needs. It doesn’t matter whether you’re starting your first short story or you’ve got twenty novels under your belt, if you forget this rule, you’ll let your readers down. And even the most seasoned writers have off-days (or, more commonly, off-books) where their writing becomes more tell than show and loses its impact.    So, how do you ensure that you’re showing and not telling? For me, the magic happens when I’m editing, so I don’t worry too much about the first draft. No one is going to see that but me, so it doesn’t really matter how bad it is. When I’m editing, I’m ruthless. In fact, the more books I publish, the more ruthless I get - because, seriously, I cringe when I read back my first (traditionally) published novels and wonder how on earth they managed to get published in the first place. When I’m editing, I distance myself from the writing and imagine I’m a reader, not a writer. I get bored easily, which is a good thing when I’m looking for too much tell and not enough show. If I’m bored, there’s too much tell. What works for me may not work for you (so I’m not promising anything here). You need to find what works for you. However, when you’re editing, think of Chekhov’s words. Are you writing sentences like â€Å"the moon was shining brightly†? Bo-ring! Isn’t â€Å"the glint of light on broken glass† so much more evocative? That’s what takes you from a regular writer to a masterful writer. 2. Storm Through the First Draft - and Don’t Look Back Do you know what one of the biggest stumbling blocks for would-be authors is? The fear of the blank page. I’ve worked with hundreds of writers in my years as a writing coach, and it seems to be a universal fact that the black page (or the blinking cursor) keeps a lot of people from ever realizing their writing dreams. Don’t let that happen to you! Fearing the blank page is a totally irrational fear, but it can be crippling. You probably know exactly what I’m talking about - sitting at the computer or with a notebook in front of you for hours, worrying about somehow starting your story wrong. Here’s a secret I learned from bestselling author James Patterson: There’s no such thing as starting your story wrong. The only way you can start your story wrong is if you quit and never start it at all. Beating that fear of the blank page has one simple solution: start writing. It doesn’t matter how bad it is. It doesn’t matter whether you scrap scenes later when you’re editing. The most important thing is to get words - any words - on the page. Never edit while your writing your first draft. The moment you start editing, you start questioning yourself, and that can stall the writing process all over again. So, start writing, get words on that page, and don’t you dare look back until you get to the end. 3. To Plan or Not to Plan, That is the Question This is one thing that can divide authors into two different camps - and the debates can be ferocious. I don’t want to start an all-out war, so I’m not going to tell you which camp I sit in. Instead, let’s look at both sides of the debate - and you can decide which you prefer. Just don’t make the mistake of discussing it with your writing buddies - it can get real ugly, real fast. First, let’s tackle the dedicated planners. Bestselling authors like James Ellroy and James Patterson are firmly entrenched in this camp. Ellroy, for example, writes a synopsis for his books that can be over 200 pages long. Likewise, Patterson, who writes several books a year, puts every plot detail into an outline before he starts writing his first draft. He reckons that makes it easier to start writing the first draft. What about the non-planners, or, the write-by-the-seat-of-their-pants camp of authors. British author Ian Rankin is one of these. For him, not having a plan for his novels means that writing is much more of an adventure. It’s a bit like the novel has a mind of its own and will control its own destiny - which is a pretty cool way of looking at it. Rankin’s first draft is an opportunity to get to know the characters, and that wouldn’t work if everything was planned in advance. 4. Building Your Writing Muscles You know how if you miss a week (or six) of your gym routine, getting back into the swing of it is a real struggle? The same goes for writing. Your writing ability is, in fact, a muscle, that, if not regularly exercised, will quickly atrophy. When you’ve missed a couple of gym sessions, have you ever noticed that it’s much harder to convince yourself to go back? Are you, perhaps, like me, who, once I’ve missed a couple of weeks, then there’s virtually no chance of me going back? The same can happen with writing. You can so easily get out of practice, out of the habit of daily writing, so when you do schedule time to write, you almost have to force yourself to do something that you love to do. It’s not just about keeping up a routine, either. When you’re writing fiction, writing every day keeps your relationship with your characters fresh and the plot tight. For horror-writer extraordinaire Stephen King, a daily writing habit is essential for the successful completion of a manuscript. 5. Disconnect From Distractions The internet is amazing. It connects us to like-minded people on the other side of the world, makes researching facts for your fiction an absolute breeze, and allows you to easily communicate with your fans. But for writers, the internet is also the biggest enemy of creativity and productivity. Smartphones have made the situation even worse. There are so many distractions. Social media notifications, email notifications, websites that steal our time and give us nothing in return. The number of hours I’ve lost to aimless internet browsing is embarrassing. I’m easily distracted, and since I can’t get back the hours that I’ve lost, I now resolve to disconnect from all potential distractions. When I’m working on a novel, I deliberately turn off the WiFi. Not on my computer - it’s much too easy to turn that back on. I turn off the router, because I’m less likely to give in to temptation if I have to go downstairs to reconnect to the internet. If turning off your WiFi isn’t practical, or you have other family members to think about, a distraction-free device like Freewrite may be the perfect solution for you. With no browser to distract you, you can focus on the craft of writing - and see your productivity levels soar! 6. Creating Complex Characters One of the major keys to quality fiction is characters that your readers can really care about. Creating three-dimensional characters that seem as if they could walk right off the page is a skill that can be difficult to develop. I love to read - but there’s nothing so disappointing as a book full of flat, cardboard-cutout characters. Even the best, most riveting plotline can’t save those books for me. You’ve probably noticed that human beings can be unpredictable. For your characters to be believable, then, they also need to be unpredictable. It’s important that you’re able to show different sides to your characters because that’s how your readers get to know them. For example, beginner writers often make the mistake of having villainous characters that only ever show their menacing side. However, that kind of predictability makes villains too easy to forget - and you want your characters to stick in the minds of your readers long after they’re finished reading the book. Think about it - what’s more memorable: the villain who only ever does nasty things, or the villain who’s nasty 90% of the time but spends every Sunday afternoon teaching his kid brother self-defense? 7. The Movie Reel in Your Mind Screenwriters are usually able to make the switch to writing fantastic fiction quite easily, but fiction writers don’t find it so easy to write scripts. That’s not always the case, and there are always exceptions to the rule, but there is a really good reason why that’s the case. Writing for the screen means having a kind of birds’ eye view of your story, picturing every detail as if the movie is already made and running on a reel in your mind’s eye. When I coach writers who are struggling with mastering story elements like point of view (POV) and bringing their stories to life on the page, I often recommend a short course in scriptwriting. Having to constantly think about whose point of view each scene is from and focus on the details of the setting, what characters are doing as they speak, and even what’s visible at the edge of the shot is great practice for writing realistic fiction that really draws your readers in. There are short courses in screenwriting that you can find online - such as courses on Udemy - and it’s worth trying these out to see for yourself how your writing can improve when you’re running every scene through the movie reel in your mind. 8. Follow Your Characters Wherever They Lead If you fall into the camp of painstaking planners we discussed earlier, this one may make you feel a bit uncomfortable. Planners don’t like to take diversions. But if you’ve never had the joyful pleasure of allowing your characters to take your story in a different direction, then you’re missing something really quite exhilarating. Sometimes it doesn’t work out, and you have to go back, but other times your characters take you on an adventure of discovery that allows you to share the same sense of excitement and anticipation that your readers get to experience. To be able to follow your characters, though, you have to bring them to life on the page. It’s the larger-than-life characters that take you on the best adventures - and help you to discover the true depths of your own imagination. I love to read books that suddenly head off in an unexpected direction because I know that the author has been on one of those wonderful adventures - and their writing is so much richer for it. Never be afraid to see where your characters want to take you - what’s the worst that could happen? 9. Live Your Character’s Life Has your character eaten today? I’m serious. Have they? Did they shower this morning? You might be thinking that I’ve lost the plot (pardon the pun) but the details of your characters lives matter to your readers. Or, at least, they should. I’ve lost count of the number of manuscripts I’ve reviewed for coaching clients where I’ve started to get seriously concerned about the characters. No, I don’t need to know each time a character takes a bathroom break, but your characters need to have some level of humdrum in their lives to be believable. A really effective tool you can use to see how believable your characters’ everyday lives are is to try to live your character’s life for a day. If you get to the end of the day and you’re exhausted and grumpy because you’ve been dashing around all over the place without eating a single meal, then you might be able to see the cracks in the believability. Regular things have to happen as well as the exciting things that keep the plot moving forward - or your readers might start losing interest. 10. If You Don’t Read Regularly You’ve No Business Being a Writer That may sound a little controversial - and I am aware that there are some bestselling authors who insist that they cannot possibly read anyone else’s fiction while they’re working on their own novels. If I’m honest, I used to worry about how reading novels would affect my writing - until I realized that not reading was worse for my craft than reading ever could be. Not only does immersing yourself in another author’s creation offer the opportunity to relax and unwind, but it helps you hone your craft. Even if the book you’re reading is terrible, there’s something you can learn from it (like how not to write a novel). Reading books that bestselling authors have written is an excellent way of developing your own skills. You can enjoy a book and learn from it at the same time. Recognize the techniques that have the most power. Discover ways of using language that you haven’t considered before. Examine the pacing and the plot twists and all the myriad ways that authors show instead of telling - and pillage and plunder those same techniques for your own writing. Bonus Tip - Write For Yourself One of the biggest mistakes you can make as an author is to start to worry about what other people are going to think about your masterpiece. The moment you start staring into that particular black hole, you’re setting up a whole load of trip-wires for yourself. Don’t worry about who might - or might not - read your novel. Don’t give them a second thought - not while you’re writing. Write your novel for you. Enjoy it. Savor it. When you get too focused on the mysterious ‘potential reader’ you start questioning and second-guessing yourself, until your creativity gives a big sigh and stomps off in frustration - leaving you staring hopelessly at that flashing cursor on the blank page - right back where you started.

How to Get a Job in Public Relations with Expert Jeff Domansky

How to Get a Job in Public Relations with Expert Jeff Domansky Ed Domansky started The PR Coach as a collection of links useful to PR pros. But as it grew, it became a central resource for public relations thoughts, tips and, of course, jobs. Ed, a PR professional with more than a quarter-century of experience, talked with us about public relations, what we can learn from the industry, and job hunting tips. What are some unique challenges in finding a job in public relations?The range of skills necessary and expected of PR pros has dramatically increased to include social media, technology, and some specialized skills such as video, content marketing, curation, and community relations.Competition for PR jobs is no longer just local, but national and sometimes international. In addition, journalists, technology and social media experts now compete for PR job opportunities because the skill sets are converging. This can create challenges for both employers and job hunters.It’s also very important to note that there are many more jobs availa ble for people with PR skills in marketing, advertising, social media, and other related industries where â€Å"PR† may not be in the job title.What lessons from public relations can anybody apply to the job search?PR pros must have super research, writing, social media, and communication skills. That should mean PR people know how to research and where to look for jobs, how to prepare their resumes at a high level, and pitch themselves better than most other job hunters. These expectations are similar for all job hunters, but even higher standards are set for PR.What are a few misconceptions about public relations that are still out there?It’s surprising that some employers, clients, and young PR pros still think getting media coverage and organizing special events will be your primary job. Nothing could be further from the truth today. While media relations and event management are valuable skills, the PR profession requires a full range of other skills.Be the best w riter you can be and have evidence of it in your portfolio. You do have an online portfolio, don’t you?For example, content marketing is a unique skill set and is in demand. Journalists have the news and writing experience that many PR pros have, in addition to a wider community perspective that is often  needed  in PR.If you could give your younger self some advice about searching for a job, what would it be?Be the best writer you can be and have evidence of it in your portfolio. You do have an online portfolio, don’t you? Excel at social media and make certain all of your social media profiles stand out from the crowd, yet don’t contain any faux pas. Increase your knowledge of technology. Be incredibly well-researched about your prospective employers, their issues, industry challenges, and market opportunities.What trends should we be keeping an eye on when it comes to hiring in the public relations industry, and why?PR pros need to stay ahead of changes a nd developments in social media. In the past five years, the PR profession has been totally disrupted. The PR toolbox now contains a sometimes overwhelming number of social media tools. The learning curve is constant, and yet we still need to retain knowledge of traditional PR.Because of the impact of technology and social media, PR is no longer a 9-to-5 job. We now work in a 24/7 environment just like news media and global organizations.